Moms Mean Business

Today’s entrepreneurial mother faces a host of challenges on her way to success. The wonderful wife, the caring mother, the exemplary hostess and the fierce business women: there’s no end to the roles mothers are expected to juggle and perform to perfection.

Women quickly internalize unbelievable social pressure like this and become their harshest critics. But there’s no sense in it. Being a mom entrepreneur is challenging enough – why put extra pressure on yourself?

As a mom entrepreneur, you need a business plan that takes your needs and circumstances into account. You have a finite amount of time on your hands. And if you want to use it well, you need to separate other people’s expectations from the things you really care about.

Start by making a list of the top five things that matter to you. These could be your values, or things that you aspire to, such as independence, integrity and authenticity. Motivators, the things that get you out of bed everyday, are also worth noting. These could be your children, a sense of autonomy or the opportunity to help others. Your passions, whether they’re solving complex math problems or going hiking, also deserve a spot on this list.

Now, take a look at your list. These top five things should be what you put most of your time and energy into. But do you really pull that off?

All too often mothers find themselves sacrificing their time to complete tasks that aren’t truly important to them, like maintaining a spotless household. This is the result of unnecessary self-pressure. By recognizing that your priorities lie elsewhere, you’ll feel this pressure lessen almost immediately.