How I Started My Business Postpartum (So I Didn’t Have to Go Back to a 9-5 Job)
Hey there, mama. If you’re holding a baby in one arm and scrolling this blog post with the other, I see you.
I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to count down the days of maternity leave, dreading the moment you have to trade baby snuggles for business casual and a long commute.
When my son was born, everything shifted. The thought of going back to my corporate job in television with the tight deadlines, the late-night emails, the constant juggling, it all felt out of alignment with the kind of mom I wanted to be. I wanted freedom. I wanted flexibility. And most of all, I wanted to be present.
How I Started My Business Postpartum (So I Didn’t Have to Go Back to a 9-5 Job)
That’s when I realized: I didn’t have to go back.
Instead, I could start something of my own.
And I did.
Instead of producing television for big studios, I decided to produce my own life and build a business.
Now, I help other women just like you navigate that same transition from career woman to CEO mom by starting a business that fits your life style as it is now.
Here are some ways that you can make a shift towards a happier and more fulfilled you at this stage in your life.
Listen to That Little Voice (It’s Not Just Sleep Deprivation Talking)
You know the voice I’m talking about, the voice that says there’s more for me. The one that whispers during midnight feedings, what if I started something of my own?
Motherhood has a way of shaking things up in the best way possible. You see the world differently as a parent. You reassess your priorities for the first time in a while new way. I used to say I lived a selfish life before becoming a mom, and having my kids taught me a new way of looking at the world. Trust me, I’m so grateful for the “selfish” years I had because they were fun, challenging, and made me who I am, but parenthood started a whole new chapter in my life. This is the time when you start asking big, bold questions like:
- “Can I start a business with a little one?”
- “What if I don’t go back to work at all? Is this even a possibility?”
- “Can I build something that is meaningful to me, brings money into the family, and be home with my kids?”
Spoiler alert: Yes. You can my friend!
Start Small and Smart
You don’t need a full-blown business plan to start something of your own. What you do need is clarity on what it is you want to do and how it will fit into your life.
- What skills and experience do you already have?
- What do you enjoy doing that you could do endlessly?
- What do friends come to you for and what problems can you solve for others?
I always say when you begin a second act, you are not starting from scratch, you are starting from experience. Your career gave you tools, skills, and talents. Now it’s up to you to repurpose them.
Whether you’re great at design, coaching, organizing, writing, baking, or something totally unique to you, there’s a business idea that can fit into your nap-time hustle or the short time you have when the kids are busy in the playroom.
Many of the women I coach start with digital services, consulting, content creation, or even e-commerce. You can build a business in just a few hours a week that envolves what you already know, and one that grows with your baby.
Know Your Why (This Is Your Anchor on the Hard Days)
When you’re building a business postpartum, the motivation isn’t just about income. It’s about impact — for your family and for yourself. How can you build something that supports you, your baby, and your lifestyle? It all comes down to your “why.”
My “why” was simple: I wanted to be the one picking my son up from school, not sitting in another meeting while someone else watched him grow. This was my why, my reason for making a change and starting a second act.
When I was contemplating leaving my career in television, I focused on my “why” to keep me on the right path. As a creative, I have a million ideas and can fall quickly for shiny object syndrome. By focusing on why I wanted to make a change in my career, I was able to focus on the second act business option that led me to create a path with my “why” at the center.
Your “why” might be freedom, flexibility, legacy, or just a deep desire to do work that actually lights you up and means something to you.
Hold that why close. Keep it at the center of your decision-making. It will pull you forward even when you’re tired, stressed, and changing diapers.
Build Your Business Around Your Life
This isn’t hustle culture. This is intentional entrepreneurship based on you, your family, and your current situation.
You get to set the pace. You don’t need to work 40 hours a week to be successful anymore. You’ve been there, done that! Now, at this stage of the game, you can build your business in the small pockets of time you may have. When you ask? I’m talking about during naps, after bedtime, on walks pushing the stroller, or while baby-wearing on Zoom.
The key is systems, strategy, and support. I built my business around my role as a mom, not in spite of it, and that’s exactly what I help other women do too.
Everyone’s situation is different. I have created systems in my business to meet clients where they are. We create a roadmap to create a business that fits their individual lives and in a timeline that works for them.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
Motherhood is a full-time job. So is entrepreneurship. Doing both? It takes a village (and maybe an extra iced coffee or three).
That’s why I created Second Act Success®, to guide women like you through the steps of leaving your job and launching a business you love. One that fits and grows alongside the family you are growing.
If you’re craving a plan, clarity, and a community of other mamas who get it, I’ve got your back.
Ready to Start a Business Postpartum and Skip the Office Life?
You don’t need to wait until the kids are older. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to take the first step.
Because you my friend are capable of building a business that works for you and your family, not against it.
I’m here to help you every step of the way because I have been there. I made mistakes on my second act journey, so now you don’t have to. I wasted time, money, and tears trying to figure out how to create a business that gave me the flexibility I craved as a mom, and my mission now is to make sure other women like you don’t have to go through this process alone.
Want help starting your business while you’re still in your postpartum season?
Check out my free masterclass on the 3 Secrets to Escape Your Desk Job and Set Up Your Dream Business in 3 Months. You can also learn more about my Second Act Accelerator, a 3-month program that walks you step-by-step through building your dream business with clarity, confidence, and coaching support.
You don’t have to return to the 9-5 grind because that’s what you feel is expected. Instead, you can build something better for yourself today. It can be done, and I am here to hold your hand along the way!
READ SHANNON’S NEW BOOK:
https://startyoursecondact.com
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