Juggling multiple roles can definitely feel like a challenge, but Jai Mansfield definitely knows how to handle that pressure. She is a boss to many, overseeing an NSW office and is also a wife and mother! A hard worker from a young age, she’s been working from the moment she hit the legal age of 14 years and 9 months, so it’s no surprise that she is able to have a successful career and be a fantastic mum all at the same time.
Want to find out more? Read on to find out how she balances work, family and having the odd bit of downtime to herself as well. If this doesn’t motivate you to be a hard worker we don’t know what will!
Name: Jai Mansfield
Website/blog: www.expressbusinessgroup.com.au
Social media: www.facebook.com/expressbusinessgroupinternational
Tell us a bit about yourself and your child/children….
I’m a 30 year old mother to one, wife to one and girlboss to many. I oversee the NSW office for Express Business Group, which has seen over 200 franchisees, operating in over 38 different industries to realise their potential and experience financial freedom from employment.
What is the name of your business/blog and what does your work entail?
My business is called Express Business Group and we provide low cost franchises to everyday Australians who want to break up with their boss, but don’t have the capital to afford a huge outlay for a business. We offer franchises in just about every industry imaginable and include everything a new business owner needs to succeed. We then support and mentor these business owners to grow their business in a way, that they become financially liberated. It’s lots of hard work, but incredibly rewarding!
What made you decide to be both a mum and a career woman?
I always enjoyed working from a young age.I got a job at the local McDonalds the minute I turned 14 and 9 months! I’ve been around franchising for a long time, and admire business owners that took that leap of faith and bet on themselves. I love helping people own businesses, which is a huge part of why I work. The other reason, is that like many Australian families, to be able to afford a home and to look after my family we need to be a double income family.
What challenges do you face balancing both roles and how do you overcome them?
The Mummy guilt is by far the worst part about it. I just spent 2 days at the Franchise Expo in Sydney, while my husband who is in the RAAF spent his time at the Melbourne Grand Prix providing security support, which meant that my cousin needed to look after my daughter this weekend. My daughter told me that “I’m not any fun this weekend”, and it broke my heart. I try to set aside time to be with her and be present. We go to swimming lessons and cheerleading practice together, and our favorite thing to do, is stay in a hotel for a weekend, have a huge bubble bath and watch movies. I’m very fortunate that I work with my cousin, who is also a mother and knows how hard it is to work full time, have a family and a husband who works away. We both support each other as much as we can in the office and at home.
What is one tip you have for unwinding after a stressful day?
I love to have a soda water, with lime juice and defuse some essential oils (peppermint, lemon and lavender is our favorite at the moment) while my daughter nods off to sleep. I then watch a couple of episodes of the latest TV show I’m binging on Netflix. Right now, it’s Downton Abbey!
What is one fun weekend activity that your family enjoys together?
We’ve recently relocated from Brisbane to Sydney so we love to explore the city! We love to stay in our favorite hotel, and enjoy room service, bubble baths and movies. Now that my daughter is almost 6, we have taken her to the theater, and we recently saw Aladdin which was amazing! Though nothing beats the local park for a bit of a run around!
What is one time-saving parenting tip you can recommend?
Prep your week on a Sunday! I’m talking uniforms laid out and ironed, school shoes and socks ready to go, dinner menu planned, and often prepped the night before, lunches prepped, with muffins and other snacks made, all fruit cut up in a container and ready to go. My other tip would be once you have arrived home for the evening, DO NOT sit down!! I find that the minute I sit down, I don’t get back up! I get home, unpack bags, repack lunch with the prepped foods, dinner is on, and homework has started. Any last minute emails or phone calls are finalised... Then my phone goes away and I pour my lime and soda and relax.
What benefits do you think there are to being a career mum?
I truly believe that I am instilling a great work ethic in my daughter, for her to know she can achieve anything she sets her mind to, and not be afraid to take a chance on herself. Many people have negative thoughts about putting their children into child care, and I feel the opposite, being that my daughter has been in family daycare since she was 10 weeks old. I have a very bright, and confident little girl who has no problem in adapting to new situations and making new friends.
As for myself, I am financially independent and able to provide for my family and enjoy the things I love. We love to travel, and enjoy going out to dinners, my daughter can enjoy after school activities and I don’t have to wonder where the money will come from, for that. Being with an amazing company like Express, who have always encouraged people to do amazing things, I feel extremely proud in my own personal self-development and work ethic.
Lastly, what do you do to ensure you maintain a strong bond with your child/children, despite having numerous responsibilities?
The bond my daughter and I share is very special, as it has been just the 2 of us for so many long periods, with my husband going on so many deployments. We hang out as much as we can, going to farms, local fetes and events and enjoying movie nights. I can’t tell you the last time she slept in her own bed, and that’s where I think we truly bond. When she falls asleep in my arms, and then sleeps through the night with an arm or a leg on me.. It might be annoying and frustrating to some, but I love it!
If you want to find out more about Jai, and how she manages her busy but fulfilling lifestyle, check out her website, Facebook page and Instagram.
