How I Built a Business Around My Life

I started this business when my niece was just three months old. A friend of mine was looking for support in her business, and I had been feeling that pull to try something entrepreneurial to help her and maybe build something of my own in the process.

Before my niece was even old enough to run around the kitchen table, she was often strapped to my chest in a baby wrap while I navigated working from my phone or from my laptop on the couch during naptime.

This isn’t a story about hustle. It’s about building something slow and steady around nap times, family dinners, and real life.

Because during that same season, I was also driving three and a half hours once a week, midweek, to spend the evening with my mom. These were some of her final months with us, and I wouldn’t trade that time for anything.

Why I Started

Before this chapter of business, I had spent seven years in property management and worked in a handful of other industries before that. But during this season, life looked different. I was walking through recovery from anorexia. My mom had been diagnosed with ALS, and time with her felt more precious than ever.

I didn’t have to work, but I wanted to. I wanted something purposeful. Something that gave me the flexibility to be with family, to show up for the moments that mattered, and to contribute in a way that felt meaningful.

Deep down, I’ve always known I was meant to do something a little different … something that didn’t quite fit the traditional mold.

The Early Days

In those early days, I was caring for my niece full time. She was often strapped to me in the baby wrap while we walked the neighborhood or I tried to answer emails from my phone. I worked in the mornings before she woke up, during nap time, or after bedtime—when I wasn’t crashing into bed myself. (Let’s be honest: when they say “sleep when the baby sleeps,” they aren’t wrong.)

Her mama was incredibly supportive during that time, especially with things like dinner. I helped with dishes, clean-up, and keeping things running while being the primary caregiver during the day. Her mom was going to the office, so I was mindful of her needing rest and we helped each other during that season. 

It was a beautiful season … watching new life begin while another was coming to a close. I was exactly where I needed to be, doing the work that mattered most in that moment.

I remember those days being a little messy, maybe even a little scary. I was brand-new to the online space and unsure what I was even doing. I was just following a nudge and learning as I went.

And while I couldn’t have imagined what my business would grow into, I do know this: it is possible. You can be home, tending to your family and your house, and still do something that’s just for you or something that helps support others.

The First Clients

Ah, the first clients. It’s wild to look back now, but my very first client was a friend I’d met through an in-person Bible study. She had been talking about wanting to start a coaching business and needing help behind the scenes. The way she described entrepreneurial life and managing the backend of things sounded like something I’d enjoy. It was something that could fit around my life at the time, allowing me to be present with my family, especially my niece and my mom.

That first opportunity felt like it found me at just the right time.

After that, I built a little website, started casually posting on Instagram … just on my personal account, nothing fancy or “branded.” I didn’t try to make it professional. I was still just showing up as me. And honestly? That’s what worked.

Someone I didn’t know reached out and said I looked normal—her words. She had a little one not much older than my niece, and we instantly clicked. I started helping her with her business, and while she doesn’t need that kind of support right now, she’s still one of my closest friends. I was even her maid of honor. It’s sweet how this work has brought such lasting relationships into my life.

After that, most of my clients came through referrals. I got involved in Rising Tide Society (anyone remember that?), and while it was mostly photographers, I met great people and found some of my earliest clients there. But truly, the bulk of my business came from just being active in my community and doing good work. Then clients who referred other clients who referred other clients.

In the early days, I did more social media work. Things like content planning and hashtag research, but it didn’t take long to realize that wasn’t my zone of genius. So, I let that go. I leaned into the work I actually enjoyed: contracts, billing, organizing back-end systems, sending proposals, handling customer service.

That community manager side of me really took root then. I loved making sure things ran smoothly behind the scenes so my clients could focus on what they did best.

If I had to name the moment that gave me real momentum, it wasn’t landing my first client—it was getting that first “real” client, someone who didn’t already know me. Then the next. That gave me the confidence to know: I can do this.

Early on I also worked with a client that was also local. I helped her with design projects. This was completely different from what I was doing for other clients at the time, but it was a fun season, and it gave me a lot of clarity about what I liked, what I didn’t, and what I was truly good at.

There have been a lot of lessons since then, but that’s how it started—messy, meaningful, and built on trust.

What I Did Differently

What I did a little differently than others was building a referral-based business. Like I mentioned earlier, while some people came through online connections, most of my clients came from word of mouth. It was a lot of “Hey, I know someone who’s a VA … you should connect with her.” That’s how the bulk of my client base was built.

I typically offered a connection call up front. It was just a casual conversation to learn more about the person and give them a chance to learn about me, too. It helped both of us figure out if we’d be a good fit. There were definitely people I talked to where the work just didn’t align with what I knew how to do and that’s okay. Saying no or not moving forward was part of the process.

(Side note: Henry was literally about to fall off the couch while I was thinking about all this. Life, right?)

Early on, I was also pretty quick to invest in support when I needed it. I didn’t wait around for things to magically make sense. If there was a course, training, or tool even something simple or low-cost that could help me move forward, I jumped in. I know that’s something not everyone does, but it helped me build momentum.

I booked out my hours fairly quickly when I started. In fact, there were seasons I overbooked myself and had to step back, reassess, and let go of clients or work I didn’t have capacity for. That came with its own growing pains, but it taught me a lot about honoring my limits.

One of the biggest lessons? Learning what kind of work truly fits me.

In the early days, I offered social media management—writing posts, sourcing photos, building content calendars, but I learned fast that it didn’t feel aligned. Telling someone else’s story felt off. It just wasn’t for me. So I stopped offering it, and I haven’t looked back.

Over time, I’ve become more confident in saying no whether it’s to certain services or to clients who aren’t the right fit anymore. Sometimes, letting go isn’t about disliking someone. It’s just about managing my energy and being honest about what I can handle. A while back, I had to let go of a client because I was overwhelmed and needed to prioritize rest. I don’t regret that decision at all.

These days, I’ve slowed down on purpose. I have one full-time client and one very part-time client. And honestly? That feels just right for this season.

What Flexibility Really Looks Like

Now that I’ve built a business around real life, flexibility looks like a lot of things.

It means if Henry (a.k.a. the Director of Walks) wants to chase birds or sniff every blade of grass in the yard, we go. It means I get to spend time in the kitchen because cooking isn’t just something I do, it’s something I love. If you’re like me, slow mornings and real food are a big part of your rhythm, too.

Unrushed mornings are one of my non-negotiables. That first hour sets the tone for everything else. Coffee on the porch, a little scripture reading, some fresh air—it all matters.

Flexibility also means I can run errands during the day. I can attend a school program. I can bake banana bread in the middle of the afternoon if I want to. That’s the whole point.

Right now, I structure my workday around flexible blocks. My focused hours are generally from 10 to 3, with a break for lunch and movement. So, I’ll work 10 to noon, take a break, then work again from 1 to 3. That gives me two solid work blocks where I’m head-down and handling client work or projects.

Some days, like today, I worked from 9 to 12:30 and wrapped up all the essentials early. I ran errands, had lunch, even took a nap then popped back on in the afternoon for a quick check-in and to finish a few loose ends. It’s not rigid, but it’s intentional.

My clients know they can drop things in for me but they also know I’m not available 24/7. That’s a boundary I’m proud to keep.

There are certain things that anchor my day: morning scripture (sometimes afternoon if the day shifts), sitting outside to listen to the birds, cooking three real meals. I work from wherever feels best—my couch, my kitchen table, my desk, or the porch. It depends on the weather, my energy, and what I need that day. Some days I need sunshine. Some days I need to be cozy with Henry curled up beside me.

That’s the kind of business I’ve built … one that works with my life, not against it.

What I’ve Learned

Sustainable is greater than scalable 100%.

As much as I love the idea of growing, creating new things, and helping more people in more ways, I’ve learned that the key is building something that feels sustainable for your life.

For me, having one core client has been the most supportive and steady setup. It works. It allows me to show up well in work and life.

It’s easy to chase the shiny things to think you need to scale, launch something new, or aim for the biggest number. And that’s fine if that’s the season you’re in and it aligns with the kind of life you want. But just because something is exciting doesn’t mean it’s sustainable.

You get to decide what success looks like. Not Instagram. Not the coaching world. You.

We can talk about the elusive six-figure year, but here’s the truth: Do you really need six figures to be happy? For me, I’d rather have a business that supports my life not one that consumes it.

It’s true what they say: entrepreneurs will work 80 hours for themselves just to avoid working 40 for someone else. But even in that, you have to be mindful. A business that’s life-first respects your boundaries. It runs around your life, not over it.

Some seasons, success looks like scaling. Some seasons, it looks like stepping back.

Last year, success looked like not growing my business. It looked like showing up for my clients, doing the essential things, and letting the rest sit. It was the bare minimum and that was enough.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned? Don’t follow someone else’s formula.

Sure, you’ll find ideas and inspiration but the minute you try to do everything “their way,” you lose the magic that makes it yours. The biggest growth I’ve had has come from following my own gut, doing things my way, and giving myself permission to keep it simple.

There’s no perfect formula. Just the best rhythm for you.

I think I’ve never truly been building until now. But now that I know what I’m building around, I can see how this business continues to grow and evolve as I do.

It has served me in so many seasons from raising a baby, to losing my mom, to making sure my dad was okay. I’ve worked from anywhere, taken months away, and made it work with just one client. I’ve gone from hustle to quiet, from scaling up to slowing down. And now, I feel called to help others who want to serve in meaningful ways and build a business that fits their lives and homes.

The question I want to leave you with is this:

What kind of business do you want to build?
And maybe more importantly—what kind of life are you building it around?

As homeschool mamas, we know the heart of the home comes first. And I believe that puts you in the best position to build something beautiful something that supports your life, not competes with it.

You really can do both. And you get to do it your way.