Post-pandemic, the emphasis on women leaving the workforce in droves occupied news headlines. In the aftermath, many women entered the side hustle economy. Shopify conducted a survey. The results revealed that mothers are interested in running a business but only part-time. With extended household responsibilities and societal pressures, women feel that they don’t have the capacity to dedicate 80 hours a week to establish a business.
Although Millennials and Generation Z are opting to delay having children, Jhalesa Seymour, founder of Salt.xo, defied the odds when launching her skincare line. She generated $100 thousand her first year in business and invested all her profit back into the organization. By the third year, she accumulated more than $16 million in earnings. Just recently, Seymour received the Shopify Milestones Award for over 100,000 sales.
The idea for the female hygiene company stemmed from the experience of being fired as a waitress in college and frustration around products that didn’t deliver for yeast infections or daily skincare routines. One of the top ingredients she discovered that was being overlooked was the power of Oregano.
“I ended up doing some research,” Seymour states during a phone interview. “I wanted to create something natural because all the soaps I was using weren’t helping me. I found something that wasn’t targeted, especially to women like me. So, I decided to look up some essential herbs and oils. I just started playing and experimenting.”
During this time, Seymour became pregnant. Even with the added responsibility, she went on to graduate and run her booming business.
“[Becoming a mother] helped me as an entrepreneur to know that it’s not all about me; it’s about the village,” Seymour comments. “So when I say village, I mean my team, my child, my boyfriend, who’s now my husband, it helped me understand that it’s about us. It’s just not about one person winning. I created that village mentality in my mind from having a child because before, I didn’t have those responsibilities, it’s all about you, and what your goals are, what you want to do. But when you have a family and a village, and they’re counting on you, it helps you be more sympathetic and better understand how you want to help support others.”
For young mothers contemplating becoming entrepreneurs, Seymour provides the following advice:
Do whatever it takes
It’s easier said than done to do whatever it takes to succeed. You have to remind yourself why you started in the first place constantly. Understand that there is no life-work balance. One aspect will always take the back seat. The important thing is not to beat yourself up—nurture the moment you’re experiencing; don’t let the stress hinder your progress.
“The very first step was I went to a STEP show at my university,” Seymour explains. “I put it [the soap] in little Saran wraps. I went to the Dollar Store. I made the most beautiful packaging I could with what I had. And I started handing it out. And at that time, the staple was I had designed the bar so they have beautiful designs. No one had ever seen anything like that before. I would make an array of colors using micro powders that was skin-safe. At that point, I was a brand of my own. And that’s what set us apart.
Having children can motivate you
Some entrepreneurs rely on their internal drive to create and execute. Others draw on external resources to push them forward. Providing a thriving environment for your children is a motivator to forge ahead, manage challenges and succeed.
“A lot of times, people will discourage you and tell you that if you have a baby, they’re going to hold you back,” Seymour expresses. “They could potentially ruin your goals and things like that. I heard the craziest things when I got pregnant, ‘Your baby, your problem.’ And honestly, I think that children are a blessing. They help you gauge and navigate through this life because they give you such maturity and a clear sight of where you want to go. Being pregnant and handling business actually encouraged me to go even harder to pursue my goals on a different level because I knew I had myself, my family and my baby that were depending on me to execute and make something that will last forever.”
Let your competition empower you
It’s easy to compare yourself to others and their success. Most of the time, though, that habit or mindset keeps you frustrated instead of motivated. Use your competitors as a baseline and focus on yourself and your strategy.
“Do not look at what the next person is doing,” she states. “Just like in school, you’re looking at the next person’s paper, trying to copy off their page. They may get it right, but you don’t know how they got the answer. We live in an era of social media; everyone is comparing and trying to figure out how the next person did something. Sometimes, you have to create your own story, your own narrative and not compare yourself because it will leave you in a place where you feel discontent. A lot of young people compare and they’re not able to pursue their goals because they think that maybe they started too late. I also tell young girls that being an entrepreneur is not all about the glitz and the glam. It’s really hard work, dedication and never giving up.”
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