Pamela Frost is well placed to tell us about getting the work-from-home thing working, having run her own business for eight years. Though with an eight month old baby, things are currently a little more challenging. Pamela has an organisational development background of over 15 years experience working in senior human resource management roles in the consulting, energy, finance, telecommunications and education sectors. This highly entrepreneurial operator shares her secrets with Your Balance
What kind of environment did you grow up in?
I grew up in a small country town in NSW called Muswellbrook. We had a large family and I am a twin and the youngest of 10 children. Our house was on a large block with three apricot trees, four nectarine, two peach, two plum, an orange, apple, lemon tree as well as three grape vines. Needless to say I like fruit as an adult. Oh, there were also chooks!
What kept you going when times were tough financially?
A belief in what I was doing was the right thing and working towards a cause you believe in is more important than how many dollars you get paid or the size of your bank account balance. My sister once said, “you need to be able to back your own horse” – in other words if you don’t believe in what you are doing, no-one else will.
What ‘normal’ jobs have you done?
Retail jobs such as shop assistant, cashier and then more professional roles as human resources consultant through to a human resource director.
Were you ever tempted to get a ‘real job’?
When I was younger I certainly was but now that I have been running my own business for 8 years I do not think I could cope with the narrow definition of a job description working within an organisational framework. I would find it hard to find a “job” in an organisation that would provide me with the depth and variety of experiences and challenges than I currently have doing my own thing as director of my own consulting business.
Do you see your life as a balance between ‘life’ and ‘work’, or are they well blended?
They are more blended. I work from home and work is a part of my life – it happens in the midst of everyday living – particularly when you have an 8 month old baby to look after. Also my work is about having people experience an enriched life and I need to practice what I preach.
How do you balance ‘life’ with ‘work’ from a time point of view? What routines do you have?
Make sure you are extremely organised – manage to do three things at once – work when the baby is asleep. Doing work in 40 minute chunks means you do the planning and preparation stage “in your head” whilst you are doing other things like the washing, cleaning and preparing dinner. It means when you get a chance in front of your PC you whip work out and need to be very focussed.
What do you see as the essentials for a happy existence?
Have realistic expectations about what you can achieve, be grateful for what you have and find something to feel blessed about every day.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in growing your business?
Biggest challenge right now is finding good quality people who can represent your business whilst I have other life priorities. Finding people who can demonstrate the same level of passion, expertise and commitment as you do to the work and clients.
How many hours do you work in a typical working day and do you work weekends?
At the moment not a great deal – possibly about 3 hours per day (in amongst the baby’s sleep times). I have a rule that weekends are family time and very much avoid working on a weekend although sometimes it is unavoidable.
Can you describe a typical day?
Wake about 7am, shower before our baby wakes, organise his breakfast and feed him (which can take 90 minutes), go for a walk, do the shopping, sleep time – catch up on emails, write some proposals, make some business development calls, then the lunch-time routine – again a couple of hours duration. Play-time, read stories go for another walk. More time for business now – read emails, tinker with business whilst bub in bed. Baby up again – time for dinner, preparing dinner for family, feed time, bath time, bed time and then our time. Have dinner with a glass of wine or two – chill out time, some TV and a movie and then bed.
What qualities do you respect and value in people you work with? Why are these qualities important to you?
Openness and transparency, people being true to their values. Important because I like to interact with people who are real and you can trust them.
What do you do in your spare time?
What spare time?
Who or what other businesses or business people inspire you?
Women, who seem to be able to manage a successful business, raise children and be there for the kids and husband. I find it amazing that they manage to balance all the competing priorities, still look glamorous, have amazing energy and most of all are smiling radiantly.
Name your favorite websites – the ones you visit regularly?
Qantas – dreaming of the holidays we are going to go on and deals out there.
eBay for more bargains and also de-cluttering our household.
Do you Twitter?
No, don’t get time for this.
Do you blog?
Don’t get time either.
If you were able to invite any three people to dinner, who would they be and why?
My mother – she died 14 years ago and it would be wonderful to know her now that I am a mother. Barack Obama to learn more about his vision for a new world and how he sees global transformation occurring. Victor Frankl to have a conversation with him about man’s search for meaning and how to survived the concentration camps in Aushwitz.
Do you have a favorite saying? If so, what is it?
Just get on with it.
If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
Some kind of transformer – when I touch people their potential automatically emerges and they come alive with own personal power.
What is the biggest challenge in being self employed?
Not having a manager who can provide perspective, development and feedback. You make all decisions which has its pros but sometimes it is nice to be able to collaborate in the decision-making in a business and to stay motivated and resilient through the down-times in business.
What community organizations are you involved in? Why is that important?
Not involved in any at the moment but previously have been involved with Open Family – helping street kids at risk 12-18 get off the streets, also Whitelion which helps rehabilitate children who have been through correctional services. Still contributing to charities such as Fred Hollows and MS Society.
Pamela Frost is the driving force behind Because and Director of the company www.because.com.au. People describe her as passionate, resourceful and deeply committed to sustainable results.
Leah Gibbs is the Founder and Business Manager of Lifestyle Careers.
Lifestyle Careers is an online recruitment job board. Our niche and specific focus is the advertising of flexible employment and work at home positions. It is designed for professionals wanting to balance their work and personal life.
