Today I’m introducing the blog’s Mama Thriver Inspiration Series.
One of my favourite things about our digital platform has been the connection with fellow Moms, and sharing my own experience as a source of encouragement. I often get asked “how do you find time” for business. While I’ve loved sharing my own journey, I am intrigued by how fellow moms are managing family life while staying committed to realizing their dreams and visions – not just in business, but any project or passion. On my own motherhood journey, I realized staying inspired and true to our aspirations can help us thrive in motherhood. We can pursue our passions outside of parenting AND be phenomenal mothers. We don’t have to choose. In fact, I’ve never felt more limitless, empowered and motivated to go after my goals and ambitions than since becoming a mother. Children truly are a tremendous source of inspiration and make us realize how much we are capable of.
So a new passion project of mine is the Mama Thriver ™ Inspiration series, featuring stories, inspiration and encouragement from women going after their dreams and fueling their aspirations amidst a busy family life.
My first feature is Laura and Josie Canonne (also known as The GG Sisters) who are moms to Ella and Gianmarco (Josie is expecting #2 soon!) and Co-founders of Glama Gal Tween Spa – the first and only spa for kids franchise in Canada, now with 9 locations. They also run The GG Sisters website, YouTube Channel and “GG Community” FB group + LIVE “Momspiration” shows every Monday night at 9 PM on their Facebook feed. Aside from their kids spa franchise, they’re on a mission to help inspire and motivate other millennial mompreneurs like themselves.
Our daughter had a fabulous time at Glama Gal Tween Spa for her last birthday, and I certainly adore the girl positive mission behind the company. I’ve enjoyed connecting with Laura and Josie through social media, and met them recently at an industry event. They’re raw and real, encouraging fellow moms to “be the CEO of you”. I’m happy to share my recent Mama Thriver interview with them today on the blog.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself, your family and the purpose behind your business/project/platform?
We created The GG Sisters as a platform to inspire other mom entrepreneurs and moms in business. We want every mamma out there to know that their is NO BALANCE and that’s ok!
2) When did you begin your business/project/platform and what propelled you to make the leap? Is it a “side-hustle” or full-time endeavour? Do you have another career also?
GG Sisters stands for Glama Gals – Canada’s first and only spa franchise for KIDS, now with 9 locations, we started roughly 10 years ago. Being The GG Sisters is a full time gig for us and WE LOVE IT. So by day we run the Glama Gal Franchise and on evenings we are The GG Sisters.
3) What was your “why” for starting your business/project/digital platform?
Our why for starting the GG Sisters was to create a community of like-minded moms in business showing them our ins and outs of every day life – the highs, the lows, the everything. The struggle is real and no mom-life is perfect. Everyone’s definition of success is different and our platform is ours.
4) One of the biggest blocks to Moms acting on their aspirations is finding the time. How do you make time amidst a busy family life to pursue your passions and/or meet your business goals?
We try our best to find the time, but man is it ever hard. Friday afternoons and evenings once the kids go to sleep is when we get the most work done.
5) Have you met any resistance/judgement/blocks/ob
With anything we received judgement from friends and some family wondering what the hell we were doing. Why are we going LIVE? Why are we showing our family life to the public?
All these questions made us insecure. And then finally one day we literally met someone that followed us and said we love watching you guys you make me feel not alone in what I am going through. That moment was our epiphany. So from now on we are just doing US. If it works great if not oh well!
6) What are your biggest sources of inspiration (quotes, people, experiences, etc.) Inspirations are other moms we have met through social media and through mom life.
Every mom has a story and we have so much to learn from everyone. Fave quote: It’s not about the quantity of time we spend with our family and friends it’s the quality.
7) What advice or encouragement would you give a Mom who is ready to take the leap, but feels stuck or fearful?
Just do it! You live this one life – live it your way!
8) What motivates you to keep going, even when it gets overwhelming?
Our kids are our biggest motivation and our community of moms who we engage with. There is no better feeling than receiving an e-mail or comment that we have helped them or even them helping us!
9) How has your family responded to your endeavour?
Our husbands are still getting used to us being in social media. Or being on IG Stories. They are good sports though and have started to embrace it. Our brother is our biggest critic but in a good way and that is only because his background is television and media.
10) What have you learned about motherhood that can’t be found in a parenting book? (Be as raw, real and candid as you wish!)
Your boobs will never be perky like they used to be, you will never sleep 8 hours straight, luxuries are blow drying your hair and long walks at Walmart, and you get excited to get your list of things to do done. But you would never change it for a thing. It is the best life and we are truly blessed.
Wow – great advice here ladies! I can really relate to the point they make about not being sure if what you’re doing has a purpose, but how being contacted by fellow moms in the community who say your words or story resonated with them can really charge your motivation and reason.
I’ve really enjoyed getting to know these devoted Mom Bosses better, and hope you found some inspiration here to make your own dreams and visions happen, Mamas! You can follow more of their journey, advice and “momspirations” on their social channels here: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Leave a reply...