Building Your Dream Lifestyle Business: The Three Fs
If the thought of “New Year, New Me” goal setting makes you want to hide under the duvet, this episode is exactly what you need. I’m joined by the wonderful Jen Lister, a business strategist who specialises in helping “parentrepreneurs” build businesses that actually fit around their lives, rather than the other way around.
Goal setting is one of those tasks that often feels like another “to-do” on an already overflowing plate, but Jen is on a mission to change that. What I love about Jen’s approach is that she didn’t just learn this from a textbook. After years in the corporate world, she realised that the rigid, high-pressure strategy sessions she was used to simply didn’t work when you’re also juggling the school run, sick days, and family life.
Her journey is a refreshing reminder that your business should serve your life, not consume it. You don’t need a 50-page business plan; you just need a “North Star” to guide you.
From Corporate Strategy to “Parentrepreneurship”
One of the most relatable parts of our conversation is when Jen talks about the shift from corporate life to running her own business. She shared that while she loved the strategy side of her old career, she realised that small business owners, especially parents, need a different kind of harmony.
As Jen says, we often strive for “balance,” but balance implies a 50/50 split that rarely exists. Instead, she teaches “harmony,” where some days are 90% business and 10% family, and others are the complete opposite. It’s about building a business that allows for those magical family moments without the guilt.
The Power of the Family Vision Board
Jen shares an incredible tool that she uses not just for herself, but for her whole family: the Vision Board (or as she sometimes calls it, the “Vibration Board”). Jen started this during a particularly low point in her life, and it has since become a family tradition, even her two-year-old joins in!
Unlike a traditional business board, Jen’s includes photos of happy family memories alongside future goals, like home renovations or a trip to Disneyland. It’s a powerful visual reminder of the “why” behind every late-night admin session or tech hurdle. As Jen explains, when you can see the life you are building, the daily grind feels much more purposeful.
The “Three Goals” Rule: Beating Shiny Object Syndrome
If you’ve ever started the year with a list of 20 goals and ended it having achieved none, Jen has the perfect antidote: The Rule of Three.
She recommends choosing three business goals and three personal goals for the year—and that’s it.
- Why three? Because when we have too many, we scatter our energy and end up overwhelmed.
- The “North Star”: Every goal must align with your values. If a goal doesn’t get you closer to your version of Fun, Freedom, or Family time, it shouldn’t be on the list.
Jen’s approach ensures you aren’t just creating work for yourself for the sake of being “busy.” It’s about intentional growth that actually leads to the lifestyle you dreamed of when you started.
Want More Support With Your Tech to Reach Your Goals?
If you’d love ongoing support with the tech side of your 2026 goals—from email marketing to making sure your website is actually easy to edit, come join us in the This Mum Loves Tech Membership. You’ll get weekly Q&A calls with me, step-by-step workshops, and a supportive community of women who are all building businesses around their families.
👉 The membership is £30 a month. Find out more and join here: https://thismumlovestech.co.uk/membership/
