"I Don't Think I Can Make It." Yes, You Can.

I have ten minutes to write this post. Why? Because I'm a homeschooling, work-at-home mom who promised the kids we would leave the house twenty minutes ago...but I also promised myself I'd get this post up.

Running a business or having a job on top of being a mom isn't easy. I've been a work-at-home mom since my oldest was born. No one handed me a job, though. I had to make one myself. I emailed local mom & pop baby brands until I found an organic baby food company willing to let me handle their marketing.

And by "marketing" I mean I was in charge of driving around to Meetup mom group playdates and handing out samples. I'd email the organizer of the group and tell them about the baby food company and then, if they agreed, I'd put on my bright blue company t-shirt, pop my baby in a carrier, and lug a big cooler full of baby food around to go pass out along with coupons!

I loved it because I love moms and children. I loved it because it got me out of the house. And I really loved it because it helped me earn some extra money to help out our young family that needed it. My husband worked as much as he could while being in grad school, but we needed more money.

Before I got a yes from that company, can you imagine how many times I got turned down? More times than I'd like to remember. If I'd asked around on Facebook if anyone thought somebody would hire me, I would have heard a million "No's" and all of the corresponding reasons why it would never work.

"You don't have enough experience."

"Why would anyone trust a random mom."

"It will be too hard with your baby."

I know lots of moms are looking for ways to earn these days. On the group page we talk about Data Annotation, Outschool, being a virtual assistant, and more.

But no matter what you choose, I have to tell you that the only way you'll make it is if you believe in yourself.

Especially if you're going into business, you have to have an attitude of being "all in" no matter what. No matter what your family says, friends think, or that little voice is telling you.

People ARE making it. People are publishing books, killing it on Etsy (even though it's more complicated these days), making sales, and getting clients. You have to decide not to be someone who gives into fear or bows to overwhelm, but someone who takes the initiative, researches what it takes to make your dreams come true, and carves out edges in the day to take action, no matter how small.

Most of us weren't really raised with these tools. We watched our parents struggle. We watched our moms sacrifice and have a really hard go at life.

What if we could make it for both us and them? What if we took what our parents gave us and flew?

Get some inspiration in your life. Find people who are doing what you want to do, the way you want to do it and get around them. Learn from them. Be humble and positive. Motherhood isn't easy. But if you can raise kids with love, you can do anything.

Yesterday, I wrote about how I'm starting affiliate marketing. Today, I invested in my business goals by going to a meeting with a marketing expert who has had months he made $100k. Yes, people are doing that. I wrote about my friend Akemi who changed her life by not listening to naysayers. It's not a pipe dream.

I could have said, "I'm a mom, I can't go to online meetings," but I showed up. During the meeting, I learned as much as I could while making lunch for my kids. We have to invest in ourselves. By doing so, we're investing in our kids.

After the meeting, I took time to make some goals for the publishing company I'm working on. I also recorded a video which was waaay out of my comfort zone. I did this all around helping my oldest with her homework and my youngest with a project about musical instruments. We're moms. We can do this.

Honestly, it's not just motherhood that gets in the way, it's the feeling that if we try to do anything else we'll collapse of overwhelm. I get that. Why not pick one thing that moves your goals forward today?

And be sure to ignore that little voice that tells you "it can't be you." Why not? Why not you?

Do one thing today. Create the Instagram page. Or post. Make the TikTok. Invest in your education. Even if it's in fifteen minutes before leaving to go to the store with your kids or in between fractions and dishes. I believe in you.

Forgive the typos. My kids are getting antsy.

love, Bunmi