After struggling with many work/life balance issues themselves, Jayne and Valerie established the NewNorma Project to examine how work/life balance can become a reality for any woman running her own business.
Through the NewNorma Project, Jayne and Valerie delved into many variables concerning female business owners' experience of work/life balance. Their research involved seeking the views of women entrepreneurs on what they call life: work balance - to reflect the priority they place on an holistic life balance. The women who responded to their survey and one-on-one interviews were business owners from around the world - rural areas, cities and towns in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America and Australasia.
Jayne and Valerie found that more women (just over half) reported they had achieved life work balance than those who lacked it and over one-third said they had both life balance and business success. In contrast, less than half felt they had achieved business success and sadly, just under one third said they had neither.
While business success was defined in many ways by the respondents, life balance and other qualitative aspects figured strongly in their definitions:
"It's basically, not about wealth, but how you feel"
"Success is when you run the business and the business doesn't run you"
"I have freedom to choose whatever I want, when I want"
The length of time to achieve balance ranged from 1 to 10+ years, with almost half respondents reporting they had achieved life: work balance in 1-5 years, and another third taking 10 or more years. Most women said there was a cost in attaining balance, usually in the form of sacrificing income and undertaking constant vigilance.
A further cost that became apparent through the NewNorma project was the almost universality of guilt impinging on working mothers. Although there was no question on guilt in the survey, the word was used frequently by women in many different countries and with all sizes of business.
"I don't think there's one woman who doesn't feel guilt and I think men don't really understand. And it's guilt about everything", one respondent said.
However, guilt provided a motivating force too. One woman told how her inspiration to start her business to have life work balance came about as a result of the guilt she felt about missing school events when she was an employee.
While there are no shortcuts to achieve balance, Jayne and Valerie have identified a number of proven strategies implemented by many successful, balanced entrepreneurs, including:
They will shortly release their full research findings, including additional life: work balance strategies, in a white paper entitled Life: Work Balance Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs and Business Owners. For a free copy go to www.guiltfreebusinessmothers.com.
In the meantime, if you'd like to contribute to Jayne and Valerie's ongoing research into life: work balance, please visit www.newnorma.com to take part in their current 60-second survey "Is your Partner Helping or Hindering Your Business Success?"
Optus is right behind the Australian Businesswomen's Network.
Communications are the life line of any successful business. The new digital economy has opened up many opportunities - and it isn't just something that benefits large business.
For small businesses the advancement in technology, communications and digital solutions opens up opportunities to reach new customers Ð whether it be through email, the office telephone, your Smartphone or the internet connection for your office; having the right technology provider behind you is essential to the success of your business.
In this new digital economy, never has this been so important for small business.
Buzz words such as the 'Cloud' and 'Cloud computing' have also become ubiquitous with this new economy butÉwhat is the Cloud? How can it benefit my business? And is it right for me?
Optus will be working closely with the Australian Businesswomen's Network to help you harness the power of these new technologies and how they benefit your business.
In June 2011, Optus launched Optus OfficeApps, a new portfolio of cloud services for Small & Medium Businesses.
Optus OfficeApps is designed for growing businesses, frustrated with how time consuming it is to manage and maintain their IT systems. It provides online email, collaboration, back up and security solutions that take the hard work out of operating a business, so you can focus more on growth rather than support. And unlike other cloud-based solutions, Optus Office Apps provides migration assistance, up to 24/7 support, as and when you need it. For more information about Optus OfficeApps, please visit optusbusiness.com.au/officeapps.
Optus is a proud partner of the Australian Businesswomen's Network and we look forward to continuing to work together to deliver members solutions and relevant information that will help grow and support your business.
To find out more about Optus Business, visit us at www.optusbusiness.com.au.
If you're tired of fighting traffic and forcing yourself to listen to yet another round of office gossip, technology might provide just the reprieve you need as more and more jobs can be done from home using a computer and a good internet connection. In some ways, this isn't a particularly new development. Telecommuting has [...]
According to the Australian Government's Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2008-09, the global financial crisis has not only entered a new and dangerous phase, but we are currently experiencing the most significant upheaval in global financial markets since the Great Depression. Meanwhile, in its publication Business Outlook, December 2008, leading economic forecaster Access Economics [...]
There's no doubt that when you return from holidays, you come back with that magical feeling that gets the Mojo fired up, and you're feeling good. I'm sure everybody can relate to that wonderful feeling. You've had maybe two or three weeks away from the everyday and you come home feeling a million dollars. Sometimes [...]
What is the ideal workspace? Where are you most productive? This episode looks at ideas to be more productive, no matter where you do your work.Most of us have a place where we work each day, whether it's a home office or a commercial space. And occasionally, we are required to work and be productive [...]
Consider your pricing method, discounts and allowances, price elasticity and break-even analyses at various prices. Most crucially, keep that cash flowing! There is absolutely no point in having large amounts of YOUR money held by slow paying debtors, or in stockpiling inventory that isn't moving. There are many strategies you can implement to give your [...]
Advertisement:
Need finance for your new small business? ANZ has pledged to lend $1 billion to new small businesses over the next 12 months. So whether you need $20,000, $200,000 or more, now’s the time to speak with an ANZ Small Business Specialist.
