Crystalee Beck is the Founder of Comma Copywriters and The Mama Ladder. She describes herself as a proud mama to three cute mess makers with a passion for building businesses. She had a corporate marketing job and when presented with the chance, she decided that she didn’t want to miss her children’s childhood and started her first company. Like many of us, she takes care of her children and follows her passion while using her creativity. We are talking about her journey to being a business owner, her companies, and our thoughts around “mom guilt”. This episode is a must-listen for all the mamas!
Let’s talk about finding work that fuels your purpose and ridding ourselves of that “mom guilt” nonsense!
What we’re talking about
- The Journey From The Corporate World To Being A Business Owner
- How Crystalee Launched Two Businesses
- The Mama Ladder & How It Supports Mom-Owned Businesses
- Thoughts On “Mom Guilt”
The Journey From The Corporate World To Being A Business Owner
Crystalee explains that she had been questioning what work would look like with motherhood. After being laid off on her return to work following the birth of her first child, she had the chance to figure things out. She considered what motherhood looked like, what her life looked like, and what mattered to her. Crystalee had always admired women who started their own companies but was terrified of doing it herself. She decided that she wasn’t going to miss her children’s childhood, but she needed to make money. Taking her skillset and her network, she created her first business, Comma Copywriters.
In the last four years, she has built that business to twenty writers and editors and two sales members, and the growth is exciting. Crystalee says it took a leap of faith and trust for her to build her team, but she believes she’s not the only one with that skill set. Outsourcing has allowed them to tap into the gig economy and find so many talented writers.
How Crystalee Launched Two Businesses
The Comma Copywriters was Crystalee’s first business. She learned what worked for herself and her company and has been able to provide flexible opportunities for others to use their talents and have more freedom to write wherever they want, wearing what they want.
Crystalee started her company with two babies, and within about six months, she was making more money than her former corporate job. She was happier and had more time to herself. Women started approaching her and asking how she had launched a business and was so successful. She felt like she needed to share this with other mothers. So in 2017, she launched The Mama Ladder and created a community for working moms to support them on their entrepreneurial journey.
The Mama Ladder & How It Supports Mom-Owned Businesses
Crystalee created a company that offers retreats, workshops, and at the core is a community that meets every week called Mama Power. A tight-knit group of amazing women who are mothers committed to their children and their companies. It’s a place where women understand and support each other while they go through all the trials and tribulations of having children and running a business.
The Mama Ladder is hosting the 5th round of The High Five Grant, a $5000 business grant competition, open internationally for moms who own businesses. The grant is to help you create or grow your ladder to fit your family.
Thoughts on “Mom Guilt”
We’re candidly sharing our thoughts on “mom guilt”. Crystalee explains that at The Mama Ladder, they seek to normalize not feeling guilty for having goals, being yourself, and showing your children what’s possible by being a business owner. She helps moms realize that they don’t have to carry this guilt around.
Crystalee is writing a book that she hopes to have ready by next summer, where one of the things she is exploring are the two types of guilt; merited and unmerited. Diving deeper, she explains that most guilt is unmerited, and it’s women comparing themselves to other moms. She talks to us through various questions and thoughts to contemplate and get to the root of our feelings and beliefs of “mom guilt”. We, as moms, need to define and decide for ourselves what it is that we truly want in life and not what someone else has told us.
You need to let go of those feelings of guilt. You shouldn’t feel guilty about showing your kids that you show up for your work and that you show up for them. This week practice feeling good and proud about the work you are doing and the loving mom that you are. You are doing it all, and your kids are growing up to see how life should be lived.
Are you ready to let go of “mom guilt” and show your children the beautiful merge of being a dedicated mother and an ambitious business owner?
If you’re a mom and have a business, apply for the High Five Grant. Applications are being accepted September 25 to October 16, 2020. Head over and get your application submitted!
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