Finding a career is perhaps one of the toughest things to find in life (as well as a good romantic partner to be in a relationship with). Sometimes we make do, and sometimes we let ourselves become less than what we are truly are capable of. Life is very rigid at times and doesn’t necessarily allow us to discover what we are really passionate about and what we are good at, too. We are usually thrown into a career or slotted in, somewhere along with the corporate ladder.
What if we could find the sweet spot?
What if we could create or find a vocation that really lights us up and allows us to live our best life?
I speak to Lesley, who has been an entrepreneur for 23 years. I speak to her about the ins and outs of being an entrepreneur and especially about the beauty of being able to do something you really love for a career! She started HireMyMom.com in 2007.
When you work for yourself, there are no team members to turn to or bosses to teach you things you don’t know how to do. You are responsible for learning new skills and staying on top of new technologies, trends, etc.
Why did you become an entrepreneur/what made you want to pursue the entrepreneur life?/What was the most appealing thing about this lifestyle?
After having my first child, I desperately wanted to be at home with her. I had just finished my Master’s degree and had always dreamed of climbing the corporate ladder. But after having my baby, I wanted nothing more than to work from home and be able to be an integral part of her life. The most appealing part to me at the time was having freedom and flexibility in my day and that’s still a huge benefit all these years later!
What has been the toughest aspect of living the entrepreneur lifestyle?
Going at it alone has been difficult at times. When you work for yourself, there are no team members to turn to or bosses to teach you things you don’t know how to do. You are responsible for learning new skills and staying on top of new technologies, trends, etc.
What changes did you have to make personally, emotionally, physically to adapt to this particular lifestyle?
When I first started out, I quit my full-time job which meant we needed to cut our living expenses significantly until I could get my freelance business going. We sold one car, got rid of cable TV and cut out every other bill we could. We ate more ramen noodles (hello cheap!) than I care to remember. It was rough getting started, but it gave me such drive to make sure I was successful.
What sacrifices have you had to make for the entrepreneur life?
Other than the initial sacrifices of selling my car and living with a tight budget, I feel like I’ve gained more than I’ve sacrificed. I wasn’t in the corporate world long enough to miss it. ha ha!
What advice would you give to someone who was thinking about transitioning into the entrepreneur life?
I would recommend really taking the time to discover what you are passionate about and what you are good at. Don’t just do something because you think you will make money. The honeymoon will be over on that before you know it. I believe you’ll have much more success doing what you love. Because then, it doesn’t feel like work, right? I love what I do and I look forward to sitting down at my desk every day. Instead of looking at the clock 20 times a day wondering if it’s 5:00 yet, I look at it and think “oh no, I only have x more hours to work today”. That’s when you know you love what you do!
“Don’t just do something because you think you will make money. The honeymoon will be over on that before you know it. I believe you’ll have much more success doing what you love.”
What do you enjoy most about being an entrepreneur?
I love being creative and being in charge of my time and my future. I love setting new goals for myself and growing by learning new things. And let’s face it, who doesn’t love being able to pack a bag anytime you want and take your work on the road for as long as you want! Typing this I’m on an airplane to Hawaii for 10 days! I probably wouldn’t be doing that if I worked for someone else.
What entrepreneurs inspire you?
I really enjoy Rachel Hollis and her endless energy and excitement. I also am inspired by many of the people on Shark Tank and I think Marcus Lemonis (The Profit) is pretty brilliant.
Some other fun facts about Lesley
What is your go-to coffee?
I love anything salted caramel!
What does your daily routine look like?
I get up around 6am and have my coffee, prayer, and Bible study time for about an hour to get myself focused in the right direction. Then I get my youngest up and ready for school. From there, I often work out for an hour, then head to my home office where I work until around 4pm when our youngest gets home from school. My workday includes writing, creating content, responding to customers, engaging with my community and working on daily goals.
Contact Lesley here:
Wonderfully Mei Designs 
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