They’re back! After a little break, the Success Sessions interview series is up and running once again, and kicking us off is the very wonderful and organisational queen, Megan Flatt – business consultant for Mama CEOs.
Hi Megan! Thanks for joining us here. Tell us a little bit about you and your business.
I’m Megan and I am business consultant for busy moms who want to grow their dream businesses while remaining present in the day to day lives of their kids. I help Mama CEOs (as I like to call us) figure out the things that are most important to them in their business and their lives and them make sure they have time in their schedule to focus on those things.
Most important to me are my 3 year old daughter and my 6 year old son and my awesome husband. We live in the San Francisco Bay Area and if I am not with my family or working on my business you can find me out on my paddle board in the bay, trying out a great restaurant, or setting up some sort of play adventure for my daughter’s preschool.
What inspired you to start your business?
I have always been an entrepreneur. I’ve actually never had a traditional 9-5 job. But after I had my daughter, I scaled back all my entrepreneurial efforts and took a part time job, because I thought working for someone else would be easier with two kids. After finding myself sobbing in my driveway, with both kids strapped into their carseats in the back, I knew I was not fulfilled in my current job. And if I was going to be away from my kids, I needed it to be something I was passionate about.
What I soon realized was I was not alone. So many moms I met wanted to be present for their families, but also use their brain for something that was important to them. I set out to help moms find something they were passionate about, and then help them find the time to do it.
Soon I was drawing on my lifetime’s experience of running my own business and my professional background as a consultant in the fitness industry to help moms start and grow their dream businesses.
How would you describe your journey and how has having your own business changed things for you?
Having your own business is hard, and adding kids and a family…it is hard. I’m not going to lie. I get up really early to work before the rest of the family is up. I have given up things like tv, and I honestly don’t work out as much as I should. I rely on my husband and friends to help out with the kids so I can do an extra client call, etc.
Having my own business has helped me really narrow in on what is important to me. What is important in my business, in my life and for my family. I certainly don’t always do it perfect, but I have a clear picture on what I want my life and my days to look like. It is still a journey…but Im getting there!
Having my own business has shown me that the sky’s the limit. I know if I can dream it, I can make it happen. I can’t ever imagine not being an entrepreneur ever again.
What has been your biggest success so far?
This year, I got really focused on my business. I invested in my business and myself. I also got really clear with my husband what I was doing and what I was working towards, that helped him get on board with the support I needed from him. As a result, I tripled my income from the previous year. More so, I feel I truly helped a group of moms achieve their dreams too.
Would you share with us the biggest lesson you learned?
When my son (my first child) was an infant, my dear friend and mentor told me to ‘throw something at the wall and see what sticks’ when it came to my business. I didn’t take her advice until 2 years later. I felt I had to be perfect to start. A perfect mom, the perfect idea, the perfect skill set.
I love the saying “leap and build your wings on the way down.” I think this describes being a Mama CEO so well. There will never be a good time. If you are waiting for your kids to sleep through the night, or to start school or to be able to drive or to leave for college…there will always be something to keep you busy.
Just start.
What keeps you motivated and engaged with your business?
I truly love what I do. It is fulfilling and enjoyable to me. But that doesn’t mean I don’t get overwhelmed and burned out sometimes. The first thing that keeps me motivated and engaged is having a solid plan of where I am going long term (even if that changes) and a good break down of what needs to get done on any given day.
But I need to take breaks too, and honestly, I am not as good at those as I’d like to be. I try to take full days off with my family and give myself a break each day for some sort of self care, even if it is just 5 extra minutes in the shower or an early bedtime.
What one piece of advice would you give other small business owners and start-ups?
Just Start. Like I said above, it will never be perfect. You will never be perfect. You will always have more to learn and you will always be busy. Start small, but just start.
What’s next for you and your business?
I am super excited for a project I am launching in December. It is all about how I use sticky notes to organize my business. But what I am really excited for, is I am going to try out some new methods in my launch. Im going to run a challenge on instagram and try to start a post it not flash mob on the internet. I am not sure if it will work, but I think it will be really fun to try!
Megan Flatt is a business consultant and time management strategist for busy moms who want to start and grow their dream businesses while being actively present in the day to day lives of their kids. She is in constant pursuit of the perfect to do list and the perfect vanilla latte. You can learn more about Megan and her sticky note challenge at www.meganflatt.com