Do you ever feel like all the business advice out there was written for people who don’t have kids? In this episode, I sit down with marketing strategist and founder of This Mother Means Business, Laura Sinclair, to talk about what it really looks like to build a thriving business as a mom without burning out or sacrificing your family in the process.

Laura shares the truth about why most business advice simply doesn’t fit the realities of motherhood, and why finding mentors who get your season of life is a total game-changer.

Together, we unpack the myths of “hustle culture,” discuss the importance of redefining success, and explore how moms can grow profitable businesses on their own terms.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re falling behind or trying to keep up with people living in a completely different reality, this episode will remind you that you’re not alone, and that success as a mom and entrepreneur is absolutely possible.

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Being both a business owner and a mom is one of the most rewarding and one of the most challenging paths a woman can take.

Before I had kids, I could pull long days, run complex launches, and hustle endlessly. Once I became a mom, everything shifted.

My time, my energy, my priorities… none of it looked the same. And suddenly, so much of the business advice I had relied on felt completely irrelevant.

That’s why I wanted to have Laura Sinclair on the Nourished CEO Podcast. Laura is a marketing strategist, mom of two, and the founder of This Mother Means Business.

She has walked through the messy, beautiful reality of building businesses with babies, and she has a lot to say about why moms need coaching and community that truly understand motherhood.

In this post, I’ll share the biggest takeaways from our conversation, along with my own reflections as a mom and entrepreneur.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing because you can’t keep up with child-free entrepreneurs or the “hustle harder” advice online… you’re not alone. And there’s a better way forward.

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Why Traditional Business Advice Doesn’t Always Work for Moms

The online business world is overflowing with advice: work 12-hour days, run big three-part launches, host webinars every week, or post five times a day to social media.

Before kids, those strategies might be doable. But once you’re breastfeeding every two hours, recovering from sleepless nights, or navigating preschool germs, your bandwidth looks completely different.

As Laura Sinclair put it, “There’s a unique perspective that needs to be considered when we’re moms building businesses.”

She told the story of one of her clients: a mom of a three-month-old whose online business was on the verge of blowing up.

On paper, the strategy was simple: step on the gas and scale quickly. But this mom wanted to be present with her baby. She didn’t want to hand everything off to a nanny just to chase rapid growth.

A child-free coach might have told her to “push through.” But Laura knew that wasn’t aligned with her values. Instead, they focused on finding a path for sustainable growth that honored both her business and her motherhood.

That’s the piece missing from so much traditional business advice. It assumes unlimited time, unlimited energy, and zero interruptions — conditions most moms simply don’t have.

Action Step: The next time you’re evaluating a new business strategy, ask yourself: Does this fit my current life stage? Or am I trying to force myself into a model that only works for someone without kids?

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The Power of Mentorship from Other Moms

Laura Sinclair is clear on this point: “Nobody understands what it’s like to be a mom entrepreneur unless you’re a mom entrepreneur.”

That doesn’t mean moms can’t learn from people without kids. You don’t need children to be an expert in Facebook ads or sales scripts.

But when it comes to mentorship — the kind that’s about more than numbers on a spreadsheet — shared experience matters.

Laura shared three personal stories that drove this home:

1. The Gym Mentor Who Missed the Point
   When Laura was running her CrossFit gym with a toddler at home, she told her mentor she was exhausted and overwhelmed. His response? “Let’s pull up your sales data.” Instead of meeting her human needs, he went straight back to spreadsheets. She left soon after.

2. The “Lazy Mom” Story
   Laura was about to join a high-ticket business program, but asked to start in September instead of over the summer so that she could spend those months with her kids. The coach never replied to her email. Instead, she went on Instagram stories ranting about how “lazy” people were for not wanting to work in July and August. Needless to say, Laura walked away from that investment.

3. The Mastermind Put-Down
   At an in-person mastermind, Laura said she was looking for simplicity because she was tired. The mentor’s advice? Run her free calls three times a week, including evenings. When Laura pushed back, he called her lazy in front of the entire group.

Each of these stories reflects what happens when coaches don’t understand the realities of motherhood. Without empathy, their advice feels not only unhelpful but also shaming.

That’s why moms thrive when they work with mentors who “get it.” Empathy and context matter just as much as the strategy.

Action Step: When you’re considering a coach, don’t just ask what they teach. Ask yourself: Do they understand my life? Can they guide me with both business expertise and empathy for my role as a mom?

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How to Filter Advice and Choose the Right Sources

As mom entrepreneurs, we’re bombarded with messages about what we “should” be doing. Launch this way. Post on this platform. Scale to seven figures in a year.

But not every strategy is worth adopting as-is.

Laura Sinclair reminded me that “success leaves clues.” Instead of trying to copy someone’s entire business model, ask: What’s the simplest version of this that would work for me right now?

For example, maybe you don’t have the bandwidth for a three-day live launch. But you could host a single-day workshop.

Or if live events don’t fit your season, you could create a pre-recorded webinar that runs on autopilot.

This is where her concept of the “bare-ass minimum” comes in. When her clients set ambitious goals, she asks: What’s the bare minimum version of this we could do? Start there, and only add complexity when it makes sense.

This advice resonated deeply with me. I used to run elaborate, multi-event launches.

But after having kids, I realized those launches left my business too vulnerable.

If life chaos hit during a launch — including real-life events like my husband needing surgery or a baby getting sick — half a year’s revenue could be at risk.

Now, I filter every strategy through the lens of sustainability and season of life.

Action Step: When you hear new advice, ask:

• Does this align with my values?

• Can I simplify it into a “bare-ass minimum” version?

• Does it fit my season of motherhood?

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Community as the Antidote to Loneliness

Entrepreneurship can feel lonely. Motherhood can feel lonely. Put them together, and that isolation can become overwhelming.

I’ve worked hard to find local community with other entrepreneurial moms, and even meeting monthly has been a lifeline.

Being around women who understand both business and babies reminds me: I’m not crazy, I’m not failing — this really is hard, and I’m not alone.

Laura Sinclair created This Mother Means Business for exactly this reason. After breaking her leg and experiencing the same isolation she had felt postpartum, she realized how powerful community could be.

Her membership brings together moms building businesses who can support each other with empathy, strategy, and encouragement.

The beauty of communities like this is twofold:

1. They validate your experience so you stop feeling like you’re “behind.”

2. They provide context-rich strategies from women who are living in the same season.

AI, free PDFs, or random Google searches can’t give you that. Context and shared experience can only come from real human connection.

Action Step: If you’re feeling isolated, make community a priority. Whether that’s a local meetup, a mastermind, or a membership like This Mother Means Business, don’t try to do it alone.

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Rethinking Success: Profit, Seasons, and Values

One of the biggest traps mom entrepreneurs fall into is chasing arbitrary goals.

The online space glorifies seven-figure businesses, passive income, and massive followings. But what if those goals don’t actually line up with your life?

Here’s the truth:

• Seven figures means nothing without profit. A $1M business with $700k in expenses isn’t necessarily better than a $300k business with $200k in profit.

• Passive income is a myth. Low-ticket offers often require massive marketing efforts, expensive ads, and constant content. They’re not easier — they’re just different.

• More isn’t always better. For many moms, working deeply with 5–10 clients at a time is far more sustainable (and just as lucrative) as selling 500 $17 memberships.

Both Laura and I have seen too many women burn out chasing “big goals” that don’t actually serve them.

The key is to define success for yourself. For me, success means running a profitable business that pays the bills, supports my family, and still leaves room for weekends at the park with my kids.

As Laura said, “I’m deeply ambitious. I want to be rich. But I want that on top of everything else that matters, not at the expense of it.”

Action Step: Define your version of success. Is it a certain income? Profit margin? Number of clients? Hours worked? Once you’re clear, stop comparing yourself to people playing a completely different game.

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Final Thoughts: You’re Not Behind — You’re Building Differently

If you’ve ever felt like you’re falling behind because you can’t keep up with the 12-hour days, endless launches, or constant content production, let me remind you: you’re not behind.

You’re building differently. And that’s a good thing.

Business coaching for mom entrepreneurs works best when it comes from people who understand both strategy and the realities of motherhood.

Mentorship and community with other moms can give you the empathy, sustainability, and context you need to thrive.

So stop comparing yourself to entrepreneurs in completely different seasons of life.

Find the people and communities who get it. And build your business in a way that works for you and your family.

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Ready for Support That Fits Your Life?

If you’re looking for a mentor who understands both the strategies of online business and the realities of raising kids, I’d love to support you. Click here to learn more about working with me and let’s build your business in a way that truly works for your season of life.

And if you’re craving community with other mom entrepreneurs, I highly recommend checking out Laura Sinclair’s This Mother Means Business membership. It’s an incredible space for connection, accountability, and real-world strategies from moms who are living it with you. You can find out more here.

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