3 Under 2: Business, Babies, and Balance
If you’re here, you’re likely one of three people: a friend or family member supporting me (thank you!), a mama starting her own business, or a mama deep in the trenches of balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood. Whoever you are, I want to start by saying thank you for your support. I hope this guide brings you inspiration, insight, and a little help on your journey.
As I write this, I can’t help but think back to my college days as a newspaper writer. Interviewing musicians and artists was something I truly loved, and writing about their stories was an amazing experience. Now, I’m putting those skills to work again—this time, writing about myself, which feels a little odd but necessary.
So, where do I begin? How did I start my business? What were my first thoughts on motherhood? It’s hard to pinpoint, but let’s just roll with it.
The Start of My Business Journey
Back in 2016, while working full-time in construction, I started taking on side projects to put my degree in social media, graphic design, and creative management to use. It gave me insight into the digital industry, and I quickly fell in love with the process of creating and being part of the creative world. I’m the kind of person who walks down the beer aisle just to check out the packaging. I’ve always been fascinated with branding, marketing, and the profound impact social media has on how we operate as a society.
Owning a creative agency had always been a dream, but it felt distant and unclear. How could someone like me, with no formal business experience, dive into such a venture? So, I put it on the back burner… for a while.
Becoming a Mom
In 2019, I became a mom, and my business dreams took a back seat. I was consumed with motherhood and completely happy staying at home with my son. Then, when the initial high of new motherhood wore off, I found myself struggling with my identity. I wasn’t sure who I was outside of being a mother.
When I became pregnant with my second son in 2021, everything changed. After his birth in October, I realized I couldn’t go back to a 9-to-5 job. By then, I had been taking on a few social media clients here and there, not realizing that all the while, I had been building a business that hadn’t been officially born yet.
McKenzie Creative Management is Born
I reached a point where I had to decide—either go to nursing school or take a real shot at building my agency. So, I went for it. I registered the business as McKenzie Creative Management LLC and made it official. My first client? Well, let’s just say it was a challenging experience, but I learned a lot in that first year.
Over time, I found myself pouring into MCM like it was my third baby—because it was, just in a different way.
What I’ve Learned About Balancing Business and Motherhood
Here’s the part you came for—the lessons I’ve learned along the way. Let me tell you, it’s not luck that got me here. It’s passion, purpose, help, drive, and determination.
First, being a stay-at-home mom without having something that’s just for me felt impossible. I grew up watching my mom work hard, and she had the strongest work ethic I’ve ever seen. For me, working was always going to be part of my life, but once I had my kids, it had to be purposeful.
Balancing motherhood and running a business takes planning, dedication, and a lot of flexibility. But it’s worth every moment, because I’m building something meaningful—for my family and for myself.
More lessons to come!
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