What does it take to start a small business while raising young children—and how in the world do you know where to start? The Daybreak founder shares her path to launching a business that blends with family life.
By Eva, Daybreak founder
Daybreak really grew out of my experience of becoming a mother. When my first son was young, I remember feeling like so much of my mental energy had shifted into execution mode: washing bottles, changing diapers, doing laundry, keeping track of nap schedules, making sure we had everything we needed before leaving the house. There was always another task to complete.
I loved being a mother, but I missed feeling playful, creative, light. I wanted to sit on the floor and really play with my son without mentally cataloging everything that needed to be done around me. Even when I had a moment to enjoy, there was that running list in my head.
I wondered if other mothers felt this way, too. So I started bringing it up in my moms' groups. How were they finding ways to relax? What helped them feel like themselves during this incredibly demanding season of life?
Part of the conversation was about alcohol. A glass of wine was such a familiar way to mark the end of the day. For me, though, the trade-off increasingly wasn't worth it. I'd relax for a few hours, then wake up in the middle of the night and sleep terribly. There would still be a small child who needed me the next morning.
It was through those groups that I learned about magic mushrooms. What surprised me was how little anyone seemed to know about them or where to buy them. There was a lot of curiosity but even more apprehension.
I spent months talking with other moms about their experiences. We heard some version of, "I'm curious, but I had a terrible experience with mushrooms in college," over and over again. People had questions about where products came from, what was in them, and what to expect. I was listening to what they'd tried, what worried them, and what they still wished were different.
What I Learned By Listening
For many women, the hesitation started before they tried anything. Magic mushrooms sounded scary, and the packaging did little to help. So little of what we saw felt designed for women like us. Bringing chocolate home raised another worry. What if the kids or pets got into it? An open wrapper didn't feel like enough.
Women who had tried different brands described different experiences. Trying another could feel like starting over, unsure of what to expect.
Then there was figuring out how much to take. Breaking a corner off a bar felt like guesswork, when what they wanted was more control. So we gave Daybreak the look of a luxury beauty brand, prioritized child resistance in the tin, tested dozens of blends with a trusted manufacturer, and made small, individual gems so there was no bar to break apart.
Those choices seem obvious now. But they became obvious because women told us what was missing.
Those choices seem obvious now. But they became obvious because women told us what was missing.
The Value of Mental Equity
I have a phrase for what happens when people help shape something: mental equity. I think of it almost like an equity investment. Someone may have contributed an observation, a question, or an afternoon of trying things and telling you what they think. They've put a little of themselves into what you're building.
For Daybreak, that meant a better product and a first circle of people who wanted to see it succeed. They'd watched the business take shape and knew their feedback mattered. Word of mouth has been important to us, but those relationships began with listening. People were contributing to something while it was still taking shape.
That's why my advice is to bring people along in the journey. You learn more, and you give them a chance to have a real hand in what comes next.
Starting a Conversation of Your Own
If you've been keeping an idea to yourself, I get it. When you've put something of yourself into an idea, having someone dismiss it can feel like they're rejecting you, too.
So invite them to react to the problem first. Describe what you've noticed to someone who might share it. Does it happen to them, too? How do they deal with it? What have they tried, and what's still frustrating? Give them room to answer. If their experience is different from yours, find out how. You don't need to explain why your solution would work or persuade them to want it.
Use what you learn about the problem to refine your solution. When you're ready, go back to those same people and ask what they think of the idea. They've already helped shape it. That next conversation can feel much easier—and a lot more exciting—when they're already invested in what you're building.
This week, send one message. Pick someone who might share the frustration behind your idea, and ask: "Do you ever run into [problem]? How do you deal with it?" When they reply, ask them to tell you more. Let that be the beginning.