| #MOMBOSS | An Interview with Krista Jane Olynyk, Founder of KJ and Co.
I first met the sweet Krista Olynyk, the brains and beauty behind KJ and Co, three years ago as I was planning my own wedding. While we didn’t end up working together, due to my quickie wedding a week later, we stayed on each other’s radars through the magic of social media. Krista now has two babies, one year old Hannah, and her first baby, KJ and Co. We got caught up over Skype one night after the babies were sleeping, to chat all things mom, life and being your own boss.
Britt: What a fun turn of events that brought us back into each other’s radar! I’m so excited to chat with you about balancing being a mom and being your own boss. Let’s get to it, how was it running a business while being pregnant?
Krista: I started my business 4 years ago with the ultimate goal of having flexibility for our future family. This business was my baby for so long! But then life has a way of showing you you’re not in charge, and we had a really tough time starting our family. I had two miscarriages before we had Hannah, and that was incredibly difficult to work through. It felt very lonely to be going through such major losses at my busiest time each, but also being so emotionally invested in someone else’s milestone. I have clients who rely on me for such an important day, and I don’t want to let them down. I didn't take much time to process or recover with each loss. When I did discover I was pregnant with Hannah, it was quite a happy surprise. Thankfully, after what I had gone through, I had a pretty easy pregnancy. Other than carrying a constant supply of Shreddies, and enjoying the flexibility in my schedule to rest in bed in afternoon when I was exhausted, I had a pretty easy time. I worked right up until I went in to labour. Including coordinating a wedding at 38 weeks - the bride jokingly thanked me in her speech for me keeping the baby in.
Britt: Wow, that’s such a reminder for us Type-As that we aren’t in charge! So, were you able to take any kind of maternity leave after Hannah was born?
Krista: Well, since Hannah was due in the middle of my busy wedding season, as soon as I discovered I was pregnant, I started making contingency plans. I didn’t take on any more weddings for that year and I was really honest with my clients that I had an associate that I trusted completely available for them on their wedding day if I couldn't be there. Although, I was still answering my phone and emails in the maternity ward, my retired event-pro mom worked a corporate event for me the day after Hannah was born. Overall, I was just trying to survive those first few months. Juggling motherhood and business ownership was nutty. I kept up with my emails and was back on-site at weddings in August. I felt ready.
Britt: You’re so smart to have started planning as soon as you found out! Now that Hannah is 1, how do you balance working and being a mom?
Krista: Having a baby is a huge lesson in time management. Its crazy how productive I can be in a short amount of time when I have to be! We are lucky that our moms alternate watching Hannah, three days a week. This gives me child-free time to work through my to-dos and meetings without feeling guilty, and also gives me scheduled days to spend with her. I’m also super lucky that this arrangement allows me to take on only the projects I want, rather than feeling pressured to work a heavier calendar of events in order to make sure childcare bills are covered. That steals the joy from my work and none of my clients want that.
Britt: And your joy for your work radiates from you! Are you more of a work-life balance type of gal, or a work-life integration type of gal?
Krista: For me, I have to keep them separate. I can’t be my best worker when I’m also trying to be a mom to Hannah. She will always take the top spot in my mind, which puts my client second. Not to mention, working on my computer with her around is impossible. I will sometimes bring her with me on work errands like picking up items at the wholesaler or returning rentals, just to use the HOV lane (Bonus Mom Boss Tip!). For the most part I have to- and prefer to - keep my two selves very separate.
Britt: I agree, these little people capitalize so much of our mental energy, its nice to have a break to really focus on your work. With the busy wedding season upon us right now, how do you take time to recharge when things get tough?
Krista: I just need to get out of the house and be alone. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just alone. Even 20 minutes at the grocery store, doing a mindless errand, or finally jumping in the shower, is enough for me to come back focused and reset.
Britt: Amen! What advice do you have for any moms who are thinking about making the leap into business for themselves?
Krista: This is so good! I actually do a bit of business coaching as well for other planners (and planners in the making). My best advice is to take your time and think things through. Don’t go about this half-assed. Decide up front about how much time you will realistically have to devote to this new venture, and how you will balance it with your current job or responsibilities. Being honest and clear with yourself upfront will save you a lot of heartache in the future. Make a goal, and get tactical.