Guest Post by: Karen Wessels, co-founder and COO of VA Connect
How do you keep all the balls in the air, whilst building a company and brand? As women we are often referred to as master jugglers. Somewhere in our lifetime we have learnt the art of juggling many tasks at once, whilst at the same time producing excellent results. Being able to multi-task means not missing out on opportunities. Most entrepreneurs share the same traits of being courageous, persistent and having great vision. Pair this with juggling several tasks at once and you know you have a winning combination!
Building a company is no mean feat. You need to take care of all the details from operations to cash flow to product design and everything in between. Tie this up with excellent instinct, natural business acumen and spades of organisational skills and you have a master juggler!
Brand building is a project all on its own. People buy from people. Building your brand to be authentic and ensuring you are positioned as a respectable businessperson with an authentic service offering is a daily activity.
So how do we go from being super mom at home to super hero at the office without breaking our stride (or into a sweat)?
Here are 5 of my key tips on how to accomplish this with aplomb:
1. Be passionate & authentic
You started your business for a reason, it’s your ‘Why’. Always keep your passion at the forefront of your mind with everything that you do. By being passionate and an authentic entrepreneur you will stay true to your course and not place unnecessary pressure on yourself to accomplish something that isn’t true to your passion.
2. Have laser focus
Focus on the task at hand. I know as working moms we always have a multitude of things running through at our minds at any given time. Focus on the project you are currently working on. Be present in the moment. You may just find by focusing your attention that the task will be done in less time than you first imagined!
3. The art of delegation
Yes, I know, we are all control freaks – I am admittedly one of them! We need to learn to let go, to pass tasks on to others that are competent to do it. You can still oversee the project, however, let your team take over and prove to you the reason why you first employed them. By delegating you free up your precious time to focus on the tasks that you love and are exceptionally good at.
4. Family time
One of the reasons why you started your business is to enjoy the flexibility that comes with being your own boss. This translates into spending quality time with your family. It’s important to enjoy downtime with them and to reconnect on different levels. So don’t feel guilty for spending the evening with your little one or going on that much needed date with your partner.
5. Take time out for yourself
Moms and women entrepreneurs also deserve time out. Again by taking time for yourself it means the opportunity to reconnect with those around you, with nature and with yourself. Take time every day for yourself, whether it’s 20 minutes in the morning for meditation or 20 minutes at night to read a chapter from your favourite book.
We salute all women entrepreneurs! We know that you’re juggling partners, children, households, and at the same time building a lasting legacy with your business and brand. And we understand the kind of sacrifices you make along the way.
Remember, it’s okay to ask for help and it’s also okay to show the world what a masterful juggler you are!
Karen Wessels is the co-founder and COO of VA Connect, a South African virtual assistant platform that provides outsourced administrative support. Prior to establishing VA Connect, Karen spent over 10 years in different sales, marketing & admin support roles. Having worked with MDs, SMEs and professionals, she is very familiar with managing different workloads within tight deadlines. This has equipped her with the invaluable skills required to run a successful VA business. Follow Karen on Twitter | Facebook | Google+
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