I recently had the opportunity to chat with Tory Johnson - mother, founder of two multi-million dollar businesses (Spark & Hustle and Women for Hire) and regular Good Morning America contributor. Tory partnered with the Huggies® MomInspired® program this year, which provides amazing mom entrepreneurs with $15,000 grants for their unique product or service idea that makes moms’ lives easier. 

MMOT: As a working mom, I believe that flexibility in the work place is a necessity. What are your feelings on work life balance? Do you think it’s possible for all work moms to find a healthy balance between their careers and family life? 

TJ: Balancing implies two distinct buckets: home life vs. work life. I think much less (if ever) about how to "balance" and much more about how to integrate everything seamlessly. My family is very involved in my business. My kids know what I do and they take pride in my work largely because they know how important it is to me and how much it means to our family. Women can have anything and everything that matters to them, assuming they have a great support system in place. 

MMOT: How do you balance your career and home life? Do you have any tips for other work moms?

TJ:  My kids know a lot about my business. They watch me on TV. They attend my events. They travel with me.  My husband left USA Today five years ago, where he'd been a columnist forever, to work with me because it was the best decision for our family.  The more you can do to get support at home, the easier it is to ease of eliminate guilt.  I don't make selfish choices about work. I know everything I do has a benefit to my family. And if it doesn't, I say no.  It's hard to have a thriving career, especially as a business owner, if your family isn't on your side.

MMOT: You’ve recently teamed up with the Huggies MomInspired Grant Program. What made you get involved with this project?

TJ: As a great champion of moms starting businesses, I couldn't be more impressed with the financial grant, exposure, resources and support the Huggies MomInspired program offers.  I've watched many previous grant winners soar because of the benefits offered through this campaign.  For many of them, just a few thousand dollars is the difference in expansion opportunities.  They get that here.  It's insane not to apply for a program like this.

MMOT: I’m a huge fan of Good Morning America. Can you tell us about your favorite GMA moment?

TJ: Oh I have so many, most of which happen off camera and behind the scenes.  I love watching Robin Roberts recover so gracefully from her bone marrow transplant. I am honored to serve five million viewers by introducing them to amazing deals on new products from cool companies.  And I'm always excited to promote small businesses, which can soar overnight after being included in one of my segments.  And finally, it's a privilege to work with the very best team in morning TV. They're the smartest, kindest group of people.

MMOT: Can you tell us about your first venture Women for Hire? What was it like being a mompreneur for the first time?

TJ: I was determined to start my own business because I never wanted my family to feel the sting of a pink slip as I did as a single girl. I'd look at my twin toddlers and realize that it'd be safest and most reassuring to bet on me - to sign my own paycheck instead of relying in anyone else. Today my kids are 15 and they remain my greatest inspiration to keep plugging away...even when I may prefer to curl up and hide.

MMOT:  What is the greatest piece of advice another working mother gave you?

TJ: Sell yourself first, then your business. That came from Barbara Bradley, the cofounder of Vera Bradley. She's one the smartest cookies I've ever met.  Another is Barbara Corcoran who quite rightly says passion is overrated.  If you have the spark without the hustle, you're left with a hobby, not a profitable business.

MMOT: What’s the future for mompreneurs? What do you think it will be like to be a working mother in 10 years? 

TJ:  More choice, more control of our time -- when, where and how we work. And even more integration with our families. The Huggies MomInspired program supports this as more and more moms say they've started a business because of their desire to tackle a family need or problem.

More about Huggies MomInspired:

The Huggies MomInspired Grant Program was created to help mompreneurs bring their start-ups and new product ideas to life by providing business counsel and funding. Since 2010, the program has received more than 1,700 applications and awarded 32 women with nearly half of a million dollars in grant money to help make their business dreams a reality.

For more information about the grant recipients and the program, visit HuggiesMomInspired.com.