Life as a Parentrepreneur
— by Danielle Jones
Being a parent and an entrepreneur can feel like two separate jobs, but you might be surprised how your role as a parent parallels your role as a founder. The first step into the unknown is overwhelming and scary, but it is worth it.
It is worth it to take a step out in faith, to use your God given gifts and risk failure. One of my former bosses told me a story once about how he had a big job interview, one of the first positions that would launch his career. He was so excited, but soon found himself in a tough spot. He had a newborn and no one to watch the baby for the interview time. He had no other choice—he strapped that baby to his front and walked into the interview with confidence. Guess what, he got the job!
Parentpreneurs face a lot of challenges, notably childcare. Perhaps God uses children to keep us humble, especially when we start to feel like we have it all under control. Sometimes the nanny will not show up, the kids will all be throwing up at the same time, or there is too much snow to safely drive to that meeting. And sometimes you have to take the baby and ask God to bless the rest!
It is worth it to do our best. While we may feel sometimes that our family is keeping us from our work, remember that the most important work we will ever do is within the walls of our home. It is imperative that we help our children see that success is not the result of the world’s approval of us and that life is not a competition that we have to win. Our instruction is as vital as our example when it comes to raising children in godliness.
Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” You are working for the Lord’s approval. The work we do matters to God, especially when we do it with all of our heart, mind, and soul.
It is worth it to love. When our identity is in Christ, we experience a new motivation and it is love. The work that we do in our business may be an answer to someone’s prayer. Have you ever thought that you may be the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read? Your life can be a blessing to those you encounter each day. Know your identity as a beloved child of God, keep an eternal perspective and remember that you are a representative of Christ. Our time on earth is limited, look for new opportunities to love and serve others. We are called to let our lights shine for Christ, wherever we are and whatever we are doing.
It is worth it to rise again. At the kickoff of each Bible study, I ask our women, “On a scale of 1-10, how committed are you to this study?” The ones that decide on the first day and say that they are a 10 on the scale are the ones who show up week after week, even if they have had a challenging day. When we are committed, obedient and faithfully follow God’s will for our lives, the enemy will target us. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance,” James 1:2-3.
When you fail, rise again. When you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, rise again. When you have been up all night with anxiety, rise again. When you do not feel qualified, rise again. When you feel like you want to give up, rise again. “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes,” Proverbs 24:16 KJV. The Lord is our strength and our song. If God has called us to a task, He will qualify us for the job. Try again. This time, with God.
It is worth it to stop and give thanks. A toddler had finished all his dinner and wanted dessert. He decided he would like to have 15 jelly beans. He ate them all very quickly and then asked, “Can I have just one more?” His mom told him that he had to wait. Well, he didn’t want to wait, and in toddler fashion, he wanted it now. For the next half hour, he kicked and screamed about one jelly bean, needless to say he did not get it!
Sometimes, we let one jellybean get in our way of gratitude. God helps us nail the big pitch, we land a new customer, and they sign the contract, but all we can focus on is the next one. God won’t give us more than we can handle and He will not give us more until He sees that we have wisely invested what He has already entrusted to us. In Luke chapter 17, ten lepers seek healing from their condition. Jesus heals all of them and do you know how many thanked him? Only one!
How often do we tell God thank you? Focus on everyday moments.. The greater our knowledge of the goodness and grace of God on our lives, the more likely we are to praise Him in the storm. God doesn’t need us to maximize our productivity, He wants us to praise him while we do the work we do. Let us keep that perspective as we wash the dishes with gratitude and send emails with grace (abide app).
Be relentless in your faith and never stop believing in God. He tells us the truth and gives us what He promises. Who you are is God’s gift to you and what you become is your gift to God. Congratulations on embarking on the journey of parentpreneurship. It is worth it!
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure … but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” -Francis Chan
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[ Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels ]
Since January, when our book was published, I had traveled almost every month–sometimes more than twice a month–and often to other countries. I needed a break from traveling. At home we looked forward to No Travel November.