HOW RUNNING A BUSINESS IS LIKE MOTHERHOOD

The Pressure to Be Perfect

As a mom, the pressure to be perfect is real. Whether it’s keeping my son’s routine on track or being present at every school event, it can feel like the stakes are high. I often find myself in situations where I feel like I’ve fallen short of expectations—either my own or others’. And the same pressure applies to business. There are deadlines that get missed, expectations are not met, and decisions that don’t pan out as hoped.

But here’s what I’ve learned: perfection doesn’t exist. (Despite what social media shows you!) Both business and motherhood require constant adjustment and learning. Expecting ourselves to get everything right the first time only leads to frustration. It’s through the imperfections, the missteps, and the “oops” moments that we gain insight into what works, what doesn’t, and how we can improve.

The Fear of Failing: Letting Go of Control

When I first started Playground Originals, the fear of failure was paralyzing. I wanted everything to be perfect, and any mistake felt like a huge setback. Similarly, when I became a mom, every little error in my parenting felt like a reflection of my abilities. What I’ve come to realize, however, is that failure became the best teacher.

Failure is the re-direct. It’s creating that new (and sometimes better) path. It pushes you out of your comfort zone. And oftentimes teaches you that you’re stronger and more resourceful than you think… just like motherhood.

When you’re a mom, everything is new and unknown. Failure is really scary, so you try to do everything to not fail. But the thing is, we don’t always get it right the first time. We often don’t know what we don’t know. So there’s a lot of trial and error—that is, until we find what works for our situation and our child.

In both business and motherhood, it’s impossible to control everything. There will be days when things don’t go as planned. The key is to stop fearing failure and instead see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Whether it’s redesigning a product that didn’t work or realizing that a parenting approach isn’t as effective as I thought, failure allows us to pivot, re-evaluate, and try again—with more wisdom.

Progress Over Perfection

So here’s what I’m learning to embrace: progress over perfection. Business and motherhood are both deeply personal journeys that stretch us, humble us, and teach us along the way. It’s okay to fumble. It’s okay to course-correct. What matters most is showing up with heart, learning as we go, and giving ourselves grace. After all, the most meaningful growth rarely happens when everything goes right—it happens when we’re brave enough to keep going when it doesn’t.

If this resonated with you, we’d love to hear how you’re navigating the imperfect but beautiful journey of business or motherhood—drop us a comment or share with a friend who needs to hear this.