The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
It feels like lots! There are so many skills I’m having to learn that are brand new to me. I think social media is a biggy – it’s difficult to balance how much information I should be putting out there and giving away, and for somebody who really dislikes being in front of the camera, it sometimes feels hard to push through the awkwardness. There was a lot of imposter syndrome at the beginning too (and sometimes still is), which made it hard to really put myself out there.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Pros: It feels genuinely wonderful to help parents and families and I don’t think that feeling will ever get old. Knowing I can make a difference and help families feel reassured and not alone during what is ultimately a really tough and exhausting period of time is the reason I started Hello Moon in the first place and I’ll never take it for granted.
Cons: Learning how to juggle between being a mum and starting up a new business is harder than I had initially imagined. I’m not just a sleep coach, I’m also a marketing manager, a social media manager and an accountant! That being said, I also love and feel very lucky that I can build a business that works around my family.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
Currently, I’m just trying to build the business up slowly, but as my little boy starts school, I’d love to be able to work with groups to help educate parents about what’s developmentally normal when it comes to our little ones’ sleep, so new parents don’t feel blindsided. I’m excited to be part of the change that seems to be happening from traditional sleep training methods to a more instinctual, responsive and evidence-based approach. Ultimately, I just want to continue helping as many families as I can to achieve a better night’s sleep!
Visit the Hello Moon website to find out more, and connect with Gemma on Facebook and Instagram.
