Throughout the duration of our working lives, we are required to demonstrate our abilities as a condition of employment. Our resumes list our previous companies and positions as proof of our experience. Everything had to be documented in terms of quantitative successes, or we wouldn’t have any proof of our efforts.
So, when we decide to strike out on our own and start a new business, we may wonder whether we are out of our depth. Without proof of our ability to grow outside of the framework of our prior actions, it is easy to doubt ourselves. We’ve been taught to be sceptical of any claim of expertise that isn’t backed up by evidence.
Some of the talents that aren’t judged by traditional criteria, on the other hand, are the most important qualities for parenting.
The most important task of all is to
When it comes to raising our children, a lot of what we do becomes second nature. We don’t see the hundreds of microtasks, negotiations, and opportunities to learn on the job as transferable skills that could aid us in the workplace.
When I found out I was going to be a father at the age of 22, I saw my future hopes and objectives flash before my eyes. I was convinced that the professional objectives I had set for myself would never be met, and that my future would be irreversibly altered. My business dreams and days of professional risk-taking seemed to vanish before they really got started.
But there’s one thing I wish I could have told my younger self: becoming a mother would have prepared me for entrepreneurship better than any other job. Throughout the years that I’ve been parenting my two children and establishing my own Health Tech organisation, I’ve been able to draw some parallels between the worlds of child rearing and business.
Automobile seats and customers
As any parent knows, buckling your child into a car seat is an art. You can’t convince them to sit in that seat, no matter how many incentives and distractions you offer. Going to your child’s favourite store, I quickly realised, turns the dreaded car seat song and dance into a breeze. And the lesson here is that this isn’t a one-sided contract; rather, it’s negotiating that encourages the client, in this case a youngster, to go with the flow, with the end goal being a visit to a location they enjoy.
As a result of this realisation, I improved my business skills. Before launching my own company, I worked as a sales representative. I worked tirelessly to increase my customer pipeline and client base, but I quickly realised that trying to bully a client will always backfire. One of my favourite quotes comes from entrepreneur Mark Cuban, who says, “Selling is never about persuasion; it’s always about assistance.” Customers will almost buckle up for the ride once they forget you’re a salesperson and see you as a partner who is trying to assist them.
Lawyers and diapers are a match made in heaven.
Changing a diaper is one of the most challenging duties for a new parent. It will rapidly become second nature, but you will remember the first time you did it since you had no idea what you were doing and the consequences of getting it wrong looked terrifying. When my child arrived, I had hundreds of nurses offer me different strategies and advice, but there were two constants in a decent diaper change: size mattered, and I needed a diaper I could trust.
Similarly, when I initially launched my company, I had no idea how vital having a good legal team was. As my firm evolved, I understood that having a legal staff isn’t enough; it’s also critical to have one that is the correct size for the business. If you work for a large law firm and own a small business, you are unlikely to be a priority. If you only hire one person, they may not be able to keep up with the demands of a rapidly expanding organisation. However, if you can find a legal team that is the proper size for your company, you can rely on them to handle any situation. When it comes to cleaning up a legal mess, having a team you can count on is crucial.
The slumber party and the resale
One of my children’s favourite things to do is spend an overnight at their grandparents’ house, where they are spoiled rotten. We pack their clothing, milk bottles, and soft creatures to ensure that everyone has a nice night’s sleep, and it takes a lot of planning to get them there. The grandparents are delighted to see the children, the youngsters are looking forward to the overnight, and the parents are able to take a night off from their normal responsibilities. It’s a win-win situation.
Purchasing a business follows a similar pattern. While I have yet to witness the results of my grandfather’s and other close friends’ successful acquisitions, I have seen the results of my grandfather’s and other close friends’ successful acquisitions. Those purchases have been described to me as needing a lot of forethought, but the end result feels like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. The purchase isn’t always the end of the road, but it is a huge step toward greater independence.
Because external events beyond our control can occasionally impact our lives’ timelines, not everyone becomes a parent when they intend to. Parents who assume their years of child rearing have prevented them from developing entrepreneurial abilities may discover that they are the best fit for the job.
