Is part-time the new business model?

Written by Clare Whalley from Meta4 Business Coaching

A few weeks ago, an employed friend asked me if I was still part-time. I was completely stopped in my tracks. I even felt a little bit sick.

Why working a 4-day week in my business did I feel so insulted to be called part-time? Part-timers were people who worked in jobs 2, 3 days a week. Four days is still a 32-hour week.

Is that considered part-time?

But really the main issue is the stigma attached to part time working. Part timers (I know this is wrong) are not seen as committed, dedicated, ambitious or driven as their full-time counter parts.

Or maybe this is how part-time is seen in a job. To business owners they are quite frankly, a rarity.

A quick Google search on running a business part time had the first page deliver a load of results on a part time business being set up and ran alongside a job.Google, this is not about working harder with an ever-increased split attention.

Part time working in business is about being able to grow your own business working less hours whilst fulfilling your financial and personal needs.

Business owners are renowned for working all hours, doing what it takes to get the job done, answering emails and calls at all hours and during all manner of situations. I remember answering a telephone enquiry whilst being wheeled down for a c-section for my first child.

Going ‘part-time’ 12 years ago when our first child arrived saw self-employed husband and I both go down to a 4-day week, meaning two days per week could be dedicated to our own childcare.

This was a game changer in creating firm boundaries around business-family balance.

Designing a new part-time business model

A successful part-time business owner is someone who has worked hard to get processes set up, systems in place and technology working to enable them to achieve as much balance as possible. Profitable client work with a healthy dose of focused business development, self-care, and family time.

So how do we change the stigma attached to part-time working, both in a job and in business? Being more open about it is the best place to start.

To stressed out, burnt out, overwhelmed business owners, part-time (whatever this looks and feels like to you) is the sought-out badge of honour, the holy grail of business – all my fellow business owners want to know how to do it.

Do you? Time to book in for a Business Kickstart Session.