Business owners are so busy pushing ahead we rarely take time to sit back and reflect on our accomplishments.  We definitely don't do this as mothers but each year I think we should take a moment and reflect on what we have accomplished and how we have grown over the previous year.

When I took the chance to start my business, I wasn't sure where the first year would take me.  In April, I will be conducting a workshop for the USC School of Social Work and the Women's Intellectual Property Lawyer's Association.  I have had the opportunity to work on the Facebook Campus and spoke with Jamie Oliver via Google Hangout.

I had no idea I would have these types of opportunities but knowing what I know now, this is the inspiration I would have shared with myself a year ago.

1. Your deepest fear is not as strong as the joy of doing what you love.

I have had many moments where I have asked myself what on earth was I thinking to quit my job and start my own business. Looking back over all of my doubts and fears, and believe me I still have them, they don't move me like the joy of working with mothers and seeing them identify with their value. 

The women I work with are doing amazing and interesting things in their perspective industries.  I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to support them in their journey to greatness. 

2. Great customer service and connection can help you recover from most mistakes.

When I started I was worried that I wouldn't look professional and polished.  I had to  learn new skills like marketing and writing proposals while balancing all the needs of my clients. As a result I have made a few client service faux pas. However, I value all of my clients and genuinely connect with their struggles, dreams and desires.  

I show up for them fully and that effort has allowed them to overlook things that I am learning to do better.  I realize this because most of my new clients come through referrals by my existing and former clients.  My clients trust me with their credibility.  That speaks volumes. 

3. When you leave an organization you do not leave the relationships behind.

Much of my success has been facilitated by people with whom I worked at my former firms.  My former colleagues have connected me, referred me and have directly paid for my services.  Their willingness to support my practice has left me so grateful and I realized that these relationship are more important now than when I actually worked at those firms.  Before they were paid to work with me, now they choose to.  

4. Be ready to keep getting new and improved ideas.

I started my business as a family dinner activist working with the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation.  However, my ideas kept expanding to include services that better support working moms.  I kept stretching what I offered and how I connected with my clients.  

Eventually, I found myself preaching the gospel of ambition before Sheryl Sandberg made it part of our social consciousness with her book, Lean In.

5. You will like working from home but you LOVE working with people.

Working in a home-based environment has made me much more productive.  I like the energy of creation and working from home feeds my creativity.  That being said, I need to interact with people.  Hands-down, my favorite part of my job is interacting with groups of women.

6. Running your own business is a spiritual journey, so get used to prayer and meditation.

Before starting my business, I wasn't an overly spiritual person. I believed in God but now I find myself talking to God on a regular basis.  Part of the reason is that running my business is truly based on my best judgement and intuition.  And sometimes, I just don't know what's best and I have to trust that God is going to set me in the right direction.

I think most businesses fail in the first three years because it is a test of faith and spiritual metal to start and run a business.  Certainty is a luxury. 

7. Being honest and vulnerable is what people love the most.

I get the greatest response from my articles when I admit my vulnerabilities. I get so many replies to articles saying, "I know just what you mean" or "How do did you get into my head?"

The truth is that we all we share the same fears and insecurities.  When people know the real you and see themselves in you, they can't help but connect.  Want a successful business, be real.

8. I am a good mom and I enjoy motherhood.

I was saying to my mother the other night that if you want to be a good parent you have to become a better person. Running my own business has given me the time and flexibility to reflect on my relationship and involvement with my daughter.  It has given me time to learn more about her and reflect on how I relate to her.  

Before having my daughter, I was ambivalent about motherhood. When I felt I had no control over my career, I felt too rushed to relax and get in the groove motherhood.  I always felt like I was either pushing or being pulled.

Now that I have created flexibility in my day, I have time to just be with my daughter and I find that I enjoy being a mom.  I now experience moments with no tension about being somewhere else when I am with my daughter.  And I enjoy her. In fact, given the choice I would choose to hang out with her.  

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When I started my business I had a lot of encouragement and I am so thankful for my supporters.  I am grateful that I had a crowd of people advocating for me.  This first year has transformed my marriage, my relationship with my daughter and my belief in myself.  It has all been for the better.