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1. We Ain’t Superwomen.  

I’m well aware there’s a cape on my Biz Women Rock gal and that the entire Biz Women Rock brand portrays an ass-kicking business woman and so this statement is contradicting.  But, the truth is that none of us are Superwoman.  We simply cannot be 100% amazing at every little thing in our lives at all times.  And when you add motherhood to the mix of all the plates we are already juggling…a giant elephant gets thrown into that juggling act and somehow, we have to figure things out.

Just before I gave birth to Sedona, I launched my course, Facebook Groups Rock.  Why the hell would you launch a course right before you had a baby, Katie?! You might be asking yourself.  In addition to using my impending due date as a giant ticking clock that forced to complete and launch the course (worked wonders!), I truthfully didn’t think my “baby hibernation” would last that long.  “I’ll be ready to open the course back up within a few weeks of her birth!” I would say to friends.  Oh, I was so ignorant.  Here she is, 5 months old and I’m just opening the course back up!

2. But At The Same Time…We ARE Superwomen!

Wait, what?!  

In those first few months of new motherhood, I heard myself say “I can’t” a lot.  I can’t concentrate on trying to get her to breastfeed AND keep up with my emails.  I can’t post in my groups every day AND get dinner ready.  I can’t concentrate on bringing in revenue while I feel like I’m losing it every day.  And while all of these statements were true, at some point, I got sick of hearing myself say I can’t.  So, I decided that I would stop.

I believe we have to simultaneously accept that we just can’t do everything – thereby relieving us of the negative pressures and guilt of not being a good enough mom or business owner – and also believe beyond any doubts that we can do everything we’ve ever dreamed.  That we can do it all.  This is where I draw my inspiration and motivation to keep going on.  And then, when those very real “can’ts” come up, I just quietly move them over to the side, take a break, forgive myself for the stuff that hasn’t been done and keep on focusing on the dream.  When you’re able to walk this very strange line, mompreneurship becomes magical…superhero like.  😉  

3. Focus Is The Only Way I Survive.

Multi-tasking is horribly unproductive.  Focusing on one thing at a time is the ONLY way I can accomplish anything.  And it’s more true now as a mompreneur than ever.  Both in business and in motherhood, there is a never-ending rainstorm of things to be done in order to move forward.  When we focus in on what needs to get done, create priorities and execute, the life of we mompreneurs (which is one of purpose and living in our dreams!) feels powerful.  

At 3 months old, we put Sedona in daycare 3 times per week.  This wasn’t an easy decision for me, as I really expected that I would be able to be super mommy AND full time entrepreneur at all times (so, so ignorant).  😉  But daycare has been THE best teacher for me to focus.  On the days she’s in daycare, I am fully zoned into my priorities for those days.  What used to take me ten hours to do, I now get done in five.  When she’s at home, I’m mom.  I’m present with her and am not doing work.  Of course there are moments when I’m not perfect at either of these, but FOCUSING like this has alleviated any guilt that I might have about not being a great mother and not being an awesome business owner.  It has, in fact, allowed me to be fully present for each of those part of my life that are so important to me that I feel like I’m actually pretty darn awesome at each of them!

4. The Sisterhood of Women ROCKS!

In those first few weeks, it was texts.  Hundreds of text messages back and forth from a handful of the most trusted women in my life.  Guiding me through the unknown, telling me things were going to be okay, making me laugh, letting me cry…just being available for me.  After that, it was a dozen of local friends who happily rotated through my house while I attempted to work, sleep or get a break, not caring that I was moody or practically sprinting out of the house the moment they arrived.  Posting in my Business and Babies Facebook Group – filled with other mompreneurs – and getting feedback has been a tremendous gift.  And throughout it all, my mom, who has 6 kids of her own, has been my rock.  

There is an underlying fabric that connects all of us women and the support runs thick between our sisterhood.  The women who gave energy my way, whether it was babysitting, cooking for me or sending me kind words over a Facebook message just got it.  We are in this together.  I’ve got your back.  And you’ve got mine.  No questions asked.  

It gives me chills just to think about it.  

During Podfest 2016, my friend Jessica Rhodes (owner of Interview Connections) made her way out to Florida.  She brought the whole family and was committed to breastfeeding her daughter Lucy throughout the conference.  She was staying off-site, so when she asked two of the other mompreneur attendees if she could use their rooms to pump during the conference, they happily said yes.  

Which leads me to number 5:

5. I Am In Love With Women!

I have a newfound, DEEP respect for women in general, moms in particular and mompreneurs like crazy!  I truly had no idea how much was required of moms before I became one.  This is a very general statement to make (so feel free to exclude yourself if this doesn’t fit), but holy crap!  We carry SO MUCH on our shoulders and do it gracefully (most of the time)!  Business calls, diapers, baths, strategy sessions, making dinner, doing laundry, doctors appointments, connecting with family, finances, calls with clients, daycare/baby care, groceries, baby clothes, connecting with friends, websites, emails, webinars, podcasts, putting baby to sleep, reading, cleaning, taking care of pets, managing team, watching after our own health, watching after our spouse’s health, keeping up with shots…breathe…and that’s not even including drinking the much-deserved glass of wine at the end of the week!  

Seriously!  We do this!  Every.  Single.  Day!  How much I adore you.  How much I adore women as a whole!  

6. ACTION.  That’s All There Is.

I wasted so much time on “feelings” and “working through stuff” and “contemplating” before I became a working mom.  I was always a quick-to-implement type of gal before, but my velocity to action is now like lightning.  There isn’t any time for all that other shit!

This becomes glaringly obvious to me when I’m on the phone with customer service.  Yesterday, I called Verizon Fios to buy their services and just a few words into the gentleman’s sales pitch, I interrupted him, saying “listen, you can stop right there.  I’m going to be a customer.  Just give me the packages so I can choose which one is best and I can get set up asap.”  LOL!  Poor guy.  

Being a mompreneur is all about managing TIME…and getting to action fast helps me have more of it for my daughter and my business!

7. There Is Nothing Better Than My Daughter’s Laugh.

I’m only going to speak to her like an adult because I read that helps her development.  Yeah, this sounded like a great idea until Sedona started smiling.  Since then, I’ve morphed into one of the goofiest people on earth, making myself look like a buffoon, just so I can make her smile and laugh!  Fart noises, raspberries, jumping up and down at the park…I’ll do anything so I can see that girl’s face light up…because nothing else makes ME light up more!

8. It’s All About Scheduling.  EVERYTHING.

Schedule your life.  Batch your days.  Put things on the calendar so you do them.  Be 100% present for them.  Rinse and repeat.  ‘Nuff said.  

9. Decide to Be Happy.  Every Day.

I didn’t feel the responsibility of providing material things for my daughter when she was born.  Sure, a house to live in is great, diapers are pretty necessary and formula is a must.  But, my subconscious felt a deep urge to provide for my daughter in other ways.  To make sure she saw love.  To make sure she saw happiness.  To make sure she saw beauty.  To make sure she saw gratitude.  And I knew that I needed to BE THE PERSON who embodied these qualities in order for her to really get the lesson.  So, I decided to be happy.  Every single day.  

Now, I’m a happy person in general, but I can admit that pre-baby, I allowed whatever was going on in my life to determine my demeanor.  If I had a stressful day in business, I was angry and pissed and moody all day.  If Chris and I had a fight, I would remain angry or sad all day long.  Not anymore.  I deal with the emotion required in the moment and then return to happy.  Because she’s watching.  😉

10. Our Health is Where It All Begins.

A superficial decision early on to lose my baby weight somehow evolved into a pure understanding that keeping my health on track is THE core of my entire life.  It’s what makes everything else work.  Period.  

When my daughter turned 6 weeks old, I worked out for the very first time.  Since then, I’ve lost all 30 pounds of my baby weight and then some.  More importantly than the weight, I’m in love with working out again and clean eating happens more often than it ever has.  And the thing I’ve discovered on my own health journey is that there is NO WAY I would survive this mompreneur thing if I didn’t make my health a priority.  End of story.  I always snuffed at the “skinny gals” who would preach this, while I was shouting how I was too busy building my business to make healthy dinners or to workout as much as I should.  But now I get it.  I totally get it.  My healthy body drives everything else; my attitude, my energy, my productivity…even my goofiness.