How to Be a Successful Mompreneur Without Losing Your Sh*t
You’ve seen them out there in internet-land… Those women who seem to have unlocked some elusive key to life. They’ve carved out the best of both worlds: enjoying fulfilling careers and not missing a beat with their kids.
I’m talking about mompreneurs.
You know… The queens of the side gig…
They’re building online empires…
They’re taking up space in male-dominated industries…
They’re offering their unique expertise to the world and generating healthy incomes…
And they’re done in time for school pick-up. How? How?!
We know it can be done because, well — we see them doing it. And I’m here to ask the same question I ask past-version of me all the time: why the hell aren’t we all doing this?!
As a collective, I see more and more women who are:
Calling their own shots
Achieving financial independence
Creating their own schedules
Exploring ALL aspects of their identity
And consciously mothering their children
All at the same time.
I started dreaming of this kind of freedom for myself last year. I wanted to create a life that works for me AND my kids. So I got to work. I’m still pretty new at this whole “be my own boss” thing, but I’ve learned quite a few things already about starting my own business as a mom.
And I assure you — if you’re a mom, you naturally possess the exact same badassery required to pull this thing off. As a mompreneur, you will not have to sacrifice your career or your precious motherhood years.
Here are 6 simple ways to maintain your sanity as a mom business owner:
1. Set clear boundaries — and stick to them!
When you think about everything involved in your day, what are the non-negotiables for you?
Do you value those after-school hours with your littles? Make sure your workday ends at school pick-up time so you can be present with them at the park. And here’s the tricky part… Don’t keep checking your email! You’ll start to resent your work if you let it cut into the time you value most.
Plus, has anyone ever *actually* written a successful email when their kids are around?
As a mompreneur, it’s super important to learn how to say “no” more often. Even to *gasp*... Paying clients! The people you do business with may need something from you while you’re momming. But you’re in charge of how people treat you. It’s on you to teach your clients when you’ll be available.
The beauty of owning your own business is that you can curate your days based on what works best for YOU. If you function better after getting some exercise in — by all means, make sure gym time is a non-negotiable part of your schedule!
When I intentionally and consistently set aside time for myself, I’m able to be present and engage with my kids from a refreshed state. BONUS: this applies to my work too! I love having the opportunity to bring my best self to every single thing I do.
Build your work around your life, not the other way around.
2. Celebrate your successes.
It can be easy to get fixated on a goal and just keep pushing — especially if you’ve struggled with perfectionism. But there will be wins along the way that deserve your recognition and time!
I know, I know… For moms, there never seems to be enough time. It’s hard to justify taking the time to celebrate when you could be pumping out another proposal, writing another blog post, working on client acquisition, tweaking your website… Well, you catch my drift.
But it’s important to acknowledge everything you’ve accomplished along the way. There aren’t the same built-in motivators that come with a corporate job, so you’ll need to be intentional about motivating yourself as you go.
Inspire yourself to keep going!
3. Roll with the punches.
There will be LOTS of ups and downs, and you’ll need to tap into that inner resilience, grit, and determination. The good news is: you’ve already mastered this by mothering those tiny humans!
That superhuman motherly resilience actually saved my butt recently.
I decided to take my two kids to Universal Studios for their winter break this year. I’m a single mom, and my kids are pretty young, so this was admittedly a ballsy endeavor on my own.
The day we arrived, my sweet seven-year-old broke out in a full-body rash… Of course his first rash in years chose to make its appearance on day one of his vacation.
Cue a frantic trip to urgent care, pharmacies, steroids, and one itchy, miserable kiddo.
Just when the rash started to ease up, my four-year-old broke out with a mouth full of ulcers and couldn’t eat or drink hardly anything. The poor guy was crankier than he’d ever been in his life.
Things were challenging, but we pushed through and made it to the park eventually. And now we have magical memories that we’ll never forget.
I learned something important on that trip: if I can deal with cranky, rashy, hungry, and tired kids while standing in line with hundreds of people in an amusement park and no end in sight — 400 miles away from home and on my own — then I can handle anything.
When you think about it that way, it’s no wonder women-owned businesses generated $1.8 trillion in the US last year…
Like I said, moms are built for this sh*t.
4. Shed those limiting beliefs.
As women, and especially as mothers, we’re conditioned to function solely as a supporting role to someone else’s dream.
Thanks, patriarchy! 🙄
But I’m here to tell you that you are worthy of the same accomplishments as the men are. You can’t accept success if you’re feeling guilty about taking up space.
You deserve this, and you have the skills to build it for yourself.
Hell, the simple fact that you’re a mom qualifies you way more than you may realize. Think about it… You’ve already mastered the art of maximizing your time (nap time shuffle, anyone?)
Out of survival, you’ve wired yourself to work smarter — not harder. And that’s the name of the game here!
5. Stay inspired.
Surround yourself with inspirational women who have already achieved your dream.
The internet is an incredible resource for this. Honestly, it amazes me what we have available to us at our fingertips — for free!
Fill your social media feeds with moms who are a few steps ahead of you. Learn how they did it.
Remind yourself regularly that there are others out there successfully doing exactly what you want to be doing.
When you open your eyes to the abundance available to you, you’ll see that the possibilities are truly endless.
6. Don’t try to do everything yourself.
We’ve already established that you’re an absolute queen. 👑
But let’s face it — even queens have limited time, knowledge, and resources.
If you want your business to grow, be great at one thing, and outsource the rest.
Sometimes, that looks like paying for software that makes operating your business a whole lot easier.
Other times, it means leaving important tasks to the experts. You guessed it… I’m talking about marketing.
You’ll need quality marketing to establish your brand’s authority and get found online. That’s where people like me come in!
I’m a freelance copywriter for women-owned brands. My passion is to use my copywriting skills to bring financial success to more women. Check out my website to see how I can help you maintain your sanity as your business grows.
