5 Entrepreneurial Lessons From A Multitasking Mother Of Three

I can hardly believe how quickly things are moving. My baby is already 4 months old and my other baby (my new business) is now 2 months old and boy, what a journey!

In between 4am feeds with baby, potty training my 2 year old and choosing the first school for my eldest, I’ve been busy finding my commercial feet and it’s been one fun rollercoaster ride.

In just two months I’ve learned a lot of entrepreneurial lessons about my business and myself.

So, for any wannabe entrepreneurs out there, here are some tips based on just 2 months in my new job!

LOOK AFTER YOUR NETWORK

I’ve spent the last 20 years building my network and creating a support structure knowing that one day I would step out on my own. But connecting to people on LinkedIn isn’t enough. It’s about staying front of mind with your network, checking in once in a while and being helpful. Sharing valuable content and helping your network develop themselves.

My closest and most supportive network is my family. Without them I could never have pursued this dream. They often have more confidence in me than I do.

I need pep talks every once in a while to remind me why on earth I left a fantastic job, free lunches, flexibility to work at home…hold on, here I go again!  What have I done???

But it isn’t just family. My friends and ex-colleagues have been fantastic. I’ve circulated my business idea to people I’ve worked with over the years. People who have had a major impact on my career and whose opinions I highly regard. People who I can trust to tell me how it actually is…rather than what I want to hear.

Lesson 1: Your Network Is Important. Just as you need a network around you when you have your first child, it's the same when you create a business.  Start right now!  Grow it. Nurture it. Respect it. It may be how you get your next job, your next piece of work or how you learn something new. Networks are powerful. Don’t underestimate them.

KNOW HOW YOU SPEND YOUR TIME

Tick tock.  Tick tock.  Oh my, there’s nothing like a sleeping baby to keep you focused on your work.

Knowing that at any moment that baby is going to wake, helps me manage my time to the minute…to the second!

In a salaried role my time was determined by when the next meeting was taking place, the deadline for a project I was working on or the best time to leave and miss the traffic.

My perception of time is totally different now. Time = Money.

I now track my time to projects partly so I can quote and bill correctly and partly so I have an idea on which part of my business takes up the most time.

Lesson 2:  Track Your Time.  Get in the habit of tracking how you spend your time to get some perspective on whether you’re efficient or not. It’s easy to spend a lot of time on the fun stuff and less time on the important stuff.  A friend introduced me to Toggl – a fantastic tool for tracking hours to projects. I think there are many out there. Just search and see what you can get for free.

BE PREPARED FOR AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER

This is probably no surprise. Some days I travel up to London with carriage full of miserable looking commuters and I feel so lucky to be free from corporate life and living my dream. I’m often buzzing with ideas – it’s the time when I’m at my most creative.

The following day I might have a wobble. Uncomfortable with having no steady income and feeling guilty that I’m not spending enough time with the kids (typical parent anxiety I assume).

I’m sure Richard Branson once said “Find something you enjoy doing – the money will come”.   I’m not sure how much truth there is in that statement. There’s no doubt that I’ve found my passion. I work until my head hits the keyboard at night…but I love it! I’ll put my faith in the statement for now and see what happens.

Lesson 3:  Be Prepared.  You’ll have tough days, good days and absolutely fantastic “buzzing off the ceiling” days. Just remember during the tough days that good days are ahead.

I’ve put a few inspiring quotes and life goals up on the wall in my office to remind me why I’m pursuing this dream.  Financially work out how long you can survive on your savings.  Set goals and ambitions.  Write them down.  Writing is committing.

I wanted to start my business 7 years ago.  Last weekend I unpacked another box and I found my old business plan.  I couldn't believe it.  My aspirations, beliefs and ideas around the business are exactly the same then as they are today.

START-UP LIFE CAN BE LONELY

There’s no doubt - I miss grabbing a coffee with my work buddies, exchanging holiday tips over lunch and helping my colleagues to succeed.

It’s part of my DNA. I’m a social person and love working with people.

I’m also hugely passionate about my business. I absolutely believe in what I’m doing and I want to help others achieve the success I’ve already experienced. It’s this belief and drive that gets me out of bed in the morning.

It goes back to having a great network and a passion for what you do. Social is great. Take part in tweet chats. I sometimes follow #SBizHour (8pm UK time on Mondays) or #Hootchat (7pm UK time on Thursdays).

Find a virtual ‘meet-up’ space where you’ll find likeminded folks. Suddenly, professional life can become a little less lonely.

Lesson 4: Meet People. Get out and have lunch, coffee or a beer. The more you talk to people the more you will focus your proposition. Seek advice. Learn from others. This kind of process is not only invigorating but it also helps you practice your “elevator pitch”.

Guess what? You never know what might turn up out of that meeting. This has happened to me several times. That person may know someone who needs your help.

However, as my wonderful outplacement coach told me “expect nothing”. Don’t go with an agenda. Just enjoy connecting and exchanging.

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN - EVERY DAY THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN

I’m a big fan of coaching. Throughout my career I’ve been coached. I loved it so much that I trained with the AoEC to become an Executive Coach. One piece of advice that sits front of mind for me is:

“Always keep your eyes open. Opportunities are passing you by every day – it’s just whether you notice them or not”

You’ll never get bored as an entrepreneur. That is a certainty.

If you’re looking for excitement, constant development and the thrill (as well as slightly terrifying) nature of expecting the unexpected, then this journey is probably for you.

Situations can change in a heartbeat. One minute I’m sat on the train minding my own business, next minute I’m exchanging details with a fellow commuter after a long discussion about training employees!

One minute I’m discussing my brand in a pub with a couple of graphic designers (watch this space!), next minute someone’s chasing me down in the car park with a business card as they overheard my conversation and are interested to talk.

I cannot express just how amazing this journey is.  I have always been a networker – I love meeting new people. But this…this is networking on steroids!

Lesson 5: Keep An Open Mind. Embrace situations and always seek to learn from them…even at tough times. Building our house took 3 years of paperwork, 10 months of building and several setbacks. Some pretty major setbacks yet throughout that time you deal with it, move on and build resilience.

At the time it felt frustrating but looking back, we got through it and learned from it. Keep learning. It makes you stronger.

I would love to hear from others who have made the jump from corporate life.

What one piece of advice would you give budding entrepreneurs?