I’m getting personal again. I suck at parenting. Why? I’m a workaholic, and I don’t always want to turn off my entrepreneur hat and give my kids my undivided attention because well… I got great ideas, and I need to pump those ideas out so that I can continue to provide for my family.
I’ve never had my kids on a schedule. Mainly because I feel guilty that I work so much. So I would let them stay up way past an acceptable hour for a one-year-old and a two-year-old.
Oh, my childcare provider and nanny have gotten into my ass a few times about my lack of discipline and structure.
Today I decided that I was done being selfish and it was a must that I put them on a schedule and start having daily mommy time so that I can wind down and have more patience.
But I had a problem.
I didn’t know how to get them kids to bed without a knock out drag out situation.
I’ve tried for weeks to get them onto a “schedule,” and I’ve failed.
Last night I finally reached out to my nanny and told her that I needed help.
I didn’t like what she had to say, but I listened.
Now most people are going to have some slack to say about my inability to control my kids, but that’s just my reality.
I needed help, and I asked for it. And I’m not ashamed.
Last night I decided to submit to what my nanny and childcare provider have been teaching me all alone.
And guess what?
Both kids were fast asleep, and neither one of them cried. That was a first for me.
I don’t know everything, but I’m smart enough to know when I need help.
I love shortening my learning curve.
Moral of the story. Don’t let your pride stand in the way of positioning yourself to have a better life and business.
Now you are probably wondering what in the hell does this have to do with business.
It’s simple.
Over the last 6 months, I can count on one hand the times I have been successful at getting my children to bed before 10:00 p.m. Shameful I know.
Pay attention to what I am about to say.
One of the reasons why I couldn’t guarantee bedtime success was because I didn’t have a system to follow to ensure that they would go to bed on time.
I tried of series of tactics hoping that I would get the desired result. Kids in bed and then mommy time. The reason why those tactics didn’t work because I didn’t understand them. I just used them because that was all I knew to do because I had heard through the grape vine that was what I was supposed to do.
Result: Frustration. Going to bed late. Waking up and starting my day late. Feeling like a failure.
I mean a handful of times I was able to successful get them to bed, but then I was just playing Russian Roulette with my sanity.
Putting my kids to bed goes hand in hand with positioning your business to be successful.
First, you must define why a end result is important to you, and you must be willing to commit to achieving the outcome regardless of the time investment that it might require.
Second, you must find the right strategies that are in alignment with what you want to create and understand the impact that they might have on your business if applied right.
See I was attempting to apply strategies that I did not understand.
When you try to force success without a proper foundation, you will fail every time.
I got smart and decided to consult someone who understands me and my children. She was able to outline my pitfalls and outline strategies that would work for my family. AND she took her time to explain to me why I need to implement changes.
Once I understood the WHY my defense mechanism disappeared and I was open to embracing her feedback and like magic, her suggestions worked.
Moving forward I am dedicated to helping you create Smart Business Success Systems so that you can start seeing consistent growth in your business vs. sporadic growth that you can’t depend on.
Your Business Systems Strategist
Wendy Nicole Anderson
www.wendynicoleanderson.com
I need that secret to getting the kids down with no fussing. I haven’t figure that out yet! I understand your struggle! Just like systems in our business we needs systems in our household.