by Tshego Dludla
Being a visionary is an amazing thing. Having a dream and wanting to see it through might set your soul on fire but the process is not always linear and simple. More often than not, it is an uphill battle with many tough moments and sacrifices. The highs are high, and the lows are really low. At times you must invest all your time, energy, and resources into seeing your vision to fruition. As a mother, your life doesn’t start and end at the office. You have at least two main jobs and your beloved children are the most important thing to you.
You see, while you spend your time trying to build your business in uncertain economic times, it might not be ready to feed you and your family. The accountants will remind you not to use your business account for personal needs. “Pay yourself a salary”, they say. This means that if your business can’t afford to pay you yet, your family’s needs are in trouble. Not everyone has savings and financial support, so what now?
Firstly, I want to remind you that a dream deferred, is not a dream denied!
You might have to go back to being employed to better set yourself and your family up to survive the ups and downs of running a business. If this is an option for you, go in with a fully-fledged plan and strategy. A plan to cover debt (if any), a savings plan that will ensure that you have at least a year of household expenses (to be on the safe side) as well as a plan to get the business going before coming back to it full time.
Secondly, side hustles are your friend.
Just like those who are full-time employed, your business is your main job but to supplement your income, you need to learn to sell. Find a low-hanging fruit. Something that you don’t have to create from scratch, something that people need regularly and are already spending money on. Or leverage your personal brand. Sell it like crazy while you work on your dream.
Lastly, don’t forget to feed your soul.
All this can have you drained and burned out. Don’t forget to practice self-care. Without you, both your children and your business will suffer. It is important to refill your cup regularly to pour into your business and your family.
No need to choose between the two. Feed your dream, while you feed your children.
Tshego Dludla is the founder of The Tshala Foundation (NPO), as well as RoboSTEAM Train in South Africa. Both enterprises are making maths and science fun using robotics and coding, one catering specifically for underprivileged children. Tshego has a passion for learning and empowering young ones. Being a mom of three children herself has forced her to face the reality of what it takes to thrive as a mom and entrepreneur and she therefore started a mommy blog addressing mom guilt and how mothers can support each other along this journey in a world filled with judgement on everything moms do. Find out more by visiting the website www.robosteamtrain.co.za
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