Celebrating 14 years in the mompreneur trenches

I kept freelancing during maternity leave, and never returned to the office. 

My business earned just over $6,000.00 in that first year. Today, it brings in something close to a real income. I’m still not a ‘six-figure freelancer,’ but I also don’t work full-time hours. Instead, I enjoy the best of both worlds – having a job I love and the flexibility to be a hands-on mom. 

Of course, not everyone has the financial freedom to step back from full-time work and a stable paycheck. But for those women (and men) who are juggling entrepreneurship and parenthood, here are five things I’ve learned over the past 14 years in the mompreneur trenches. 

Before children, plowing through a to-do list is as easy as 1-2-3. But once that baby is born just getting out of the house can be a major undertaking. If you are working from home and your child is not in daycare, set realistic expectations and cut yourself some slack.

Yes, you may be able to work during nap time. But you may also need to catch up on your own sleep.

And you may not give birth to a napper. My son was a bundle of boundless energy right from day one. While other kids slept four to six hours a day, I was lucky to get him down for 45 minutes. Luckily, he loved hanging out in a sling while I was at my computer as a newborn, joined me in my office in his Jolly Jumper later on, and started a morning preschool program as soon as he was old enough to be registered.

To be honest, I don’t know how I got any work done during those first few years. But I kept my fingers in the game and discovered two things: 

>It gets easier. 

>I became more efficient. 

Today, I’m often amazed at how much I can get done during school hours. If I have to bring work to the hockey rink, I can do that too. Luckily, the internet is (almost) everywhere, and my iPad fits comfortably in my purse. 

Working as a solopreneur can be isolating. So while this may seem counterproductive, carving out time away from the office is one of the best things you can do to stay refreshed and motivated. 

If there’s a professional organization or kick-ass networking group in your area, find the time to join and show up as much as possible. Having a group of colleagues to call on for advice (or just to vent) can be a blessing. 

It’s also a great way to grow your customer base. 

I am always upfront about the fact that I am a solopreneur who works from a home office. In over 15 years, it’s never cost me a job. 

As a now-single mom to a competitive hockey player, I spend most evenings chauffeuring to the rink. So when I’m up against a pressing deadline, I wake up before dawn to get things done.  

If your work schedule is full, don’t be afraid to ask potential new clients if their deadline is flexible. You’d be amazed how accommodating people can be if they really want to work with you. 

If you simply can’t take on a new project, be gracious about making a referral to a colleague who may be able to help out. You’ll find these favours are returned over time. 

If you need an uninterrupted block of time to focus on work, ask family or friends to help out with the childcare duties. Arrange a play date. Hire a sitter. There will be times when you can’t be everything to everyone. And that’s OK. 

You have undoubtedly read this before, but it’s worth repeating:

> Make time to do something for yourself – outside of work and being a parent. 

Despite my self-imposed limitations on my work hours, I give myself permission to do an exercise class one morning a week. And as my son has grown up, I’ve started saying ‘yes’ to more and more evening events too. 

If you're a solopreneur, how do you balance work and family? Let me know in the comments below!