190 ⎸ Building Business Together with Megan Tobler

Hey ambitious bookkeepers!

Have you ever felt like you were trying to juggle way too many balls at once as a mom and business owner? On this week's episode of The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Megan Tobler, host of the Self StartHER Podcast and founder of the Together community.

Megan's story is one that I think many of us can relate to. After spending over a decade climbing the corporate ladder in sales, Megan found herself wondering how she could possibly maintain that lifestyle while being the present mom she wanted to be someday. The long commutes, constant availability, and never truly being able to "turn off" from work made her question if there was another way.

Listen here or on your favorite podcast player, or watch the video version on YouTube >>

Now let's dive into some highlights!

From Corporate to Connector

Megan describes herself as a "connector" - someone who links people with the right opportunities, resources, and relationships. She started her podcast as a way to interview women who had already left corporate and built successful businesses, hoping to learn from their journeys.

What began as a passion project with just one "yes" from an interviewee snowballed into something much bigger. After launching her podcast in October 2022, Megan hired a business coach in January 2023 with the goal of leaving corporate within three months.

Life had other plans, though. Shortly after finding out she was pregnant with her first child, Megan was part of a mass layoff. While this wasn't how she imagined leaving corporate, she now calls it "the best thing that could have happened."

The Reality of Building a Business While Being a Mom

One thing that really resonated with me during our conversation was Megan's honesty about the challenges of building a business while being a mom. When her son was born in September 2023, she focused on being present with him while relying on pre-recorded podcast episodes she had batched earlier.

I shared my own experience of starting my business when my second child was just one year old, getting pregnant with my third shortly after, and having to put things on pause until my youngest was about one. Megan and I both agreed that the first year of motherhood is particularly challenging - she mentioned not even being able to "put a thought together" during the first six months with her son.

We both felt that existing in the space between full-time mom and business owner can feel isolating. Your mom friends don't always understand your business aspirations, and traditional business advice rarely accounts for the realities of raising small children.

Creating the Support We Wish We Had

This is exactly why Megan's new venture, the Together community, is so exciting. Launching April 1st, Together is designed specifically for women building businesses while balancing motherhood and life.

What impressed me most is how thoughtfully Megan has structured this community. She's created both free and paid tiers to make it accessible to everyone:

The free membership includes:

• Monthly networking
• Access to live masterclasses
• Mentorship opportunities

The paid membership ($9/month for founding members, $19/month after launch) adds:

• Monthly group coaching sessions with experts
• "Swap days" for feedback and collaboration
• Access to all recorded content

These coaches include former corporate executives, a registered dietitian, and business startup experts - all of whom are moms themselves who understand the unique challenges of building a business while raising kids.

Why This Matters

As I told Megan during our conversation, I wish this community had existed when I was starting my business while raising young children. I remember feeling like an outsider among my stay-at-home mom friends because my focus was shifting toward building my business, but not quite fitting in with traditional business circles either.

That's why spaces like Together are so important. They recognize that we don't have to choose between being present moms and building successful businesses - we can do both, with the right support system and realistic expectations.

Join Together Before the Launch

If you're interested in joining Megan's community, now's the perfect time! Before April 1st, you can join at the founding member rate of just $9/month or $90/year. Plus, early joiners get access to $800 worth of free resources, including meal planning guides, a visibility blueprint, manifestation course, and social media courses.

You can find out more at selfstarther.com/together or connect with Megan on Instagram @selfstart.her.

Are you a mom building a business? I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments below. What resources have helped you most in your journey?

P.S. If you enjoy this podcast or any podcasts regularly, consider sending a quick note to the hosts! As Megan and I discussed, sometimes we go weeks or months without hearing from listeners and wonder if anyone is actually listening. Your feedback means the world to us!

Connect with Megan

📱 Instagram: @selfstart.her

🎙️ Podcast: Self StartHER

🌐 Website: selfstarther.com

Connect with The Ambitious Bookkeeper®

🌐 Website: ambitiousbookkeeper.com

👩‍💻 Blog: ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog

📱 Instagram: instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper

📱 Facebook: Facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

💼 LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/SerenaShoup

For experienced bookkeepers & accountants:

Learn how to start your bookkeeping business in The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator® >>

Grab my FREE Start your Bookkeeping Biz Checklist >>

Grab my FREE New Client Onboarding Templates >>

For new bookkeepers:

Learn the fundamental accounting skills in Katie Ferro's Become a Bookkeeper >>

For online course creators:

Become a client at my firm, Of Course Financial >>

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