Is it really just as simple as a ‘mother in business’? Considering that half our population are women, and that a good proportion of the self-employed are female….and that it’s highly likely most businesswomen will have families, the term ‘mumpreneur’ is perhaps not that niche.
Neither are business mums a new phenomenon, though the term could well be. I’ve done a little reading into what being a mumpreneur means to various women, and was surprised to see definitions differ.
For instance, some believe they’re mumpreneurs because their business centres around either a ‘mummy need’ or solving a ‘mummy problem’. The term, to these people, relates more to their customers than themselves.
To others, the term means that they’re running a business at the same time as looking after a young family, i.e. before the kids are in the schooling system, and therefore often juggling both roles – taking calls whilst changing nappies or playing with their kids.
The term isn’t necessarily one to be attached to any enterprising women with children; indeed, some felt that the fact they had a family was immaterial to their business and very firmly separated the two. To describe them as a mumpreneur took away their personal achievements or demeaned them a little, falsely glorifying their offspring as instrumental to their success.
Any woman, mother or not, learns to multi-task, due to the wiring of our brain. Being in business for yourself when you’ve a young family can be hard when the time comes to focus, but it comes with plenty of benefits compared to those who’re employed. Nor is this exclusive to women; men in industries that have the capacity to indulge home-working often make the choice to be chief carer for their children, whilst mummy goes out to work.
Being an entrepeneur requires diligence, enthusiasm, commitment, patience, nerve and drive – amongst a multitude of other things. These attributes are not gender-specific; once a lively toddler is thrown into the mix, anyone would find it an even harder role to play.
The internet has been a factor in establishing more mumpreneurs. Instead of mothers having to opt for businesses such as Avon, to work in, or near, their home and locality, there are so many more opportunities available – without even leaving the kitchen table. Indeed, many a business – some with turnovers stretching towards (or in) the millions, are solely run from a laptop which is constantly surrounded by toys, ironing piles or dirty dishes.
We should celebrate mumpreneurs – but because they’re successful business people, not because they have children. It can make one’s business journey harder when little tykes are pulling for attention but, again, it could be Dad who’s having his sleeve tugged by little Billy.
Perhaps the most appropriate term should be ‘virtualpreneurs’?
