A good work/life balance is important but especially so when you are a parent. Your natural instinct is to try and do everything which is especially difficult in today’s fast paced society where limited time and flexibility can become so overwhelming. It is so easy to rush from place to place carrying out errands and fulfilling obligations much like a fire-fighter extinguishing the latest blaze to spring up in a burning building. The problem with this approach is that you will most likely remain in this state, always playing catch up and never taking the time to shape your life around you and your family. I believe that the latest shift is already somewhat underway, representing a power shift back to the individual – where you remain at the centre. In some sense we see this happening on price comparison websites and internet forums all over the world where individuals are arming themselves with the necessary knowledge and skills to take control and improve their quality of life. The information may lead to a cheaper car insurance premium, better value food shopping or more suitable choice of work.
We at Mum Plus Business (MPB) believe wholeheartedly in this transition and that people can achieve great success by a combination of hard work, dedication and self-belief. Indeed majority of the most successful entrepreneurs have precisely these qualities which have led directly to their success. If the chances of being triumphant are high with one motivated individual all the more so when two or more compatible and dedicated mothers team up. At MPB we provide the environment for mums or mums to be to find a compatible business partner in a mutual field of interest and location. There are many benefits of teaming up including, increased confidence and diversification of skills, as well as more social interaction and support. Starting your own business can be a lonely and daunting experience especially when looking after children and this is where MPB may offer that much needed help.
Mum Plus Business is a new innovative free online service to help local mums form business partnerships. We cater for mums and mums to be of all ages, backgrounds and levels of experience helping them form successful business partnerships. The variety of possible business ventures that may lead to success are only limited by your imagination. You may wish to open up a wedding cake shop, online photography store, accountancy partnership the list just goes on. Maybe you already have thought of a business idea or you could be the perfect match for someone looking to launch a new business that seems appealing. Simply creating a profile and a search by industry sector and/or location may provide the necessary start. The key aim of Mum Plus Business is to connect motivated local mothers in a similar position who will collectively support each other whilst also complement each other’s skills. In certain cases an individual may be lacking the confidence, motivation or a particular skill to independently create their own company but can be very successful in a partnership. Like in any walk of life, nothing is without risks. One needs to be careful when it comes to both trusting people and parting with money. The site also offers a secure messaging system so all communication can be done internally. We advise our members to meet initially at a public place and always to exercise common sense.
We have recently developed partnerships with local Jobcentre Plus centres, Children’s centres, "Only Mums" and also have several more in the pipeline that we will be announcing shortly. Our company is built on our members and we are always interested in hearing your feedback – which so far has been very positive and has further enabled us to improve the service. We hope with time to continue making a real difference to the lives of mums in combining motherhood with the practicalities of running a successful business.
Good luck in all your ventures.
Esther Radnor,
Mum Plus Business
www.mumplusbusiness.co.uk
Facebook.com/mumplusbusiness
Twitter@MumPlusBusiness
