Our readers want to get to know you first, tell us about YOU- what is your story?
I live in Greeley, CO with my husband and two teen daughters. Besides running my business, I volunteer on the school board and on the worship team at my church. I love spending time with family and friends but I need to balance that with time at home, preferably with a book. When I get an opportunity, I like to go hiking, but that’s easier said than done at this stage of life.
Now let’s talk business, what do you do? Have you always wanted to have your own business- what inspired you to go down this journey?
I’m a certified Life Coach and I took a long, winding road to get here.
We moved to Colorado when my oldest daughter was 6 weeks old in order to be closer to my husband’s job. That move was life-changing in a lot of ways, not only did we leave our family and support system behind, I also left my teaching career.
Going back to work in a new school with a newborn and a husband who travels for a living didn’t make much sense, so I became a stay-at-home mom. There were huge adjustments but I eventually connected to some other women through MOPS and started to find community. Our youngest daughter was born in 2004 and I started to explore more of what I wanted to be after the kids got older. I volunteered a lot (leading Bible studies, coordinating MOPS, teaching English to refugees, working with youth) and took classes (writing, exercise instructor) before I landed a job as a blog editor and social media manager.
Eventually, the blog was shut down, but I realized I wanted to continue working flexible hours from home. In the interim, I’d become interested in life coaching through a friend, so I decided to take my initial coach training right after the blog shut down.
I earned my first coaching certificate in May of 2015. I never aspired to own my own business, but I can’t imagine life any other way
What advice do you have for moms who want to start a business?
- Remember that you are starting a business, which means you have to do marketing, sales and management too. Most people (myself included) get into business because they want to provide a service or sell a product, but they forget that they are business owners and need to approach things from that perspective. Clients and customers don't just come to you on their own and there is no such thing as full-time pay for part-time work unless you've been in an industry for a long time.
- You will need to block time to spend on your business. If you are trying to fit your work into the leftover minutes in a day, you will be frustrated and not get any traction.
Life is full of lessons, what has motherhood taught you?
I’m a much better person because I’m a mom. I learned to be less selfish and more empathetic.
