Career transition - A Flourishing Rose

How Moms Can Get Back into the Workforce by Becoming Successful Entrepreneurs

October 19, 2023

Many moms have had to step out of the workforce to take care of their children and families. However, with the evolution of technology and the rise of entrepreneurship, more and more moms are finding ways to balance both family life and running their own successful businesses. Starting a new business may seem overwhelming, but with proper planning, resources, and a determined mindset, becoming a successful entrepreneur can be a viable option for moms who want to get back into the workforce. Here, NMC Coaching provides some tips to get you started.

How Moms Can Get Back into the Workforce by Becoming Successful Entrepreneurs

Recognize New Market Trends

If you want to pursue an entrepreneurial endeavor, you’ll first need to recognize new market trends, including:

● Consumers want on-demand services and products

● More shopping takes place online than ever before

● Digital storefronts are just as important as retail storefronts

With this information in mind, you should come up with your business idea and business plan based on your interests or desires. For example, maybe you can start a new marketing agency, start up a freelance web design company, or do something else entirely.

Just be sure to choose something that accounts for the above market trends!

From Stay-at-Home Mom to Successful Entrepreneur: A Guide for Moms

Consider Returning to School

Before your new business gets off the ground, you might want to go back to school to get an online degree or finish your education. There’s no better time to get a bachelor’s or master’s degree than when you’re laid off or working from home, as you have much more time on your hands. The right degree can give you the skills you need to thrive as an entrepreneur.

How to Start a New Business

Start your new entrepreneurial endeavor by:

● Writing a business plan

● Applying for funding (if needed), such as a business loan

● Hiring any necessary employees

● Buying supplies, like server hosting or product materials

● Choosing a business structure

As you grow your business, consider establishing a limited liability company. LLCs are advantageous as they shield your personal assets from potential lawsuits and offer tax advantages, flexibility, and minimal paperwork.

Ensure you get paid on time for your services by developing a process for invoicing. This can include billing clients immediately after services are rendered and offering them multiple payment options. You can create a branded invoice by using an invoice maker. Choose from a variety of templates and then add your terms, billing info, typeface, and logo.

How Marketing May Make a Big Difference

Starting a business is one thing — making sure that it thrives is another. You can market your business effectively and see stellar results or fail to market your brand and go out of business.

The best ways to market your business include:

● Using SEO (search engine optimization) and other research tools to identify your target audience

● Advertising directly to that audience with social media ads, banner ads, Google ads, and more

● Using email marketing to connect with and build long-term relationships with your core customers

Fortunately, the more you market for your business, the better you’ll get at it, and the more bang you’ll get for every marketing buck you spend. You may also want to bring in a digital marketing agency to optimize your website, SEO, and social media posts.

Also, make sure any marketing graphics or icons are of high quality and well designed; hire a graphic designer if need be. If you do work with a designer, get familiar with a file conversion tool so that it is easier for you to send high quality graphics through email. JPGs are often too large, but a PDF will preserve the quality while lessening the file size. You can easily convert your image format to documents using free online tools. Just drop in the file and the tool will do the rest.

The Mompreneur’s Guide to Success: How to Build a Thriving Business While Balancing Family Life

Achieve Your Entrepreneurial Dreams!

Ultimately, it’s more possible than ever before for women just like you to achieve their entrepreneurial ambitions. There are many digital tools and resources you can use to get started. All you have to do is trust yourself, make a plan, and work to achieve your goal!.

If you are stuck and need some help determining what to do next with your life, contact NMC Coaching for guidance!

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Career

Advice for Parents With Disabilities: How to Make Your Dream of Running a Business Come True

September 25, 2022

As a parent with disabilities, you may not know how to make your dreams of entrepreneurship come true. How do you ensure you can balance your obligations as a parent, your health, and a business? Navigating Motherhood Coaching wants you to know that you can succeed with a plan, a home-based office, and a connection with clients.

For disabled parents: How to create your dream business

Start With a Plan

Before your dreams become a reality, you need a strategy. A business plan helps you manage your company through every stage. Many entrepreneurs choose a comprehensive traditional plan. This type of plan includes a summary of your mission, how you plan to be successful, and market analysis. It also details your financial projections, funding needs, and business structure.

To complete a market analysis, you need to look at your industry and target market. Check out the competitors and consider their strengths. What makes your competition successful? Figure out how you can offer something better. In addition to identifying your target audience, market research can also tell you if your business ideas are profitable. Always stay up-to-date on the market to ensure you know what clients want, even when needs change.

Make an Accessible Workspace

If your disability affects your mobility, you may want to consider a home-based business. Not only can you create an accessible workspace for yourself, but it also gives you more time to be with your children. You can sell anything from your home and use social media to advertise. And you don’t have to worry about non-compliant offices or other hurdles related to your disability.

You may need to meet with clients in your home depending on your business. Creating a distinct work area is vital for these interactions. You don’t want a client sitting at your dining room table with your toddler coloring next to them! Converting an unused room is the ideal situation, but if you can’t devote that amount of space, create a clear division between work and home by using dividers or strategic furniture placement. Also be aware that smells carry throughout your house. Even pleasant cooking smells should be whisked away by a quiet but efficient range hood in your kitchen. That way your client won’t be thinking about their dinner plans during your late afternoon meeting.

Things to consider if you are starting a home based business

Create a Financial Strategy

There are grants available for small business owners with disabilities, including those to help you with medical expenses, housing, and equipment. In some cases, you may have to establish a limited liability company before applying for the grants. In addition, look for other small business funding sources, like loans and lines of credit. It’s important to check your credit score before you go out soliciting funding. Many lenders will only fund individuals whose credit report shows they can handle money well. If your score is too low, consider postponing your quest for loans until you are able to raise your score.

Creating a financial plan can help you work toward your small business goals. If you are interested in investors, you need to have a proposal written out to show them how you plan to generate revenue and manage your expenses. If your company requires equipment, you may benefit from equipment financing. When you finance equipment, you do not have to worry about collateral because the equipment is collateral.

Use Accounting Software

Unless you’re a sole proprietor, you probably can’t get by without business accounting software. When you have business accounting software, it’s much easier to keep track of your business finances. This type of software can help you track your business income and expenses, so you always know where your business stands financially. Without business accounting software, it would be very easy to overlook crucial financial details, which could eventually lead to problems for your business. This software can also help you manage inventory and invoicing, so you can streamline your business operations and save time.

Connect With Your Clients

Make your customers feel special. Take note of how they interact with your brand. The way clients engage with you and your company can tell you a lot about your customer base. Learn to take constructive criticism. Respond to client concerns and encourage client satisfaction. Nowadays, most people have online platforms. Use your business page to connect with the customers. Keep your social media voice relatable to others. Be fun and casual on the internet.

As a parent with disabilities, you have your hands full at all times. Sometimes, you may not have time to generate your own content. Share your clients’ content on social media. For instance, if you sell products and your clients highlight the product on their page or take pictures of your services, repost them on social media. Encourage customers to talk about your brand.

Many people choose to include their pets on their social media posts to get the attention of the many pet-lovers out there. If you do choose to include your fur child on camera, make sure they’re at their best through regular grooming. You don’t have to spend a fortune on a professional though. Look online for great smelling pet shampoos. Then, get the kids involved in a designated spa day for your pooch to ensure they are always camera ready.

For disabled parents: How to start a home based business

You Can Juggle It All

Your life is full of hurdles. You may feel like you do not have the time for your professional ventures, but if you have a dream then you should pursue it. Start by creating a space that is designated for you to work, and ensure it has everything you need exactly where you need it. And take advantage of help through formation services and by re-posting your client’s content on social media. Juggling it all is about finding the shortcuts and the right support. You’ve got this, so make your vision a reality!

If you’re looking for a coach to come alongside you and motivate you to make your business a reality, then contact Darcey at Navigating Motherhood Coaching.

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Personal Development

How To Make Decisions When You Feel Stuck

September 19, 2022

If you are preparing for a career transition or another big event in your life, you may feel stuck. You may feel like you can’t take the first step. Maybe you don’t feel courageous. Maybe you feel hopeless about your current situation. You could just be feeling too drained to make that first move. However, there is one thing that stops people time and time again from achieving their goals. This one thing makes us play small and stay in our comfort zones.

How to make decisions when you feel stuck

You probably think I’m going to say fear of change, but while that is a factor, it’s only part of it. The one thing that stops us in our tracks is the difficulty with or inability to make decisions.

Do you ever have this problem? You are thinking about something for weeks or months. You want to make a decision, but you just can’t. You haven’t picked an end date, you’re asking everyone you know what you should do, you’re going back and forth and this decision is hanging over you like a dark cloud. Moths or years will go by and you still haven’t taken action. Why not? Well, because you’re afraid of making the wrong decision. You want to please others and be well liked. You are placing too much emphasis on what others think. Then where does that leave you? It leaves you stuck and with unfulfilled dreams. In this post, I’ll give you several strategies to help you make decisions when you feel stuck.

I’m capable of making decisions that are best for me

Follow Your Intuition

The most important thing is to follow your intuition. Some of us don’t trust us and have fears of this because we don’t trust ourselves, but this is the only thing in the end that really matters.
If we can feel that a decision is good for us in our body, that is so important. That means it’s a healthy decision for us. If there is negative tension in our body around this decision, we may need to rethink it.

Set a Deadline

The second most important thing to do is set a dead line. Pick a date to make a decision by and stick to it. Market on your calendar if you have to. Meanwhile you can use the strategies listed below.

Do Research

Do your research. If it’s something you’re deciding such as which product to buy, how much to spend on certain items, which school your kids should attend, which classes you want to take etc. Google is your friend. Other times research may involve calling a company, driving to different locations, interviewing people, visiting a library etc. Write down the results of your research if necessary. If something doesn’t seem right, don’t be afraid to keep investigating. Your intuition will serve you well here. For example, if you are making a career decision, Talk to people who work for the company you are interested in. Visit their website, check out the company culture and values, look for salary information, look at reviews etc.

If you do the proper research, you can make your decision not only on your intuition and feelings, but the hard facts as well. Using both of these methods, you will make a decision you feel comfortable with.

I believe in my ability to make decisions

Meditation

Meditation can work as well. If you were questioning something major in your life, maybe you want to meditate over it for several days or weeks. Let your intuition guide you. After each meditation, you may want to write down your thoughts and or feelings about what came up for you. Then using what you wrote down, you can use this information to guide your decision.

Pros and Cons List

A simple way is to make a pros and cons list. Which ever list is longer is the one that is your deciding factor. This may be a good strategy for simple decisions, but if it’s something more complicated where you have to weigh all the factors, this might not work for you.

Deciding between healthy and unhealthy food

Ask for Advice

Finally, you may want to ask someone for advice. However, if you have a pattern of struggling to make decisions based on what other people think or fear that they will not like you depending on the decision you make, I would use this sparingly. It should be someone you trust, someone that can keep an open mind and someone who can keep things confidential. Especially if it’s a sensitive topic. Again, someone that is trustworthy is key. I would also suggest against asking too many people for advice. The more people you involve, the muddy or the waters. Unless the decision directly affects someone, you don’t have to involve them. unless you feel good about doing so.

Some questions you should ask yourself in the decision making process:

Am I calm and thinking clearly?
Do I need to step away from the situation before making my final decision?
What are the consequences of either side of my decision?
Does my decision align with my values?
What would I tell a friend if she came to me asking for advice?

How to make confident and clear decisions

To summarize if you are having decision fatigue or you are struggling to make decisions because of fear or people pleasing,, there are several strategies that can help. Following your intuition, setting a deadline, meditation, using a pros and cons list, doing your research and or asking others for advice. What strategies do you use to make decisions? Tell me in the comments.

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Personal Development

30 Back To School Prompts for Teachers

September 10, 2022

Here are several prompts to help you through the transition of getting back to school. You may want to use these prompts to shift your mindset, get clear on your goals for the first quarter of the school year or create a self-care plan.

30 back to school journal prompts to help you through the transition30 back to school journal prompts to help you through the transition

School Related Journal Prompts

How do I feel about teaching at this moment?
What is my purpose for teaching?
What do I enjoy about teaching?
What do I dislike about teaching?
What lessons have I learned from teaching?
What are my favorite lessons to teach?
What plans do I have for the first quarter?
How will I stay energized throughout the day?
What will cheer me up if I have a bad day?
My plan for time management at school is…
What can I do if I feel unheard?
How can I be better at listening?
What can I learn from a failed lesson plan?

Home and personal Time Journal Prompts

How will I take care of myself?
Create a self-care plan.
My plan for time management at home is…
How will I stay present with my family?
How will I deal with stress at home?
Who can I go to for support?
What tasks can I take off my plate and or delicate?
The activities that bring me joy are…

30 back to school journal prompts for teachers

Journal Prompts for Moving Forward

What is my biggest struggle right now?
What is the first step I can take to overcome that struggle?
What is coming easily to me right now?
How can I bring that feeling to other parts of my life?
What am I grateful for in this moment?
How can I bring more joy into my life?
What are my long-term goals? (Personally or professionally)
What action steps do I need to take to achieve my goals?
What small actions can I take? (Today, this week, this month etc)

There you have it. 30 journal prompts to help you through the transition back to school. You can pick the ones that call to you and work from there. Even if you write for five to ten minutes a day. Journaling is a great way to process thoughts and feelings as well as a brain dump. You can get rid of all that clutter in your head before starting the day or going to bed at night. Does journaling help you in any aspect of teaching? Let me know in the comments.

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Career

5 Ways Women Can Attract STEM Recruiters

September 1, 2022

It’s no secret that science, technology, engineering, and math — collectively called STEM — are dominated by men. According to research, women represent a stunningly low 27% of STEM professionals. There are many intersecting issues that contribute to this problem, but it’s clear that something must change. Women who want to break into these fields can take control of their careers and attract the top recruiters by following these five tips from NMC Coaching.

1. Work on Improving Your Confidence

Unfortunately, the lack of women in STEM may be a self-fulfilling prophesy. Because there are so few women, women feel unwelcome, and they don’t pursue careers that they would otherwise be interested in. Those who do pursue STEM careers may be stymied by a lack of confidence that costs them opportunities. Women should work on boosting their professional confidence by eliminating negative self-talk, practicing professional presentation, and setting clear goals.

5 Ways Women can Attract STEM Recruiters

2. Get a Mentor Who Can Offer Career Guidance

One of the greatest assets a woman in STEM can have is a dedicated mentor. Your mentor should invest in you and advocate for you, and if you haven’t connected with this person yet, it’s time to find them. You can find a mentor through networking opportunities, online platforms, and professional conferences. If you can find another woman in STEM to mentor you, this may be particularly advantageous to helping you achieve your goals.

3. Start Your Own STEM Business

Even if you have all the right qualifications, STEM is a hard field to break into. You may realize that you’re tired of endless job searching, and instead, you want to start your own business. In addition to the lucrative potential that this path has, it’s a great way to build your resume and create your own opportunities — if another company won’t hire you, hire yourself. This will demonstrate ambition and drive that will attract recruiters if you return to the job market.

4. Craft an Expert-Level Business Plan

If you do choose to go the entrepreneurial route, it’s important that you’re prepared for the challenges of owning a business. Your first few months will likely be a learning experience, but you can avoid many common mistakes by crafting a detailed business plan. In addition to an overview of your financial expectations, your business plan should include its structure, marketing strategy, and sources of funding.

5 Ways for Women to Attract STEM Recruiters

5. Enroll in a Professional Development Class

Sometimes you simply need to sharpen your skills in order to gain an edge in the STEM job market. A professional development course is a great way to do so, and you can choose a class that’s aligned with your skills. For example, if you’re naturally a leader, a SCRUM class will give you more tools to apply these skills in the STEM workplace. Learn about advanced courses that can provide the necessary curriculum to beef up your abilities. Courses should be through an accredited school that provides a certificate of completion.

Women Can Get Ahead in the STEM Job Market

Searching for a job is an incredibly stressful experience, and it’s even more stressful when your gender seems to be working against you. Rather than be discouraged, though, you can take steps to build your resume, become a more competitive candidate, and attract attention from recruiters. In addition to a professional development course, you can build experience by starting your own business and enlisting help from a mentor.

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