1. a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so.

6 years ago I took the leap into starting my own online business after working for other people as a virtual assistant (an online personal assistant) and not making any tracks of my own. I had big ideas, some often too large, but still the same I wanted to be my own boss. I jumped in knowing the basics of blogging and social media which at the time is nothing compared to what is out there today and I decided to take the first step by purchasing my own domain.

Over the past 6 years I have learned so many lessons, some personal and others business related. I want to highlight a few things in hopes that the next Mom Boss who decides to take this plunge will be a little better equipped than I was.

First things first- Be Organized

I started by working from my couch on an old laptop that also had to work for college. I was juggling and it got really overwhelming. I had paperwork to keep up with, blogging tasks and other things that were literally piling up because I had no real work space. The best thing we ever did was make a designated place in the house for me to work. I not have an all-in-one computer that I use solely for work.

Separate Work From Family Time

The balancing act became a lot harder for me once I was married and had a child about 2 years after starting my own business. I had to then figure out how to be a wife, a mom and also how to work from home. It was really hard and I fully admit that I took some time off right after our now 4 year old was born. We had some very personal things going on in our lives and I just needed a break. At that time I did what some other bloggers call a re-branding. I purchased another domain (with a friend) and jumped in again. We now have 2 boys and the balancing act is not nearly as hard as it once was because I have learned there is definitely work time separate from family time.

It’s Okay to Have a Lazy Day

Some days I still admit that I am totally lazy. I spend time with my kids, my husband and I get zero work done. On those days I strictly stick to emails, but if they aren’t important I keep on going. I try to seize the day as much as possible with my family while still keeping a balance on work but I also keep in the back of my mind that the boys will not always be this little, my husband and I won’t always be this young and that the internet isn’t going anywhere so I just back burner my worn and keep making memories. So far this theory hasn’t failed my business.