Lessons Learned from a Serial Mompreneur – Part 1
My husband Allan recently asked me why I love my business so much. One thing I shared is that I love change, fluidity and flexibility. I like to have boundaries but I also like to push them (and break the rules occasionally). I also believe there’s nothing quite like entrepreneurship to help you learn who you are and what’s important to you.
I’ve been a serial mompreneur for over ten years. This last year has been my biggest and most daring year as I launched Metromom.com. It started as an online community to support women in direct-sales and evolved into being THE resource for mom entrepreneurs (in all businesses) for all the issues they have as business owners, mothers and more. As I celebrate the one year anniversary of Metromom I wanted to highlight the biggest lessons I’ve learned so far.
Lesson 1 – Stay Open to the Possibilities and True to Yourself
Soon after launching Metromom.com in July 2008, I realized that my focus was too narrow. By listening carefully to women entrepreneurs, both inside and outside my community, I realized the need to expand my niche. The lesson I learned was that by staying open, and not being fixated on being “right”, I was able to expand my business and reach out to many more women.
At the same time I realized that while staying open to the insights of others, I needed to trust my instincts. I learned to take the time to make sure I was truly aligned with my values, beliefs and goals before moving forward.
Wisdom Tip: By being open to the possibilities and staying true to yourself, you’ll be amazed at how the right people, places and opportunities appear.
Lesson 2 – Enjoy the Collaborative Process
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned since starting Metromom is that you can’t do it alone. But, you can achieve amazing things when you build a team and leverage each other’s strengths. I’ve learned to delegate whether it means having friends to carpool my kids, VA’s to set-up my ezine or business coaches to help me discover the next step in my marketing plan.
I’m also collaborating with other mompreneurs with the belief and vision that together we can do something much more amazing than any of us on our own. I’ve brought on “experts” to offer a broader range of information to my community. This last year has taught me how I can use my gift of being a natural connector to harness the power of so many other wonderful women.
Wisdom Tip: Learn to enjoy and benefit from the collaborative process of what others add to the process of building your business.
Lesson 3 – Create Systems and Move On
Having a team is great but they don’t work without a system. I’ve learned the value of systematizing all our processes and creating delegated lists so everyone is clear about their responsibilities and timelines. I’m also using a great new program called Basecamp to help me keep track of it all! After determining the process, I’m able to delegate it, and go on to create new products and services that fuel my business and my soul.
Wisdom Tip: Creating systems can be time-consuming the first time around but it’s amazing how they’ll save you hours down the road and provide you with great clarity that comes from working through all the steps.
Lesson 4 – You Have to Invest in the Future
There have been moments where I’ve felt great scarcity over the past year, especially after my husband lost his job. I learned this lesson the hard way but I’ve realized that I have to continue making investments in my business and trust that they will pay-off.
Sometimes this has meant investing in my personal growth, like Baeth Davis’ Life Purpose Spiritual Summit that I attended. Sometimes it’s meant investing in great back-end technology that supports huge growth and many end-users. I’ve had to be smart with how I invested but I’ve had to keep moving forward to grow my business.
Wisdom Tip: Maybe you’re thinking to yourself… I don’t have the time or I don’t have the money. The truth is if you want to be successful you can’t afford NOT to invest in yourself and in your business.
Lesson 5 – Take Action Quickly
This lesson has led me to embrace my new nickname – the “Get It Done” Girl. I’ve learned to let go of perfectionism, and I trust that I’m enough as I am. I’ve discovered knowing the “WHAT” is more important than the “HOW”. I’m very capable at knowing and figuring out WHAT needs to get done. I may not know HOW it’s going to happen and how to do it but I am resourceful and can connect with others who do have the expertise I may be lacking to get the job done.
This skill has served me well as a mompreneur. Because there’s nothing that truly prepares you or gives you all the experience you need to be an entrepreneur – you just have to go for it!
Wisdom Tip: You have to be willing to jump into unchartered waters, and trust that other experts can fill in your gaps.
I share five more lessons in part 2 of “Lessons Learned from a Serial Mompreneur”. Please share any lessons you’ve learned in your journey as a mom entrepreneur!
Tags: Baeth Davis, Basecamp, create systems, invest in personal growth, Kim DeYoung, Metromom, mom entrepreneur lessons learned, open to possibilities, serial mompreneur
