How to Build a Coaching Business as a New Mom

Emily Merrell and Lexie Smith get real and break down what it’s been like navigating owning and building a business as new moms. They dish out their best advice, and lessons learned, and reflect upon the realities that face all moms as they navigate business, babies, and balance. 

Here’s what you’ll learn: 

• Em & Lex share their personal experiences of being pregnant
• They dish out on what it feels like to be a new mom while running and building a business
• They address societal standards and perceptions that working moms face
• Lex shares a book recommendation for moms
• Both of their best tips for managing babies and business - they give advice on how they personally time block 
• The greatest gift you can give yourself when childcare is hard to find
• The advantages moms have in building a business
• Self-reflection homework to help you feel more clear about how to both parent and work
• And more!

Follow Em & Lex on Instagram at @readysetcoachprogram

Learn more about the Ready Set Coach Program at Readysetcoachprogram.com

Snag 5 Numbers to Know to Launch a Coaching Business here.

Learn more about Six Degrees Society and THEPRBAR inc.

Lexie's book recommendation: Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers

Transcript

 How to Build a Coaching Business as a New Mom - Podcast Transcript

Emily Merrell  

So lex, I got vomited on twice yesterday.

Lexie Smith  

Oh, that's fun. Shit on. Literally or figuratively. This is here's my like late night voice. This episode goes out to all the moms out there listen it mama mamas my mama's mama mamas. Your mama's the one of the mamas, if you're not a mom, just you know, going to one of our others might not relate to any of this. 

Emily Merrell  

If you're an auntie, you might relate to this to

Lexie Smith  

or babysitter. You're more than welcome to listen to us. We're just going to be talking to the moms today. Specifically, we're both new moms ourself. Jackson is just about, I guess, 11 Almost 11 months or months. No, yeah,

Emily Merrell  

he's gonna be he's over 11 months. How? I don't know. You're about to get up and like, Okay, so here's my, this is what I would describe. When he was being born or when he was being built. I'd be like, okay, the best Keebler elves are working as PMS right now. And they're knitting his skin and like putting together his eyeballs. That's how I envisioned the building of a baby. What about you?

Lexie Smith  

Beautiful Mind of Emily. Oh, yeah. Can't say relate. No, no, I unfortunately, you know, and please, anyone listening you know that I am so grateful that I have the ability to get to get pregnant and I don't take that lightly. But pregnancy was not a fun experience for me. And I probably said less favorable things was in my stomach like a press pass. And what did I say? I'm like there's a

Emily Merrell  

ID you call it like an alien or

Lexie Smith  

something like something leech sucky now. I know her. She's real. She's wonderful. She's no longer a leech. But the point being I didn't have the sparkly journey of pregnancy. Some have. That's not to say I'm not grateful. But yeah, I didn't also have the vision you did. Emily. That's, that's that's,

Emily Merrell  

I just imagined these adorable Keebler elves, just like sitting in their tree, knitting eyeballs, or knitting skin. And then I imagine them like project managing, how do they know? Like, now it's time to put the nose together. Like who can

Lexie Smith  

say adorable, I'm thinking of a horror film, skin. Okay, what this is really demonstrating guys is that there's so many different ways and reflections of motherhood, there's highs, there's lows, there's people who love the process. There's people who not there's everything in between. And when you're a working mom, or you're a coach and a mom, and you're a business owner and a mom, it adds this whole other layer of complexity. So first, whether you are Keebler elf crew, like Emily, or you're sitting over on, there was an alien inside of me. You know, that's okay. We just want you to say like your feelings, Emily, you said this to me a lot during pregnancy, and I appreciated you for it. Your feelings are valid,

Emily Merrell  

your feelings are valid, there is no incorrect way to feel. And I think mom guilt is real. But I also think it's also okay to not have mom guilt. I think both of those those feelings are real. There was a moment, the first time I left Jackson. And just to back up a little bit this, as you as we mentioned, we're going to talk a lot about the feelings of being a business owner and also being the caretaker of a tiny, tiny rent and making sure that this person is still loved and given attention. And just like real talk on all of it and how we balance it out. But I have to say this comment that I used to be really judgmental of moms who had boundaries. I used to be really judgmental of people I worked with in the corporate world who would run home from work to be with their kids. I also was really judgmental of people who walked away from their kids who left their families and we're never heard from again, and I'm sorry to all of them. because I feel like I can relate to all of them at this point. And the first time that I left Jackson, I missed him a ton. But I also I there was this moment in the side of my brain that was like, Oh, I can I can understand where someone just disappears.

Lexie Smith  

Yeah, I remember you telling me that. I think that there is a lot of harsh criticism meets mean, girls, that happens in the world of motherhood and other moms judging moms and people aren't moms judging moms. And then, you know, there's just so many opinions on you're doing it right, you're doing it wrong, you should feel this way, you should feel grateful you shouldn't do this. There's so many shoulds. And it's, it's ridiculous. In my opinion, like there's, there's, it's too complicated, of a category of a topic for there to be one right way. So wherever you feel, you know, in this given time, in your moment, also, postpartum depression is very, very, very real to

Emily Merrell  

the book that you read. I think that that was so so useful.

Lexie Smith  

Okay. So one of my top recommendations for any new mom listening doesn't even need to be a new mom, any mom through the thick of it right now. My cousin sent this to me and I received it when I had a newborn, I have my daughter is five months at this point going on six months. But when you are in those first months, you're exhausted. So like, the concept of reading was terrible. This one is basically like a comic book in pictures. And so I felt that it was readable. It's called good moms have scary thoughts. Holy cow, did I appreciate that book, all the shout outs, we will include it in show notes. But it basically illustrates all the things that we carry around the weight of the world on our shoulders and what we should be thinking versus what how we're really feeling. I saw this meme the other day, or whatever they're called Meme Meme. That was like, okay, so he'll quickly but don't worry, take your time and healing but do breastfeed, but don't put your boobs out in public. Yeah, you know, get like, like all these contradictions that we have to deal with, like, make sure you don't lose your identity. But You're terrible. If you know you're taking a call and not paying attention to your kid. There's just all these things that society slam slam in our face as moms

Emily Merrell  

totally, um, breastfeed for two years. But don't breastfeed in public. But great brought me back, but don't leave. Yeah, like you've nailed all of them, basically, all the all the things. So the first part of this episode, we just want all the moms out there to hear us. Yeah, you see you. And I think one of the things that we're American as a lot of growing up to do in terms of supporting Moms. I'm essentially at this moment, taking my paycheck and just handing it directly to my nanny and being like, Hi, here you go. I worked so I could pay you so I could you could take care of my kid. Pete, which I remember hearing, and I know, it definitely leaves a lot of people out of the workforce for that reason, too, because when they look at the financials, that it doesn't necessarily make sense for them to work. But as an entrepreneur, I definitely, I feel like there's been so many privileges of being able to work from home and being able to be close to to Jackson. But also like, being a mom has also fueled how much I want to work and how much I want to leave a legacy for him.

Lexie Smith  

If you're an ambitious, professional, consultant, or business owner, who is feeling called to do more, be more or make more, we'd like to invite you to learn more about Ready Set coach,

Emily Merrell  

do you feel called to create change, help others do something outside of your day to day that generates true impact.

Lexie Smith  

While you may or may not be content with your day job or existing business? Do you feel called to dip your toes into something more? Whether it's tapping into another zone of genius or the side hustle is calling your name? Are you ready to explore what the more would look

Emily Merrell  

like? Do you feel like your business or career is leaving money on the table or you're looking to launch a new revenue stream or side hustle?

Lexie Smith  

Turning your expertise into a coaching revenue stream or side hustle is rewarding, impactful and a great business model? It's the triple threat, multibillion dollar industry that Perhaps you've been looking for this whole time. If you

Emily Merrell  

want to explore more on how to add a coaching revenue stream into your life. We invite you to explore our website. Ready Set coach program.com

Lexie Smith  

applications are now open for our 2023 cohort. Yeah, I think that it has made me so abundantly grateful for the career path I've done goes in, and to have the ability to work from home and to have ownership over my schedule to some degree to some degree. But, you know, we're going to share some actionable things as well in this episode about what what we're doing. As we're recording this right now I literally have my monitor in front of me watching my daughter, because she's going to wake up like probably any second. But here's one of the challenges. i EMILY knows this, I had the hardest time finding a nanny, I had like for no shows, I could not find anyone, I now have one knock on wood. It's been a lifesaver. But I'm not at a part where she can be with me all day, every day yet, EMS point, that's just not a financial commitment my family's decided to make. So I've had to be very strategic with when I use my nanny, and how I block my day, outside of my nanny, so today, I had my nanny from 812. So I took all my client calls from eight to 12. At this point, at five months, she now has pretty much a standard nap time. So I'm like, okay, her nap times from x to it was from it's from 230 to 430. So I'm going to do my sales call in this podcast recording in that time, and I'm gonna do my best outside of that to give her as much attention as I can. So you know, you start to learn little little tricks and tips. Emily, what do you do? Oh, right.

Emily Merrell  

I think that is the the greatest gift you can give yourself when childcare is still a big question mark is putting your kid on the schedule. So then you can be putting yourself on a schedule. And I loved what you said about being able to, you know, be able to block time for a sales call or block time for a podcast because you know that she's pretty conditioned that this is her naptime. And that's what I do with Jackson two. I mean, my nanny was moving today. So I ended up having a friend substitute as the babysitter, which worked out beautifully. But I, if everything fails, Bob, my systems fail, at least I have the set naps. And then the other non negotiables that I have on my calendar are his feeding times. So I have those blocked where I won't feed, or I won't feed, they won't schedule a call over his feeding time. So in case, I don't have child care, I'm at least able to anticipate that I will be on duty for feeding. And then the other things too, my husband handles the morning shift. And I basically have my freedom until 8am. So I can work out. I like to wake up really early and and carve out that time for me. So I'm also able to tackle any pressing work before 8am. And then he goes to bed at 8pm. So anything that's lingering, I will open my computer and work post 8pm

Lexie Smith  

Can we just give a shout out to any and all the single parents in the world because I do not know how they do it. I am so grateful to be doing parent teen with a partner and my partner, since she's been born has has left a few times for a week. And so I've had like just a glimpse into the life of a single parent and it is absolutely insane. Here's what I have to say to single parents to anyone, to anyone in any role I just wanted to give a shout out is asked for help in that week. Right where I was the single parent, it was really important for me, although uncomfortable to to ask for help, because I didn't have a partner there. So was there an hour that I could have, you know, a friend come over and just you know, hold my baby so I could hammer out some emails? Could I see if my mother in law was free for you know, could I go to her house for an hour and have her watch my daughter my mother in law can't go up and down stairs, so sometimes you might have to accommodate them. One piece of advice I have is while it doesn't always feel good to ask for help, like do because that's really the only way you know and be willing to receive help too, if it's

Emily Merrell  

offered. And it's funny you say that because now I've made a lot of friends. As you know, I accost people when I see them with a child in my neighborhood. She actually does so real real time she stops people. Lexi saw it firsthand and one of the moms we met at the monkey barrel actually came over today to borrow some some bottles to try for her daughter her three month old daughter. And I said to her I was like if you ever need a babysitter? Seriously, just let us know because we're happy to watch her when you guys get a night out and establishing these little mini deposits even if you can't afford a babysitter or you don't have any babysitter's in your vicinity. Establish these little swaps. Like all watch your kid in exchange for you watching my kids so I can have a night out and most people are super cute. done it. And then when people do offer to help take them up on it if they don't want cash, pay them in wine, if they do want cash, pay them in cash. But I My favorite thing about living where I live, we do a taco Tuesday every Tuesday. And I walk in, and I literally hold up my baby and the first person who takes the kid on like, I have a margarita in my hand a moment later, and he's being loved on and adored by other people. And I'm not inconveniencing anyone. It's like playing with a puppy.

Lexie Smith  

Yeah, guys, it takes a village. So identify who your villages if you don't have a village, it might be time to find one, can you go start fishing on Facebook groups, to be quite frank, I'm part of quite a few virtual communities. But I don't have a lot of mom friends, where I physically live, I have a few. Some of my best friends, I'm about 30 minutes away, but I wanted someone hyperlocal. So I've been I'm in the phase where I'm looking for more of my village. And that's, you know, as an adult looking for more adult friends, that's, it's challenging, but it really does does take a village.

Emily Merrell  

And I want to, I want to bring this back to business a little bit. Having a kid while it definitely comes with its obstacles is also such an incredible advantage. There's so many communities that are mom and business and entrepreneurial focused that I felt like I was on the outside looking in for so many years until, until I had Jackson and was able to be invited to this club. And it was so incredible, because now you're talking and you're connecting, and you're ideating with people who are like minded in more ways than one.

Lexie Smith  

Yes. And another thing I want to share in the business frame of mind, mom guilt, I do think is unavoidable to some extent, but one refrain that I tried to remember myself or remind myself of when I'm feeling that is, what I'm doing is for her, it's for the family. It's setting a good example for her. You know, I'm working so that I can have an ear so I can do these things and have a beautiful childhood for her. And while you know, she might not understand that now, one day she will and I have so much more respect now not that I didn't respect my parents growing up. But how much more do you respect all the crazy things that they did for you, now that you're standing in their

Emily Merrell  

shoes, totally. And I feel like it's something that we don't appreciate until you're on the other side of it. That actually, interestingly enough, my mom and I, we were all talking about this recently with my mom. And we're like, okay, you're almost in your in your late 60s. And I, this could be the time where you become a grandma or this could be the time that you become. She's very much multi passionate entrepreneur. And my mom said to us, she's like, I don't want to just be like, she loves being a grandma. She's like, but I want to have a legacy to leave behind. And so she's very, very dedicated to being successful in her business, because she wants us to be proud of her for for building and accomplishment, accomplishing what she is building. And I really admired that and resonated with that. Because at the end of the day, I think I feel very similar.

Lexie Smith  

And as we're talking about mama hood, and I told you guys, we have a monitor, my little one is waking up. So let's leave everyone off with a little bit of homework. And do we have some journaling prompts? What are we thinking?

Emily Merrell  

I'm thinking we should? Yeah, I think journaling prompts sounds great. I think as a mom, think about all of the people that you can connect with in your network that also are mums, that you can focus that you can find a connection for your business as well. And maybe it starts off with as a mom friendship, but could lead to a potential client collaboration or something more.

Lexie Smith  

And here's my bonus homework. It's an activity I did recently. I want you to write down every attribute that you want your child to one day have, do you want them to be kind? Do you want them to be ambitious? Do you want them to have a career? What do you want them to look like? Write down that list? And I want you to look at that list and ask yourself, Where are they going to learn that from? And see if you're doing any of those things. So if on your list, it's I want my daughter to have a career she's happy with where she can learn to prioritize that. Do you have a career you're happy with? So that's another activity I did recently that I found really, really powerful. So

Emily Merrell  

I think that's a great one. I think it's a beautiful one. And thank you all so much for joining today's episode. We can't wait to hear your thoughts, your feelings, your stories. Drop it in our Instagram chat. We'd love to hear from you. And I'll see you next time. Bye guys. If you're enjoying the ReadySet coach podcast, please leave a review wherever you are listening. For more information about ReadySet coach, visit ReadySet coach program.com