The Entrepreneurial Mom's Guide to Running Your Own Business. Kathryn Bechthold

we found that 60 percent of self-employed women can be described as “lifestylers,” meaning business owners who are not actively looking for growth opportunities, but are looking for ways to balance work and family needs.

      Success is different for every mom I interviewed, but the bottom line of being a good mom never changes. Being a good mom was a trait desired 100 percent consistently for each of these women. Whether it is bringing in enough money to be the primary caregiver or if it is to surpass one million dollars in revenue next year, know your definition of success now. Have it clearly laid out, and focus on achieving it.

       “Of course I would do it all again! I have learned some invaluable lessons that could only have been from freelancing. Depending on myself has shown me an inner strength and confidence I wouldn’t have known about myself without my business. Knowing I can succeed all on my own on my terms is a huge step towards living the life I want.”

      — Crystal Reynolds, Crystal Ink Graphic Design

1. Kim Lavine, Mommy Millionaire, (New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2008).

2. Sarah Thompson, “Most Executives Believe Workplace Equality for Women Still Lags Behind Men, Accenture Study Shows,” www.accenture.com (2006), accessed 2010.