Finding utopia in the workforce

Dropping the kids off at school, going to work, finishing work, the after-school run, dinner cooked and a few social media posts. Sounds like a Utopian life. The children slotted nicely into the day’s schedule, work commencing and finishing during school hours, AND even time for social media!

For many women, this is their reality as they work for themselves. Shannon Fentiman, the Queensland minister for employment explains how “It’s fantastic to see an increase of more than 6,000 Queensland women stepping up into the world of owning and running their own business since 2011…”

Making time for the family, as well as working around the family commitments, make working for yourself very attractive to women.

Whilst there is much debate about the use of the term ‘mumpreneur’ there is no doubt, mothers who begin their own business as a means of re-entry into the workforce, do so in order to juggle the work/life balance.

Many women choose to start a business as they need or want the flexibility of choosing their own work hours. “I didn’t want to return to the normal daily grind of work after several years off raising a young family. I wanted to be able to be with my boys as much as possible while earning an income from home.” Ylva, who began Potted Pretties from her backyard, is there for her boys when they need her, “…I’m doing something I love. I’m happy which of course benefits my kids, a happy mummy is a patient mummy”.

Since beginning Potted Pretties, Ylva can see the positive impact working has had on her and her family.

Trish of the Moroccan Bungalow revels at the challenges involved to create her own brand from the ground up. “I also love how my kids get to experience and learn what work ethic is. They see what it takes to do something you love. My kids understand from an early age that sometimes there is a lot of back breaking work and heartache before you get to experience the reward”

The idea of setting your own work hours seduces many into beginning their own business. But herein lies a hidden problem for those who work from home. Trish explains how massive time management is. “I have learnt that business hours are important, I turn off work at 5pm until the school drop off the next day so I can spend time with my kids and husband, plus allow myself time to unwind before bed”. Ylva keeps a similar schedule

Work ethic, back breaking work and heartache before the reward are all valuable lessons kids learn when their mums work from home.

to ensure she is always present for her kids and not working around the clock.

When asked about who their biggest supporters outside of their family are, it seems women in business are each other’s champions. “…my mum friends are my biggest support… Especially the mums that are running a small business themselves…It’s great being able to help, support & even collaborate with other mums” explains Ylva, who relies heavily on social media as her business platform. “I get the dreaded, is it worth it? question from some friends, because they see the hard work, yet we don’t drive a Porsche”. Trish laughs, but is quick to point out how huge the support women have for each other’s small business is, especially considering her reliance on word-of-mouth business.

The support from other women is immeasurable when it comes to running your own business.

Women are returning to the workforce as the household needs additional income or they lust after the sanity employment can offer. A lack of flexible working hours, affordability and access to child care prevent many women from returning to full-time employment. For many women working from home, for themselves is the answer to overcoming the flexible employment and child care barriers.