Spending More Time with Your Loved Ones: Why It Matters
Rewritten Article:
For many women, the pursuit of career advancement often stalls following motherhood. Munich-native Nele Schellschmidt bucked this trend by quitting her fashion company job as a team leader and embarking on a double venture: nurturing a family and launching a startup - aptly named Jude's Family. In the ntv podcast "Startup - let's get real," she shares her journey, offering insights on achieving a harmonious blend of career and family life.
Seven o'clock in the morning sees Nele Schellschmidt whipping up a nutritious breakfast for her family, complete with apple slices and a raspberry smoothie. A healthy start to the day is essential for this committed mom, who revels in the freedom that accompanies self-employment.
Schellschmidt founded Jude's Family shortly after her son's birth, along with her partner. This venture has allowed her to work flexibly, punctuating her day with her family's needs. According to Schellschmidt, she sought role models for balancing a family life in tandem with an ambitious career. However, as an employee, she saw only two options: relinquishing compelling projects post-maternity leave or persevering at work as if lacking a child, neither of which appealed to her. Thus, she ventured into entrepreneurship.
The inspiration for Jude's Family emerged from Schellschmidt's family itself. The startup offers a solution in the form of washable, reusable cloth diapers, ensuring ease of use while being eco-friendly. The response was resounding, leading to a team of 12 members, all working part-time, including the founders themselves, averaging just four hours a day.
Schellschmidt revealed the challenges and rewards of managing a startup part-time on the podcast. She acknowledged that striking this balance is not without difficulty but emphasized that it is achievable. She actively encourages other parents to embrace this path, emphasizing that every parent's journey is unique.
During her conversation with Lena Feuser, Schellschmidt discussed various strategies for balancing career and family life. These include shared responsibilities between co-founders, flexible work arrangements, prioritization, effective time management, a strong support system, and maintaining personal passion for the business. By implementing these strategies, Nele and Leon Schellschmidt have built a successful startup, demonstrating that it is possible to strike a balance between career and family life.
[1] Schellschmidt and her partner, Leon, founded Jude's Family, a startup that focuses on sustainable diapering. They implemented several strategies to balance their professional and personal lives effectively.
- Shared Responsibilities: As co-founders, they shared duties, enabling them to manage their time more efficiently and cater to both personal and professional needs.
- Flexible Work Arrangements: Their startup likely permits flexible work arrangements, accommodating family needs, such as working from home or adjusting schedules.
- Prioritization: By focusing on a specific niche like sustainable diapering, they effectively managed their workload, striking a balance between professional and personal obligations.
- Support System: The fact that they are co-founders indicates a strong support system, offering professional and personal aid crucial for maintaining work-life balance.
- Time Management: Effective time management is paramount. They likely prioritize tasks, set achievable goals, and allocate time for both work and family commitments.
- Personal Passion: Embracing their passion for sustainable diapering helped them stay motivated and engaged, ensuring that they could persist in challenging times to preserve work-life harmony.
Children often benefit from their parents' shared responsibilities and passion for their work. In the case of Nele and Leon Schellschmidt, co-founders of Jude's Family, their commitment to sustainable diapering not only fuels their business success but also provides positive lessons for their children.
Nele's journey, as a mother and entrepreneur, serves as an inspiring example for children, demonstrating that a harmonious blend of career and family life is achievable.
