Before I dive in, let me be clear: I definitely don't have this work-life balance thing figured out. I'm not an expert on managing it all—I'm just a working mom with a lot of balls in the air. Most of that juggling comes from personal choices I've made, though some is simply my environment and circumstances. I'm constantly trying new approaches to improve and evolve, and I hope sharing what I've learned might help others or spark some ideas.
Just when I thought our household had reached its capacity—three kids, three dogs, and a thriving consultancy—life reminded me that growth and change never really stop. Over the past few months, we've welcomed my 16-year-old brother and his pup Goldie into our home, bringing our total back up to four dogs, three young kids, and a teenager navigating his own transitions.
This unexpected addition came during a period of both loss and adaptation, teaching me new lessons about flexibility, family, and how personal changes continue to influence professional growth even after twelve years in business.
Having my brother join our household wasn't part of any strategic family planning. Like many of life's most meaningful changes, it emerged from necessity, love, and the recognition that sometimes the right thing to do isn't the easy thing to do.
Integrating a teenager and another dog into our already complex daily routine has required the same skills I've developed for client work: careful planning, clear communication, flexibility when things don't go as expected, and the ability to find the best possible solutions that can work for everyone involved.
The logistics: Suddenly, our morning routine expanded to include high school drop-offs alongside preschool and elementary school schedules. Our home office hours had to accommodate teenage work and homework schedules. The dog backyard rotations and headcounts grew more complex with the addition of Goldie's specific needs and personality.
The emotional complexity: While experiencing the loss of our dad, we've also discovered the unexpected joy of having extended family together under one roof. It's reminded me that some of the most rewarding experiences come from embracing change rather than resisting it.
Managing this transition reinforced principles that apply directly to client relationships:
Flexibility is a competitive advantage. Just as our household adapted routines for different needs, ROAM's informal network lets us adjust based on changing client requirements. Pivoting quickly—bringing in specialized expertise or adapting strategies for evolving markets—has become one of our strongest differentiators.
Different perspectives improve everything. Having a teenager in the house provides fresh insights into how younger audiences consume information and engage with brands. These perspectives already influence how we approach strategies for clients targeting multiple generations.
Systems enable flexibility. The more complex our household logistics, the more important organizational systems become. Same for client work—better processes and communication protocols mean we can adapt to unexpected challenges without sacrificing quality.
As personal life gets more complex, something interesting keeps happening professionally—ROAM becomes more focused and effective. Managing multiple family priorities forces me to be strategic about everything: which clients to work with, which projects to pursue, how to structure engagements for maximum impact.
Many clients navigate similar complex family situations. The CEO balancing aging parents with growing children. The founder scaling a company while supporting extended family. The executive managing household transitions while leading business initiatives.
My experience juggling multiple family priorities hopefully makes me a better – and more compassionate – advisor during their complex moments. I understand trying to maintain professional excellence while everything else requires attention and care.
ROAM's growth statistics tell one story—clients served, revenue generated, campaigns launched. But the real story lives in the moments between metrics:
Client calls while coordinating carpools for four different schedules. Strategy sessions while ensuring homework gets done and dogs get walked. Crisis communication plans developed at 5 AM before a house full of people (and pets) wakes up. Celebration dinners as an extended family when clients win industry awards.
Running a business while managing an evolving household means every professional achievement feels more significant because it required more creativity, efficiency, and family support to accomplish.
Twelve years of growing a business while growing a family has taught me:
Personal and professional don't have to compete. They can strengthen each other when you embrace the complexity rather than fight it.
Constraints breed innovation. My most creative solutions emerge from working around family obligations and unexpected schedule changes.
Authenticity builds stronger relationships. Clients appreciate working with someone who understands managing multiple priorities, especially caring for family across different generations.
Systems and flexibility work together. Clear processes enable adaptation when life requires changes, maintaining professional excellence without sacrificing family priorities.
Community is essential. Whether family supporting each other through transitions or colleagues stepping in during busy periods, success depends on relationships you build and maintain.
Staying open to new approaches makes everything possible. Trying new tools, platforms, and workflows keeps ROAM competitive and efficient even as personal demands increase.
Collective wisdom is invaluable. The best solutions—personal and professional—often come from collaborative thinking rather than figuring everything out alone.
As we settle into our expanded household routine, I'm struck by how this latest change reinforced principles that have guided ROAM's growth. Willingness to adapt, importance of clear communication, value of strong support systems, and recognition that meaningful work often comes from embracing complexity rather than avoiding it.
Our family has grown in ways I never anticipated, and so has ROAM. Both required flexibility, patience, and recognizing that growth isn't always linear or predictable. Both have also provided rewards extending far beyond what I originally imagined.
The next chapter will bring new challenges and changes. Kids continue growing and developing interests. My brother is finding his place in our family and planning his future. The dogs will probably find new ways to create equal parts chaos and joy.
What I know for certain: ROAM is stronger because it's built by someone who understands that professional excellence and personal fulfillment aren't separate goals—they're interconnected aspects of building a meaningful life.
To everyone building something while managing the beautiful complexity of family life: you're not doing it wrong. You're doing it real. And that's exactly what the world needs more of.
