A Mom's Necessity Becomes The Mother Of Invention
What does a woman do if she wants to stay home with her children as much as possible, but continue working the hours that accommodate those needs?
She could seek out an enlightened employer who allows her to work from her home office. Or at least find one that provides flexible hours.
Or, as a growing number of women are doing, she could start a small business.
It’s the last category that a 35-year-old woman is promoting through her Enterprising Moms Network (EMN), which is dedicated to helping women navigate the tricky balancing act of being a mother and an entrepreneur – or “mompreneur,” as they’re often called.
“I was a commercial broker and I asked for part-time work,” recalled EMN founder Kelley Scarsbrook – a new mother at the time in 2003 – as she explained how she came to start her business. “I was essentially shown the door, after putting a lot of time in with that company. There was no flexibility.
“I went home and shed a few tears and then realized that just wasn’t for me. I worked part time for a year, then got pregnant with my daughter and decided I didn’t want to work away from home at all. And there’s a lot of smart, educated moms leaving the workforce because they’re not getting that (accommodation).”
After making the decision to leave her job, Scarsbrook – who has a background in corporate communications – began to develop workshops focused on inspiring women to consider starting their own businesses to achieve a healthier work-life balance.
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