Support for Your Business...Starting at Home

[momsnet]

As things have been a bit crazy around our house since starting a home based business, I have been thinking how lucky and blessed that I am to have a husband who is supportive in my business endeavors. I hear time and time again from women that their spouses are not only unsupportive but, in fact, they tease, taunt and try to make their wives feel like they are silly to even attempt a business. My heart goes out to these women, and it saddens me to hear stories like this. It is difficult to pursue a dream when the person who is to be your closest friend and supporter acts just the opposite. I sometimes wonder why some spouses act this way, but will never fully understand. I can only assume a variety of reasons: jealousy, fear of change, feelings of neglect.

If you have a supportive spouse - be thankful and grateful and let them know you appreciate them. Many times my husband will help make it possible for me to have an uninterrupted work slot. He either leaves with our son to go on an outing or they play together in another area of the house. There have also been many times where he has put his own business plans (he has a handy man business on the side) on hold if he knows I have a deadline to meet.

If you have a spouse who is less than enthusiastic about your business, sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk when it is just the two of you. Tell him how you feel and what you see happening. Find out why he feels or acts the way he does and tell him what you need from him. If he is not willing to work with you on this and be a supporter of you and your business, but at the same time tells you to do what you want with having your own business, it is time to find a friend to be your supporter. Running a business while having a home and children to tend to are hard without the help and encouragement of someone close. If you can't get that from your spouse, then seek out a close friend. She can be used as a sounding board, a cheerleader, and even as a baby-sitter at times when you need to focus on your business. Once your success begins to grow, that spouse of yours may see you in a new light and come on board as an avid supporter.

Don't give up your dreams and what you see as an opportunity for success simply because your spouse is not living up to your expectations in regards to your business. Try to find the alternatives that can make it work for you

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Cyndi Webb is the founder of Moms Network - www.momsnetwork.com, an organization dedicated to offering free resources to help moms in their personal and professional lives, specializing in promotion and tools for work at home moms. Moms Network currently operates close to twenty websites, all of unique value and content, in order to broaden the reach to women from all walks of life and interests. The organization also offers a national print magazine, and holds two expos each year: the Celebrating Moms Expo & the Scrap N' Stamp expo. Cyndi makes her home in Minnesota with her husband and two children.