This month Violeta (V) managed to catch up with Ellie Bowie (E) of Bowie Design after we shared one of her blogs, about finding time to recharge, in our July Newsletter.
Work/Life Balance & Boundaries
V. How do you personally create boundaries between work and home life, and do they actually work in practice?
E. I’m very open with my clients about working around my family and always clear that although I may be working during the holidays, I’m not available for meetings. I have a booking link for calls which syncs with my diary which really helps. It makes it easy to block out days or times I’m not available - once it’s in the diary, calls can’t be booked in. So that generally manages itself (and I don’t share my phone number). With clients I make it clear I’m available on email but calls have to be pre-arranged. This helps with keeping things in school hours and protecting my time and space for creative work. If I’m working out of hours I schedule emails to send in the morning - that way the boundary is still clear for me and my client. It does take a lot of practice! What’s hardest is switching off at 3pm and trying not to keep thinking about work. Your business is always there and there’s always more you could be doing.
V. What does a typical day look like for you—and how do you make time for yourself?
V. Do you ever feel pressure to “do it all,” and how do you manage those expectations?
E. All the time. It isn’t actually possible to ‘do it all’ and we need to change the narrative that makes us feel that we should be able to cope. It’s great being able to structure my business around my family, but it does compromise what i’m able to achieve, along with the demands of school life and helping run a home.
V. What’s one small ritual or habit that helps you switch off from work?
E. Hiding my phone. Going for a nice long walk.
Women Running Small Businesses
V. What inspired you to start your own business and what keeps you motivated when things get tough?
E. I was working as a freelancer, then had kids and realised it wasn’t possible to continue. Starting a business came from the realisation that I had to. It can be really tough but it’s also exhilarating and exciting. I’m constantly learning new skills, meeting new people and being inspired by other businesses. It’s opened me up to so many different opportunities that I would never have had as an employee. When it gets tough I remember how often I got itchy feet and frustrated by every job!
V.What’s been the biggest joy of running your own business and the biggest challenge?
E. The joy is meeting incredible clients and being part of their journey. It’s my passion to work with clients who have passion and drive to make the world a better place. One of my favourite projects was working with an author and business storyteller to help her launch her manifesto to get more women to find their voices and share their stories in business. That’s when the work feels like it has impact. The biggest challenge is juggling everything that parenting throws at you. Kids don’t care about deadlines, creative block or an email that needs replying to.
V.How do you build a supportive network as a woman running a small business?
E. My network is a vital part of keeping me and my business alive. Having other women who get how hard it is and have your back is wonderful. I enjoy meeting people and make a point of getting out to events often - that helps me widen my overall network. Keeping in touch with business friends regularly and sharing ideas and troubles helps us all. We use our feminine strengths of collaboration over competition really support this way of work. I have friends who are also designers, other businesses that I work with and then people in my network who I see at events. Making sure you ask how someone is as well as how business is makes all the difference. We’re all just people.
V.Have you faced moments of doubt in your business journey and how did you overcome them?
E. Many many. The journey of entrepreneurship is tough. And when you add in the rollercoaster of parenting it’s impossible not to have days where you want to give up. That’s where a supportive network is vital. Sharing how you feel really helps to unpick where the problem really lies. Sometimes it just feels too hard, but you don’t actually know why. Giving yourself time and space to think is the best gift you can give yourself, but also the hardest.
The Mental Load of Working Mums
V. How do you navigate the mental load of motherhood alongside running a business?
E. I get cross about it! The mental load of my business can be exciting and inspiring. Whereas motherhood is a continuous web of interconnected complications, needs, demands and ridiculous logistics. I try to create a rhythm to it - so I have a regular time to look at school emails and put everything in the diary immediately (with lots of reminders). For work, I put lots of regular tasks into my diary so I don’t forget. Being CEO of your home and your business has similarities - the more you can systemise the less brain power you need to use. And of course, working towards sharing it more equally is the ultimate goal. Plus always remember the value and skills you’re using in motherhood - they’re incredible even if society doesn’t recognise or value them.
V. Do you have strategies for sharing the mental load at home, or is it something you still find difficult?
E. It’s a work in progress. Dividing up responsibility for different tasks helps. Accepting that sometimes it ebbs and flows also helps with frustrations! The more we talk about it rather than just doing things by default helps too.
V. What advice would you give to other mums who are thinking about starting their own business?
V. Do you feel there’s more understanding now for working parents, or does it still feel like a battle?
E. There’s a bit more awareness but it’s still a huge battle. Workplaces aren’t all flexible and many are taking back those rights. If you have school age children, one of you needs to be flexible, because the holidays are impossible. Schools also depend on the unpaid labour of parents - how do we reconcile that? There’s also a whole world of entrepreneurship that still operates as if children don’t exist - breakfast networking for example that clash with the school run.
Creativity & Inspiration
V. How do your personal values and family life feed into your work and designs?
E. My values are a big part of my business - it’s important to me to work with a client where I feel passionate about their business. I want to do business in a different way - where we’re kind, considerate and collaborative. As a result, I have some brilliant collaborations with other businesses who share my values. We don’t refer work because we get kick backs, but because we want the best for our clients. I have huge respect for my clients and treat them accordingly, whilst retaining my boundaries between work and home life. Marketing is a big part of running a business and it doesn’t have to be sleazy or underhand. Understanding the techniques of persuasion and the pressures and trickery involved is important to ensure you avoid using those methods. The more I’ve shared my values, the more I’m attracting clients who feel similarly and respect the way I run my business and the way it fits my family, because they’re doing the same.
V. Do you find creativity easier or harder since becoming a parent?
E. Both! My kids are so playful and imaginative and that is truly energising and inspiring. At the same time they can be utterly exhausting and draining! It’s helped me understand what conditions you need for creativity more. You need space, time and energy. Being constantly on the go with the family can make that very hard and it’s vital to give yourself space to take the pressure off.
V. Where do you go (or what do you do) when you’re feeling uninspired or overwhelmed?
E. Outside and walk. Ideally near some water or up a mountain (which rarely happens!). I’m very lucky to live close to some amazing spaces - a walk around the harbour can be so refreshing and the headspace you can find at Ashton Court can clear the mind.
Looking Ahead
V. How do you define success for yourself and your business?
E. It’s something I’m rethinking at the moment. We’re so conditioned to only think of success in terms of money. Seeing the impact of the projects I’ve worked on is far more satisfying and something I need to share more. Keeping a business alive and profitable for 13 years, through having 2 children and covid is also an achievement I’m hugely proud of.
V. What changes would you love to see in the way society supports women and mothers in business?
E. Changes to the tax system are needed. Firstly, the self-employed need proper maternity pay. It’s not comparable in any way to the employed and you’re actually penalised if you need to keep your business running. Paternity leave also needs to be increased to support all mothers properly.
Childcare must be a taxable expense - it’s vital to running a business for a mother. It’s laughable that you can put a new toupee or golf club membership through your expenses but not childcare. Although the government brought in free childcare for 3-4 year olds, the way it is set up penalises the self-employed. You can’t claim it until you earning a certain amount, but you can’t earn that without the childcare. It’s a double-bind.
Holiday club provision needs to be improved and the costs subsidised. You can’t stop running your business every 6 weeks, but the costs of holiday club make it almost worthless if you have multiple children.
We should be celebrating the job of mothering - by uplifting and supporting mothers doing the most incredible service to society. Those that choose to run a business on top should be given specialist support - free business coaching or mentoring from people who understand the challenges and don’t just perpetuate the myths that we just need to work harder. Mothers are incredibly efficient, focused and ingenious - the skills you learn from parenting are massive. Being with a toddler and getting anything done is a huge logistical challenge - maybe that should be a pre-requisite test to being allowed to run a business!
V. If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self before starting your business, what would it be?
E. Take yourself seriously, don’t wait for anyone else to. You can do this your own way. Listen to your intuition, not the noise around you. It’s going to be hard but you will make it work.
And Lastly:
V. What are we not talking about, but should?
E. The impact social media has on the online business world. There’s a huge world of influencers who are hustling for money and creating cult like followings. They suck our attention and money like vultures and those early in their business journey are very vulnerable to this. Particularly women, who aren’t able to receive support elsewhere. We need to see real role models of successful women, who didn’t “x6 their income in one easy step” but show us that it’s a long journey and alert us to the barriers that are all around.
Feminine Leadership - by rethinking the way we approach our businesses and leaning into our strengths we can change the way we operate and inspire other to do the same.
V. Thank you so much Ellie for spending this time with me and for your thought-inspiring answers.
Dear reader, would like to add anything? please comment below if you have any questions for Ellie or me, or would like to offer your perspective on any of the above.