Self Employed Mum Life: Nicole, Glow Inspire

Welcome to a new series of blog posts, which I am beyond excited to launch, The Self Employed Mum Life.

Join me here monthly as I interview an incredible Self Employed Mum, celebrating her business, talking about the challenges of balancing work with mum life, and creating a resource of interviews to inspire anyone looking to set up their own business.

Not only is this a space to inspire, but also a space for existing self employed mums to check in and read other's stories - to feel less alone if you're already running your own business as a mum, to hear other mums success stories, to perhaps find some comfort in relatable challenges, or to seek motivation in any moments of self doubt.

It can be tough, incredibly lonely at times but also so rewarding, there are many highs and lows, and each month we will be dissecting this in our monthly interviews.

Starting with this absolute hero, super mum and wonderful friend Nicole Goddard, the founder of Glow Inspire, an amazing company I was lucky enough to run Postnatal Yoga Classes with and someone whose story I can't wait to share with you…

Nicole, Found of Glow Inspire

Hey Nicole,

Tell us about your business, Glow Inspire.

Glow Inspire is all about promoting wellbeing, motivation and creativity through engaging activities for children and parents. We provide extra-curricular sports clubs in schools and a selection of baby classes, creating a nurturing environment where everyone can flourish.

When did you set it up and where did the idea come from?

Glow Inspire originally started in 2020 as Glow Disco, offering extra-curricular clubs in schools. When I had my little one in 2022, I started attending baby classes and absolutely loved them. With my background in primary education, my passion for early literacy and a friend’s experience in acting, I came up with the idea of Glow Baby Storytime. We launched in Wimbledon in August 2023, and I never envisioned how much it would grow! To cover all the classes I was now offering, I changed the name of the business to Glow Inspire.

I also knew I couldn’t go back to full-time work - childcare was too expensive, and I didn’t want to be away from my little one every day. I needed something flexible, something she could be a part of, and Glow Inspire became the perfect solution. From there, we expanded to open play sessions and Glow and Flow yoga classes. I thought it would just be a temporary solution but it just took off and I still can't believe it to this day.

How did you find setting Glow Inspire up, and managing it alongside raising your child?

Setting up Glow Inspire while raising my little one has been one of the hardest but most rewarding things I’ve ever done. It has been incredibly tough, and most days, I feel like I’m being pulled in two completely different directions. Running a business takes so much time, effort and energy, and at the same time, I have this beautiful, tiny person who needs me, who deserves my attention, and who I desperately want to be present for. I absolutely love spending time with my daughter and I want to get the most out of these days before she is all of a sudden going off to school!

The reality is that I don’t have the luxury of endless hours to pour into my business like I wish I did. I have so many ideas, so many things I want to create, but there just aren’t enough hours in the day. I often feel like I’m constantly behind, trying to squeeze work into every possible moment. I go to bed at 1am most nights, work during nap times that never seem long enough. Even on the days when I have childcare, I’m working non-stop, running classes back-to-back from morning until evening, and by the time I get home, I’m completely drained!

I really don’t want to pick up my phone and get to emails, make social media posts etc when my little one is with me, as I feel so guilty. I want to be engaged and present, not distracted by work. But at the same time, there is so much that needs doing, and it never really stops when you run your own business.

Despite all of this, nothing is more important to me than my child. This stage of life is so fleeting, and I know I won’t get this time back. I don’t want to miss out on the little moments - the cuddles, the playtime, the milestones. It’s a constant internal battle because I want my business to succeed, I want to bring all my ideas to life, but I also want to be everything for my little one. Finding that balance has been the hardest part, and truthfully, I don’t think I’ve figured it out yet.

Some days, the exhaustion is overwhelming, and I wonder if I’m doing the right thing. But then I remind myself why I started this in the first place. To create something flexible, something meaningful, and something that allows me to be there for my child while still pursuing something I love. It’s not easy, and I have no doubt the challenges will keep coming, but for now, I’m just taking it one day at a time and doing the best I can.

What are the main obstacles you’ve found in being a self employed mum, and how have you overcome them?

The biggest struggle is definitely time management. There is always something that needs doing, and when you’re running a business alone, there’s no one else to pick up the slack. Balancing that with being a Mummy is really hard. I’ve had to be strict with myself and prioritise what absolutely needs to be done, rather than trying to do everything at once.

Managing everything solo as the business has grown has been another challenge. I have so many ideas and things I want to do, but I simply don’t have the time or resources right now. I’d love to create more props for the sessions, but I just can’t physically do it all. I'm learning to be patient with the business, rather than rushing to expand everything at once.

I also struggle with switching off. When you work for yourself, it never really stops. Even when I’m not physically running a session, I’m constantly planning, organising or thinking about the next thing. It’s hard not to feel like I should be doing more.

What would you say are the highs and lows of running your own business as a mum?

The biggest high is the flexibility - I get to create a schedule that works around my little one, and I love that she can be part of it. Seeing the business grow from an idea into something real and successful is amazing. The best part, though, is the people who come to the classes. Seeing the little ones light up, the parents enjoying themselves, and knowing I’ve created something that brings joy to others makes it all worth it. 

My business wouldn't exist without my daughter, having her as my complete inspiration feels really special. She's the best thing in the world!

But the lows… the exhaustion! Some days, I honestly feel like it’s impossible to get everything done. There have been lots of tears, lots of moments where I’ve felt like I’m drowning and just wanted to stop. 

Even though it’s hard, I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve built. At the same time, I still feel like I have no idea what I’m doing! There’s so much to learn, and I’m figuring it all out as I go. 

I am so excited to see what the future holds for Glow Inspire. I really cannot believe how much it has grown and how many people want it in different locations. I really hope one day I can reach all of those people. But for now, I’m taking it one step at a time, balancing being a mum and a business owner as best as I can. Most days, it feels impossible, but somehow, it all gets done. The amazing people who attend our classes remind me why I do this, and I really do love my job.

What words of wisdom would you give to other mums thinking of setting up their own business?

If you have an idea, go for it - but be realistic. Running a business is amazing, but don’t put pressure on yourself to do everything at once.

Most importantly, be kind to yourself. There will be days when you feel like you’re smashing it and days when you feel like you’re failing at everything. That’s normal. You can’t do it all, all the time, and that’s okay.

Mums are honestly incredible humans. We have superpowers, I’m sure of it! You can do ANYTHING!

Find out more about Glow Inspire at https://www.glowinspire.co.uk/

or check them out on Instagram: @glowbabystorytime @glowinspire.school @glowinspire.baby