6 simple habits for a happier life
Mompreneur in Focus
as seen in Mompreneur
We had the pleasure of sitting down with the inspirational Mompreneur, Jessica Jarlvi.
Mompreneurs WW: Tell us about your company
Jessica: I’m a full-time author which means researching, writing and editing books while also teaching workshops, speaking at conferences and schools, and doing marketing and PR for your work to attract readers.
Mompreneurs WW: How did the idea of starting it come about and who inspired you?
Jessica: I’ve always wanted to be an author but I didn’t think it could be classified as ‘a job’. So I studied publishing and business and went on to work in journalism, editing and PR while writing in my spare time. But the day I decided to take my own writing seriously and treat my dream as a job, things started to shift. That’s the first step: take yourself and your goals seriously.
Mompreneurs WW: What is the best part of what you do and the toughest?
Jessica: I get to do something creative that I’m passionate about and that’s been a life-long dream of mine. I can also be flexible with my time. The toughest part is juggling it all: being a good mum to four children while also achieving my career goals and meeting deadlines.
Mompreneurs WW: How many kids do you have and how old are they?
Jessica: Four children (14, 12, 4 and 1).
Mompreneurs WW: How do you juggle work and life balance?
Jessica: By being efficient with my time and really focus on what I’m doing right there and then. If I’m working, I’m working. If I’m spending the afternoon with my kids or an evening out with my husband, I do that while not worrying about emails and deadlines. Otherwise, I will feel like I’m never enough. It’s taken time to get to this point however. I used to constantly feel stretched to my limit. Obviously, you have to be flexible and if I was supposed to work and I have to pick up a sick child from school I have to rearrange my day. That might mean spending an evening working instead. At the end of the day, I want to feel like I’ve been present for my family while also moving forward work-wise. It’s all about balance.
Mompreneurs WW: What’s a book you always recommend and why?
Jessica: I love “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne because life is about having a positive attitude and focusing on what you love and what you want out of life. For some reason, it’s easier to be negative, so train yourself to look for the silver lining. It’s life changing.
Mompreneurs WW: What advice would you give a Mompreneur who was just starting out?
Jessica: Know what you want and have an idea of how you will get there. The main points are to have clear goals, to stay positive and to feel joy doing what you do. There will be challenges along the way, but they will make you better and stronger.
Mompreneurs WW: Your favorite quote is…
Jessica: “It always seems impossible until it is done” by Mandela