Mum Entrepreneur Skills: Superpowers for Business Success
- (Admin) The Thrivology Company
- Feb 4
- 7 min read
From Spiderman Interruptions to Supermum Skills: How Mum Moments Make You a Better Entrepreneur
"Mummy, mummy! Look, I'm Spiderman!"
There I was, mid-sentence, explaining the intricacies of a new marketing strategy to a potential client on a Zoom call, when a small, lycra-clad figure swung (well, more like toddled) into view. My youngest, bless his little cotton socks, had decided that this was the perfect moment to showcase his newly acquired superhero identity. My client, thankfully, erupted in laughter. I, after a brief internal eye-roll (that I’m sure she didn't see!), took a deep breath, and introduced Spiderman to the call. What else could I do?
This, my friends, is the beautiful, chaotic reality of being an entrepreneur who also happens to be a mum. It's the stuff of memes and late-night group chat confessions. It's trying to present a flawless brand image on Instagram while simultaneously stepping over a mountain of laundry to get to my laptop. We've all been there, right? What's your most outrageous juggling act – share in the comments; I'd love to hear it!
But here's the thing: these "interruptions" aren't weaknesses. They're actually secret weapons. They're forging in you the very skills that make for a truly resilient, adaptable, & successful entrepreneur.
Turning "Interruptions" into Opportunities: The Unexpected Perks of the Juggle
Think about it: what did I do in that Spiderman moment? I didn't panic. I didn't freeze. I adapted. I thought on my feet. I even managed to inject a bit of humour into the situation. I owned it. & you know what? That resonated with my client. It made me more relatable, more human. It showed her that I could handle the unexpected with grace & a sense of humour – two qualities that are pretty darn valuable in today's ever-changing business landscape. These qualities, like adaptability and grace under fire, show investors that you can handle the pressures of building and scaling a business, demonstrating resilience that transcends the everyday juggle.
These mini-moments of chaos are constantly training you to:
Be Adaptable: Just like pivoting from a marketing pitch to a superhero introduction, you learn to roll with the punches. Remember the Wrigley’s story? They started selling soap & gave away baking powder, then switched to baking powder & gave away chewing gum, before finally realising the gum was the star! Adaptability is your superpower.
Think on Your Feet: From forgotten homework crises to toddler tantrums, you're a master problem-solver. My ongoing research into Black female entrepreneurship confirms this – we’re masters of resourcefulness & finding solutions where seemingly none exist. It's like that time I was about to start a live webinar for my Launch Program, all set up and ready to go, when my school-aged daughter decided the living room was the perfect venue for her impromptu theatrical production – costumes, props, dramatic pronouncements, the works. I mean, really? Five minutes to showtime, and this is what unfolds. Show must go on, as they say! A quick adjustment to my camera angle, a playful incorporation of her "performance" into my intro – hey, why not – and suddenly, my attendees were laughing along with me. That’s quick thinking, or, as we say in business, “pivoting” – a critical skill for scaling a business as a Scaling Leader.
Build Resilience: Every spilled juice, every tech meltdown, every unmet expectation for support (we've all been there!), is a lesson in bouncing back. As Simone Biles says, "It's okay not to be okay." It's about getting back up. Remember the "tortoise & the hare"? Slow & steady wins the race. I remember once, just after my fourth C-section, trying to launch a new program – our new Ready-to-Launch Kit – while also juggling a newborn, a toddler, and PhD deadlines. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and honestly, my mindset was all over the place. I felt like I was failing at everything. One particularly challenging day, after barely sleeping, I woke to discover our hyperactive puppy, Espresso, had decided my brand-new planner (the one I’d meticulously crafted to map out the entire launch – every social media post, every email, every task) was her new chew toy. Planner confetti littered the living room. I just sat there and cried. The wave of overwhelm was immense. But, you know, amidst the tears (and the frantic scramble to piece together my launch plan), a new level of clarity emerged. I realised I needed a different kind of system, one that wasn’t so reliant on a single physical document. That’s when I embraced project management software with cloud backup, and, let's be real, a puppy-proof storage solution. That experience taught me the true meaning of resilience – it's not about never falling, it's about always getting back up. & that sometimes, even puppy-induced disasters can lead to better systems.
Connect Authentically: Let's be honest, nobody's perfect. Showing your human side, your messy, beautiful, chaotic real life, builds trust. This is the “unhinged content era," as Adrieen Weriner so brilliantly puts it. It’s time to be fully alive! When I first started my business, I tried so hard to project this image of the "perfect entrepreneur" – always poised, always productive, always positive. But the truth was, I was often stressed, sleep-deprived, and navigating the same overwhelm as my clients. The moment I started sharing my real struggles and the messy realities of juggling motherhood and entrepreneurship, my audience truly connected. It was like we were finally speaking the same language, and trust blossomed.
These aren't just "soft skills." They're essential qualities for any entrepreneur, particularly in today’s world. They're the very things that investors look for, that clients connect with, & that ultimately drive success. Investors want to see that you possess the resilience and adaptability to navigate challenges, because, let’s face it, the entrepreneurial journey is rarely a smooth ride.
Mindset Mastery: The Focus that Fuels Your Flair, Flow, & Fusion
A key part of turning these challenges into opportunities is mindset. This is where the Focus pillar of our Business Flourish Framework comes in. It’s about building mental resilience & taking personal responsibility for how you respond to whatever life (or your little Spiderman) throws at you. I used to get so frustrated with constant interruptions that I'd snap at the kids, or feel completely overwhelmed and just want to give up. I realised I was focusing on the problem, not the solution. My mindset was all about what I couldn't do, rather than what I could.
The next time you're mid-call & your toddler decides to redecorate the living room wall with peanut butter, remember this: it's not a failure. It's feedback. It's a chance to practice your adaptability, your quick thinking, & your ability to laugh at the absurdity of it all. If you're leading an established business, for example as a Visionary Leader, these mindset shifts are just as crucial for effective team management and strategic decision-making. Leading a team requires the same adaptability and resilience you hone as a mum – you’re constantly navigating different personalities, unexpected challenges, and shifting priorities.
Action Step 1: When an interruption happens, take a deep breath and ask yourself, "What's one thing I can learn from this? How can I build a system to prevent this in the future, or at least minimize its impact on my work?"
Action Step 2: Schedule 15 minutes each day for a mindset reset. Use this time to visualize your ideal work-life flow – imagine yourself effortlessly handling client calls, creating engaging content, and having dedicated, quality time with your family. What does that look and feel like? Use affirmations to reinforce this vision.
Action Step 3: Celebrate your wins, no matter how small. Did you manage to finish a proposal despite the kids’ impromptu living room concert? Did you successfully navigate a tricky client conversation while simultaneously preventing a toddler meltdown? Acknowledge your resilience and celebrate that win – maybe even treat yourself to a glass of wine (because let's be honest, mum life calls for it!).
Yes, the system might not always be set up to support us juggling mums (those "12-13 weeks of school holidays" are real!). But what if the real power lies not in blaming the system, but in figuring out how you can navigate it? How can you build systems (Flow) that create space, perhaps by leveraging smart AI tools (Fusion – using AI to automate those repetitive tasks, free up time, and essentially work smarter) to automate those repetitive tasks? What mindset shifts do you need to make to feel truly empowered? What I've learned from my own experience, from juggling four kids and a PhD while building this business, is that taking ownership of your pace and progress is non-negotiable. It might be slower, it might look different, but it's my journey. It’s about recognizing that well-being is an essential component of sustainable success.
It’s about remembering, as Lisa Nichols beautifully puts it, “Your job is to fill your own cup so it overflows." Prioritizing your well-being is not selfish; it's essential.
From Overwhelm to Empowerment: Join the Conversation
It can feel lonely, can't it? This whole entrepreneurial journey, especially when you're also navigating the joys & challenges of motherhood. You're not alone. As Foundation Builders, Scaling Leaders, or Visionary Leaders – wherever you are on your journey – connection is key. Join our Femme:Connect community for support, encouragement, & practical tips from women who get it. Share your "Spiderman moments" – I guarantee you'll find a whole tribe of female entrepreneurs who've been there, and we can share strategies for navigating the school holiday juggle, mastering client attraction without burning out, and building businesses that genuinely support our lives, not consume them. Need support with validating your business idea or attracting your first few clients? Join us! We’ll cover topics like creating a high-value offer that resonates with your ideal client, setting up simple systems to manage your time and energy, and overcoming those pesky mindset blocks that hold you back. Need help streamlining your systems, attracting premium clients, or leveraging AI for smarter growth? We've got you covered. Looking for peer support, masterclasses tailored for busy mums, and accountability partners to keep you on track? Femme:Connect is your space to flourish.
What's one small, smart step you can take today to turn a potential "interruption" into an opportunity? Share it in the comments – let's empower each other!
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!
If you're looking for a supportive community of like-minded female entrepreneurs who get it, why not pop over and say hello?
We'd love to welcome you!
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