One of the most unforgettable scenes in cinema history is when the “great and powerful” Wizard of Oz is revealed — by a dog, no less — as just an ordinary guy frantically yanking at some levers and shouting into a microphone. It’s an arresting image, and a metaphor that resonates with plenty of women, especially those who are making a go of it as mompreneurs.
After all, you’re just one woman. Most of the time, you’re wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt, with your hair in a bun that’s authentically messy, not Instagram-messy. And you are likely multitasking like mad — signing permission slips and folding laundry in the brief breaks between taking conference calls, attending webinars, and composing blog posts. But of course, you can’t let clients or customers see any of that.
Pay no attention to that woman behind the Skype screen!
Don’t worry, Mama. Your secret is safe with us. Not only that, but we’ve got some tips for how to make your business look super-professional — and maybe even a little bigger than it is — even when you are at your grungiest, your frazzledest, your Mommy-est.
Dress for the Part
Have you mastered the art of the mompreneur video meeting? That’s when the top half of you looks pulled-together and professional while your bottom half is clad in pajama pants and fuzzy socks. Of course, that’ll do in a pinch. But to really get ahead, organizational psychologists say, it’s best to go full-on fashionista. (Or at least business-casual.)
That means a brush instead of a baseball cap, shoes instead of slippers, the whole nine yards. While this might be a bit much for most moms’ day-to-day operations — ain’t nobody got time for stockings and heels when all you’re doing is editing spreadsheets — it’s definitely worth the effort for calls, meetings, and presentations. Yep, even when you’re not going to be visible. It will boost your confidence and subconsciously convey your professionalism.
If you’ve ever worked outside the home, you know how taking off your heels (or bra!) upon walking through the door signals to your body and mind that the workday is done. It’s the same when you have a home-based business. Changing into separate work clothes helps you get into the mindset that it’s time to get crackin’.
Consider Switching Up Your Space
Clicking into business mode might also require more than just clear old homework and overdue library books off the dining room table. Instead, “commute” to a dedicated space in your home, join a co-working space, or even just head to your local coffee shop for a couple of hours each day.
By giving yourself a change of scenery, you’ll be better able focus on your to-do list without distractions. You’ll get more done both “at work” and later, when you knock off for the day and go home.
Hold regular in-person meetings — or want to start? Consider renting a meeting or event room with just the amenities and atmosphere you need, without the investment of a full-time office.
“High-level business interactions such as giving a presentation to an important client, closing a business deal, or hosting investors from abroad calls for a unique but professional space,” say the creative minds behind meetinkz.com. “Choose an environment that expresses your business’s personality and watch as it translates into success.”
Hire Yourself Some Help
Stop laughing, Superwoman. Take off the cape for a minute and hear us out. Those administrative tasks you’re tackling every day, all day? They might make you feel productive as heck, but actually, they are wasting your time and keeping your enterprise from growing.
Not only will hiring an assistant free you up to conduct your core business, it will project an impressively professional vibe. Maybe you think that scheduling your own meetings and making your own phone calls lets you appear approachable and hands on. Think again; it’s just as likely that you look rinky-dink.
There’s no need to spend big bucks on a full- or even part-time assistant. Use Fiverr for occasional tasks, find an intern who will work for experience and/or college credit, or hire a virtual personal assistant. Your business contacts don’t have to know that the voice on the phone is actually an ad-hoc helper rather than the Andy Sachs to your Miranda Priestly.
Start Small, but Think Big
It doesn’t matter that you’re just one woman sitting at a card table in an unfinished basement, using a laptop you got off Craigslist, letting your kids watch too much Peppa Pig so you can bill your clients. Someday you will be running a team, empowering other mothers to reach for their own brass rings, and setting the best possible example you can for your children.
That lesson? If you have vision, grit, and the ability to embrace and learn from failure, you will succeed in whatever you set out to achieve. No levers, microphones, or concealing curtains necessary.
