Monday Mumpreneur with Becci Edmondson from Joosr
I'm delighted to introduce Becci Edmondson of Joosr as our featured Monday Mumpreneur. She's just like you and me and she's ready and willing to share with us her motivation, her challenges and her proudest moments in business and also tell us how she takes time to nurture herself.
If you’re looking for inspiration, then our featured business mums show you what’s possible.
Hi Becci, welcome to Mum's Got a Business ....
Tell me about your children: Finn(age 5) and Wilf (age 3)
My children’s births are a good metaphor for their personalities. Finn was born over 2 weeks late at 9lb3oz. He really didn’t want to come out! And still now heis incredibly laid back, a total homebody and a really kind sweet boy.
Wilf, on the otherhand, is full of energy, has a very strong personality and likes to make an impact. He certainly shocked us with his birth. He was born 14 weeks early at 1lb6oz. He spent over 4 months in hospital and 18 months on home oxygen, but is fighting fit now.
They are great brothers despite their differences. Finn looks after Wilf, sharing his toys and helping him in the playground. And Wilf terrorizes him in return—but totally idolises his big brother, of course.
Where do you live?
Brighton, East Sussex. The best place to live in the world—bar none. I love everything about Brighton, from the pebble beach to our vibrant nightlife to the amazing characters that live here.
PC or Mac?
Mac, all the way. They just work.
Tell us about your business
Joosr takes long books, and makes them really short. Instead of trawling through hundreds of pages for hours on end to get to the good stuff, Joosr gets to the heart of what matters in less than 20 minutes.
We have a curated list of the best non-fiction books focusing on solving your real-life problems, across topics like parenting, self-help, health and fitness and professional development books.
I love dipping into the parenting books when I’m not sure how to approach a discipline problem, or a business book when I’m faced with a challenging situation. In just 20 minutes, I feel armed with tactics and strategies.
You can get a feel for Joosr with 5 free books of your choice on our iOS app.
What motivated you to become a mumpreneur?
Before I had kids I worked in academic publishing, and whilst it wasn’t a dream job, it was definitely in the ballpark of what I wanted to do, so I stuck it out there for almost a decade. However, after Wilf’s somewhat traumatic entrance into the world, I realised that life is too short to stay in a ‘ballpark’ job. I wanted to do something I was inspired by.
When Wilf was well enough for me to return to work, Darren (my co-founder) came to me with the idea for Joosr and immediately I knew it was the answer.
As a busy working mum of two boys, I used to laugh at the idea of finding time to read. Now I often read 4 books a day. I learn so much at Joosr: it has really enriched my life—and I’m excited by it’s potential to enrich many more lives.
What’s been your biggest challenge in business?
The biggest challenge for me personally is juggling a very full-on job with two young kids. I think this is probably difficult for all working mums.
How have you overcome it?
When the business was young I was able to work from home, which meant I could manage my day so that I was able to spend time with the boys before and after nursery.
Luckily when things stepped up a level and I had to be in the office full time, my husband stopped commuting to London and began working from home, meaning that he was around for the boys more.
In fact, their relationship has flourished, so it’s turned something that could have been a negative into a real positive.
What’s been your proudest business moment?
I usually feel proudest when I’m telling people about Joosr, as everybody has been so responsive to the idea. I usually hear, ‘I need that’ or ‘where do I sign up’, which is such a great feel and a lovely reinforcer that we’re making something that will make a real difference in people’s lives. We also give 1% of our annual subscriptions to the World Literacy Foundation, which I’m really proud of.
What’s your catchphrase or favourite quote?
Keep it simple.
What do you do to relax or nurture yourself?
A mixture of slobbing out in front of the TV and running! Running gives me a bit of time to clear my mind, listen to music and pound out any of the day’s frustrations.
What was the last treat you bought for yourself?
A hair cut, today!
Favourite colour?
Grey! Pretty boring I know, but I’m drawn to it.
Favourite flowers?
I’ve always loved peonies.
What one piece of advice would you like to give to a new mumpreneur?
My advice would be to remember to log off regularly. It’s hard advice to follow, as it always feels that there is so much to do. But after spending time with my family, switching my phone off for an evening, or taking a day off I always feel totally re-energized. I go back to my laptop with renewed vigour and exciting new ideas. The same goes for sleeping and eating properly. You can’t do your job properly, if you are not looking after yourself.
To find out more about Becci and her business, visit her site:
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Please let us know in the comments how Becci's story has inspired you on your mumpreneur journey.
Think your mumpreneur story will inspire our community? It doesn't matter if you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, our journeys can help and support others. Pop a comment below or come on over to the contact page and let's talk.
