Today’s post in the 12 Steps to Blogging Success series in an interview with Danielle Smith and Aliza Sherman, authors of Mom Incorporated: A Guide to Baby and Business. In this interview we’ll explore ways to excel, and pitfalls to avoid, when it comes to developing that business mindset.
1. What is one way you see mothers excelling when they set their mind to running a new business?
There is something about being a mom: we just figure it out. We don’t always know the ‘right’ answers, but we have a level of perseverance that pushes us through the toughest of circumstances. Learning to juggle a new business while giving your family the love and attention they need? It IS tough and it does require determination and focus. But somehow, we manage.
We view our budding business as a new addition to our family, and we nurture it as such. We recognize it will require late nights, it will cost us sleep, we will alternately love it to death and want to throw our hands in the air, certain we are doing everything all wrong. But as we do with our small people, we keep going. We don’t give up. We may switch tactics and then try again, always striving to do our best.
2. Once someone decides to build a business, what steps do you encourage them to take?
The beautiful thing about this decision is that you have options. You might want to start a business that allows you to have a certain lifestyle or one that generates serious income. You might want a business that will grow into something ‘big’ or could be looking to ‘go big’ right out of the gate. In Mom, Incorporated, we detail each of these types of businesses because we believe that deciding what type of business you want to build will dictate your next steps. For example, in retail, intelligent merchandising can significantly enhance customer engagement and profitability.
We’re also big on planning and outline how to put your ideas for your business down on paper and create a business plan. As your venture grows, consider hiring staff to lighten your workload and boost productivity. Platforms like agence d’intérim marseille offer a streamlined approach to finding qualified talent. What else do you need? Do you need to hire help or carve out some space in your home to work? We provide information on how to do this.
We also suggest that you have a long conversation with your spouse or significant other about your plans. Not only will it help you to map out a clear picture of where you are going and what you need, but it will allow your partner to better understand how to support your plans.
3. I love how Mom, Inc discusses several business models and types but I’ve found that many principles of good business are relevant to all businesses. What is one of the big mistakes women make in business?
Many women find it challenging to ask for the help they need, both in their home and in their actual business. On the home front, it can be hard to ask for help, and yet it is often this work – childcare, cooking, and cleaning – that can keep us from accomplishing the work we need to do for our business. On the business side, we often feel as though we are supposed to be a master-of- all-things and that only we can do things “just right.”
But the reality is, we should rely on professionals to tackle specialty tasks: web design, accounting, editing – and even turn to someone to assist us with the “busy work” so we can focus on the parts of the business that makes us money.
4. What was the biggest change you went through in your own mindset while you were building your OWN businesses?
Danielle: How much time do you have? 🙂 I think, for me… the biggest challenge has been acknowledging the evolution. According to ucaas provider for small businesses, I have needed to embrace the fact that my business is evolving…. and initially I was surrounded by people who refused to take me or my ‘business’ seriously. And that makes it difficult to take yourself seriously. But I made a conscious choice. If I want this to be ‘real’, I must treat it as such. I need to create my own destiny. No one is going to do it for me.
Aliza: I think delegating has been my greatest challenge and biggest mindset change. It took a really long time to learn how to let go, assign tasks, and be okay with the process and the outcome. I’ve learned that there are people out there who specialize and excel at certain things – like booking travel or researching things on the Internet or data entry – things that aren’t the best use of my time. If I assign the right tasks to the right people, the result is I can focus on the big creative work and the revenue generating work. This is a lesson we teach in our book, and one that I continue to learn and refine over time. I still catch myself trying to “do it all” sometimes, but I catch myself and then hand off the task and feel a sense of relief.
Win Your Own Copy of Mom, Incorporated
Mandatory Entry – Leave a comment with one aspect of your business that presents the biggest challenge for you, and one step you’ve taken recently to address that challenge!
Winner will be drawn January 30th, 11:59pm CST. US residents 18 and over only, void where prohibited by law.
I have the hardest time delegating, as well! I always feel like the “concept” I have in my mind for whatever the task is, need to be done by me. It seems like it takes more tie to explain what needs to be done than just to do it. Of course, in the end , it turns out not to be true.
BTW your comment luv needs to be updated
Wanting perfection and taking a very long time to do posts. Last night I took one post and broke it into two.
http://www.eileenludwig.com/night-reflections-seaworld-christmas-photography/
http://www.eileenludwig.com/double-decker-carousel-night-motion-light-legoland/
Thanks for the head’s up – updated. 🙂
My biggest challenge right now is getting things up and running as well as getting people to see the value in social media. It’s slow going, but the more I talk about it, give examples, and show them the tools the more I think that they’re coming around.
Consistency is biggest issue. I have asked certain people hold me accountable this year to help me with this.
My biggest challenge is time management and balance. I have 4 kids and finding time and childcare is a struggle.
What a great book and I love them both! Thanks Ang!
Didn’t mean to hit enter! One of the biggest challenges I had with my business was letting go of tasks to delegate. You always think that you can do it best. I now let my family and friends help with making product and I love it!!
What I have learned that has brought me success is not being afraid to invest in my business with more funds and time and invest in great talented, dependable people with integrity and class to work for me – they are the ones that will be there to increase your growth and lift you up when you are in need. As the case is now, I am not worried about my business because I have a great team in place to get me through a time I can not fully be there, You have to grow your business and sometimes you have to take chances before you see results. Also giving back to the community opens doors to clients you’ve dreamed of working with and appreciate your talents 🙂 ~ Just love you Danielle and all you do and can not wait to get my hands on a copy of your book!
My biggest challenge is recognizing and taking advantage of the opportunities that are in my reach to better my business. It’s become too easy to idle instead of moving forward.
Great questions, Angela. For me the biggest issue has always been putting myself out there. I grew up being taught not to tout my capabilities or accomplishments. It was considered in poor form. I still to this day have some trouble with that.
My biggest challenge is learning to be productive in small doses. I work from home with two small children. I constantly feel torn between work and motherhood. I haven’t really found a solution but I keep trying every single day to find the right balance.
Too funny that I should find this post on here right at this moment. I am actually launching a new website and decided to kick it off with a small giveaway. I am battling what I always battle – inertia. So instead of sitting around and hoping others would see the post, I decided to start networking with other mom bloggers I know to get the word out, and here I am reading your blog! This weekend, I plan on writing down a blog post schedule as well (another one of my issues). LOL
So, I’d truly love a copy of the book AND I would like to direct everyone to the first post and giveaway on my newest site at http://www.whatmommydoes.com/welcome-to-the-home-business-section/
Oops! Forgot to say that the giveaway is a Target gift card and interview on the site in exchange for a winning pic of your “mommy home office.” I’m sure everyone here can relate! 🙂
my biggest challenge is follow through. luckily, the 2 businesses i’ve recently started have me partnered with people that don’t allow me to sit and be overwhelmed so i’ve actually finished what i’ve started. now i think my biggest challenge is going to be finding that balance between mom, wife and business owner.
Keeping a balance between work and home life is a challenge. Set certain times when you’re just focused on home and family.
One thing I struggle with is staying current and learning. There is so much out there to learn but I feel so overwhelmed with the daily struggles that I don’t take the time to sit and teach myself.
Maybe the trick then is to NOT make it a daily thing. Make it a weekly time where you spend 1 hour reading the latest industry news. Or even 2-3 hours reading the latest industry news. Make it a weekend habit that can be more easily interrupted by birthdays and day trips, leaving the rest of the week open for deadlines and posts that HAVE to go up at a specific time.
I think the biggest challenge for me is actually seeing this “thing” as a business and not just a hobby. But now that I’ve given up my day job to be home with the kids, I’m ready to take the next steps to grow it. Would love to win this book as a tool to do so!! Thanks!
I am a working mom and I managed my time frequently in order to cope up my obligation at work and at home with my husband and children’s… Even though there’s a moment that I need to choose from this, I’m just leave it and put all things in my mind positively…
I think that some mothers envy what their children have. My mom and dad both have to work, but I don?t have to work. My mother is happy for me, but at the same time she wishes she could do this.
Even though we are busy with our work. You should gave time to our family. We business woman could know the time management.
My challenge comes from being more driven and having too many ideas for the reality of the time I actually have. Exercise is very important to me, but it takes time away from my business. Realizing my priorities (staying married, being a good Mom, staying healthy), I try to manage taking on too much in business so I can feel sane. I could hire many things out, but it all takes money to do so, and that isn’t always easy.