As a follow-up to Part 1 on why having kids young might be the best thing for your career, here are some very basic, general tips on making it happen.
So what can you do?
1. Identify your goals. Write them down, make a dream board — but don’t limit yourself.
2. Finish any education that you absolutely need to finish. It might take longer, it might require digging for scholarships and grants, and it might be really exhausting. But you can do this.
3. Even if it’s not possible to finish your education right now, at least find work in the field you want to be in.
4. Not only that, but surround yourself with the people who are doing things that you want to be doing. When I was at Camp Mighty back in Novemeber, Pinterest Founder Ben Silbermann gave us the same advice. When he was young and just starting out, he packed up and moved to Silicon Valley because that’s where people were making things happen. Find your tribe — whether it’s geographically or virtually (like on blogs). Stop hanging out with people who bring you down, and surround yourself with support and knowledge.
5. Be really, really, really, really persistent. Every job I’ve ever gotten has been because I’ve been insanely persistent. I once called an editor’s cell phone (that I probably wasn’t supposed to have) and left voicemails two times about a gig. Luckily this editor had a similar ambition level as mine, and she thought my calls showed a go-getter attitude similar to her own, rather than what it was: a borderline-inappropriate cross of boundary lines. (Tread carefully, my friend.) But take the risks and show how bad you want it — even if it’s just a low-paying part-time internship (which, by the way, is how I started at Babble.com).
6. Work really, really, really, really hard. And then just keep working at it. Find your balance, while knowing that work-life balance is rarely balanced. Separate your “mom time” from your “work time” as much as possible. And know that just because you’re taking a slower pace, or an entirely different path than you originally envisioned, that doesn’t mean you won’t get where you want to go.
Do you have any advice for young moms chasing a professional dream?
Photo: Etsy/Kensie Kate
5 Comments to Part 2: Pursuing Professional Goals as a Young Mom
heidi
January 15, 2013 at 7:35 pm
Great topic and post Michelle!
I’d like to contribute that I think a lot of young moms know they HAVE ambitions and dreams, but they don’t know exactly what they look like yet. Here is my tip:
Follow the signs…
Keep your eyes open for teachers and experiences that pop-up in your life. Don’t take any coincidence too lightly and brush it off. These synchronicities are a gentle reminder we’re following the path.
I’ve been there, sometimes even the most ambitious of us are not sure where we’re headed.
Heidi
Chaunie
January 15, 2013 at 8:18 pm
Needed this today. Thanks MIchelle!
Christa the BabbyMama
January 16, 2013 at 1:11 am
Five and six are so important! Never give up!!
Ms. Future PharmD
January 17, 2013 at 4:20 pm
I’d add that you should find women who are doing what you want to do and have them as role models. It’s really key to see that you can be successful and to have women to cheer you on when things are hard. I was very lucky to go to undergrad in places that had a lot of non-traditional aged women students, and they were such great cheerleaders for me (especially when I was in school and pumping. I only stuck with that with their support and wisdom). Pursuing your dreams while young has a lot of benefits, but it takes support, and women in your field or who will be in it soon are great resources. Knowing that my mentors have made it through and are happy with their careers helps me through the really hard parts of the process.
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