*Guest post by Marcus Lansky
Could this be your best year? If you’ve been following along with all of the inspiring 
healthy aging tips from “thisisyourbestyear” it just could be. If you’re a parent who is lovingly caring for a child with disabilities and thinking about starting a new business, you may also need a few specific pointers to turn this year into YOUR year. Here are a few tips to help you out.
It’s Never Too Late to Go Back to School
To succeed in business, you need certain traits and skills; these include self-awareness, leadership, management, and self-assessment. You may already have some of these talents, but if you don’t, you can always boost your prowess with an advanced business degree.
Earning a master’s in business administration will give you the skills and knowledge needed to help your new business thrive. Best of all, you can take all of your classes online when you enroll in a program from an accredited school. That can make taking care of business while you are also taking care of your child with disabilities needs so much easier.
Now you may be thinking that college or grad school is out of your reach in terms of budget, but this doesn’t have to be the case! There are plenty of financial aid opportunities available to help make your dreams come true. You should also look for special grants you don’t have to repay.
You Should Avoid Working from a Couch
Being able to take classes from home, or even start a business from home, can be so convenient for parents who are also caregivers for their children with disabilities. Even if you have an extremely tight budget, you have options for starting your very own thriving business.
No matter whether you are starting a business school or a business from home, however, you should think about setting up a dedicated space for working and
studying. Yes, working from your couch may be convenient at first but it’s also way too easy for you to be distracted.
Some changes you can tackle on your own, like painting your office walls in focus-friendly colors or even crafting custom home office furniture. If you’re short on time though, you can also look into free design services. By the way, if you need to adapt your workspace or entire home to accommodate your child, you may be able to find grants and programs to help with costs.
It’s Okay to Ask for Help When You Need It
Starting a business can be a big undertaking. There are online guides and resources to make the process easier. Even with these tools, there’s no denying that building a successful new business from the ground up requires time, effort, and patience.
At the same time, caring for a child who has disabilities can also take some extra time and energy. While you may be used to taking this all on, all on your own, you should also know that it’s totally fine to reach out for extra help! Struggling to find the time for your business? Then maybe you could hire someone to help take care of your child to give you more time.
If you are caring for an adult child
who is living with disabilities or an elderly parent, you may also be able to find fun daycare programs to help out with their care. Can’t find an adult daycare in your area? This could also be your opportunity to set up one and provide a much-needed service to others.
Owning a business can give you the financial security needed to care for your child/grandchild and still live your best life yet. Being able to make your own schedule can also come with some perks when you are a busy parent, and there are so many tools, educational programs, and resources available to help you succeed with your startup. Just remember that pursuing your dreams can be beneficial for you and your family. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Remember “thisisyourbestyear”, and it’s never too late to do you.
*”Marcus is an abilitator: one who helps people with differing abilities start their own businesses through training and/or mentorship.
Photo Credit: Unsplash
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