If I only had a penny for every time I heard this: being a mother is a full time job; I would probably be a millionaire today. Or not. Maybe being a millionaire has a lot more to do with hard work. And in the same breath, having a full time job has a lot more to do with just one area of life. In fact, life is a full time job. Not just motherhood, not just a job.
My story can be rounded up in about four sentences.
- Got married at 22.
- Saw various quarters of India thanks to the husband’s transfers.
- Became a mother.
- Found out what life really means.
It really is funny how the pitter-patter of little feet can put things in perspective, like nothing else. Until I had my daughter (now four), I took everything at face value. Things irked me easily; things satisfied me easily; I settled only too easily. But a year after her birth, and my very first sabbatical from work, made me realize that I have to get back to work. But this time, I knew I wouldn’t settle.
That is when the entrepreneur in me was born. The burning need to do something with my ideas and leave an enterprising spirit as the foremost impression in my daughter’s heart and mind. Those were the two things that practically drove me. That is when I began what I term as my system of “work life meditation”. Let me explain:
Ideas
They come and go at will. With ideas, it is important to understand that to capture a thought, any thought, and turn it into substance that will actually get you somewhere – is a task indeed. Especially those ideas or thoughts that crop up as soon as you hit the pillow, or when you are in the middle of something that you simply cannot stop doing at that moment (changing nappies, anyone?) The key here is to hold it, record it and take stock of all accumulated ideas at the end of the day. My mantra? I keep my phone close to me at night. As soon as an idea hits, I pull out the voice recording app and speak. But my disclaimer is this: idea without an action is a no show. So the best way to go is to first do some research on what’s happening as far as the area or concern of your idea goes, and then deciding on your path thereafter.
Skill
I would suggest taking a good, hard look at your CV after a sabbatical. Especially if you are planning to become an entrepreneur. With things moving as fast as they have been in the past few decades, it may come as no surprise that a much valued skill from five years ago, is last to last season today. It would help to take an online course to stay abreast with what’s happening and also to add a few core skills to your list of competencies. As an example, twelve years ago, I took pride in knowing that I could write web page content. Today, I know that it is not enough. So I enrolled in a short SEO course and added optimization skills to the package for made-to-order content. So now my clients now know that they will not only get content, but a relevant package when they do business with me. Get the drift?
Life Changes
Variety is the spice of life. Whoever said this certainly knew what he or she was up to. I could not agree more. When you choose to get back to work after a baby, do not just know cognitively that things will be different – be prepared to make changes. You may have to cut down on the number of breaks you take in between work related tasks so that you can finish sooner and spend quality time with your tot. Or, on the other hand, you may have to quote a deadline keeping in mind that your child will need your attention frequently. Choose wisely and change accordingly!
Balance
A work life balance is not a myth. You may be tempted to sit at the laptop all day long because you have the luxury of working from home. But that’s the keyword: home. Remember that this space signifies more than just work. I switch off promptly at 4 pm and from then on until 8 pm, I belong to my daughter. We craft, go to the park, do homework, and even cook dinner together while practicing phonics. But yes, while at the park, I do not rule out the odd phone call to catch up with a client or to answer queries.
Niche
With so much going on in the market today, you may be tempted to try your hand at a variety of things. But show some restrain. Try your hand at a few things that you would really enjoy doing, and then pick and choose from that list too, once you know where your comfort zone lies. My rule of thumb is: if it takes too long, pays too less, and makes me tear my hair out before I have figured out how to even start, then I let it go. Might as well do something effectively or not at all. A niche helps you home in and perfect your area of expertise. And trust me, with so much variety of work going around in the market, it wouldn’t be hard to make a living if you were to find yours.
Flow
When working from home, one of the initial problems I faced was that of maintaining a flow. Frequently, my mind would be distracted by chores or phone calls. But then, keep at it. Maintain a routine and stick to it. It might take six months, or even a year – but ensure that you draw boundaries and maintain a work flow where you are productive and creative.
I am happy to announce that I am well on my way towards establishing the brand I always dreamed of. Yes, it has come with its share of sacrifices. But with the tools I have listed above, I have managed to ensure that the road I have taken, has been well worth it.