Asking for Help

I’m confident in who I am and what I do, but when it comes to asking for help, I fail miserably.

I will try every combination in the book to make something work using my own resources before enlisting someone else. Most of the time this is related to my kids. As a work-at-home parent, my number one role is to care for my family. This is why I left the workplace in the first place. So when I have a sick kid or my daughter forgets her snack at school, or my husband locks his keys in his trunk, it’s MY job to figure out how to make it all work. Right? Wrong.

This parenthood piece, with all of its completely expected and unexpected fun is exactly what you signed up for. Even more, it happens in and around your client demands.

My work comes second to my family and I’m terrible at asking for help.

But I’ve never missed a deadline.

How?

I learned a few key things from friends and coworkers over the years that have cleared up this weakness of mine.

1. You don’t have to tell people everything about you and your plans. If you’re unavailable at that time, you’re unavailable at that time. Period.
2. Asking for help doesn’t show weakness. It is a sign of being a smart manager of your home and creating greater efficiency in your life and work.
3. Expect more out of your partner. Ask and expect them to say yes when it comes to helping your family. Just like others in your life, if you trust and set expectations for your partner, they too, will rise to the challenge. Plus, they will feel more involved, particularly if they work outside of the home and miss out on all the millions of special moments you get being at home with the kids.

It took me six years before I asked my husband to give me a Saturday at a coffee shop to work on a big website project so I could avoid having to pull an all-nighter to make the deadline. Six. Years.

It can be an unhealthy thing for you AND your business not to ask for help.

You’ll know when it’s time to add a sitter to your day. When you do that, you can maximize the time you have both in your work and in your play. Learn early that delegating tasks, setting time for yourself and involving others in your day, will make you a better parent and a better entrepreneur.