Self Employed and Parenting

Gideon Shalwick’s video blog inspired me to do something other than text on this one.  The Shalwick recommendation to do it outdoors took care of my normal problems with lighting and I think I got a lot closer to “The Rule of Thirds” on this one.

If you are self employed you have to worry about a number of things.  Take my advice and don’t make it harder on yourself by starting your marketing in the summer -- like we did.  If you have children and a supportive spouse, it doesn’t matter when you start -- there can be tremendous benefits to running your own show from the parenting end.

Too many parents scramble to find “quality” time with their children.  Being self employed and working from home allows you to be engaged with your children. You’re not forcing things or programming your children to exhaustion out of guilt.  I got my first taste of this engagement growing up in the drug treatment center started and run by my parents.  We got to experience the fear AND the celebration.  We watched our parents handle setbacks and “absorb uncertainty” (Vittorio Cossoni).

Now, as then, there’s the sense that we aren’t living a “normal” existence.  What’s more important is that my wife and I  feel we are living a natural existence.  Our children will hopefully learn the pull of inspiration to go along with the push of motivation.  They will know the intersection and the difference between who we are and what we do.

Yeah, certain ducks could have been lined up better but no regrets here.