You grab your badge and enter the room just in time for networking. It no longer matters that you jumped 15 kids-related-weeknight hurdles or yawned through the commute. In your heart, you know your future clients and business partners are in that room. So, you smile, grab an appetizer and start introducing yourself.
If you’re dragging yourself to industry events or cranking out social posts, harnessing the energy to put yourself “out there” repeatedly for career opportunities can feel draining. Especially in an unforgiving economy. But millions of moms seek more income, freedom or impact. And they’ve stopped waiting for traditional employers to meet their needs. They’ve promoted themselves into the C-Suite to run businesses.
Understand How the Current Climate Affects you
Whether you run a tech start up, Etsy store, restaurant, coaching or consulting practice, you may wonder why it’s so hard to realize your ambitions. In this economy, most businesses are struggling to find their way amidst rising costs and complexity. Many of us are also reeling from shifts in the social justice climate and reduced funding for women-led businesses.
Several people in the past month reminded me that “growth is uncomfortable.” If the discomfort feels unbearable, find a therapist or trusted friend and break down your stressors into key categories. Money woes? You’re in good company. Carrying extra mental load for a business and family through Q4? Check. Feeling distracted as a friend or partner? Ditto. Please remember the motherhood penalty isn’t just a wage tax on traditional employment. It transcends all professional settings, including entrepreneurship.
Set Strategies Aligned with How You’re Funded
Although women start businesses at high rates, most women owned businesses make less money, in part because we’re more likely to self-fund. Which means it’s harder to make investments in advance of revenue. Like hiring adequate staff, securing space or buying inventory. So, pause, examine your stressors, validate yourself and look for levers you can pull right now.
If your Product or Service is Giftable, Promote it Now
If you have products that are giftable let your core audiences, supporters, allies, mentors and friends know what you offer and how to buy it. The holiday season is short so do it today if you haven’t already. Many people are unaware of how important small businesses are to the economy. And that investing in mom- and women-owned businesses, is required to close the gendered opportunity gap.
Thank your Customers and it’s Okay to be Memorable
You don’t have to give expensive gifts to let customers know how important they are to your business. Starting last year, I began to thank mothers in our membership with a personal gift of homemade granola.
A thank you can be in an email, video, card or letter. As a business owner, it’s easy to focus in on what’s broken. However, taking the time to recognize what’s good, including every customer, helps remind you that your work is meaningful and reaching those who need it.
Be Strategic with Year-End Events and Parties
I’m not saying don’t go to your neighborhood potluck or family gathering, yes absolutely go! Because refueling in spaces that have nothing to do with your business is essential. But if you also plan to attend industry events or gatherings where you can build relationships, be strategic about making new connections and preserving your energy.
Reach out on LinkedIn or via email to suggest a coffee chat. Or reconnect after the holidays and put thoughtful follow ups on the calendar. If you sell through or to other businesses, and have a longer sales cycle, set aside planning time during the first week of January.
Plan for a Holiday Break
Self-care is essential and entrepreneurship can be punishing to your mental and physical health. If you’re in retail or another business where December is your busiest season, you may need to take mini-breaks until after the holidays. But we all need rest and recovery time.
Many of us are past burn out. Pushing from a place of emptiness doesn’t serve you, your business or your family. Exhaustion isn’t sustainable nor does it help with the clarity or innovative thinking needed to manage a business in an uneven economy. So, schedule that out of office message. Write the ‘while I’m away’ emails for clients and align with your assistant, tax pro or other critical colleagues on year-end communications.
Document Your High-Level Goals for Next Year
Okay, if your business is anything like mine, 2025 didn’t follow any of the rules you may have based your goals on. However, clarity about how you want to serve your customers, who they really are, where you expect to find them and what measurements you’ll track are all helpful as you navigate. Even when conditions continue to change.
If you’re reevaluating your pricing, messaging or channels of distribution, that’s also critical input for your 2026 plan. Decide how you’ll differentiate your message and meet your big picture goals for your business and your life.
Revisit your Business Operations
When you look at where you spent money this year, what investments met your expectations and which ones didn’t? Where can you adjust, or cut costs? What can you dial up to grow even more? Are you spending too much time outside of your “zone of genius” or are you working on the tasks and strategic vision that is best suited to your strengths and experiences? If not, who can you hire or outsource from, temporarily or longer term?
Talk With your Family About Household Operations
You already know, nothing big can happen in the business without the right infrastructure at home. If you’re partnered, talk with your partner about your business goals and how that influences your needs and scheduling on the home front. Especially with childcare, household work and other responsibilities so that you have the mental and physical energy for the business.
Activate Support with a Paid and/or Unpaid Village
Do you have local family? A nanny or roster of local sitters? Are neighborhood teens you trust eager for experience? Do you have a “village” when you need back up childcare, an unplanned pick up or drop off, or emotional support? If you have tweens or teens, can your kids up skill and take on more age-appropriate responsibilities?
Build or Grow Your Community of Mom Founders
You are not alone. There are many of us out there, moms honoring our callings, building legacies and developing infrastructure. It’s too tumultuous a journey to engage in alone. Whether you’re funded, self-funded, or running a nonprofit, find others who are at a similar stage or share similar goals to meet with regularly. My circles of incredible founders are important sources of ideation, friendship, business and emotional support.
To all of the mom founders with small businesses, happy Small Business Saturday!
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