I’m fast approaching nearly 18 months in business and have been reflecting on my journey so far.  So much has changed in such a short space of time.  In my blog on my journey to becoming a VA I talk about my motivator for starting my business following the birth of my beautiful daughter.  My daughter is the one who inspired me and gave me strength, but there was more going on behind the scenes that I don’t often talk about.

From a confidentiality point of view I can’t say what happened that led me to leave the employed world, but it saddens me that I have since met so many women who have been in a similar position.  How the corporate world doesn’t look and see the benefits or how amazing mums can be to help drive their businesses.  We raise children, a home, we run businesses, we work hard, all because we are strongminded and never give up trying.

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Even whilst doing my research for this post, so many articles are undermining what mothers are capable of.  We are apparently great at multitasking and communication, which yes are good qualities to have.  But how about dedication, the sheer strength and determination to keep going, to give things our all and generally all round amazing individuals.

Over the past 18 months I have met some truly amazing and inspirational women in business who are running their businesses for and around their kids.  They adapt, they are flexible, they are courageous, persistent, compassionate.  So why hasn’t the corporate world woken up to see what they have to offer?

As an employee I had an amazing reputation.  At every review I was told I was going over and above my job role.  How there was so much more to me than “just a PA”.  That I had an amazing career ahead of me.  I was quickly promoted up multiple times yet everything changed so quickly.

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Time for celebration

So although this post originally was planned as a celebration of International Women’s Day, I still want to give a massive shout out to all the amazing mums out there.  Those who are selfless, strong, supportive, nurturing, compassionate, patient, hardworking, tolerant, flexible, courageous, persistent, adaptable, resilient, generous and wise.  What we are doing is truly inspiring and frankly amazing.  I can only hope that one day my daughter has the same strengths within her, to stand up for what she believes in with compassion for those around her.