Fear of the unknown (as featured in our December e-newsletter)

As some mums probably know, from my past ‘preaching’, I am a big fan of Spousal Support. It’s what contributes to the success of being a WAHM (or at least helps it to a great extent.) Support in the form of financial, emotional, physical and psychological help of any kind. (Even helping to pick up the kids from school is a much appreciated!)

I have been very blessed to have a partner who’s been a fan of Mums@Work, in other words, he helps put my daughter to bed so I can rush out newsletters. (What more can I ask for, right?)

But come 2011, a change of career means that he will be overseas at least 2-3 weeks in a month. Do I like this change? Of course not, but it got me thinking. I realized that there are Mums (amongst you all) with a real situation of having a spouse who spends long hours at work. (Overseas or not) With less help comes more fear. With fear comes the pain of realizing that I now have to Multi-task even more than before.

A few issues ago, I mentioned the importance of Time-Management. Since I feel as though I am going to be tested on this concept pretty soon, I figured I might as well come up with some concrete examples of actual TIME MANAGEMENT:

-       Complicated Thoughts while Doing something Simple (e.g. Talk on the phone while folding laundry, Reading work documents while waiting for your kids to get out from school, Brainstorm new ideas while mopping the floor etc). Obviously some chores are not advisable to be combined with any other activity e.g. Driving, Bathing your 2-year old, Cooking dinner

-       Keep virtual meetings/ Phone calls with colleagues brief and to the point (This is somewhat subjective, since most of us enjoy the social interaction we can have with colleagues and clients.) Realistically, if you have 4 hours of work, a load of laundry, 2 kids with homework and dinner to cook, then stretching a 15-minute phone conversation to 45 minutes of work-and-gossip may not be such a good idea.

-       Arrange your WEEKLY time schedule well – Allocate time for family and time for work. You may have instances when there might be interruptions, but if you have a rough guide as to your working hours and non-working hours (AND make sure you let family & colleagues know) then it is generally easier to draw the boundaries

-       Arrange your DAILY time schedule well – As above, a DAILY schedule helps everyone (in particular, YOU) know what to expect and adds some structure to a potentially stressful situation.

-       Employee to one, Employer of another – Think of your household as a 2^nd organization that you run. Cheap labour comes in the form of your teenager. Before you call the Ministry of Manpower to report child abuse, I stress the importance of making the household an organization with semi-paid employees. Children can be tasked with simple chores. Get them help out – it’s called character-building

-       Duty Calls – If your spouse/ partner (like mine) has less time at home, it’s still important to assign duties. It could be more relaxing activities – taking the dog out for a walk, bringing the kids for a spin or picking up some weekly groceries. Remember: You work too! He’s had a busy day, but you have a busy night ahead. Reach out for help…..as much as he can.

-       Be Child-Friendly: Have a list of activities ready if your child is home with you (For more specific ideas: http://workathomemoms.about.com/od/kidsactivitiesfamilyfun/tp/independentactivities.htm)

-       Focus when you need to – It’s best to create a system of crossing-out what you have accomplished for the day. This helps you to keep focus, in case your multi-tasking gets out of hand. Have a TO-DO List at all times – helps to simplify your life.

Most importantly, have no fear. Choosing to be a Work-at-home-mum comes with its pros and cons. As long as we have a general idea on what is required, we should be alright…..

Mums@Work – Who we are & What we can do for MUMS

ABOUT US

Mums@Work (Singapore) is not merely a job board or a networking portal. We are a social enterprise designed to support Mums who want work-family balance, by providing practical assistance. For mums who seek Flexible-Work Option or are running your own business (as a Mumpreneur), we hope to be able to partner you in some way.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Please refer to the section applicable to your needs.

WHAT CAN’T WE DO?
Unfortunately, we are a social enterprise, so we do not do job-matching. As a mum, you are free to make the decisions regarding your career. We will list all available jobs, provide career advice and support you in decision-making process, should you require it.

We strongly believe in the philosophy of “For Mums, By Mums!” and try our best to give priority to Mums in most of our engagements (within reasonable limits), such as workshop speakers, event organisers etc. Our members (Membership is free as of Jan 2011) receive bi-weekly e-newsletters keeping them informed.

FOR MUMS SEEKING FLEXIBLE-WORK OPTIONS:

• Job Listings (updated via twitter, and reminder sent out via newsletter bi-weekly)with a focus on executive jobs(for diploma/degree holders and above)
• A panel of Career Coaches (For individual one-on-one coaching)
• Career Workshops related to Job Search, resume writing, career planning
• Articles on the job search process
• Information about the latest trends in Flexible-Work options in Singapore
• Networking events with potential employers (scheduled for 2011)

FOR MUMPRENEURS (& Mumpreneurs-wannabes):

• Mumpreneur Workshops – from how to set-up to on-going queries (e.g. Social media marketing, taxation regulations etc)
• Free Listing on our Mumpreneur Directory
• Write-up on “Featured Mumpreneurs” in our bi-weekly e-newsletter
• Networking Events (with other Mumpreneurs)
• Public Workshops/ Events / Activities to support your business growth
• Articles on building your business & other Mumpreneur-related activities

FREE LISTING
If you are a Mumpreneur who runs your own business, just visit our website to learn how we can list you for FREE!

Come join in the fun at www.mumsatwork.net !

Time Management

As some mums probably know, from my past ‘preaching’, I am a big fan of Spousal Support. It’s what contributes to the success of being a WAHM (or at least helps it to a great extent.) Support in the form of financial, emotional, physical and psychological help of any kind. (Even helping to pick up the kids from school is a much appreciated!)

I have been very blessed to have a partner who’s been a fan of Mums@Work, in other words, he helps put my daughter to bed so I can rush out newsletters. (What more can I ask for, right?)

But come 2011, a change of career means that he will be overseas at least 2-3 weeks in a month. Do I like this change? Of course not, but it got me thinking. I realized that there are Mums (amongst you all) with a real situation of having a spouse who spends long hours at work. (Overseas or not) With less help comes more fear. With fear comes the pain of realizing that I now have to Multi-task even more than before.

A few issues ago, I mentioned the importance of Time-Management. Since I feel as though I am going to be tested on this concept pretty soon, I figured I might as well come up with some concrete examples of actual TIME MANAGEMENT:

-       Complicated Thoughts while Doing something Simple (e.g. Talk on the phone while folding laundry, Reading work documents while waiting for your kids to get out from school, Brainstorm new ideas while mopping the floor etc). Obviously some chores are not advisable to be combined with any other activity e.g. Driving, Bathing your 2-year old, Cooking dinner

-       Keep virtual meetings/ Phone calls with colleagues brief and to the point (This is somewhat subjective, since most of us enjoy the social interaction we can have with colleagues and clients.) Realistically, if you have 4 hours of work, a load of laundry, 2 kids with homework and dinner to cook, then stretching a 15-minute phone conversation to 45 minutes of work-and-gossip may not be such a good idea.

-       Arrange your WEEKLY time schedule well – Allocate time for family and time for work. You may have instances when there might be interruptions, but if you have a rough guide as to your working hours and non-working hours (AND make sure you let family & colleagues know) then it is generally easier to draw the boundaries

-       Arrange your DAILY time schedule well – As above, a DAILY schedule helps everyone (in particular, YOU) know what to expect and adds some structure to a potentially stressful situation.

-       Employee to one, Employer of another – Think of your household as a 2^nd organization that you run. Cheap labour comes in the form of your teenager. Before you call the Ministry of Manpower to report child abuse, I stress the importance of making the household an organization with semi-paid employees. Children can be tasked with simple chores. Get them help out – it’s called character-building

-       Duty Calls – If your spouse/ partner (like mine) has less time at home, it’s still important to assign duties. It could be more relaxing activities – taking the dog out for a walk, bringing the kids for a spin or picking up some weekly groceries. Remember: You work too! He’s had a busy day, but you have a busy night ahead. Reach out for help…..as much as he can.

-       Be Child-Friendly: Have a list of activities ready if your child is home with you (For more specific ideas: http://workathomemoms.about.com/od/kidsactivitiesfamilyfun/tp/independentactivities.htm)

-       Focus when you need to – It’s best to create a system of crossing-out what you have accomplished for the day. This helps you to keep focus, in case your multi-tasking gets out of hand. Have a TO-DO List at all times – helps to simplify your life.

Most importantly, have no fear. Choosing to be a Work-at-home-mum comes with its pros and cons. As long as we have a general idea on what is required, we should be alright…..

Can you freelance for a living? (as featured in our September e-newsletter)

According to Wikipedia, “A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long-term.” CNN reports that those who work independently are happier, earn more money, and have a better work/life balance.*

For many mums who are not sure if they are ready to be an official employee, freelancing may be a good way to go. Freelancing can sometimes help those who want to get past the “employment pass” hurdle in Singapore. Or it can help some of us exploring new career territories to start off on a slightly slower mode.

You think you ready to jump on the bandwagon? If yes, these are some tips you might want to get you prepared.

1) Pre-Analysis

Realistically, not every single job can be freelance in nature and not every industry welcomes freelance workers. Of those that are more open to such a flexible arrangement, you can explore roles in:

- Healthcare (admin staff, nurses, medical professions of selected areas)

- Technology (web designers, programmers, e-commerce related roles)

- Creative Arts (writers, photographers, illustrators, media content for advertising campaigns, designers)

- Education (curriculum developers, trainers, coaches)

- Business Consulting (This is ONE huge area – and you can be as creative as you wish to be as a freelancer)

Do some research on these areas, think about which roles interest you and why you would like to pursue a career in that area. Remember, you need to build credibility, so choose wisely. Jack of all traders, Master of none is not a good description for any freelancer. You want to be “The Pro” in your category.

 

2) Get Trained

The 2^nd step to being a freelancer is to ask yourself if you have the pre-requisites to attract employers. It is likely that you will choose to freelance in a role that you either have prior experience or some knowledge in. More importantly, make sure you have the professional qualifications that are needed. Flying solo means that your academic/ professional certifications are going to count for quite a bit.

Invest in training if you have to – get certified, accredited and licensed. Being recognized by professional bodies is important to your personal branding as a freelancer.

 

3) Prepare

Choosing to be a freelancer means you are going to be more self-reliant than ever. Freelancing does tend to sit better with certain personality types. Without over-generalising, do a quick reality-check:

(a)  Are you good at planning and setting your own goals and sticking to them?

(b)  Are you comfortable with working alone, with little or minimum interaction?

(c)  Would you consider yourself good at self-discipline?

(d)  Can you ensure that you are always able to maintain a professional image – keeping your emotions in check, dealing with difficult clients, fending off competitors and keeping your word? (Your reputation is key to your success)

(e)  Do you take the initiative to source out opportunities, meet new potential clients and be proactive?

(f)    Can you be your own office administrator – carry out the mundane admin tasks, follow up with clients, file your taxes, keep track of your accounts etc?

If you answered yes to ALL the questions, you are definitely a Freelancer in the making!

 

4) Brand yourself

As a freelancer, you are a business. Your product is YOU. Be ready to market yourself and reach out to people:

-       Have a website, a Facebook page, a blog – anything that acts as your mouthpiece to the world. Showcase your talents, highlight your achievements.

-       Namecard. Many copies. Enough said.

-       Keep a portfolio of your work/ designs/ success stories. It’s important to be able to have this on hand to impress potential clients

-       Collect quotations from satisfied clients or contented business associates. They are your best references.

 

5) Connect with EVERYONE (or most)

It’s kind of an odd proposition to ask a freelancer (who usually prefers to work alone) to make as many connections as possible. Unfortunately, being a freelancer means you have to do business – so, anyone and everyone who might be able to lead you to more clients is worth knowing.

Join the professional bodies, sign up on meetup.com groups, ask around, attend workshops, go to events where you suspect like-minded individuals will be at. Make friends and then, make friends with their friends.

 

6) Money Talk

So, you want to make money. (For some freelancers, you might want to start off working for free to build credibility. But at some point, cash is still a good thing.) Decide on what rate you want to price yourself at – do a competitive analysis. Check the target market you want to reach and then come up with your price.

As a freelancer, you probably will be paying personal income tax only (Or in certain cases, may not even have to do so.) However, it’s still important to keep your invoices clear. Set up a distinctive payment method (internet bank transfer) and keep to it. It’s still highly advisable to keep track of your revenue details.

The key to being a successful freelancer is to think BUSINESS. In this case, YOU are the product. Like any good product, the 4P’s are essential – the Product quality (your skills, credibility and achievements), Promotion (making contacts, creating awareness of your talents), Price (choose your fee wisely to brand yourself to the right target audience i.e. employer) and Place (where you want to be seen, which brand name employer do you want to be associated with?)

So if you are ready, what are you waiting for?

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* Quote from Yahoo! Education

“Competition is a sin”

….so said John D. Rockefeller. We disagree.

As any Mumpreneur knows, competition is a reality of business life. With the Internet, the competition arena gets more complicated and the number of players are constantly on the rise.

When I started Mums@Work in January 2010, I was warned by business associates to beware of copycats or competitors. Of course, like any business owner, I was afraid. But I wanted Mums@Work to make a difference to society too, so I decided to give it a go. With the help of other mums, we started our engines and chugged along.

REALITY CHECK: Competition did come (even for social enterprises) and competition even registered as a member and as a fan. It got me thinking and I realized – what I am facing is probably what other Mumpreneurs are facing too. If you have a good idea, someone else will follow. And then another someone else will improve on your idea and do an improved version. And yet another someone else will create a vendor to serve your business model. This, honey, is BUSINESS.

So, Mumpreneurs, how do you run the marathon?

1)   Do your SWOT analysis – identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.  Be more aware of your own shortcomings than anyone else. That way, even when competition takes a shot, you know how to come back quick.

2)   Focus on your Unique Selling Point – this is difficult for those who sell products and generally easier for Service providers.  Look beyond your products – think of customer experience, customer service and anything that sets you apart from “them”.

3)   When competitors set up shop, do their SWOT analysis (you don’t have to share with them your findings, of course.) But you should know best what you do better or worse than them.

4)   Check all legalities and requirements of the industry you operate in – I once knew of an organization that found out their competitors had not gotten the official license to run their food outlet. They never sold them out, but when the government came knocking on doors, they were well protected and were not forced to shut down. For those who operate food businesses, employment agencies, childcare centres etc, remember to get your license from Ministry of Manpower before you set up shop.

5)   Constantly improve – I liken this to the food weaning process of a child. Just when you thought that Junior loves your chicken pasta, she’s going to surprise you one day and ask for shephard’s pie. Be prepared – get ready to be better. Come up with new recipes (or rather with new products/ services/ ideas)

6)   Stay positive – Always believe in yourself. Running a business is not always profitable from day 1. (Try MLM for immediate profitability) – If you are passionate about your business, your clients will know. More importantly, as a Mumpreneur, you chose to do a business not because of the profits alone. You chose to do it, so as to have more time with your family as and when you want.

7)   Stay Ethical – I added this point, as it’s my own personal belief. Espionage (corporate spying) exists and as long as you keep your moral values intact – you can look back years later and pat yourself on the back.

As for us, we know why we started Mums@Work – not just for the profits (which by the way, the last time I checked, don’t exist) but because we were set up to represent Mums like ourselves, to reach out to employers to offer flexible-work options, to provide as much support to Mums like us. And from the growing number of member-mums and the increasing number of employers who speak to us, we are glad we got going.

So, chug along we shall!

Stay Relevant

Whether you are a mum who has been out of the workforce for some time, or a mum who is thinking of starting your own business or even a mum who is taking some time off to stay at home with the kids….don’t forget to stay relevant. My many years in the recruiting field made me realize employers (and clients) love to hire/ work with people who say – “I have what it takes to be a productive and efficient employee/ business owner.”

There’s no denying the fact that the Internet has changed the way business is being done. Every day, new tools and software have sped up the old processes. Every month, a new product or service comes into the market. Sometimes, a short 1-year hiatus can mean a world of changes the next time you get back to “work” mode. You probably are not alone lamenting how “behind the times” you are. Employers/ Clients can sense such fear/ insecurities like wolves can smell a deer. (OK, that’s a bit of exaggeration – but you get the point)

So, how do you stay relevant? Constantly upgrade! And in many ways. Let’s break your universe down into little worlds:

• THE WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY – MS Word/ MS Excel proficiency are a given. Try to find opportunities to try out the latest version of commonly used tools. Sign up for workshops, make friends with Techies! Read up on the Internet about the latest Social Media evolution (learn how to use it, especially if you intend to run a small business online). Find out the hype behind iphones and blackberry (My prediction is that more and more business processes may rope in these devices in the months/ years to come.

• THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD – read, read, read! Or watch the news. Know what the trends are. As a mum myself, I find my Mozilla Firefox bookmarks to be dominated by children-related sites, mums-information portals and all WebPages that call out to my maternal instincts. But if I want to be attractive to the HR world, it’s important for me to read HR sites and be logged on to HR-related news as often as I can. (On a weekly basis…ok, maybe monthly….) Whatever your profession is, make sure you are still in touch via magazines, forums, linked in groups etc. (Meet your ex-colleagues for lunch sometimes and refrain from talking about your child – find out what’s going on outside of Baby World)

• THE WORLD OF FASHION – one piece of advice I was given by my ex-boss when I told her of my decision to be a WAHM (work-at-home-mum) was: “Don’t forget to stay pretty!”. I laughed at her then, but 2 months after I had left my managerial job, I found myself dressed in my “mama-clothes” attending a social networking event which had stated ‘semi-casual dressing’ in the invite. Needless to say, the women in their little black-dresses made me, in my GAP blue tight-fitting tee & Esprit denim jeans, very out of place. The ‘sans-makeup’ look didn’t do much for my self-esteem either.  It’s not to say you have to dress like Audrey Hepburn all the time (especially if you have a 85% chance of getting baby banana puree all over your neatly pressed top). Fashion should be a woman’s first love. Indulge!

• THE LINGUSTIC UNIVERSE OF WRITING – I don’t profess to be an excellent writer and I hate to admit it, but sometimes if I had to draw out my thought bubbles (similar to those found in comic strips), I think SMS-language would form part of the dialogue. Business writing is an art form and it’s not hard to remember how to write, but write well! Find a “business pal” to practice with. There’s a lady I know who proudly proclaims on her English business site that she has language ability that leaves much to be desired. Her callous attitude towards putting up a professionally written site is admirable and I am sure it works for how she wants to reach out to her clients. However, Branding is important in a business. Like attracts like. If you are a business owner who intends to attract professional & well-paying clients – project a professional image. (Honestly, it’s very challenging trying to read a FAQ page of sentences, which I am itching to correct with a red-ink pen). If you are seeking employment in a professional organization, give the employers reason to believe that you are a cut above the rest. Practice. Dun wait til u start churng out msgs tt dun make sense 2 any1 else but u……

• MADAME BUTTERFLY’s SOCIALISING WORLD – Some mothers may have a similar experience as I did. A few weeks ago, I decided to take an old friend out for lunch. With no babysitter available, little Miss terrible-twos came along. The universe was kind and the little Miss behaved well. Unfortunately, my single, gorgeous, hip, “party-every Friday night” friend and I realized that outside of little Miss and my work, we had nothing else to talk about. My friend was definitely still interesting, but all I wanted to talk about was which playschool to bring my kids to etc. I was horrified – had I become boring? Of course, you would say “Ditch your friend!” ….But the truth is – 40% of the adult world is male. The remaining 60% is divided up into: 30% unmarried babes, 15% married ladies with no children. So unless you can ensure that all your female friends fall within the 33% of the adult world (i.e. Mamas like you & I), chances are you have to find something else to talk about besides Examination results, diaper change boo-boos or teenage arguments (depending on the age of your children). Socialise – make friends with people outside your comfort zone. Stay relevant!

These are just some personal suggestions.

I love being a Mum, but I also love being a business person, a daughter, a wife, a sister and a friend. If staying relevant helps me achieve all my goals, then it’s worth it. Isn’t it?

For this and other articles (by other contributors), sign up as our member for free to receive our newsletters (www.mumsatwork.net)

Keeping it real: WORKING PART-TIME/ FROM HOME

So you have heard of all the benefits of being a WAHM (Work at home mum) or opting for flexible work options, but before you take the plunge, make sure you have your ‘realistic glasses’ on. Such work-family friendly options are not without limitations.

Take a quiz and see if Work-from-home options/ Part-time work options are meant for you:

1)    Are you expected to contribute to more than 60% of the monthly household income?

2)    Is being able to mingle with colleagues and spending lunch hours with your co-workers and important part of your ‘office experience’?

3)    Do you hope to get a promotion after working for a year?

4)    Are you expecting to earn an income equivalent to at least 70% of your last drawn monthly income?

5)    Although you work from home, are you able to seek child-care help (such as child-care, nanny, domestic help) during certain working hours?

6)    Are you comfortable with the possibility of experiencing negative reactions from coworkers and clients?

7)    Are you a disciplined person who sets monthly or week goals for yourself?

8)    If a part-time job/ freelance work is not as “high-leveled” as previous positions, will you still do it?

If you answer ‘YES’ to more than 4 of the abovementioned questions, then you might seriously want to reconsider taking on part-time work.

The truth is: Part-time work will never be able to generate the same income as a full-time job. For many mothers, this is actually a huge problem – and one that we need to discuss with the other family members before making a decision.

Realistically, most part-time positions (even if they are Professional or Executive level) are not high-ranking positions. You are not likely to manage staff or take up assignments that require much time-commitment.

Working part-time or from home can also cause some unhappiness amongst your colleagues, who might deem your arrangement as being unfair. Not being in the office throughout the day also means less ‘bonding time’ with your co-workers. It’s probably less likely you can build strong friendships in such working conditions, and such isolation can result in loneliness. (As one WAHM told me, she feels starved for adult conversation 5 days a week!)

Working from home does not solve your childcare problem either. As any mother knows, children need undivided attention at times. So unless you are prepared to multi-task (and do it well), it’s going to be a challenge to meet your deadlines and complete your household duties. WAHM or Part-time Working mums need to be very organized and plan their day-to-day activities. Time becomes even more of a challenge to manage.

Singapore (and most of Asia) is still not very new in setting up Work-from-home / Part-time Work arrangements for mothers. This can result in employers not being able to clearly come up with distinct, clear working arrangements when making decisions about (i) workload (ii) compensation (iii) promotional opportunities. Part-timers/ WAHM can sometimes be passed over for advancement opportunities. Occasionally you might also meet employers who form the misconception that part-timers are less committed or not as valuable. Workload can often be too much for a part-timer (who is actually doing a full-timer’s work)

Having said all that, it is undeniable that work-from-home arrangements or part-time work options are still the best ways of getting work-family balance. So the question is: Are you ready to take the plunge?

Being a Mumpreneur vs being an Entrepreneur

Besides having a screaming toddler clinging to her while she types up a business proposal, a Mumpreneur is quite a different creature from a typical entrepreneur. I have received my fair share of snickers and stifled laughter when I introduce myself as a Mumpreneur. In Asia, this new ‘corporate organism’ is still a fairly new concept for many business people. I attend courses and workshops that teach entrepreneurship. I network with entrepreneurs for business opportunities. I even partner entrepreneurs on selected business ventures. (And no! They don’t bring along their daughters/ sons for our business meetings.)

But always at the back of my mind, I know being a Mumpreneur puts me in a different spot. A separate category of its own, which I have come to embrace for its advantages

For one, I get to have a “Daughter Day” every 2 weeks. That’s time I set aside for my 2 year-old. I am not afraid to announce it to my business partners, who seem both envious and amused. I celebrate work-family balance as a Mumpreneur and 4 working days (out of 22) is a fair ratio to devote to family. On ‘Daughter Day’, I don’t take calls; don’t answer emails nor attend business meetings. Most business contacts accept and respect that decision (since I am a MUMpreneur) and usually work around my schedule.

Mumpreneurs also get the chance to put pictures of their own children on their site/ blog/ twitter page, without compromising on a professional image. Instead, if used in the correct context, personal sharing of certain information stands to help. One of the Mumpreneurs I support, sells organic skincare products for children. Her 4-year old daughter is the “face” of her product. As she conducts her outreach programme to schools in Singapore, she is acutely aware that her own trust and belief in the product’s benefits have greatly helped her to convince potential buyers. Her own daughter is the best testimonial of the product’s benefits.

Every since jumping on the Mumpreneur bandwagon, I have come to observe and appreciate the Mumpreneurs’ network on cyberspace. A simple Google search will churn out  networks all over the world. Facebook pages of Mumpreneurs who add each other as fans or friends are evidence of a group determined to be pillars of support for one another. Instead of the usual competition that one sees with entrepreneurs, there seems to be an unspoken desire to help each other succeed. (And no, they don’t accept Dads in these networks.)

Most of all, being a Mumpreneur means that we have to be creative. Entrepreneurs need creativity in designing business solutions. Mumpreneurs need to be creative with the business, with our time, with our goals and with our skills. Not all mothers set up online or home businesses based on the skills they have. In fact, quite a large number turn to new businesses that they had no previous contact with. Accountants with an online bakery, PR consultants turned jewellery-designers, Doctors who design and sew baby shoes, Lawyers with a newfound passion in hat making. (Etsy.com has its fair share of such talent)

Creativity with Time-management is critical for Mumpreneurs, as we no longer have an excuse. “Please mind Sarah, I need to work overtime” won’t go down well with the husbands, since our business was started (in the first place) so we could have work-family balance.

Last but not least, Mumpreneurs are fuelled by a different set of dreams and goals. Most of us do not design a business that can be sold off, obtain funding from a bank or be considered by venture capitalists. Most mothers who choose to be a Mumpreneur do so because they want more flexible time with their children. Profits are important, but unlike other entrepreneurs, it’s the maternal love that started the business, propels it forward and keeps it going. And therein, lies all the difference.

Despite the Laughter…..

I was at a networking session a few days ago, where I was introducing Mums@Work as a social enterprise. I explained to the many people that I met, what our mission statement is: We seek to keep a lookout for meaningful part-time/ flexible work options for mothers and also support mothers who wanted to do their own business.

Most of the time, I have been applauded for our goal (especially when the hiring manager is female!), but I have had my fair share of ‘sniggers’ and stifled laughter. A young, handsome gentleman (of a prestigious headhunting firm) asked me why I was doing it, since the profit margins are not high. When I went on to explain the greater purpose of Mums@Work – he laughed and still couldn’t understand why anyone would want to start an organisation that didn’t rake in profits. His last statement to me was :”So, it’s your hobby, lah?”

Another hiring director asked me if we provided cleaners. I wanted to tell him – all Mums are cleaners! We clean, we wash, we cook, we keep the house clean (as best as we can). But on top of that, we also earn money, nurture children, participate in politics, run businesses and rule the world!

And there-in lies the whole belief system that Mums@Work is based on. Women can accomplish so much. All at the same time!

On a positive note, I have met many many hiring directors/ managers who have been supportive. Usually they are mothers themselves or recognise the benefits of being a stay-at-home mother (or a part-time SAHM) and the positive impact on her family & children. And it’s them (and the thank you notes that I receive from some of our members) that keep us going!

Flexible work is here to stay, as our society evolves and our economy develops. We are now, just fine-tuning and expanding this pool of talented individuals. As Mums@Work grows, I genuinely hope we can do more for each and every mother who wants to find work-family balance!

It’s Saturday – Family day….enjoy it!

Princeton News: 2010 Baccalaureate remarks

I found this speech by Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, very inspiring and thought I would share it with you (If you have not come across it yet.)

Some of the best lines which I enjoyed:

“Cleverness is a gift, kindness is a choice.”

“I took the less safe path to follow my passion, and I’m proud of that choice.”

The sharing of this article is dedicated to all the Mums who have made a conscious choice, one way or another to find ways to balance work and family.

As Jeff puts it – “In the end, we are our choices.”

May you continue to find strength in the choices that you have made (and will continue to make) as a Mum.

Princeton News: 2010 Baccalaureate remarks.