Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in coaching but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kelly Donahue, Founder of Badass Moms, located in Wenham, MA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Badass Moms empowers mothers to find themselves - and their fun - again. I inspire and teach women how asking for what you want is a powerful tool of truth, integrity, and being a model for your kids. Badass Moms learn how to orient their lives towards their self-created Badass Moms identity and lift everyone around them in the process.
Tell us about yourself
I'm a suburban mom who used to be a badass! I ran ultramarathons, did triathlons... all the awesome things. Then I had my daughter, moved to the suburbs, looked around, and felt like I'd gone back in time, where my peers and I had wine night and book club but little else to inspire, empower, and invigorate us. So I started Badass Moms by getting certified as a surf instructor (I've been surfing since I was 15 and lived in Australia for 2 years) and taking fellow suburban moms out surfing in the middle of winter. Because moms deserve fun. Moms deserve to feel empowered to feel like the badasses they are. But it's hard to do alone, which is why Badass Moms Club exists - to commit to the time and focus on you and who you want to be in the world.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is seeing not only my clients but the women in the larger Badass Mom community make decisions based on their badass selves, not their "should" selves. From changing jobs to taking a weekend away to traveling to Europe with two kids, moms feel empowered to live like the badasses they are, which is an essential good for the world.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
In my lows, it's feeling like it's not enough. That I'm not doing the vision enough justice yet, the Badass Moms vision is so beautiful. When I put pressure on myself to get it done the way I think it "should" be versus following my fun and own playfulness, the pressure becomes anxiety about not doing it "right,"... which is something a lot of moms, especially high achievers, can really struggle with. And I totally get it.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Connect with humans, and ask for help. Contrary to the toxic patriarchal ideal, you don't have to do it alone.
- Follow what lights you up - because that's what inspires and will give you the energy to keep going through the lows. Learn to love your business NOW, exactly the way it is. This is like a relationship, and the way you treat your business now sets the stage for your whole life together.
- Celebrate every single damn win. Whether it's money, a client result, an event going well, or someone reaching out to a partner, make sure you celebrate now. Start flexing that muscle because if you don't - even when your business has "made it," your brain won't be wired to celebrate.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Text one friend. You never know who needs the reminder that they're a badass.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.badassmoms.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellystecker1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelbel_badassmoms/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellydonahuecomms/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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