If you’re a mom, you know that motherhood and entrepreneurship can go hand in hand. It takes hard work, creativity, and skills to raise good children, manage a household, and keep everyone happy – most of the time. It’s no surprise that so many women start businesses and run them well.
What is a mompreneur? This trendy term describes women who balance parenting and entrepreneurship. Moms represent about one in three women-owned businesses.
Definitions vary, but most mompreneurs are women who start a business and seek work-life balance. Mompreneurs set their own schedules, pace, and goals. Christian mompreneurs may also want to answer a call, support household budgets, and find success without sacrificing faith and family.
Mom’s business, God’s plans
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” – Proverbs 16:3, NIV
Christian business moms start with ideas, prayers, and plans dedicated to the Lord’s work and will. They apply unique talents, experience, and expertise. Mompreneurs may sell art, balance ledgers, photograph kids, manage PR, blog, podcast, teach or invent the next big thing. Work-from-home ideas for mompreneurs are endless. Start small, think big, and find what works for you.
Pray for discernment , but don’t wait for perfection. Start-ups aren’t easy, fast, or guaranteed. You’ll have some long hours, wins, losses, setbacks, and successes. Ask God to guide you and your spouse.
What is a mompreneur? This trendy term describes women who balance parenting and entrepreneurship.
Inspiring tips for mompreneurs
Mompreneurs juggle everything from groceries, schoolwork, sports, and sick days to sales calls, logistics, and spreadsheets. These mompreneur quotes and tips may inspire you:
Mom-minutes matter
“Mompreneurs, more than other entrepreneurs, need to be disciplined with their time.”
– Sherry Colbourne, Business Development Mentor
Here are some ideas to consider that can help you make the most of your limited time:
- Begin big and small jobs with prayer. Commit work and its outcome to God.
- Have a start and finish times. Stick to routine work hours and days.
- Set clear boundaries. Enforce schedules and workspaces.
- Rise earlier. Get up before others to prepare, pray, and plan. Do a chore or two if you can.
- Screen contacts. Answer non-urgent messages at preset times, not as they come in.
- Time-block it. Group similar projects and types of work. Examples include writing, calls, project management, errands, meetings, or shopping.
- Schedule the unscheduled. Set aside 30-60 minutes for unplanned—but important—interruptions. If nothing happens, redirect the time.
- Use small windows of time. Still on hold? Stack papers, review notes, scan emails, or chop veggies. Stuck in traffic? Return calls, pray, or listen to business podcasts.
- Delegate. Involve your kids when you can for learning, fun, and mom time. Hire virtual assistants and outsource what you can.
- Wear blinders. Tune out distractions, including social media and surfing.
Successful mom entrepreneurs laugh … a lot!
“Your best weapon is a sense of humor.”
– Karla Campos, Tech Entrepreneur
When things go wrong, it’s okay to laugh. Great plans can fail, sometimes spectacularly. The delivery is late, you lose your keys, toddlers spill grape juice on your white paper, sirens blare, and your otherwise docile dog howls through a meeting. Whatever it is, try to laugh it off and move on.
A cheerful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22, ASV). To defuse stress:
- Appreciate friends with the gift of laughter. Spend time with the class clown who’s still around or the friend who can always make you laugh.
- Watch funny shows. Add comedies to family movie or TV night rotations. Start a smile file for incoming viral videos of precocious pets and kids. Download your favorite comedians.
- Stay playful. Share contagious giggles and antics with children of all ages.
- Let God share His joy. Staying faithful can put joy in your heart (Psalm 4:7, NASB).
Believe in yourself and your idea
“All mom entrepreneurs started with an idea they believed in, and the courage to take risks to bring the idea to fruition.”
– Pamela Webber, E-commerce Entrepreneur
Mompreneurs dare to go from brainstorming and blueprints to open-for-business. Successful entrepreneurs set goals, gather teams, and put plans into action. Don’t let fear stop you. You’ll have naysayers and cheerleaders. Even so, ultimately, it’s up to you.
Entrepreneurship offers freedoms and blessings, burdens and responsibilities – just like parenting. You have what it takes! Believe in yourself and work your plan:
- Mind your mission. What makes you and your offerings unique? Why does it matter? Write it down. Post it for big-picture focus.
- Count the cost. Include your mission, goals, marketing plan, and realistic estimates of costs and likely earnings in your business plan. If you’re leaving a job with employee benefits, you’ll need to consider self-employment taxes, overhead, paid time off, and insurance costs. Health-share ministries can help by offering budget-friendly alternatives to traditional health insurance.
- Consult experts. What will you need? Ask legal and financial experts about laws and funding. Ask business advisors to review your plans.
- Get started. Create a prototype. Build a website. Make a marketing plan. Action builds momentum and motivation.
- Learn as you go. You don’t need all the answers right away. Take classes or attend tradeshows and conferences to learn, network, and grow.
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