How can turning life's challenges into opportunities lead to a more fulfilling and successful life as a mother and entrepreneur?

This week’s guest has been on my top list of people to have on my podcast since I launched it. This conversation was a DREAM COME TRUE! I feel like I’ve known her for years, we connected on so many levels. Introducing, my new friend - Allie Reeves!

Allie is a wife, mama of 2, fellow podcaster, and an online business mentor for female entrepreneurs who are ready to be, do and have their definition of "ALL". Her passion is to support women so they can show up fully in all the areas of their lives that matter just as much as their businesses.

Allie shared about her upbringing and the hard times they experienced which included moving multiple times, not knowing where their next meal would come from, etc. But as hard as it was, she felt like there was something else, something more, that she was meant for more. Now, as an adult she is grateful for her experience because it has given her a deeper level of empathy and a desire to understand with a new perspective in life. 

Her drive and determination to create a life for herself began at the young age of 14 when she got her first job. For Allie, working opened her eyes to ways she had never known before. She was able to put herself through college and graduate, the first one in her family might I add - which is AMAZING! Through the encouragement of her husband, she started her first business, a social media management company - Bustle and Buzz. And while it worked for a while, it wasn’t the work her soul was meant to do. 

In 2017, Allie took a leap of faith and shifted her business to providing online courses around social media management. She says it has been a ride ever since! And although her company’s focus has evolved to more online business practices and mindset and energy, Allie is more passionate than ever about what she gets to do everyday. 

I am so inspired by her courage to leave the safety, familiarity and comfort of the 6-figure gig she had to create something she loved. As a mama who is in thick of raising two young kiddos, while being a rockstar at her business, I think she’s really being an example to all mamas out there. It is possible to be both a mama AND entrepreneur, it just takes fricken’ intentionality with your time, energy and sanity. 

A lot of times, our families may tell us to stay where we are because “it’s safe and the responsible thing to do”, but usually that’s not the best thing for us. 

I think it takes a lot of awareness and courage for a woman especially to listen to her body and allow the cues to be the decision maker and then to jump.

Allie goes on to share about how as mamas, we are able to do the things we want and not just be focused on the kids or do what we’re “supposed” to do as a career which in turn makes us settle. We have the mindset of “Well if I’m not going to go all in on the business, then I’m not going to go for the relationship; or if I want kids, I won’t go for the business.” 

We can have it all, but you gotta go for it. - Allie

Amen, sister. AMEN. We don’t have to subject ourselves to that narrative because we can be both a mama AND entrepreneur! Now hear me when I say, it’s not going to be rainbows and roses everyday, but won’t it feel so liberating to know you’re doing what you want, AND getting to be a mama? 

I’m not saying a business trumps your family, because I think we can agree that we’ll always choose our babies. But what I’m saying is that because of the things we do, like a business, or some other creative outlet - we’re able to show up in a better way for our partners, our kids and our friends. 

What it really comes down to, is being intentional with our time. I love when Allie talks about detaching from the expectation of how it was going to look, but don’t get attached to the way in which it will happen or how it will feel day to day. There has to be a lot of grace and compassion through it all.

She also mentions the importance of having a support system in your life to be able to do the things that are most valuable to us. This may be something as small has hiring someone to clean your house, but whatever it is - put that system in place so you’re able to show up, mama. It takes huge level of understanding and honesty with yourself to put these levels of support in your life, because helloooo us women find it hard to ask for help. Am I right? 

When we’re able to receive help, it’s a beautiful moment. It allows us to not only get things done that may not be our favorite thing to do, or it’s hard to juggle, but it gives us the opportunity to take care of ourselves too so we can be the best wife, mama and entrepreneur we can be. 

Towards the end of our conversation, Allie shares about a recent moment that was really hard in her business, yet she chose to turn the situation around and use it as an opportunity to level up in her life, leadership and business. 

I hope you enjoyed today’s episode as much as I did. I am so appreciative to Allie for being vulnerable and sharing her story with us. I’ll see you back here next week!

Connect with Allie!

Website: www.allieireeves.com

Instagram: @allieireeves

Podcast: All in with Allie

Take care of yourselves and therefore each other!

XO, Brooke Jean