New Addition to the Family & Another Lesson.
I've just spent the past 2 weeks spending most of my waking hours (which has been most of the day's hours) with our 2 week old baby girl, Lyla.
It's been incredible because if I hadn't started this online business I would actually be back in Qatar now starting work for the new school year. And my lovely wife and baby back would have still been here in the UK.
That would have been REALLY hard!
Family is hugely important for me and it's a massive reason why I want to make more time in our lives.
An online business can do that, but it's not always a smooth ride... and I can already see the similarities to having a baby!
Baby & business similarities
Here are just a few of the comparisons I've seen already in these 2 weeks...
- Both take a lot of time to nurture
- There are tons of ups and downs
- You feel like you figure something out one day only to find a new challenge the next
- It can seem like you're not getting anywhere for a while and suddenly it's fixed/ it magically improves for no apparent reason
- Both can give you a lot of joy and satisfaction & make an impact to others lives
Most people are aware about these challenges of a baby or a business.
Yet here is the big difference...
You cannot just give up with your baby
You've probably heard the saying that "a dog isn't just for Christmas". So you can probably guess that a baby certainly isn't either!
And I'm yet to meet anyone who has had a baby and said that every waking moment has been a joyful breeze.
However, I'm also yet to meet anyone who has a baby, finds it challenging and gives up on it.
Most people know that having a baby is a lifelong commitment.
But many people start an online business (or any business) with the mindset that "I'll give this a go for a while".
Once it really gets tough it's all too easy to go back to the "norm". I know this because I've tried numerous side hustles over the years and it's always easier to just stop doing it than work through the challenges.
For some reason, when we have a baby we 100% commit to it for the rest of our child's life.
Just imagine what you could do with a business if you approached it with that attitude.
Does it mean you need to carry on with an idea that doesn't excite you?
Nope.
Does it mean you have to do exactly the same thing forever.
Nope.
Businesses adapt just as much as a baby does.
All we have to do is commit to it.
Keep changing for the better,
Mike "commit to making it work" Beatty
Why did you start an online business? What are you hoping to achieve from being a member here at WA?
Recent Comments
48
Congratulations on the arrival of beautiful baby girl Lyla.
I love the way you compare having a baby with having a business, and you got some real eye-openers there.
I have started with WA in December 2019 and made my first sale last month. I learned so much since I began to but yet so much to learn. I am very committed to make this work, but I realise it might take some a couple of years before I may be able to arrive at my destination.
Challenges enough for sure, It seems I have last my traffic (not that I had much, but what I had is gone)since Google changed their algorithm.
We will keep plugging along though, and as you word it, be as committed as we are to take care of our babies'.
Thank you for sharing your perspective.
Jude
That’s great Jude. Don’t take those wins lightly they are so important on your journey to where you want to go.
What niche is your site?
Thanks for your reply Mike,
I am in the baby niche. I had some stable high ranking articles on Google, but I think my site may be penalised for some reason.
Most of my posts dropped significantly in the ranking.
I suppose we just focus on writing and hopefully, it will recover with time.
Enjoy your baby girl as much as you can, the growso very very quickly.
Stay safe and have a great day.
Jude
From 27th of August till 2 sept I lost 50percent of my traffic. Now it is down to 0 pretty much.
Most posts who have been ranking first pages have lost position :(.
It may be panalised, I did add a few affiliate links while running a Facebook add maybe google didn't like that?
I want to accomplish something, to be good at something.
I want to succeed and really help people, to be able to offer what I have to offer.
And I'm looking ahead to retirement after being self-employed for 30 years with no retirement plan.
Congrats on your adorable baby! Babies are the best.
congratulations.
I am in a bit of a similar situation. In May I also got a daughter - truly amazing, right:-)
And I am so grateful for having an online business that makes it possible for me to plan my own time and not have to be away from her and my wife all day.
Exactly that Mikael, it's hard to put a price on that freedom and control that comes with it
Congratulations on your beautiful & healthy baby girl!
Great analogy as well. As a parent, you want to raise your child to be the best that they can be. As a business owner, you'll want you're business to be the best that it can be as well.
Both take time, but the results can be amazing!
See more comments
I have 6 kids, all grown up now. In my early 30's I had to move the business home, to be there for my wife and family, teen age years. I'm super excited now to learn this new marketing technique with my oldest son, who is also trying to bring the business home. I have learned that it is possible to learn new tricks from the younger generation.
Mike, now you are truly committed to make things work and congratulations on the new business acquisition:)
Big family! Love it! Thanks for the kind words, it is a great business to have