Some people consider their businesses their babies. It takes a lot of work to nurture, grow, and build them into thriving, full-fledged companies. There’s branding, marketing, sales, website building, product development…the list goes on and on.
Judi Gevara, the founder of Bloomsake, is not only a mom to her business—she’s also a mom of two! Gevara recently welcomed her second child into the world in the midst of expanding her resin floral preservation business. Needless to say, she’s learned a few things about managing her time. Keep reading for Gevara’s top tips for successful “mom-preneurship.”
1. Create A Schedule
Gevara is a big fan of scheduling out her days. Two young children at home mean she can’t always stick to the schedule, but having the day planned helps her stay on track with her most urgent tasks.
Typically, Gevara plans her top priority tasks first thing in the morning. That way, if she is only able to complete one task that day for any reason, it’s the thing that most urgently had to get done.
She also recommends new mom-preneurs use block scheduling. Rather than spending a little time each day processing orders, responding to emails, and attending meetings, she urges new business owners to dedicate one day each week to their recurring major tasks. This will allow business owners to get into a workflow and get more done in a shorter amount of time.
2. Curate A Dedicated Workspace
This tip is great for any individuals who work from home—especially those with kids. Curate one space in your home that is dedicated to your work materials. It doesn’t have to be a whole room! Even one corner or one surface in your house is enough to begin helping you separate work from your personal life. This dedicated workspace will also help indicate to your children when you’re available to meet their needs and when you are focusing. If you can, treat your workspace to some cute decorations, like photos of your family, and basic desk supplies like sticky notes, pens, and a mouse. These small luxuries will help you get work done faster and stay focused without having to rummage through the kitchen for writing utensils or a pad of paper mid-project.
3. Hire Help When You Need It
If you can, consider hiring help to complete tasks that you don’t like or aren’t particularly good at. The first step for many entrepreneurs is to hire an accountant who can handle their taxes and balance their books.
Other types of individuals you can hire part-time include personal or executive assistants, social media managers, marketing consultants, business coaches, and packing/distribution support. Look on Upwork or LinkedIn to find qualified individuals in your area.
4. Sometimes, Done Is Better Than Perfect
Not every task requires perfection, especially when your time is already split between work and caring for your family. Obviously, you want to provide customers with exceptional products and services. But when it comes to your own business, done is occasionally better than perfect. Rather than spending hours perfecting your next Instagram post, go ahead and share whatever comes to mind first! The same goes for things like quick email responses and crafting marketing materials. You can always go back and make edits when you find yourself with a bit more time.
5. Give Yourself Grace
Mom-preneurship is not easy, and you won’t get everything right the first time. That’s OK! Give yourself the grace to make mistakes and take risks without punishing yourself if you fail. Gevara notes that she has learned more from missed attempts than from perfect first tries, anyway.
Next Steps for Mom-preneurs
Gevara encourages new mom-preneurs to allow themselves the flexibility to meet both their business and family needs. If you have a day where to need to dedicate most of your time to your family, allow yourself the space to do so! The same goes for work. When caring for children, not every day is going to look the same, so expect the unexpected and roll the punches.
