Imagine Living in a World Where Mums Are Encouraged to Be Ambitious

By Hayley Keeber

Imagine living in a world where mums are encouraged to be ambitious. To live a life of purpose, outside of being ‘just a mum’. Now imagine women were taught to have successful businesses but with a lifestyle first approach, rather than hustle and sacrifice every hour of the day.

When I became a mum at 22 and a single mum at 23, everyone around me had an opinion.

“You have ruined your life.”
“You’re always going to struggle.”
“What if no one wants to take on a woman and child?”

At no point did anyone say, “This is going to be the most epic journey.”

No encouragement, just negative beliefs passed down through generations of society’s expectations.

Looking back now, I can’t blame them, because it’s what they have been told.

Well, I’ve never been one to follow the rules.

My response was simple. Let me show you how it’s done.

Over the next few years, I held down a 60 plus hour a week job in recruitment, paying a mortgage, nursery fees, bills and everything else that comes with everyday expenses.

Sure, I got praise for it, but I knew something was missing.

Time.

I was constantly sacrificing time with my daughter because I felt like I had to prove I wasn’t a failure.

I was earning great money, but none of that meant anything because I missed all the major milestones, her first word, her first steps. And the guilt was eating me up.

That all changed when I was asked to stay late one day by my employer. I worked an extra five hours unpaid. The next day was my daughter’s sports day. I asked to leave 30 minutes early so I could attend it, and the answer was no. I had to take it as holiday.

That was the wake up call I needed.

I knew life didn’t need to be this way.

So I went on a journey to discover what I actually wanted to do.

During that time, I met my now husband, got married, suffered an ectopic pregnancy and experienced three years of infertility.

So when I finally had my little boy in 2021, I knew I wasn’t going to repeat the same mistakes.

That took me on my journey to now.

I know society isn’t set up to support and encourage ambitious mums. It’s built to keep her playing small.

But I also know, because I’m living proof, that women can be amazing mothers and exceptional business owners without having to miss the major milestones. I’ve done it. Not just for me, but for my clients too.

The truth is, mums make the most amazing business owners. Your children are your biggest driving force. To show them what’s possible in a world that can sometimes feel like only those who tick all the boxes succeed.

But too often it can feel like a barrier to entry, because women are taught that in order to be successful you have to work 100 hour weeks, sacrifice every family gathering and show up on social media every second of the day.

So you start the business, you get amazing clients, and then you start to resent it. Not because you’re not great at what you do, but because it isn’t set up to support your lifestyle first in a simple way.

That’s the game changer.

Ask yourself this. Have you ever felt like being a mum has held you back from building your business?

If the answer is yes, then I want you to know, you get to have it all. Not either or, only and.

You’re THAT Mum.