Single, Mom, and Business: The Next Triple Threat

Having children and raising them primarily or all on your own as a Single Mom in Business (SMIB) can be trying. It takes strength, patience, mental stability, earning money, budgeting, time management, and much more. During these times, we tend to forget about ourselves and the talents that we already possess. Without even thinking about it, we as women counsel, lead, bake, write, design, operate machinery, raise children (or not!), are tech-savvy, and maintain multiple schedules daily, to name a few. So yes, those words mean everything!

One of the main issues I’ve had as a SMIB is budgeting the infamous household finances. I didn’t want to (but had to) tread across town, taking my kids from daycare to the night babysitter, then from there, home five times per week to earn enough money for the month. Most times, my extra job was just enough to pay her. I found myself running in circles each day, finally coming to terms that I desperately needed to make more.

So, now I was forced to brainstorm and seriously think about my talents were. Once I could decipher what my abilities and skills were and simultaneously figuring out what I enjoyed, I had to decide which ones on that list someone would be willing to pay.

I have tried for several years not to even think about time, energy and years wasted. Taking on 2, 3 jobs as a single mother. The shuffling of my daughter from one household to the other in order to continue in a cycle’s drain of fatigue, emotional distress, minimal pay and the load of the “mask” I wore each day to blemish the tears. To help others avoid such defeat...

Here are just three suggestions to get your business-minded wheels turning:

1). Are you able to braid or style little girls’ hair? Many families would pay almost anything to save the time it takes to turn their daughters’ or nieces’ hair into a masterpiece that will last for a few weeks. What a blessing for so many other moms! Gain several customers by styling by taking before and after pictures and begin your portfolio; manually and online—the perfect testimonials.

2). Are you considered “Katie the Cleaning Lady” by your friends? Let that be your industry! Begin by letting others know (or show them) how well you clean and organize or change the furniture in rooms or areas of their house, office, or garage. Who wouldn’t be willing to pay you to help spring clean or change out all of the fall/winter items with the spring/summer ones? Just remember to obtain insurance because if you don’t believe it, the “You-break-it-you-bought-it” rule is oh so real!

3). What about writing? If you love writing, you can create resumes, write grants, blog (monetized), editing manuscripts, or writing emails for businesses. I say, try them all; trust me, your skills will reveal themselves. Connect with those who just wrote a book, essay, or article and edit for them. Requesting a chance to be a guest blogger for someone to get exposure then, possibly begin to apply to write for others.

Conclusion

It takes strength, patience, and determination to gain these opportunities to make extra money doing what you love. There is also a chance, if you pursue it, to network and connect with the right clients where your side hustle can become your full-time income. The ultimate goal, which we all have that fit our lives and family dynamics, is to rise to a place of financial gain, being single, a mom, and business for ourselves.