Building a business as a busy mompreneur is no easy feat, especially when you are starting from zero with business experience. Juggling the responsibilities of motherhood while pursuing your entrepreneurial dreams requires determination, perseverance, and a whole lot of surprising self discovery and growth work. Along the journey of building my own business, I have faced numerous challenges, learned to celebrate triumphs, and gained invaluable lessons. In this article, I will share my experiences, lessons and some surprises, I've learned as a busy mom entrepreneur.
Embracing the Power of Time Management:
One of the most significant challenges I faced was managing my time effectively. Wearing all the hats when starting your own business was a challenge and surprise I did not expect and still find difficult to manage. Balancing the demands of running a business and taking care of my family seemed overwhelming at times. However, I quickly learned that effective time management was the key to success. Prioritizing tasks, setting realistic goals, and creating a well-structured schedule helped me make the most of my limited time. I learned what time is the most effective for me to get stuff done. Even if I can only spend 20 minutes that day, it's still productive time. By finding some balance between work and family life, I became more productive and achieved better results. It's still an ongoing practice for balance everyday. Some days, family is the priority and other days, I can allocate more time for my business. It's constantly changing and evolving every day and that's ok!
Overcoming the Guilt and Prioritizing Self-Care:
This is my biggest priority and what I feel so passionate about sharing with other moms. As a mom entrepreneur, guilt can often creep in when you're pulled in multiple directions. It's crucial to remember that taking care of yourself is not a selfish act but a necessary one. I learned that prioritizing self-care, whether it's through exercise, hobbies, or simply taking time for relaxation, even if it's just 5 minutes, is essential for maintaining balance and preventing burnout. By taking care and supporting myself, using self-care tools and group support, I became a better mom, better person, entrepreneur, and overall happier individual.
Building a Support Network:
I was surprised at how important your success and consistency is linked to your group support and community. Building a business can be a lonely journey, especially when combined with the responsibilities of motherhood. However, I discovered the power of building a strong support network. Connecting with fellow mom entrepreneurs, joining business communities, and seeking mentorship provided me with a sense of belonging and invaluable advice. Surrounding myself with like-minded individuals who understood my challenges and aspirations helped me stay motivated and inspired. I would not be doing this, without the amazing support from others moms on this journey.
Learning to Delegate and Seek Help:
This is still a weakness for me and something that I'm working on improving. I had an amazing and supportive friend, tell me to hire a cleaner, when I was complaining about a messy home and always cleaning, which had me exhausted when it came to working on my business. Yes, a cleaner costs money. I look at the expense as time that I can now spend on my business to help other moms and I'm providing a job for someone else who's running her own cleaning business. As a busy mom entrepreneur, it's crucial to recognize that you can't do everything on your own. Initially, I hesitated to delegate tasks, fearing that no one else could handle them as well as I could. However, I soon realized that delegating responsibilities and seeking help was not a sign of weakness, but rather a smart strategy for growth. I learned to trust and enlisted the support of family and others to manage household tasks, such as household cleaning. My kids are all old enough to help out more, so they have more responsibilities now. By relinquishing control and focusing on my strengths, I was able to allocate and priortize much needed time to growing and creating my business while maintaining a more healthy work-life flow.
Celebrating Small Wins and Practicing Gratitude:
In the middle of the hustle and bustle, it's easy to overlook the progress and achievements along the way. It's so easy to keep thinking of the next goal or project and it never ends. Celebrating the little victories and wins along the journey are crucial. I discovered the importance of celebrating small wins and acknowledging my accomplishments every day. Even if it's as simple as going for a walk that day for my mental health, that's a win! Taking a moment to appreciate these triumphs and little wins, fueled my motivation and boosted my confidence to keep going. Practicing gratitude for the opportunities and support I received helped me stay positive and resilient during challenging times. My daily journaling practice of gratitude has been life-changing for me. There is always something to be grateful for.
Being a busy mom entrepreneur is undoubtedly a challenging but rewarding journey. One of the biggest surprises along this journey of starting a business, has been the path of self growth and discovery. I've had to confront daily limiting beliefs, fear of failure, fear of success, self-doubt and imposter syndrome and do the work to keep growing and learning. I have come to realize it's the journey of starting and building a business where the growth, learning, and self awareness, happens all at once. Through the challenges I faced, the triumphs I celebrated, and the lessons I learned, I have grown both personally and professionally. By embracing effective time management, prioritizing self-care, building a support network, delegating tasks, and celebrating small wins, I have overcome obstacles and gained valuable insights along the way. As a busy mom entrepreneur, remember to be kind to yourself, take care of your mental health, find your support group, celebrate your wins every day, stay focused on your goals, and enjoy the journey of building your business while cherishing the precious moments with your family. You can do this!
Meet the Author
Laurie Moser, founder of “Staying Active Health & Wellness,” is an advocate for moms who have teens with mental challenges. After 7 years in the fitness industry, and after facing these challenges with her own child, Laurie knows firsthand that taking care of ourselves has a huge impact on our ability to care for those around us.
Through her online courses and group support program, Laurie provides these moms with self-care tools and a sense of community so they can connect with like-minded moms and with themselves.