It’s very easy to assume that unless you have a long history of business experience, you’re not capable of working in the important roles. But that’s not always the case. After all, entrepreneurs have managed to turn their crazy idea into international conglomerates. It’s not as if you’re just trying your hand at running a police station overnight to put your interpretation of law enforcement into effect, as the world of commercial enterprise (outside of the necessary regulations) can have so many interpretations that you’re sure to fit in somewhere.
This is especially important to tell mothers who may have been looking after their children for some time, or who may have been a homemaker for a while. Some may feel embarrassed when it’s time to work again, when they absolutely shouldn’t. Not only because parenthood is the hardest job going, but because all the skills you’ve learned may have given you amazing business acumen to begin with.
You might not wish to launch your own business right now, but even working in one can show your true, more than capable colors. Let’s consider what that might look like:
Reader's Roadmap
You May Be Great At Communication & Relating
If you’ve spent years handling children, balancing family schedules, and managing endless conversations about how to plan it all, you’ve already built a skill that’s invaluable in business. Communication is at the heart of almost every role you could fill in an organization, and so being able to listen, relate, and get your point across clearly, especially for unapologetically pushing your ideas. That shows you might actually be quite talented at talking to customers, managing a team, or networking. You may have a great idea for integrating the next evolution in chatbot software in your customer facing role for instance, or learn how to do that for your own business.
You May Have Residual Strength
The idea that working outside the home is the only way to build resilience is completely wrong. You’ve likely found a thousand times over that parenthood requires patience, stamina, and the ability to handle pressure. You might have been managing a household budget under difficult circumstances, most likely juggling multiple responsibilities, and almost certainly solving problems on the fly, and so you’ve already proven you can stay calm under stress.
This means you’ll be able to think more effectively on your feet, stay calm when the deadline comes, and learn to be proactive about problems as opposed to putting them off. Almost any boss would be happy to have someone like that, and those qualities are great if you’re to open your own brand.
You May Understand Consumer Convenience & Need
If you’ve been in charge of a household, you know exactly what makes life easier and what’s a waste of time. That insight is valuable in business, as companies need people who can step into the customer’s shoes, understand what they’re looking for, and offer solutions that actually work. It means you’ll always have a connection to the consumer view as you were one, be you arranging family vacations or helping design product UX.
With this advice, you’ll be certain to show more business acumen than you ever gave yourself credit for.