Juggling a Corporate Career & a Business
written by SPARK Member Sophie Law, Hurlaw Contracting
You can have it all. You can be all the things you want to be, and more! Do not let anyone pigeonhole you into a category and tell you that you can’t have it all. I’m here to tell you that you can.
I begun my journey to having it all when my husband & I first got together. I had never been in a relationship that was so secure & empowering. He made believe that we could shoot for the stars and land on the moon!
Well, that journey led me to where I am now, a professional career woman who works full time, and small business owner (x2 if we’re counting). People ask me all the time how I do it all? And to be completely honest I had to sit down and really think about how I get it all done.
Some days are long, some days are draining, but the good days make up for the tough ones as most business owners will tell you. Have you ever heard the saying “tough times don’t last, tough people do”? Well, that has become my life motto. Sometimes we hang in there, and other times we celebrate until the cows come home!
It’s all about balance when you are trying to ‘have it all’. I have come up with a few pointers for fellow readers (if you are still following along at home...). These pointers are just that, tips that have helped me maintain balance between my career, businesses and lifestyle. They may not work for everyone, but they work for me.
Stay adaptable & open to change – Always be open to new opportunities and things that could help you to become more efficient. I honestly could not tell you the number of times I have trialled a new program or application in the hopes it will streamline our business dynamics. Learn new things constantly. There is a wealth of knowledge sitting in the mind of someone you know that will happily share it with you.
Time Management – Plan your days. Everything goes into my outlook calendar, no matter how small or mundane the task or meeting may be. We need to manage our time so that we can keep good records, especially on those days when we may be a little tired and things are difficult to remember.
Delegate & outsource – outsource any tasks, whether it be at home or in your business that you genuinely dislike doing. You are allowed to treat yourself and ask for help in an area that does not set your soul on fire.
Use Weekends Wisely – This is a tip I also struggle with, along with juggling everything sometimes our social lives go into overdrive and there are a few events on back-to-back weekends. I find if I dedicate half a morning to cleaning & clearing the house then I can dedicate half a day to a full day to work on both the businesses. Time does get away form us and it is best to use it wisely!
Use corporate skills from your job in your business – I am lucky that my job crosses over with my business skillset. To be successful and knowledgeable in my chosen career I need to know how a business runs and vice versa. I maintain the level of professionalism needed in my job through to my business too.
Maintain a growth mindset – everything in this world is ever-changing. If you sit stagnant then you are losing. By maintaining a constant mindset of growth, you are already a step ahead of the game, by being open to new opportunities.
Protect Your Mental Health – This is a tip that I had to learn to embrace. It is okay to take time for yourself. Self-care is the kindest thing you can do for yourself amongst the chaos. I found by going for a walk with my husband in the afternoons to unwind and debrief on our days helped my mental health incredibly.
Finally, celebrate the small wins! – No matter how big or small, if you are proud of something that has happened in your day, your week, your career or your business, then celebrate it! I recently completed a 4-week beginner golf lesson challenge. It had nothing to do with my career or my business, but I was so proud of myself for showing up, giving it a go and taking some time to learn something new.
So, to conclude, yes you can do it all. You absolutely can juggle the chaos that is life, just remember to look after yourself on the journey.
