Growing a business and a family
Trying to plan business when a baby is planning their arrival.
Today I am sitting at my computer writing this at 32 weeks pregnant. As our baby boy kicks me in areas I didn’t know existed. Yesterday I signed up for an online coaching call with a business coach that is a 2-hour intensive for planning business in 2024, I guess that will either be a success or a big flop given the impending arrival of a baby boy.
We are so excited to be welcoming our first human baby into our family in January and there is no one more ready to have him here than me. However, the reality of what the start of 2024 could look like is starting to worry me a little.
The end of the year is usually busy for me, with lots of photography at horse events, completion of big projects and many new clients wanting to be prepared for the new year with a website or logo for their business. But right now my body is telling me it’s time to slow down, but my brain is telling me now is the time to go into overdrive.
I am beyond thrilled to be a mum shortly, but I am also worried that all my hard work as a business owner and growing to this point will fall away once the baby arrives. I know once he arrives I’ll know exactly what business is going to look like but until then, planning the next few months with clients is overwhelming.
Right now I plan to take a minimum of 3 weeks off when he makes an arrival. Navigating one or 2 client projects a month depending on how he behaves/sleeps/arrives. Hopefully building back up to a somewhat full capacity. It may work or it may not - The unknown is not something I am comfortable is as a person but I guess that about to change dramatically!
Up until now I haven’t shared my pregnancy for the fear it would deter potential clients, worrying about my health or capabilities on delivering their projects on time - understandably I can see why people will think that, there was days I was so unwell I would complete a logo and just look at it thinking about how shit it looked. Only to scrap it and start again the next day with a fresh mind and a better-feeling tummy. But now, I’ve noticed that a lot of people are still happy to work with me, because baby or not, they like my work, think ill be a good fit and want their business to be presented in that way. Coming to that realisation has been so humbling and uplifting.
Im sure this next phase of life and business is going to be complicated. But I am so looking forward to all of the things I am going to learn as a mother, person and business owner.
-Sheri x
