
5 tips for moms juggling it all
By Adewale Adeyemi |
1.
Whatever you do, do not give up. Take the process a step at a time. Believe in your why. Allow the itch which led you to start your business to guide you. The road to success is long and winding, so brace yourself. Believe in yourself. Keep learning. Surround yourself with people who lift you up and run from those who discourage you. Do not be afraid to fail. Embrace failure and learn from it. Celebrate the small wins, have the courage to keep going when all else suggest otherwise. Stay resilient and keep the faith.
2.
Capitalize on traits that define you. Courage to undertake a task which scares the bejesus out of me, for courage is not the absence of fear. The Resilience to spring back up from adversity with a vision to make a difference. Faith, definitely — defined as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Courage and Faith keep me on my feet. When I stumble or fall, Resilience is always around the corner to pick me back up.
3.
Join a Community - Here's what our Founder, Ify says about her WBENC Community. The process of getting certified as a Women-Owned Business takes ‘grit and tenacity,’ as rightly reported by Forbes, but the benefits are plenty. WBENC opens doors - from networking events and increased visibility to access to mentors. Last year, Miracle In The Green was one of only 11 businesses selected out of 2,000 applicants to feature in its Women Owned Pop-Up Shop during the WBENC National Conference & Business Fair, the largest conference of its kind for women business owners in the U.S. As a certified WBE, we were able to attend thought-provoking lectures and presentations from today’s thought leaders and engaged in panel discussions. The highlight of the day was being selected by Walmart to attend the 1:1 MatchMaker event. It is a grueling process to get WBENC-Certified, but it is well worth it. The WBENC community has been instrumental to my success!
4.
Know that there are obstacles - Women-led companies are on the rise, but they still attract only 2% of all venture funding in the U.S. and a good chunk of that 2% is allocated to women-run tech companies which leaves the rest of us scrambling. Also, young female entrepreneurs struggle to be taken seriously and find that their point of view is minimized or disregarded. With no support system, it becomes a lonely road to travel. As a femme-preneur, this challenge was at the forefront of the entrepreneurial grind. I have had to rely on my God-given instincts and entrepreneurial communities such as WBENC where there is a sharing of knowledge and ideas to forge me on.
5.
Remember what you love about your business - Being an entrepreneur has made me a better person, says Ify. Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Women Initiative espouses that “empowered women lift their entire communities.” As a business owner, I am constantly thinking of ways in which my business can impact people positively. Our mission remains; to use our products in empowering women and children, to pave the way for a healthier, happier future.
Lockdown orders following the COVID-19 pandemic destabilized many villagers in Nigeria who rely on daily sales from staples hawked on the streets to feed their families. The current climate left them stranded and hungry with no alternative means for the sustenance of their families. We stepped in to help. Locally, we supplied Mother’s Day treats to nurses on the frontlines working countless hours and putting their lives at risk while caring for their children and family members. This is what keeps me up at night. Constantly thinking of how to grow Miracle In The Green in order for it to make the greatest impact.
Love + miracles,