From a Mom Who Markets: Run into Challenges!

As a mother of four (!!!), I sometimes feel like a unicorn. I work (and consider it full-time), but I have the flexibility to pick up my kids from school and stay with them as they play on the playground. I can have breakfast with friends on a weekday, and I choose what projects I want to take on.

And I love my job! It’s incredibly fulfilling to create both beautiful materials and beautiful humans.

When I talk to other moms, many seem confused about how I manage it. They say they can’t imagine working while their little ones create chaos at home. Or they mention needing to return to a 9-5 job because it felt like the only way to keep up in their careers. They feel their options are too limited.

But me? I love a good challenge.

So, I pushed back against the narrative that I could either be a great mom or a great professional. The big, scary idea I ran into headfirst was this: What if I just try to do both?

When my oldest was two, I pitched to my employer that I’d be more productive working from home. And in fact... I could help them make MORE money. And that actually turned out to be true.

And then I asked: what if I tried a business of my own? I took one small step, and it’s been incredibly successful.

In 11 years of working as a mother, I’ve learned that it enhances my parenting. My kids watch me take on challenges, and they cheer me on. I’ve become a master of time management—if I want to hear about what happened on the playground, those client emails better be finished by 3!

And the reverse is true: motherhood has expanded my ability to run a successful business. How do I listen to my kids’ needs? How do I delegate? How can I empathize and serve others? How can I best use my time?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned in these 11 years is to run into the things that seem scary. Create a website? I didn’t know how at first, but I learned, loved it, and have done it many times. Build a magazine from scratch? I figured it out (I’ve created over 10 full-length magazines for clients). Write, publish, and market my own book? Why not.

I’ve done all this by starting small. Trying, then trying again.

So if you’re a mom worried about how to do what you love while being there for your kids: you can. You can’t have it all, but you can have A LOT!