‘Mumpreneur:’ Wanting to show my daughters a woman can be a mother, and create a life from her passions, to make her dreams a reality
It’s one thing to change career but, it’s another to quit your job and start your own company. For some, the path to career satisfaction lies not in another job, but in creating a dream one.
Anaïs Alliot, Head of Communications turned mumpreneur. She now specializes in providing fun tools for children to help them cultivate their taste for challenge, resilience and self-confidence. The entrepreneur is an author, copywriter, blogger, web writer. She is also an investor and community manager. “I wanted to feel free, in every part of my life,” she says. Anaïs’s dreams started as a side hustle, now it’s her full-time job.
Balance between professional and family life – Getting into entrepreneurship and out of communications
How did following your passion lead you to your website Grandirzen?
I didn’t choose a new career, I followed my passions and opportunities. Initially, I was Head of Communications in a start-up in Paris. I had this job for almost 2 years. I was responsible for all the communications media, presentations, emails and created content. But being an employee was complicated for me. Life in Paris with a child was a real challenge. I needed space, nature and freedom. I spent too much time on the metro and at work, it was really difficult for me to see my child. Life was too expensive. My daughter had a baby-sitter, she was 2 years old and at a Montessori school. A Montessori school emphasises independence, it views children as naturally eager for knowledge and capable of initiating learning in a sufficiently supportive and well-prepared learning environment.
So, when my husband told me that we could move nearer to the sea, it was perfect. I then took a break I spent more time with my child, and then we had another daughter. In 2018, I created my first service as a corrector, copywriter and community manager. The first micro-services, and the money I earned from home was a real eye-opener. I wanted to find a balance between my professional and family life. Later, I created my website and my own brand Grandir Zen. I create personal development products to help francophone children. Grandir Zen is a brand created to introduce the Growth Mindset, a popular concept in the United States also known to an audience open to positive parenting and personal development.
Feeling that my life has meaning
What are the highlights and lowlights of your job?
The highlights of being an entrepreneur are working from home. I enjoy working every day, being there for my daughters and having the feeling that my life has meaning. That is a big part of my happiness for me.
The lows of entrepreneurship include doing almost everything. Managing the technical aspects of the website, writing articles, emails, producing content. I look forward to having a team and being able to delegate.
Making the transition to mumpreneur
How did you start thinking about changing your career?
Becoming an entrepreneur or mumpreneur has always been in the back of my mind. My father was an entrepreneur, so when I realised the lack of freedom for me as an employee, I started to provide services on a French website equivalent to Fiver. The adventure began 3 years ago when I created my first Facebook group “Le Miracle Morning en famille,” its French community for families. The group grew and allowed me to meet people, create opportunities for myself and get into writing when I didn’t have a website or sales page.
What challenges did you have to overcome to start your new career?
At first, it was a lack of legitimacy. Right now, it’s sometimes difficult to find a balance between family and professional life. When I first started my business, I worked days, evenings and weekends, but now I am more balanced. I work mostly when my daughters are at school. I want to show them that a woman can be a mother, and create a life from her passions, to the reality of her dreams with perseverance and work on herself. It’s not easy every day, but I’m working on it.
What skills have you learned from being an mumpreneur?
I grew up and so did my mindset. I read a lot of personal development and neuroscience books, and I tested the exercises that I suggest in the Grandir Zen notebooks and programs. These had a positive impact on my emotional intelligence. Many other soft skills such as self-confidence and resilience.
Then, now and the future
Which job did you want to do when you were a child?
When I was a child, I wanted to be a reporter. As an adult, I still write every day, I write articles, I do research, so I’m still close to my childhood dream. I am however an author, copywriter, blogger, web writer. I’m also an investor and a community manager. I’m an independent ‘mumpreneur’ with an impression of being free, and outside the box mum. I created my brand so it fits perfectly for me.
What is your typical day?
I used to be allergic to routines. Now, every day I practice at least journaling and yoga, sometimes other sports and I read an inspirational book. That’s my miracle morning routine.
I work when my daughters are at school, 4 days a week. In the morning, I take them to school, eat my breakfast while reading or completing my journal. I also complete a 100 days challenge abundance notebook every day. Then, I start working on Grandir Zen. I write an article, I handle my social media, answer my emails, send messages to my friend that creates illustrations for future products. I also do lives on Instagram which inspires people on Fridays.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I still see myself as a ‘mumpreneur’ in the future and hopefully, my brand is going to be much bigger and is going to help many children and families. My day starts with some work in the morning when my mind is clear; Later I have a walk in the afternoon or, even better, I do bodyboard, surf, Kitesurf or paddle. I see myself discovering cultures, other mindsets or travelling alone or with my family so that they cultivate their openness to the world.
Making your career change – Changing career doesn’t have to be a complete nightmare
It is essential to always know your why in life. If you are ok with your current job, and it helps you to reach your dreams that is ok. I think a lot of people are multipotential and to reach their full potential of happiness, they have to explore their creativity, passions, their strengths, how to manage failure, so they need to extend their comfort zone. If changing your career brings you closer to your dream, then it is what you should do.
Foreign languages and education
What is your educational background?
I have a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in an MBA in Marketing and Biotechnologies. I was lucky enough to have found a good school to study management, marketing, communication and biotechnologies. My life plan was always set, I wanted to be a product manager. During my time at university, I had my first child at 24 years old. On the day of my graduation, I was carrying my baby.
What languages do you speak?
I’m French so my native language is French, and I also speak English. I was lucky enough to travel to Australia when I was 17. I learned a lot on this trip and I discovered the joy of travelling. Around 2 years ago I wanted to improve my English so that I could feel more comfortable to speak and travel more. I needed to work on my mindset and feed my curiosity first. I started watching a lot more English tv, watching YouTube videos and some Facebook groups.
Living the real American life changed my vision for my blog and my brand
Did moving or traveling give you a different perspective of the world?
In October 2019, I spent 3 weeks in Lisle, a village in Illinois near Chicago with my family and this was amazing. Living the real American life, visiting schools, discovering museums, monuments, Halloween with the snow, children in the street. That changed my vision for my blog and my brand.
I wanted to install the desire to encourage children rather than making them feel bad about their results. It was important for me to import the ‘Growth Mindset concept.’ This included the importance of effort, the value of failure and love for learning. I’ve seen a Montessori school, with an outside classroom, there were inspirational views everywhere. I also realised how expensive those schools can be and that it’s not fair because some families can’t afford them.
This is why I try to bring the ‘Growth Mindset’ and ‘the science of happiness’ into both homes and schools with Grandir Zen. I started following English websites such as Big Life journal or Go Zen. That changed my way of thinking with my children, and then with my brand. The notebook “Confiance en soi” for example is bought by parents, school teachers, psychologists.
Anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Get started and invest in yourself. Read inspirational books, work on mindset and practice visualisation until you reach your dream. Always keep that in mind if you are a perfectionist: Better done, then perfect.
Did you enjoy reading “Life as a mumpreneur. Getting into entrepreneurship and out of communications”? Find more inspirational stories of career change here.