Book Review: Mom Boss

I consider myself overwhelmingly fortunate to work for an organization that values the mom boss. They are generous with their time off and (depending on your position) open to flex time (splitting working hours between the office and home). They have a terrific bonding leave program – for both moms and dads – as well as phenomenal tuition remission benefits.

All that is to say that I know how lucky I am. Many others are not so much… which is what often serves as at least part of the motivation toward entrepreneurship.

Where Sophia Amoruso’s #GirlBoss left off for young millennials breaking into the business world, Mom Boss picks up and continues the mission for all the entrepreneurial moms out there. Mom Boss proves that being successful isn’t about degrees or sacrifices, it’s about balance and power. It’s where instinct meets intelligence. Every mom has it in her to be a badass business woman.

Having followed Nicole Feliciano (and her company, MomTrends) online for a while, I was really excited for the release of this book late in 2016. While I’m just dipping my toes in the entrepreneur pool at this point, I’m so glad I read it and gleaned some mega inspiration from the many powerful women featured. Do you need some inspiration yourself? Here are some highlights.

If you’re a mom, you’re “already running a start-up corporation” like a Mom Boss.

Think about it. On any given day, moms are required to act as everything from chauffeur to medic to accountant and everything in between. Successful mothers are the ultimate multitaskers, taking on everything that comes their way with (mostly) grace. If you can handle that, you can handle anything! No one is saying that being a successful entrepreneurial mother is easy, but it is most definitely doable.

“Taking a pay cut to get a life you love seems like a fair trade.”

Hard truth. It is absolutely possible to “have it all.” You may just need to redefine what that means. Sometimes having the flexibility needed to be a successful Mom Boss equals making sacrifices in other areas, like finances. Building a profitable empire is within reach; just be aware that it may not happen, or at least not right away. As long as you’re feeling fulfilled and balanced, that’s okay.

Actions speak louder than words, and Mom Bosses are all about action.

To be sure, part of what makes for a successful Mom Boss is rest and self-care. However, you better believe that when the rubber hits the road, these women are ready to do the work. It’s easy to dream, but “hope is not a strategy.” So, dream big, but be ready to work hard, too. I highly recommend checking out chapters nine and ten (“Setting Up Shop” and “Getting Organized”) for some practical advice on getting started.

If you’re considering making the leap into entrepreneurship but don’t know where to start, consider your goals for the year. Is there a recurring theme, an interest you can’t seem to shake? Maybe use my 2018 Goals Worksheet to help figure it out. As Nicole reminds us in this book, “…it’s time to make your own luck.”

And speaking of luck, we’re giving away a signed copy of Mom Boss to one lucky reader. Be sure to pick up your own copy of Mom Boss!