If you don t have a dedicated phone number for your business, get one. Then put a message on your answering machine saying that you re out of the office but will get back with them asap and that their business is important bla bla bla.Build it into your customers and your potential-customers mind that it may be a little bit before you get back to them. If you start off that way, there s no surprise later, and every time you get right back to them, they ll feel special.You ll also need to get your kids to understand that you work at home. And, since it is work, they need to give you some time to get it done. Kids seem to think that if you re home, you are available to their every whim. It will take some training and persistence, but they ll get used to it.Let them know that as soon as you make $[insert dollar amount here] you re all going to [insert fun activity or purchase here]. Recruit them into helping by handing out your business card to everyone they meet. My 12-year-old does it for me. By being involved, they ll take some personal ownership of the business and expect you to work at it.Whatever you promise them, you have to deliver, though. Otherwise they won t believe you next time and will feel cheated.
Get a planner with a good calendar. Mark down the times you need to do essential things like your job, do things with/for your family, household tasks, time you need to spend taking care of yourself (doctor s dentist appointments, excercise, etc) spending time with friends, etc. Take a look at the hours you have left and use those hours to schedule your business work hours . Although you are probably a very busy person you will probably find some hours in there that you can use that you are currenly using to watch TV, play video games, surf the internet, shopping, etc. Those are the hours you will probably need to use for your business. You may also want to enlist the help of your kids to help more with household chores or maybe depending on their ages and what your business involves they may be able to help you with your business. Can they help you file, print labels, take catalogs or brochures to your neighbors, help you put together mailing packets, etc?Good luck in your business!
Push back your work to as late as possible. Spend time with them during the day and do your work after 5pm. They get your day you get your evening.
