In March of this year The BossMom Network held a focus group with 15 women who I consider to be #BossMoms. As I strategize and try to find the answers that I need in order to fulfill one of my goals, I turned to some of the women whose journeys have been a source of inspiration to me and many others.
When I ventured into business many years ago, I was completely clueless about the processes required to achieve the success that I dreamed about. Over the years, I’ve seen so many other women do the same thing. Many (not all) of our businesses are born out of passion, driven by desire and fueled by necessity. But we grow through experience, education, wisdom and community.
My idea to create a community of not just women in business, but mothers-in-business took flight in 2015, more than 12 years after I had been in business. The similarities with being a mother and a businesswoman are many; the hope and potential of creation and expectation. The dependency of infancy and youth. The sleepless nights. The anxiety of mistakes made. The pride of growth and development, are just a few to mention. I learned really early that when your business is small – especially when your business is small, the strength of your relationships is crucial in helping you to unlock next levels.
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The BossMom Network is designed for mothers-in-business to connect with each other as we share a common goal of developing our businesses, while simultaneously parenting our children. We exist to support other BossMoms who look to a community of successful, like-minded women as we effectively and efficiently balance family and career through information, products, ideas, advice, tools and services. We engage wholeheartedly in the parenting process while expanding our networks and strengthen our businesses. Here, we experience the benefits of community to create a framework for success in our businesses, boost and build sales, grow our customer base and develop professional and personal relationships, within a dedicated, structured and safe environment.
I have been connecting with mothers in a multitude of ways for the past 18 years and if I know nothing else, I know that we need each other for emotional and mental support in parenting and internal and external growth in business.
The BossMom Network is not a woman’s empowerment group. Our strengths as mothers who are in business are especially unique, because while we are powering through to build our businesses, we remain focused on raising well-adjusted, fully functional and happy children. The two roles are equally demanding, both with far-reaching effects and they are inextricably linked one to the other.
How does a community like The BossMom Network benefit its members?
We share many of the same challenges in both business and in parenting. Here are some of the most salient points learned from the focus group community.
- We are not alone with our challenges
- We gain unbiased support that may not in our existing friendships
- Accepting that support exists
- It’s ok to ask for help
- Sharing the responsibility of parenting with our partners is the one way to find balance
- We have to get comfortable talking about money – at home and at work
- We have an opportunity to vent, share and exchange ideas
- Meeting a set of amazing women who all have the similar needs
- We are allowed to be vulnerable in sharing about parenting challenges
- Understanding that we are raising adults who are currently children
- Being vulnerable about business challenges starts with finding someone who has been there and done that, and asking them to help
- Supporting other BossMoms means buying from them, not just listening to them
- We are always one person away from getting the information or the help that we need
- We must unlearn our naturally competitive spirits as women to succeed
- We can learn from our private “Board of Directors” as we govern our ‘BossMom’ lives
- Being open to new women into our lives
- Understanding realness of the sharing and teaching
I really look forward to networking the way we BossMoms do!
