How to juggle motherhood and start your own business
I was 27 when I fell pregnant with my son Ernie, now aged six. When trying to return to my career (I was a theatre school owner), I realised I no longer had the confidence I had, it had slowly but surely been taken away from me!
I had never had a proper job, I had never done an interview before- all I had was a theatre school that I had created aged 21. However, although I loved it, unfortunately, this business just didn’t fit around a child, after school and weekends meant that I would miss a lot of things and logistically it would be impossible to get childcare around, so what would I do?
I decided to create a new business alongside my sister, that would suit my new life better! Phonics with Robot Reg was a preschool class teaching the beginnings of reading and writing to pre-schoolers. After just a year we franchised our business and grew it again from nothing to over 54 franchises internationally! Once again though people told me it wouldn’t work, people told me I should just focus on being a mum, that I should be at home, I was even told I should have a hot meal on the table for my husband when he walked through the door!
In 2020 I took the plunge, launching Charlie Day sales, teaching business owners how to make more sales. I have grown this business to a half-a-million-pound turnover!!! And I know that this year I will turn it into a million-pound empire.
I honestly believe I was put on this earth to be an entrepreneur, to empower other women to run their own businesses, especially mums!
I have been celebrated so much this last year, as an Amazon best seller, as an international speaker, and as an award-winning entrepreneur. And I am here to tell you, if I can do it, so can you!
1. Don't feel guilty
From the moment my son was born, I had questions about if I was going to go back to work, did I feel guilty about leaving him? Even to this day I still get asked if he minds me going away. For a long time, I felt guilty about working, but I didn’t want to not work as I loved it. It was a tricky time. My little boy is seeing me work hard, and build a business to be proud of and I cannot see how that is going to impact him negatively!
I am constantly telling my story so females can see that you can do both, you can be a great mum and a great business owner actually my son is being raised by someone who is passionate and goes after what she wants, and in turn, he will become someone who realizes that anything is possible.
2. Take small steps
When I had my little boy it was the most challenging time in the whole of my business journey. I came up with the idea of just doing one thing every day to move my business forward whilst also taking care of my son. Sometimes I might only get half an hour to do this, but I knew that each day I could just do one thing to move it forward, and if I did that then in a year's time I would be 365 steps ahead of where I was.
Sometimes the bigger vision can seem overwhelming whilst running a business and being a parent. If we break it down into smaller more manageable chunks it seems so much easier!
3. Consider different income streams
When I became a mum, I wanted freedom, but what did that look like for me? I wanted the freedom to make my own choices, and to live life on my terms, and at the same time I wanted to help business owners with sales.
I wanted to be able to take every school holiday off, so I can I can jet off and show my son the world. To do this, I knew I needed an income stream that didn't just rely on 121 services.
I set up a business membership and courses, alongside my others offerings. These took some time to set up but when they're done, they can bring in income consistently month after month.
During half-term, I spent most of one day on a plane back from Dubai, I wasn’t working as it was the last day of my little boys half term holiday and still I managed to take £7657.48
Not bad earnings for a day off!
You know you’re making passive and semi-passive income work for you when you’re bringing money in whilst on an airplane with no phone signal!
4. Outsource
I try to outsource as much as I can so I can focus on my business. I outsource a lot of different things so I can focus on my business as I can't do it all. For example, I have a cleaner and even things like using meal boxes that deliver the exact ingredients you need!
5. Join the 5 am club
I now wake up at 5 am and I really love it. It gives me an hour or two to myself to fit more into the day-whether that's working out, goal setting, or tackling my to-do list. It does take organisation but you'll be surprised at just how much you can achieve in that time! It's hard setting that alarm but once you do, you'll get that day after to a great start.
Charlie Day is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur who has built three multi-six-figure businesses from the ground up. Charlie is passionate about helping business owners create more sales in their businesses and is the founder of The Entrepreneurs Growth Club, a Facebook community of over 8000 business owners. She is also a mum to Ernie, aged six, and shares her top tips for juggling parenting and running your own business.
To find out more about Charlie, follow her on Instagram @charlie_day_sales or her facebook group The Entrepreneurs Growth Club.
