Mompreneur Balancing Act: How to Manage a Side Hustle While Maintaining Your 9-5 Job

Ever feel like your life has become a never-ending merry-go-round of duties and responsibilities? Of course, you don’t resent a minute of it. You want to be a loving partner, caring parent, and dedicated friend who’s capable of keeping the house in order, providing healthy meals for the family, practising self-care, building a career, and working on the side hustle you hope to make your legacy. The problem is… who on Earth has time for all of that?

The first piece of good news is that you are not alone. As you read these words, there are mamas all over the world who are daydreaming about having it all – being a supermom and career rockstar with a beautifully successful side hustle. But let’s be honest, sometimes those dreams feel miles away, buried under a mountain of laundry and endless to-do lists.

The second piece of good news? It’s totally possible to create a life you love – one that fuels your dreams and gives you more freedom and flexibility to be there for your family. Of course, like any journey worth taking, it will be filled with messy moments, stressful setbacks, and all sorts of strange detours and unexpected twists. That’s why I’m here to share my journey, including the highs, the lows, and the strategies that helped us on our path to growth.

This isn’t about some picture-perfect success story. Easy advice and amazing success stories are undeniably inspirational. But sometimes, they can leave us feeling inadequate – like we don’t ever have a hope of being so polished or successful. 

Well amigas, that’s why I’m here! To give you the real, raw, unfiltered truth about the beautiful grind of juggling our dreams alongside our day jobs and our beautiful families. If you have big dreams, whatever those dreams may be, you are in the right place. You’re in for real experiences, real struggles, real strategies, and, most importantly, the hope that keeps us going.

Every Side Hustle Saga Starts Somewhere…

The entrepreneurial spirit runs strong in our little family. My husband, Adam, has always dreamed of being his own boss, but he is also guided by logic and practicality. So, when we decided it was time to have kids, he transitioned from entrepreneur to corporate worker to build a financial safety net. 

After our daughter, Jasmin, arrived, Adam took two stabs at launching his own business. Both times, the initial excitement gradually turned into long hours and an insufficient pay check. Using all our savings within seven months of grinding, Adam was back in the corporate world.

This cycle was a turning point. We realized we needed a new strategy. Here’s where the story gets interesting for aspiring mompreneurs like you. While on maternity leave, I finally saw a different path. With Adam’s entrepreneurial drive and my strategic planning skills, we could build a successful side hustle that wouldn’t jeopardize our financial stability. So whilst I was on Maternity Leave we built our Business Foundations.

The Secret Sauce of a Successful Side Hustle

With not much savings left and living pay check to pay check, we knew we had to get smart. We took a strategic leap of faith – an AU$1,000 investment in a marketing crash course. It sounds like a big chunk of change to drop, but this course was a game-changer for us.

Putting my project management skills into action, I dissected the course content and identified 18 key areas crucial for our business growth. We’ve tackled 7 of them so far, with 4 requiring ongoing attention as we refine our strategies. The ultimate goal? Mastering all 18 areas by December 2025. 

This was our first-ever investment in our business, and to this day, we rave about its value. Taken 15 months ago, it laid the groundwork for the systems we use now. The course shifted our shared mindset dramatically. 

Here’s the secret sauce: We now see the incredible power of investing in knowledge. It’s a springboard for growth, offering substantial returns on our time and effort.

One of the biggest things the course helped us overcome was our money anxiety. These fears – specifically the fear of debt – were holding us back from investing in our business. Instead, we were clinging to the faulty idea that we had to do everything ourselves to maximize profits. But guess what? Adam tried that twice, and it backfired. We needed a new approach.

So, what happens when you invest fearlessly but strategically in your side hustle?

From Struggling Side Hustle to Budding Business

There are things we all avoid, even the most skilled among us. Take Adam, for instance. With 15 years of sales experience and a natural charm that could close any deal, there was one hurdle he just couldn’t seem to jump: cold calling for our own business.

Looking back, it seems crazy. We were busy, yes, but busy with the wrong things. We poured our energy into a beautiful website, mistakenly believing that clients would magically appear. It’s a humbling reminder that success isn’t about aesthetics – it’s about strategy.

So, what was holding Adam back? Fear. Fear of rejection, fear of judgment, all those “what ifs” that can be so paralyzing. It’s a common struggle, and I wasn’t immune to my own fears either. Adam, ever the believer, saw potential in me that I couldn’t always see in myself. Of course, I felt the exact same way about him and his fears! The challenge was finding a way to see ourselves through each other’s eyes. 

I’d love to say that we had an instant epiphany at this point and magically overcame our fears, but it wasn’t that quick and easy. Our fears presented a significant roadblock to our progress. For the longest time, we relied on word-of-mouth and networking, meaning we had clients but our reach was limited. 

These fears are still something we have to face each day, and they are a work in progress. Thankfully, by incorporating the strategies below, we’ve been able to make consistent progress. 

Conquering Fear with Action

We had to tackle a big hurdle: cold calling. As you know, this was Adam’s biggest fear, despite his impressive sales experience, but his inner-critic was asking a lot of questions: “What if they hang up?” “What if no-one wants what we offer?” “Are we charging too much?”  

To combat this fear, we invested AU$5,000 in a Coaching Agency Academy. We did our research and chose this course carefully, and it paid off. From it, Adam gained the accountability and structure he needed to make those calls. With a virtual team cheering him on, he secured five paying clients within a 2 month period, paying back what we had initially invested in. This is a powerful reminder that overcoming your fears and building the right strategies are the key to a successful side hustle. Find something that will help you overcome your fears, maybe you need to invest in a coach, or a specific course that will help you get from ‘unstuck’ to action. For us, conquering our fear led us to investing in knowledge and building a team that were able to deliver a lot faster than what we could.

Investing in Knowledge & Building a Team

Alongside investing in our own knowledge and personal development, we started investing more into the business itself. Our DIY-everything mindset shifted, and we became open to the idea of outsourcing, delegating, and freeing up our time (thanks to the Marketing Crash Course).

Our current model involves project management with a twist: we bring on clients, then outsource a portion of the work to a trusted team, ensuring reliable quality while retaining a profit margin. The beauty lies in scalability – the more clients we secure (ideally long-term engagements of at least six months), the more sustainable our business becomes. 

I’m pleased to report that this approach is already working! With a total of 5 Clients over a 4 month period whilst creating a few videos to grow our YouTube Channel, one video in particular with over 29K views (if you’re curious, you can check it out here) – all whilst we work in our day Jobs. Thanks to investing in the Coaching Agency Academy and our Team, we were able to scale up quicker.

The True Cost of Side Hustling

There’s no denying it – side hustling comes with sacrifices. We’ve taken a plunge into debt, which, as you know, is one of my biggest fears. Because of this, the pressure to secure clients has been immense. And with so much on the line, every cent mattered. 

The emotional toll has been significant, but here’s the thing: every sacrifice, every sleepless night, every “no” to a latte or fancy dinner is a brick laid on the path to our dream. We’re not just building a business – we’re building a legacy for our family and a future where financial freedom allows us more choices and more time together.

This journey has pushed us in unexpected ways. We’ve become more creative, constantly brainstorming new service offerings and revenue models to bring in consistent income. We’ve shifted our mindset from simply “working in the business” to “working on the business,” focusing on long-term strategies for growth.

Knowledge has become our most valuable asset. We’re constantly on the lookout for courses and resources to fill any gaps in our expertise. We firmly believe that knowledge is power, and that power is what will help us achieve our goals.

Now for the part that’s toughest as a parent: Our sacrifices haven’t just been financial. We’ve had to be more creative when it comes to entertaining our girls. We’ve embraced free activities like beach trips, park adventures, and bike rides. We’ve had open conversations about needs versus wants, teaching them to find the magic in simple things.

Do they miss out on some things? Maybe. But what they gain is invaluable – quality time with their parents, a deeper understanding of value, and the knowledge that happiness doesn’t come from material possessions. In fact, these intentional moments of connection have strengthened our family bond in beautiful ways. 

This side hustle journey is demanding, yes, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. We’re working longer hours (after our day jobs, we get the girls to bed strictly at 7pm and we side-hustle when the girls are sleeping), but we’re working smarter. We’re becoming more creative, more resourceful, and more in tune with what truly matters. It’s rarely easy, but we wouldn’t trade this path for anything. It’s pushing us to be the best we can be, not just for our girls, but for ourselves too.

Mom Guilt and the Power of Letting Go

As working moms, guilt is a constant companion. I haven’t spent as much time with my second daughter, Alyssa, as I did with my first, Jasmin. This has been a struggle. It still is a struggle. But it’s also opened my eyes to the beauty of letting go and trusting others.

Alyssa has a wonderful bond with her grandma and other caregivers. This experience is different from Jasmin’s, but it’s equally enriching. It’s a reminder that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting, and that a village of love can support our children in incredible ways.

The Balancing Act: It’s All About Community

We all wear many hats – mother, daughter, entrepreneur, employee, friend, partner, and so much more. Finding balance can be a constant struggle, but you may be surprised at the places support can come to you from. 

Of course, every situation is different, and you’ll need to discern for yourself who you should share your side hustle journey with, and which parts you wish to share. However, if you’re feeling the weight of the balancing act, remember that there’s a whole community of mamas out there going through the same thing. We’re here to share in the ups and downs, offer solutions, and celebrate every win, big or small. Join our Facebook group to connect with other inspiring women and lighten the load together.

Final Thoughts

Amigas, let’s be honest: this side hustle journey isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. There have been tears, arguments, and moments where doubt crept in. But amidst the chaos, a powerful force has kept us going – the unwavering determination to build a legacy for our girls. This journey has brought us all closer because even when we’re working apart, we’re united by a shared dream.

Our recent wins remind us that the path, though challenging, is paved with lessons in resilience, creativity, and strategic growth. We’re learning the immense value of investing in ourselves, expanding our knowledge, and developing our resources. Every course, every nugget of wisdom, brings us closer to that vision: financial freedom and work that ignites our souls.

It’s tough, yes, but with the right mindset, a strategic plan, and sacrifice, it can be incredibly rewarding. Remember, mamas, it’s about finding your balance, supporting each other, and staying true to your vision. And an inspirational quote to remind you that we’ve got this!: “Entrepreneurs live a few years of their life like most people won’t so that they can live the rest of their lives like most people can’t” – Anonymous

YOU CAN DO THIS TOO! Create Your 9 to 5 exit plan: Build a Life of Freedom & Fulfilment.

Dreaming of launching your side hustle to escape the 9 to 5 job? It’s time to align your business with your deepest values and ignite your passion with the PACIFIC Pathway. This framework helps you to: Discover your Purpose to drive your business forward; Adapt to changes with agility; Take Control of your time for a better work-life balance; Make an Impact; Enhance Freedom & Flexibility by building an efficient team; Encourage Innovation to stay competitive; Choose strategies that align with your personal goals and lifestyle.

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