Now it’s no surprise that when we talk about business, especially at the CEO level, men are dominating the field. Stats that I quickly Googled (let’s be honest, I’m not deep diving that hard for y’all- sorry 😂), the male to female ratio is 17:1. However, when it comes to entrepreneurial stats, the male to female ratio is somewhere around 3:1. So if you ask me, those CEO numbers are a bit off. And if you ask me a second time, I’d tell you it’s much more fun to run your own business than it is to be handed someone else’s.
Motherhood and Businesshood
As a Mom to four littles (7 years old and younger), I think motherhood is one of the greatest barriers for many women when it comes to entrepreneurship. Even if you have the world’s most supportive partner who does the laundry, empties the dishwasher, takes care of the dogs, holds down the fort while you’re away (I’m literally listing all of Phil’s amazing ass support), the Mom guilt will eat. you. alive. One second, you are okay with being away and chasing your dreams. Then the next, you want to be nowhere else but cuddled up next to them on the couch. And the guilt sets in. You aren’t spending enough time at home. You aren’t giving them enough attention. These days will go by in the blink of an eye. I can achieve these things when they get older instead. It’s a never ending game of tug of war on your heartstrings.
And after many conversations with Phil, I know he feels much of these same feelings too. He hates being tied up with work so much and the extra hours he puts in. But the guilt is also nowhere comparable to how I feel as a Mom.
Breaking Through the Mom Barrier
I felt this tug a lot before having our last baby. When I was still teaching and growing my business full time. My days were taken up by the 8-3 teaching and any extra time outside of that I was pouring into my business. Most days I felt so overwhelmed at the thought of also having to give my children quality attention. Because when I’d sit down and try, my mind was racing in a million other directions (if I’m being honest, I still feel like this most days).
I had to begin looking at my business through a different lens. It was truly something I was fighting for. I wanted it, bad. So I couldn’t let the fear or guilt of missing out on some things stop me from chasing my dreams. There is truth in this time going by so quickly and not wanting to miss it. But I also didn’t want to be on the other side of this chapter in life unsure of who I was or what to do after “parenting” is done (because that shit is never actually done- I still call my Mom 4 times a day minimum).
I began seeing how beneficial it was to show my kids just what I was doing- including them in it at times. My kids will sit down and watch me edit photos (they think it is extremely funny for me to change the color of people and things), they get extra curious and inquisitive when I get to travel, and now our oldest has every finance question in the book. He wants to know how much I make, when I make it, and how I can make more of it 😂. But it’s all of those things that have really shown me that being a Mom and a CEO of my own business, isn’t just okay, it’s also showing my kids how kick ass it is to run your own business.
Stop Choosing Fear
As we said to our son yesterday (in regards to his basketball game tonight), from Wayne Gretzky, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. So take the shots, ladies. Start a business. Start five of them. Fail. Get back up and do it again. Who cares who is watching? Some people will laugh (and that’s only because they are too afraid to do it), but some people will be inspired by your efforts. Put yourself out there and try. A million times over. Let’s make those ratios a bit more even in 2025!
Be sure to follow my business page on IG at @kaitjensenphotography_
And check out my website HERE. If I have yet to take your photos, what are you waiting for? Hit me up!
View comments
+ Leave a comment