What to Expect from The Efficient Mama

My end goal is to share hacks that make life easier. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the hack will be specific to parenting but that it is something that has a big impact on the life of the parent.

To me, the goal of “efficiency” is not to be able to jam-pack my day with a crazy list of to-dos. Instead, the goal of “efficiency” is simply to approach things smarter instead of harder, avoid overwhelm, stay ahead of the game (in a world where it’s difficult to have control), and be able to be fully present during my time with my child or when recharging. I’d love to be able to enjoy a quick nap without worrying about the laundry, for example. I imagine that mindset is going to play a big game in this as well!

Key Things You Should Know About Me

We all have different backgrounds that can impact how we approach parenting. Here are some key things about me that will impact how I’m approaching this blog:

1. I’m due to have my first child in mid-July, 2023

2. I’m a Sole Proprietor (or “Entrepreneur”. Or “Freelancer”. Whatever you want to call it, I work for myself). Here are some implications of working independently:

   1. I do not receive maternity leave benefits

   2. I am in charge of making my revenue goals happen

   3. I don’t get paid if I need to cancel last-minute

   4. I’ll need to figure out how to balance two big identities (“Business Owner” and “Mom”)

3. Specifically, I am a coach and a corporate trainer

   1. I am an executive coach (specializing in leadership, cross-cultural transition, and wellness). For training, I am typically hired for cross-cultural education or wellness programs.

   2. I have a few business models: I either am hired directly by corporations for training/coaching, directly by individuals for coaching, or I have engagements as a subcontractor. The lifestyle for each of these is different (corporate training may be a 1-day time commitment/month for high revenue, coaching for individuals may be a 2-hour/month time commitment with substantial revenue, and subcontracting requires more hours at a desk for less revenue (but the benefit is I don’t have to do sales/marketing to work with clients)).

4. I live in Tokyo, Japan.

   1. I live in a small apartment (well, it’s considered a substantial size for someone living in central Tokyo, but it’s crazy small compared to a house in the suburbs)

   2. I live in a city (so I don’t have a car and I opt for public transportation)

   3. I’ll probably use products that are mostly local

I think those are some pretty good elements to point out for now. Enjoy the blog!