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Finding The Balance
Deborah Vandenakker
Fresh Design
"I have a work-life balance, and I realize it's something I have to do. It's important for the success for my business to achieve that balance; it's a priority."
Deborah Vandenakker insists on balancing her work and her life. She makes time for her friends and personalfitness. And she recently acquired Stanley, a canine "associate" who gets her away from the computer while she takes him out for regular afternoon walks.
Her graphic design business, Fresh Design, is only two years old, and still in the early stages, when work demands are at their peak. Add to that the fact that she works at home, and it's easy to slip into long days, day after day after day.
"I try not to work on weekends, and I specifically make time for friends and family," she says. "I am known as 'The Entertainer, ' and when I started the business, I was putting so much focus on it that I was not having as many people over, not having as many dinner parties. So I started to do 'Friend Appreciation Dinners, ' where I'll cook for everyone. I'll also do a 'Deb Weekend, ' where I concentrate on what I want to do."
Her other strategy was to seamlessly blend her work and living space. While she has a separate office and a studio, she works throughout her house – even using her living room as a meeting space for clients. "I knew I had to create my own Fresh Design brand at home as well, so I painted it white, sky blue and green. When clients come in, they feel that they're in the Fresh Design office, but it doubles as my living room. I love my space, and I've created what I want."
Trying to find the balance between a healthy business and a happy home life is one of the biggest challenges business owners face. This is especially true in the first few years of your business, when your time commitment is so great, and your business is still developing its own routines and rhythms.
When you're starting, take a bit of time tofigure out where you may want to draw the line. Be prepared to make conscious choices about the trade-offs or investments of time and energy you are willing to make to build your business.
It's still about relationships: Feeling good about your life depends on the strength of all your relationships – with customers, employees, partners, family, friends and community. Consider how the time and financial implications of running a business will affect the people in your life. Think about how your business needs will influence your family, and how time with your family will affect the business. If you live in a small community, prepare for a possible loss of privacy and a more public relationship with long-time residents and friends.
Parents can search for licensed child care facilit i es by postal code at:
www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/parents.htm
Enough is enough: Running a business will place great demands on your time and you will likely end up juggling family commitments, vacations and free time. While the workload may seem like it will never end, you can actively set some limits. Keep an open mind about hiring someone to take the load off. Determine what time sacrifices you are prepared to make for your business. Define the boundaries, and build your plans around them.
The financial investment: Will you use your home or nest egg as collateral for the business? How long before money comes in? Can you still make ends meet? Address these kinds of questions early, so you can work out the solutions long before they turn into problems for everyone involved. Contact your local Chamber of Commerce to find out about benefit programs for small businesses. Talk to your bank or financial advisor about setting up an automated retirement savings account.
Staying healthy: Taking the time to eat right, stay active and get enough rest is an investment in your business. Don't let your personal health and well-being slide. You should also have a contingency plan that includes illnesses, pregnancy, care of children and elderly family members – not to mention a bit of preventive rest and relaxation.
Manage your plan for work-life balance with as much vigour as you would your business plan. No matter how busy you get, don't forget to come up for air at least once a year to re-visit and adjust your plan. Your success – and your happiness – may depend on it.
Resources
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"Work-Life Balance in Canadian Workplaces ", www.hrsdc.gc.ca
Select "Business /Labour" and "Workplace." -
Consider ergonomics in the set-up of your work space: this will help you avoid work-related strain such as carpal-tunnel syndrome. See www.healthycomputing.com
for tips. -
"Briefcase Moms: 10 Proven Practices to Balance Working Mothers' Lives," Lisa Martin, , founder and president of BC-based company
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Briefcase Moms, 2004. www.briefcasemoms.com.
"Honey, I Want to Start My Own Business: A Planning Guide for Couples," Azriela Jaffe. Harper Business Publications, 2000.