How to Grow Your Business Without Losing Yourself: Sustainable Business Growth for Mompreneurs

What if growing your business didn't have to mean losing yourself in the process?

In this episode of The Mompreneur Collective, I sit down with Janelle Lucero & Sydney Bledsoe, the sister-in-law duo who co founded Pip Pop Post; an 8-figure children's jewelry brand. We talked about what it takes to build a successful, sustainable business. From trusting your intuition and your numbers to protecting your time, energy, and values, this conversation is full of practical wisdom for mompreneurs who want to grow intentionally. 

We dive into why staying connected to your "why" matters, how to evaluate opportunities that seem to look good on paper, the importance of choosing the right people to build with, and why sometimes the most successful and powerful decision is saying no. 

Whether you're just starting your business or you're at that point where you're ready to scale, this episode is a reminder that sustainable success isn't about chasing every opportunity. It's about building a strong foundation, serving your customers well, and growing at a pace that allows you to become the leader your business needs all while staying true to the mom and wife you want to be at home.

In this episode you'll learn: 

• Why your "why" should guide every business decision
• How to balance intuition with data as you grow 
• The mindset shifts that lead to sustainable, profitable growth 
• How building slowly can actually set you up for bigger success
• Why embracing the motto "walk before you run" is so important

If you've ever felt pressure to grow faster, do more, or chase every opportunity, this conversation will remind you that the strongest businesses are built one intentional layer at a time. 💛

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:04

Welcome back to the Mom Preneur Collective, the podcast where each episode I sit down with an amazing Mompreneur who shares her story: the highs, the lows, and all that messy middle stuff where the growth really happens. And I'm so glad you're here to grow with us. I'm your host and certified life and business coach, Jamie Smith, and today I'm chatting with co-founders of Pip Pop Post, Janelle Lucero and Sydney Bledsoe. Pip Pop Post specializes in safe, hypoallergenic jewelry for kids, toddlers, and tweens. But as one of the co-founders shared with me, earrings are one size fits all and don't age discriminate. So for the moms out there who are shopping for your ghettos on their website after you listen to today's episode, just go ahead and throw a pair in there for yourself too, okay? Because they're super cute and super comfy. And I was lucky enough to be gifted some of their earrings, and y'all, they are so comfortable that I have forgotten I have earrings on. Normally my earrings are poking at me when I lay down and I'm having to like reposition my head over and over, but with these, I have not done that one time that I can think of, and I've been wearing them for weeks. And did I mention they're cute? So cute and comfy. I feel like as a busy mom, cute and comfy is sort of like my wardrobe theme as a whole these days. Anyone else? So today we're gonna talk about how, as sister-in-laws, they built an eight-figure business together, one that allowed each of them to stay connected to who they are authentically. We'll also get into how it's so important to know when to trust the numbers in your business and when to trust your intuition. This is gonna be such an insightful conversation. Let's welcome them onto the show. Well, Sydney and Janelle, welcome to the Mompreneur Collective. I'm so excited to chat with y'all today. This is my first time having two guests on the show at once. So I feel like we're gonna have just extra fun today.

SPEAKER_00 2:26

Thank you, James. So excited to be here.

SPEAKER_02 2:29

Yeah. Yeah, thank you. It's fun, it's fun we get to do things together. It takes like the pressure off, I feel like, and like you said, it adds just a little more fun.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

Yes, I bet it does. So, you ladies, I'm just gonna dive right in. So, y'all built an eight-figure business together, which congratulations on that, by the way. What an accomplishment. And y'all did it as sister-in-laws. I bet there's some good stories there. But but what I'd like to ask y'all is how have y'all managed to stay connected to who you are authentically along the way in this journey? Because I feel like a lot of moms, they're building businesses out there, they worry about losing some piece of themselves in the process or you know, having to maybe sacrifice who they are, or maybe sort of the vision that they have for their lives, even in the process of building this business. So yeah, just how have you guys managed to stay connected to who you are along the way?

SPEAKER_02 3:32

Yeah, um, I think that, you know, being sisters-in-law is something that is really helpful for this because we know who each other are to the core. We have so much history and and you know, background with each other that it's it's easy for me, you know, and Janelle to to both be like, okay, well, we've got to do, you know, X, Y, or Z first, and then we can get to that. And it's like we just have a really good balance with each other because we know each other so much deeper than just as business partners. And we know like what is important to each other and you know, what brings joy and what brings happiness and what, you know, all of that, which just makes that deeper connection as business partners and as sisters-in-law. Um, it's a really unique position we get to be in. And I think that just that alone helps, helps with that whole, you know, problem of how do you, you know, stay true to yourself and be who you are while taking on the role of business owner. Um so I think that that just being sisters-in-law alone helped that so much.

SPEAKER_00 4:41

Yeah. Yeah. I think there's a lot of authenticity, like Sydney said, we have so much history together. There's no friend. There's never been, you know, any sort of protection. So I think we came into the business knowing each other so well. And I would say we feel like we've gotten to know ourselves so much through this process because it has been so intense, it really forces you to be intentional and let go of the things that are not serving you or, you know, aren't true to who you are. And I think because we know each other and we're able to kind of work through those things together, it's a lot of laughing, a lot of tears, a lot of like acceptance for, you know, what is the most important to us. Um, and so I think, you know, I found myself through hip hop over the last three years. Um, and it's it's been really amazing.

SPEAKER_01 5:34

Yeah, I love that. It sounds like it's almost like a built-in compassionate accountability partner system that y'all have with each other throughout, you know, building this business together to keep each other in check if you do start to maybe veer off course a little bit from who you are genuinely because that other person knows you so well.

SPEAKER_02 5:57

Yeah. I mean, we started Pip Hop at the dinner table after Thanksgiving dinner. Like it's like it doesn't get more family centered than that. And it's been, you know, it was kind of like a a passion project, a project to get our mind off of the day-to-day, like, you know, mother, motherhood and just doing something besides what we did day to day. And so um, it just it started small, it started, you know, just for fun. And I feel like that helps keep us balanced as well, where we kind of go back to our roots of why did we start this? What's the purpose? It's just to have fun and to, you know, there was a problem that we solved, and you know, but we wanted to help moms just like us, and but really coming back to the core of like, you know, we always say it's just earrings. We're not, you know, solving, you know, world peace. So I feel like having that core is also really important to help keep us grounded.

SPEAKER_01 7:00

Yeah, I love that you brought that up. I mean, we've all heard stay connected to your why, right? But I was having a conversation with a mom just the other day about how it's so important about how you're approaching your business. Are you approaching it with all of this pressure surrounding it, saying, This has to provide for my family, it has to make money. Or are you approaching it saying, This is where I have my, this is my creativity outlet. This is where I get to feel most lit up. This is where I go to have fun in my life. This is where I'm fulfilled outside of maybe the other work that I'm doing right now. It's where I find bigger purpose and meaning in my life. So the moment that you start to take that pressure off of it and just remember why you started it, which is usually some version of, I really love it. It's a lot of fun, I'm really passionate about it, or there's some really purpose-driven reason that you began it in the in the first place that always takes you back to the emotions that are tied to that sentiment. So if you're saying, I do this because it's fun, I do this because I love it, I do it because it's creative, you you move forward with such aligned action, with such uh with just a different energy, right? Through throughout your whole business. And usually that correlates with business success. And so I think it's really important that you brought that up. So stay connected to your why. Remember why you started it all in the first place. And if you can stay aligned to that, you're on to something really magical.

SPEAKER_00 8:37

Yeah, definitely. There's it's a lot of work and it's hard and it's changed our day-to-day. You know, it really has upped the intensity of motherhood and marriage and relationships. Um, but I think the beauty in that is Cindy has said this um kind of over the last year. I can't remember when she first brought it up, but she said, this is something in my life that I'm experiencing the same as someone else. You know, your marriage you experience different than your spouse or parenting is different from how your spouse experiences it. Um, but I think with Pip Pop, Sydney and I are both very grateful that it's been successful. It's easy to have fun when you're growing. It's also very intense. Um, but I think we experience it in the same way. It's just it's brought us a lot of joy, it's brought us a lot of purpose, it's pushed us in new ways. Um, and we're able to kind of look at it together and say, you know, like if it feels stressful or if it feels unfun, let's take a step back and make sure, you know, everyone has what they need. And if we don't, you know, what needs to give, what needs to change? Yeah. And it's always checking. I would say like every month that that equation changes for each of us.

SPEAKER_01 9:56

And that's so important what you just said. That that just part of your process of just checking in with yourself every once in a while and saying, even asking yourself, is there anything in my business that feels really heavy right now? Is there anything that's just too stressful, that's not fun anymore, that's just weighing me down? You have the autonomy to change that. It's your business. So if something feels too heavy and something's no longer fun for you in your business, then change it. And that's what she just spoke to. So yes, I love that so much. So have there ever been any opportunities that have been presented to you guys along the way, or maybe it was certain strategies or expectations that just really looked good on paper, but they did not align with who you wanted to be. Maybe Sydney can speak to this one.

SPEAKER_02 10:42

Yeah, yeah. So I mean, there's, you know, in the beginning, I feel like I had to really say yes to everything. You know, I had to make connections. I I didn't really know how to network. And so I'm like, we'll network, we'll do this, we'll play this game. And then once you get your feet kind of in and settled, you you realize like what is important and what's not important and whether you can take something on or you can't take something on. And I feel like another motto we have is, you know, you gotta walk walk before you run. And that's something we, you know, say all the time, but it's so true and it's helped us get us where we are today because of how much um, you know, value we hold in that statement. Um, there are a lot of opportunities and a lot of partnerships that, like you said, look really good on paper. They're, you know, a vanity partnership where it's gonna make you look good, but is it what's best for the company? And I feel like um we've had a few of those. And Janelle and I, you know, we talk internally before any decisions are are made about something like that. And we are able to agree and be on the same page a lot of the time. So that's kind of the background of of you know what we decide to say yes to and what we decide not to say yes yes to. And maybe Janelle, if you want to like talk more about specific experiences or something that like you done.

SPEAKER_00 12:12

Yeah, I think the probably the most intense moments in our business is when we have opportunities that, you know, appeal um emotionally, I guess Sony said. Um, and you kind of have to make a decision. And pretty early on we got an opportunity to work with a retailer that we were, you know, it felt like the ultimate. And once we kind of got, you know, at six months of communications and we realized this was not going to be profitable for us. It was going to take a lot of energy, it was going to, you know, potentially cause conflict, or um, you know, it wasn't, it wasn't going to work on paper. And intuitively we knew it was something that it wasn't going to be the right fit for our business. And I think we, you know, we have a few checkpoints. And along the way, if if all of those, you know, questions we're asking are not yeses, you know, then then it's a no for us or a not right now. And I think we don't feel scarcity in opportunity. We don't feel any scarcity in um, you know, what we're doing. We realize we only have a certain amount of energy and time. And so what is going to be the best way to spend that time? And it's not comparison to what other businesses are doing. It's not our view of what we should do. It's not, you know, just what I want. It's, you know, can we do this right now with the energy we have? And isn't it the best thing? And if there are, you know, three other things we're working on that are better for us, then, you know, that's not going to happen. It's, you know, like I said, it doesn't have to be a no, but it's definitely a not right now. And that has worked for us really well. I would say that is the reason we've been profitable, is like Sydney said, you know, walk before we run, make sure we're really doing the things we're doing well, and say no to things that are not going to be best for the for the business as a whole.

SPEAKER_01 14:08

Yeah. What the example that you brought up, I remember you mentioning the first time that we spoke. And it was really fascinating to me because essentially you said no, thank you to a really big box retailer that a lot of entrepreneurs in your shoes would be, you know, could be dreaming about an opportunity like that. But you, like you said, you guys took a look at certain things and and asked yourself, is this really aligned with the vision that we have for our business right now? Not only that, but do we have the energy, the capacity, the time to dedicate to something like this? And those are, you know, good boundaries that you're speaking to. It's good communication that you're speaking to, it's clarity that you're speaking to in all of this. I'm curious when you said no, what were maybe some of the numbers you were looking at that helped y'all make that decision? Or I just feel like there's some big lessons to be learned in this, in the fact that y'all did say no to such a big box retailer. And like you said, a no, not right now, not necessarily a no forever. And that's a great lesson too, right there, is that as you're growing in business, you're going to get a lot of opportunities, hopefully. And you can't say yes to all of them. But don't just shut the door on people. Just say, not right now, but maybe one day in the future. We'll circle back around on that, maybe. But what are some of the big lessons that you feel like y'all have learned through that? Or what did you look at to help you make that decision?

SPEAKER_02 15:31

For for us, our customers are number one, obviously. Like if, you know, like they say, happy life, happy life, happy customers, happy business, happy life. Um, so customers are most important. We want to make sure that our, you know, direct-to-consumer is top-notch. And we have a fulfillment team and an operational team. And we just knew that that would take a hit, um, or we'd be hiring a whole nother team. And in that moment, it's like it didn't feel right to expand just for, you know, one opportunity. Because we have, you know, all of our customers, we consider them all of an opportunity because the customers are the ones leaving the reviews, the ones giving the word of mouth. And and just there's so much opportunity, opportunity within one customer, that that's really where our focus was at that time. Um, so I think to kind of answer your question, it would have taken a lot from our fulfillment team. And we knew that we just wanted our fulfillment team to make sure that the direct to consumer and the customer experience was top notch. And we, you know, we're worried that that might get um shifted in that, in that experience and opportunity.

unknown 16:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:48

Yeah. I think, you know, you're in business, you work 247, 365. You know, it's the balance is that everything kind of fits together. And this retailer, we felt like we would be working for them essentially, you know, to bring in more revenue for them versus um, you know, working for ourselves. And so we end up, you know, working it out where instead of giving them eight of 10, you know, we gave them two of 10.

SPEAKER_01 17:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:16

And so, you know, being able to keep um perspective on this is our business. And ultimately, like at the end of the day, we should be profiting from um our business versus, you know, working for one of these big companies, which I think happens for a lot of small businesses. I think you get really excited and caught up and you want this partnership, but at the end of the day, they care about them. Um, and you have to advocate for yourself. I feel like one of the things I've learned so much over the last five years working with Sydney is she is so good at advocating for herself and knowing like this is something I'm willing to do and this is something I'm not. And she's very comfortable. I think as women, sometimes we want to make people feel good. We want to be a yes. Um, and you know, Sydney is not that she doesn't make people feel good, but she's also, you know, she's not worried about, you know, protecting people's feelings when it comes to our business. She knows like this isn't the right thing for us. So my answer is no, and and we'll move on.

SPEAKER_01 18:18

Yeah. So good. So good. I heard something in there that was essentially the idea of, and it's it's a great way to hold boundaries, is what, you know, when somebody's asking you to do something, an opportunity is presented to you, and you say the no, thank you, not right now. There's also the opportunity to compromise. You can also meet them in the middle somewhere. So it's just that that freedom to say, well, you know what, actually, this is my business. So I don't want to do all of that, and we don't have the capacity to do all of that. But here's what I can do. And so that's part of the control that you have as the business owner, too, is to say, this is what we do have the ability to do. And is that something you're interested in? And then you can go from there and see if it works for the two of you. But I love, love, love everything that you just said. All right, ladies. So y'all have built, like we talked about, an eight-figure business together, so impressive, and y'all have done this as sister-in-laws. So what have y'all learned about choosing the right people to build business with? Because obviously, you know, you guys have mentioned some of the dynamic of what it's like having each other as that support system, but I'm sure it's taught you a lot about who you surround yourself with in business as a whole. Janelle, you mentioned, you know, last time that we spoke on the phone that your life and your work are very intertwined and that the people that, you know, you work with, they impact your mood, they impact your creativity, they impact everything in your life, really, the people that you spend your time with. And so what have you guys learned about choosing the right people to build a business with?

SPEAKER_00 19:44

Yeah, I think that you cannot underestimate the importance of compatibility when it comes to your business partner. I think your whole lives, there's so much cross crossover, so much pressure, so much communication. And if you're not open, if you're not giving grace, if you're not grateful, and if you're not willing to, especially as a business owner, when it really is, you know, like I said, it's 24-7, it's it's your baby. Um, if you're not willing to give them grace for the things they're going through, both Cindy and I and I have had big life experiences and changes and trials throughout the last, you know, five years of running a business together. And so there's ebb and flow in where we're at personally. And I think recognizing your business partnership is is intense and it is so important that you're communicating openly, that you give grace, and that you are respectful of you know what they're what they're doing. And you know, for us, I think it it's maybe a little bit easier than um it could be in other situations. I think we we are both Aries. I always say this like if that matters to you it does, and it doesn't different. Yeah. Um but we are so similar in a lot of ways. I think we move on from things really quickly. I think we um, you know, we have very full lives that are all the parts are important. And so I think it works for us in ways that it would be difficult to replicate. Um, but I do think open communication and then um really giving grace to your partner. I know Sydney has given me an enormous amount of pregnant over the last five years. Um and I'm, you know, so grateful to be doing it with her because you know, she is not only my sister-in-law, but she's also one of my best friends. She's also, you know, someone my kids adore. She's so important to my husband. She's, you know, will be part of my life forever, um, no matter what happens with our business. And, you know, that's more important to me than ultimately what happens with our business. And I think being sister in laws changes like where our priorities lie.

SPEAKER_02 22:00

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Amen to everything Janelle just said. I feel like we agree on all of that, along with having trust and just giving each other the benefit of the doubt, both in business and in life. Like I feel like as I've gotten busier as a, you know, a business owner and a mom and a wife, like just knowing that my close circle is always going to give me the benefit of the doubt is huge. And I feel like having that in internally in our business as well just helps you be so much more successful. If you are always thinking, you know, the the worst of someone or thinking negatively or, you know, just kind of in that pessimistic mindset, it's going to hold you back and it's gonna, it's going to give you restraints that you wouldn't have if you just assumed the best in everyone. So that's kind of how I think internally. And then we have a lot of partners that we work with and contractors that we work with. And just I feel like they bring so much to the table for us and knowing like when we hand pick those people that are they going to be compatible? Are they going to, you know, um be self-starters and and just driven as much as we are? And I feel like finding those right partnerships have been huge for us and they've helped Pip Hop become what it is today. Um and a lot of it goes back to that trust of just knowing that they want to help us, they're in it to, you know, give us and produce the best work they can. But I feel like those are a lot of a lot of key things for us, as well as just having early, honest conversations early and saying this is what we need, can you provide it? And then if they can't, okay, we can't go that route. Or if they can, great, let's give them a shot and see how it works. Um, but I feel like, yeah, the honest conversations and the trust just help build the partnerships up from the beginning.

SPEAKER_01 24:06

Yeah, such good stuff. Speaking of trust, you guys clearly have a lot of trust in yourselves and trust in each other, like what we're talking about. But Janelle, you talked a lot about letting intuition guide you alongside the data in our first conversation. And so how if you guys, whoever feels most compelled to speak to this, but how do you know when to trust the numbers versus when to trust your gut?

SPEAKER_00 24:35

I think that's something I've definitely learned. Um, it's not an either-or, it's not your gut or the data. I think, you know, some decisions skew more one direction than the other, but something um, you know, and it's very prevalent for us right now. I think we're we're in a phase of our business and growth that data has become increasingly more important. Um, but I think it has to work in both buckets. I think Sydney and I really test ourselves, we make decisions really quickly. Um, if we don't agree on something, we talk about it right away. And we, you know, we're not waiting on hard conversations, we're not holding, you know, on to feelings. It's just the minute they come up, we deal with it. And I think that intuition data piece is, you know, making sure one of our most important hires was, you know, last fall and we brought someone in that was, you know, really data focused because, you know, Sydney and I, you know, she talked about her background as an education. I, you know, did a whole number of things as well as having um another business, but I'm I'm not a numbers person. So both of our husbands are in finance. We brought someone in on data because we both know being profitable and growing the business, you have to pay attention to the numbers. Um, and so we, you know, we all communicate about it. It's like I said, of you know, our family business. So we have the voice coming in on data. She and I are coming in on the intuition. We've learned so much about data and numbers. Um, but again, it's not either or. I think both of the things have to work. And if they don't, then you know, there are other other things to do. There is, as I said, not scarcity in opportunity or direction and making sure all the pieces fit is is really important.

SPEAKER_02 26:25

Yeah, and I think data has, you know, its power, it has its role, it has its, you know, data is there to provide information. But ultimately, our customer is is our customers are moms like Janelle and I, where we know what the customer wants because we have young kids. We have the daily problems that that just come because of being a mom or because of having kids. And we're like, if we know that this is gonna solve this problem, that's what the customer wants because that's what I would want, or that's what Janelle would want. Um, and so I feel like that's where a lot of the intuition comes in as well, where yes, the data might say one thing, but we know that as a mom, like this little part that doesn't seem like it's a big part is a big part in the eyes of a mom or the eyes of a, you know, someone, the customer who is ultimately like Janelle and I.

SPEAKER_00 27:20

Yeah, I love that. It's like uh intuition is data, like it comes from the input we've gotten as moms and as our customer.

SPEAKER_01 27:28

It's a different kind of data, yeah. And intangible data, if you will. I love that. Yeah, good stuff. Well, tell us a little bit more about y'all's business. Whoever wants to just be the brand ambassador, real quick. I'd love for y'all to just, you know, sing praises about the amazing products y'all have.

SPEAKER_02 27:45

So we love hip-hop, obviously. It has um, you know, become our our baby. Janelle had a baby while we had this baby. And I feel like it's grown with our families. Um, it's just such second nature now. Like our kids are, you know, it's fun to watch as you know, as a mom and a entrepreneur. Um, it's like fun to see that in the day-to-day. But it ultimately started because there was a problem. And if there's a problem, you need a solution. Otherwise, that problem's gonna keep poking you every day and you're gonna, you know, get get bothered by everything. I know that's I was like literally poking you. Yeah, literally. Um, that's a good one. Um so yeah, there was a problem, and we saw the gap in the market and we're like, why has this not been taken care of yet? And it's been fun to fill that gap, and it's been fun to hear stories, not fun, it's been fulfilling to hear stories of real problems. And you think, you know, like we've gone to conferences where we literally hear people like curing cancer and creating AI platforms and like just crazy things that are so far over my head, I can never understand it. And we look at each other and we're like, ooh, we design them sell earrings. And I I remember specifically after one conference, I came home and I was talking to my dad about this. And he's like, You're selling earrings to those doctors and to those scientists and to all those people to make one part of their life so much easier. Like, no matter how small it seems, it is a problem, and we've solved that. And that is really what makes me more like most proud is that we saw it and we took it head on and we just went for it.

SPEAKER_01 29:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:44

Jewelry is a fun thing. There is not a practical application, it's not something that we do, you know, to decorate ourselves, to show our personalities, to, you know, have fun. And you know, earrings are one of the first pieces of jewelry that a little girl gets to wear. It's something she wears every day once her ears are pierced. And Sadie and I have both shared experiences with each other where, you know, we're out in public and we see someone wearing hip-hop. That's so fun for us. And when, you know, when these little girls know that we started Pip Pop, they are so excited about the product. And there's so many bonds that tell us stories over the years of, you know, my daughter couldn't wear earrings, or she had to even go to the emergency room because she had an earring back embedded, or all these infections that little girls deal with. And something that's meant to be fun becomes really unfun. And, you know, creating a product that is a better for you product that parents can trust, that they know that they're buying something high quality, uh, it is important to little girls. It does mean something to moms and it does make life more fun. And, you know, it's to me, those are the things that that are the most important and have brought me the most satisfaction. And, you know, and also having my kids see me doing something that, you know, it does take away time from them. It does change our lives in a big way. Uh, but they believe in it too. They're excited about it. They tell their friends, um, and they're proud of me. I think Civy and I both had so many opportunities to, you know, shine as we've grown a business. And, you know, we like to have our kids and our like daughters specifically see us, you know, in this different light.

SPEAKER_01 31:35

Yeah, because it's uh you're setting the example that it's it's a good thing to have purpose and passions outside of the home and just as an individual, as a woman doing meaningful, exciting things in life. So yeah, I think that that's really important and really special. I love that you shared it. So, where can people go to find y'all and to shop? Because before y'all hopped on, I did encourage them to do so.

SPEAKER_00 32:00

You can shop us on Pit Pop Post or find us on Instagram at Pitpop Post.

SPEAKER_01 32:05

Amazing. And I will include those links in this episode's show notes. The last thing that I would love to chat with y'all about today as we close out this episode, one of the things that you brought up in today's episode is this idea of walking before you run. Janelle, you said it in our first conversation. Y'all brought it up here again today as just sort of this theme that you operate by in your business. So I think it's really important because in a world that is so fast paced all the time, and I feel like most people in their businesses they are chasing just rapid growth or overnight success. So, what would you say to those entrepreneurs out there, or what do you think that they're gonna miss if they try to scale too quickly?

SPEAKER_02 32:48

I think the biggest thing that they will miss is the connection and that um the foundation that you build with your customers and with your product. Um, I feel like because we we kept our our fulfillment in-house. I mean, it's still in-house, but literally in-house in my house for two years. And we got to see so many, uh, so many aspects of the product that we were like, oh, we need to change that or we need to do this. So there was so much hands-on and um with the product and the customer where we're seeing every single order come in, we're seeing the repeat orders come in, we're fostering those relationships. So I think that the the the idea to scale quickly obviously is, you know, sounds great, but when it comes down to it, you're you're scaling quickly and you're losing the the foundation of the product and the customer, and it you just kind of lose sight of kind of how how to how to take care of those specific things.

SPEAKER_01 33:56

Yeah. And I think that it can to, you know, to connect it to what we've spoken to today already is that you can become disconnected from why you started it all in the first place. It becomes way, way more about scaling and growth and numbers and money. And then you forget about all of the maybe I started this because I wanted more freedom, for example. Um, and all of a sudden you don't have that anymore because you've approached your business in maybe a running manner instead of a walking before you run manner. Um, but Janelle, did you have anything you wanted to say there too?

SPEAKER_00 34:35

Yeah, I think this is like a life lesson that, you know, applies to this. It's for us, it's quality over quantity, and that, you know, that applies to all parts of your life. And I think when you're chasing the quantity over focusing on the quality, then you really you give a lot of your freedom away, you give a lot of your revenue away, you give a lot of your joy away, and you begin doing things that ultimately are bringing you down rather than lifting you up. And so I think having that intentionality and that focus and not adding new things until you really have not a perfect, you know, grasp on what you're doing, but that you're not, you know, climbing to that next level before you're ready for it. Because where Sydney and I are now with our business, you know, four and a half years in is so much different from the things we are dealing with on day one. And, you know, our foundation is strong. Sydney talked about, you know, building that foundation and just adding layer by layer because we've grown as our business has grown. And I think we're constantly pushing ourselves, but we're not trying to go to the 20th story um, you know, while skip, we're not taking the elevator, we're taking the stairs and we're building muscles and we're learning and we're growing and we're doing it together. And sometimes we spend more time at a certain spot because it's a little bit harder. Um, and sometimes Sydney's feeling stronger, I'm feeling stronger. And, you know, like I said, where we're at as a business and where we're at personally changes from month to month. And we are just, you know, we're learning together and we're, you know, growing intentionally and having a lot of fun while we do it.

SPEAKER_01 36:25

So good. I love the metaphor that you just used of we're using the stairs, not the elevator. The visual that came up in my mind while you were saying that was I literally went to a play place the other day with my toddler, and she's just now getting to the point where she can really start climbing onto things. And they have those, like, you know, upside down V, like arched ladder things for them to climb on. And I'm watching her climb up this thing. And in my mind, I know what she's capable of, right? Like I know where she's at developmentally and what she can do here. But you you said something about climbing to the next level before you're ready for it. And I think a lot of entrepreneurs do that. They climb to that next level before they're ready for it. And what happens just because they're capable of climbing to that next level, like my toddler is capable of taking that next step up. Once she gets there, that's where the problem starts. That's when it becomes an issue. That's when she can't get down, or she's gonna fall flat on her face, or she's completely confused and lost and has no idea what to do once she arrives. And that's very much what it's like, I feel like, in real life for those business owners that are just trying to do too much too fast and they're not taking the time, like you said, to pause and build the muscles and grow through what they go through. I say that all the time. Grow through what you go through. Well, good stuff.

SPEAKER_00 37:50

I mean, it's hard either way, so you know, take it day by day and don't worry about what you're hussing out on because it doesn't matter. What's supposed to come will come and there's no rush.

SPEAKER_01 38:02

Yeah. Well, you guys, this has been such an amazing conversation. I just know that the moms listening are gonna get so much value from it. I appreciate y'all's time. I know you're super busy. So thank you for showing up here for the mom preneurs today. And if I uh were in person with you like I am with some of my guests, I would be literally cheersing you right now with a glass of champagne, but we'll just hypothetically cheers Clink to raising humans and building something meaningful, ladies. Keep up the amazing work. I love it. I will for sure be a customer for life.

SPEAKER_00 38:37

Thank you, thank you, Jamie.

SPEAKER_01 38:40

Hey mama, thanks for listening today. I hope you enjoyed being here with us. If you know another mompreneur who would love this show, share it with her. Your support means everything to me. Now go shopping at pitpoppost.com and get you in your little some earrings. You're gonna love them. I promise. Until next time, y'all.