Name: Jo Middleton
Age: 32
Family members:
I am a single parent with two daughters, aged 14 and 7, and an age-defying eight year old goldfish. Who knew they lived so long? (Goldfish, not kids).
Previous Career:
I’ve had a whole range of previous jobs. I left university with an Economics degree and began training to become an Actuary with a large investment group. After having my second daughter I went to work in the voluntary sector, where I’ve done everything from marketing and communications to fundraising, business planning, and even jumping out of a plane!
What is the name and nature of your business?
I have what I think is known as a ‘portfolio career’ – in other words I like a bit of variety so juggle a few different jobs!
I would primarily refer to myself as a writer, just because I’ve always wanted to call myself a writer! I dabble in journalism – www.jomiddleton.co.uk – and have written for a range of newspapers, magazines and websites. I also write a blog about my life as a single parent – www.slummysinglemummy.wordpress.com – and provide copywriting services to businesses. Press releases, blogs, web content… if it involves stringing a sentence together, then I’m your woman.
The rest of the time I work with a couple of friends as part of a partnership offering fundraising, marketing and business planning services to charities: www.monetas.co.uk.
What inspired you to start it?
My current work situation was inspired by a want and a need to work for myself. As a single parent, flexibility is key, and the only way to get the work pattern I wanted – school hours, term time only, with regular cake breaks and lunches out – was to work for myself. No employer would put up with it I’m sure!
Aside from that of course I love writing. It amazes me every day that people will actually pay for the words that spew out of my brain onto the screen.
How does it fit in with family life?
It fits perfectly with family life. I get to work when the kids are at school, and in the evenings or at weekends if I have a spare hour or two. If anyone is sick, I can be there. Or in the other room working at least…
Biggest learning curve so far?
I still struggle with time management sometimes – working on your own from home is so much harder than I imagined and you have to be really disciplined to get anything done at all!
Most positive experience?
I love getting positive feedback from the things I write, whether that be comments on my blog, people getting in touch in response to features I’ve written, or just friends and family saying nice things. I am clearly very driven by praise!
Where would you like to be in five years time?
Aside from the obvious Colin Firth on a desert island fantasy, I would love to be doing work that makes me feel good about myself and that I enjoy, whatever that may be.
What advice would you give to other mothers hoping to combine motherhood with a new business idea?
Working for yourself is fantastic in terms of the flexibility and independence it gives you, but it is hard work and you need to be very driven, generating work for yourself all the time. To keep up the motivation make sure you choose a business that you feel really passionate about – you need to be working with a product or service that really drives and inspires you..