Category: Running Classes, Education and Coaching Businesses

Freelancer lifestyle

Freelancer Lifestyle: Helping Women Start Online Freelance Businesses

Tell us your name and a bit about your family? When did you become a Mum and to whom?

Hi, my name is Alison. I have one 9 year old girl whom I’m a single mum too. On top of this, I have the chronic illness MS and my parents live in Germany. 

What’s your business called?

My business is called Freelancer Lifestyle.

Can you describe it in one sentence?

Freelancer Lifestyle is a resource filled with tools for women wanting to start an online freelance business from scratch and on a budget.

When did you become a Mumpreneur and what inspired you?

I became a Mumpreneur in 2016 when my child started nursery. I started by doing some bookkeeping and transcription work as and when I could find leads. One day, I met a client who asked me to help him do a webinar and market it. After doing lots of research on digital marketing and getting a love of writing, I started blogging. Today I’m a freelance writer in digital marketing and entrepreneurship.

My inspiration is seeing and hearing the delight in clients when I do a good job for them. Plus, I’m also inspired each and every day by my daughter and close friends who believe in me.

How did you fund your start up?

I funded my start up by reinvesting the earnings that I got from transcription and bookkeeping work into growing the business, learning about how to run a business, and getting a good laptop to work from. 

At the time, I was receiving help from the government. Therefore, I just put everything I earned back into the business. At the time it felt a massive risk with fear that I was just going to completely fail. Instead, after a couple of years the risk completely paid off and earned a full time income.

How do you manage working around your children?

Working around my child has been a constant evolving process. When she was in nursery – Year 1, I worked whilst she slept and at school.

As she has gotten older and in years 2 &3, I did client work whilst she was at school and marketing work in the evening whilst doing household duties.

When my child was in year 4, Coronavirus hit and I had to home school her. Even though I had less work coming in, I still had my blog to run as that made me money from affiliate links. 

So working during Coronavirus was very tricky. What I did was let my child sleep in till about 12pm. During this time, I did some client work and wrote blogs. When she woke, I tended to my child so she had food, washed and did a couple hours of school work. 

After I made sure, my child did everything required she went back to her gaming and I went back to my blogging or marketing.

Thankfully, now she is back at work and I am starting to get consistent client work. So I can now go back to the pre pandemic routine.

Can you describe a typical day, what tasks do you have to get done, how do you manage your time?

A typical day for me is

8am Check emails and social media notifications.

9am Plan my day with a to do list. Putting the most urgent at the top. Also check on the news of the day.

10am Start doing client work

2pm Lunch break and household chores

7pm Blogging and marketing activities

11pm Go to sleep so I can get in a good solid 7 hours

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?

My biggest challenge needs to be my anxiety. I’ve had a really big struggle from anxiety since 2011 when I came out of an abusive relationship. Since then, I have anxiety about people’s opinions of me and their behaviour when they are around me.

Another way my anxiety shows itself by overthinking every social media comment and email, even it it a positive remark, my anxiety doesn’t accept it. Not accepting it by the constant thoughts of people think I’m a rubbish writer and never want to work with me. They’re all just laughing at me.

I have been trying to overcome my anxiety by rationalizing everything and reminding myself that I can’t read people’s minds.

Rationalizing it means that I have been able to grow my connections and land clients with confidence that they’re seriously interested in working with me.

What’s the best thing about being Mumpreneur?

The best thing about being a Mumpreneur is connecting with lots of like minded people. Plus people who want to support you with your business. You just meet a whole new community from across the world who appreciate you.

What are your plans for the future?

My plans for the future is to launch a podcast. But a podcast to share peoples stories of being a virtual assistant or freelancing and just celebrate the freelancing world.

What advice would you give for someone just starting out in business?

My advice is for anyone starting out, learn who it is that you really want to work with. Discover how you can best help them. Refine your skills set so you can help them then create social media profiles as the go-to person. 

You don’t need to start with a website. Having a presence on social media and speaking with your ideal audience is a great way to get started. 

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

Being a mumpreneur is never an easy thing to do. There are plenty of times you will want to give up. To stop yourself giving up, take a look at all you’ve accomplished so far and keep pushing forward.

Website Freelancer Lifestyle freelancerlifestyle.co.uk
Family of 4

How Combining two Businesses Can Work for a Mumpreneur

Tell us your name and a bit about your family? When did you become a Mum and to whom?

Samantha Scott, I am a military wife of 2 boys, Daniel age 6, Brayden age 5.

What’s your business called?

I started my first business back in 2016 running baby and children’s nearly new sales with Mum2mum Market. I then started childminding this year and we are called Samantha’s Little Monkey’s.

Can you describe it in one sentence?

Mum2mum Market are nearly new sales for families to sell their pre loved outgrown baby, children and or maternity bits for a bit of cash back so that other families can come along and buy good value items at lower cost

Samantha’s Little Monkey’s – I look after other peoples children from a home base setting offering exactly that, we play, go to the park, do lots of messy activities and crafts

When did you become a Mumpreneur and what inspired you?

I started Mum2mum Market in 2016 as a way to get a little bit of myself back while it was very handy to work around my family life, especially with my husband being a away a lot I needed to make sure it would still work

I started childminding for a very similar reason but wanted it to become a second income for us as a family too and also with Brayden now approaching school age I would have more free time but I wanted to still have something that worked around my family

How did you fund your start up?

Mum2mum was funded by my very generous mother in law who I get on very well with, Childminding was funded by the Mum2mum Market business

How do you manage working around your children?

Mum2mum Market advertising is done while children are sleeping or in the evenings and I schedule many things in so I bulk spend my time, one you find a routine its much easier, the actual event is a family day out for us, my husband helps when he is here and so do my children, childminding is done from my home so I am able to still look after my own children and house life, its a really good balance

Can you describe a typical day, what tasks do you have to get done, how do you manage your time?

With Mum2mum Market I schedule most of my things from an evening or nap time, unless its an enquiry via email I normally can reply straight away, childminding is a bit more full on, I can have up to 6 children under 8 years old including my own, most days I only have 4 but once a week I am full, we do crafts, play outside, messy play groups etc … while children are nappy I might be able to get a load of washing in if I am lucky hehehe I am still able to sort dinners out while making sure the children are safe and happy

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?

Urm I would say making sure that I keep to schedules and routines, its harder sometimes when my husband is away so much as their isn’t that relief or extra help in the evenings, so just trying to keep it balanced and making sure it still always works for us as a family

What’s the best thing about being Mumpreneur?

Having myself back not being referred to always as someones mum… or someones wife… and being able to be their for my children doing the school runs, going to assembly and plays and sports days, my minded children enjoys all these things too

What are your plans for the future?

With Mum2mum Market, I would love to be able to pass it onto another mumpreneur and help them with them something of themselves, it defiantly helped me, if I wasn’t able to find the right person then I will continue with it myself, as with Childminding this something I will continue till at least my own children have left school if not longer, as long as it fits in with everything else

What advice would you give for someone just starting out in business?

Make sure you are ready to put in the hard work, as long as you do the rewards will come, sometimes it can take longer than other times and also depends what it is you are doing, make sure you have support – my husband and family where amazing at keeping me focused and helping me out when I needed it

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

I think one of the important things is that what ever you are doing its something you enjoy and works for you you and your family

Mum2mum Market Hampshire –https://www.facebook.com/Mum2mum-Market-Hampshire-166582593693636/

Samantha’s Little Monkey’s –https://www.facebook.com/Samanthas-little-Monkeys-272405333635788/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Running baby and toddler classes

Running a Messy and Fun with Sensory Sensations

Tell us your name and a bit about your family? When did you become a Mum and to whom?

My name is Katie and I’m married with two children – Daisy (6) and Indie (3).

What’s your business called?

Sensory Sensations

Can you describe it in one sentence?

Sensory & Messy Play, Craft Activities and Soft Play for children’s parties, social occasions, events and private bookings.

When did you become a Mumpreneur and what inspired you?

I started Sensory Sensations in 2015 and I was inspired by my eldest daughter. When she was 4 months old I started making her treasure baskets, which led to themed sensory bins when she got bit older. I loved how much she benefited from sensory play and for her 2nd birthday party I offered different sensory and messy play stations for her and her little friends and I enjoyed it so much I decided to start doing weekly classes and parties for other little ones and then it’s followed on from there!

How did you fund your start up?

I funded it all myself. When I started I was still teaching so had a regular income to be able to buy materials and equipment (and luckily a very supportive husband!) For the first year everything I made from classes and parties went back into the business and then eventually when I had all the equipment etc I needed I started to make a profit and was able to take a wage from it.

How do you manage working around your children?

At the moment Daisy is at school and Indie is at nursery full time so I get three days a week to focus on Sensory Sensations (I teach part time for the other 2 days) so I try to get as much as I can done on those days. I try to keep weekends free and if I need more time I’ll work into the evening. It was harder when they were little and at home. I would work around naps and when they went to bed or I’d get them involved if I was making play dough or moonsand (for example). Again, my husband is fantastic and will take them to the park if I need to do some prep or admin, he’s self employed too so he understands how precious time is! The most important thing is to try and be ‘present’ when I’m with my girls – not answering enquiries or updating Facebook, staying in the moment and giving them my attention.

Can you describe a typical day, what tasks do you have to get done, how do you manage your time?

A typical day would see me taking the girls to school and nursery, coming home, washing up, doing some laundry, prepping for a party (this could mean cleaning equipment, ordering items from Amazon, making resources – coloured spaghetti, rice, play dough etc, packing the van) then lunch, then the next few hours is spent answering messages, sending emails, tweaking website, sending invoices etc Then I will pick up the girls and either take them swimming or do Daisy’s homework, dinner, bath, then if I need to finish off prep or admin I’ll do it until 8:30-9ish and then my husband and I will watch some TV then bed! Phew! I like to make sure I’m doing bit of everything during the day, the bigger things in the morning then things that can be done sat down with a cup of tea in the afternoon!

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?

The biggest challenge has been moving my business to a new location. I started my business in Ashford, Kent and spent three years building it up there and it got to the point where I didn’t really need to work ‘on’ the business. Parties were coming in thick and fast and my classes were doing well.. then in June last year we relocated to Oakham, Rutland where I had to start all over again. It was difficult but it’s made me more determined to make Sensory Sensations as successful as it was in Kent and grow it even more!

What’s the best thing about being Mumpreneur?

I think my job is the best in the world – creating experiences and memories for children is something I absolutely love, so being able to do it on MY terms and being my own boss is wonderful. I enjoy supporting other mumpreneurs and small businesses and there’s a wonderful community out there which makes you feel like you’re not alone 🙂 

What are your plans for the future?

I’d love to continue offering parties, but also I’d like to branch out into schools, offering resource making and sensory workshops. Working with charities and collaborating with more local businesses. My ultimate goal at the moment is to be able to franchise Sensory Sensations so it’s offered in different counties.

What advice would you give for someone just starting out in business?

Just keep going! It really is a rollercoaster and I’m learning all the time. Make sure what you’re offering is the best it can be, take time to figure out your target audience and try different ways of advertising. If you get a setback, don’t give up, learn from it and move on. Offer discounts when you first start out and ask for testimonials. Get involved in the local community and see where your products or services can be used. Find out who your competition is and see how you’re different from them, think of why customers will come to you and not them? And above all enjoy yourself!

www.sensorysensations.co.uk

www.facebook.com/sensorysensationsuk

www.instagram.com/sensorysensationsuk

Little Floss House of Art – Helping People Find their Creativity

Tell us your name and a bit about your family? When did you become a Mum and to whom?

My beautiful family consists of my husband, son, our two gorgeous dogs – Bruno & Betty, and the first member of our household – Augustus the tortoise.

Our family grew a little larger when our son was born in the summer of 2016. Sonny arrived on the hottest day in July. This day completely changed everything, I don’t just mean that transition into parenthood, but a new found appreciation for life.

What’s your business called?

Little Floss House of Art.

Can you describe it in one sentence?

Little Floss House of Art provides a wide range of arty crafty activities for babies, children and adults. Bringing joy through different art mediums, even to those who say ‘I’m not creative’.

When did you become a Mumpreneur and what inspired you?

As soon as maternity leave began I picked up my painting daily, it was a huge part of working through the daily hormones of pregnancy and when Sonny arrived he would also accompany me in the studio often. Enjoying the colour and paint together. This was my inspiration.

How did you fund your start up?

I funded my start up with very little, basic art materials.

How do you manage working around your children?

Little Floss completely works around our family, my husband was very supportive of the business initially I would just work weekends and evenings when he was home from work. Later he began to work a 4 day week, allowing me to work 1 day a week without the pressure of child care and comfort in knowing our son was enjoying a day with his daddy.

We wanted Little Floss to benefit us all, being able to spend the maximum amount of time with our son during those precious first years, as well as the benefits of loving your job!

Can you describe a typical day, what tasks do you have to get done, how do you manage your time?

A typical day in the studio usually starts with admin, replying to messages, checking emails and posting on social media. I usually have one or two paintings on the easel ready for another layer of oils. I could have a group Paint Splash or a 121 Splash booked in and the day will always end with after School Art Club at my local Primary school. Managing time is very difficult especially when there are multiple strands to the business, a good old fashioned list is a must for me!

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?

Where do I start?! At times very isolated in a studio can be difficult, from learning about becoming self employed to having confidence! I have ran various trial sessions in return for feedback, allowing me to understand needs and wants of potential future customers.

What’s the best thing about being Mumpreneur?

The daily satisfaction that I am now my own boss. I get maximum time with my family, they too get to enjoy Little Floss at times and being a mother supports me in my role with working with children and families. I can still take my son to groups, classes and days out which is so important as he was the motivation behind the decision to start Little Floss.

What are your plans for the future?

As my son grows and begins to approach school age I plan to grow Little Floss. Working around each other I would like to reach out further into the local community and make art accessible to all. Painting alongside the business and develop my personal voice as an Artist.

What advice would you give for someone just starting out in business?

Have confidence and put yourself out there, there is never a ‘good time’, life is short so grab it with both hands and take a chance.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

Be willing to approach people you think are on a similar path to you, be open to feedback and advice.

My studio is a garden studio in which I will be holding new sessions for 2019!

https://www.facebook.com/lauramrichardsart/

Running baby and toddler classes

Running Children’s Communication classes with Talking Tots

What’s your business called?

Talking Tots – I own the franchises for Southend & surrounding areas and Chelmsford & Maldon

Can you describe it in one sentence?

Providing classes to pre-schoolers and
early years settings to help develop good communication, language, listening & attention, social and pre-literacy skills in preparation for pre-school and ultimately school.

When did you start it and what inspired you?

I started in September 2013 – I
was looking for a job that related to child development and that fitted around school hours and holidays. I was also particularly attracted to the opportunity to run my own business and being part of a franchise made sense as the business model was already established.

How did you fund your start up?

Through personal savings.

How do you manage working around your children?

Because it’s my own business I can choose the hours that I run classes and I have also taken on class leaders to help me meet demand. I generally do the admin and marketing in
the evening once my two children are in bed.

Can you describe a typical day?

No day is ever the same really – obviously I have my timetable of classes on some days but the nature of enquiries, head
office / other marketing initiatives requiring attention and whether or not I have plans with my family dictate the structure of my day.

What have you found hardest?

The admin and marketing is very time consuming.
Running classes is the easy part – it’s fun, I meet lots of lovely children and their families and knowing I am helping their development is fantastic – it’s just that at times it can be difficult to switch off from the ongoing tasks that need to be done to support and promote the business. I’m sure I put more hours in than when I worked in London!

What’s the best thing about being self employed?

Having the flexibility to allow for a good work / family life balance and also the personal challenge of building a business.

What are your plans for the future?

To grow the business to meet the demands
for our sessions in nurseries, pre-schools and schools (reception) – the impact we are having in these areas is significant and leading to lots of interest through word of mouth alone.

What advice would you give for someone just starting out?

Do not underestimate how much time and effort it takes to get your name out there! If people don’t know about you then they obviously won’t use your business so ongoing marketing is essential. Explore the free / low cost options first, particularly through social media – you may even find that these are more effective than more expensive options.

www.talkingtots.info
https://www.facebook.com/TalkingTotsSouthend/
https://www.facebook.com/TalkingTotsChelmsfordandMaldon/

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Becky Strafford – A Client Attraction Coach

Tell us your name and a bit about your family

I’m Becky, lover of books, cake, coffee and wine (not necessarily in that order!). I’m married and live in the Suffolk countryside where we are renovating a 16th century old school house.

When did you become a Mum and to whom?

At 4.45am on Tuesday 11th August 2009, I went from being me, to Mummy, as our daughter, Millie, joined the World. It was a moment I had been preparing myself for since I was a girl playing with my Tiny Tears doll. It was one of two best days of my life, the second being Saturday 1st June 2013, when our second daughter, Beth, arrived to compete our family.

What’s your Business called?

My business is named after myself. Not because I am egotistical, but because I am my business. I am the product, the service and everything in between. What better name to call my business than my own? Becky Strafford, Client Attraction Coach.

Can you describe it in one sentence?

I help female service-based entrepreneurs find their authentic voice, their compelling story and then communicate it confidently and powerfully to grow a following who easily convert into paying clients.

When did you become a Mumpreneur and what inspired you?

Back in 2011 I set up an event management business. I was fed up of working for other people and seeing them drive around in fancy cars and going on lavish holidays whilst I took home a measly salary. But I did it very wrong and after 9 months, and a lot of expense, my husband and I closed the business. However, 4 years later, the passion of working for myself hadn’t dwindled. And with our youngest teetering on the edge of starting pre-school I knew that it was now or never and I took the plunge, using very different strategies and tactics that are paying off in a big way.

How did you fund your start up?

I continued to work as a contractor whilst I set my business up. In fact I still work part-time as I am not ready to step fully into my business. However, I have a date set where I will retire from the corporate world. This has provided me with the funds needed for my own coaching, mentoring, personal development, marketing and so on.

How did you manage to work around your children?

During the day, my girls are at school or pre-school, so I have time to spend on my business or in my corporate job. After school we have family time until they go to bed. Evenings are then for me to choose what I want to do whether that’s nothing or working. Weekends are 95% of the time a no-work zone. It is really important for us to have plentiful family time as well as giving me the opportunity to have time away from work, so that when I need to be, I am fresh and focused on my business.

Can you describe a typical day, what tasks you have to get done, how you manage your time?

I wouldn’t achieve much without a daily schedule. I’m not strict but I do like routine. And so do my girls. We all know where we are and what to expect, especially given all the extras such as swimming, dancing, Brownies etc. I typically wake around 6-7 and will have 10-15 minutes of quiet time on my own meditating and visualising, however this isn’t always the case if one of the girls has woken early. Then it’s a quick social media check in and update before coffee, breakfast and getting the girls ready and out to school.

My mornings are spent completing tasks I have set out for the day, whether that’s with clients, networking or marketing. Perhaps creating new and free content to give to my loyal followers before a walk with Bo, our dog, and then lunch. I always take time away from my desk for lunch as it means I come back to work feeling much fresher and motivated. My afternoon is spent completing more tasks. On occasion, I will arrange a date with friends for coffee or lunch but these tend to be reserved for special occasions or as a reward for celebrating successes.

After the girls come home from school, it’s all about them. We read, play games and make dinner then baths, stories and bed. We all love reading, so stories and books play a big part in our lives.

My evenings vary depending on work commitments, if I have been working in my corporate job my evenings are spent doing business tasks, but I do make sure that my husband and I have time together, even if it’s just cooking and eating a meal. It’s really important for me to balance everything and everyone I have committed myself too.

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?

The biggest challenge I faced was when I had to walk away from my failed business in 2012. It took a lot of courage to admit that it wasn’t working, but at the same time I had never felt more of a failure, more unworthy of success and attention than I did at that time. But I realised very quickly that I could either let those feelings control me, or I could take control of those feelings. And I chose the latter. That is how I found the courage to do it all over again and it forms a massive part of what I help other women with now.

What’s the best thing about being a Mumpreneur

That I get to do what I love. I love being a Mum – it really is the best job in the World and I feel very blessed that I am fortunate to be one. But I also love my business. How lucky are Mumpreneurs!!

What are your plans for the future?

A lot more of the same. I am on a mission to light a bomb under any lady who is afraid of speaking out about their passion for fear of being judged and criticised. Who sits in the shadows comparing themselves to others and who questions that their message isn’t worthy of being told. And I help them turn it around. I want to do this on a massive scale, which includes speaking. One of my goals this year is to talk at a TEDx event. Plus my husband and I have a dream of creating a glamping site within the grounds of our house. So another business is on the cards!

What advice would you give someone just starting out in business?

Firstly, don’t be afraid to invest in yourself. I have, and continue to, invest in coaching and mentoring to help me with an array of things, from mindset to sales. Secondly, make sure your business is your passion, it has to set your soul on fire for you to always be 150% committed to succeeding. And thirdly, know your customer inside out. It will make marketing your products and services a million times easier.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

My story has helped me create amazing relationships and build a wonderful, loyal following and a successful business. Knowing your own story and being able to communicate it authentically is critical in having a business that succeeds. If you’re unsure about how to find your own story, I have a free guide that sets it out in 5 easy steps.

Website: www.beckystrafford.com

Fiercemums – Coaching for Ambitious Mums

Tell us your name and a bit about your family? When did you become a Mum and to whom?

I am Gemma Stow I am married to Mark, and we have two gorgeous children Matilda (8) and Grayson (4). They rock my world.

What’s your business called?

Gemma Stow and I am the founder of Fiercemums.

Can you describe it in one sentence?

I empower ambitious mums who are unfulfilled and ready to be more than just a mum, to be more confident and clear on what they really want, by helping them to get to the bottom of what is holding them back.

When did you become a Mumpreneur and what inspired you?

I actually started my first business when my daughter was born back in 2008. I wanted something different and wanted to work for myself to give me more flexibility, so I took voluntary redundancy whilst on maternity leave from the National Probation Service where I had been a Probation Officer for 8 years. Starting a family made me realise my ambitions and how much I love to do work I love – it is a part of who I am.

My first business was working with disadvantaged young people mainly with challenging behaviour that stopped them reaching their full potential in mainstream school. I had an amazing team of staff and the business built up a great reputation and I won a Network She award for our achievements.

However, after working with a business mentor (that was originally to help me up level and grow the business) I realised that after 7 years I wanted something different and my passions had changed.

I made the heartbreaking decision to close the centre in December 2015 and was left wondering what I really wanted.

After a great deal of soul searching and figuring out my own strengths, I decided to make steps into the coaching world and haven’t looked back. I am, and always have been, all about unlocking the potential in others.

How did you fund your start up?

My coaching business is all based online, and having debts from the closure of my previous business I needed to do something that would be easy to start and would only cost me my time.

I started my coaching business whilst working full time hours that I squashed into four days so it left me one day to work on the business plus the weekends and evening I put into it. The thing is – because I love what I do it doesn’t feel like work to me I enjoy it that much.

It was hard returning back to working for someone else at that time, but I knew it wasn’t forever and they also supported me regarding my new business venture.

My first biggest outlay was hiring my own coach. I didn’t have the funds so I used my credit card and knew deep down that I would make that investment back. I did within 6 months.

I knew that this was what I needed to really do to build my own confidence and make this business take off. It was the best investment I could have made. In myself.

How do you manage working around your children?

I have found what works for me and my family. I also love helping ambitious fiercemums with managing this juggle.

It is not easy and was one of the reasons I wanted to work for myself in the first place. I have set times when I work and have set times for fun. I changed my lifestyle so I get up super early and have time for me and my work. I can say that there are days when I would rather carry on working, but the school bell is looming and I find that hard sometimes to switch off.

Being present with whatever you are doing is the best advice I can give. Multi tasking just frustrates everyone – you and your children.

Can you describe a typical day, what tasks do you have to get done, how do you manage your time?

I get up at 515am – exercise and meditate or journal (sometimes that can mean having a cuppa and five minutes to myself before the rest of the house stirs) and then revisit my goals and I set myself three main things to get done that day – the rest is a bonus. Making time for you is crucial to getting the right mindset for success. I didn’t realise this at first but have learnt that this is a vital part of the journey.

Most busy mums, including myself, use the lack of time as an excuse, it doesn’t have to be that way and there will be a way of managing your time that suits you and your family but it will take dedication.

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?

The biggest challenge is doing it all myself and wearing all the different hats which also includes being a mum. I am not sure there is a perfect balance to this and it is more about doing your best with what you’ve got.

Even though I have years of experience playing different roles in my previous business, our growth meant we could eventually have specialists who would take on these roles for me such as accountants, PR, team managers, admin etc – however now there is just me again and I am back doing it all.

Juggling all the many areas of business is not easy and we all have strengths in different ones. I know that as soon as I can, I will be outsourcing the bits I am not that fussed about and giving them to someone who loves it, so I can concentrate and focus on the bits I love to do which is coaching my clients for transformational change.

What’s the best thing about being Mumpreneur?

Being my own boss! Making decisions about my work and when, where, how and who I want to work with and what I want to do.

I love it and am grateful for social media for letting me build an amazing community and making incredible connections with other women and ambitious mums who are on the same path as I am. Their support is invaluable to me.

What are your plans for the future?

To grow. Both myself and the business and help my clients do the same.

Reach even more ambitious mums and keep on inspiring them everyday to be the best version of themselves.

I will have different ways women can work with me so I can be more accessible. From online courses, to retreats, to more group programmes and 1-1 private coaching with me.

The fiercemums private group will keep growing and we are already at 1000 members.

What advice would you give for someone just starting out in business?

1. Keep going – Self belief is everything. Self doubt kills more dreams than failure ever could. And don’t be afraid of failure or getting things wrong. I really don’t believe you can ever fail at anything: You win or you learn. It is that simple.

2. Find external support – Don’t solely rely on those closest to you for support: hire a coach, join supportive communities and go out and make connections – they are what keep you going when times get hard.

3. Ditch the mummy guilt – I see this holding women back everyday. Tell your children about your business, explain it to them (when they can understand) get them onboard and share with them your vision of why building a successful business, more income and flexibility of working for yourself will only make your family have more of you. I am the best mum I can be when I am doing work I love.

4. Don’t be scared of success – If we get honest with ourselves this is usually a reason that holds us back fro going for it. We worry that we will have to spend more time away from our families or that we will have to step even further out of comfort zone that we shy away. Be bold. Be fierce.

5. Say Yes – Saying yes to opportunities that come your way and then figuring it out later. Don’t overthink and talk yourself out of it or letting others influence you. As soon as I started saying yes more, everything changed for me. You’ve got this!

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

It is so important to be passionate about what you are doing. It makes running your business so much easier and doesn’t feel like work.

Business is tough and can be sometimes be a lonely place, so make sure you love what you do and get the support you need to get you focused and clear on where you are going next.

www.gemmastow.com

Working as a hypnobirthing instructor

Hypnobirthing Instructor: The Wise Hippo

Hypnobirthing can help women prepare for labour in a positive way, what’s it really like to be a hypnobirthing instructor?

What’s your business called?

The Wise Hippo Saffron Walden

Can you describe it in one sentence?

Teaching birth preparation classes to pregnant couples and supporting them throughout their pregnancy, birth and beyond.

When did you Become a HypnobiRthing instructor and what inspired you?

I trained to become a Wise Hippo instructor in February this year. I was inspired after using the Wise Hippo Birthing programme for the birth of my own baby girl, Sia. Prior to doing the course I was so terrified of giving birth that I was booked in for an elective c section! After doing the course I went from wanting an elective c section to wanting and having a home birth! I felt incredibly empowered and confident and I felt strongly that The Wise Hippo was something all pregnant couples should know about!

I am also a psychotherapist and having worked with women suffering from birth trauma, I know how impacting the birth experience can be on a new Mum. Sadly, this is often overlooked and a mum who has been through a traumatic experience is frequently told ‘having a healthy baby is all that matters’ in other words – the Mum doesn’t matter! A traumatic birth experience can have a huge impact on how a new Mum feels about herself, her baby and her partner. I feel passionate about helping women firstly to have a positive birth experience but also supporting them afterwards as well.

How did you fund your start up?

It was a big decision as I decided not to return to my full time job in London after maternity leave and focus on setting up my psychotherapy and Wise Hippo businesses so I got a local temp part time job to bring in some money to fund everything. It was a very challenging time trying to juggle everything but after 6 months I was able to leave my temporary job and focus solely on building up my businesses.

How do you manage working around your children?

It’s a constant juggling act and at first it felt overwhelming trying to fit everything in around being a Mum but now we have settled into a routine. I have my set working days when my little girl is at nursery and then switch off when she’s at home with me. I couldn’t do it all without the help of my wonderful hubby, Anthony. He is an amazing Daddy to our little girl and super supportive. Self-care is really important as well – something I often have to remind myself of! ‘You can’t pour from an empty cup’ is one of my favourite sayings!

Can you describe a typical day as a hypnobirthing instructor?

I don’t really have a typical day as no two days are the same! But at the moment my working days are jam packed! To describe one day last week, I dropped Sia to nursery, responded to client emails, taught a Wise Hippo class, did an interview with the local newspaper, did a food shop and then home to do some housework before picking Sia up from nursery! Then it was playtime, dinner and bedtime for Sia, dinner with Ant followed by us collapsing on the sofa to catch up on Homeland!

What have you found hardest?

My brain tends to go into creative overdrive so being able to prioritise is always a challenge as I start thinking of a million ideas and then want to do them all at once! Learning to really focus on one thing at a time and stick at that has been challenging but worthwhile.

What’s the best thing about being self employed?

After 6 years of working full time whilst training part time to become a psychotherapist, I am finally doing two jobs that I feel truly passionate about which is the best feeling! I love that everything I do in my work is ultimately about helping and empowering others.

What are your plans for the future?

I have big plans for next year! As well as continuing to build my businesses I will be training to become a Doula and I will also be training to work with women suffering from pregnancy loss. I am also setting up PANDAS support groups for women suffering post-natal depression and anxiety which will begin in January. I have lots of exciting projects in the pipeline and can’t wait to see them all come together!

What advice would you give for someone just starting out?

Believe in yourself and just go for it! The best advice I received when I first started out was: ‘no one really knows what they are doing when they first start a business – we are all just winging it’ – it was reassuring and gave me confidence to go for it and learn along the way! Mistakes are just learning curves – don’t be scared to make them!

Get all the support you can especially in the early days. Find yourself a mentor who is willing to coach you or watch some tutorials online. There are lots of brilliant free business coaching videos on You Tube – Joanna Martin is amazing and this webinar is inspirational and well worth a watch: http://oneofmany.co.uk/befruitful-webinar/

https://twitter.com/THEWISEHIPPOSW
Email: zoe@thewisehippo-saffronwalden.com

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Interested in running classes? Check out these Mum’s storiesthese Mum’s stories.

Running a nursery

Running a Nursery – The Woodland Nursery Experience

Running a nursery is hard work but can be very rewarding if you love children and seeing them develop, find out about The Woodland Nursery experience.

What’s your business called?

The Woodland Nursery.

Can you describe it in one sentence?

We are the first outdoor nursery in South East London for 2.5 – 5 year olds based on the Forest School ethos that the closer to nature children are, the happier they will be and therefore the more likely they are to learn.

When did you start it and what inspired you?

The Woodland Nursery opened it’s virtual doors in April 2015. The idea for the nursery first came about by simply observing how much my three sons thrived in an outdoors environment. They were happier, more creative, more communicative and generally seemed ‘at home’ out in the open rather than being cooped up inside.

How did you fund your start up?

I used some savings together with a government start up loan.

How do you manage working around your children while running a nursery?

I have three young boys and chose to open my nursery from 9am – 3:30pm so I am still able to do the school run with my two eldest sons. My youngest son accompanies me alongside the other nursery children.

Can you describe a typical day?

My assistant, Laura, welcomes the parents and children to the morning session at our purpose built indoor space (‘base camp’) while I take my two eldest sons to school. When I get back the children change into their waterproofs, we collect whatever equipment we need for the session and then head off into either nearby woodland, a local farm or park. Once there the children engage in various outdoor activities of a multi-sensory nature, designed to encourage learning in all areas. The set their own boundaries and take their own risks but within our supervised guidelines. After snacks and stories we head back to base camp to collect the children for the afternoon session and repeat the process. At the end of the session, we return to base camp and wait for the parents to collect their children. I then head off to collect my own children from school while Laura finishes up and gets everything ready for the following day. If we have a spare session, we spend our time either catching up on administration or planning future sessions/new activities.

What have you found hardest about running a nursery?

Dealing with all the administration that goes into running your own business. I initially underestimated just how much there is to do as I was so focused on the Forest School sessions with the children that I forgot to take a step back and look at how everything would fit together.

What’s the best thing about being self employed?

Apart from having the freedom to make important decisions concerning which way the business will go and not being answerable to anyone but myself, the feeling of accomplishment as it’s incredibly satisfying knowing that all my hard work and sleepless nights have finally paid off.

What are your plans for the future?

I am looking to acquire a site where we can leave all our equipment permanently set up. As well as saving us valuable travelling time and not having to erect and dismantle the equipment, it will also enable us to progress to more advanced levels of activities with the children such as fire making and using tools. I plan to expand the nursery and employ more staff as time goes on so we can offer our unique nursery environment to more and more children. I also have long term plans to start another business once this one is fully established.

What advice would you give for someone just starting out?

Thoroughly research your idea to see if it’s viable. Listen to advice from varying sources and make sure you utilize all resource available to you. Once you have your great idea, make sure you do your homework properly in order to get it off the ground. Don’t skimp on anything, especially the boring bits (of which there will be more than you think). By doing this you will save yourself a lot of time and effort further down the line and be sound in the knowledge that you have given yourself the best possible start towards your business being a great success.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

If you believe enough in what you are doing and have enough passion, you will succeed and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. If I can start and run my own business with three young children to look after then so can anyone. Good luck!

Website: http://www.thewoodlandnursery.co.uk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thewoodlandnursery
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TWNrsry
Email: thewoodlandnursery@gmail.com

If you think childcare might be for you but you don’t fancy running a nursery, check out our post about becoming a childminder.

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Running children's classes via Kidslingo

Running Children’s classes: Kidslingo

Jill has been running children’s classes in Essex through the franchise Kidslingo since last year, she teaches preschool children French and Spanish.

Tell us your name and a bit about your family? When did you become a Mum and to whom?

Hi, I am Jill. I have a 7 year old little boy called Enzo and I am expecting my second child in June. I also have a step-daughter called Eevee. She is 8 years old and she lives with my fiancé Leigh, Enzo and I 4 days a week. Leigh is a firefighter and his shifts are very family friendly, which will come handy with my business once the newest addition to the family has arrived.

What’s your business called?

My business is part of a franchise called Kidslingo.

Can you describe it in one sentence?

Based in South West Essex, I teach fun French & Spanish classes for little ones from age 0 to 11 years in a variety of venues such as nurseries, primary schools and in the community in Soft Plays etc…

When did you begin running children’s classes and what inspired you?

I was approached by my son’s headteacher to give French classes in the curriculum from Year 2 to Year 6 last year. I also set up Spanish breakfast and after-school clubs there. I was then approached by another school to do the same, at the recommendation of one of my Year 3 pupil, whose mum is also a headteacher! I started looking into ways of expanding without compromising my life-work balance and came across Kidslingo. I researched many other franchises but Kidslingo really stood out for me so I started just before Christmas 2016.

How did you fund your start up?

The start up costs are very affordable so I managed to come up with the initial fee by putting it on my credit card.

How do you manage working around your children?

I set up my classes at times that suit me, which also happens to be times that suit my clientele. It is just perfect! My son comes to my French After-School Club despite being bilingual already and he attends my Spanish After-school club so he learns Spanish now, which is another bonus.

Can you describe a typical day, what tasks do you have to get done, how do you manage your time?

Every day is different but I get to drop off the children at school and pick them up, be there to take them to their gymnastics and Badgers clubs etc. I used to work full time in London and commute so I really appreciate the difference of work-life balance I am able to achieve now. Some days, I am at home ringing and emailing nurseries and schools to let them know about the Free Trial I offer and the fun children have when learning French and Spanish with Kidslingo. Other days, I run classes in a Soft Play called Monkey Madness in Basildon or in a lovely little independent bookshop called the Chicken and Frog in Brentwood and I am adding more classes as the demand grows. Every week, I go to nurseries and do the classes in their settings or I have classes for older children, sometimes in Primary Schools, some days for home educated children.
Once my children are in bed, I spend my evenings online, advertising on Facebook and other websites, replying to enquiries and getting all the toys and props ready for the following day.

What challenges have you faced in your business and how have you overcome them?

The main challenge is being able to speak to the right person in the schools and the nurseries. The only way to overcome this is by being patient and persistent. I am learning a lot about Social Media advertising but for any questions, doubts and advice, we have a fantastic support in Head Office and a Facebook page for all the franchisees so any question is answered within minutes. Seeing how well all the other very successful franchisees in the network are doing just keeps me going.

What’s the best thing about being Mumpreneur?

The best thing about being Mumpreneur is being able to work around my children and meeting parents who like me, believe that introducing languages to their children from a very young age is an invaluable gift. Even though I spend long hours working, it doesn’t feel like I am working because I work for myself and love what I do. It is all worth it: I just love coming into the schools or nurseries to hear children welcoming me with “Yaaaay! The French teacher!!’ or “Yaaaay! Spanish!!”. Giving them the love of learning languages is so satisfying!

What are your plans for the future?

My plans for the future are to get more and more nurseries and schools onboard and employ tutors to teach all the fun classes I can’t personally deliver. All the lesson plans and materials are provided so I can train and employ someone to carry on teaching my classes whilst I take a little bit of time off in June when my newborn arrives. I’ll be able to take him/her to my baby classes as well, which will be great. The future is very exciting!

What advice would you give for someone just starting out in business?

I would advise to have a clear plan and be organised from the start. It takes a while to be established so don’t give up! There are very good days and not so good days but keep your goal in mind and all the positive reasons why you started your business in the first place.

www.kidslingo.co.uk

If you’re interested in running Children’s classes have a look at our Education and Coaching stories.