It’s my 3rd year of running a business while being a stay-at-home mum (a part from 1 day a week my parents babysit) and it was my biggest yet.

I honestly actually struggle to believe that, but it’s also been very intentional (although 2 of my biggest wins in 2023 came from plans I didn’t even have in 2022).

So let’s chat about my top 5 wins from 2023, the scary decisions and invesments that made them happen and some of the strategy that went into it.

I hope you leave feeling inspired for your own business, reminded to celebrate your own wins (material or not!) and remember that we’re all different (aka. do not compare your wins to mine! I’ve been growing this business for 10 years now – it’s been a journey and not just some fluke in 2023).

Win #1: Started YouTube!

Not something I had planned to do but generated a LOT for the business this year. We’ve now grown to over 13,000 subscribers, have monetized the channel and able to serve thousands of biz owners for free #thedream! I’ll share more below on what it’s given the business.

Win #2: Growing a Human

Gonna be honest, getting pregnant did not happen as quickly as we hoped so getting pregnant itself was a GIANORMOUS blessing. But then, running the business while growing a human was a feat in itself. First-trimester tireds hit me hard and the business went mostly into survival mode with most of my work windows being taken out by napping. I’m so proud the business continued and thrived throughout that time even though I could give it barely anything.

Win #3: Time Spend as a Family

My hubby travels a lot for work but this year, thanks to the flexibility of my business, my daughter and I got to travel with him! We went to WA, SA, NSW, ACT, QLD and VIC (if you’re from Australia, you’ll know that’s literally every state bar 1) and got to have so many fun adventures along the way. The blessing I have to be able to do that is not lost on me and something I’m so grateful my business is able to provide. Spending time being a mum at home during the week is also a giant win and one of the reasons I started my biz – so I’m grateful that was a reality too.

Win #4: Opening White Deer Studio

Seriously did not see this coming! I never wanted to have people working for me but at the start of this year I met with a friend who needed some more design work, so I passed over a few projects I needed help with… and then things just grew to needing a second designer… and one thing led to another and our virtual studio was born! We officially launched at the end of August and are now booking out!

Win #5: Biggest Revenue Year

Now for a classic business win. 2023 was my biggest revenue year to date. Which still shocks me sometimes. But I also want to add in here it’s been my biggest expense year too (that’s what happens when you hire contractors to join your team – I went from just me and my VA to a video editor and 2 designers). Plus, subscriptions! The amount I pay to run my business online has only grown my adding a studio to the business. But I feel so honoured that more income means I’m serving more incredible business owners, and more expenses means I’m supporting more incredible humans on my team in their lives too. What a blessing.

How did these wins happen?

All of these wins haven’t come without intentional decisions though and some of these have been quite scary.

1. Investing in Facebook Ads even after having a not-so-great experience 3 years ago. I invested in both the ad spend and coaching support in this area.

2. Studio Launch Party: I was mid first trimester when this party hapenned so I was wildly tired. Plus, hosting an event is EXPENSIVE… and I did it as tightly as I could. It was also so scary and not really something I’d do again soon. But it did help create momentum and buzz for the studio.

3. Hiring a video editor: When I first started YouTube I wasn’t making anything from it. But I hired my editor anyway. I soon realised this wasn’t sustainable yet so I went back to editing myself (something that is within my skillset). But as soon as the channel started making a little money between monetization and course sales driven from YouTube I rehired my editor. If I didn’t do this I don’t think staying on YouTube would have been sustainable for me in this season of my life as an almost full time mum.

Strategically I made sure to focus on:

1. Incredible offers and confidently setting myself up as the go-to person in my field.

2. Creating offers that I see come up for my niche (literally creating new offers as I see the need – and focussing on my CURRENT niche rather than chopping and changing).

3. Building a new arm of the business to catch the part of my audience that didn’t want to DIY

4. Invested in my top-of-funnel activity through Facebook ads and YouTube

5. Getting help because I have limited time

6. Pushed into a strong, consistent visual brand that set me up as a recognisable professional

If you’d like to be a part of my world in 2024 I’d LOVE to have you!

Learn to create your own brand/graphics: https://whitedeer.com.au/diydmb

Work with my design studio team: https://www.whitedeer.com.au/designstudio