My business dreams changed in motherhood

Before I had my first baby, I thought I’d want to jump right back into working full-time. I thought we’d get a nanny after my husband’s extended parental leave was over. I thought I’d want to work more. All because I didn’t think I was very maternal… LOL. If it weren’t obvious yet, I was wrong. Because dreams change.

Here I am typing this blog post on the small naptime break I have after baby 2’s arrival, finally not milk/nap trapped or playing Thomas the Train for a few minutes. Funny how things work out, eh?

Turns out I am pretty maternal. So much so that my mastermind clients have taken to calling me “mom” too. They say they do their weekly homework and follow their monthly individualized action plan because they “don’t want to disappoint mom.” Perfect. 😂

Because we all value transparency, and I know I’m not the only one who’s experienced the shift of matrescence that’s reflected onto my business as well as my life… I thought I’d share. Here’s how my business dreams changed through motherhood, and what to do if yours change as well. Whether that change is from becoming a mom like me, or some other pivotal life event.

My business evolves as dreams change

Growth is not linear. This is something I remind my clients of all the time. When we look at business as in constant evolution, it’s easier to ride the waves. There will always be ups and downs. Yes, there are things you can do to mitigate and minimize the downs for more consistency, but sometimes those downs are inevitable as you navigate a changing season. Maybe it’s worth it to look at “downs” as times that we’re working and pushing against misalignment, rather than the traditional perspective of a slower revenue month.

Because all the money in the world isn’t worth it if you aren’t fulfilled by what you’re doing.

I’ve experienced massive shifts in my business a few times before, including burning everything down and rebuilding again. Motherhood has brought a lot of that because dreams change, and becoming a mama to me was the catalyst needed to stop working so much and pushing so hard.

The biggest change with my first born was realizing that I don’t want to—and don’t have to—work full-time to grow this business. I don’t want to deal with daycare waitlists or vetting someone we trust right now to help out. I don’t want to give up time with my littles. I don’t want to sacrifice this business that I’ve worked so hard to build either.

Good news: Making this work for 2 years now is proof that I get to have both.

How I approach business looks different now

The arrival of my first taught me how to make plans, but be patient when things don’t go according to that plan. How to lean into the beauty that comes from work days interrupted. It was a crash course in flexibility. And a push to set my business up to not just be systemized, but also be able to roll with the punches.

The biggest change with my second born: Way less planning. A far less structured leave too because I locked in the first cohort of The Inner Circle Mastermind before finding out I was pregnant.

At this point, I know that I can’t make a plan A, B, or C (or even D, E, and F). Babies don’t care about that stuff. And while I like to think that I make the rules, I know my boys are the real bosses around here.

So my business looks different again. Although 2 things are still true: I don’t have to work full-time to grow this business. And I LOVE that I get to spend the majority of my days with my littles.

Dreams change. Businesses change. All because humans grow.

And if your business is personal like mine is, then you’ve probably experienced similar shifts. The trick is laying foundations that allow you to ride those waves with minimal stress.

How do you navigate those waves when dreams change? Let’s get to that next.

How to recenter when dreams change

When you have certain tools and perspectives, you can burn your biz down and rebuild it any way you want, as many times as you need to make it really and truly align with your life.

That’s what everything I share, teach, consult, and coach on is all about… Building a sustainable business that aligns with your life.

It’s not some buzzy BS hack being pushed on Instagram or Threads or wherever we’re supposed to hang out now… It’s your one life we’re talking about. Because you deserve everything you want from your work and life, and with the right approach, I think you can get that.

5 ways to recenter when dreams change

The biggest issue I see others face when dreams change is first a lack of clarity on what the new dream is. You know the path you’re on feels misaligned now, but you don’t know where you want to go next. Then once you identify the new end goal, the struggle becomes the journey there. What steps do you need to take to rebuild your business to realign with your life?

That progression is directly reflected in my suggestions for 5 ways you can recenter when dreams change…

Journal to tap into your thoughts.

Journaling… I always start here. My clients are probably sick of this reminder, but it works. When you practice consistently, it’s easier and easier to find the answers you need within you. So if you’re feeling lost, misaligned, or like your dreams have changed and you don’t quite know where you’re meant to go next, put pen to paper.

I’m a firm believer that business development is closely tied to personal development, so don’t skip this step if you want to grow your business. Growth comes from self-awareness. Self-awareness comes from releasing and analyzing your thoughts. You can do both through journaling.

Cut what doesn’t feel good.

Often, if you don’t know what you DO want yet, it’s easier to pinpoint what you DON’T want anymore. That’s a great starting point on your journey to realign, so just cut what doesn’t feel good. Stop doing things you don’t want to do, aren’t the best fit for, or aren’t excited about. One step at a time, things will start to feel better.

In business, that could look like discontinuing certain offers or ending an agreement with a client you’ve grown to resent. It could also mean bringing on help for the tasks you’re not the best at.

Take time away from work.

Sometimes what we really need is just a break. Maybe you don’t actually need to burn everything down and start over, but take time away from your business. Do what you can here! Maybe it’s just a long weekend where you totally unplug… No checking emails or DMs. Maybe you can swing a longer week or two, or even an entire month off of client work.

You will always return to work refreshed and with a clear mind. From that space, you’ll have more clarity.

Take better care of yourself.

I see this happen often too: A client feels misaligned with their work, but it’s because they’re letting it be the most important thing in their life. They let their business take priority over everything else, including themselves. In this case, it’s not always a matter of rebuilding their entire business to better fit their life, but restructuring boundaries to allow for space outside of work.

Specifically, space to take better care of yourself. That looks like the basics of regular movement, eating well, sleeping, but also dedicated time to pursue other passions.

Get coaching support from someone who’s been there.

You can skip or fast forward the messy middle with the right mentor in your corner. Yes, you can try to go it alone. But from my experience, it’s easier and faster if you find support from someone who’s done what you want to do. You can learn from their mistakes instead of needing to learn yourself.

This is exactly why I created The Inner Circle Mastermind, a hybrid style mastermind that combines coaching and consulting in a close knit, (by application only) community. It’s the gap I wish I could have filled for myself when I was in that messy middle spot. Learn more and apply here.

Be kind to yourself when dreams change

Hopefully this is the real talk you needed to go after it today. And be kind to yourself if your plans are interrupted instead.

If you’re in a season of motherhood and business where you feel like you need more direction in order to achieve your goals… Without running yourself into the ground… Check out The 6-Figure Schedule. This free download shares how I run my 6-figure freelance business in just 15 hour work weeks (or less). Learn more and grab a copy here.