MamsatWork is my third child, I think you know that by now, but what you may not know is how important it is to me that this website runs well. Not only in terms of visitor numbers, but also in terms of turnover. This has everything to do with my desire to be financially independent. Of course every blogger likes it when his or her articles are well read. In fact, when clicking the 'publish' button, most bloggers have their noses at the numbers. But that doesn't get you there. Financial independence for women and mothers is and remains so important.
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Since I have fully focused on MamsatWork, I have noticed that the turnover focus has (of course) also changed. Where I used to get quite a bit of turnover from the webshop, now only my blog is my company. And as an ambitious lady who has eaten too often dry bread in the distant past, that sometimes makes me a bit nervous. But I think every entrepreneur will know that.
Not every woman can agree with this, but financial independence is very important to me. It's been a thing for me ever since I've been working. I want to be able to take care of myself, make my own financial decisions and feel good about it. And that is of course only possible if I also have a good insight into my finances. But did you know that almost half of Dutch women can't hold up their pants themselves?
If I want to be financially independent if necessary, why stop with the webshop when I didn't know yet whether MamsatWork could take over the turnover? Well, that's simple. It gave me a stomachache.
If any of you are considering starting an online store, I would like to advise you… think again. Of course it is great if you can start your own business in this way. Maybe next to your (part-time) job, or else just next to motherhood. It sounds ideal and on many occasions it is. But do realize that you also have to invest a lot and that it will not come to you. No one has ever become rich overnight by starting a webshop. It is hard work.
Especially the last one that gave me stomachaches. Every six months I had to buy again for € 50,000. And then after half a year everything actually had to be sold before the next shipment arrived. And I found that so stressful. Even though I did an excellent job in the years that I was fully involved with Zazou - the turnover went from € 6000 to € 100,000 on an annual basis in 4 years - I finally thought it was terrible, that financial pressure.
I was financially independent, but I felt like I had to let go of everything to build my business. Anyway, it didn't make me happy and so I decided to stop. I have now reached the point that this week the plug will be pulled and I can start cleaning up. And that gives peace of mind. Woop-woop!
From two webshops and a blog I now go to one webshop and a blog. And also that last webshop (which I have together with a partner) that is going 'out'. I'm going to focus completely on MamsatWork to also build in some rest. I need to learn to enjoy my family and my family. It's not for nothing that I recently wrote about making memories!
I still want to be financially independent, but my ambitions now lie elsewhere. Namely in helping others and a little more time for myself. And contribute to society. It may sound gooey but it feels good. And that's what counts in the end! Fortunately, those two things -financial independence and time for society- can go hand in hand.
What about you? Is being financially independent so important to you? Or are you not so concerned about what the future will bring?
