Working Words Well: Mompreneurs, The #1 Reason You Shouldn’t Be
I won’t go into obnoxious detail about my personal hang-up with the word “mompreneur” because I’m too comfy right now to light the kind of ulcer-causing fire in my belly I would need to rant. But still, I take issue with identifying people as “mompreneurs,” “dadpreneurs,” or “grandpreneurs” (it was a hunch, but I got 583 Google results). Now that I’ve promised not to yell and throw things, will you hear me out?
“Mompreneur” has a couple of usages (that I know of), neither of which occurs in any English dictionary, although it abounds everywhere else (441,000 Google results).
The first: a mother who makes money off of other mothers because she sells mother-oriented items, often from home.
The second: a mother who makes money off of everyone up to and including mothers, often from home.
This kind of person has existed for just about every one of the millenia we’ve been on earth, and has been called many things in many languages.
Coinage of the word “mompreneur” is attributed to Ellen Parlapiano and Patricia Cobe, who together published the book Mompreneurs in 1996, describing the work-at-home movement being taken up by a then-tiny-but-growing segment of women (who would own it) at the time. Because the Internet was the principle tool used by mothers to build their own businesses during this day and age, the Internet was also the vehicle that carried the word mompreneur on its waves, and is also the cause for its current popularity.
But the word has its limitations. Outside of using it as a rallying cry among like-minded or -lifestyled folk, how can the word mompreneur be used? I don’t think it has a comfortable place as a title on a resume or business card (again, outside “mompreneur” associations). There’s no merit system for the world’s ‘preneurs (1 gold star for “entre,” 3 for “dad,” 5 for “mom”). So why is it necessary to distinguish women this way? I’ll tell you why.
The word was coined as a way for two writers to categorize a segment of startup businesswomen from all social backgrounds who are mothers. It was a way for them and others to assign a name to a slice of a pie chart, a bar on a graph, a ten-year statistic.
The word “mompreneur” is a label–positive or negative–and is best used as such.
But me? No label has ever stuck; I’m slippery. And I think most successful businesswomen are, too.
To me, this trumps the positive/negative association arguments I’ve been hearing about the word, because they all end sounding rather subjective. But to actively assign oneself such a wide-open label doesn’t sound wise if you’re trying to stand out from the crowd.
Photo credit: Сьюзан Болото!/Indiewench, courtesy of Flickr, CC 2.0.
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I don't like labels. Period. Even though I see their potential use, I don't like them. When someone asks me, "what do you do?" I answer, "what do you need done? Because if I can't help you, I know I can find someone who can." And as far as labels when asked..Are you a business coach? A life coach? I just answer yes. It's not important what I do...it's important what I can DO FOR YOU. Labels are limiting, even though I know many people like to have a label or label others: it's neat, convenient and paints a picture...but not always the picture you want them to paint, haha! Cheers! Kaarina
KDillabough On the other hand...have you ever been on the receiving end of "what do you need done? because if I can't help you, I know I can find someone who can." ??? It's incredibly frustrating. You had a chance to position yourself in my mind and you didn't - now I don't know what to do with you, so I don't do anything.
Believe me, I get it - I sort of cringe when someone calls me a social media guru or whatever, but most people aren't privy to our inner-circle dialogue about those words, so I just roll with it. I figure if people make some weird judgment based on a "label" that is 1) totally out of my control 2) their loss because they didn't find out who I am in relation to that word.
jennwhinnem Totally get your point Jenn, but that slightly tongue-in-cheek, casual question, delivered with warmth and a smile, and definitely after the other person has spoken and shared information about themselves has been a mainstay of my business throughout the past 20+ years. I understand it might not have worked with you, but if so, then I would have probably picked up on the fact that this would be followed by a "title" or label...like business coach, strategist, consultant. It's just not the first thing out of my mouth.
So I guess I need to put this more into context:
I ask that question when I've had a few moments to engage with someone, and after they've told me who they are and what they do. My question then is often like a soft icebreaker. It's worked for me, so I continue to use it.
If someone's looking for the quick "label", and I feel like that's the best way to convey what I do, I will use it (much to my chagrin).
This is not what I use online, because it doesn't translate. I use that line in person, and I think I'm a good enough judge of character and situation to speak in customer-centric terms, as the situation calls for. Works for me, but thanks for your perspective. Cheers! Kaarina
I respect that, KDillabough ! Thanks for elaborating.
I've just been on the receiving end of quite a few .... shall I say wacky consultants/solopreneurs/etc? But, I need not let them give everyone a bad name.
jennwhinnem Thanks for commenting in a way that allowed me to clarify and elaborate. I sure don't want to be considered in the "wacky" crowd...bummer that you've encountered those types, as they do indeed cause some problems, both for us as their "peers", as well as to those, like you, to whom they're pitching their services. It's unfortunate but true that one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. Great to engage with you Jenn, and thanks for giving me the opportunity to elaborate. Cheers! Kaarina
KDillabough jennwhinnem I gotta say, Kaarina, if anyone could make that pickup line work it would be you. I'm imagining myself saying that to someone, their blank stare, my blank stare...
Even though my most awesome Spin Sucks guest post on Mompreneurs hit it out of the park ;))), I too loathe the word. Can't I just be an Entrepreneur, must I be a Mompreneur to boot?
EricaAllison You know, I thought of you, but wasn't sure whether you used the word in your post. Of course, I'm not arguing the word shouldn't be used at all, I just think we can find better words to describe ourselves as individuals.
This can be such a touchy subject among female entrepreneurs (I saw a post on a well-known blog last month where the responses got pretty ugly). I've blogged about this topic myself. My role as a mother and entrepreneur are inextricably linked, however, I don't refer to myself as a 'mompreneur," nor do I market my services that way.
The way I see it, my role as a mother is of no interest to the majority of the clients I serve, and the marketing message I send MUST resonate with my target audience.
kimberlyben Yes, personally, I don't like the sound of it, but that's not the reason I would argue with someone not to call themselves that. I think it's better for us to use the term the way it was meant to be used--for the millions, not the individual.
kimberlyben I think the term "mompreneur" has connotations, for good or bad, that I wouldn't want ascribed to me. While I disagree with KDillabough about labels (I think it's helpful to find a label that encompasses your services), in this case, the label carries baggage, and says nothing about the woman's strengths, talents, and gifts. All I know about a "mompreneur" is she's a Mom, she's her own boss, and there will be times when her customers not only don't come first, but may even come in dead last. (And I applaud those priorities! I just wouldn't advertise it as a businesswoman.)
NEMultimedia Well, this is my second attempt at a reply: the first one disappeared:)
I appreciate your perspective, and although I'd "never say never" to labels, I'm just not a fan, for the very reason of connotation. I agree with you that mompreneur isn't a label I'd advertise as a businesswoman, but even with words like coach, consultant, trainer, strategist, mentor, peoples' reactions are very different, as they surmise what those labels mean to them. And their connotation/interpretation isn't always what one intended to convey.
Thanks for your comment: I appreciate benefiting from others' perspectives...it's what keeps us challenged and growing:) Cheers! Kaarina
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I think you should take it one step further, Shakirah: the word was coined by two women...TO MAKE MONEY. And it worked. We need not entertain the word further!
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