The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
A friend of mine – a leadership coach who runs her own business – said to me that working for yourself is the greatest self-work you can do. It’s constant personal development. This is very true for me. Launching and running my own business has given me insight into all the areas that I’m not trusting myself and valuing myself and my inherent worth. I have felt challenged by the discipline required to show up and be my own cheerleader, motivator and boss. I’m accountable for everything and it takes great strength and resilience to keep showing up every day to grow and nurture my business.
I’ve moved through self-doubt and limiting beliefs and experienced a few “no”s already, because I am a working mother with a reduced working capacity, but it has strengthened my faith in working with the right people, at the right time. I see my reduced working hours not as a disadvantage, but as a concentrated amount of time to focus on what’s important and get that done efficiently. As parents, we use our time so much more efficiently because we have to and when I work with people who are aligned to this, I am able to shine and use my gifts in a way that adds real value.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The structure and stability of a full-time job offers the security of a regular income, which in this era is crucial for many with increasing mortgage and rent payments and the cost of living. I dance between the safety of a permanent job versus the freedom and flexibility of working for myself. I know I have the privilege to contribute some and not all of the income for our household. With this privilege, I see an opportunity to expand and create a meaningful lifestyle working for myself. A lot of our existing workforce is being transformed to be more equitable and sustainable. I’m excited by the opportunity to contribute to a new way of working that honours and respects the role of being a mother and parent, especially in the formative first 7 years of my child’s life.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
My heart has expanded in service of motherhood. It’s my intention to expand my offering to be more than a marketing consultant who offers freelance marketing advisory, strategy, content production and ongoing marketing support. I’m currently completing my pre- and postnatal yoga teacher training certification to add to my already completed 200 hours yoga teacher training certification. I want to offer the beautiful practice to expecting and new mothers and birthing people as a blessing and a resource to support maternal health, an area I am deeply passionate about. I hope to return to India to complete further study in ayurveda for motherhood and weave together yoga, wellbeing and For Purpose business practices to support mothers and parents in finding a balanced, meaningful life.
Visit the One River Consulting website to find out more about the services they offer. You can also connect with them on Instagram.
