Here is how to become a successful mumpreneur

Here in Australia we currently have over 300.000 mumpreneurs ( a.k.a business-woman who also runs a family ) and the numbers are rising. 

Although, I personally never really liked the term ‘mumpreneur ‘. I feel like why would we put mothers who also run a business in that ‘mumpreneur’ square? Why are we called mumpreneur rather than just entrepreneur? 

Why always that ‘mum’ label. As if we aren’t anything else than a mum after our children are born. Aren’t we still a wife, partner, girlfriend, colleague, sister, daughter, friend?

Yes, but we aren’t called a mum wife, a mum partner, a mum girlfriend, a mum colleague, a mum sister, a mum daughter, a mum friend… right?

So why the hell would we call a business woman or entrepreneur a ‘mumpreneur’?

Maybe it’s because we deal with ( literary and figuratively ) more shit at the same time? 

Because some days we are working in our pj’s highly due for a shower with a sick or whining toddler on our lap working on a deadline? – The perfect recipe for disaster I can tell you- 

Or is it because sometimes we work early in the morning from 4 am till the kids wake up, then do the ‘morning rush’ ( if you have one ) go out exploring, do school and errand runs, prep dinner, clean the house, spend some quality time with your family and then work again from 7:00 – 7:30 pm ( kids bedtime ) till late? 

I don’t know the exact reason why mumpreneurs are called like that, but what I do know, is that the numbers of the so called mumpreneurs are rapidly growing.

More and more new mums want to be flexible in the workplace, reignite their passions, follow their dreams, spread out their wings, and OWN all those roles all at once. 

But also sad factors like discrimination in the workplace, being overlooked for promotion, earning less money than men and being made redundant while on maternity leave ( this happened to me ) 

Mums don’t want this bullshit anymore. They want to earn what they deserve, create a lifestyle that works around their family, and be treated fairly. 

High five and good on ya’ll ladies! 

Before I tell you about my story, let me tell you first that starting your own business and being a mum is bloody hard work. It takes a lot of time,  money – depending on the kind of business you want to set up – , blood, sweat and tears, but it’s all so worth it at the end. 

I worked my butt off for years and sacrificed things ( especially time for myself ) but as I always say: If you put your mind to something you really want, You can do it! 

Mumpreneurs according to the numbers

Let’s start with some numbers. 

A third of mumpreneurs in Australia started while on parental leave.

One in 10 while pregnant. ( This includes me ) 

60 % of mums started their business while having an infant or toddler at home. 

A third of Australian business mums are born overseas. ( This includes me ) 

The mumpreneur hype is also responsible for the rising numbers of stay at home dads or part-time working dads.

So why are so many women starting their own business when they become mothers?

There can be so many reasons why mothers start their own business, but doing my own research and speaking from my own experience here are the four most common reasons. 

1. Changes in their previous roles

Changes in previous roles, not able to find suitable employment or even being made redundant during or when coming back from maternity leave. 

The latter happened to me. 

When I was almost at the end of my pregnancy leave, I went to my employer to ( I assumed ) talk about my hours when I got back. Instead,  I was made redundant with some bull shit story that the restaurant I was managing wasn’t opening up next season ( which was the perfect reason for my employer to get rid of my ‘permanent’ contract ) 

What could I do? Not opening up the restaurant = no work… right? So I signed the papers and of course I recorded all our conversations on my phone because at that time my visa was also linked to that contract and my employer at the time wasn’t the most easy going and honest person to me and to some other colleagues at the time. 

A few months later I had to hear from some locals in town, the restaurant was in fact opening up. Like… WTF?! You know, I wasn’t sad about being made redundant. The job was too boring and a step back for me anyway. I didn’t feel I was developing in that role. I couldn’t use my ideas, brain and skills and worked way too hard for the recognition and rewards I received. 

I also had two other jobs already lined up which where very good combinable with being a mum, and I was actually able to use my brain and challenge myself, so it was a win-win at the end.

But the fact that my former employer was so ignorant, had to lie and treat people ( not only me ) like sh*t was just doing my head in. It’s just not how you treat your hard-working staff. 

That also inspired me to do things different. I didn’t want to rely on those kind of people. I always had that entrepreneurs spirit in me. That hard working energy. The ideas. The urge to freedom. This is how the ball started rolling. 

2. Mumpreneurs want to do something they are truly passionate about

Another reason why mums are starting their own business. Doing something for them. What they like, what they believe they are good in. Being someone, rather than only mum. 

When I got sacked at that restaurant, I was a new mum, just at the end of my maternity leave. I had a Bachelors Degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management. Over 10 years of work experience in a wide range of occupations in both fields. I knew what I wanted, what I liked, what I was good at and less good at. 

When my maternity leave ended and I was sacked at my previous role, I started working as a customer rep and relief manager at a car rental company that I had worked for before when the restaurant I managed was closed over the Wet Season ( It was a seasonal business )

I started with approx. 3 days a week and worked as a barista at a local coffee stall every Saturday morning at the local Markets ( which I really loved ) 

There were times that the branch manager of the car rental company was away and I was just working 10+ days straight.

Some days where only 3 hours at the office and airport ( our branch location )  as I could do a lot from home as well, but it was still work.

It was then, that I began to realise that I was actually able to combine full-time work and being a mum at the same time. Yes, it was hard work. It was in fact crazy. Especially in that beginning period of setting up my business and working two other jobs.

It also wasn’t always convenient for our family…But that was the price to pay for the freedom we would have as a family later down the track ( read: now ) 

When we eventually moved from Kununurra ( WA ) to Cairns ( QLD ) my Travel & Lifestyle business Woody World Packer became more serious, but I still took on a job as a photographer specialising in Portrait Photography for Daycare Children.

It was only for 2 – 3 days a week, but I just wanted to secure that extra bit of money for our future dreams of travelling full time and saving for the future. I also really loved that job and learned so much in the few months I worked there.

Then we went travelling overseas again and when we came back from that trip after a couple of months, we bought our first caravan, moved to Airlie Beach and it was then I decided to take the plunge and went full time for my business.

It was the right timing as Lion was at that time having a very well paid job but worked 6 days a week from 6am till 6pm and there wasn’t much daycare available in Airlie Beach, so I took on the role of full-time mum and did what I could for my business in the evenings and early mornings. 

I would get up before 5 am together with Lion and work till Sem would wake up at around 7 ish. Then again at night. 

After working like that for 6 months we decided…This was crazy. We earned a lot of money during that time, but it didn’t make us happier. We had barely time together as a family and this wasn’t what we wanted out of life.

It was time to hit the road again and focus for 100% on our online business, our Family Travel and Lifestyle brand Woody World Packer.

A few months later I also started my Creative Marketing Business: Citrus Creative Marketing. 

I started to do jobs via Freelancer Platforms in the USA and Australia and soon my first long term clients rolled in. Referrals and mouth to mouth promotion followed soon and my business was growing fast.

I had not even a website or social media pages for my Creative Marketing Business at that time. And I still don’t as we are currently in the finalising stages of our re-branding. 

Now, I have 5 amazing freelancers working with me and we are still growing both businesses and I do something that I am truly passionate about.

3. Being happier

Apparently four out of five woman are happier since starting their own business. They can use their creative skills, have a purpose other than being a full-time mum ( which is a full-time task on its own ) and feel more fulfilled. 

Although having my own businesses is hard work, I haven’t been happier in any job before. I have never really hated any of my previous jobs, but this is just something different. It’s the freedom. My business, my rules. I set my own times that suit my family. I can work from anywhere in the world, which makes it easy for us to travel around. 

If I feel super motivated or inspired, I can work a whole week straight and other weeks when we travel a lot, I work only 2 days and the other 5 days I only check my emails and update my socials. 

4. More freedom

This is one of my favourite parts of having my own business. Freedom. It’s what I mentioned at point 3: Being Happier. 

Working on my terms and when it suits me and my family. Never missing an important event, having flexibility when my child is sick, no rush in the morning to get everything done before being at an office at a certain time. 

And for us it means we can travel the world and around Australia as I can work from anywhere as long as I have a reliable internet connection and my laptop. 

Choices & Challenges 

As soon as you become pregnant,  you need to make choices work wise. Are you taking a few extra months off after maternity leave? Do you become a full time mum? Do you jump into the deep and take that time and change to start your own business? 

Whichever choice you make. It comes with challenges. Becoming a mum alone is a full time job. And these days everyone seems incredible busy and is always trying to do more and more at the same time. 

Cooking, cleaning, washing, changing diapers, feeding the family, sports, playdates, coffee dates, other commitments.

Combine that with running a ( successful ) business and raising a family, and boy you’ve hit the jackpot. Right? 

It’s certainly not for everyone, but personally I wouldn’t have it any other way at this stage for me and my family.

How do you nail being a business woman and a mum at the same time?

A woman brains is like a laptop with 78 tabs open, so how do you get organised? Here are a few things that helped me and I learned doing along the way. 

Doing less, not more is key & Prioritise 

• Say Yes less
• Schedule less ( coffee dates, play dates… see how you go each day. Do you have time? No worries! You  don’t? Don’t go and focus on your business ) 

Time Management

Work in the morning before the kids wake up, and when you are most productive. I had times, especially in the begining, that I would wake up at 5 and work till 7 – 7.30 before Sem woke up. When he was younger,  I also worked when he was doing an afternoon nap and when he went to bed at night. 

I thought; I can watch some dumb ass thing on tv, or I can be productive at night. I choose the latter. 

When Sem went to daycare when we were in one place for a while it was easier then on the road, so I have to plan my time according to the situation. 

Ask for help

No matter how good you are, or how much you already know, you can’t do everything yourself when running a business. I had to learn this tho. I am a kind of person that does everything herself, and takes on way too much work load at certain times. But I have changed that. 

After a year in business, my work load became too much and I decided to hire a VA. This was the best decision ever.

I have now five amazing freelancers working on my team and regulary reach out ( and support ) other small business.  

They all have their own amazing skills and together we work on great results for our business and that of our clients. 

Does your business need help with Creative Content, Photography, Social Media Management & Marketing or SEO friendly written content? Contact us today for a customised quote.

Drink coffee. A lot

No explanation needed I guess 😉 

∴ Clothing I wear in the shoots are gifted by www.femmeluxefinery.co.uk ∴