When I had my son, it was a total shift in lifestyle for me. I could no longer afford to be the workaholic I used to be, because being a mother now came first. At that time, I had a 5-year long profitable insurance career, and I was spending my days in and out, working.
Even throughout infancy and his young toddlerhood, I found myself striving to work alongside being around him. I would be on my phone or computer while he was in the playpen, then back at it once I had put him down for his nap. I was stretching myself thin, and I knew I had to make some changes.
Who would have ever thought that the change was to add another business, not remove one completely?
In September 2020, when my son was a year old, I started my coaching business to help mums manage their time and regain control of their lives. In simpler words: I wanted to help other mums not go through the hectic life I had.
Right now, I have 3 Virtual Assistants who help me with my business. What used to be crazy busy mornings churning out content, scheduling clarity calls and managing clients now are smooth, calm mornings where I even have time to do Zumba. Yes, Zumba! It is considered part of my work day!
You see, motherhood taught me many things. But some of the most important things are 1) sometimes the nitty-gritty doesn’t matter, 2) ask for help when you need it, 3) you can’t do EVERYTHING, and 4) always look at the bigger picture. When I compare how I approached my insurance business pre-kid, to my coaching business now post-kid, I see how I’m a lot more time-smart and clearer on my priorities which helps me get my top-level objectives done – growth I can only attribute to being a mother. Being a parent has also taught me the value of connection, and I now forge better relationships with my clients and partners.
I remember what it was like trying to juggle work and being around for my toddler and I’m glad it is no longer that way now. Granted he’s in school for half a day, but that’s also because I’ve learnt how to structure my time. So if you ask me how I handle being a WAHM with my kid around – I don’t! In fact, I make sure NOT to work when he’s home from school so that I can dedicate my time to him and my husband.
Being a mother and a business owner requires a lot of time management skills. I would even go as far as to say it is the concrete that you need to build a business.
If you’re a SAHM and you’re thinking of starting a business, know that making time for your family is an investment too – it makes you happier, your family closer and your heart fuller. That, in turn, translates to better work. I’m now running 2 profitable businesses and if I can do it, so can you.
It is entirely possible to do it all. People think that you need to have a lot of time to get things done, but it doesn’t matter as much as how you spend it. 4 hours of total focus and productivity easily trumps 8 hours of distraction and procrastination. And when we are the best version of ourselves, we can give the best to others as well.
Remember, being a SAHM doesn’t have to chain you down.
Photo from Lydia Nah.
Hi, I’m Lydia! I created my 2nd business when my son was 1y+ where I coach supermoms to supercharge their time and energy so that they can be the CEO of their lives. On the side, I have a 7 year profitable insurance sales business. I love it how I am able to manage 2 businesses at the same time, manage a house and a family, with no extra help!
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This article is written as part of everydaymama.co’s Work-At-Home-Mama Series where we feature amazing Mamas who run businesses from their homes.