We moms are better together. We’re better together being a community of moms business owners who support each other. We can learn from each other and grow together. We can be inspired and encouraged when we come together. This blog post is for you, the mom business owner/entrepreneur who needs encouragement. Maybe you need help figuring out how to “do it all” too. Just a reminder, we can’t do it all, but we can do what we prioritize.
From all of us moms who took the time to answer questions to help YOU, we love you.
Lindsey’s Verity and Co Instagram | Verity and Co Instagram
Lindsey Johnson
What is your business and how long have you been building it?
My business is called Verity & Co. Female entrepreneurs hire me to create a brand, marketing message, and website that builds a legacy and grows their business. I have had my business since August of 2014.
What does your childcare look like?
My kids are home with me full-time. The longer I am in this space, the more I see that this is very unusual with those who have been entrepreneurs for awhile. But the reason I started my business in the first place is to have a creative outlet and a potential for extra income without having to put my kids in daycare for a ‘real job’, so this is my dream come true. We homeschool our boys (ages 7 and 5), and childcare is honestly not very consistent. My parents will typically watch them for me for several hours each week, I have a nanny that comes occasionally, and since my husband has Fridays off, I’ll often take off to town to work.
This means that my kids have become pretty good at entertaining themselves for a short time each day so I can get work done. I also work early and late when they’re in bed. I’m getting better at outsourcing and only doing the work that lights me up.
What are your plans and dreams for your business and family?
Aubrey Mathis
Aubrey’s Instagram | Website | Facebook Page
Melissa Whaley
How do you spend time with Jesus?
I’m working on the habit of praying in bed before I even get up. So when I wake up I start to ask Jesus to show me his plans for my day and to help me not take control but submit my day and thoughts to Him. I use the Bible app on my phone to track the reading plan I’ve chosen for this season (right now I’m reading through the whole Bible cover to cover in a year-ish) After I wake up I try to read at least one chapter of my plan or I will listen to it on audio while I get dressed/ready. I tend to just pray sporadically throughout the day and I also try to take 15 mins as some point during the day to go through the bible study that our church group is doing so that I can stay active in that.
I also realized a few years in that it’s more important for me to build my business slow and steady so that I don’t constantly burn out. I have no desire to be a six-figure business while my kids are little and need my time and attention.
Kawailehua Pakjake
What’s your business and how long have you been building it?
I am an online beauty coach living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean! I help women feel confident in their beauty routines & offer tips and tricks on how to be efficient with their time and stay in budget. I am an MLM distributor (Maskcara) for a specific beauty company, however my goal is to help women with where they are and focus on their needs, even if that means not purchasing the products I offer. I’ve been in MLMs for 4 years, specifically with my current company for 18 months.
What does your childcare look like?
I am also a new homeschool mom. So I spend a LOT of time with my kids. (However, I LOVE it) Childcare is rare, but we improvise. We have 4 children at home. A preschooler, a 5th grader, 8th grader and a sophomore. Our preschooler goes to a private preschool so that gives me time to homeschool the older children. My business fits in before homeschool and sometimes after, depending on the day. The older children often help with the preschooler, however I try to plan well enough that it’s not a daily occurrence for them.
What are your plans and dreams for your business and family?
Our ultimate goal as a family is to have financial freedom so we can enjoy life TOGETHER. So much of life is a rat race and lived in stages…. first, next, last. We want to enjoy all the blessings God’s given us and by creating income through an online virtual office, that redefines HOW we get to enjoy our life together.
Our dreams include allowing our children to chase their dreams as well. Through my business I hope to gift that same opportunity to others as well and share that blessing of dreaming again with other families. Homeschool has always been a dream of mine. And I’m so glad we’ve been able to pursue that dream and continue to move forward pursuing more.
What’s one piece of advice you have for those who are building their business and family with kids at home?
The best advice I have for others building a business while raising children at home is to Plan. Plan. Plan. If you fail to plan, you won’t necessarily fail, but you’ll DEFINITELY stress yourself out. And that stress can lead you to stalled growth in your business and potentially giving up. So to keep it fun and enjoyable, plan. You should be doing something you LOVE and even the difficult tasks should be enjoyable. They CAN be enjoyable. However, when you don’t plan (or outsource if you can) you tend to burnout quickly and hold a negative connection towards your business. It no longer becomes enjoyable. It becomes “WORK”.
Plan content, plan goals, plan your work schedule, plan meals, plan play dates, plan date nights, plan chores, plan everything. Use a timer for everything. Block scheduling has helped me tremendously. It holds me accountable to non-negotaibles. And you should be creating the non-negotiables for both your family and your biz. Will you take a day off? Will you stop working at a certain time? No emails after a determined time? Setting boundaries is important. Because working from home can turn into always working. You have to learn to clock out to create healthy boundaries for your business and your family.
What’s your favorite time saving or productivity tip?
Time blocking my schedule is by far my favorite time saving tip. It’s basically smart planning. If I don’t plan, and time block my schedule, I end up really wasting valuable time. I become unproductive. Like when utilizing social media for my business, if I don’t plan or set a timer, I can end up getting lost in the scroll. And before I know it, I’ve wasted an hour scrolling. However, when I know a timer is running on a task I’m working on, I stay focused and do my best to “beat the clock” in trying to get as much done as I can in the time I’ve allotted myself for the specific task. When I do this, I get so much more done.
(You can get my (Danielle’s) Time Blocking worksheets and training video here.)
How do you spend time with Jesus?
My alone time with Jesus is through worship and journaling. I love journaling. I always have, picking up Devo plans on an app at the least and writing my thoughts down, centers my peace. It regenerates my faith. It reminds me that I am safe, protected, and seen. Worship, strong powerful worship music is something rather new I’ve implemented in my life and my families. Playing worship during cleaning times and nap times calms everyone, and reenergizes us. It’s amazing how the same song can give energy and also calm you to rest. The power of the Holy Spirit doesn’t go unnoticed in our home.
Anything else you want to add?
I hope I can be a reminder and example to others to believe in the power of the purpose God’s called upon your life. When you don’t feel qualified, or you doubt your abilities remember that you don’t have to be qualified, but you just need to be willing to step into the call God’s placed on your life. If you have a business venture or opportunity you want to pursue, pursue it. Only you hold yourself back. There is a reason you feel called and led to it. Trust it. And when it gets hard and it seems like your being stalled or stopped. Simply look at how you can make it good or become better from it. How can you grow through it? Enjoy the journey, and remember when you feel like no one notices or sees your efforts as a mom or as a business owner…. God sees you. You are seen.
Kawai’s Instagram
