Mompreneur lessons.

When I started my journey as a mompreneur several years ago, I had no clue how much my life would change. It’s not just about doing what I love. It’s about having the ability to incorporate my family into this new lifestyle. And we (as a family) also appreciate the flexibility it gives us. 

So, when it quickly became overwhelming and time became limited, I had to make some choices. Can you have too much of a good thing?! Maybe. Or perhaps it’s how you navigate it. And the choices you make (again, as a family) to make your mompreneural journey a positive experience for everyone involved.

I’m in constant contact with my customers and virtual coaching clients via text and email. Social media and smart phones no longer allow you to make the disconnect from work to home. It’s so easy to be distracted by notifications during critical moments of your family’s day. These times are meant to connect. Not to multi-task. We’ve set rules not to answer phones during dinner time or bed time. I’ve learned to be very open with my accountability groups and let them know that I will only be responding to messages very early in the morning (my power productivity hour of the day) or after my children are in bed. Setting these boundaries sets everyone up for success with attainable expectations.

I started using what I feared was a bad two letter word. I started saying “no”. If something didn’t align with my mission or my family’s goals, I said it. It isn’t easy to turn business away or let customers know you aren’t a good fit. But, you will become a better (and more credible) mompreneur because of it. If a timeslot doesn’t work for my family, I know I have to say no. If a type of customer isn’t someone that I’m trained to work with, I have to decline the offer. If my daughter needs a nap, I need to schedule my meetings around it.

Be flexible with yourself. People will understand. One of the main goals of having your own business is having the flexibility and setting your own schedule. If something comes up with your son’s school concert or your spouse being out of town, people will typically understand if you need to reschedule an appointment. They may even appreciate that you can relate to their personal calendar struggles.