In our conversation with Kaitlin this week, she shared her journey with Moms Making Six Figures and shed some light on how her attitude of "where there's a will, there's a way" can truly be all it takes to make a major career and a lifestyle change. We hope you enjoy her story as much as we did!
Was a career as an entrepreneur something you had always wanted? How did MMSF come into the picture?
While growing up, I remember my mom had a shirt she would wear that read, "Every mom is a working mom." It really must have left an impression on me, because I believe that phrase really shaped the course of my life. She was a stay at home mom to the four of us kids. She was also a registered nurse (and still is) yet chose to be home with us. It was her hard-working example that taught me no matter what I decided to do with my life, even if that meant staying home and raising kids, to never let the label "just a mom" make me feel like it was any less important of a calling than any other job title.
Fast forward almost 5 years to 2017 – we had 4 boys, under the age of 4. Along with the decision for me to stay home with the kids, we also wanted to figure out a way for me to supplement our income and take the pressure off Mike since our family had grown quite a bit. I have little spare time as it is, being the mom to four amazing (and very active) boys, as well as homeschooling them and truthfully, I have never had the desire to sell anything, so I ruled out any and all business ventures having to do with carrying inventories or being a "distributor" of any sort. I had heard about Moms Making Six Figures, so I reached out and someone from that group, who also happens to go to the church we attend, shared with me how she was able to make a huge financial impact in her family's finances without having to work for anyone else or sell anything. She was able to work from the soccer field while her kids played, and she could schedule her work around her family, rather than her family around her work. This made sense. This is what our family needed. It has been a year since I partnered with Moms Making Six Figures and the impact it has made on our family and the ability to help others do the same has been an incredible blessing to say the least.
When you started your journey with MMSF, who was your biggest support system?
It was my husband, Mike, who encouraged me to reach out initially and it has been him all along that continues to encourage me on a daily basis. He told me that he noticed a difference in me when I partnered with MMSF, like something had awakened in me. I now have the drive to not only be the best mom for our boys, but also to help others find a way to do the same thing.
We all know that being a mompreneur can be one of the most challenging and most rewarding jobs out there, but everyone needs a little R&R at some point. How do you recharge so you can keep being a fantastic mom, wife, and boss lady?
Being a busy mama, wife, and having my own business means that the little time I get to myself is few and far between. When I do get that time, I try to do something outdoors. We live on a small farm in Southern California, so everything that comes with taking care of the land and animals has become a passion of mine. Being raised as a city girl, I never thought I would say that milking a goat is relaxing and enjoyable, as well as learning the art of cheesemaking, and gardening. Along with homesteading, I have also made it a point to learn how to operate every power tool on our property should I need to help fix a fence, repair a roof, or construct raised garden beds. I want to be a living example for my boys that you can do anything you set your mind to. Other than that, if I'm not covered in soil or sawdust, I also enjoy going on weekly dates with my boyfriend (who also happens to be my husband – I still see him as that high schooler I fell in love with over 15 years ago), and hosting family dinners with our extended family at our ranch.
Chances are you've heard of vision boards before (in fact, I've mentioned them in some of my previous posts!)—but if you've been quick to dismiss them or haven't paid them much attention, you've been missing out. Here's my take on vision boards and why they're worth it.
Visualization is centered on the law of attraction, which basically states that if you put positive thoughts and energy out into the universe, positive results will return to you. Similarly, when you have negative thoughts, negative results will come your way.
Psychology Today featured a study by an exercise psychologist that compared people who went to the gym with those who carried out workouts in their heads (which would be most of Americans!). He found that those who went to the gym had a 30% increase in muscle mass, and those who carried out mental exercises increased muscle mass by 13.5%—not too shabby! So, all of you busy moms, now you know what to do when you don't have time to actually go to the gym (you're welcome!).
As the exercise study proved, visualization can be pretty powerful. Vision boards put the forces of visualization to work: they're meant to harness the power of the positive energy you send into the universe. A vision board can be any type of visual (usually created on some sort of poster board or frame) that displays images that embody your aspirations and dreams for your life. And they really can work, if you use them correctly.
1. What Do I Want?
The whole point of this little exercise is to give yourself clarity. You may have a general idea of the life you want, but it's time to be a bit more specific. What does a "better life" look like for you? Is it work–life balance? Is it spending more time with your kids? Do you want to exercise more?
If your goal is to wake up earlier, look for a picture of the exact time you wish to wake up. Include a picture of a lovely sunrise, for example, that will help inspire positive emotions about waking up early (which can be pretty tough!). A sunrise photo not only indicates a time of day, but evokes a positive emotion with its beauty.
Remember, your vision board should bring clarity and focus to your goals. When you look at it, you should feel good. Select images carefully to inspire warm and fuzzy feelings that will keep you motivated as you work towards your dreams.
Once you can visualize it, you need to believe it. Inspirational quotes or phrases can help with this. More often than not, we have that little voice in our heads that tells us why we can't or shouldn't achieve our goals. Friends or acquaintances can also give negative advice that works against our positive outlook.
4. Can I See It?
Your vision board should serve as a constant reminder of what you're working towards. Hang it in an area you pass every day—the fridge, by the mirror in the bathroom, even in your car if you have a long daily commute or are driving the kids around all day.
Now that you can see it, be intentional about taking the time to read it. Remind yourself why you made it in the first place—to improve your life!
Vision Boards: They Really Do Work!
What we focus our attention on really comes to life. Allow the universe to reward you with the positivity you put out there. Remember, there are no rules when it comes to vision boards. Do what works for you! Feel free to adjust your vision board as you see fit and add to it as you come up with new goals.
Use your vision board to eliminate doubt, embrace positivity, and achieve your goals.