TODAy is international women's day.
We thought we’d celebrate all of the incredible women out there doing amazing things by sharing some of our stories and some of our challenges.
First up is me, but I am honoured to be included with a few of the wonderful women I work with. Hope you enjoy and you can relate.
1.
Hi! As you know I’m Jess, founder of Paper Ballards, a design & printing business, specialising in business & wedding stationery that became a reality after I designed our own wedding stationery. I’m also a Mum to 3 very energetic boys and a wife, to an equally energetic husband! We recently moved to a house by the sea which we are loving.
What is your biggest challenge? Without a doubt, my biggest challenge is having a healthy work/life balance. As a small business owner and a Mum it is incredibly hard to balance everything. It’s hard to find the time to fulfil both my role as a mum, and my role as a business owner. Often I find myself burnt out, overwhelmed and exhausted from juggling it all. It is something I am working on though, and I know I will find the sweet spot sooner or later!
What has been the best advice you have been given? Never give up on a bad day! This was actually advice given to me when I was breastfeeding my son. Those early days are so hard, and I was told to never give up on a bad day, and I never did no matter how much I wanted to during those hard times.
I still carry that same advice around with me now and it has transferred through to my business life. We all have bad days, we all have days where we think why the f**k am I doing this. Those are the days where it is easy to give up, but by not giving up you are showing true strength and true commitment. It’s on those days where you need to remind yourself why you are doing this in the first place. Allow yourself to let go of all those emotions and carry on for the reason you started!
How do you practice self-care? As a business owner it’s so hard to make time for self-care, there’s always a task, or a person who takes president over your own self-care. However, over the past 6 months I have really been making a massive effort to practice some self-care. I now do lots of different forms of self-care such as journaling, eating the right foods, and my favourite thing, walking! In my opinion, there is nothing better than putting my air pods in, and walking in the woods or on the beach without any work stuff to do, or kids to take care of. It’s just me, my music and the outdoors. It’s an amazing way to clear my mind, and it sets me right for the day. I have found myself being more productive and less stressed in my work and personal life. I’ve also shifted a ton of weight, and feel the best I have in years.
2.
Hi! I am a mum of 2 lovely boys aged 10 and 11, the owner and maker behind Perfecto Arte. I like to create items for people who want to express their feelings to people they love. I started in 2016 in Greece before I moved over here. I make wedding gifts, birthday gifts, cards, wish books, memory albums, diaper cakes, invitations, bunting banners and decorations for birthday parties too!
What is your biggest challenge? I always have ideas for new creations and try to meet the different taste and needs of each customer as every customer is unique. So one of my biggest challenges is to give my best every day to each one of them! I also feel pressure to create affordable package prices. I want every customer to be able to buy my products and I want them to love them as much as I loved making them!
What has been the best advice you have been given? Running a small business is not an easy task. You have to be passionate about what you do and the products you sell. You need to listen to feedback from your customers if you want to grow your business. The best advice I have been given is to be the best at what I do! To do what I love and love what I do! I have read somewhere ’’…not worry about being the best at everything; just be the best at something…’’ and it is so true! You need to set priorities and make one step at the time.
How do you practise Self Care? For me it is very important to have a plan for the week and try to stick to it even if it’s not always possible. At least I have a plan, right? What I enjoy the most is when we all go for a walk or taking the bikes and discover new paths at the area we live. As mum of 2 boys I have a busy day every day! So one more thing I enjoy is the quiet at home time when my children are asleep.
3.
Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m married with 2 lively young boys & I am an artist based in Derby, East Midlands and run Sarah Perkins Art. I create from my incubation studio and my specialism is animals & pet portraiture. From my artworks, I produce prints & gifts. I would describe my painting style as modern, lively & unique & I love to see my artwork in people’s homes!
What is your biggest challenge? Recently my biggest challenge has been home schooling & working from home. Its been tough & frustrating at times, as it has slowed down my creating opportunities through lack of time. Thankfully the light is at the end of the tunnel & I can start producing more designs & commissions, now the children are back in school.
What has been the best advice you have been given? Back in early 2018 I produced a surprise portrait of a friend’s dog for her 50th birthday. My friend had encouraged me for years to do my art & use the abilities I had. I finally put paint to canvas & as they say, the rest is history. I’ll be forever thankful that she had faith in me & gave me the drive to be where I am today!
How do you practise Self Care? I enjoy going out with our Shih tzu doggy on walks in the fresh air. It’s great for clearing the mind
Also, if I am honest – painting is my time to focus & it’s perfect for my well being. I’m thankful that I have a professional that actually is like a form of meditation!
4.
Hello! I’m a Virtual Assistant at Paula Ann VA. I am a mum of 2, living in a small coastal town in Hampshire. I help small creative businesses with their admin and social media management so that they can focus on their business and creations!. I also run, Jack and Me Creations, so I know how hard it can be to juggle behind the scenes!
What is your biggest challenge? My biggest challenge is switching off! I am constantly thinking of new ideas, working late into the evening and pushing myself to do my best. I find it hard to relax and even when I’m sitting in front of the telly, I have my laptop open!
What has been the best advice you have been given? To just dive in and not overthink everything! I was toying with the idea of becoming a Virtual Assistant, but I kept coming up with obstacles and reasons why I shouldn’t do it! I was told to just start, done is better than perfect! So I built my website, started an Instagram account and I am now the owner of a successful business with multiple clients!
How do you practise Self Care? This is something I find quite hard to do. I try to do a workout at least 3 times a week, I always feel so much better after I exercise. I also make time once a week for a bubble bath with a glass of red wine and a face mask! I’m hoping that with schools reopening, and more time to focus on work during the day, I’ll have much more time in the evenings to do things for myself, I’d love to have the time to read more!
5.
Hi, I’m Penny and I work with my husband in our Graphic and Web Design business. I look after social media, copywriting, preparing proposals, etc. I am also permanently homeschooling (for the second time!) our 16-year-old son who has Autism. I also have two grown-up daughters who are at University and a very excitable puppy!
What is your biggest challenge? Concentrating on one task at a time as I have so many things going on in one day and keeping myself organised. I am always researching techniques and approaches but I just can’t seem to maintain anything long term so eveything turns into a bit of blur!
What has been the best advice you have been given? Professionally, someone once told me ‘People Buy People’ and to always be honest and open. This is the basis on which we have built our business; being transparent, forming close working relationships and going that extra, genuine, mile for our clients. Personally, it’s not specifically advice, but with our Son having Autism it has taught me how important the little things are and how you should never judge other people, because you really don’t know what is going on for them.
How do you practise Self Care? I’m not the best at this and tend to get burnt out and overwhelmed before I’ve recognised I need to do something (being a bit of a control freak doesn’t help!). In the past couple of years I have tried to consciously make more time for myself; meeting friends, walking by myself and a long-term relationship with #couchto5k (it seems I really need something to follow!). It’s still a WIP but hopefully I’m learning more about myself and how to look after my mental health especially (which is generally through physical activity it seems!).
Wow. I’m exhausted putting that together. Women do, and manage, so much.
I hope that on Women’s International Day it gives you an insight into other’s and to know you are not alone!
Let’s challenge ourselves to look after each, speak up and put ourselves first!
Thank you for reading.
Jess x
Ps If you’d like to find out more about International Women’s Day please visit their website.
