#mompreneurmonday

#mommymonday - Thanksgiving Edition

This week I would like to take the opportunity to write about being a ‘mompreneur’.  By unofficial definition MOMPRENEUR is a neologism defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur (Wikipedia).

However, being a mompreneur is so much more than being just a mom or just an entrepreneur.  Being a mompreneur will break you down both mentally and physically. Mompreneurs are the strongest women I know.  They do it all. Work 24/7 in their home life AND their business life. Finding the life balance is extremely difficult to master (but can be done).

Pregnant in Minnesota is dedicated to supporting families in connecting with local businesses and services (especially for mompreneurs).

So, for this holiday season, I wanted to shed light on the extreme gratitude mompreneurs and other local/small business owners have when you buy or shop locally.

I have been a small business owner for the past 5 years and it is NOT easy.  In that time I have failed many many many times. I have lost money, wasted time and run myself ragged.  It is a daily struggle of making the right business choices. It is an entirely new ball game when you add kids or a family into the mix.

Most people think that small business owners have a lot of money or are privileged because they get to be their own boss or work from home.  These things are simply not true.

We are NOT made of excess money and the luxury of working from home, being your own boss is a catch 22.  We are directly responsible for EVERY aspect of a business. We are the faces and voices of a company. Many times, mompreneurs are a one woman show.  We wear many hats - from accounting to marketing and customer service - we do it all.

Most jobs you leave for work, and are there from 8-5.  Then go home without work following you. When you work from home or are your own boss, you are on call or on the clock 24/7.  Even though my work hours are Monday through Friday 8:30am-3:30pm I still get phone calls, texts and even Facebook messages all hours of the day & night.  Emails, I strictly do not check unless it is during my business hours.

I have done my best to separate my home and work life despite being a one woman show.  For other mompreneurs here is what has worked for me to “to it all”

Mompreneur Hacks

1. Have a set work schedule - my personal work schedule is during the week Monday through Friday 8:30am to 3:30pm before I have to pick up my son from daycare.  I RARELY schedule any phone or in person meetings outside these hours. I have created this work schedule to work best FOR ME.
   
2. Keep Family Time Outside of Work Hours - my husband works outside the home from 8am to 4pm and is back by 4:30 every day.  I do not work past this time because personal relationships will take a toll if you do not make sure to set time aside to be with the ones you love.  My children deserve 100% of my attention when they are not at school or daycare but so does my husband. We talk about our days, play with the kids and take care of regular household needs TOGETHER.  It is quality time that I do not want to miss out on.
   
3. Routine is KEY - routine for both your work and home life are essential to keeping it all together and having the physical/mental capability to do it all.  Obviously there are going to be some shift in your day BUT having a general routine will help keep you on task. For example, I completed X tasks on M,W,F for work and for my home life I run the dishwasher every other day but only do laundry Sundays & Thursdays each week.  Simple and short routine patterns can make a world of a difference.
   

Circling back to gratitude - mompreneurs are extremely grateful for each and every purchase made.  Every time you buy local or support small business you are literally helping parents keep the lights on, buy school supplies and supporting a child's sports dream.  There is also so much gratitude from small business owners who have customers that understand we are also parents, and have families to take care of. We appreciate the boundaries those clients/customers respect.  That is why I provided the 3 hacks above.  

If you are a business owner OR a customer of small business, remind the mompreneurs in your life to follow these 3 hacks so they have the ability to keep “doing it all”.

Be a gift to the families in your community this holiday season by supporting your local mompreneurs. 

Happy Thanksgiving,
Amanda

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