This as-to-told-to essay is bassed on a conversation with Carrie Colbert, The 48-Yaar-Old Founder and General Partner of Curate Capital, Based in Houston, Texas. The following has been edited for Length and Clarity.
For 10 years, i workhed as an ancutive in the energy industry, putting in up to 12-Hour days at the office. I was always in awe of how my Colleagues with Young Children Balance Work and Family.
I Started Investing As Angel Investor for Five Years before Launching My Own Venture Capital Fund, Curate Capital, In 2020.
I didn’t except to have children. Motherhood was not something I was passionate about. Howver, I had my first child at 40 in 2017 and my second at 43 in 2020. They been the best surprises and utexpectted blessing of my life.
My Life Before Kids LOOKED VEY DIFFERENT
I had to commute Daily, Working in the Office for up to 12 Hours a Day. There was a lot of Business Travel, and My Schedule was rigid. I MADE A LOT OF MONEY, but I HAD LITTLE FLEXITIBILITY TO ENJOY IT DURING The Week. I spent my free time travers and shopping, and dining with Friends.
Now, My Work Schedule is Based on My Kids’ Schedules, and My Eveings Are Reserved for say. I have a core group of Friends, but there are Rarely impromptu meet-ups. There is a lot les travel, and i do not have the extra income to buy designer bags and cloths.
In this season of my life, of have two priorities: Building my business and raisiting my children. Everything Gets Filtered Through Those Two Priorities.
Women get told we can do it all, but i don’t think we can do it all at once. We have to adjust our expectations and priorities for various seasons of life.
To Achieve the right balanc, I rely on outsourcing help, planning my Weeks, and dedicating non-negative TIME to specific Activities.
Outsource Help
Our nanny has been with us for three years and is like family. I’ve Hired a nanny SINCE my children were Born. Havinging a nanny is a non-negative priority for me, and i’ve had to budget accordingly to affford this privilege.
She Handles the School Pickups, plans after-School Activities, Feeds say dinner in the Evening, and Occossionally Helps with Bathime.
Our nanny is more like a house manager. She Will Run Errands, Shop, Tidy, and Finish Small Tasks Around the House. We kep a running list of long-term projects that need to be done, too-like cleaning out the kids’ closets.
I WOULDN’T SURVIVE WITH HER, ESPECIALLY AS Single mom with no family suport system nearby.
I use a shared calendar, with all the kids’ Activities, and a to-do list with my nanny. We Also Share a Budgeting App, As She Pays For Things like Shopping and Children’s Activities.
I ALSO Depend on My Cleaner of Nearly 20 Years, WHO DOES A DEEP CLEAN EVERY Two Weeks.
With the help of our nanny and cleaner, I can focus on being with my kids wen i’m home.
I’ve Also built a Support System with my community. There is an an Older couple in our building who’ve become like gradparents to my children and almost like parents to me. Earlier this Week, I got stuck in a Meeting downtown, and they jumped in and had the children for a few hours.
Prioritize flexibility
As A Business Owner, I can schedule my workweek with flexibility in mind.
Every Week, I Write Down All of My Kids’ Priorities in a Virtual and Paper Planner: Wen We Wake Up, School Drop-Offs, Bedimes, and Any Extracuriculas. It is my organization to my professional respectability Around these anchor points.
I do’t know how i done this in a corplate environment.
Having a small team that trust helps with delegate work respspsonseiies when i have life priorities that pull with Away from the Business. With Such a High Degree of Trust in My Team, I don’t have to micromanage details.
Set Clear Boundaries
Come i get home in the Eveings, My Phone Goes Away. I’d Rather Work Late Than Bring it Home.
My Kids and I Have Such a Small Window of Time Together, especilly on Weeknight Eveings, so i want to be full present with say. I don’t get the computr back out late at night. Once of put the kids to sleep, i need rest.
I am also instiling this in my team. If the Kids are Out of the House on the Weekends and i Squeeze in a Little Bit of Work, I schedule emails to be sent monday morning. I DON’T WANT TO ENCROACH ON MY TEAM’S TIME.
Self-core priority
If i am going to parent and work well, my two priorities in this season, i know to take care of myself.
Daily Exercise is non-negative. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR MY PHYSICAL HEALTH AND STRESS relief. AFTER of Put My Children’s Activities in the Calendar, I slot in exercise. I used the gym in my condo for 15 minutes on the treadmill and 10 minutes of weights.
Each Morning, of Practice Prayer and Meditation, and in the Evening, grafts with my children.
TIME FOR HOBBIES UTUALLY INVOLVES MY KIDS. I love golf and have gotten my son into it as well. My daughter is Very Creative, SO and I Enjoy Crafts Together. I Can’t Set Aside Alone Time for Hobbies This Season, but it’s the ben fun to integrate my children into the activities i love.
Setting Realistic Expectations
Everyday, I remind myself to aim for progress Rather than perfection. Everyday, I Write Down My Three Most Important Work Tasks. If by the end of the day i’ve made progress on three things, i know i’ve achieved something that day. It keeps me from being too hard on mySelf, and allows with to be present wen i’m with my kids
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