Man Who Has It All - From frazzled to fabulous: how to juggle fatherhood, a successful career, me time and looking good

Is it really possible for men to juggle a successful career, fatherhood, me-time and looking good? Achieving that elusive balance without going insane requires support and advice. The Man Who Has it All is here to help.

In this inspirational book drawn from the hugely popular Twitter account, From Frazzled to Fabulous helps career men and busy working dads to:

Have an opinion

Do what it takes to thrive

Stay hydrated

Dress in your wow colours

Get a grip on guilt

You too can have it all!

Im grateful to all my supporters on Twitter and Facebook and to the busy dads who found the time to help me with research for this book. I am grateful to my agent and editor who have put up with my hormonal fluctuations and tendency to overreact. And of course I am grateful to my wife for letting me have a little project of my own.

N EARLY HALF OF ALL managers admit to thinking twice when it comes to hiring men who have children. But the experience of raising a child can actually make men well suited to the workplace. Companies who do not hire fathers could be turning down an extremely valuable resource.

In this chapter, I bust the myths surrounding fathers in the workplace and call for a more flexible, open and compassionate approach from managers.

Every man has different reasons for his choices and I respect that. This chapter is about those men who, for whatever reason, choose to work.

Leaving your kids to go out to work is tough. But, believe it or not, dads do survive. In fact, research shows that children of a career dad can do just as well as children of a stay-at-home dad. Working dads can absolutely be great parents; its all about achieving that elusive balance.

TALKING POINT

Being ignored, mistaken for the tea gentleman or branded a paternity risk . Are men overreacting when it comes to issues they face at work?

Being a working dad can boost your self-esteem and give you an identity beyond just Dad. When you have kids, you put yourself at the bottom of the heap. Working reminds you that you are a person in your own right. Fathers are often grateful for the opportunity to be around other adults and reclaim their former child-free selves.

Because children require so much attention, fathers are super-organized and multitasking aces. Dont minimize the skills you learn as a dad. Here are some of the things I have learned:

Organizational skills

Persistence

Flexibility

Saying no

Patience

Empathy

Gratitude

TIP

To all independent men. Dont be afraid of your independence! Its OK to be a man and be independent. Some women actually find it attractive.

Before you consider embarking on any kind of paid work, remember to ask about family-friendly perks. Some companies make very generous allowances for fathers in the workplace. You shouldnt be afraid to take advantage of them!

TALKING POINT

Are men in the workplace a distraction?

But flexibility can mean different things to different men. It could mean working for one day, or even one hour per week, whatever you feel you can manage.

REAL-LIFE DADS

Everyone I work with knows that I am a dad. I dont try to hide it and pretend to be focused only on my work.

Dean, 39

Making friends and being liked is important for getting ahead at work. But being likeable isnt the only measure of success. Dont forget that there are other ways to gain respect. For example, you could offer to organize the Christmas party, look after cards and gifts for leavers, keep the staff kitchen clean, run the tea kitty or offer to wash tea towels at the weekend. Your watchwords are helpful, polite and nice. If you can achieve just one of these, you will become a valuable member of your team.

FACT

Many employers value fathers in the workplace because they work on average three times harder than their child-free counterparts.

For dads who feel daunted by the prospect of fitting in a full-time job alongside everything else, there are many ways to earn a bit of pocket money on the side. Why not join the growing band of dadpreneurs? Earning your own money means you wont feel guilty when you splash out on that new pair of little black trousers! Here are a few money-making ideas to bring out your inner entrepreneur:

Babysitting

Flower arranging

Selling unwanted items on eBay

Dog sitting

Card making

Underpants parties

Pampering parties

Daddy blogging

TALKING POINT

Should men who are planning to start a family be legally obliged to tell their employer?

If you were a high-flying career man in your previous life, try not to worry about taking a break. After all, who doesnt want to be his own boss? This could be your chance to do what youve always wanted to do and this time its for you. You could even hook up with like-minded business-savvy dads and join a network such as Dads in Business or Men in the Enterprise Hub. These little get-togethers are not all tea and cake.