Mastering Balance: Marketing Goals for Service-Driven Small Businesses
Being a new mom while running my own business? Life doesn’t get much more challenging. I say this with full conviction because life really is that unpredictable force that shows you her true, shady colors just when you think you’ve hit the brink of despair. I might sound dramatic, but let’s face it—motherhood is dramatic. And motherhood while running a business? Well, that’s superhuman.
Kudos to everyone on this journey with me, or anyone daring to take the leap! You’ve got this! You already know what needs to be done. Chances are, you’ve mapped out your exit/start-up plan, religiously follow @corporatebish, and had a million conversations with coworkers and friends—maybe even jokingly (or not) threatening to leave it all behind. Eat my shorts and bye Felicia! Hello, 2025!
Whether you're already running your own business or ready to put your master plan into action, because you’re a badass and ain't nobody gonna hold you down in 2025, listen up—let’s be boss babes together. I’ll hold you to it, and hey, please hold me to it too, okay?
If you’re in need of a little creative spark, I find it helps to start small. Here are a few simple steps you can take to work toward your bigger mindset goal. Grab your journal, you savvy business icon! Pour yourself a glass of wine (because you deserve it) and live life to the fullest!
Before anything, remind yourself: just chip away. Don’t overwhelm yourself with the big plan—focus on your next step. And for goodness' sake, take breaks, step away, reimagine, and repeat. This should be fun, so if you’re not having fun during the process, press pause, take a beat, and hit play when you have a fresh perspective. You’ll see big impacts from a series of small, meaningful movements. It starts with a weekly plan. How will you adjust your progress until you find a personal process that works for you?
What does your perfect work culture look like? If you’re like me, you’ve probably encountered your fair share of questionable bosses and toxic workspaces. But a healthy workplace isn’t impossible—it’s just that it’s been a while since those in power (few and far between) were held to high standards, especially when it comes to prioritizing employee well-being at its core, not just the common work-life anomalies. Write down a list of suggested values for your company culture. Congratulations—you’ve just begun building your own set of core values, values you’ll hold yourself and anyone who joins forces with you accountable for.
Next, identify a company you’d LOVE to work with. What brands do you personally love? What styles do you appreciate? In business, it helps to define yourself through your community. What companies in your industry do you admire, follow, and see potential for future partnerships? Your brand should align with theirs in terms of core values, ethos, and culture. Do your research to understand how each brand defines themselves. Defining yourself can be tricky, but it’s much easier when you draw inspiration from the brands you love.
Finally, identify your competitive edge. Maybe it’s being hyper-local with an insider perspective on a company’s audience and demographics. Or perhaps your past roles have put you through a bootcamp of company restructuring and quick-fix solutions for maintaining company culture. Whatever your experiences, apply them! They make you uniquely you—and nobody can take that away.
I hope these journaling prompts do some justice. Even if it just made you ponder. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. This is my very first post in this blog forum, so there’s a lot to learn—and I’m here for it!
