Being a mum has been Rebecca Klodinsky’s secret weapon when it comes to growing as an entrepreneur, designer and founder of IIXIIST. Here’s how motherhood helped her.
By Rebecca Klodinsky
Navigating a career and motherhood requires a balancing act unlike any other.
And while motherhood and entrepreneurship have been a roller coaster of ups and downs, being a mum has been the greatest asset in helping me grow as an entrepreneur.
Because it’s taught me how to be compassionate, how to be patient, and to see the beauty in all the lessons life has to offer, especially the hard ones.
“IT’S NORMAL TO FEEL STUCK MORE TIMES THAN YOU CAN COUNT. TO NOT ALWAYS KNOW WHAT YOUR NEXT MOVE SHOULD BE. HOWEVER, BOTH IN BUSINESS AND MOTHERHOOD YOU NEED TO KEEP MOVING AND PIVOTING UNTIL YOU FIND WHAT WORKS.”
Remember that obstacles are everywhere in both motherhood and entrepreneurship – what works for one person won’t work for the other.
Learning to find balance is a privilege, a challenge, a bittersweet lesson of love and compassion, at times a bit messy, fulfilling, hard – it is all of this and so much more.
Take Care Of Yourself
Fact: entrepreneurs and parents are often terrible at taking care of themselves.
They pride themselves on working long hours and barely leaving their desks, being early for school pick-ups, minimising screen time and everything in between.
Raising children and running a business are important jobs, and looking after yourself physically, mentally and emotionally helps you do those jobs well.
You need to fill up our own cup, so you can pour into others’. Simple things like scheduling daily “me-time“, exercise, learning to say no and nourishing your body properly can do wonders.
Mum Guilt Is Real, But It Doesn’t Make It True
Guilt means different things to different people – a random bouquet of emotions that are as varied and motley as the next.
However, when it comes to parent guilt, chances are you actually haven’t done anything wrong.
Collectively, this make a strong case: if everyone feels guilty, there is no other “better” parent to compare ourselves to.
The truth is while parenthood is beautiful it can also be a mess.
No real change is possible until working parents stop trying to be all things to all people—perfect at work, perfect as partners, and perfect as parent, with each role kept entirely separate.
There Is Always A Bigger Obstacle Ahead
Whether it’s your career, your home life or your past; we have all gone through hardship in our lives at some point and almost on a daily basis we have to overcome obstacles.
Obstacles are the stumbling blocks along the way and moving past them will allow you to accomplish your goals.
It’s not an understatement to say that every success comes with challenges. Learning to navigate though them are essential.
No One Cares About Your Business As Much As You Do
Hard truth: no one cares about your business as much as you.
It’s harsh, but true. Sure, you have some people in you life who take particular interest and help when you need them, but they don’t care about it nearly as much as you do.
Operating in life with the fear of failure is not an effective way to make decisions.
How will you look? What will people think?
Living in this constant state of anxiety can make you busy as hell yet accomplish nothing.
Find what makes you happy, work hard, and live fearlessly. If you screw up, no one cares. Neither should you.
Trust Yourself
If you’re going to trust one person, let it be yourself.
People who trust themselves stay true to their values and beliefs, regardless of their situation.
They know they are capable of overcoming obstacles and surviving difficulties.
Whether it be in business or motherhood, being aware of your emotions and thoughts will allow you to make better decisions.
