From Babbling to Business Jargon:

The Funny (But True!) Ways Raising a Newborn is Like Running a Business

As many of you are aware, I recently became a mother to (I’m not going to lie) a BIT of a CHAMP son called “Enzo”. Enzo means ‘Winner’ or ‘Ruler of the home’ and that he is! I definitely was not ready for what I signed up for! Babies take over your mind, space and heart!

For fun I thought I would lay out 6 ways how raising a newborn is like running a business!

1. Time Management: Both raising a newborn and running a business require ninja-level time management skills to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Enzo loves consistency and if we stick to our morning/ night time routine then the day becomes so much easier and predictable. Similarly in business, if you stick to your set processes and allocate time towards marketing and management effectively and consistently then you will really gain traction.

2. Patience and Presence: I was born inpatient (my head came out in the hospital doors when I was born!) But becoming a mother has forced me to slow down and be more present and ALOT more patient. Enzo's glorious smile/laugh really helps with this. In Business, being patient when it comes to the process of building your business and instilling presence when managing clients / team members will really pay off.

3. Planning and Strategy: Dare I ever leave the house without my trusty Harry Potter Backpack filled with nappies, a clothes change and wet wipes after Enzo had a poonami on our regular walk to the river! I have used my business 90 day planning experience to prevent myself from being overwhelmed when it comes to baby clothes. I have the next 90 days accounted for, washed and ready and nothing more .. If I had tried to go further than 90 days, I would have no room and be completely burned out by the whole washing and storing strategy. Therefore making sure you have your Quarterlies/ 90 Day Resets in business will help you plan for things like marketing, finances, and figuring out what to do when the office microwave explodes.

4. Adaptability: Back when I used to live out of a suitcase and relocate every 6 weeks, I thought I was pretty darn adaptable… Well, turns out having a small human is a whole new kettle of fish! Both raising a newborn and running a business require being flexible and adaptable. You'll need to be able to handle unexpected challenges and curveballs, like the baby refusing to part from you so you can eat your stir fry or a team member leaving with only a week's notice.

5. Decision-making: Both raising a newborn and running a business require making many decisions, both big and small. In both cases, you might feel like you're playing a never-ending game of "Choose Your Own Adventure" (except with less dragons and more poop).

6. Communication: It is fascinating how birth experiences can be affected simply by the communication that was given. Luckily due to the business experience and speaking confidence to demand response, I had a wonderful empowered experience (despite nothing going to plan!) In business, the owners that exercise effective communication, weekly meetings and 1-1 appraisals are the ones that gain buy in and a team pulling in the same direction. Communication is KEY and the reason for a majority of business turmoil/ misunderstanding.

Overall, both raising a newborn and running a business require a sense of humour, the ability to roll with the punches, and a willingness to embrace the chaos. But hey, if you can survive changing a nappy explosion, you can survive anything!