Mums who mean business

Mums who mean business Mums who mean businessPosted May 16, 2014, by Julia WattersMotzu sichbeihood is considered to be a full-time job in itself, and yet many motzu sichs are squeezing another title on their business card. Sometimes this is a result of household income needs sometimes its the need for outside stimuli and sometimes its just stumbled on because of a gap in the market. I spoke to a number of women who have refused to, or been unable to, return to the rat race after having children. Too many were feeling the strain of balancing corporate life with kids and didnt want to be the absent parent in their childs life. Others were coming to the end of maternity leave and struggling with the thought of going back to a work routine that didnt fit their new lifestyle. Some were even made redundant before or during their pregnancy and, finding the job hunt practically impossible as an expecting parent, were forced to find an alternative. The main theme from all their stories is that there is a better way to earn an income while still being a big part of your childs life. And the internet is a big part of this.Speech pathologist to sleep guruSherene Alfreds is an accredited speech pathologist and mother of two, a son in kindergarten and a daughter in year 4. In 2009, Alfreds began telling her own bedtime relaxation stories to help her then newborn daughter sleep. She was surprised and disappointed at the lack of good relaxation and sleep CDs for children on the market hence resorting to her own efforts. It wasnt until her husband suggested she turn her own soothing bedtime tales into CDs did she realise the possibility.I realised he really meant it when he quit his job to create the website, the CD cover art, and help get me started. He has since got another job and now watches on as my Dinosnores sleep story CDs have won 15 international awards have signed on with distributor Brumby-Sunstate and our CDs are sold in the UK, US, NZ, Singapore and Hong Kong Unhappy mum to pretty fitWhen mother of two, Prue Jones, was tipping the scales at 115kg, she realised that some drastic changes were needed. Motivated to become the healthy and energetic mother she always wanted to be, Jones was determined that hers would be more than just another weight loss story. Inspired by her own success, Jones gained a qualification in personal training and launched her own business.From humble beginnings in my small single garage studio in Caroline Springs, I started my own business called Pretty Fit. With just one very loyal client, my goal was to create a place for women of all shapes and sizes to become fit, healthy and happy. Joness business has since grown from her garage studio into a shop front facility and well over 60 clients and growing, and she couldnt be a happier mum.GFC casualty to puppet masterHollie Drake-Brockman was hit hard by the Global Financial Crisis and lost her job before the birth of her second child. After spending 12 hours a da y juggling a corporate role with her first child, she saw her misfortune as an opportunity to change her professional path. Drake-Brockman first gained the idea for her business in 2009 when iPhones hit the market and every second child was spending play dates glued to a smart phone.More and more kids would ask to come over to our place all the time. When I asked why they said, because you make stuff with us and its really funSome careful research of craft kits available at the time (namely what was lacking) resulted in ZZ Totz paper puppet kits. It was her creative nature and concern for the imagination of children that led to a successful business that she can be proud of.Corporate constraints to Mumpreneur mallOften motherhood can be the catalyst for small business start-ups, as parents become acutely aware of products and services missing from their frantic lives. A classic case study for the growing trend of mumpreneurs, Natalie Dinsdale recognised the difficulty mums had in finding a one-stop shop for all their parenting needs. Two years ago, she took the big leap by quitting her job, drafting a business plan and starting MAMADOO, an online shopping mall that brings together a range of online shops for mums and kids. I noticed there were hundreds of small businesses run by mums selling the most fabulous products but no one knew about them. I thought, if we all collaborated together, we could offer customers better products and be bigger than we were as individuals. Dinsdales business is thriving and her passion for what she does remains unchanged, even if juggling her own business and two kids sometimes challenges her sanity. Mumpreneurs are definitely becoming a force to be reckoned with.If youre looking at retraining while youre on maternity leave, the world of online learning offers you the ability to gain the skills you need when you can fit it in, and in any number of online courses.Business ResourcesSenior business analyst sample resumeSen ior business analyst sample cover letterCareer Insider StoriesTahnee Claeys - Head of Operations at Mad PawsChristopher Nheu - Head of Product at Mad PawsInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searcheshow to become a Business Development Managerbusiness administration courses perthbusiness management courses perthcert 3 in business managementbusiness management courses onlineBusiness CoursesBachelor of Applied Business (Management)Enquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Business (Sport Management)Enquire Online Enquire OnlineMaster of Business Administration (Innovation and Leadership...Enquire Online Enquire OnlineGraduate Certificate in Business AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineJulia WattersRelated ArticlesBrowse moreEntrepreneurshipPay/SalaryHow to be a multi-millionaire before youre 40 lessons from BRWs Young Rich 2013Ever wondered how the successful people do it? Take the lead from s ome of the stars of the latest BRW Young Rich list.BusinessCareer progressionKick-start your brilliant career with a business degreeFor anyone aspiring to a career in management, wishing to climb the corporate ladder or dreaming about running their own business, a business qualification is one of the best places to start.Digital MarketingEMPLOYER RESOURCESHow social media can work for your businessThe popularity and ubiquity of social networking is forcing businesses to think hard, not only about how to regulate its use by employees, but how to take advantage of the business opportunities it presents.