My business changed when I became a mom

Let’s talk about change. Personal changes. Professional changes. Landscape changes and current events. Shit breaks, then you get to fix it. `That, and what it’s like for moms in business.

For me, my business changed when my life changed through becoming a mom. As a personal brand who’s been working on the internet for a decade now, it shouldn’t be surprising that the two are so closely tied. When one shifts, the other is impacted.

Mamahood changed nearly everything for me

Here’s a (not comprehensive) list of things that changed when I had my first baby:

• my available time and energy
• my boundaries
• my priorities
• my body, of course
• my vision
• my work style
• my preferred movement and workouts
• my hobbies
• my interests
• sometimes, my friends and those I trust
• my stress levels
• hormones, enough said
• my capacity for bullshit.

All of the above changed again when I had my second too. Then even more as we got into routines at home. And now again that I’ve officially returned to work 1 day a week.

I see so many in the online world, especially the Instagram bubble (IYKYK), trying to prove how they’re doing things the same as before even though it’s likely that things are different now. They’re doing better now, actually. Watch me do it all.⁠ 🥵🤪🤡 I bet you see it too, and maybe it leaves you feeling a bit icky?

Moms in business: Things change, and that’s okay

Let’s get this clear: I’m not an expert. Yes, I’ve done this twice now. But statistically alone, so many other mothers are far more experience than me. Still, a few things I know to be sure:

1. It’s okay if your dreams changed. It’s totally normal that your day-to-day looks different now.⁠
2. You get to build a business that fits your current season. It’s hard work, but you can do it.⁠
3. You get to define “ALL” for yourself, then choose how you prioritize daily to achieve your goals.
4. There’s probably more to these stories, and some aren’t intentionally sharing only the highlight reels. So let’s be kind to each other, and ourselves.

While we don’t need everyone airing their dirty laundry on the internet, I think some transparency is needed.

At the very least, it’s safe to assume we’re all running on fewer hours of consecutive sleep these days. 😂

Moms in business need transparency around entrepreneurship and motherhood

There are other parts to my story that you won’t often see online because sharing these isn’t the first thing I think of in the moments they’re happening. I’m so focused on living my life, and telling the relevant pieces afterwards.

I’m a share after I’ve processed and moved on type of person. Not while I’m in the weeds. For me, the parts you don’t see often look like…

🙏 Some nights are long with multiple wakes, which means I’m drained starting the day. Coffee helps.

🙏 Some goals don’t align anymore, which leaves space to restructure. Space to dream again.

🙏 Most days don’t go according to plan, so my to-do list doesn’t get done. But that’s okay because I don’t think it’s realistic to expect to-dos to end.

If you’re in the same season, remember this: You’re doing your best. And you’re exactly where you need to be.

Navigating entrepreneurship as a mom

How does this relate to business? Because if yours is anything like mine, the two are closely intertwined.

Maybe you have a personal brand or are a solopreneur, or even have a micro-agency or small team of 1-5 people. In the case of micro and small businesses like this, your work is probably very close to your life. So obviously a major life change will reflect into your work.

Aside from any personal changes you may or may not have experienced lately, there’s the shift in the world.

Things are weird right now, aren’t they? What was working 5 years ago—even 1 or 2 years ago—isn’t working now.

If you’re like, yes, great Jill. Things have changed, now what do I do?

I have the answer for you, of course. 😉

Moms in business need to get Get back to basics to grow faster

One thing that hasn’t changed: My belief in having solid foundations in your business.

You need NEED NEED building blocks that you can pull apart and rebuild as you navigate all changes—personal ones, professional ones, and the ones that happen as side effects of current events. You need to be able to reimagine and rebuild each stage of growth.

For me, those building blocks include things like:

• Visioning, goal setting, and planning tools to realign who you are now with where you want to go next.
• Tools for revenue planning, including offer optimization and capacity planning that fits your ideal day-to-day.
• Prioritization techniques so you know exactly what you need to focus on next, considering your available time.
• Boundaries in business and life that support your goals, and help you life that ideal work-life integration.

There’s more that fits into this “building block bucket,” but those are the basics that I wish every entrepreneur had access to. These are the things I’ve used to rebuild my business multiple times over the last decade I’ve been working online.

When moms in business feel misaligned, it’s time to rebuild

Since I started freelancing a decade ago now (fresh out of university back in 2014), I’ve seen so many seasons in business. The first few years were messy. Really messy. I didn’t know what I was doing, and floundered. While I learned a lot, things didn’t click for years. The next 5 years are when I saw real growth. Real changed.

From there, sometimes things still break, and I rebuild. Break and rebuild. Because honestly, I think it’s a good thing when things break. It means you’re growing. My journey wasn’t linear…

• From struggling freelancer to successful solopreneur.
• Rebuilding after losing all my clients in the first wave of the 2020 you-know-what.
• Launching courses and digital products, while maintaining client work in just 4-day work weeks.
• When I built a micro-agency in just 15 hours of work each week.
• 2 x maternity leaves, including returning to work now with fewer hours to spare.

But all of those changes led me to here, where I get to do the work that feels the most rewarding to me and show up for my family.

My business coaching approach is different as a mom

A lot of my clients are also moms. Even before I started my own family, they were. I’ve shared a formal apology to all the mothers who I coached before I understood what their lives were like. But beyond that, I think it’s important to note how things have changed now.

My approach as a business coach and mom is so different now.

First, I think it’s important to highlight the differences between coaching and consulting, and the required awareness and attunement required to guide your clients in the way they need at a given moment. Also the place for empathy alongside accountability.

Like I know you are capable of doing hard things and checking goals off your list. I also know what it’s like to be running on fumes, broken 4-5 hours of sleep each night for weeks in a row, and feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, and touched out. Like goals, what?

I get it.

Moms in business are a different breed

The day I became a mom is the day I gained a whole new level of respect for all the women who have come before me. Personally, of course. But also professionally.

First, we grow these human beings. Then we birth them and suddenly need to care for another person. Often, we’re their sole food supply. Their preferred comfort. Their everything.

In Canada, it’s common for working moms to get 1 year to 18 months of paid maternity leave. But for those of us who are self-employed, we often return to work sooner. Sometimes because we want to. Other times because we need to. Regardless of why or when, many of us go back to work.

The weird thing is that there’s this expectation that everything will be the same. You’re the same. Your business can be the same (apparently) if you’re an entrepreneur. But I disagree… Clearly, that’s what this entire rambling blog post is about. And instead of trying to force the new you into the pre-motherhood box you built for yourself, why not shift with your current season?

Give yourself grace.

Go as slow as you need to.

Build a new box.

And maybe lean into learning how to let all the other shit go. Because so much of it is a distraction from your bigger vision.

Just my 2 cents. Thanks for hanging out here.