While on maternity leave in 2013 her managerial role was made redundant.
But within a few days Claire, below, had dusted herself off and set up her own consulting business – and has never looked back.
As founder of Motivated Mummy Entrepreneurship (MME) she empowers mums around the world to realise their potential and strength to live their dreams.
Here she shares some of the tips and tricks she’s picked up along the way…
- What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever got?
Embrace rejection and criticism. See it as constructive. Learn from it, adapt and move forward.
- What’s the biggest secret you’ve learned to having a successful business from home?
Support! Not only support from those around you who can help mind the children when needed but support from others who are travelling the same entrepreneurial journey as you. The life of a mumpreneur is an extremely rewarding and exciting one but can also be challenging and at times isolating. This is why I created MME. We learn together, collaborate and grow our businesses.
- What’s the best money habit every successful woman should adopt?
Numbers tell the truth! If you do not know your business’ numbers you cannot grow. Every single successful Entrepreneur knows what their sales and their expenses are each week. Set your business budget and review each week.
- What’s the secret to keeping your career and home life in balance?
Setting clear boundaries and being present. One of the biggest advantages of working from home is the flexibility it brings yet this can also be something you have to be careful of. The line between work and home life is often gets blurry. I have learned to set clear boundaries so that when I’m not working I’m completely present with my children and not tied to my laptop and phone and the same goes for my work time. This is time for me to get through my work projects and I’m much more productive if I’m focused just on the work.
- What would you say to others thinking about becoming a mumprenuer?
I fell into the role of mumpreneur as the company I was working for went into liquidation four weeks before I was to return from maternity leave. My daughter was only five months old and while it was difficult news to comprehend in hindsight it’s the best thing that could have happened as is created an opportunity for me to start my own business. So always look for the opportunities in your current situation.
Being a mumpreneur is hard work and challenging yet truly rewarding. I would say believe in yourself and have the confidence to know you can build a successful business.
For more motivating mumpreneur secrets, click here.
- The 2016 St.George Banking Group AusMumpreneur Awards are in Melbourne on August 14.
