Juggling motherhood and all it entails can be a challenge, and adding a business on top of all your roles doesn’t make it any easier.
Motherhood certainly doesn’t hinder women from achieving their business goals, but being a mom is a full-time job, and you might be asking yourself: Can I run a business as a mom and become a mom-preneur?
You certainly can! Without sounding too aspirational and motivational, this article will provide actionable tips for mothers who aim to become successful mompreneurs.
What is a Mompreneur?
The meaning behind the term mompreneur is in the name. The term combines the name mom and entrepreneur. A mompreneur is a woman who juggles multiple roles, including motherhood and running a business.
The name exists as a means to recognise the women in business who still thrive as entrepreneurs while managing the huge responsibility that comes with not only birthing, but raising children.
1. Find Your Niche
Whether you are selling a product or providing a service, it’s important to choose a niche. By choosing a niche, you’re able to build trust and credibility, instead of being all over the place, which not only confuses your audience but can also confuse you.
A niche refers to a unique part of the business market that stands out and can be differentiated from other niches. For instance, if your industry is in parenting, you can sell products for pregnant women and babies specifically as your niche. This allows you to target a specific set of customers.
2. Time Management
Time management is the ultimate hack for moms who run businesses. Whether it’s client meetings, school drop-offs, and all the other roles and tasks you hold, the only way to manage this effectively is through time management.
Ensure you get your children on a routine that gives you time to handle other tasks. This isn’t only about getting time to work, but it’s essential to prioritise self-care. This includes rest, taking time for yourself, your skincare routine, etc.
3. Outsource Where You Can
In some circumstances, moms don’t always have to do it all. It’s important to outsource help or delegate tasks to your existing community. If you have too many household tasks and you live with people, try to have a conversation with them about helping you with some of the household tasks.
Additionally, you can make use of a virtual assistant to cover work tasks. If none of these are an option for you, make use of AI tools to automate your work tasks, freeing up some time for you to handle other aspects of your life.
4. Find a Community of Women in Business
Connecting with other women and moms in business will help you find some ease in navigating entrepreneurship while having to balance motherhood. Communities like GMZ Women in Business are places where women from all walks of life come together and exchange ideas, business opportunities, mentorship, and support.
The perks of a community for women in business like GMZ don’t merely lie in business, but in support for womanhood as a whole. As women connect, they gain insight about business, but the conversations extend beyond that into motherhood, marriage, divorce, singlehood, work-life balance, and much more.
5. Learn to Say No
The most successful entrepreneurs know when to say no. Setting boundaries is important in all aspects of life, but especially in business. You need to know which opportunity works for you and your business, and which ones are not suitable for you. Saying yes to every single opportunity can do more harm to your business than good.
Sometimes, you might be faced with a good front-facing business opportunity, but if you’re not careful, it might cause harm in the long-run. Also, in some instances, you might not have the capacity to handle the expectations that come with some deals.
Apart from work opportunities, setting boundaries for your workers, partners, as well as people in your personal life, is as important. Failure to learn the importance of saying no can be detrimental to you and your business.
6. Don’t Resist Your Femininity
For decades, women have felt pressured to suppress their femininity and adopt a masculine persona in the workplace. However, the workplace is changing, and feminine characteristics are essential in business.
Traits associated with femininity, such as compassion, nurturing, and empathy, are needed when you’re working with people. Society is increasingly unlearning the idea that femininity is about weakness or a lack of emotional control. As a woman, you can be decisive, set boundaries, and run a successful business without forcing yourself to embody traits that don’t feel natural to you.
