Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Angela Chang, Founder of MOMtessori Life, located in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a Montessori parent educator, which basically means that I work with parents from around the world who want to utilize Montessori principles at home in their parenting journeys or a homeschool environment. Montessori is a method of education that focuses on the whole child and prepares an environment of child-sized tools and furniture to allow the child to be as independent as possible. It is a popular form of private education in the United States, and many parents of children who attend Montessori schools and parents who homeschool according to the Montessori method seek my services. I work with them through several e-courses I've written, live webinars, one-on-one consultations, and my small group coaching community. I also create printable Montessori-inspired materials and maintain a blog called MOMtessoriLife.com, where I share DIY Montessori activities and insights. Most of my clients are parents of children between the ages of 0 and 6 years old. Many Montessori teachers also use my resources in their classrooms and for parent education.
Tell us about yourself
I was a Montessori toddler teacher in Montessori schools for six years before I decided to quit teaching to stay home with my own kids. I started sharing about Montessori at home just on my regular social media, and friends started asking for more. So first, I started my blog and Instagram account, which grew a large following. Suddenly, I had complete strangers asking for advice and more information. That sparked the idea of actually turning this into a small business. I wrote my first e-course and started providing Montessori parenting and home education coaching in 2018, and it's taken off from there. Each day, I'm motivated by the parents I work with as I hear stories of their own Montessori journeys. I truly love the work that I do and the flexibility it offers me, and no two days are ever the same.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is growing my small business to the point at which it is today. I started with just some simple blog posts and now have a wide range of services that I offer to parents from around the world. I would never have imagined doing this, but it fits right into the time and space I have in my life between raising my children and wanting to continue teaching in the Montessori realm.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is that it's difficult to "turn off" my work brain and focus on family time or just having fun. Since I am a one-woman business, I'm responsible for all of the moving parts. I have to be intentional with setting aside time each day not to do work things or not immediately respond to an email, and it can be difficult to set up that kind of work/life balance.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't look at what everyone else is doing – think about what YOU want to do.
- Have set times when you can't check your business email. Block it on your phone between certain hours of the day or on weekends.
- If it doesn't make you happy, it's okay to start all over or just stop doing the part that's not your favorite. Hire someone else to do that part, or stop offering it altogether.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
You don't have to do it all. Find your niche in the world and make it a more beautiful corner of the universe.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://momtessorilife.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MomtessoriLife/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelamomtessori/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-chang-96925111a/
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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