As my own children get older and seem to need me less and less. Or, at least it seems they need me differently, I notice that I tend to think of other things almost like they are my children too. I used to find it rather annoying when people would refer to a garden, or novel, or other project they were working as a “baby” and the completion of the project as “giving birth”—but, now, I find that I can see the comparison. In many ways, I DO think of my home business as some sort of offspring.
I have yet to refer to my home business as “my baby” but as I have been working on a big writing project, I am thinking of it as some sort of entity that I am nurturing and cultivating. It is definitely taking plenty of my time and attention, not to mention all those creative and problem-solving efforts. This is somewhat similar to parenting. I can also see how fabulous it is to have a “close-ended” project to work on. There is a definite beginning, middle and end. Whereas with parenting, it can seem completely open-ended and one never feels like she’s done or accomplished.
In talking with other small and home business owners, I find that not everyone things of their business like a baby or another child, but plenty do. It is hard NOT to get attached and enmeshed with something (or someone) that we put so much heart and soul and focus into. I can’t help but wonder if the day will come when I’ll be ready for my “baby”—my business to launch itself and move on—just as I foresee happening with my own nearly-grown children. For now, I’m enjoying fussing over my business in its toddler phase…
See Also: What Happens When You Don’t Want to Have to Work That Hard?
If You Could Start All Over in Your Home Business–What Do You Wish You Knew?