How I became a successful WAHM and sole bread winner
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Hey Mama, as I was processing everything that has happened in my life, I realized how far I’ve come. I became the sole bread winner for our household through all the work that I’ve done in the past years.
In today’s episode, I’ll be sharing with you the story of how I achieved the success that I have right now. You’ll be hearing the details of my journey from the start. As you listen to this episode, I want you to think about how you started and where you are now.
Tune in this episode and you’ll hear the most important tip I could give you to achieve the goals and dreams that you have. It only takes one step to be successful and I’ll be sharing that today.
Are you ready? ENJOY!
Juliana
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Transcript
Hey, gorgeous welcome back to the Fruitful Mama Podcast. I wonder if you wonder how people who, you know, like people that we you look up to in this online space when you look at them, and you’re like, wow, that person made it. And you know, it doesn’t have to be a person who’s making millions of dollars, it could be like a mama who’s just done it who like if you made as much money as she did, or maybe a little bit less than what she did, like, you just be so happy.
And I don’t know about you but back when I started my online journey, this was like, you know, I’m talking back when I was I when I thought I was going to be an influencer and hop on Flamingo Floaties and snap pictures for a living. So like circa 2016-2017, I want to say, I really wondered, like, what is it, like, what is the secret of super have, that you’re not sharing, like the hat, there has to be something and I have been searching for this thing, like, what is this thing that, that people understand that they do that makes them like have their big break? And I just want to share with you today, what my journey has been like, because I am at a point now where if you told me like, I don’t know, six years ago that I would be I don’t think I would have believed because I just I just didn’t see a way, you know. So in today’s episode, I’m really gonna share my journey with you and I hope that the biggest takeaway for you is that, as you see, there’s nothing about my journey where you can pinpoint and say, oh, that’s it, that girl got her big break right there.
You know, she went viral this thing happened or somebody helped her out? No, there was none of it. And I know, sometimes it’s easy for us to be on the outside looking in and say, oh, but that person has success because of this because of whatever. And it wasn’t like that for me. I’ve been working really hard for a very long time. And I’m at a position now where I’m home with my babies. I am the sole breadwinner of this household. My husband is a stay at home dad and he takes care of our to homeschooling kids while I work. So I want to share this with you, Mama, because not too long ago, I was wondering like, how do I make this happen? How can I make money from home and not live wondering, like in fear how are we gonna pay for this? You know, like, how am I gonna buy the things I want to buy, which by the way, it’s not like anything bougie or grand, you know, it’s like organic food because I’m a hippie, I like organic stuff. So I want to share my journey with you, to give you a perspective.
Now, Mama, I just want to remind you that today is January 19. And if you’re listening to this live, today is the day that I am doing my free workshop and if you’re ready to learn if you’re ready to pretty much hop on a free coaching call with me, then today is the day sister friend do you have time to join the class goes live or naugles if we’re doing it live, so it happens at 11am, Eastern, so you still have time to sign up if you’re listening to this early enough so head over to the link in the show notes or bit.ly/etsyworkshop2022. And that will take you to the same signup page for you to come and join me in this very awesome free workshop that I’m hosting. And this workshop is all around, you know, the only seven things that you need to build a successful business like the only seven things you need that’s it, nothing more. You don’t need to overcomplicate this whole system because, you know, as you have heard, I am a mom, I am a homeschooling mom and yeah, my husband is a stay at home dad.
So it’s not like I’m doing everything by myself but it’s still him and I here in North Florida with no help, you know, just just doing the thing you know. So if you want to come over and learn what I’m going to share, just sign up, it’s free. And it’s basically a very awesome and free coaching call you’re gonna get for me, so, okay, Mama, let’s go back to the beginning for those of you who don’t know me, okay, so first things first is that I grew up I was born and raised in Brazil, and a very small town like tiny, tiny little dot in the state of San Paolo, okay, now the city because I’m not that cool. And my parents got divorced when I was three years old. And I pretty much grew up with doubt to my dad in my life, maybe not so much of him, but you know, because my mom made sure that I would have no relationship with my dad. So my childhood was a tough childhood. My family went as far as to say that my dad had died and when I was like, around five years old, I saw him at the bank and I freaked out so this is the kind of childhood that I grew up with. I mentioned this podcast a lot of times that I have a lot of trauma from my childhood. So if you can imagine that I grew up in a family where you know, people tell you that your dad died just so you don’t have to deal with you with your sadness, you don’t want to have your dad in your life like, this is, like, probably the easiest part of my childhood was that just to give you like an idea, okay.
And then when I was, in my early teens, I want to say 13-14, we moved to the US and let me just tell you that my entire life in Brazil, it was very tough. And I was always a poor kid, my mom worked at a college and because she worked at this college, I got a scholarship to go to like the sister school that was, you know, from like, elementary down to like, I don’t know, high school, whatever. And it was a private school that only rich kids got to go to. And I only went because again, I got a scholarship. And I was always the poor kid who couldn’t buy anything who, like just a kid that everybody pointed to, and like, people knew, like, she’s the poor girl, you know. And then we moved here to do us and my mom cleaned houses, okay. And for the longest time, on weekends, she would drag me along with her. And I hated that so much, because as a teenager, I would go to people’s house with teenagers living there. And like, here was like, my peers were like, sleeping in until 11. And I was like, cleaning her house like, again, I was kind of like living out this life of, you know, the poor girl, you know, and I get it in retrospect, why my mom did it, because she just needed it, you know, she wasn’t trying to be mean, or punish me but at the time, it was just what was happening, you know, and, but as a teenager, I didn’t get it, I didn’t understand it.
I was just like, mortified and embarrassed in I don’t know, I felt shame. And anyway, the list goes on. I went to college around 20-ish, like 20-21, actually, no 21 because my immigration paperwork was still like in the run, like it was to processing. And it took forever so it wasn’t until then that I was able to go to college. And, you know, it really sucked for me, because I had no idea when I was in high school, that it wasn’t going to happen for me so I always worked really hard my life with my mom was still very tough through my teen years, it was just my mom and I, and she made it very hard for me. So I just poured myself into the school and learning because I just wanted to get out, you know, and honestly, I have to, I have to be honest here, I think I studied because I didn’t want to deal with my mom, not because I thought that school was gonna be their way out.
Honestly, I was just like counting the days until I got married. And I was hoping that a man was gonna come and save me. And of course, like her rich man was gonna come and save me because, you know, growing up, at least in my Brazilian household, I was always taught that you marry well, and a man takes care of you. So I was never really taught to, you know, be on my own and take care of myself and go after my dreams. So, you know, I go to school for culinary arts, and my family’s bashing me this whole entire time because I shouldn’t go, you know, study culinary, there’s something better for me to do out there. And I had zero support from my family, surprisingly, I had support from my mom but the rest of my family which if you’re a South American, your extended family is your family, there’s no such thing as aunts and uncles like it’s everybody’s one huge family, you might there might as well be your mom’s and your brothers and your sisters because it’s just one big thing. Everybody has an opinion about your life, so through trials and errors, and honestly, just my family pushing me out of the career that I was in, because often, obviously, after culinary school, I just started cooking, you know, so I got to cook for very awesome chefs in South Florida but it came to a point where I just couldn’t take it anymore. And I went back to school to study dietetics and nutrition and at that point, my life was like slightly better.
You know, I was living on my own. You know, I had my car, I had a nice job. I was, you know, going back to school, pursuing my bachelor’s and whatever, and had a little bit of money saved. And that’s when you know if you know the story I went to, I went backpacking in Europe, I met my husband and long story short, three months after we found out we were pregnant, you know. So then that’s when this is a part of the story where you know, my husband and I get married because he needed a way to stay in a country. And he was he was here on a tourist visa. So that wasn’t the whole goal for him to come and stay was just, we were doing the long distance thing. And then meanwhile, we get pregnant. So then that’s when we get married. And we have a kid and meanwhile, because my husband couldn’t work legally, my husband could not work because we were like, I was apply for his for his green card at the time. I had to quit the nice job that I had, which wasn’t like a fancy job by any means.
I was maybe making like 30,000 a year at that point, which to me it was a whole lot of money but I had to quit a job and to go work at Whole Foods at the juice bar because this job that I had requiring me to drive all over and I just really couldn’t I was doing nutrition education, it was a nonprofit, and I really just couldn’t drive I had the worst morning sickness ever. So you know, I had to quit. And I was the only person who could work because, again, you know, if you’re going through an immigration process, you know, you just can’t work. So my husband was home and I had to work. And because I had to prove that I could support my husband and financially because that’s how it works. As an American citizen, I have to prove to the government that I can, that my husband isn’t going to be a burden on the government. So I have to prove that I make enough money to sponsor him. So the only place that my husband and I could afford at a time was a studio apartment, I don’t know, 300 square feet, like it was tiny.
It was like one room and a bathroom. In the really bad neighbourhood you guys like imagine a bad neighbourhood and time set by 10, like, there were like rats outside, there were raccoons on the like, on the roof. The neighbour next door, like there wasn’t even the bad part. The neighbor, the neighbour next door, was a drug dealer, cops would knock on our door, like it was bad, you guys, anyway and then this was like 2015 then my husband was, I stopped working to stay home with my baby. And then my husband, at that point, he had his green card, he started working, he started off, like doing food delivery. And then he, he had a love for photography so he started working on that passion. So then my husband would do food delivery. And then he would also do like, he’ll be be like a second shooter for photographers and stuff like that. So my husband was always gone, and I was home, they care of my baby, you know, living in this bad neighbourhood, and it was just like what we had to do. And thankfully, little by little, we were just able to save up, we broke the lease in that apartment, and then we moved into something nicer.
My mom also did help financially at that point, because, you know, she saw how bad the neighbourhood was. And then around 2016, we were living in a nicer place and and a different part of town was like really nice like, anyway, it Boca Raton, if you’re curious where there was in South Florida, so it was a nice place down. It wasn’t like, super fancy, but it was just nice. It was safe, you know so then 2016 that’s when I kind of become really aware of influencer and the things that you can do. And you can get paid, you know, to like post pictures and stuff. I didn’t really understand the industry, well, well back then but I thought this is it, this is going to be my thing. And of course, like it didn’t really turn out to be my thing, because your girl doesn’t like social media, you know, it’s just not my thing. It hasn’t really been for a while. I just never really understood it and 2018 that’s when we opened our Amazon store. And we thought we were going to be rich so then we launched I want to say like we started the process in January and then April, I think that was the official launch.
In May or no March we launched and in May, my husband and I just looked at each other and were like, with so much conviction, we were like, we’re gonna be so rich, just like quit your job. My husband was sick and tired of his job. And I was just at home with two babies at that point and I was like, yeah, baby, let’s just do it. It’s gonna be so awesome. It wasn’t you guys, like it took us two years for us to hit the six figure mark. So, you know, it takes time for these things to happen. If somebody is telling me it’s gonna be overnight. It’s not right. Okay. It’s not true. Anyway. Guys, we like struggled for a while, like, if you think about it, it wasn’t until 2020 that we hit that six figure and consistent income was coming in. And I launched my Etsy shop and the Etsy shop quickly hit five figures. And Mama, I’m telling you all this story, because I want you to understand that I have been on a journey. I want to say since like, I was pregnant, like, that’s when I started thinking about like, what can I do? What business can I have?
What is something and it was 2016 I was like, I’m going to become an influencer but look at all this time, like we’re in 2022 now. So that’s like, a lot of time like four or five, six years. Your girl’s not very good with math but, you know, it’s been a while and now I’m at a point where you know, I am working and my husband is home. And the bills are paid. We’re doing fine. And by the way, it’s not like you know, we’re swimming in money like that duck from Disney. I always forget his name but we’re not at that stage like the day you see with a Tesla that’s when you know the Juliana made it like real big. For now, we’re still you know, we still live very simply. And honestly, I think we’re always going to do very simply just because we’re hippies and like, that’s just kind of like the lifestyle that we live but what is the secret to making it like what is it that I understood now that I now understand that I didn’t for like all this time? And Mama, you’re probably not gonna like this answer, but the thing of it is, is my mindset, my mindset and believing that I could and believing that I have everything within me to make this happen. Like when I understood that, like, that was the thing that clicked for me that made me understand like, yes, this is it. And it was when I understood that I have what it takes to do this. And when I need because I have been wanting to, to make this happen for a while now, this has been my dream. Like I can go back through journals, like years and years of journals, and I’m writing down that I want to be the sole breadwinner for the house, I want to make money and have my husband, like, take care of the kids and like, work on himself and do his things like that was just always something that I wanted to do.
And it like now came to fruition like this past couple of months, it came to fruition. And I was thinking about this the other day, because I remember like thinking like what is it? Like? What is the secret? What what did people know that I don’t what is the book that they’re reading that that I haven’t read, and driving myself crazy. And this is a mama, it’s the mindset is believing that you actually can and using the power of visualisation, which is very challenging for me to just sit here and do all these things. And, you know, I’m not suggesting that this is like, some woo thing, like not at all, I have parts of me that are a little bit weird but that’s not what I’m saying here. It’s just the power of me understanding how powerful I am, how knowledgeable I am. And actually being able to turn all of that in, like internalise it and send it out at the same time because here’s the thing, I know how to do these things, I am fully capable of doing these things. I am a strong, smart, capable woman, I have been through so much in my life and have learned so much I am qualified and for so long, I held myself back for fear of what people are going to say about me, while my family is going to say about me, just fear of the unknown and just like fear in general, but I have been working on myself so hard.
And no 2021 was like a huge eye opener for me so many, so much change in my life into in 2021. And, you know, I wish that I had understood this sooner but honestly, you know, my husband always says and I think there’s a Chinese proverb that when the student is ready, the teacher appears and I feel like this lessons were always during my life, I just didn’t have the maturity to understand. And I also it’s, it’s a combination of things, you know, like I’m seeing a therapist, um, I have been taking care of, of my mind for a while, I am becoming more intentional, more aware, you know, I consider myself a very self aware person, but just always working on, on that awareness to, and just growing and expanding and believing in myself. And that’s really what it comes down to because mama, when you believe in yourself, there’s nothing that can stop you nothing. And when the going gets rough, you’ll get really a backup and you dust yourself off and you keep going like you don’t even care like you don’t even care that you tripped and everybody was looking at you and laughing like you just get up again and you go even when nobody understands you and everybody’s thinking you’re crazy. You’re just keep going. So Mama, this episode is to tell you that the power is within you. And I know sounds so woowoo and you’re like, girl, but I this is what I want and I think I can do it but you have to really believe it, like really believe it and wear that, like pretend it to cape and you’re going to wear that cape.
And this needs to become part of your identity that you know, you’re unstoppable and that you’re strong and that you’re capable and you get things done and you’re the type of woman who sets her mind to something and nothing, nothing can distract her. And Mama I shared my story, you know, for the majority of this episode, because I need you to understand that there’s nothing special about me. I was not born rich. I was not born to like entrepreneurial parents? I don’t know if I didn’t go viral. Like there’s nothing about me that screams like, oh my gosh, that’s right there, that’s when she made it. No, I just worked hard. I stayed focus even when it wasn’t easy to stay focused. I focus even when, you know, I thought that you know, doing the next best thing was the way to go. I stayed focused and things turned around for me when I started believing myself and I understood just how powerful I am just how much is inside of me that that I can share with the world and I really started to harness that power. I’m going to share a book with you that I think can really help you and that is the You Are A Badass by Jensen Cero read the book and this is like one of the books that I read on repeat like seriously on repeat, because it just helped me understand and and I honestly go back and listen to that book very often, there’s always something new that I learned. And I feel like that book, at least for me, that was the one thing that I feel like it helped me understand.
And sometimes when there’s a book that has an impact on me, I will read that book and repeat, because there’s so many lessons that you get to listen again and again and again in you learn something new every single time so that’s a book that I’m going to recommend, if you’re looking for something like tangible that you can do right now, the way that she has her book, it’s not only funny, but it’s super helpful, too. So you are badass, but just as cincher it’s not like a new book by any means. I think it’s been out for a while, but I actually didn’t get my hands on it until, I don’t know, fairly recent, probably, I remember being in Italy in 2021, when I downloaded that book so hopefully, that book, if you get it, it can help you just really channel your inner badass and it’d be helpful, you know, and Mama, believe trust in herself, do the work, you know, understand that every single thing that has happened in your life is a lesson.
And it’s funny, because if you go back and listen to a few episodes ago that I did, I talked about doing product research, you know, for a product for you to sell on Etsy, you know, if any of you are just dropping on this episode, but like randomly and your thing is not really Etsy, I want you to go back and listen to that episode, because here’s the thing, that episode is going to teach you to go inward and discover the things in your life, the lessons you have learned the skills that you have, just the beautiful person that you are, hopefully that exercise is going to bring it out for you to really understand just how powerful just how knowledgeable, just how much, you know, and that episode is episode 171 that you can go back and listen to and it’s just a fun exercise again, that will really help you, if any, if you’re not selling on Etsy, or Amazon but you you just want to get your wheels turning about what what is your thing, there’s going to be a great start and Mama, promise me and promise yourself that from here on out. You’re gonna prioritise you and your dreams and start believing in yourself. And you don’t have to have anybody behind your back. Listen, for the longest time, my husband was behind me by like he didn’t understand and not because my husband is a jerk.
My husband is the sweetest guy ever, like sweetest guy ever. I couldn’t have dreamed up a better man, honestly but because, you know, he’s trying to protect me from like heartbreak. And you know, he has his own fears as well. So, understand that if you have a partner, a boyfriend or husband right now who doesn’t really understand what it is you’re doing, just keep going keep showing up and stop putting, you know, all this pressure on other people to support you because at the end of the day, it’s all about you if I had I don’t know, when when I was cooking, like seven years, no, like eight years ago, I don’t even know you guys, it’s been so long but back when I was you know, an aspiring chef, if I had removed myself from my family and the guy was eating at a time and just completely, like, trusted myself that I had what it took to be a professional, professional chef, I would have made it I just didn’t get it at a time. And quite thankfully, like I’m so glad I’m out because at the end of the day, I’m glad that I get to stay home with my babies. You know, if you’ve ever worked in a kitchen, as a cook or as a as a waitress, you just know, it’s just not good. It’s, I mean, it’s fun to be a waitress, but it’s so much work anyway, the point is, is that Mama, you are the answer, okay? There’s no secret.
The secret is you just have to believe and you have to go after your dreams and show up and not get distracted. And if you show up live to this workshop today, you’re gonna learn the seven things that you need, so that you don’t get distracted so that you don’t get overwhelmed so that you don’t start, you know, trying 10 Different things 20 different things and like give up on all of them because that’s the fastest road to burnout. So I hope you join me and I hope this episode was inspiring to you whether or not you are a mama selling on Etsy trying to sell on Etsy or an Amazon or Shopify doesn’t matter. Share this with other moms because I know out there there’s a mama with a baby on the boob and a toddler running around. She’s just wondering, like, if I just make $3,000 a month, like that’s gonna cover everything in my husband can come home like I know that this mom is out there because this was me, like, I don’t know six years ago, so I know that his mom is out there. And I know that this episode can help. And my entire mission on this on this episode or not this episode but this podcast is to be the fruit for Mama and pass it along to you because we are all fruitful mamas, okay, we are amazing beings. We are powerful. We are strong. We can do hard things, including making so much money that we get to retire our husbands and make an impact and stay home with our babies and do whatever else we want to do with the money that we make. Anyway, Mama, I love you, stay strong, stay committed, stay focused until next time may you be wrapped in peace, love and kindness and we’ll catch in the next episode bye.
