7 Hilarious Entrepreneurship Parallels: Toddlerhood & Mum Business

From Tantrums to Triumphs: The Hilariously True Parallels Between Toddlers & Entrepreneurship

Let’s be honest, being an entrepreneur can feel like herding cats, only the cats are tiny humans with ever-changing demands & a penchant for smearing peanut butter on absolutely everything. Sound familiar, Foundation Builders? Thought so! & if you're a mum trying to build a business amidst the beautiful chaos of family life, you know exactly what I'm talking about. It's a rollercoaster, isn't it? One minute you're nailing that sales pitch, the next you're negotiating a hostage situation involving a rogue crayon & a freshly painted wall.

One particularly memorable morning – and this is a cringe, but true story – I was about to jump on a coaching call, all prepped & professional, when my toddler decided the perfect moment to stage a "poo-nami" of epic proportions. Let's just say, there was a significant clean-up operation involved, and I joined the call slightly flustered, with a faint aroma of baby wipes lingering in the air. It’s the unglamorous reality of the juggle, isn't it? Foundation Builders, you know the drill! (Although, full disclosure: I’d never do anything client-facing with the kids actually around. Professionalism, people!).

But here's the thing I've learned, both through building Femmeprenista (whilst also juggling four kids, two dogs – Espresso & Cappuccino, the hyperactive puppy & her more relaxed mum – & a PhD, by the way… talk about a juggling act!) & through my 13+ years in the corporate world, including nearly a decade at Apple & a stint at Electrolux (where, in one particularly intense quarter – right after returning from maternity leave with my second, actually – I spearheaded a new marketing campaign for a range of innovative kitchen appliances, applying some of Rory Sutherland’s principles of perceived value, and, despite initial skepticism from some senior team members, it increased sales by 15% – a real triumph amidst the corporate chaos!): there are surprisingly insightful parallels between navigating the unpredictable world of toddlers & the equally unpredictable world of entrepreneurship. & embracing these parallels, finding the humour in the chaos, can be your secret weapon. It’s really funny, because it’s so true!

The Toddler CEO: Master of Disruption & Adaptability

Ever tried sticking to a rigid schedule with a toddler, Foundation Builders? You plan a perfectly timed nap, a nutritious lunch, a productive play session... & then BAM! Nappy explosion. Or a sudden, inconsolable meltdown because the blue cup, not the green one, is required right this very second. Your meticulously crafted schedule is out the window, & you're pivoting faster than you can say "Dora the Explorer."

Entrepreneurship is exactly the same. You create a detailed business plan, map out your marketing strategy, set ambitious revenue goals… & then the market shifts. A competitor launches a similar product. A global pandemic (remember that little curveball?) throws everything into disarray. Or, on a smaller scale, your carefully crafted email campaign gets flagged as spam. & just like with the toddler tantrum, you have to adapt, re-strategize, & find a creative solution fast. It's a "if you don't laugh, you'll cry" kind of situation, Foundation Builders!

Embracing the Beautiful Mess: It’s All About Mindset

The key takeaway here? Rigidity is the enemy of both toddler management & entrepreneurial success. Meticulous planning is essential, yes – my corporate background drilled that into me. But so too is the ability to be flexible, to roll with the punches, & to find the funny side of things when your carefully laid plans go up in smoke (sometimes literally, if you’ve ever left a toddler unsupervised with a box of matches – thankfully, I haven't!).

This is where mindset comes in – what we at Femmeprenista call Focus. It's about shifting from a place of frustration & overwhelm ("Why is this happening to me?!") to a place of empowered adaptability ("Okay, this is happening. How can I make this work?"). It's about recognising that detours & disruptions are inevitable, & often lead to unexpected breakthroughs. Just like that time my youngest finally learned to use the potty – not during planned potty training sessions, but during a spontaneous game of hide-&-seek. Sometimes, letting go of control & embracing the "beautiful mess" is the fastest way forward. I think this is because when things are less structured, when we’re not pushing ourselves, things can come more naturally. There have been moments, especially juggling my PhD research with two little ones, when I've felt utterly swamped. Like that time my partner & I were both facing deadlines, the toddler was going through a sleep regression, & the baby decided 4am was playtime. I vividly remember thinking, “How am I supposed to do any focused work in this chaos?" It felt like I was drowning in to-do lists. What pulled me through? Breaking down the overwhelm into tiny, manageable steps, focusing on just one thing at a time. It wasn't pretty, but it got done. It reminded me of the "tortoise & the hare" – slow & steady wins the race, especially in the entrepreneurial marathon! It’s about combining hard work with smart work. This resonates with what I’m seeing in my ongoing doctoral research into women’s entrepreneurship, too – resourcefulness and adaptability are key themes.

Time Management for Jugglers: Practical Strategies from the Trenches

So, how do you practically navigate this daily rollercoaster, Foundation Builders, whether you’re dealing with demanding toddlers or demanding clients (or, let’s face it, both)? Here are a few strategies I’ve learned from the trenches, specifically tailored for those of you just starting out:

• Prioritize Ruthlessly: Just like you can’t do everything when you’re juggling four kids & a PhD, you can’t do everything in your business when you're a Foundation Builder. Identify your most important tasks – the ones that move the needle – & focus on those. Delegate or ditch the rest. This is something I always questioned, even when feeling like a "replaceable cog" in the corporate world (in one role, my manager actually told us point blank “You’re all replaceable!” – talk about demotivating!). I was always thinking… "Is this the best way of doing things?" That's something you should ask yourself, Foundation Builders. What’s one thing you can take off your plate today? Maybe outsource it, or simply let it go?

• Time Blocking is Your Best Friend: Carve out specific blocks of time for focused work, even if they're short. Even 25 minutes of uninterrupted work can be surprisingly productive. & build in buffer time for the inevitable toddler interruptions or client emergencies. Yes, those 12-13 weeks of school holidays are a challenge – believe me, I know! – but building in buffer time throughout the year, anticipating these periods, can make a huge difference. How much buffer time can you realistically build in next week, Foundation Builders? Could you swap a 30-minute scroll through Instagram for a focused work sprint?

• Embrace Smart Systems & Automation (Flow): Implement efficient systems to streamline your processes, perhaps by leveraging smart AI tools. This might mean automating your email marketing using tools like Mailchimp, using a scheduling tool like Calendly to manage appointments, or creating templates in Canva for client onboarding. Anything that takes a repetitive task off your plate frees up precious time & energy. For instance, Jasper.ai, which relates to the Fusion pillar of our Business Flourish Framework, can help with content creation or copywriting tasks (leaving you free to wrangle toddlers or, you know, actually think strategically!), while tools like Zapier automate workflows between different apps. This is all about Flow within your business, ensuring things run smoothly & efficiently. What’s one system you can implement this week to save yourself an hour, Foundation Builders?

• Don't Forget to Fuel Yourself (Fuel): Prioritising your well-being is non-negotiable, Foundation Builders, especially when you’re constantly juggling. This means getting enough sleep (as much as possible with little ones!), eating nutritious food (even if most of it ends up on the floor), & taking short breaks throughout the day to recharge. Batch cooking on Sundays has been a lifesaver for me, freeing up precious weeknight time. Remember, you can't pour from an empty cup. Even a five-minute meditation or a quick walk outside can make a world of difference. Fuel is the engine that keeps you going – don’t neglect it, Foundation Builders. What’s one small act of self-care you can schedule for tomorrow?

From Overwhelm to Empowerment

Remember, Foundation Builders, the entrepreneurial journey, much like toddlerhood, is not a linear path. There will be tantrums (yours & theirs!), there will be setbacks, there will be moments when you question everything. But there will also be triumphs, breakthroughs, & those incredible moments of pure joy when you realize just how far you’ve come. It is what it is!

& just like those little humans, your business, too, has immense potential for growth, adaptability, & surprising ROI. The key is to embrace the "beautiful chaos," find the humour in the unexpected, & keep moving forward, one messy, magnificent step at a time.

Ready to build a flourishing business that works with your life, not against it, Foundation Builders? Our supportive community & expert guidance are here to help. Join our FREE global online community, Femme:Connect, for Foundation Builders & beyond, to connect with other ambitious female entrepreneurs who get the juggle, access masterclasses on client attraction that fit busy schedules, find accountability partners, get support navigating those 12-13 weeks of school holidays, & download templates that save you precious time. Join Femme:Connect

Carlene Nisbett

Founder & CEO, Femmeprenista (Coach, Mentor, Speaker)

Wife, Mother of four, Business Owner, PhD Researcher, Pet mom, Plant mom, 5'0" tall Passionate Multitasker & Wine Lover, You get the drift

P.S. This workbook is just the beginning!

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