As if being a mom isn't hard enough, many women have also taken on the role of entrepreneur. This is where the phrase, “mompreneur" comes from.
It's a tough but generally rewarding lifestyle choice. Moms can be there for their children and family when they need them. They can create an online business and generate an income for the family.
However, sometimes being a mompreneur can seem as if you're standing on the edge of a cliff. A crisis can hit and depending on your business model, everything can go wrong at once.
For example, a mompreneur who suddenly finds that a family member is having a health crisis may need to drop everything to care for that loved one. The business goes on the back burner. There is no time for online work and when the health crisis is over there's little or no business to come back to.
That's an extreme example but it can happen as I found out when my mother-in-law became ill and I was offline for almost a year and a half.
Here are 3 steps that I should have taken to help prepare for any potential crisis.
#1 Have a Backup Person to Help with your Online Business
You don't have to have a partner or divulge everything about your business to another person. However, it is helpful if you have a virtual assistant, friend or family member that can help you. That way, if a crisis occurs, you can quickly contact them and they can handle any communications and manage things while you're away.
#2 Network and Build a Community
Another way to help prepare for a potential crisis is to make sure you have connections in your industry.
If you're a blogger or information marketer, then make connections with other bloggers and writers in your industry. If you're going to be unavailable for an extended period of time, you can hire or partner with a writer so the content continues to flow on your site.
For example, if you're a professional coach and are unable to meet your coaching obligations for a period of time, you might be able to offer your clients a substitute coach while you're away. They don't miss out on the coaching experience they've paid for and you don't lose clients.
#3 Your Mindset Is Everything
Having a positive mindset is what will help you not only come through a crisis personally but also professionally. Being able to stay positive and focused on your priorities helps you avoid feeling overwhelmed and out of control.
Before a crisis happens, make sure to create strong connections with your niche community. Then you'll be able to quickly make a plan, know what you can handle and what you cannot, and know who to ask for help.
