If you’re anything like me, you felt so proud and excited when you decided to set out on your own and start your business. You were eager to join the cool kids’ entrepreneur club, and build the perfect outlet for your enthusiasm, drive and creativity. You were ready to have fulfilling connections with customers, peers and colleagues. You made a reasonably optimistic plan to create your website and start getting customers, and money, quickly. You made sure your partner was on board and then you got started!
When I started out, I was ready to work my plan, get myself out there, and make this thing work. And, of course, I was going to do it all while still being a great mom, wife, daughter, everything to those who depended on me. Ha!
It didn’t take long to realize that the timeline I had mapped out for success was way too optimistic. My SuperMom fantasy came crashing down. Uh-oh, this wasn’t going to be the overnight success story I hoped for.
Can you relate?
While every new entrepreneur faces this kind of reality check, moms feel some extra pressure.
The mom/partner duties don’t disappear. You’re still responsible for packing the snacks, and taking the dog to the vet, and being there for your partner. And you feel guilty for focusing your time and attention on your business as much as you do.
With all this responsibility, you may find you’ve been at it for six months and your business hasn’t made any real money yet. Or maybe it’s been a year...or more.
You wonder if you didn’t have everyone else to care for, would your business be raking in the dough by now?
So you’re not making money yet...but you’re spending a nice chunk to try to get things going. New website, courses, software, books, networking events...this stuff adds up fast. Now that you feel like you’re also taking money away from your family, the mom guilt gets supercharged!
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. This was me, and it sucked!
Here are five tips to help you stay focused, and not let your mom guilt around money trip you up.
1 - Understand that building a business takes time.
It takes most businesses a few years to really get off the runway. It does! There are a lot of $5k-10k in 6 month messages out there. And, sure, it’s possible. But please don’t think your business is doomed to failure if you’re not seeing that. It can be really hard like you’re making any progress at all sometimes, but slow and steady growth is actually healthy.
2 - Don’t let guilt stop you (it’s normal)
It’s hard to shake it, but that guilt you’re carrying around isn’t helping anything. It’s almost impossible to be your best and most creative self - the version of you that dreamed up this business in the first place - when you’re drowning in guilt. A little patience, compassion and self-forgiveness can go a long way here. Remember that even though our society conditions us to feel this way, but we can use our gifts and strengths to be successful anyway. Your fulfillment and success is one of the very best things you can give your kids and your family.
3 - Make communication with your partner a priority.
If your partner’s income is supporting the family and your budding business, they are going to have some feelings about this too. When they realize that profits aren’t pouring in as quickly as you’d both hoped, it’s completely natural for them to have doubts and even want to take some control of the situation. It’s so important that they feel heard, even though it’s not fun for you to hear.
When you’re feeling your partner’s fear combined with your own guilt and feelings of responsibility for everyone, you will want to shut it all down and run back to the way things used to be. But you don’t have to. Tap into that full-heart YES feeling you felt when you knew you had to do this. This can help you navigate the dynamics with your partner, and can help you take the actions you need to move your business forward.
4 - Commit to making money.
Connection, fulfillment, and the creativity are awesome reasons to going on this adventure. But unless you’re making money, it’s not a business. So embrace money-making as one of your missions, with the understanding that it’s the money that makes so much more possible...and fun.
You might have to look at your own (sometimes hidden) ideas about making money. Are you afraid you’ll make more than your partner? Or your parent? Are you worried if you can make your own money, that no one will take care of you? Or maybe you’re afraid that if you’re successful you’ll be too busy to be there for your family. These stories may not be true. Take some time to explore your thoughts, and understand that your partner will have their own stories to deal with. When you can clear your head of the unhelpful thoughts, making money will get a lot easier.
5 - Create a simple money system.
To make it all real and practical, create a system to look at your money in and money out.
Track the money you spend, and the money you earn. Commit to looking at it consistently every day. This will help you get comfortable with the money side of your business. Figure out what tasks and activities actually lead to getting customers and income. Ask yourself every day what action you can take that could generate cash. Then do that thing.
Your entrepreneurial path won’t always be easy, but it’s worth it. When you make sure that making a profit is part of your plan from the beginning, you’re more likely to be successful.
You can do this! And I can help you create your own easy money tracking system, or support you as you navigate the doubt and pressure on your business journey. Schedule a free call to talk about it.