Top 10 Lessons I've Learned as a Mum and Female CEO

It is no secret that women face many challenges in their careers when it comes to juggling business life and mum life. On top of that, we often have to be master multitaskers and carry a mental load that is the equivalent of ten full-time roles.

As a mum of three, wife and multiple business owner, I’ve experienced these challenges myself and understand the workload. If you’re new to my blog, you can check my story here.

So, I wanted to the time to reflect and share the top lessons I’ve learned as a mum and female CEO since I became a mum in 2017.

It is my hope that you get some inspiration that can help you along with your journey as a mum and female CEO.

My top ten tips are as follows:

1. The greatest investment you can make is the investment you make in yourself. Invest in mentorship, hire an experienced coach and continually invest in yourself. I’ve invested well over $100,000 in education, training and personal development over the years to ensure I’m at the top of my game.
   
   
2. It takes a village to juggle business and babies so embrace your support network. In the beginning, you need to wear ALL of the hats, but as time goes on and your business grows - it’s really important to put the support framework in place to ensure you last the distance. Whether that be hiring a cleaner to support you with housework, nanny, or childcare to support you with the children or outsourcing meal preparation so you can spend more time with the kids.
   
   
3. Scheduling self-care is more important than anything else if you want longevity in your business. It’s not healthy to burn the candle at both ends forever – and juggling the competing responsibilities of motherhood and business life is not for the faint-hearted. It’s really important to schedule self-care as part of your routine in the same way you would a monthly management meeting or appointment with your business advisors.
   
   
4. Delegate anything that is below your hourly rate or that you don’t HAVE TO be doing. If there are tasks you are doing in your day like bookkeeping that you may not be qualified in (or particularly fast at) and they are ultimately holding you back from growing your business, then look to outsource so you can spend your time where it’s most valuable.
   
   
5. It’s important to celebrate your wins – and share your successes with others so they can celebrate them too! As women in business, it’s so important to toot your own horn and share your wins with those in your network. Self-promotion is something that many women in business can shy away from for fear of being “too much” or being judged. This is your sign to celebrate every single win, success or accomplishment with the world so you can be celebrated for your amazing achievements.
   
   
6. As your kids get older, you go through different seasons – and that’s okay. In the beginning, it was the newborn season where I was juggling business with a newborn that slept most of the day. As time went on, I was then juggling toddlers who needed lots of attention and stimulation throughout the day. Then, before long, it’s time for school and it’s all about juggling lunchboxes and getting ready for drop-offs. Every season is different and there is an adjustment required to effectively navigate each one. Create routines that work best for your child, family and schedule and do what works for YOU.
   
   
7. Have strong boundaries for the relationships you have in your business and your personal life. I cannot stress this enough – it’s so important to set and enforce proper boundaries to avoid feeling burnt out, resentful and overwhelmed. It’s okay to set working hours so you’re not responding to communication at all hours of the night or on Sundays when you’re with your family. The standards you set in your business and life are set by you – so be mindful of the boundaries you set and ensure you are happy with them to avoid any unnecessary suffering.
   
   
8. Learn to say no from time to time. You don’t need to say YES to everything – it’s totally okay to say NO. Remember, if you don’t prioritise your life, someone else will, so it's important to treat yourself as the number one priority and asset in your life. It’s not about being selfish – it’s about being disciplined in your pursuit to create your dream life.
   
   
9. You can’t pour from an empty cup so know when to stop. It’s something that we need reminding of every now and then – that we are not useful for anything if we totally burn ourselves out. It’s like the old saying of “put your oxygen mask on before anyone else's.” It’s simply not possible to pour from an empty cup, so make sure you’re not pushing yourself to breaking point. It’s not helpful for you or your family and your kids need their mum to be healthy! 
   
   
10. Be totally present in the time you spend with your kids. As a working mum, I totally understand the “mum guilt” that comes with running multiple 7-figure businesses simultaneously with raising three children. I look back at times and wonder where the years have gone because it’s been SO busy with competing responsibilities! If there’s one piece of advice I can leave you with, it’s to make the moments you spend with your kids count. It’s not about the “perfect number of minutes”, and in reality, this will change week in and week out anyway. What’s truly important is how well we spend those moments together and ensuring that we cherish every single second to feel truly fulfilled with both roles we lead – as a parent, and as an entrepreneur. 

No journey is easy and no two lives or businesses exactly the same. My experiences are not going to be exactly the same as yours, but I hope you can pick up some lessons from mine.  

Whatever challenges you’re facing as a mum and business owner, please know that you’re not alone. I’m here cheering you on and if you'd love to explore having a wing woman in your corner, be sure to reach out on ways we can work together.

Olivia x