Be A Great Business Person and A Great Parent

How to succeed in business and at home
By Russell Smith, Product Developer and CTO Crossroads Access and Angel Technology You can have your cake and eat it too! It is possible to give your business and your kids the attention they need, at the same time.

Unfortunately, in today's telecommuting world a vast majority of business people still don't believe that family and business life can mix. They couldn't be more wrong. Perhaps more accurately, they couldn't be more narrow minded.

Todays economy provides ample opportunity to work flexible schedules, contribute remotely and live and work with hours and style that best fits your life.

Identify What You Really Want To Do Professionally

It seems so hard, but you really just need to take out a piece of paper and write down the things that make you happy. Don't limit yourself. Write anything and everything down. Once you have a big list of potential jobs, projects, business or inventions you should be working on, sleep on it. Wake up and make another list. Compare the lists. Whatever matches should make the shortlist. of things to investigate.
Try:  http://www.43things.com/

Read up on what others are doing with their lives.

Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow

Get inspired to do what matters to you!

Go Do It

I tried to come up with something more complicated. Alas, it's really as simple as digging into your shortlist and figuring out what works practically with your life. Sometimes you have to try or test things before if you know if its right. When you are dealing with starting a business or being in a small business AND being a GREAT parent, you have to see how things work out in the bigger flow of your life.
Try:  BunkHouse Logic

Read it to doublecheck your sensibility

Set A Schedule For Your Family

Make a commitment to your family. This has to be non negotiable time and commitment. Just make it a requirement of whatever you do that x-day is for family and nothing can change that. Really, it's that simple. Don't relent, you and your family deserve it.
Try:  Working Mother

I love this magazine.  Sure, I'm a dad, but this really does bring out some nice profiles about people that manage as well as awesome ideas on how to blend lifestyle choices.

Don't Comprimise

Once you've made your decisions on what to do and when to do it, do not give in to natural pressure. Remember this to help you through the tough time based decisions... At the end of your career or life you'll never look back and wish you stayed past 6pm to get that report done or missed that birthday party to get a proposal to a client or skipped a family vacation to meet with your partner. Be strong and get everything you want in life.
Try:  Remind Yourself

• be true to yourself
• expect more from your life and your work
• attend to your family needs first
• be realistic with time