How do female entrepreneurs make it? How do they succeed? And more importantly, how do they successfully build a family and a business at the same time?
This piece is a special one – one that’s more personal than business. I hope it will provide some insight into the dedication that goes into growing a business and balancing personal growth at the same.
It comes down to four major components: time management, passion, a vision, and some AWESOME team members.
But to understand how I got to where I am now, I need to take you back to the beginning.
Background
I was originally a nine-to-five downtown commuter. I worked at a litigation firm which required a 6 a.m. wake-up, a 25-minute drive to the subway station, a 45-minute subway ride, a one-hour lunch break (on most days) and a hell of a trek home that stretched well beyond Toronto rush hour. Every day I would wake up and do it all over again.
The corporate setting taught me a lot about organization, planning, research, and development. Most importantly, it taught me that the corporate world was not my true calling. I live for the hustle. There is nothing quite like waking up each morning where each day is a canvass to write my own story – empower clients, motivate team members and work creatively.
Deep down, I had always known that I was the type of person who needed to march to the beat of her own drum. I needed something that would challenge me. You know, the kind of something that gets you up in the morning and keeps you awake at night? That’s what I wanted – something to inspire me to pick up that drum and beat it loud and clear.
The Journey
Just one month after my wedding, an intense family situation afforded me some alone time. It was the first chance I’d had in a long time to think about my goals and what I really wanted out of my career.
So there I was, at 12 a.m., having my lightbulb moment. Marketing, communications, and the online digital movement was an industry that not only intrigued me, it invigorated me. It was a specialized area that I’d spent much time practicing and honing my skills in. I knew that every person and every business needed a digital presence.
And just like that, SocialEyes Communications was born.
That first year of business was hustle, hustle, hustle… and I loved every minute of it. Sooner than later, requests to work with me started rolling in. Businesses and professionals were seeking out my expertise to help them grow their networks, build their brand strategies, and launch their digital marketing campaigns.
Building a team of highly qualified and talented experts was the next phase of SocialEyes.
It was an exciting and busy time for me professionally. And of course, since life tends to happen this way, there was also a lot happening in my personal life. As my business was taking off, I found out I was also expecting Baby #1! While growing my team, I was also growing a baby and about to embark on my journey as a first-time mom.
In January 2017, my son Noah was born. I won’t lie to you, it wasn’t an easy time. Both the demands of work and my hormones were at an all-time high.
Fortunately, time management has always been a major strength of mine. And so, nap times were dedicated to client phone calls, grandmothers babysat while client meetings took place, and new clients were brought onboard alongside new team members to help carry the load.
By the end of my third month of motherhood, SocialEyes was a bustling operation serving 20+ clients and receiving excellent reviews.
Fast forward four months into motherhood and I felt like I really had it all figured out. I was successfully managing a thriving business and balancing raising a family at the same.
In February 2018, just 13 months after our first, I became a proud mom to two beautiful children. So now, I had two babies to raise and a business to grow. I was determined to make it work.
How do you build a business and raise a family simultaneously?
How are we meant to do this mom thing, and also grow successful businesses at the same time?
I cannot stress enough how much time management plays a vital role. They say “there are not enough hours in the day” but I would argue that there is. There just needs to be a method to the madness.
There are four components that are crucial to growth, success, and achievement when balancing life as a business owner and a mother:
- time blocking;
- the ultimate vision to serve as an incentive to keep pushing forward;
- passion for what you are doing; and
- team members who share the same vision and values.
Today, I am proud to say that we have a full roster of incredible clients including both national and international brands, a hard-working and dedicated team of experts, and between us all, nine children under the age of eight.
Mothers and entrepreneurs have a few things in common – patience, fortitude, tenacity, and perseverance.
Guest author: Marly Broudie is the Founder and President of SocialEyes Communications Inc., a digital marketing and business development consulting firm based in Toronto. Marly’s goal-oriented approach and ability to help clients develop a vision to drive growth is her fuel for success and consequently, the success of her clients. As a young female entrepreneur with a vision and passion, and as a mother of 2 very young children (1 and 2 years old), Marly’s motto remains: “There are enough hours in a day to accomplish growth and success… there just needs to be a method to the madness.”