What Becoming a Grandmother Is Teaching Me About Business

Becoming a grandmother wasn’t something I spent a lot of time thinking about. I assumed my sons would eventually get married and have children of their own, but it wasn’t a front-of-mind dream the way it is for some people. I was busy building a career, running businesses, traveling, networking, doing the things I enjoy in NYC, and loving every minute of it.

Grandmotherhood, I assumed, would arrive, someday.and then suddenly, there it was. Like every grandparent before me has said (and yes, the clichés are true), being a grandparent really is different (many say better) from being a parent. There’s joy, wonder, and a little less of the daily pressure. But what surprised me most is being a grandmother is actually helping me become better at business.

1. Baby Steps Are Still Progress

Recently I made a pivot in my business and after decades of being a sales trainer and business development consultant, I made the decision to lean-in to the work that has always been in the background, and push it front and center. I launched my content creation business and haven't looked back. It's been wonderful but if I am being totally honest, the change hasn't always been comfortable.

Watching a baby learn to crawl, stand, and eventually walk has been the perfect metaphor.

Babies take tiny steps, wobble, and usually fall, but then they get back up and try again. Their progress happens in inches, not miles.

Watching them learn to walk has reminded me to give myself the same grace. Business pivots rarely happen overnight. Sometimes the smartest strategy is simply taking the next small step.

2. Leave the Ego at the Door

Babies don’t have ego. They don’t worry about how they look when they fall or feel embarrassed when something doesn’t work the first time. They simply try again. For those of us in business, ego can get in the way, especially when we’ve been doing something successfully for a long time.

I know that has been the case for me but I've realized that much of what worked when I started my business three decades ago simply doesn’t work the same way today. So much is different, from technology to marketing and scaling. Sometimes I fall on my face, but if babies can handle it, so can I.

3. None of Us Grow Alone

Babies depend on their parents and caregivers for just about everything and while the metaphor isn’t perfect, I’ve realized that I depend on my network in much the same way. My colleagues, friends, collaborators, and clients are the people who keep my professional life thriving. They introduce me to opportunities, share ideas, give feedback (good and bad), and cheer me on.

I'm a solopreneur, but have learned that success is rarely a solo sport. Community matters.

4. Learning Never Stops

Every single day a baby learns something new. Watching that constant curiosity has reminded me that the moment we stop learning is the moment we start falling behind. The rules of the platforms change, algorithms keep us on our toes and most of all, our customer behaviors change, and so we have to keep on learning and adapting.

5. Joy Fuels Growth

Babies approach the world with wonder and for them, everything is fascinating and worth exploring. When they finally master something, standing, clapping, speaking, eating new foods, the joy is enormous, and they're eager for more.

In business, it’s easy to get bogged down in expectations, but rediscovering that sense of curiosity and joy can change everything. Instead of asking, What if this doesn’t work, I find myself asking, What might happen if it does? That way of thinking has been a game-changer.

The Unexpected Gift

Becoming a grandmother has been one of my most glorious experiences. It’s filled with love and laughter but it has also been a reminder that growth, patience, resilience, and curiosity are lessons that never stop being relevant, no matter how long we’ve been in business.