Name: Emma Starrs
Age: 31
Children: Harry, 4, and Louis, 2
Job title: PR Consultant
Company: Ad Hoc-PR, www.adhoc-pr.com
Profit in first year: About ?12,000
What was the motivating factor for starting your own business?
I spotted a gap in the market for a low-cost PR service catering for SME’s on a tight marketing budget. I also realised that I could base myself at home, as the majority of communication with my clients is by email. To keep my clients’ costs low, I only charge for each item of coverage generated, so there are no off-putting retainer fees or hourly charges.
What are the best bits about working again?
It’s great to actively use my professional skills in a home environment. I also enjoy interacting with the wider business community and believing that I still have something to offer. I count myself to be very lucky, as I can write press releases in the evening and spend a lot of time with my children during the day.
Running a business can be a mixed bag sometimes. What have been the highs and lows so far?
Highs have definitely been achieving successful national coverage for my clients and also the gratitude I get from smaller businesses that had previously viewed PR as an unaffordable luxury. Lows are definitely caused by the challenge of trying not to bring stress into the home when things aren’t going my way.
What is available to mothers now that you wish you had access to?
My children are still young, but I have found the local toddler groups to be a great diversion and an excellent way of making friends for myself and the boys.
How have you managed to stay on top of your career with the demands of motherhood?
It’s a real juggling act and sometimes I feel guilty that I am not devoting 100% of my attention to my children, but I’m trying to build a future for us after a few years of instability, so hopefully they can forgive me! I have two gears for the different roles in my life – slow and patient when making the most of my time with the boys and speedy and efficient for when I am trying to eek out the most worth from my working time.
What has been the high point along the way?
Realising that those dreams that bubble away at the back of your mind, can come true if you find the self-belief.
What is your worst experience along the way?
Poor cash flow causing problems for family finances.
Any tips for expectant mums, or mothers who feel that you can’t have a successful career and a happy family life at the same time?
Embrace new technology and think about ways that you could work from home. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and learn to accept help with chores if necessary. Learn to prioritise and put things in perspective ? if the dishwasher hasn’t been emptied all day, but you have managed to put a few hours in to a work project, then it has been a good working day – chores can always be done outside of the 9am to 5pm (or by a willing volunteer!)