Episode 282: How To Be A Good Business Leader And Juggle Parenting Duties: Spring Break Edition

Balancing parent life while running a business is super easy.... said no one ever!! In reality, if you are a parent, you know how HARD it really is and all the struggles you have to go through to make it work. The mom/dad guilt of not spending enough time or attention on your child is apparent when you are giving your business the focus it needs. But the stress of your work to-do list can weigh you down when you are away from your business too. So how do you find that balance? This week I am rocking the podcast during my daughter's spring break to bring you all my tips on achieving running your business while parenting. Biggest Takeaways: Running your business is your full-time job, but so are your children. Finding a balance that gives both aspects your full attention is what we, as parents, seek the most. But saying you want that balance seems easier than actually achieving it.  Take some of my tips and help find that balance you are looking for: Schedule. Schedule time each week that is set aside just for your family. Maybe after work, you put your phone away and give your kid your undivided attention to play and spend that time together. Say no. I know, crazy right? But say no to some things! If you do not want to have meetings or calls on certain days, say no, and schedule for a day when you are available. Better yet, have it kicked over to one of your assistants and have them schedule it on a day that works best for you. Turn off. When you have the time for your child, turn business off. This ensures they know they have 100% of your attention. Guys, we only get 18 summers with them, we need to make sure they know how important that time together is. I have a few more really helpful tips to get you to the work-life balance you are needing in your life right now. Parent to parent, this stuff really works. Recommendations: If less time working in the business is what you are looking for, join the Mastermind group so I can assist you and your business achieve your biggest goals. Email me at [email protected] to chat about finding that balance between parent life and running your business. I am here to help you and show you how possible it is. Time to join the Better Marketing With Bell Waitlist is coming to an end. Soon we will be welcoming new members to the group, gearing up to help them with all their business content needs. If that is something you are interested in, jump on the list today. Let's Connect Did you enjoy the show? We would love it if you subscribed today and left us a 5-star review! Click this link – Bella In Your Business Click on the ‘Subscribe’ button below the artwork Go to the ‘Ratings and Reviews’ section Click on ‘Write a Review’' Are You New Here? Welcome, I am so glad you are here. If you are a dog walker, dog sitter, cat sitter, doggy daycare, or kennel owner, then you found the right place. Jump Consulting is the one place on the internet to get all the resources you need for your pet care business. Can I give you some freebies to generate sales and increase revenues for your business? Grab your freebies below. Are you starting out? Been in business for less than two years? Get your startup resources here. Do you own an established pet care business and you want to take it to the next level.? Get Your builder resources here. Transcript: This is episode 282 of Bella in Your Business. Hi there, I’m Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you’ve seen me speak on stage or read my book The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you’re about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin’ in this next episode of Bella in Your Business. So what do you say? Let’s get ready and jump! Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta. Today it is Spring Break week and, as such, we are going to dive right into it. We’re going to talk all about how you balance being a parent and also being a badass business owner. How do we do both of them? I know that there’s a lot of you who listen to this podcast with your kids in the car—shout out to some of you like Randa who have told me that before. I love knowing that it’s a family deal, and so I definitely try to keep it kid friendly. But today, we love those little kids, right? I have Olivia home with me. For those of you just joining us, Olivia is my almost eight-year-old, special needs. She’s on the spectrum. She was born at twelve ounces almost eight years ago, and she is a joy and a delight. If any of you follow me on Instagram, I’m sure you’ve seen her. In fact, I have a whole highlight reel of her. She is just the happiest, most exciting kid ever. And she has a lot of energy—I don’t know where she gets it from! If any of you are battling trying to be a mom or dad—whether you’re a new parent or have been at it for a while—you know it’s a hard balance. You constantly feel that guilt that you’re not present enough, or you’re saying, “Yeah, yeah, what do you want? Hurry up, tell me,” while you’re working. Or maybe you’re not even looking at them when they’re talking because you’re saying, “Mommy’s working,” or “Daddy’s working,” or “I just need to get on this phone call, so you need to be quiet.” It’s very difficult, and there’s really no right or wrong way of doing it. It’s about finding your rhythm—what works for you based on your parenting style. But one thing’s for sure: there’s always guilt. Today, I’m here to help you try to get rid of some of that guilt and give you a few things you can do to be proactive. The very first thing I want to talk about is scheduling. When you can schedule things, it helps calm anxiety because you know what to expect. You know that you have certain pockets of time carved out. For example, I know every Saturday morning my daughter has occupational therapy from 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. This amazing therapist, Emma, comes to our home. During that time, if there’s anything I didn’t get to during the week, that’s when I do it. Sometimes I’m in my office recording this podcast, sometimes doing personal tasks—but I know that’s my window. Right now it’s spring break, and I would love nothing more than to take her to Disney or fly somewhere. But when I started looking six weeks ago—because I didn’t start six months ago—everything was so expensive. Over $1,000 a person just to fly two hours away from Phoenix. And with spring training here in Phoenix this month (which got pushed back), everything’s booked and pricey. So instead, I reached out to her classmates’ parents, started a Facebook group—shocking, I know—and asked who’s staying in town. Turns out, everyone is! We decided to do an activity Monday through Friday—train park, Sky Zone, all kinds of fun things. Having that planned gives us something to look forward to and helps me feel like I’m doing something fun and intentional with her, instead of sitting around with guilt. I’m fortunate to be living a designer business—one that I’ve built around my life. It doesn’t happen overnight, but when your business connects deeply to your “why,” you can make choices like this. So, the first point is schedule. The next point: say no. And when I say no, I mean no. Period. Not “maybe,” not “let me think about it.” I’m not being rude—this is about boundaries. If it’s not a “hell yes,” it’s a “hell no.” People will start to trust you more when they know your yes means yes and your no means no. Before you respond to anything, ask yourself: is this a yes or a no? Be articulate. “No, I don’t think so” or “I’ll let you know” is not a no—it keeps people thinking they can convince you. For example, someone might want to book a coaching call with me this week. The answer: no, I’m off this week. And my assistant Jillian knows to say that for me too. The third thing: turn off. You only get 18 summers, 18 Christmases, 18 school breaks with your kids. Each year they change—more independent, more mature—and you never get those moments back. That’s why turning off is so important. You don’t need to shut off for an entire week—start small. Even a little bit of undistracted time goes a long way. I saw a parenting therapist on TikTok who said that when she gets home, she leaves her phone in another room and spends 10 minutes of pure, undistracted time with her kids—playing, talking, or just being present. That’s powerful. And maybe you don’t have kids—apply this to your spouse or loved ones. Be intentional. Turn off distractions and be present. Next: get help. People always ask me, “Bella, how do you do it all?” The truth? I don’t. And neither should you. You’ve got to get good at asking for help. Here’s an example: I recently found out I have arthritis in my knee. I’m 39! I need a gel injection, which means insurance calls and paperwork. Instead of spending hours stressing about it, I asked my assistant to handle it. You can’t do everything yourself. Whether it’s childcare, housekeeping, grocery shopping, or business tasks—delegate. You’re always spending something—time, money, or energy. If you’re not delegating, you’re paying with your time and stress. So ask for help, and be specific when you do. Make sure your team knows exactly what you need and how to do it efficiently. Next up: plan ahead. This is about casting your vision. As a parent and business owner, how many trips do you want to take this year? How many family events, vacations, or visits to grandma’s house? Are those planned—or are they just “we’ll see”? If you try to squeeze them in, they probably won’t happen. Put the big rocks in first. Schedule the priorities—family time, rest, vacations—and then let everything else fill in around them. If you say you “don’t have time,” it’s just not a priority. Planning ahead gives you a reason—a why—for structuring your business better.