ChickSpeak

Most of you were probably raised with the message that you can do anything you want, BE anything you want - right?

I’ve noticed lately that this sentiment seems to apply UP AND UNTIL you decide to start a family. At that point, people start telling you what you should and should not do, more commonly referred to as The Mommy Wars. The message is, you can’t be a good mom and be serious about your job OR if you’re serious about your career, you must not be a good mom. I am here to tell you that is BUNK.

Women are starting businesses at twice the rate of men. We do it for a variety of reasons, but among them are our desires to make a positive impact on the world and to have more control over our future. Some people don’t believe that you can build a successful business and still have a life, but I and many others are proof that it is possible. I am a mom AND I own (and have owned) a successful business. I actually started my first company when my oldest daughter was six months old and grew it to multi-millions in revenues over ten years. It IS possible.

In order to show more women what, how, and why, I recently wrote a book called The ParentPreneur Edge: What Parenting Teaches About Building a Successful Business. It is essentially a business book that uses family stories to illustrate the business concepts.

Even though you may not be a parent, you are part of a family and, let’s face it, you were once a child. There is nothing in the book that seems like a ‘secret code’ that only parents get - the stories are all easily relatable and the messages empowering. The following story illustrates this:

While many of you are (hopefully) a long way off from becoming moms, no doubt the ideas about it have crept into your mind. Even if the thoughts haven’t made it onto your radar screen yet, they will soon. I met a woman (on an airplane, no less!) who saw me editing my book and initiated a conversation about it. When I told her about the premise of the book she became very interested. She was in her mid 20’s and newly married but was already receiving grief from her in-laws about wanting to continue working after they started a family - and she wasn’t even pregnant yet! I sent her a preview copy of my book and here is what she wrote me about it:

“I know that I discussed with you the “pressure” that my in-laws were putting on me concerning whether or not I would quit my job when I became a Mom.  And, I finally feel released of this pressure-after reading your book.  It completely made sense-which is my favorite part of your book-It just makes sense…so much sense!  The last paragraph was especially special.  I even decided that I was going to type up the last paragraph, and post it in my cube at work and on my refrigerator to remind me that my decisions are my own.  WOW-that’s huge. …I grew from reading your book.  It was inspiring, motivating, and activating-meaning I not only learned, but I will put into action what I have learned. Thank you!”

I am a better mom because I am an entrepreneur. So as you are planning your future, make sure you define success in your own terms and don’t worry about what other people think about it. After all, no one else owns your decisions but you. If you want to continue working, start your own business, or run for political office before, during, or after you start a family, do it. If you want to take time off from your career to start a family, do that. Whatever you choose, vow to life a fulfilled life because when you’re really living YOUR life, you have an edge in everything you do.

Julie Lenzer Kirk, an award-winning entrepreneur and mother of two, grew her business to multi-millions in revenues while raising her family. She cashed out of her company and now teaches entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland while providing workshops, consulting, and keynotes as the President & CEO of Path Forward International.  She is the author of The ParentPreneur Edge: What Parenting Teaches About Building a Successful Business and can be reached at Julie@JulieLenzerKirk.com. Sign up for her monthly “Boot in the Butt” e-newsletter at http://julielenzerkirk.com