Starting Out, Starting Over

It’s not always easy when you’re just getting started regardless of your chosen vocation. It can be just as bumpy to start over whether it’s a new job, a relocation, a change in your family situation or the result of a break in time be it intended or not. I’ve done all of these in the short 4+ years since becoming a doula. I’ve moved across the Atlantic, twice, weathered the complete upheaval to the maternity care of the women I was attending, had an entire year without one single client following a very busy year, given birth to a 3rd child & was a single parent for almost 2 years while my husband was out of the country. In that time I’ve still managed to attend 19 births.

I’m always mindful of stepping on toes when I’m faced with these changing situations. I’m not as outgoing as I am, say, socially-tending to hang back a bit & assess what is going on. Find out where I fit best. Many new birth pros want to jump in with both feet & are discouraged when throngs of new parents aren’t knocking down their door. This excitement is inevitable, but so many with great potential crash & burn out this way.

Birthing a business is very much like birth itself. After a lot of research about the options in your community, there’s often a period of sitting back to wait & watch. When faced with starting out or a big change it’s a great time to work on the little things. Things like tweak your website, delve into a blog or a piece of social media you haven’t tried yet, network with other birth pros and other related fields, expand your services, take a class, go to a conference, read some new books, whatever. I’m not saying don’t get out there & look for clients, but what I am saying is be easy on yourself. Birth work is exhausting, physically & mentally. Don’t exhaust yourself looking to fill up every free spot on your calender. It’s not important to have a full schedule from the get-go. As you get to know your community, they will get to know you. One call will turn into 2 & a referral & pretty soon you’ll wonder why you ever worried about finding clients.