You Can’t Be the Perfect Mom & CEO All the Time
Summary
- Sometimes we feel like we're failing in our roles because we can't do everything perfectly every day.
- It's okay to focus on your business one day and on your kids the next; they might miss you one day but get all of your attention another day.
- Over the long haul, if you look at many years together, you usually give your love and attention evenly to the things that matter most.
- Don't be so hard on yourself for feeling like a bad business owner, mother, or wife sometimes.
- Making trade-offs in different moments doesn’t mean you're failing; it means you're balancing as best as you can.
Video
How To Take Action
Focus on Balance, Not Perfection
Balance Your Time: Recognize that every single day doesn’t have to be a perfect balance. Some days you’ll give more to your business, and other days to your family. Over time, it tends to even out.
Ease Self-Criticism: It's okay to feel like you're not doing well in all your roles all the time. Making trade-offs doesn’t mean you’re failing; it means you’re balancing.
Practical Steps to Implement
Weekly Planning: Set aside time each week to plan your days. Identify which days will be business-focused and which will be family-focused. This can help you feel more organized and less guilty about where your time goes.
Celebrate Small Wins: Each day, write down one small success in either your business or personal life. This helps to remind you that you’re making progress, even if it feels slow.
Set Realistic Goals: Break down your goals into manageable pieces. Don’t try to conquer everything at once. For example, if you want to spend more time with your kids, maybe start with an hour each day dedicated solely to them.
Use Simple Tools: Use a basic calendar or planner to track your time and responsibilities. You can use phone alarms or reminders to help you switch tasks smoothly.
Ask for Help: Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks at work or ask family members for help at home. Sharing responsibilities can free up your time and reduce stress.
Long-Term Perspective
Reflect Monthly: At the end of each month, take some time to reflect on how you’re distributing your attention. Are there areas that need adjustment?
Be Kind to Yourself: Acknowledge that you are doing your best. Self-compassion can go a long way in reducing feelings of failure.
Big Picture View: Regularly remind yourself that what might feel unbalanced now could look balanced over a year or more. This perspective helps you stay calm and carry on.
By applying these strategies, you can find a rhythm that works for you and provide the attention needed to both your business and family in the long run.
Full Transcript
in the audience the moment she raised her hand before she could even get words out she started crying and she said to me I feel so terrible because I have this business and I'm doing really well but at the same time I feel like I'm really failing as a mother I need to end my business because my children aren't getting the mom they need and it literally just like broke my heart because I could see that this woman is trying so hard to have a business that she really truly loved and she also really wanted to be this mom for these kids and she felt like she was failing both of them and what I told her was this tomorrow you might completely focus on your business and your kids are not going to see you and they're going to miss you but then when you get home for the weekend you might spend the whole weekend with them and then you might get behind on business and then you might feel guilty on Monday and the reality is is that if you take all of those micro moments and then you extrapolate them out over 10 years and you look at the macro you probably evenly distributed your attention to the things that you love it's okay not to be perfect it's okay to feel in a moment like you're a bad business owner it's okay to feel in a moment like you're a bad wife it's okay to feel in a moment like you're a bad mother it doesn't mean you are it just means that in the moment you had to make a trade-off