When traditional measures don’t fit, tweak them

by Lara Ryan

Many women pass into an interesting stage in their life when they can remember their mothers at the same age. For me, that happened in my early 30s. Ever since, I have marked milestones in my life against those in hers.

When my mother was 38, she left the traditional workforce for health reasons. Because she was a single mother who still had to earn a living, she became an entrepreneur of sorts. When I was 38, I left the traditional workforce for lifestyle reasons and became an entrepreneur. I started a niche consulting business around corporate social responsibility and I’m a partner in my husband’s music studio, artistic career, and property business.

It had occurred to me that being my own boss would allow me to spend more time with my family and the chance to work on a variety of projects that interest me. It has done both, although I’m not sure I’ve yet achieved balance. According to Statistics Canada, self-employment rates increased by 4.3% between October 2008 and October 2009, during which time about 100,000 Canadians became their own bosses. Some of that spike can be attributed to the recession and layoffs, but not all. Most layoffs were in manufacturing, while most self-employment is in the service sector. Women accounted for the majority of the increase (58%).

The work-from-home trend has also seen the rise of the “mompreneur.” An entrepreneur who is also a mother strives to balance a successful family life with a fulfilling career. This spectrum also includes the growth in workplaces trying to provide options to employees who may wish to keep one foot at home and the other in the traditional workplace. We see progressive (and recognized) employers offering family balance programs such as flex hours, job sharing, and telecommuting.  

When I finally decided to leap into self-employment, I was confident that my skills and networks could support me. I was also fortunate that other business ventures had positive revenue streams. I measured the risks and decided to go for it. It took a while to stop worrying about where the next job would come from, and it’s still challenging to close the office door at the end of the day when there are more emails that demand my attention, but at that point my kids need me more. I’m lucky that I’m disciplined and don’t have trouble “going to work” each morning and that I can ignore the stack of interesting novels on my bookshelf. Never a day goes by that I regret my decision to work for myself. I can’t imagine that I’ll ever go back to a “real” job.

In the mornings I walk my kids to the bus and spend an hour walking in the woods with my husband and our dog, then I’m at my desk by 9 a.m. I work for clients who have no problem with virtual connections. I spend time face to face when necessary, although rarely, early in the morning, to avoid a clogged commute.

My challenge remains taking on too much, mostly out of interest, not from an overwhelming demand for my consulting services. You can find plenty to keep you busy with if you try. For some, working from home is a temporary solution to an unexpected employment hiccup; they will never get used to the solitude and uncertainty. I’ve learned to love working on my own and don’t worry (much) about when the phone will ring.

If you have an opportunity to transition to self-employment on your own terms, spend some time developing a strategy. Determine how much work you think you’ll need to meet your financial goals. Also, figure out how much is enough. Sometimes it’s easy to take on too much work because you think more won’t come. Set piorities for what you want your workday to look like., then figure out how you can make that happen. Hone your expertise so you have something to offer the market. Get credentials if they will help your credibility. Decide if you want to grow, travel, employ people, or win entrepreneurial and business awards. All of those decisions will impact your vision of self-employment.

Before I leapt, I thought about traditional measures of success: ambition; financial rewards; peer recognition. But they didn’t fit exactly. I needed to tweak them to suit my needs. Sure, I’ve helped build organizations and manage teams. That isn’t my personal priority; instead, being able to do interesting work and be a good wife and mother fulfills me in that way. I’ve stepped at least halfway off the treadmill, and I like the perspective from here.

Lara Ryan is a business consultant specializing in CSR. She can be reached at lara@lararyanconsulting.ca