https://www.uschamber.com/co/good-company/growth-studio/balancing-business-and-parenting
In this edition of “Ask the Board,” we asked Teresa Johnson, CEO of Color Me Mine, to share the lessons she learned through owning several businesses while raising her daughter.
If you could create your own fantasy board of directors, who would be on it? CO— connects you with thought leaders from across the business spectrum and asks them to help solve your biggest business challenges. In this edition, we ask an expert about the lessons of being a parent and small business owner at once.
In this edition of “Ask the Board,” we ask Teresa Johnson, CEO of Color Me Mine, the leading paint-your-own pottery franchise, to discuss what she learned by owning several businesses while raising her daughter.
There’s no denying that balancing parenthood and entrepreneurship is no easy feat. However, it’s certainly possible and has the potential to change your life (and your child’s life) for the better. Here’s what I learned (and my daughter learned) as I ran a business while being a mother.
The value of hard work
Showing my child that anything can be accomplished with hard work was immeasurably valuable for her journey—both in school and in life. Did I miss out on things because of late nights or early mornings at my business? Yes. Did she miss out on activities because of her late nights or early mornings there with me? Yes! But understanding that what you get out of life is based on what you put in couldn’t be replaced with just talking about it. She saw that in action. There certainly could have been worse places to raise a child.
The ability to teach, not just talk
We all know that our children are always listening to us talk about life lessons or our advice on how to grow strong and tall, but my daughter was able to see those life lessons in action. She watched how I treated employees, she watched how I treated customers, she watched how I led a team, and most importantly, she watched my decisions when no one else was looking. I learned that kids who are watching their parent entrepreneurs soak it all in instead of dismissing life lessons as just talk.
Failures are as important as successes
Small business is no cake walk. She witnessed (and felt) failures with me. I learned that failures were just as important for her to experience as successes. While she didn’t have to make some of the mistakes later in her own small businesses, she learned that there may be as many failures as successes and how you react to those failures can determine your successes.
“Showing my child that anything can be accomplished with hard work was immeasurably valuable for her journey—both in school and in life.“
Teresa Johnson, CEO of Color Me Mine
Self-awareness and humility
No one in a small business gets there on their own. It absolutely takes a team of people to win games. We all have strengths and weaknesses and we have to recognize and appreciate the strengths of others around us. I learned that understanding my own strengths and primarily my weaknesses was the best way to live and illustrate humility and servant leadership. Always be humble for the opportunity you have for another day to succeed.
I hope to open a franchise with my daughter too! She is a senior in high school right now. You are the true inspiration for me as I have always been inspired to open a successful small business that focused on art and education. Thank you!