The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Technology! This is most definitely not my area of expertise! Whilst I enjoy designing resources, and teaching – I’ve had to choose a learning platform, learn to create ‘landing pages’, learn how to upload videos to the learning platform, link pages, etc. This area has most definitely been a steep learning curve for me, and is not my favourite aspect of running a business! Plus, sometimes there is simply not enough time to get everything done that I’d like to in my working hours. I’ve just learnt to prioritise and to set clear boundaries between my work hours and my ‘mum’ time with my children – as they are my top priority
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Having previously worked in ’employed’ roles, the two definitely have comparisons. The main advantage of being self-employed is that I’m my own boss, and the main disadvantage is that I’m my own boss…!
Positively, I love having the flexibility of working for myself and being able to do something that I genuinely have a passion for and enjoy (and to make a difference to people). Negatively, being my own boss means that I have to do all of the job roles: practitioner, marketing, tax returns, stock-takes, orders and so on! The main advantage though, is that I am able to go to all of the school events: sports days, Christmas nativities, parent readers, etc., and I can also be at home to look after the children if they are poorly, and not well enough to go to school. I also love being able to take the school holidays off work, so that I can spend that quality time completely with my children, as they do grow up so fast!
Hopes and dreams: What next?
My main hope and dream is to help as many parents and their children as possible. Help to reduce their toxic load, improve their health and well-being and share all about mother nature’s bounty – and the gorgeous botanical ingredients that are wonderful for skin and health. As I mentioned earlier, our skin is our largest organ and what we put on it does have an impact!
What next…. Well, I have lots of ideas! I’m starting the AromaMum learning platform with this signature (Natural Skincare Solutions for Baby & Child) online course initially – because I am particularly passionate about providing safe and accurate information for children. As children are so reliant on us to make the best choices possible for them, I feel that’s an important place to start.
Now that this signature course has launched, my next aim is to write a course for the mummas! After all, we are the nucleus of the family – or ‘the mothership’ as I like to call it! I very much would like to help support other mums, as I know that how we feel can impact so many other people – it’s like ripples on a pond. I suffered from post-natal depression myself, and found aromatherapy one of the tools which helped to support me emotionally (this was another reason that led to me re-training as an aromatherapist). Then, further along, I’d love to create a ‘using aromatherapy’ course for slightly older children, focusing on more of the issues relevant to their age group, and how you can use essential oils to help with them. For example: anxiety, studying, coughs and colds, travel sickness, sleep, etc.
Finally – in the pipeline – I am also currently working on curating a starter box for babies/children. This will contain all of the basics that you need to get started in natural, organic skincare – as well as for basic aromatherapy with babies and young children. The starter box will take the time, hassle and confusion away from parents – on what they actually need to get, and where to get reliable products from. It will simply all be in one box for them. These products will all match with what is covered in the ‘Natural Skincare Solutions’ course, so parents will know how and when to use everything. Due to my time constraints, I will only be able to make up a very limited number of boxes initially, and once they are sold out, that will be it for a little while.
I think that’s plenty to keep me going for a while!
Would you like to learn more about what to put on your baby/child’s skin? AromaMum is an experienced educator, clinical aromatherapist and natural skincare formulator, passionate about sharing her knowledge – cutting through the noise and empowering parents with reliable knowledge on safer natural options to use on their babies’ and children’s skin. Find her at: @AromaMum on Facebook and @aromamum25 on Instagram, for plenty of tips. You can also email tracy@aromamum.co.uk for more information about her signature ‘Natural Skincare Solutions for babies and children’ course.
