No matter how much progress women entrepreneurs make, balancing
work and family remains a major challenge. In this age of
technology and telecommuting, has anything really changed for
women?
Mona Scott, 34, is the mother of 4-year-old Justin and co-owner
and president of 7-year-old Violator Management, a
million-dollar-plus New York City multimedia management company
that handles urban recording artists such as Busta Rhymes, Missy
Elliott and LL Cool J. "My job demands I be available
24/7/365. There are no weekends off or holiday breaks," says
Scott. "Vacation means I get away but still must be reachable
if something arises. If Busta calls and needs me at 3:30 a.m. on a
Saturday morning, I have to be there for him."
To balance such a demanding business with her role as a single
mother, Scott relies on support from her extended family-mother,
sisters, nephews and nieces. Early on, she asked her son's
paternal grandmother, who was working in the child-care industry,
to quit her job and help with Justin full time. When Scott's
day starts about 7:30 a.m. at the gym, Justin's grandmother is
getting him ready for school. Scott returns home to spend time with
her son over breakfast before heading to the office for a workday
that rarely ends before 11 p.m.
Live by the motto "If I
don't take care of myself, I won't be able to take care of
another."
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Scott relies on technology, especially her cell phone and
two-way pager, to remain "in the loop." "If I stay
home, that day is spent on the phone and computer. I would
definitely characterize myself as an e-mail and instant message
junkie." But staying connected isn't just a matter of
technology: Scott's son visits her at the office and
accompanies her on business trips, grandmother in tow.
Child care is only one facet of care-giving that women
entrepreneurs face, however. Elder care is just as big a
responsibility for a growing number of women. According to the
Administration on Aging, there will be 70 million seniors in the
United States by 2030. That's more than twice the number in
1999.
Caring for elders often presents even more challenges than
caring for children. Julie Cook Downing, author of Caregiver's
Comfort, a self-published journal, resource and record book for
care-givers, points out that while children are maturing and
becoming more independent, needing progressively less care, seniors
are regressing and becoming more dependent, which means an
increased need for care.
"In my experience, care-giving for the aging parent is most
often left for the daughter in the family to handle," says
Lorraine Luciani, 51, co-owner of a geriatric care management firm
in Hallandale, Florida. "Caring for an aging parent is a big
responsibility. Add in running your own business, and the stress
multiplies."
Whether you're dealing with child-care issues or elder-care
concerns, much of the same advice applies. Luciani, who co-owns
Elder Care Directions with Vickie Luciano, 39, offers this
advice:
1. Call a "family
meeting" to discuss ways you can share the
responsibilities of care-giving.
2. Don't try to be
"superwoman" and handle everything alone. Join
a care-givers' support group in your community or online.
3. Take advantage of
technology. Stay accessible via cell phones, pagers,
e-mail and fax capabilities.
4. Watch for burnout. Live
by the motto "If I don't take care of myself, I won't
be able to take care of another."
"Prioritize situations and try not to let the 'guilty
blues' get you," says Luciano. "Do the best you can
and deal with everything one day at a time."
Aliza Pilar Sherman is an Internet pioneer, e-entrepreneur,
speaker and author of the book Power Tools for Women in Business: 10 Ways to
Succeed in Life and Work(Entrepreneur Press).
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