Balancing Act: The Joys and Challenges of Motherhood and Entrepreneurship

There I was, convinced my top-notch entrepreneurial skills were the equivalent of having a superhero cape tucked into my business suit. I could negotiate deals like I was born in a boardroom, and navigate my way through any sticky situation. Enter motherhood and entrepreneurship—a combo I assumed would be like adding another trophy to my shelf.?

Boy, was I in for a surprise!

Motherhood:? It's a world where my once-flawless communication strategies are used to argue the merits of wearing pants (a surprisingly tough sell) and to convince a four-year-old that, no, the cat does not want to learn how to swim.

In the high-stakes world of corporate toddlerhood, my negotiation abilities were rigorously challenged by a mini-sized executive who regarded bedtime as a mere suggestion, rather than company policy. This same young negotiator also vetoed sandwiches not cut into the preferred executive triangles, deeming square shapes a breach of contract.

Yes, you heard that right. The cut of a sandwich! I discovered that in the realm of parenting, the shape of your child's sandwich can lead to a level of negotiation that makes peace talks look like a game of rock-paper-scissors. Triangle or square, or some abstract shape that Picasso would admire? Who knew that this would be the question upon which the fate of dinner (and my sanity) would hinge?

I frequently engage in discussions with my friends about topics such as business, parenting, entrepreneurship, and the current state of the world's madness. I am always astonished by the most common experiences we share.? The topics that resonate the most with us are:

The Eternal Tug of War: Guilt vs. Ambition

The ultimate showdown in the life of every entrepreneurial woman, where Guilt is the ever-nagging in-law, questioning every decision, "Oh, you're working late again? Remember the family?" On the other side, Ambition is that overly enthusiastic fitness coach, pushing you to "Aim for the stars, forget sleep!”?

Navigating Imposter Syndrome

We all love this one, don’t we, ladies?? The uninvited guest at the party of our career, munching on our self-esteem. You see, Imposter Syndrome doesn't care that you've somehow managed to answer emails while cooking dinner with a toddler attached to your leg. Nor is it impressed by your ability to recite the alphabet backward to entertain your child as you sketch out business strategies on a napkin. No, this insidious adversary plants the seed of doubt, making you question every success. "Was it just luck?" it hisses as you finally get the kids to bed and sit down to work on your business plan. "Are you really good enough?" it sneers, ignoring the fact that you're doing the job of at least three people on a daily basis.

The Art of Delegation and Seeking Help

Hmm, I’m venturing into not-so-cool territory, aren’t I?? You see, there exists a legendary tale, passed down from generation to generation, of a mythical creature known as "Wonder Woman." According to lore, she can juggle children, a business, a sparkling clean house, and a social life, all while maintaining her sanity and never once asking for help. Spoiler alert: She doesn't exist. And if she does, she's probably surviving on magic, unrealistic expectations, and a river of coffee.?

Ladies, here’s “How to Not Lose Your Mind 101”: Seek help for the mundane tasks. Spend time on yourself, your loved ones, and your business. Delegate the rest.

And last but not least…

Celebrating the Joys

Wonder Woman might not exist, but badass women entrepreneurs surely do.? I know them—the ones with stubborn optimism, selective hearing (flicking that imposter syndrome monkey off their shoulder), and with immense ability to laugh in the face of absurdity.? These are the role models teaching their children resilience, hard work and the value of achievement.? They are the ones who set goals and define their own success.? And they are the ones who know how to celebrate it.?

In the end, the greatest lesson motherhood and entrepreneurship have taught me is that life is the messiest, most rewarding venture of all. To all the entrepreneurial women out there wrestling with the guilt vs. ambition tug-of-war, navigating the murky waters of imposter syndrome, and mastering the fine art of delegation—remember, we might not have it all figured out, but we're doing an incredible job at making it up as we go along. And as for those sandwich negotiations? Let's just say they're preparing us for the boardroom like nothing else could.?

The real trophy isn't one sitting on my shelf; it's the laughter-filled chaos of a dinner, the satisfaction of a client's thank you, and the quiet moments in between the madness where I realize—I wouldn't have it any other way.