Episode 33

Leaving Your 9-5 to Start Your Business and Balancing it all with Toddlers with Neha Naik

Welcome, Neha Naik, superstar entrepreneur to Saturday Soundbites! Neha runs four successful businesses, manages several talented teams, is a hands-on mom, and does it all like a pro.

Neha shares her journey from corporate executive to entrepreneur and offers strategies on how she is able to balance it all. She truly is an entrepreneur to follow! Neha is active in her Facebook Group and brings value to every audience she engages with. Learn how to does it and how you can do it too!

Be sure to check out her group - Successful CEO Moms. You won't be sorry!

[00:00:00] Veronica: Hello. Hello and welcome to Saturday soundbites. I'm your host, Veronica Sofer. And I am thrilled to be with you again this week to talk about all things, visibility, strategy, advertising, branding, marketing, public relations at networking, all the structures. You need to have a successful business. And I bring you guests that not only talk about these topics, but also share their stories, inspiration and give us all those things.

[00:00:26] That we need to make sure we are on track and doing what we need to do in our nine to five jobs. And in our entrepreneurs side businesses that we might be doing. And for those of you that are in between all of that, this episode is just for you because I have a gas that's going to knock your socks off.

[00:00:41] This guest is phenomenal. She had a successful nine to five corporate career. She made that transition into entrepreneurship and motherhood and they have run. For outstanding successful businesses. And she's going to talk to you a little bit about how she did that and all the tips and strategies that you need to do at two, and then a little bit about how you can work with her, because she has done a phenomenal job of setting up teams and infrastructure that make it all work, including.

[00:01:08] Raising two little ones. So that's what I'm most excited about because I know so many of our audience, uh, those are, those are the kinds of things that they're looking to learn about. So if you're watching on Facebook, make sure you chime in on the comments. And if you're watching on the replay hashtag replay, so we can go back and connect with you.

[00:01:23] And if you are listening on our podcast, make sure you hit subscribe because we want to make sure that you don't miss any of our episodes. So with that, I am going to invite our guests up and introduce you to Neha NAIC. Hello, how are you?

[00:01:35] Neha: Hey, Veronica. Hi everyone. So nice to be here today on a lovely Saturday morning.

[00:01:41] Thank you for

[00:01:42] Veronica: having me. Yes, yes, yes. And thank you because I know weekends are precious to you. So taking a twenty-five 30 minutes out of your morning to share your expertise is just what we needed this morning. So tell us a little bit about yourself. Tell us about how you had that successful nine to five career that many of us are in and have built.

[00:02:02] And then what you did next.

[00:02:04] Neha: Yeah. So, you know, I actually started off my career, so to speak in med school. Um, and I realized I really wasn't that good at it. So I decided to take on the first job that I could find, which was in the field of HR and recruiting. So I worked for a small medical clinic and help them with like, you know, assisting in any HR needs and all that stuff.

[00:02:22] And I really enjoyed recruiting and, uh, it turned out to be one of my passions. So it's funny how you sometimes find your passion completely randomly in life, right? Like, yeah. Are you'll see a problem. And you're like, oh wow, I need to solve that. Like, that means a lot to me. And, you know, and then, um, I went from, you know, an RPO agency to an in-house oil and gas company, and I was doing really well, except for the toxic political culture, um, you know, oil and gas.

[00:02:49] Um, was just not a good place for me personally, just because of the culture that they had and the expectations I was commuting an hour and 15 minutes, my husband and I were newly married and we just, you know, would barely have three or four, four hours in the evening to talk to each other, to, you know, just even have a dinner together sometimes because we would be eating dinners at the office with, you know, new clients and everything.

[00:03:11] So. I really decided, you know, that's not the lifestyle that I want to lead. Um, and here we were newly married, you know, started talking about having kids and, you know, we wanted to have kids while we were still young. Um, and I was like, I cannot, you know, I don't want to leave my child in daycare from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day.

[00:03:28] Um, and that was really what really prompted me to just say, Hey, I need to figure out a way out of this and my husband who is and was so, um, my biggest supporter was like, why don't you just start your business? And you know, when he said that I almost laughed. Cause I was like that's because when someone tells you to start a business, you think of like a Jeff bayzos right?

[00:03:50] And you're like, oh my gosh, like bill, you need so much money to invest and you know, blah, blah, blah. And you have this, a lot of people have this stereotypical idea of what a business. Well, that's all changed now. You know, all it takes is a problem that you're wanting to solve something that you're passionate about and you know, something that you want to do for the rest of your life.

[00:04:09] And then the rest of it is just logistics. So that's really how I started my first business, which was B recruiting agency. Um, so I work specifically with startups, tech, startups who want to scale. Um, and I do consulting with them and just help them in terms of what they're looking for with their work culture, their mission, their values, um, and then also do the recruiting for them so that, you know, has been taken off.

[00:04:31] And then my other businesses really just follow for my passions. Right. So, um, you know, I am a mother of two young ones. I have a four and a half year old and a 21 month old. And, um, uh, you'll probably hear in the background today as she's around here today, just blend

[00:04:45] Veronica: it. I love it. That's the way it is.

[00:04:48] Neha: Yup. That's what it is. Um, and so I, you know, they've always been on healthy sleep hygiene routines, and you know, all that fun stuff. And that's how I started getting into the pediatric sleep consultancy. So I got certified and I was helping families out, you know, like family and friends and all that in my head.

[00:05:05] Why don't you just launch something. That's like a little smaller business and that took off. And now we're actually working with, you know, women who come from diverse, cultural backgrounds who have all these stigmas as it relates to not only motherhood, but specifically sleep and, you know, babies, even toddler sleep, and I'm here to basically help them, um, walk them out of that mindset, into.

[00:05:28] Possible. And, you know, just because you're a mom doesn't mean you have to wake up nine times at night, um, you know, and kind of getting rid of that judgment that we have in society right now. So, um, that's why I started that business. And then my third business, um, which is a data analytics agency. Um, it started because of my love for data.

[00:05:46] So I had a lot of startups who were struggling with their data mining. Um, and I, I basically helped them with, you know, power BI dashboards and look at their data from a holistic view. So we can really eliminate. What are some of the operational gaps in glitches that they're having by using this data so that they're, you know, they're, they're they're um, what does that, the bottom line is what we want it to be in terms of their profits.

[00:06:10] Um, and the fourth thing that I'm launching Veronica, which I think is really going to, um, hopefully help a lot of moms is a. Slash a coaching, a group coaching, a mid-October October 18th is the, is the, I guess the timeline, um, where I'm going to work with a cohort of women and help them set up their business.

[00:06:30] Um, by using my three pillars, which I really believe in, you know, which are work-life balance, reducing burnout and putting in the right processes and thinking about outsourcing, um, as a pre-thought and not so much a triaged or afterthought. So, um, that's kind of what I've done with my businesses and, you know, all of them.

[00:06:48] Teachings that I'm going to, you know, uh, whatever you want to call them, that I'm going to talk to women about our failures and mistakes that I've personally made that I've learned from. So I'm really hoping that by doing this, I'm able to help them, you know, just their learning curve and it's, so it's not as, um, you know, just deep as mine, right?

[00:07:06] The goal here to just really help each other out and, you know, lift each other. Yeah, I love that.

[00:07:12] Veronica: And the fact that you have so many passions and you've made them all work is just such an inspiration to me. It really is because here you are our data analyzing business and in a recruiting business, which is, you know, what one might think of a more traditional.

[00:07:28] Conversion from someone who's gone from to a nine to five, two asleep consulting business and a pediatric sleep consulting business at that. But that just shows your passion for your little ones. I mean, you are literally typing probably way taking meetings and you've got an infant on your hip that you're trying to make it all work.

[00:07:44] Yep.

[00:07:44] Neha: Exactly, exactly. Um, you know, and I think it's all really about work-life balance. So we, as a family unit, um, really focus on quality of time as opposed to the quantity she's gotten stuck. She's gotten herself stuck in a toy. And so that happens too sometimes.

[00:08:06] Veronica: Absolutely. Does we've all been in those board meetings when we've had,

[00:08:10] Neha: we're like, yeah.

[00:08:13] Where we're all good now. Um, but yeah, for us as a family, it's really about the quality of time, like I was saying. And so when we do spend time with them, you know, we want to be there for them a hundred percent. So we're off the phone, off the email, off the iPad. Um, especially because our time and it is for a lot of working moms, right.

[00:08:32] A lot of our time is limited and we do have to make the most of it. Right. Um, and that's what really, what it comes down to. You can see, I'm trying to like get her to go home. No, it's all good. Um, but yeah, that's, you know, and I think the other thing that I really learned early on that I'm going to start teaching in my course is to start outsourcing sooner than later.

[00:08:54] Biggest mistakes I personally made is like, I really wanted everything. I wanted to do everything. Cause it was my baby. And it was like, you know, the first time you drop your child off to a daycare, right? Like you're nervous. Cause like it's your baby and you're freaking out. But I think really, um, when you get past the first week and you're like, oh, they really do take care of her and they really do feed her.

[00:09:15] And, and that's what happens to your business. And you have to start kind of having that mindset too, of like, Hey, like it is our baby, but you, you are one person. And if you really want to scale, you want to start thinking of what, what it is that's taking up a lot of time was what's draining a lot of time, draining a lot of energy, but not impacting, you know, just client growth and revenue growth.

[00:09:36] And then the stuff that you shouldn't be doing, like scheduling, um, sending out followup emails, you know, sending up package details. You need to have someone who can do it for you so that you can really be the big picture visionary CEO that you want.

[00:09:50] Veronica: Yeah. And I wonder too, if you're your in working with some people who've made this transition, if that's harder for people who come from the corporate space or if it's easier, because I, I know, um, as a C-suite executive, that's probably going to be a bit of a struggle for someone like me.

[00:10:07] So I wonder if you're seeing that

[00:10:08] Neha: too. Yeah, I think it's harder for someone who comes from a corporate life to do it because a lot of times what happens is when we're working in a corporate life, we have the big boss, whoever that's a he or she basically telling us what to do. And so we really go from when we are from nine to five, we are more operational or operations driven.

[00:10:29] We're very much KPI driven and we're less big picture driven. Cause somebody else is doing the big picture stuff for us. Um, when we shift that and become a CEO, we really need to go from the day-to-day operational stuff to the big picture stuff, because now, you know, like Jeff Bezos, isn't the one that delivers your Amazon boxes, right.

[00:10:46] Just, um, But we know him as a CEO and he's the one driving a lot of these initiatives on the backend, but so you need to be that visionary and it's, it is hard, you know, it took me a while and I still sometimes have problems with it. You can ask my OBM. Um, I still sometimes have problem delegating, but I've gotten much better than I was last year.

[00:11:06] I'll say that. Um, and just learn to let things go and be like, yeah. Figure it out, you know, like come to me if there's any issues and then really focused on getting clients and, you know, making sure that my clients are happy. Um, but I would say, yeah, and if you've always had a business or if you've seen your parents run a business, whether it was brick or mortar or service-based, um, I think it's a little bit of an easier transition, but at the end of the day, when you put in so much time, Maybe even money for any investments and you launch this business and then it starts to grow.

[00:11:37] Right? There's a lot of self-doubt and discomfort. And I see a lot of entrepreneurs struggling with that because you're uncomfortable because you are letting go, you know, I'm an example. I'll tell you. I do not like turbulence when I fly. Um, I don't think a lot of people do, but there's some people that, but one of the reasons I realized I don't like it is because I am not in control of the flight.

[00:11:58] I have no idea what the heck is going on. All I see are clouds behind me, maybe some rain. And so that lack of control sometimes makes you uncomfortable, but the more you lean on your team and the more you get into a good rhythm and hire good people, um, that control factor becomes minimal, right? Because then now you're like, okay, my team is a reflection of.

[00:12:17] And I have to trust them because I've hired them to do so so-and-so and I'm going to like go right. And having that mentality takes time. It's not something that happens overnight.

[00:12:26] Veronica: Yeah. No. And it sounds like you've really, um, perfected building a team culture because you have four successful businesses.

[00:12:35] Tell us a little bit about, um, you know, there are some entrepreneurs who might be saying, okay, well, I've got one or two team members, the thought of adding one or two more is kind of scary. But once I do, how do I keep them all happy? And how do I keep this culture alive and keep everyone on track?

[00:12:51] Neha: Yeah, that's a really good question, Veronica.

[00:12:53] And you know, I used to struggle with that for a while. So I think I may have the answer for you. Um, I think anytime you think of onboarding somebody first, just know that you're doing it so you can scale. Okay. Um, A lot of times people have agitations. Cause they're like, well, I don't know if I can do this.

[00:13:11] Like, you know, and so I always, they look at the big picture first, so you aren't getting a VA, but you don't have to check emails so that you don't have to make appointments. And that is sucking up to three hours of your time. Um, if you calculate your hours, Versus what of the hourly is, and, you know, get that time from her to help you.

[00:13:28] You could be making a lot more bringing in new business. So really kind of restructuring that, you know, mindset there a little bit. I think the other thing I would add too, is making sure that you're onboarding them properly. That's something that my team and I worked on not too long ago, I'm making know what your mission is, what your vision is, what your values are, what is it?

[00:13:47] What's the problem that you're trying to solve. Right. Um, when you first start out, you're obviously going to be hiring more contracts. Then you will full time employees, right. And W2. So, um, it's really important to just take a step back and say, you know what, like you really want them to have a very positive onboarding experience with you so that they stick around for a while.

[00:14:05] Right. The other thing that's really big is just weekly meetings with the group, with your team, right. Weekly, biweekly, whatever the cadence is. So I meet with, um, definitely my, uh, my, uh, director of operations once a week, but then I also have. As needed with people on the team when they need me. Right. So, and then say, Hey, do you guys need anything for me?

[00:14:28] Um, and I would say finally, like, if you are human and you really care about their professional development and their growth, providing that opportunity to. It's really going to allow them to stick around longer. Right. Just growing the team, but how do you get them to stay? And how do you retain that?

[00:14:46] Because remember, you're going to spend time onboarding somebody, even if it's a VA or accountant or whoever it is that you want to onboard, you will spend time onboarding them. And so you don't want them to leave you within a few months. Cause then you get no ROI out of that because you just spend your energy and time teaching them your processes and your systems and how you work.

[00:15:03] And then. It's like, boom, nevermind. You know, we're not anymore. Um, and so I would say those are kind of the key things I would look at, but as it relates to growing your team, it is a good thing. Um, it makes you uncomfortable because it is a good thing. So start with that mindset and start thinking about like, I am doing this so that I can use my time on client growth on client deliverables.

[00:15:27] And then I can also use my time to manage a team of like, you know, 30, 40, 50, instead of me doing the work of the 30, 40, 50, because I will tell you, you know, a lot of reason people get out of the nine to five out of the rat race, so to speak is to have that freedom. But at the end of the day, if you don't have the freedom and you're working 24 hours a day, well then why the heck did you leave your nine to five?

[00:15:49] You might as well. You know, um, and so really it's about changing that mindset to, to really know that your team is a reflection of you. Um, and so when you read them, when you onboard them, they know exactly what they're doing and then keeping them happy so that they are motivated to show up, giving them bonuses, giving them breezes.

[00:16:06] Um, you know, we just reached at the recently launched a thing where if you want to learn something, um, tell us why. And we'll, we'll be happy to help support you financially. Um, if you can't and people are taken up on that, and it's just nice to see because. I feel like when you invest in people, people invest in you and they knew twice as much because they really know that this is a good place to work at.

[00:16:26] So that's what I would do. Yeah, I love

[00:16:29] Veronica: that. And I love that you've brought that cultural, um, element of team-building and investing in people because not every entrepreneur thinks about that. Especially if you didn't come from a corporate space, you know, like you, you mentioned some of us were raised with parents who ran their own businesses.

[00:16:46] Entrepreneurship is in their blood. It's what they bowling. That's what they've known. And so they haven't taken advantage of some of those, those. Strategies and techniques that do work in the corporate space. And it sounds like you've been able to put all of that together into a business model that really honors the best of both worlds.

[00:17:04] And I think that's great. And so, excuse me, how do you help people? Um, you mentioned about that group coaching program. How do you help people

[00:17:13] Neha: figure that part out? Yeah. Yeah. So one of the first things that we're going to do when we launch that is. What I like to call the skillset matrix. So we're going to look at your strengths, your weaknesses, what you love to do.

[00:17:23] What is it that you absolutely don't like to do? Um, a lot of entrepreneurs make the mistake of getting into something without thinking about their weaknesses. You know, we are, we obviously know what our strengths are. Right. But like, I am not an Excel sheet person, so I could never be like a financial analyst, you know what I mean?

[00:17:39] Um, but at the same time, We are going to take a look at that, you know, look at your skillset matrix, and then allow you to kind of self grade yourself and start pre-planning what you're going to outsource so that, you know, what's okay. So in three months he says the first person you should hire in six months, this is the second person you should hire.

[00:17:57] Right. And kind of starting to think about that. We have a guest visitor

[00:18:00] Veronica: now she's surprised. I love guest visitors.

[00:18:04] Neha: And, um, so yeah, so that's what I would say. And the second thing is I am really behind I'm really into the work-life balance, but not as it relates to the traditional, like turning your computer off at five.

[00:18:14] When I say work-life balance, I say, work smart and not hard. So figure out what your priorities are, figure out where the burnout is happening and how you can eliminate that. And so in the group coaching, that's what I'm going to talk to you about because the reason I've been able to have four businesses, Veronica is not because I work.

[00:18:31] You know, 60, 70 hour weeks, which I know, obviously when you're starting out, we do have those times, then there's sometimes product launches or project launches where it's there, but it's really about scaling efficiently, streamlining your processes and really figuring out, um, you know, how to work smart and not hard and drain the energy because.

[00:18:50] As soon as you start feeling that burnout, which I was feeling maybe two months ago, you are not going to accomplish anything. You're going to start throwing things at your team. Your team's going to get frustrated. Your clients are going to get frustrated and you don't want to be there. So, um, you know, that's what I'm really big about.

[00:19:05] So that's what I'm going to do. Women who want to do this? It's how do you work smart and hard? Um, not get overwhelmed, not get into that imposter syndrome. And I think finally the most important thing is working towards non-monetary goals. As you start out, you know, we have a lot of people promising 10 K months and 20 K months.

[00:19:21] And I really think, you know, if you really care about the problem. It should always be about solving the problem first and then thinking about the monetary goals. Second. So I'm going to kind of map that out for people and give them actual goals that are non-monetary monetary. Yeah. Monetary. So then they're like, oh my gosh, you know, and again, people get into this, well, I need to have a 20 K a month because so-and-so is having a 20 K month.

[00:19:45] But first of all, you don't know if that's true. Second of all, we don't know if that's net revenue. If that's net profit, we have no idea what that looks like. And thirdly, When we worked backwards from a monetary goal, then we put ourselves in a box and we put a lot of pressure, right. Cause we're like, oh, we need to reach 20 K goals.

[00:20:01] Okay. Well, I need to talk to 20 clients. So I get 10 people sign up. I need to get on 40 discovery calls. And when you don't have that number 40 and you let's say only hit 10, then you kind of, oh my gosh. Now I'm never going to hit my 20 kugel and I'm going to be a failure. And then I should go back to my corporate life where I was getting a steady paycheck.

[00:20:19] So, you know, I'm a big believer in entrepreneurship is. Having fun. It's about problems. And it's really about connecting with your ideal client on a deeper level, because once you do that, the money follows, like you don't even have to work for the money at the point. Cause you will start getting people reaching out to you.

[00:20:37] Like my recruiting business, you know, I always joke with my deal. I'm like, ah, like six people that we want to work with us. We just can't take on anymore. And I'm not doing any silly selling. I don't have any ads out. It's a lot of word of mouth. It's a lot about my reputation and the reviews that people have left.

[00:20:51] It just, it just comes. So if you're solving a problem and you're getting people referring, you that's all that matters, but you get there by setting non-monetary goals, not working for the 20 K 30 K 40 came on because that's the goal, right? The goal is obviously to get to six figures and then to seven figures and continue growing.

[00:21:08] But that's not the right way.

[00:21:09] Veronica: Yeah, no, I love that. And I love that you reverse engineered it. So your brain, it's amazing. Like all the things that you're talking about, it's like, oh, well, yeah, that makes sense. And that's obvious, but for some of us, especially those of us, again, that have come from the corporate setting, like you said, we were taught to be focused on the operations.

[00:21:27] And now we're having to pull back and think like a CEO and a visionary. And I love that you've got structures in place that help people do that. So that's just amazing. So I put your website on there because I want people to know how. With you. Um, I know you've got that coaching program. I love that you are doing it.

[00:21:43] You walk the walk and you know, the talk, the talk is there, but you're walking the walk because you're managing all of this and motherhood and, um, I want to be able to connect people to you. So tell us about what it looks like to

[00:21:55] Neha: work with. Yeah. So, um, if you would visit the website that Veronica has up there, um, definitely connect with me.

[00:22:02] My Facebook handles on there. My Instagram handles on there. I even have my email address, so feel free to reach out and then, you know, get on the wait list. Um, we're going to start talking about the workshop that we're hosting. Um, the week of October. The 10th or 11th. I don't know the top of my head.

[00:22:17] We're going to start talking about that workshop. It's going to talk about all these three things that I just went over. Um, and then from the workshop, you get to go to my core, my coaching program, my group coaching. So if you're really interested in that already, let me know. We can definitely put you on a wait list.

[00:22:35] You agree. Um, we can definitely put you on a wait list so that you can jump in and we can get you set up and ready to get started. And the other thing is, you know, we have a Facebook group, successful CEO, moms. I drop a lot of tips and tricks. I do lives on there. Um, I have little visitors randomly show up, um, but you know, definitely pop in there say hi.

[00:22:54] Um, I'm really about, like I said, for me, It's not about the money. It's really about delivering the value. So if you, you know, if you have questions and you're like, Hey, I'm really stuck with this. Don't hesitate to reach out. I'll be more than happy to jump in and help you in any way that I can. But yeah, that's something that, you know, that's, that's a good way to connect with me.

[00:23:12] Veronica: Yeah. I love it. And your group is pretty active. What is it like a 1500, 1600

[00:23:17] Neha: people? 1300, I believe the last time. Yeah,

[00:23:20] Veronica: I've got a really active group. So again, folks, if you're not quite sure what we're talking about, you're kind of interested in dropping her Facebook group, a successful CEO moms. It's fantastic.

[00:23:31] Lots of great tips like she talked about, and it's a way to meet and network with people. And when the time's right and you're ready, that's how you need to get in touch with her because it's worth every

[00:23:40] Neha: penny. I guarantee you. Thank you so much, Veronica. I really appreciate that. And again, just say, hi, you know, if you're struggling with something, let me know, happy to network with you guys and have these conversations.

[00:23:51] Because again, um, I learned so much from talking to mom entrepreneurs, you know, everybody has their own set of challenges and own set of ways to solve those challenges. So it's always a pleasure connecting with other moms, um, who are maybe starting out or who've made it and just learning from them. So don't hesitate to say.

[00:24:06] Love it.

[00:24:07] Veronica: Love it. All right. Well with that, I will let you get back to your Saturday and, uh, the most important part of your life, your little ones there, because they're beautiful. And I just thank you for your time and the strategies and tips you shared, because I know our audience is loving them.

[00:24:21] Neha: Thank you so much.

[00:24:22] Well, thank you again, everybody. I hope you guys all have a relaxing long weekend and happy September, almost happy fall. I'm so excited and I will be in touch soon. Um, my little nugget here and I, bye.

[00:24:40] Veronica: All right. Thanks so much. Thank you guys. And wasn't that fantastic. I love that. We got to see the real deal in action.

[00:24:47] Cause that's how it works, guys. That's how it works. When you were balancing any type of side business that you have special project, um, or even really considering moving into the entrepreneur space and you've got little ones at home, there is a way to make it work. I saw. So be sure to connect with a, I've got her website up there.

[00:25:05] And with that, we're going to wrap up this episode of Saturday soundbites. I appreciate everyone tuning in and if you have an opportunity, make sure you visit the website there. I've got that listed for us to talk about. Um, you can see all the great things that we've got going on as well, and find us on Facebook.

[00:25:23] If you're watching on Facebook, make sure you drop us some comments. So we know that you were. Tuning in live. And if you're listening on the podcast, make sure you hit subscribe because we want to make sure that you don't miss any episodes of Saturday soundbites, where we talk all things, visibility, strategy, branded, marketing, advertising, networking, and tips, and strategies to help you grow your business.

[00:25:43] So with that, we're going to wrap up this episode and I look forward to seeing you next time, sending you lots of energy and light.