When I started RoseComm, my mentor suggested I write a manifesto. The most important element of my vision was a commitment to create a culture that allowed for work-life balance. People laughed at me. Entrepreneurship and balance of any sort are often perceived as mutually exclusive. I’m not sure who would have married the work-crazed person I was at my previous job and that’s why I felt so strongly about doing it differently with my own company.
Fast forward a decade and I now have a thriving business, a supportive husband and two wonderful children. As you can imagine, I’ve watched the recent “Can women have it all?” debate with great interest. I just stumbled upon this Huffington Post piece written a year ago by a journalist who seems to have carved out a lifestyle not unlike my own. But then I read the comments and was reminded our experience is not shared by all. I know I’m lucky to have a business and a team that allow me the flexibility to be with my family more than I would if I were working for someone else. I also know I am lucky to be able to afford childcare that makes it all possible. That said, I’m not going to apologize for it. I’ve worked hard for 20 years and still do. And I encourage every member of my team to find their own balance, whether they have children or not. I’ve not found balance at someone else’s expense.
Yesterday I opted to work from home so I could pick up my kindergartener on her last day of school and take her to McDonald’s for lunch — a ritual my own mother started when I was her age. I will never forget the rush of emotion I felt when her class poured out of the building. Some were crying and clinging to their parents, worried about missing their teacher and their friends. Others were screaming, “We’re first graders now!” with their hands in the air. After enjoying a fast food treat and a little time to reflect on the school year (and just one urgent client call on my mobile!), I headed back to handle a few phone meetings. Owning a business means I can’t always be where I want to be. But being there yesterday means having it all for me.