How becoming a mom made me a better marketer

Some of the other super-hero skills that I have now that I am a mom include:

1. Super tuned-in dog hearing. I can literally hear my baby moan across the house while I’m watching TV or listening to music.
2. The ability to operate on less than 8 hours of sleep a night, which I never thought would be at all possible.
3. Making time where I didn’t think any time existed. It’s akin to Dr. Strange, the way I can magically create time, especially now that I’m back at work.

But jokes aside…

Being a mom has taught me to be more efficient.

I have honestly honed in on my efficiency. I have 8 hours in a day before I move over to baby time, and I have learnt to squeeze every second out of that time. Wasting time is no longer an option, so I have become more effective at prioritising my tasks and just getting it done.

Pro mom tip: Make a to-do list and stick to it. Jump on the things you feel the least like doing first. 5 minutes before a meeting? Make that quick phone call.

Being a mom has taught me the art of patience.

On baby time things just go at their own pace. There is absolutely no use forcing it, and in fact, you want to enjoy that precious time. This has taught me to just be patient and allow things to happen in their own time. Everyone has their own path and their own learnings, and you have to just learn to go with the flow and relax.

Being a mom has taught me the value of EQ.

I wasn’t always much of a touchy-feely person, but there’s nothing better than cuddling my little baby. I’ve also learnt to read her non-verbal cues and this has taught me about communicating without words….an exceptionally useful skill if you don’t work alone in a cave with no contact with the outside world.

Being a mom has taught me to be MORE AGILE.

When your baby is upset you quickly figure out what she wants by changing tack again and again until she's happy. Dummy, no dummy, playtime, lie down, sit up, have some milk – if one thing doesn’t work, change your plan. Pivot, as Eric Ries would say in the "Lean Startup" – is an excellent mindset for an agile marketer.

Being a mom has taught me not to throw good money after bad.

This is a very valuable lesson for a marketer. When I had a baby I soon realised that she has her own preferences. Some bottles she loves; some bottles she hates. Some dummies she loves, some she just spits out. When you figure out that something is just not working, stop doing it, and don’t keep wasting money on things that have proven not to work.

Being a mom has taught me not to judge.

The moment I became a mother I lost all judgement for all mothers everywhere. I realised that we’re all just doing our best because it’s not easy. We all have our own way of doing it and that’s ok, we have to do what’s best for us, and those around us.

So, in summary, becoming a mom hasn’t just made me a better marketer, it’s also made me a better person.