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Being a mom isn’t much different than being an entrepreneur.

I’m going on my third year of caring for two babies: one is my three-year old rambunctious toddler and the other is my four-year old business (and the many iterations of that).  I’ve always wanted to start my own business, however I never thought that I would be doing so while starting a family.

However, after three wild years I’ve realized that being a mom is pretty similar to being an entrepreneur and the skills you develop, learn and refine can serve you well in both seemingly disparate worlds.

1. Set Goals, But Be Flexible.

Set your goals but be open to the execution.  As a mom you hope that your child is potty trained before preschool or that your kids will cooperate at the airport, but often the best laid plans go awry in execution. That’s when being flexible becomes necessary.

Often you have to pull on resources you never knew you had and draw on your creativity to solve for the situation.

Being an entrepreneur is no different. Goals and planning can be tossed up in the air like playing “52-card pick up,” but you just have to roll with it.  In both cases, you often discover new found skills and a whole new way to manage.

2. Get Up Early.

There has been a lot research and anecdotal evidence to suggest that successful people have a habit of getting up at the crack of dawn.  As a busy entrepreneur, those early hours may be your most productive before the emails and calls begin pouring in.

For a mom, those early morning hours before the kids get up can be the most precious. The house is quiet and you can have a few hours of alone time before the madness ensues. You may not naturally be an early bird but if you get up just a half hour earlier each week you will eventually be able to get up before the rest of world even stirs.

3. Say No.

As a mom you often say “No” thousands of times a day to your kids, but saying no to others can be tricky. As a busy mom or a busy entrepreneur, or both, you need to learn to say “No” to requests that overextend you or are not a good use of your time.

Before automatically agreeing to volunteer for that school fundraiser or teaming up on co-venture, stop to think if it really fits in with your core values, goals and energy level at the moment. Graciously defer your response by saying, “Let me think about it and get back to you.”

Often when we give ourselves the space to think on it and a few days to mull it over and consider the time commitment, we often realize we have no other choice than to say, “No, thank you!”

4. Block Time.

Successful people often block time on their calendars strictly for focused work on specific projects or for strategy and planning. For an entrepreneur it may be carving out time on your calendar similar to an appointment to accomplish particular tasks.

For a busy mom, blocking out time for self-care, projects, or hobbies may be when the kids are at school or when they’re down for a nap.

The key is to be mindful of those precious blocks of time and use that time wisely.

5. Value People.

Whether it be your mother-in-law who comes over to lend you a hand with your kids to your overseas contractor who is loading up your social media networks with posts, the people who support you are invaluable and its important you recognize and value their efforts.

You can’t be a great mother or a successful entrepreneur without having a team supporting you.

Moms can learn from entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs can surely learn from moms. And, if you’re a mompreneur most of these tips will hit especially close to home. When it comes to business as in life, having a savvy strategy yet rolling with what life throws at you is imperative for both success and happiness.

Mother’s Day has particular meaning for me this year.  I’m launching my very first book and dedicating it to my first role model, my mom. She lost her battle with ovarian cancer 11 years ago, but taught me to live life without regret.

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May 2014 Issue