I’m very happy to share my interview with Bron Mandile, Founder of Mumlyfe.
This series includes sponsored content.
Bron Mandile Interview for Self-Start Mums
1. Tell me about yourself?
Pleased to meet you! I’m Bron, mum to three – two teens and a tweenie. I’m founder of Mumlyfe, a website for parents of older kids. I’m also an editor at SBS Food and a freelance editor, writer and social media editor for a variety of clients, including Babyology and Kinderling Kids Radio.
2. Tell us about your self-employed business?
I’ve been writing and editing in the parenting space for over seven years. My kids grew up, but nobody seemed to want me to write about kids past the age of five. We still need information, connection and community when the kids are bigger. I saw a gap, so I started filling it in 2018. The mums are well and truly on board!
3. How did you transition to working for yourself?
I worked in brand marketing for around 15 years – the big corporate job in the city. It was sending me crazy for a variety of reasons. Probably because I had three kids and was working four days a week in the city and a day from home. I wasn’t sure how to manage all that plus school-age kids too.
I started a blog as an outlet in 2010, when my youngest, Lottie, was turning two. From there, I started writing about parenting for places like Kidspot and Essential Baby. When Lottie was due to start school, I started to wonder if I could make the writing gig a full-time thing. I eventually took the leap in February 2012 and haven’t ever looked back.
4. What was your previous career?
I have a psychology degree, but I always worked in marketing. I really should have just been a journalist from the start, but life as a way of getting in its own way.
5. Describe a typical day in your working life?
There is no typical day for me, which I love. Some days, when I’m working inside a client’s office, I head out to work like a real live person; most days I drop the kids at school and login from my home office. I tend to work in ‘batches’, rather than in ‘clients’. I have six regular clients, so each week I pretty much know what’s coming up and can plan accordingly.
So right now, I do all my social media work on Mondays and part of Tuesdays, the rest of Tuesdays and Wednesdays I do newsletters and article editing or pitching (depending on which cap I’m wearing), Thursdays I write articles and Fridays I try to keep for working on Mumlyfe. This all needs to be flexible because I never know what a client is going to throw at me.
6. How many hours do you work per week on your business?
I try to devote at least five hours a week to Mumlyfe, but I really should do more. I’d need to find at least 20 hours to do it real justice. As it is, I’m already working up to 40 hours a week, plus doing the mum thing, so any more and I’d feel too stretched. That’s the beauty of working for yourself – you get to be in charge of your time (mostly).
7. Do you supplement your income in any other ways?
One day I hope Mumlyfe is all I need, but I’m far from that goal right now. I’m waiting for the tipping point; the time when I feel like Mumlyfe is worth giving up other income for. I’m on track for that to happen by the end of this year.
8. How do you manage your family and working for yourself?
My kids are older now and let me tell you, it’s a game-changer. They don’t require constant supervision. They can help me out in lots of ways. Older kids are fab!
I’ve also always been very fortunate to have a kind, considerate husband by my side. He helps me out enormously, both in terms of sharing the physical load at home, and in his unwavering support for all I do as well. I’d be lost without him.
9. What challenges did you face in setting up your business?
For Mumlyfe, I did everything myself – conceived, designed, built and programmed the site. I’d never done anything even remotely like it before. In hindsight, I wish I’d just stumped up the cash and got the professionals in. It’s great to have the knowledge that I acquired, but for what purpose? I don’t plan on ever doing a project like that again!!
10. What’s the best thing about working for yourself?
Easy: complete flexibility in how I spend my time. It’s something that matters a great deal to me.
11. What’s your best advice to another mum who is considering setting up her own business?
Do your research, then take the leap! And it will always be a leap. You will always have to back yourself and go in blind at some stage. Believe in what you are trying to achieve and go ahead and start.
12. What’s next for you and your business?
I’m mid-way through my second ebook. This one is about practical ways to manage the mental load and it’s been eye-opening to write!
My first ebook is Screen Freedom and it’s about managing your kids’ screen time and showcases all the things they could be doing if they weren’t on a screen. For a limited time, Love From Mim readers can get it for $5 with the code THANKSMIM – click here.
You can visit Mumlyfe here, and follow on Facebook.
Read next:
- 10 Home Business Ideas for Mums
- Is Mum Guilt an Inevitable Part of Running your Own Business?
I hope you’ve enjoyed my interview with Bron Mandile of Mumlyfe.
