Can Women Have It All? Entrepreneurship & Relationships

Can Ambitious Women ReallyReally Have It All? Relationships & Entrepreneurship?

Struggling to balance love & biz? You CAN have it all! Discover the Femmeprenista way to thrive in both. Read now for smart strategies!

Ever feel like you're being forced to choose between your love life and your business dreams? Like you're stuck on a seesaw, desperately trying to balance the two, but always feeling like one side is about to crash to the ground? Or maybe, like me, you’ve experienced that "one eyeliner on, castor oil on the carpet" kind of morning rush, desperately trying to juggle kids, pets, & work deadlines all before 9am. For ambitious millennial women, especially mums, this struggle is intensely real. I get it. Believe me, with four kids, a PhD, two energetic Miniature Pinschers (Cappuccino, the calmer mum, and Espresso, the puppy whirlwind), and a business to run, I know this struggle intimately. It often feels like trying to conduct a strategic planning session while simultaneously mediating a squabble between my two-year-old and the dog over a rogue slipper – not exactly the serene image of CEO life we're often sold!

But here's the juicy secret: you don't have to choose. It's not an either/or situation. You absolutely cancan nurture thriving relationships andand build a successful business. It's about integration, not division. It's about consciously designing a life where both flourish, fueled by your values, powered by smart systems, and supercharged by the right mindset.

Reframing the "Sacrifice" Myth: It's About Smart Choices, Not Deprivation

So many women, particularly mums, are told that entrepreneurship demands sacrifice. Sacrifice your personal life, sacrifice your sleep, sacrifice your sanity. But isn't life about the quality of it, not just how much you've got in the bank or how many followers you have? I mean, what's the point of a "successful" business if you're too exhausted to enjoy the fruits of your labour, too busy to connect with the people you love, or constantly feeling guilty about missing those precious "look at my pottery cup from school" moments with your kids?

Honestly, this question haunted me after my third child. The thought of going back to that corporate grind, where I felt like just another replaceable cog (I literally remember being told in one role, "Yeah, you're all replaceable"), filled me with dread. It felt like I was being asked to sacrifice my family's wellbeing for a paycheck that barely covered the bills, let alone the ever-increasing cost of everything from childcare to, well, a simple block of cheese! A 2022 study by the Office for National Statistics showed that 70% of female entrepreneurs cite work-life balance as their biggest challenge. https://www.ons.gov.uk/ This resonated deeply; I knew there had to be a better way. A way to build a business andand a life I truly loved.

That's when I decided to pursue my MBA at Cranfield University. Ironically, it wasn't the corporate ladder climb I’d initially imagined. It was at Cranfield, juggling lectures with nappy changes & late-night study sessions while my little one was asleep, that the lightbulb went off. I vividly remember thinking, even with all this new business knowledge, if it doesn't translate into a better lifelife – more quality time with my family, more freedom to truly be present for those everyday moments of joy & connection – then what's it all for? This was a pivotal turning point for me. It reignited the entrepreneurial spark I'd felt even as a kid selling sweets in the playground, that drive to build something that was truly mine, something aligned with my values & my vision of a truly "rich life."

Stop "Winging It": The Power of Intentional Design

Just like you wouldn't launch a product without a marketing plan, you shouldn't "wing it" when it comes to integrating your relationships & entrepreneurship. This is where having a clear vision & a strategic framework are key. It’s about getting laser focused on what you truly want, not just in your business, but in your entire life. Whether you're a Foundation Builder just starting out, a Scaling Leader looking to grow, or a Visionary Leader ready for the next level, intentional design is your secret weapon.

Imagine this: It's Sunday evening. You're not scrambling to catch up on emails, not feeling guilty about neglecting your family. Instead, you're enjoying a relaxed dinner with my husband, fully present, laughing, connecting. My week is planned, my business is running smoothly thanks to the systems I've put in place (perhaps even a brilliant AI assistant is handling the routine tasks!). This isn't a fantasy; it's a completely achievable reality. It's the kind of life I’m actively creating for myself & my family, and the kind of freedom I help my clients design for themselves through Femmeprenista.

Here are some practical steps to get you started:

Define Your Non-Negotiables: What aspects of youryour relationships are absolutely essential? Is it a weekly date night with my personal workaholic? Dedicated time for each child, even amidst the chaos of school projects and toddler tantrums? Quiet moments of connection with my husband, even if it means occasionally needing to lock the dogs in another room to avoid an Espresso-induced interruption? Write them down. These are the pillars of youryour integrated life.
Schedule Them In: Treat these non-negotiables like crucial client appointments. Block out the time in youryour calendar & protect it fiercely. This is especially important for us mums navigating the 12–13 weeks of school holidays each year – you know that feeling, right?
Communicate Clearly: Talk to youryour partner, youryour children, even youryour team, about youryour priorities & how you'reyou're working to create a life where everyone thrives. Transparency is key to building understanding & support. Ever tried to have a "business meeting" with youryour toddler demanding youryour attention every two minutes? It's impossible. Clear communication and boundaries are youryour sanity savers.
Build Smart Systems: Implement efficient systems in youryour business, perhaps leveraging smart AI tools (Fusion is youryour friend here!), & delegate or ditch what’s not serving you. Think of it like this: if you spend youryour days putting out fires instead of building youryour empire, you’llyou’ll never escape the reactive cycle. The more you automate & delegate, the more time & energy you free up for youryour relationships. Plus, as my PhD research is consistently showing, working smartersmarter, not just harderharder, is the key for women entrepreneurs juggling multiple commitments.
Master Your Mindset: This is about more than just positive thinking. It's about tackling those pesky limiting beliefs – the "I don't have enough time," "I'm not good enough," "I should be doing more" gremlins that sabotage our best intentions. A great place to start is by asking yourself, “What if I could achieve my goals andand have a fulfilling personal life?” Visualize yourself effortlessly managing both, feeling energized and confident. This shift in perspective, from scarcity to possibility, is the first step towards creating the reality you desire.

As I often say, you’veyou’ve got to become the tree, not the seed. Remember, hard work beats intelligence, especially when it’s smartsmart work.

This really speaks to our core value of Action. It’s a Space for Growth & Empowerment: Coaching helps you identify limiting beliefs, build unshakeable confidence, & step into youryour power as a leader. This is what we do at Femmeprenista – we equip women, especially mums, with the tools, strategies & mindset to build thriving businesses withoutwithout the burnout.

Remember my story about my eldest wanting me to help with their school project at the last minute? I was stressed, overwhelmed, trying to juggle a client deadline while simultaneously attempting to decipher my toddler’s urgent but incomprehensible babbling. If I’m honest, I felt like an utter failure in that moment – a terrible mum andand a failing entrepreneur. Tears welled up, and I actually yelled, "I can't do this anymore!" It was ugly, raw, and deeply embarrassing. But it was also the most important wake-up call. It forced me to confront the messy reality I was creating. The fear that I was becoming a “glorified roommate” with my partner, disconnected by the constant demands of work and kids, gripped me. That fear, as uncomfortable as it was, became my catalyst. It was the push I needed to finally put better systems in place, communicate my boundaries more clearly, and ruthlessly prioritize what truly mattered. That’s when I realized that it’s not about trying to be superhuman; it’s about building a support system, both personally and professionally, that allows you to thrive. Even now, I still have moments where I feel that familiar tug-of-war between my business and family. That’s when I take a deep breath, remind myself of my "why," and re-evaluate my schedule to ensure my non-negotiables are truly protected.

From Overwhelm to Empowerment: You CAN Design Your Dream Reality

It can feel lonely, right? Especially when you'reyou're juggling so many roles. Share one of youryour biggest "juggle struggles" in the comments below. Let's create a supportive space where we can share tips, celebrate wins, & remind each other that we'rewe're not alone in this beautiful, chaotic journey.

Ready to ditch the seesaw & create a life where youryour relationships & youryour business thrive? Join our incredible Femme Connect community today for support, inspiration, & practical strategies. It’s youryour tribe of like-minded women who truly get it. It's a place to find support navigating school holidays, masterclasses on client attraction that fit busy schedules, accountability partners, & templates that save you precious time. Femme:Connect Community Page (https://www.femmeprenista.com/femmeconnect)