Being a mom and entrepreneur was all part of “The Plan”. For a long as I can remember I wanted to be an entrepreneur; I also knew I wanted to be a mother. In 2005, I realized my entrepreneurial aspirations and started a consulting business, and in March of 2008 I welcomed a beautiful daughter. The past three and a half years have been a whirlwind of challenges, triumphs, and continuous learning.
Through it all I find myself persevering, wanting more, often sitting back and reflecting on how it’s all getting done…while at times asking “what the hell did I get myself into?”. In this reflection, I came up with five distinct components that I believe are my key factors to balancing it all and being successful. You may be familiar with the four P’s model, also know as the Marketing Mix (product, price, place and promotion) – here my “Momprenuer Mix” for success:
Passion: Passion is the fuel that drives us to move forward, it’s what makes the hard stuff bearable, and the late nights worth it! Purpose: I see purpose as passion in action. Having purpose is vital to feeling whole. Whether we are folding clothes or writing a proposal, executing that task with purpose gives it meaning and thus gives us a sense of accomplishment. Although, that can be hard when we’re trying to get poop stains out of clothes. Priorities: Being a mom is truly the most demanding job, being a mom and an entrepreneur is doubly demanding! Keeping it all in balance requires prioritization, my daughter is my number one priority and work just has to wait. Patience: Patience is truly a virtue! A virtue I work on everyday. It CAN all get done! It’s just a matter of time, and being patient. Persistence: Keep moving forward, the one sure thing is that things will go wrong (how’s that for optimism), pushing forward and being solutions oriented is the key to moving ahead.
My ultimate motivating force is to be a positive example for my daughter; I want her to know that I am not just her mom, but a woman who has dreams, aspirations and a desire to contribute to humanity. I hope that my example will inspire her to do the same. I approach my life as an adventure, one that must be pursued with passion, courage, and commitment.
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