Ditching Traditional Work and Creating a Career That Works For You: Part 3

As the 2020 landscape for women in the workforce has drastically shifted, so too have our needs as mothers. Working Momkind is committed to being a resource for you, which is why we've created an interview series highlighting the careers of five working moms and their successful leaps from traditional work to the freelance hustle, and building their brands to becoming Founders and CEOs. We invite you to join us as we release two stories per week, describing their experiences and sharing the knowledge of what they've learned along the way.

In Part 3 of our series, we chat with Erica Mutschler, Communications Consultant & Founder of EFGM Creative. She describes what it's like living in a two-entrepreneur household and the essential costs to consider when you are your own benefits package.

Erica Mutschler

Erica, the founder of EFGM Creative, has more than a decade of communication and nonprofit fundraising experience. Erica works with small businesses, established and emerging nonprofits, and thriving brands to find their voice, establish their message, and share their story with clients and constituents. Erica loves to bake, travel to her home state of New Mexico (back when traveling was a thing), and spend time with her husband, Adam, and their son, Shavit, at their home in Washington, D.C.

WM: Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, thoughts, and advice about entrepreneurship! Can you start by telling us more about your role in nonprofit fundraising prior to becoming the Founder of EFGM Creative?

Erica Mutschler: Before founding EFGM Creative, I spent 10+ years as a nonprofit communications professional. In the last seven of those years, I have specifically focused on the intersection of communication, fundraising, and what will motivate donors to take action by giving to the organizations that need it most. 

In my current role at EFGM Creative, I do similar work with nonprofits while also having the opportunity to support small businesses across the country. As a communications consultant, some of the services I provide to my clients include; content marketing and strategy to help reimagine their story, website design, and building dynamic fundraising campaigns.

WM: We love your passion for nonprofits and imagine it can be pretty rewarding to help them flourish. What was your motivation to recreate this work within your own business?

Mutschler: I never considered myself an entrepreneur and said on multiple occasions that I had no interest in working for myself, that is until my son was born. I quickly realized that I wanted to be home with him as much as possible, and my 9 to 5 didn't match the vision I had for my family. My goal was to build a business that would support my family first. 

My close friend was an inspiration, as she balanced having her wonderful daughter and hustled to freelance too. My husband, a serial entrepreneur and business founder/owner, also thought it was an awesome idea. I wasn't sure it would work out, but after watching my friend and leaning on my husband's unwavering support, I made the jump. 

I created a schedule and a culture with my clients that kept my son at the center. Even before COVID, my son's head sometimes popped into video calls, and I'd be lying if I didn't say I have breastfed on a few of them, too, including during an interview. I knew I needed and wanted to work with clients who knew that my priority was my family and that I could still effectively support their business.   

WM: Amazing! When so many women are expected to 'work like they don't have children and mother like they don't have work,' your actions prove that within the right environment and support system, we can accomplish both without one or the other suffering. In the two years, you've worked for yourself, what's surprised you about being your own boss?

Mutschler: I'm constantly surprised by what it's like to be my own boss. Calling all the shots has been pretty different from my desk job, but I've enjoyed having the autonomy to decide what projects I'm interested in pursuing and what is better for me to let go of, ultimately creating a healthier work-life balance for my family. 

I've also had the opportunity to reflect on how I work, finding that I generally prefer one-off projects rather than being on retainer. While this kind of work requires more business development, I have found that the stark contrast of a defined time limit appeals to me more than the ongoing work. 

Some days I miss coworkers and going to an office, but I've been very thankful that my work life hasn't shifted too much throughout Covid. I do, however, desperately miss babysitters and coffee shops.

WM: Same! Can you tell us more about what it's like living in a two-entrepreneur household right now and some of the obstacles you've hurdled along the way?

Mutschler: There is definitely some uncertainty in a two-entrepreneur household. There is no guarantee of the same paycheck every two weeks, and insurance costs are through the roof. Depending on your partner's set up, you will want to consider healthcare and any perks you would normally get from a company before starting your own business. Things like transportation costs, tuition remission, or childcare subsidies will all be your responsibility. So will your website, marketing, and applications (like Microsoft Office and email). As an entrepreneur, you'll have to decide whether you want to do it yourself or pay someone to manage your income, expenses, tax withholdings, and any registrations or certifications you may need to run your businesses. In addition, if you can't or don't want to work from home, you'll need a co-working space or office. 

That all being said, I also believe that being an entrepreneur creates limitless possibilities. While working for myself, I've doubled my income year over year, and I work about half as many hours. It's not to say I plan to do that every year or even think that it's possible, but being a consultant allows me to reap every benefit of my hard work. For me, that means spending more time with my son.

WM: That's a lot to consider and an impressive start for your first two years! Prioritizing can feel overwhelming for someone who is just getting started with their entrepreneurial journey. How did you know where to begin when building EFGM Creative?

Mutschler: I started by building a website. One of my services is building sites, so I knew I needed a clean, smart site from the get-go. From there, I got into logistics, registering my LLC, and joining a few consultant listservs. I went after clients I genuinely thought could use my support and landed my first client by messaging them on Instagram (which led to a meeting). Several projects later, I still work with them on a monthly basis. 

Networking has played a considerable role in the growth of my company. I told anyone I could think of that I would be starting my own business. This led me to several women who showed me the ropes and were very candid with me about what to expect. They were incredibly generous and shared everything, including proposals, what they charge, and what they thought I could charge for my work. Their kindness and advocacy is something I'll never forget, and one of the biggest lessons I've learned along the way: there is more than enough work out there for all of us. We should all show each other the ropes and ensure women and mothers get paid fairly. I'm so grateful to these women and thankful that I've had a few opportunities to pay it forward.

WM: Thank you for speaking with us about your journey into entrepreneurship. What would be your number one piece of advice for other moms looking to follow the same path? 

Mutschler: Put yourself out there—don't hold back from telling your friend's sister's hairdresser about your business, and don't be afraid to ask for support from your entire network. You have the experience and the know-how to make this work.  

Stay tuned for Part Four of our series as we speak with Jourdan Fairchild, Founder of Spruce Creative Studio. We'll discuss what it's like launching a freelance career in a new city and how to get over rejection and keep going.

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