Business and the Terrible Two’s

For any parents out there, you’ll remember the terrible two’s – when your children are trying to develop independence and a sense of self and experience frustration as they’re still growing.

ColourHR recently turned 2! As proud co-founders (or we could say parents) Nicole and I have reflected on the last few years of being in our own business. Here’s a few things we’ve learned and some tips on how to navigate the terrible two’s:

Keep to a routine:

Just like your young child needs regular sleep and meals – your business needs the same routine. Ensuring you’re balancing client work with networking, marketing, strategy, finance and all the other things you need to do can be challenging.

Plan out your calendar and ensure you’re devoting enough time to key tasks.

Celebrate the wins, and learn from the losses

Learning is often about trial and error. And in business, you need to try new things to see what works. Rather than focusing on what hasn’t worked, celebrate what does and learn from what doesn’t. Sometimes we need to do the same with parenting!

Keep Rules Simple

When you’re communicating with a toddler, you keep the rules simple so that they understand. It’s the same in business – don’t try to overcomplicate things. Sometimes simple works best!

Reach out for support

Parent groups can be a great form of support so you know you’re not alone. Well, it’s the same in business. Ensure you have a good network that you can lean on for advice and support for the good and the bad.

Don’t give in and be consistent

Let’s face it, dealing with the ongoing tantrums of the terrible two’s can be tough! And year 2 in business can be the same. There’s lots of ups and downs and things can be unpredictable. Have faith and stay strong. Don’t give up!

Stay calm

Breathe and ensure you’re taking time for yourself. The stresses of parenting and being a business owner can feel overwhelming at times. You need to make sure you take time to recharge and reset for yourself.

The experience gained over the first two years has provided a strong foundation for future growth and innovation, making this phase both thrilling and full of potential. Much like watching your child grow into their own little human!