Navigating Motherhood & Entrepreneurship
If you would have asked me 20 years ago what my life would look like as a mother, it would be far different than it is now. You see, growing up, through college and even in the first years of marriage I had always planned on being a stay at home mom. My mother was mostly a stay at home mom and the same went for my husband’s mother. As far as I knew that was the only way.
Fast forward to my life in Midland and meeting a lady (through teaching barre class) who would become such a huge part of my story. That wonderful lady took a chance on a girl that she only knew through barre. But, experiencing my personality a few times a week through class was enough for her to offer me sales job in which I had no previous experience. She saw me, got me and liked me.
That job started my very successful career in the oil & gas chemical sales business. And that lady became more than a boss to me, she became a mentor, a role model and a friend for life. That lady is Lisa and Lisa showed me how it was possible to have a career and also be an amazing wife and mother without feeling guilty about not choosing one over the other.
For the first time in my life I experienced first hand, from riding shotgun for hours on end with Lisa, what it would look like to be a career mom. Lisa and her husband, Bob have worked so hard for every single thing they have. They have 4 grown kids and 7 grandkids and yet still work to this day. Day in and day out I had the privilege of overhearing the respect, schedule rearranging, love, conflict resolution and care that goes into being a working mom. The way Lisa held those conversations changed me. Especially the ones she had with her husband. They still, after a lifetime together, ENJOYED having chit chat and little conversations throughout the day. Each one held so much love and respect and I am so grateful I got to overhear them. I didn’t grow up hearing married people speak to one another with respect and love, I overheard mostly annoyance, frustration and disdain. Lisa and Bob unbeknownst to them, gave me a marriage to look up to, which also gave me a motherhood, that INCLUDED a career to look up to.
After 2 years with Lisa, an acquisition and the arrival of our first child, I made another career change by joining Baker Hughes. Joining Baker Hughes was such a milestone for me, proud was an understatement. I grew up in small town USA. We didn’t spend our days talking about where we would go to University and we definitely did not have career women to look up to. So, when I landed a job making over 6 figures, with a global company, I blew all my small town dreams to smitherreens. I got this job opportunity because of Lisa, because of one of her many relationships in the oil & gas industry, because of who she is and who she is has a lot to do with being a mother. She nurtures her business relationships just as she nurtures her children and grandchildren. Lisa gave me the introduction, but I got the job. Not only did I win over the man who would be my boss, but I also won over the President of Chemicals at Baker Hughes. She was a tough, career gal herself and really loved what I stood for. She flew me out to Houston for a final interview and while I was nervous to be interviewed by such an important person at Baker Hughes, I was also confident in who I was and what I had to offer. We immediately got on and found common ground through motherhood, volunteering and having strong personalities in a male dominated industry. This new job and its flexibility gave me the confidence that I could be a successful career woman and a successful mother.
Fast forward through 8 years of a successful sales career, full of ups and downs, setbacks and triumphs, through COVID working full time- 2 kiddos and a puppy at home. Through all of the twists and turns, I stayed the course and continued to grow as a person, wife and mother. My continual growth helped solidify my decision to step out on my own as an entrepreneur. Without Lisa and those 8 years studying, negotiating, growing, learning, observing and building, I might not have had the same competence or confidence as I do today.
You see, every single thing we do in life makes a difference. But, It’s up to us as to what type of difference it makes. For me, the difference I am making is a good one. For me, my children are able to watch their mother set goals and accomplish them. They watch me struggle, fail, get back up and win. They get to be a part of my business through me. They get to experience people from all walks of life because of my real estate career. People that do not look like them or their peers. People that do not live in a home like theirs. People that have stories that they could only see on tv. But, now… they are exposed to so many different experiences and these experiences are helping to shape their world. These experiences broaden their viewpoint. We want our children to not have tunnel vision when it comes to life. We want them to understand and appreciate struggle and sacrifice.
I’m not afraid to let our kids see me navigate motherhood and entrepreneurship. I’m not afraid to let them see the highs and lows. The tears and belly-aches. I won’t shield them from the anxiety, anger and angst of some days only to let them see the high-fives and hallelujahs. They get to see it all, they get to see my struggle and win. They get to watch me navigate the Mountains and Valleys, fires and floods. I know that allowing them to have a front row seat to my journey will slowly and subtly give them confidence to do so many things in life. It will also give them the security of knowing that they can come to me when they find themselves at a dead end on a one way street. Everything we do makes a difference and the difference I choose to make is an everlasting one.