by Isa Maria Seminega of Noisette Marketing
I have been astounded by the response to Motherhood Month so far. The comments have been so touching, full of honesty and willingness to share your motherhood joys and struggles. It is clear that many of us are experiencing the same conflict, trying our best to juggle housework, children and business/work.
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I have two beautiful, funny, clever children. Joseph is almost 3 and Lily is 8 months. I look after them full-time whilst working from home. When they sleep, I work on my two businesses, Noisette Marketing and Noisette Kids. It’s challenging especially as my husband works crazy shifts which means I can’t rely on set hours each week to work. Despite this, I love it, the benefits of working from home far outweigh the negatives but it has taken me a while to get to the point where I don’t beat myself up over things I’m not able to do.
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As mothers we are notoriously hard on ourselves. We sometimes focus too much on other people’s expectations and outward appearances. We want to have it all and really why shouldn’t we? We work hard, we raise our children and deserve to be successful in whatever we put our minds to. So let’s not feel bad about wanting more for the future, instead let’s let go of the negatives so we can focus on growing our businesses in a way we can manage, right now.
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A while back I wrote a blog post on how it’s ‘ok to grow your business organically’ . I wanted to share the message that we don’t always have to be the fastest growing company in the world or make a million pounds (or dollars!) in the first year of trading. Like many entrepreneurs I have dreams of growing my Empire to epic proportions. We all want to succeed but it is ok to do it slowly. As Aesop’s writes in the fable The Tortoise and the Hare, slow and steady wins the race.
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So I’ve decided to focus on building relationships, not on making money. As Jessika wrote, People over Profit. My aim with Noisette Marketing is to help people make a living doing what they love, so I focus on that. When you hone in on the true purpose of your business, you become free. Because money is not my focus, I can provide the best services I can without undervaluing what I do. I have less clients, but provide more for them. I try out new things without fear. I can grow my business in a manageable way which in the long term will be more sustainable. I am building networks, community and relationships so when my children are older I can move forward with new opportunities.
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So let’s change our mindset! Let’s make a promise to ourselves to follow this Motherhood Manifesto (or Womanhood/Sisterhood Manifesto!). We are amazing women whatever challenges that come our way and it’s time for us to realise that.
Isa, you rock – big time!
Thanks for this – You and Jessika need to get out of my head for real!
Your kiddos – beyond adorable!
totally agree with Joy, you ladies do rock! Isa, this is so perfect and a must read for any mother who is working towards building a successful small business. The manifesto is fabulous! oh yes, and the kiddos, too precious!
Beautiful! Every mothers should read this manifesto. I shared it! Thank you.
Isa, this is such a heartfelt and realistic post. In this day & age, we tend to forget the tender moments in life. And how important these moments are. Thank you for sharing this.
Jessika, excellent theme 🙂
Spot-on post Isa – super opening too. Totally agree that this month on OMHG has already been awesome – and has made me cry more than once (in a good way!)
Thank you for sharing the pics of your gorgeous tots – beautiful.
Your manifesto is perfect, particularly the ‘not comparing self to others’. This was my downfall as a new mother and cost me some happy times – am making up for it now though :o)
Keep the great posts and comments coming ladies! Lucy x
PS Happy mothers’ day to all you mummies out there x
Hooray for mama’s accepting themselves as they are & letting that be okay. Being kinder to ourselves is a kindness to everyone! Happy Mother’s day to all of you & thank you so much Isa for your beautiful contribution <3
Hola! Write down what I need to read. Sometimes it becomes so hard that one believes that this alone, but thank God there are people like you. Thank you very much and I love what you are doing.
Thank you for the kind words. I’m so happy that you all like the post and the manifesto. I’m so much happier now that I’m trying to live by these words. It’s not easy but my kids deserve a happy Mum so I’m trying my best!
I hope you have all had a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Joy- that has to be the best comment I’ve ever seen!
I wish I could thank you all individually, I appreciate these comments so much. xx
Your Manifesto is spot on – I so need to print this off and hang it somewhere to read everyday!
And, aren’t your littlies just so cute!
Viv 🙂
Isa, this is an absolutely perfect post. So honest and to the point. I love the Motherhood Manifesto. I will read it again and again.
Thank you, as always, for sharing your insight and wisdom.
Well done!
Isa…what a beautiful post! So inspiring!