How do I balance everything?

Lynn - posted on 01/15/2010

Judith,
I have a 3 yr old daughter, a full time job and do Slumber Parties (SP)(www.slumberpartiesbyLynn.com). I have been doing Slumber Parties for almost 5 yrs and our sisterhood is so amazing that some of the women that do SP full time has their day organized so good that they even mange a large team and have a life.

When my daughter was a yr old I felt lost in my business and finding I didn't have any time for myself. So I sat down with a piece of paper and did a brain dump. Something I learned from one of my SP sisters. I would have one piece of paper for MK, one piece of paper for Advocare. Write down everything you do for each business. (ie stuff catalogs, stuff recruit packets, label catalogs, samples. Depending on how old ur kids are have them help you label your catalogs and samples. I can't have my daughter do that because of the content of my business (romance enhancing products). Be sure to write down on a calendar when you have to attend class, then you can work your business and life around that. Do a power hour for each business. 15 min increments of Hostess Coaching, Recruiting, Team and Customer Care calls. So in Hostess coaching you might stuff hostess packets, call your hostess to confirm party or do marketing to get bookings. Recruiting: make up packets, talk with potential recruits. Team: work on team related items, call team members to see how their business, work on team meeting agenda. Customer care calls: call your customers to see how they are enjoying their products. Customer care calls lets your clients know you're still in business and sometimes it could lead up to an outside order (they need a refill).

Set goals. Goals for each business and personal goals. Have weekly goals, monthly goals, quarterly goals and yearly goals. this way you're not over whelmed if you don't meet a goal. I will be glad to share some of the documents I have and you might be able to tweak it to your business.

Feel free to email me with any questions at Lynn.Quass@SlumberParties.com

Good luck
Lynn

Patricia - posted on 01/13/2010

Judith,
I suggest you make a choice between your businesses and focus on just one leaving the other on a back burner. Get one to a point where it cannot suffer even if you did nothing for six months. Then decide if you want to pick the other up again. Most companies, mine included, will require you to sign a non-compete clause when you reach their leadership levels because it can really become a conflict of interest trying to develop multiple downlines. Look for the one that has the least turnover in leadership or the one where your heart is. Good luck!

Judith - posted on 01/11/2010

Thank you Ladies for all the good advice and support! With the new year I've commited myself to become more organized and set goals I know I can reach if I put my mind to it. :)

Debra - posted on 01/11/2010

Hi Judith,

That seems to be a million dollar question. I used to be so overwhelmed with balancing everything. I actually googled life balance and found a wonderful program called Create Your Life Challenge by Brooke Noel, which is now called Make Today Matter. You can check her out here... www.maketodaymatter.net/debra. She teaches you tools to keep your career and life in balance. There are several things I love about the program, but three main tools are the CAN (catch all notebook) It keeps me organized, the 3 step priority (focus on 3 task that are the most important=Income Producing Activities) and the What's for Dinner, Which she plans a month worth of meals, the recipe and the shopping list so all I have to do is print it out, buy the ingredience an cook. It sounds simple, but it's amazing how much time I save know my meals are healthy and planned...let alone money I save for not eating out.

Good Luck with finding balance.....it is obtainable!! Email me if you have any questions, debra@maketodaymatter

Jen - posted on 01/10/2010

Hi Judith, One thing I've found is that as women we tend to take on a lot of things and wind up doing them not to our complete best because we're just too strapped for time and energy. Just be gentle with yourself and remind yourself you are doing the best with what you have. Look to make strong friendships with business associates, stay on a good schedule where you allot the time for family. I think you're amazing to juggle full time school and the 4 kiddos, let alone anything else! :-) Sometimes too there's wisdom in just cutting down to the bare minimum and just focusing on what needs to be done most urgently. Some things may have to get put on hold until you have more time to focus. I wish you the best.

Jen - posted on 01/07/2010

Hi Judith!



I am a single mom of a 1 year old, a full time college student, I work 45-50 hours a week at my full time jobs, AND I sell Mary Kay.. oh and of course there is trying to have a personal life!! LOL



You know those weekly sheets that MK tells us to fill out, THEY WORK!!! I fill in work time, school time, home time, MK time.. etc.. and it really works, it helps you become organized a little bit more.



Feel free to message me if you have questions about the weekly sheet. I can email you one, or I do mine on excel. I can email you that one....



OR If you just want to chat with someone who knows what its like to feel like your drowning or so far behind you can't catch up!



Jen



JenGmaryKay@yahoo.com