Me & my girls

I use to tell the story that my business growth would be slow because I had kids.  “I don’t have a lot of time.”  “I have competing priorities.”  “I can’t be expected to do the same amount of work as my non-mom peers.”

Let me tell you, that story got old really fast.

The truth is being a mama has helped me grow my business in more ways than I can count.  My role as a mom has set me up to be incredibly successful at self-employment.

So, to all the mothers out there who feel like solopreneurship is a long, hard, mysterious road, I call your bluff.  Your role as a mother has beautiful crossover into the land of self-employment.  I have a hunch that you harbour experience and wisdom that you haven’t even begun to tap into.

Here are 10 ways being a mom to two incredible little girls has helped me navigate the world of solopreneurship.

1.  I’m committed to the essentials.

I’ve learned to focus on the key moves that make the most impact for my girls and to let the rest go.  That means that some of the ‘nice-to-haves’ like having a squeaky clean house or writing a weekly blog post doesn’t always happen.  But, I do keep my house organized and I stay connected to my people in shorter tweets and Facebook posts.  Committing to the essentials gives me focus and clarity.

2.  I love my business so much that I want it to be itself.

I want my two little women-in-the-making  to be who they want to be, even if that’s different than what I’m imagining right now.  I want the same for my business.  I have a vision but maybe what’s in store is entirely more perfect than what I alone can imagine.

3.  I’m responsible for being me.

My girls are happiest when I’m aligned with my core values, sharing my gifts and accepting that it’s ok to be exactly where I am.  And wouldn’t ya know that being ‘me’ has had a direct impact on the growth of my business.

4.  I accept support.  I filter advice.

I’ve had many lessons on the fact that no one knows what’s best for me and my girls or me and my biz, but me.  However, I will graciously accept encouragement, inspiration and ideas along the way. {And yes, daddy is an equal parent with an equal say on what’s what with our girls ;o)}

5.  I don’t follow the crowd.

Instead, I get really clear on why I want what I want and then I head off in that direction.  I meet the coolest people on those paths.

6.  I don’t apologize for my POV.

I’ve learned how to own my unique point of view and to share it lovingly with my people without asking anyone else to hide their brilliance even if their beliefs don’t feel as authentically rich as the ones I ascribe to.   There’s a million “right” ways to be a mom and a business coach.  There’s room for all of us.

7.  There are no tried and true methods.

What worked for one colicky baby didn’t work for the second.  Likewise, each client, launch, retreat needs fresh eyes and a flexible approach.  My adaptability muscle is strong and pliable.

8.  I accept that someone else’s kid might walk sooner than mine.

The same goes for someone else’s blog following, product launch, visibility, and income.  There is a divine wisdom in timing.  The perfect unfolding of my children’s development or my business growth are only partly about me and my actions.  There’s so much freedom in this level of acceptance.

9.  I believe the 3rd entity is the relationship itself.

There’s me, the kid(s) and the relationship I have with each of them.  And, there’s me, the business and the relationship I have with my business.  Each relationship has it’s own energy, desires, needs, and voice.  My business grows when I pay attention to the relationship.

10.  I can choose fun and ease.

Responsibility, boundaries, and routine are supportive containers that provide my children and business with structure.  But how I feel in my role as a mom and solopreneur are completely dependent on whether or not I am choosing ease and fun.  The bottom line is when I’m happy, my business grows and my children thrive.

“Nothing has a stronger influence psychologically on their environment and especially their children than the unlived life of the parent.” ~Carl Jung

In the comments below, I’d love to hear about your stories of motherhood and solopreneurship.  What’s been true for you?

xo

Jac

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