Family Life

interview motivating mum

It was in February that I went to a bloggy conference and heard Alli speak. Her enthusiasm and zest for life was intoxicating! Instantly, I felt this rejuvenated feeling to follow my dreams and take risks. Because that is exactly what she has done. In 2010 Alli started Motivating Mum, a website and forum that offers support, advice and mentoring for mums in Australia and the UK. This is one super mum; running a business while also raising two gorgeous young girls. Alli is force to be reckoned with.

It was an honour to talk to Alli and chat with her in more detail. Thank you Alli for your time and wisdom.

I hope you all feel a little more inspired like I was after reading this interview.

***

Jumping out of a plane? That is one way to experience excitement? What was the inspiration for doing this and encouraging other mums to do this?

I was driving around feeling pretty exasperated with the whole school run, housework, breakfasts, lunch, dinners routine of life and wanted to mix things up a bit. Jumping out of a plane was perfect as it meant I could exit this life for a day, do something mad and then return the next day! It was easy getting mums on board to jump. Some wanted to do it because they felt as I did, some had it on their bucket list, some wanted to jump to raise the funds to help the mums in crisis and some had been in crisis themselves and wanted to jump to signify a new life.

Have you always been in business? Or have you found that your business and entrepreneurial side has developed more recently?

I have been in business since I gave birth to my oldest 6 years ago. I hadn’t realised previously that I had it in me to run a business but I realise now all the skills I have learned in previous jobs, my personality and love of being both extremely organised and creative at the same time has all led to this role. Now I would never do anything else.

motivating mum

So where did the inspiration for your business come from?

I initially started a life coaching business for mums as I had decided that I really wanted to help people and had just become a mum myself. However, it wasn’t long before I realised just how lonely and isolating it was and put together a lunch in the hope there would be more mums out there like me who would like to come along. There were – a lot! Since then, I have used that lonely, isolated mum, and what she would need to grow her business and feel supported, to determine my direction.

There was a recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald about Australia being the second best place for women entrepreneurs. I am sure there are many readers who are thinking about going into business or starting their own venture and company. What would be your words of advice to these readers?

· ‘Build it and they will come’ does not apply to business – building the offering is only the first step – you then have to promote the hell out of it and it takes a lot of time, energy and possibly money.
· ‘Be prepared to make no money for the first three years in business’ does apply to business. Do not go into business if you want to make money quickly!
· Even though running a business is often a solitary business, keep in touch with people as often as possible. Through networking, mentoring, coffee with biz pals – human connection will help with ideas, re-energising your spirit, getting recommendations for suppliers and more

What is the best thing about being a mum?

The cuddles, being able to teach my little beauties all the great things I’ve learned about life, being able to create the fantastical kind of fun family that I would have loved growing up.

And the most challenging and toughest thing?

When my 6 year old still isn’t in her school uniform after she’s been in her room for 30 minutes and I am completely at my wits end as to get her to understand the concepts of A) time and B) that Mummy hates yelling every morning! Then her little sister starts annoying her…

What does happiness mean to you?

Happiness means knowing that I utilised every opportunity presented to me and ran with it until it was completely exhausted.

Your most recent everyday moment that you noticed, grabbed and captured?

Aeroplanes on the couch on a rainy day.

******

If you would like the opportunity to be interviewed, please get in touch. I would love to hear from you. 

Stay in touch. Sign up to the weekly Inspirational Note newsletter, or follow on Facebook or Twitter.

You Might Also Like