Mindset

What Happens to Your ‘Business Baby’ When You Have a Real Baby?

When you first laid eyes on that positive pregnancy test, so many things likely came up for you.

OMG, it’s happening! 

OMG, this is… scary. 

OMG, I have to get my business in order for maternity leave.

So, you made your plans— perhaps very detailed plans if you’re a type-A, perfectionist who loves to have as much control as possible.

  • When you would take your last client or project
  • When you would introduce a passive revenue stream
  • How long you would take off to adjust to mamahood
  • How much money you would save for maternity leave

Now that baby is here, you’re grateful that you gave yourself the space to be fully present. To close the email, to drop the marketing efforts, to not worry about launching the next thing.

But as you near the end of this mama-baby solo time, you’ve got a lot of questions.

What will it look like for me to go back to work?
Do I want to do daycare or hire a babysitter/nanny?
Do I want to work less or the same as before?
Can I really do all of this?

It’s so natural to feel this way. This is brand-new territory and unfortunately there is no “right” way or “how to” guide to blending business and motherhood.

So, what’s an entrepreneur to do? Find your way. 

The key to doing that is being completely honest with yourself. What do you want? Really?

You might already have the answer, or you might not. Either way, it’s important to connect with your truth and clarify your vision for what integrating these two worlds can look like. Here are 4 steps to help.

Create Space to Get Clear. 

Clarity can be a hard thing to come by when you’re sleep deprived and at the beck-and-call of your baby for food, diaper changes, and bouncing to calm any fussiness. You probably choose a nap, a shower, or a snack over a journaling exercise. BUT, if you want to feel good and empowered, it’s essential to carve out this time. 

What does that look like? 

Giving yourself 15 minutes per day to do inner inquiry—whenever you can fit it in. Keep your journal handy and once the baby is occupied, ask yourself the following questions:

  • How do I feel about getting back to work?
  • How many days per week would feel good to focus 100% on my business?
  • How many days a week do I want to focus 100% on my baby?
  • What kind of support do I want and what can I afford?
  • How do I want to feel within myself as I juggle both roles?
  • What do I want to do less of and what do I want to do more of?
  • What would make me feel really good?

Set Up Your Childcare of Choice. 

In order to move forward with your plans, it’s essential to have peace of mind around childcare. Whether it’s a family member, daycare, or hiring a nanny, having support in this area is absolutely essential to bringing your focus back to work. Otherwise, you will feel pulled in two directions as you try to do both. And burn out will arrive quickly and aggressively. So, why not set yourself up for success? 

Some simple tips:

  • Determine your monthly budget
  • Do your research and get referrals
  • Trust your instincts

Map Out Your “Back to Business” Strategy

Now that you know what you want, let’s start making moves in that direction. 

  • Choose your “I’m back” date. Intuitively, you’ll know when to open back up, start posting on social media, taking on clients/taking over your leadership role at your company (if you have a team).
  • Choose your first step. Will it be recording podcast episodes? Posting on social media? Emailing your list? Opening up one of your offerings or promoting one of your products? Get clear on what feels good to tackle first.
  • Schedule your work days on your calendar. Whether you’re going back to business part-time or full-time, having your schedule clear and mapped out will make everything feel so much more grounded.
  • Get support. Whether you have a team or you know you need to hire someone, make that a priority too. Creating efficiencies in your business are non-negotiable once you’re a mama, because time is now your most precious asset.
  • Give yourself some grace. This transition will likely feel bumpy. You gave birth—you’ve given so much of yourself physically and mentally to motherhood. Which means your confidence in yourself around business might feel fragile. Take it one day at a time and be kind to yourself.

Find Your Community of Mama Entrepreneurs

If there’s one thing so many new mamas and parents lack in that first year is a ride-or-die community of people who get what it’s like to transition into motherhood and continue building a business; who know what it’s like to show up to client calls exhausted; who will remind you that you can do this and remind you when it’s time to take care of you. 

Notice the women and people you feel drawn to, who are either already in your life or are those you admire from Instagram. Reach out to them. Create a mama circle or mastermind group. Set up monthly calls to connect. This will make you feel way less alone and so much more capable.

No matter what kind of business you have—whether it’s a start-up or a solo venture—consider these tools to help you find your footing as you merge these two worlds.

“Doing it all” is only made possible by clarity and support. Here’s to finding both and honoring what feels good to you in this season of life.

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