Interview with a Mompreneur Who Inspires Me

Whitney Biggs is the mother of two kids (ages 7 and 9) and the co-creator of Treasured Passages letter books. She lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, and you can read all about her business in a recent article from the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Whitney herself is as inspiring as her story, so I wanted to do a mom-to-mom interview so we can all learn from this fantastic person I was lucky enough to meet.

Describe yourself in five words.
Grateful, balanced, passionate, communicative, creative

How would your kids describe you?
Hmmm. Don’t know, hold on and I’ll ask them…Jackson (9) said I’m very calm, cute and like to get my toes painted. Marlee (7) said “lovefull” with dirty blond hair and green eyes.

When did you first become a mompreneur and what was the impetus?
I started my business a year or so after I had my second child in 2005. The impetus was multifaceted. I had experienced a deep loss and wanted to turn it into good. I wanted a job that would allow more flexibility for my family. I loved to write and create and wanted that to be what I spent my time doing.

How do you balance work and motherhood?
I am, at the core a balance seeker (a Libra, of course). I don’t do extremes very well so… I plan. On Sunday, I make my plan for the week. My goal this year is to spend a few minutes every morning organizing my day and making sure there is balance in my time spent.

What’s the most valuable motherhood advice you have ever received?
We are raising human beings and that is a bit daunting. Making mistakes is inevitable. All we can do is suck it up and try again. And really, at the end of the day if they know beyond a shadow of doubt that they are safe, full-bellied, and well-loved we are getting most of it right.

What’s your favorite thing about being a mom?
School Days : )  Experiencing life from the fresh perspective of my children’s eyes, watching them become pretty cool little kids, and experiencing a love that there’s absolutely no way to put into words.

Who inspires you? Who do you admire and why?
Lots of people inspire me: Anyone who is trying to live their dreams, people who do things that scare them in order to grow, glass half-full people, and truth-tellers.

If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
Ellen DeGeneres, because she is freaking hysterical!

Will you share a funny motherhood moment you have had?
A memorable moment was the first time Marlee brought home a picture she painted of me. She had painted my hair brown around my face and blonde on the ends. If you want to know the truth… ask your children.

What advice would you give to a mompreneur who is just getting started?
Go for it! You’ll make mistakes but don’t be too hard on yourself. Have a good plan and a passionate heart! Success is having the courage to try.

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Thanks, Whitney, for sharing your wisdom with TheMommyhood! You are a truly special person and I wish you and your partners every success with your business.

And I loved what your kids said about you. It makes me wonder what my kids would say if I asked them to describe me. Hmmm. 

Tell me about the mompreneurs you admire. How would your kids describe you?