According to the most recent stats, women make up the fastest-growing segment of small business owners. In fact, the National Women?s Business Council (NWBC) says there are 7.8 million women-owned businesses in the United States. And many of these women are mothers. Thus, mompreneur. The term ?mompreneur? was actually coined in the late 1990s by Ellen Parlapiano and Pat Cobe, co-authors of Mompreneurs: A Mother?s Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Work-at-Home Success and Mompreneurs Online: Using the Internet to Build Work@Home Success. Now, many working mothers wear the badge mompreneur with pride.
One such mompreneur is Karen Taylor Bass, PR expert and author of The Brand New Mommy: From Babies To Branding To Bliss (foreword written by Jill Scott) and founder of The Brand New Mommy blog.
?Being a mompreneur is a gift and a challenge. You have to do eight hours of office work in four hours and that’s no easy task,? says Taylor Bass. ?As Chief Mom at The Brand New Mommy blog, I have to organize my week on Sundays and refer to my calendar and to-do list each night to prep mentally for the next day.?
Rise and Shine?and Get Motivated
Each morning is a great opportunity not only to organize your day but your mind as well. That?s what Taylor Bass found is the best way to get things in gear. ?I start my morning by getting up 30 minutes before my children and hubby to stretch, meditate and clear my mind. Once I drop my children off at school, I prep my To-Do list/schedule and then leave for a power walk or a workout class to interact with people, get motivated and allow my ideas and body to get loose,? she says. ?Once I get home it’s shower time and then off to work. It’s important to note that I work in time blocks (11-11:30AM is only for Social Media) for maximum efficiency and results.?
During the Day: Housework, Homework & Your Work
Juggling all your responsibilities as a mother and an entrepreneur can seem overwhelming, but it is doable, says Taylor Bass. The key is family communication. ?Get the family on board with your message that keeping the house clean is a family event; let them know from an early age that Mom can’t do it all and needs everyone to participate to keep the house clean and happy,? she explains. ?Although I work from home, I (too) have a busy day with my PR coaching clients and all to accomplish while my children are at school.? Set the protocol upfront. ?I communicated to my hubby-to-be when we were dating that I did not like to clean and do laundry. At that time, I was a single woman with a weekly cleaning lady. I delegate the details of house cleaning to a cleaning lady twice a month; and, I do laundry and cooking. A happy mom is a happy household. It’s important to know what will work for YOU and your family,? says Taylor Bass.
Winding Down the Day
When the work day comes to an end, don?t regret everything you didn?t get done. There is always tomorrow. If you prioritize, you most likely will get the important things accomplished. ?My day is rarely wrapped on time and I stopped worrying about perfection because that’s too stressful,? shares Taylor Bass. ?As mompreneurs, we must accept that imperfection as a mom is the ‘new black’. It’s stylish to be off balance and a little late with supper for the kids. I communicate with my family so they can see what is going on in real time and they have come to understand that Mom is not a super hero and she will be late for our ballet and basketball class so we can have a warm meal. As it relates to preparing for the next day, I stay in the moment and get centered before I do anything because I don’t want to miss a thing.?
