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Do you have small children?  Are they home for the summer or will be off from school soon?  Are you dreading the disruption in your home-based business schedule?  Many mothers who work from home are already agonizing over the adjustments they will need to make, and it's understandable.  But instead of adding to your stress by worrying about it, may I suggest you take a moment and reflect on the fact that one of the reasons you were attracted  to a home-based business was the flexibility it afforded you.

As women we wear many hats and being an entrepreneur,  a business owner, comes with it's own challenges.  However,  while it's essential to have systems in place so that you can manage your business successfully, these systems cannot be so rigid that you can't allow for  changes in your schedule when the need arises.

I will admit that when I'm working to meet a deadline or have a number of projects I'd schedule to be completed within a specified period, I've felt annoyance when I had to stop and take care of something that I'd not planned for.  Having a sense of humor often helps and I try to laugh at myself at how ‘worked up' I'm allowing myself to get over nothing, do what I have to do, and get back to my project.  That's flexibility in action!

During the time I'm working in my business, I'm my own boss so I can take some time off if I need to.  You can too and  try to view flexibility as a means to add diversity as you work from home.

What are your thoughts on flexibility in your business? Please share in the Comments.

Flexibility is a self-management skill that is an integral part of your success when running your own business.  It helps to keep you alert  to opportunities to learn new things, but it also helps to prepare you for whatever unexpected twists and turns your business may take.

Being flexible in the hours you spend in your home office will allow you to adjust your hours, as much as possible, to meet your specific needs.  Many women find that they are most productive in the very early morning hours, perhaps before the rest of the family is awake.  Others prefer to rise later and enjoy a few more productive hours at night after the rest of the family goes to bed.

Do you see clients in your home?  You may have specific hours that you see clients in your home so as not to disrupt your family's routine.  However, your client may on occasion need to see you outside of those times.  Are you willing to be flexible and accommodate your client?  Your willingness to be flexible could mean the difference between endearing that client to you and alienating a prospective or current client.

The key to flexibility in your home based business is to establish a routine for your business that works for you and make a commitment to stick to that routine as much as possible while allowing for the unexpected.