Finding Harmony as a Mompreneur: Lessons from Marianne Hickman

The pursuit of balance has been ingrained in working mothers for decades. We're told we need to perfectly juggle family, business, self-care, and relationships with precision.

But what if balance is actually a myth?
What if harmony is the goal we should be striving for instead?

International public speaker and personal speaker mentor Marianne Hickman has spoken on over 2,400 worldwide stages and built a multiple six-figure income while raising six children. Her journey from being a single mom on food stamps to successful entrepreneur offers profound insights into creating harmony between motherhood and career without sacrificing either.

Define Success for You

The first step toward creating harmony begins with defining what success truly looks like for you—not someone else's version of success, but your own authentic vision.

“If you don’t define success for yourself, someone else will.”

Marianne recommends an exercise: describe your perfect day in detail. What time would you wake up? Who would be beside you? What would you eat for breakfast? What would be the first thing on your calendar? Once you have clarity about your destination, you can make small adjustments to move closer to that vision each day.

The Power of Saying “No”

One of the most powerful tools in creating harmony is learning to say no. Not just to things that are bad for us, but often to things that are good but not best.

“The enemy’s biggest tool against us is not evil—it’s distraction.”

This distraction with good things keeps us from experiencing the best things. Marianne learned this lesson in her photography business when she finally began saying no to certain types of jobs that drained her energy, even though she was good at them.

“No, not right now.”

This simple phrase acknowledges that something might be good but not appropriate for the current season of life. It provides the freedom to focus on what matters most while keeping possibilities open for the future. For moms struggling with juggling everything, looking at your list and deciding what you can say “no, not right now” to can be incredibly liberating.

Focus Is Your Superpower

Focusing your energy is another crucial element of creating harmony. Just like a magnifying glass concentrates light into a powerful beam, our efforts become more potent when focused on one thing.

“Focus turns your effort into impact.”

This means getting clear about what you truly want, which requires honest self-reflection. Marianne shares how she surprised herself when given five minutes to talk about what she wanted—discovering dreams she hadn’t even articulated before that moment.

Why Your Voice Matters

Understanding what makes our lives meaningful drives our ability to create harmony. Marianne’s mission to “make good people crazy wealthy” stems from her belief that those with positive messages deserve to have their voices amplified.

She helps business owners and coaches monetize their messages through speaking opportunities because she believes “good people will use financial resources to create positive change.”

The most powerful insight Marianne shares is about the purpose of our stories:

“We don’t tell our story because people care about it—we tell it because it has the power to change someone else’s story.”

When we understand this principle, we transform our personal experiences from self-centered narratives into powerful tools that can help others.

For the Mom Feeling Overwhelmed

For Christian mompreneurs feeling overwhelmed, Marianne offers this encouragement:

“Your voice matters, even if you don’t think you have one… When you’re frustrated with your business because you don’t know if it’s going to be successful, please know that the most powerful being in the universe has your back.”

The challenges you face today are preparing you to be the legitimate help someone else needs tomorrow.

The Truth About Harmony

Creating harmony isn’t about perfection—it’s about increasing our tolerance for mistakes, both our own and others’. It’s about making intentional choices that align with our values and recognizing that different seasons require different approaches.

“Harmony isn’t about getting it all right—it’s about showing up with grace.”

Most importantly, it’s about remembering that our struggles have purpose beyond ourselves when we use them to lift others.