How to Help Your Family Respect Your Business, Not Resent it

by lisa on October 26, 2011

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The following post is from Lisa of Working Naked:

source: plushoff

Starting a business can be exciting, terrifying and a dream come true, especially when you have a cheering squad — your family — behind you. When your family is on the opposing team, though, your new business venture can be a nightmare.

Before I left my last job, I designed my new business so that when I was ready to have kids, I would be able to work from home and raise a family. I wanted to be able to grow a business and see my kids grow up at the same time.

It hasn’t always been easy juggling my business and personal life and keeping my family from resenting my business. Ask anyone who works from home about being pulled in all directions and they’ll admit it’s challenging to give your business and family 100% of your attention, all of the time. When my kids were little, I tried to work when they were asleep and at school. I didn’t want them to have memories of growing up with a work-at-home-mom who sat in front of her computer all day.

It’s been hard work, but for the most part I’ve been able to schedule my business around my family. My motivation? I couldn’t imagine having to go back to the corporate world and work in an outside office. I’d miss too much of my sons’ lives.

When you work from home, it’s important for your family to support your business instead of fight your business efforts. Consider these four tips for including your family in your business and making them part of your team:

Ask for feedback

When you’ve had a tough day, share a few of the low points, but be ready to include a few high points too. It’s easy to get closely tied to your business and not be able to see problems or situations objectively. If you ask your family for suggestions for how you could handle problems differently, you may be surprised at the suggestions you get. Don’t discount any suggestions from your younger children. Sometimes clients can act like children and your kids may have a few ideas for dealing with them.

Brainstorm ideas

Your family doesn’t have to be involved in your business to the point of making phone calls for you or taking messages, but they can still be helpful. If you have ideas for expanding your business, share the ideas with your family and ask them to help you develop new ideas. Someone not involved with your business or your industry may provide you with ideas you hadn’t thought of before. Also, when your family buys into your business, which they’ll do when they see your ideas put into action, they may be more understanding during the times you need to work longer hours.

Put your family to work

When my third book was published, my sons helped me package and mail books to people who ordered them directly from me. They helped me save time packing books, and it was a good excuse for all of us to spend time together. A friend of mine runs a stable, and during the summer her college-age kids help clean out stalls and take care of the horses when their owners are out of town. Her kids have summer jobs close to their house, my friend gets to spend all day with her kids, and she gets the help she needs.

Celebrate successes together

Whether you get a new client, sell dozens of books in one day, or launch a new product, make a big deal about it. Treat your family to a special dinner, bring in pizza, wear party hats…it doesn’t matter. When you make your family part of the celebration, they’ll feel appreciated. Don’t forget to thank them several times for supporting your efforts.

Working from home has enough challenges between staying focused, meeting client needs and wearing several hats, that there’s no need to add handling resentment from your family to the list. Keep your family involved in your business and everyone will enjoy watching your business grow.

How do you include your family in your business?

Home office expert Lisa Kanarek is the founder of WorkingNaked.com and the author of five books about working from home, including her latest book, Organize Your Home Office for Success. Lisa works with entrepreneurs and home-based employees through seminars and individual consultations, to create functional home offices that meet each individual’s working style.

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  • http://www.designdragongraphics.com Melissa Felton

    My major worry with product like LastPass is the security – I love the idea of such a tool, mind you, but with so much that’s sensitive attached to email and other accounts I’m apprehensive. Loud clapping approval at the post itself however and all other tools. :)

    (Sorry, dealt with minor gmail hack today.)

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life…Your Way

      Thanks for chiming in, Melissa! Have you seen actual security risks with LastPass? Everything I’ve read — from CNet to Lifehacker to PCWorld — lauds it as a safe and secure tool. Isn’t it a shame we even have to think about such things. It frustrates me to no end that hackers and spammers can’t put their energy to something productive and helpful rather than attacking other people!

  • http://cashwithatrueconscience.com/rbblog Ryan Biddulph

    Lisa, the feedback idea is spot on. I’ve received more spot on advice from my dad and other folks who have little knowledge of what we do, because we forget, these folks brings simplicity into the picture. Simplicity more experienced folks like ourselves often ignore.

    Thanks for sharing!

    RB

    • http://twitter.com/WorkingNaked Lisa Kanarek

      You’re right…simplicity is so important. We can get so closely tied to our business that we can’t see three feet ahead.

  • http://www.michelleshaeffer.com Michelle Shaeffer

    This is fantastic advice, Lisa.  I get so close to my business that often that outside point of view is just what I need to solve a problem or deal with a situation.  Kids can be brilliant in their suggestions.  I think I’ll use your pizza party suggestion next time I launch a product!

    • http://twitter.com/WorkingNaked Lisa Kanarek

      That’s great, Michelle. Your kids will love the pizza party. Even the smallest celebration can make a big difference.

  • http://Mazzastick.com Justin

    Hi Lisa,
    Learning to work from home was indeed a real challenge for me to say the least. I tried working early mornings and late at night when everyone was in bed but this made getting up rather difficult.

    I have been able to adjust to working from home without having to sacrifice family time. 

    • http://twitter.com/WorkingNaked Lisa Kanarek

      Your family no doubt appreciates your new schedule. You seem to have struck a good balance between family and work. That’s so important to everyone getting along and supporting your efforts. Thanks for your comment.

  • Barbara Winter

    I started my first business the day my daughter went off to kindergarten. She kind of eased into school as I eased into entrepreneurship. I, too, looked for ways to involve her in my business. 
    I saw constant parallels with her growth and mine. I believe she hit adolescence at the same time my business did. It was a handful dealing with all those mood swings on both fronts.
    However, we all grew up better for the experience. She now has her own business and her daughter, my 7-year-old granddaughter, is now my mailing assistant, a job pioneered by her mother.

    • http://twitter.com/WorkingNaked Lisa Kanarek

      I love your story! You were an excellent example to your daughter and now your granddaughter. I can relate to the teenage mood swings, BTW!

  • http://www.getoutofstuck.net Roberta Budvietas

    Many elements come into working from home and I agree preventing resentment is a biggie but I noticed that it was a danger even when I worked in corporate. I find that working from home, my greatest challenge is still me. 

    • http://twitter.com/WorkingNaked Lisa Kanarek

      That’s true for many of us. Staying focused and getting into a routine are so important for accomplishing anything while working from home.

  • Pingback: How to Get Your Family to Respect Your Business, Not Resent It

  • http://www.momdropbox.com Audrey @ Mom Drop Box

    I occasionally shop for doorbusters on Black Friday, but the madness is just too much sometimes, and good deals can be found throughout the season.  I plan on sticking with the internet also.   

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