Monday Mumpreneur with Clare Josa

I'm delighted to introduce Clare Josa 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 Clare, welcome to Mum's Got a Business ....

Tell me about your children:

I've got 3 boys - Louis (11), Theo (9) and Raffi (4).

Raffi turns 5 in a couple of weeks and just started school, so - for the first time in nearly 12 years - I now have my days free. I'm promising I'll use some of this extra time to slow down and take up new hobbies like playing the guitar and belly dancing. I used to have to pack my business into 2 1/2 hours per day. So this feels really different!

Where do you live?

We live in Ashdown Forest in Sussex. We live on a small-holding, which is slowly turning into a retreat centre, with a 24 foot teaching yurt and two permaculture orchards. The boys and I have spent the past six weeks camping in the garden in our bell tent, which has really helped us to feel more grounded and less stressed (as I finished my new book!). My husband wasn't quite so brave and has enjoyed the peace and quiet of the house.

PC or Mac?

Mac - since two years ago. Still drives me crazy at times. But I'm getting there. One of my pet-peeves: software updates from change-hungry software engineers who love change, without realising that I rely on things NOT changing, so I can spend more time growing my business. I don't usually have time for unexpected learning curves. 😉

Tell us about your business

I mentor passionate world-changers who are hungry to make a bigger difference in the world. They know they have a message to share, but secretly suspect they're getting in their own way. It keeps them awake at night.

When they've been playing dodgems with their hidden blocks and nothing else has worked, I get to share with them practical strategies and engineer-approved woo-woo that can create breakthroughs, in less time than it takes a kettle to boil.

As an NLP Trainer, Meditation & Yoga Teacher and Reformed Engineer, I love to demystify Ancient Wisdom and to blend it with the user manual for your brain, inspiring you to set yourself free to make the difference you’re here to make. I love to see you stepping into your Soul-Shoes and maybe even dancing in them!

What motivated you to become a mumpreneur?

I already ran my own business before my youngest son was born, so I kept a more online version of it going, once he arrived. I have to create, or I go crazy.

I originally spent ten years in engineering (I have a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and German), then I moved to become Head of Market Research at Dyson. That's when I qualified as an NLP Trainer. I eventually realised I couldn't make a big enough difference in people's lives, in someone else's business. So I took the leap.

What’s been your biggest challenge in business?

Calming my creativity! I *** need *** to create. But sometimes my customers, my family and even my adrenals can't keep up. I love starting new projects, but have had to train myself to become a completer-finisher, over the past 14 years. After all, even the best online course in the world won't help anyone (or generate any income) if it isn't finished and launched!

How have you overcome it?

By using basic self-discipline - 'abhyasa' - Ancient Sanskrit for keeping going, even when you're not in the mood - Step 6 of Dare To Dream Bigger shares all my secrets on this!

If I get really stuck and don't want to finish something, I might hire someone to do it for me. But often I 'pretend' I have a boss who is holding me accountable, and that usually does the trick 😉

Or I pop in for an online chat with my fellow Mastermind members and ask hem to hold my head under water (metaphorically!) until the job is done.

What’s been your proudest business moment?

Without a doubt, publishing Dare To Dream Bigger. Until that point, it was leading the Dare To Dream Bigger virtual summit, back in January of this year, where I 'met' Heather and got to interview her!

The book took nearly 9 months of full-time effort and that is the most commitment I have ever made to a business project. Seeing it on my shelf and getting sent photos of people feeling excited at opening their parcel with the book in makes my heart sing!

What’s your catchphrase or favourite quote?

Changing the world is an 'inside job'.

What do you do to relax or nurture yourself?

I'm a yoga and meditation teacher, so I love both of these. And I love camping with my kids in the garden. Waking up at 3am, serenaded by owls, hearing the kids calmly breathing, and popping outside to peek at the stars - incredible.

What was the last treat you bought for yourself?

A gorgeous energy-based massage with my naturopath yesterday. Heavenly.

Favourite colour

Purple and gold - as on my new book cover.

Favourite flowers

Alstromeria - locally grown - delicate and crazily colourful. And sunflowers - they remind me of endless optimism and summer sunshine!

What one piece of advice would you like to give to a new mumpreneur?

I'm going to be cheeky and give you two:

1. Please be your wonderful, authentic self - don't fall into the trap of 'comparisonitis'. It hurts. It kills your dreams. Then...

2. Do one thing, get it working really well, get it making you income, and THEN allow yourself to chase the 'next shiny object'.

It's the fastest path to success, even if it's not as exciting as starting twenty things at once.
Spinning too many plates will drain your batteries, confuse your customers and make your kids scream for attention.

As my old mentor used to say to me: "Do what you do best, and do it well."

Tell us what you're working on at the moment:

My new book launched on 22nd September. It is called "Dare To Dream Bigger: The 'Inside Work' Handbook For Entrepreneurs And Passionate World-Changers" and I even got the treat of interviewing Heather for it!

Basically, if you ever feel like you're 'getting in your own way', perhaps self-sabotaging, or feeling like a fraud, or dreaming big, but playing small, then Dare To Dream Bigger will give you the tools to set yourself free to make the difference you are here to make in the world.

Whether you're new to being a Mumpreneur, or an old hand stepping up to the next level, it will help you to deep-dive on clarity, spot and ditch your hidden blocks, and then take the inspired actions that lead to breakthroughs, rather than overwhelm.

The world needs you - and your unique message - today.

http://www.dancinginyoursoulshoes.com/book/

And applications are now open for my next six month Mastermind programme: Stepping up, starting in late October 2016.

http://www.dancinginyoursoulshoes.com/stepping-mastermind-application/

Connect on Social Media to keep up to date with Clare and her work:

Twitter: @clare_josa

Newsletter: http://www.dancinginyoursoulshoes.com/updates/

Podcast: http://www.dancinginyoursoulshoes.com/podcast/

Facebook: /cjosa/

Instagram: /clarejosa/

Website: http://www.dancinginyoursoulshoes.com

Now it's your turn:

Tell us in the comments how Clare's story has inspired you on your own mumpreneur journey.

Think your mumpreneur story will inspire our community?

It doesn't matter if you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, your journey can help and support others. Pop a comment below or come on over to the contact page and let's talk.