Work-Life Balance Is a Lie

I feel like every time I'm crushing it in my business, I get a twinge of guilt because I've barely made eye contact with my 7 month old as he learns to crawl and I haven't made dinner for my family in over a week. Similarly, when I'm winning Present Mom of the Year doing sensory activities and baking French strawberry cakes, I can't help but feel anxious that I'm neglecting my business.

Chasing the mythical work-life balance is a struggle for all moms but especially CEO moms who need to pour into both their families and businesses. The truth is, you can't be 100% in both spaces - it's exhausting and probably means less than stellar performance as a mom and business owner.

So let’s stop chasing balance. Instead, let's talk about work-life harmony. We're here to build businesses that fit around our lives first. Every entrepreneurial mom I know will say that her proudest title is "Mom". So let's avoid building ourselves into another job and instead create a business that helps us live the life we really want.

The key to unlocking harmony isn't about working harder; it’s about working smarter and building a foundation that allows your business to run independent from you. That foundation is built on three key pillars: finding support, building systems, and getting clear on your numbers.

Pillar 1: Build Your Village (Outsourcing & Delegation)

The entrepreneurial journey will NEVER be a solo one. Don't wait until you're stretched too thin to build your village. You need a team of support that can help you with your business and your home life. This might include outsourcing tasks to team members, whether they're contractors or employees, so you can free up your time and energy to focus on CEO-level tasks. It also means leaning on your personal support system—your spouse, your family, your friends, your church, or even a virtual community—so you have the space to show up for your business without feeling completely depleted in your personal life.

For me, this looks like 20 hours a week of in-home childcare so I can show up fully as a business owner AND mom. I’m also a member of several entrepreneurial communities tailored specifically for ambitious CEO moms. If you’re looking for similar support, consider joining the Made for Mothers Virtual Village or the SelfStartHER community.

Pillar 2: Master Your Systems & Automations

You are the heart of your business, but you can't be everything to your business if you plan to grow beyond your own capacity. That's what smart systems and automations are for. This includes everything from streamlining your client onboarding process to automating your social media content. Building these systems frees you from the repetitive admin tasks that steal your time and creative energy and ensures that your clients have a consistent and pleasant experience each and every time. Systems don't just save you, they make clients happy :)

To make this tangible, CRMs (Customer Relationship Management) can be a complete game changer. Using a platform like Honeybook or Dubsado allows you to automate everything from initial client inquiries to contracts and invoices. You can also use tools like Zapier to create automated workflows, so when a new client signs on, they automatically get a welcome email, are sent your onboarding questionnaire, and can schedule their intake meeting—all while you take your babies to the zoo. When you have a streamlined system in place, you can confidently step into a strategic, visionary role like the highly capable CEO you are!

Pillar 3: Get Clear on Your Numbers

Your business finances are so much more than just a bunch of numbers; they tell the story of where your business is at and where it's headed. When you have a clear picture of your business's health, you can make informed decisions that align with your values and your long-term goals. Do you dream of buying a home with more land? Your financial systems are the first step to making that dream a reality. Do you want to be able to give cheerfully as we are called by God to do and make values-driven purchases for your family and your business? Clean finances allow you to confidently do so. Knowing your numbers empowers you to make choices that support the lifestyle you want to live, not just the business you want to run.

A Quick Financial Check-up:

To understand the state of your business finances right now, ask yourself these questions:

• Do I know how much revenue I made last month?

• Are my business finances separate from my personal finances?

• Could I confidently hand my books over to a tax professional today?

• Do I have a system for tracking all my income and expenses?

• Could I tell you my profit margin for the last quarter?

If you answered no to any of these, it's a clear signal that your financial systems need a little help.

When you unstick yourself from the myth of work-life balance, you stop feeling guilty and start feeling empowered. It means you stop churning through admin work and start strategically building the life you've been working so hard for, all while keeping your family at the heart of it all.