Finding Focus for Mum Entrepreneurs: Embrace the Chaos!

From Boardroom to Playroom: Finding Focus in the Beautiful Chaos

Let's be honest, the dream of a perfectly quiet, pristine home office where brilliant business strategies magically appear is…well, a fantasy. Especially when you're juggling multiple roles – entrepreneur, mum, partner, PhD student (in my case!) – and the never-ending demands of modern life. If you are a Foundation Builder (Amy-Type), trying to launch your dream business amidst the beautiful chaos of family life, this one's for you. Sound familiar? Thought so!

The other day, I finally carved out what I thought was a sacred hour of uninterrupted work time. My "office" (aka the dining table once the breakfast dishes have been cleared – & sometimes not even then!) was declared a "no-go zone" for the kids, the dogs were strategically placed in their beds with a high-value chew each (Cappuccino, bless her chilled soul, rarely needs much persuading, but Espresso? That’s another story!), and I even managed to grab a cuppa before settling in. My PhD research was calling, and I was ready to dive deep into the fascinating world of Black female entrepreneurship. Bliss, right?

Not quite. Five minutes in, Espresso, our miniature whirlwind, decides the chew toy is boring and that my research papers look far more interesting. Cue the frantic paper chase, accompanied by the pungent aroma of Espresso's "eau de dog breath" – not exactly conducive to deep thinking. Then, my toddler daughter wanders in, fascinated by my frantic typing, and proceeds to use my laptop as a makeshift drum kit, chanting "Mummy work, mummy work!" in time with her rhythmic pounding. Just as I'm wrestling the laptop away (& trying not to spill my now-lukewarm tea), my school-aged daughter appears, proudly presenting her latest artistic masterpiece: a glitter-bomb explosion that has somehow managed to coat the entire dining room, including my notes. It looked like a unicorn had thrown up rainbows, & the faint scent of glue mingled with the dog breath. Deep breaths, Carlene. Deep breaths.

See, this is the reality for so many of us, isn't it? The "beautiful chaos" of motherhood & entrepreneurship. While I ensure anything client-facing is done in a professional, child-free setting (honestly, the thought of a client call with that glitter-bomb incident as a backdrop still makes me shudder!), the behind-the-scenes reality is often a far cry from the polished image we sometimes project. I would never do anything client-facing with the kids around. One of the key findings from my PhD research has been how Black female entrepreneurs, in particular, are masters of navigating this "double shift" of business and family.

But here’s the thing: I wouldn’t trade it. Not for all the quiet offices in the world. Because amidst the chaos, there’s also profound joy, connection, and a constant reminder of what truly matters. Those sticky kisses, the pottery cup proudly presented by my school-aged daughter, & even Espresso "helping" me edit my research papers (with her teeth, of course!) are what make this journey so rich & real.

And let's face it – even the most organised, systematized business needs to be adaptable, right? Life, particularly mum life, rarely goes according to plan. Remember that time I was sure I'd scheduled everything perfectly, only to have a last-minute school closure throw my entire week into disarray? Adaptability saved the day, as it often does. If there is one skill you need to be successful as a female entrepreneur, especially if you are juggling a busy household, it’s adaptability. This resonates with my own experience of needing to constantly adapt while running a business, recovering from my fourth C-section, pursuing my PhD, and wrangling four kids and two dogs – it’s a lot!

So, how do we find focus amidst the beautiful chaos? Here's what I've learned:

• •Embrace the Imperfect: The perfect environment rarely exists. The key is to find solutions within the existing "chaos." So, what if your office is the dining table? So, what if Paw Patrol is the soundtrack to your strategic planning session? Own it. Adapt. Pivot. This is where resilient businesses are born. I remember trying to write a blog post with my infant son needing constant attention. It took three times longer than planned, but it got done. Small, consistent wins, right?

• •Micro-Moments of Focus: Ditch the quest for long, uninterrupted blocks of time. Instead, focus on maximizing those "micro-moments" – the 15 minutes while the baby naps, the half-hour before school pick-up. Use those snippets strategically, perhaps leveraging AI tools like Otter.ai to transcribe voice notes or Grammarly to quickly polish those emails. Remember, small consistent steps create big momentum, like the tortoise in the race. Ever feel like you’re the tortoise? Me too, sometimes! & that’s okay – as long as you keep moving. This is where "smart work," not just "hard work," comes in. My MBA taught me that efficiency is key.

• •Prioritize & Systematize: Not all tasks are created equal. Identify your high-impact activities – the ones that directly generate income or move your business forward – & ruthlessly prioritize them. Use the Eisenhower Matrix (urgent/important) to categorize tasks & focus your energy where it truly counts. Honestly, I still struggle to use it perfectly every single day! Some days, the laundry pile wins. Create simple systems & rituals that make it easier to get into "work mode" even when your surroundings are less than ideal. For example, I use the Eisenhower Matrix to plan my week, categorizing tasks as Urgent & Important (client calls, proposal deadlines), Important but Not Urgent (research, content creation), Urgent but Not Important (responding to non-urgent emails, some admin tasks), and Neither Urgent Nor Important (scrolling social media – which I try to minimize!). Maybe that means having a specific playlist or visualizing your ideal client before tackling important tasks.

• •Boundaries & Self-Care: Boundaries are your best friend. Here are a few scripts you can use: "Honey, from 2-3pm it's 'Mummy's Focus Time'. Can you handle the kids then?""Kids, when the 'Focus' sign is on my door, it means Mummy needs quiet time to work. Emergencies only, please!" Here are some quick self-care wins: A 5-minute meditation using the Calm app.A brisk walk around the block with the dogs (and maybe the kids, if they're behaving!).A cup of tea in silence (a rare treat, I know!). This might mean scheduling specific "do not disturb" times, clearly communicating your work hours to your family (even if they’re little ones! It helps create the routine), or strategically choosing a work location when possible (for those with babies & toddlers, a noisy soft play area can sometimes be more productive than your own living room!). & please, prioritize your wellbeing. Even five minutes of mindful breathing or a quick stretch can make a world of difference. Your business needs you energized, not exhausted.

• •Reframe the Challenge: See those interruptions not as obstacles, but as opportunities to practice the art of refocusing. Each time you get pulled away & then return to your task, you’re strengthening your mental agility & resilience. My PhD research often highlights this theme of resourcefulness amongst Black female entrepreneurs, who are experts at finding creative solutions within constraints. It can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling responsibilities. But what if the real power lies not in blaming the system, but in figuring out how you can navigate it? My own journey, especially with four kids & a PhD, has shown me that while the path might be slower, taking ownership is non-negotiable.

It’s easy to feel alone in this journey, right? Especially when you're juggling so much. I get it. Share one win this week below! & if you’re craving connection & support from other female entrepreneurs navigating similar challenges, come join our thriving Femme:Connect community. It’s filled with women who get it – from managing school holidays to mastering tech hurdles. We even have dedicated threads on time management for mums & quick wins for boosting productivity.

Key Takeaway: True entrepreneurial success, especially as a busy mother, isn't about finding the perfect environment; it's about cultivating the ability to focus, adapt, & create within the beautiful chaos that is our real life. Is your business designed to work with your life, or is it constantly fighting against it? This is where my Business Flourish Framework can really help.

This blog post provides valuable content relating to starting & building an online business – if you are interested in learning more about how to get started & gain focus in your online business, check out our Launch Programme.

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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