Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
This has been a learning curve. I have put my two boys into care two days a week so I can focus solely on the business on these days. However, right at the start of taking over the business, I found it hard to take my attention away from the business on the days I had my boys with me as it was new and exciting. But as time has gone on, I have re-evaluated and realise that they are only young once and this time is precious – and goes by way too fast – so I work my two full days when they are in care and then only when they nap on any other day. And this works for me. It’s about testing what works for your situation. Every situation is different and we can’t compare.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
At this stage probably my own expectations of wanting it all to fall into place now. I’ve had to step back and re-evaluate – which I did pre-Christmas – and reassess what needed to be done now and what can be done later. I’ve had to work on being patient but also to persevere particularly on the B2B side. Every challenge is an opportunity as they say.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The pros for me are definitely the wonderful feedback you get from parents, seeing your app featured in mainstream media and knowing that you are offering a free and useful tool for new parents. As well as learning and growing each day with each new challenge.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
I’d like to make The Baby Diaries app more holistic – almost like a one-stop shop – so that parents only need one app to use to track, monitor, refer to for advice and ideas, first aid, fitness regimes for pregnant or postpartum mums and so much more.
I also plan to highlight the opportunity to small businesses in the baby and pet industry, who’d like an app of their own but wonder how they can afford to develop one, not to mention the research and testing and the ongoing costs. Therefore, I have decided to license the IP of the apps for a fraction of the cost so they can have the opportunity to gain competitive advantage over their competitors, to start engaging and communicating with their consumers in a meaningful and personal way.
Visit The Diary Apps website to learn more about the range of features they offer. You can join their Baby Diaries App communities on Facebook and Instagram. The Pet Diaries App has its own Facebook and Instagram pages too.
