Before you have a brand, you need to have a business.

A tale of two Moms, today:

MOM A: I’m  a stay-at-home Mom interested in generating income from my fledgling photography business.  I work whenever I can nab a moment between diaper changes, tantrums, episodes of lousy kids’ shows, and nap times.  I work from my living room, as this allows me to babysit while working.

MOM B:  I’m a stay-at-home Mom interested in generating income from my fledgling photography business.  I work Monday through Friday from 11-1:30 while the kids are at daycare (read: Grandma’s house), and have a dedicated space for my little startup.  (It’s just an Ikea desk with front doors added to contain the chaos.)

Whether Mom A works 3 hours or 30 hours per week, I guarantee she isn’t going to be as productive as Mom B.  Why? Mom B isn’t multi-tasking, she’s giving the business her undivided attention.  Likewise, she isn’t ‘trying to fit business in,’ but actively making room for business to happen.

These are, of course, simplified cases, but the premise remains the same: what would happen if you carved out time for your fledgling business, whatever it may be?

This week, make time and space for your business to grow. Rearrange your desk. Pencil yourself into your own calendar.  Hire a sitter for a few hours’ worth of uninterrupted concentration.  And if you haven’t dusted off your business plan in the past six months, take a look.  Examine your goals, and identify simple ways to work toward them.

If you don’t have a business plan and you’re a photographer, go here and buy this now.  If you have a business plan, but need help with pricing your photographic artwork, go here and buy this now.  If you’re not a photographer but still need help, check out The Creative Entrepreneur.