Right now, I’m wrapping up my last call with Mia Redrick, and I want to get some reflection in as I listen to her advice to our group. The fact that I, the woman who refuses to wake up before 7 and can’t imagine caring for anything that doesn’t walk on four legs, have been learning from Mia, who markets herself as The Mom Strategist, for the last year resulted from a combination of timing and need. After I got fired last year, I was in need of inspiration and direction. A travel industry client turned friend Tawanna of Mom’s Guide to Travel recommended that I have an initial call with Mia to learn about her services after telling me how much Mia’s guidance had helped her.
The first call was like talking to that friend/mentor/auntie who told you exactly what it was with a firmness and warmth. After discussing what I was trying to do for myself and my potential business, I had to mention the most obvious point: I’m not a mom. Knowing the insane amount of time management, patience and planning that women who are both mothers and entrepreneurs need to be successful, I wasn’t sure I was in need of the same guidance. Mia reassured me that her advice and insight applied to all, and that I would find value in the group setting combined with one-on-one conversations.
Value is just the beginning of what I found with Mia. Her straightforward approach and the fact that she could relate to nearly every heartache the group had been through gave us the space to be honest. From the importance of outsourcing, outreach and collaboration to product planning, the fact that I wasn’t a mom didn’t mean much as I gathered nuggets of wisdom. Above all, Mia preached self-care, which was the word that I needed after a year of stressing as a young professional.
I would recommend that anyone who wants to learn about how to run a business without running themselves into the ground reach out to Mia. I’ll miss being able to email her with my inner thoughts (I may still tweet her though) but I’ve gained some friends and contacts through the group that will continue to inspire me as I figure out what I’m doing while knowing it’s okay that I don’t have all the answers.
Thank you also to the ladies in my group:
Tawanna Browne-Smith – Founder of Mom’s Guide to Travel
Rani Robinson-Kiganda – Founder, CEO of Craft Web Solutions
Christine St. Vil – Author of Whose Shoes Are You Wearing, Founder and CEO of Moms In Charge
Rita Roane Blackwell – President, That Wine Girl
Mia Clapp – Clapp Studios (Photography)
Crystal Morgan Marable – Founder, Graceful Girlz
Veleisa,
I’ve loved working with you over the last year! You added so much insight and value with your background in PR and your willingness to do the assignments to grow both your business and your life.
I’m proud of you and will be watching you on your new adventure.
Awww I absolutely LOVE this post Lisa! Thank you so much for sharing because I’ve honestly felt the same about each of you. Mia is amazing and I am sooo glad I was able to coach with her as well, and have grown over the last year. Such a fab group of women 🙂 Please keep in touch and let me know how I can support you!
Leisa, you are sharp and learning your way just like the rest of us. It doesn’t matter that you don’t have children, as you saw with our group. We all have similar struggles simply as women. Our perspectives and experiences just vary a little. Thanks for trusting my advice and challenging yourself to stretch even when it didn’t feel comfortable.