We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Holly Stein a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Holly, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Oh my gosh this was real for me. Who am I to create a nationwide meal delivery business??? Listening to podcasts, reading books, and reminding myself that I CAN DO ANYTHING was what really helped me overcome my imposter syndrome (which still peeks it’s head out occasionally!)
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My first postpartum was tough. I try to only eat clean/organic foods but we had almost nothing prepped for postpartum. People brought us food, while well intentioned, was not what we normally eat. I was also eating the WRONG foods (cold, raw, dry crunchy foods like smoothies, salads, chips, etc). My husband cooked as much as possible, but he went back to work quickly, and those times early postpartum are SO HARD. I was constipated, feeling blah all the time, and we really struggled.
I swore things would be different for my 2nd baby. I researched philosophies from Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and Weston A. Price. I learned the best postpartum foods are warm, soft, nutrient-dense and easy-to-digest meals like soups, stews, broths, and congee. We prepped 60meals following these principles and froze them to have ready for postpartum.
Literally night and day difference! I felt nourished, supported, safe, and like I was being wrapped in a warm hug at every meal. My husband didnt have to cook and clean, and we spent soooo much more time bonding as a family, even with a toddle running around. I meal-prepped for a couple of pregnant friends and they both said it was one of the greatest things anyone had ever done for them.
Our doula and midwife friends begged us to start this as a business, so Mama Meals was born, out of our home kitchen with a couple stock pots and a stand up freezer in the garage.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Reflecting on my journey and entrepreneurial experience, three key qualities, skills, and areas of knowledge stand out as most impactful.
1. Knowledge of Nutrition and Health: Understanding the fundamentals of nutrition was pivotal. Learning how food affects the body and mind enabled me to make informed choices, transforming my health. My advice for those starting their journey is to experiment with different approaches to find what works best for your body. Personally we eat an “animal-based” diet.
2. Resilience and Adaptability: Entrepreneurship demands resilience. Building a successful business involves overcoming challenges and adapting to changes. Developing resilience is crucial. Embrace setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow. Surround yourself with a supportive network and maintain a positive mindset. Understand that failures are stepping stones toward success.
3. Time Management and Prioritization: Balancing a growing business, family life, and personal health required exceptional time management. Prioritizing tasks and being efficient with time was instrumental. For beginners, I recommend honing time management skills early. Create schedules, set realistic goals, and learn to delegate tasks effectively. Time is a valuable resource; invest it wisely in activities that align with your goals.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
“The First 40 Days” is a profoundly insightful guide that navigates the postpartum period with wisdom and care. Authored by Heng Ou, this book beautifully blends ancient traditions with modern knowledge, offering a holistic approach to nurturing new mothers during the crucial initial 40 days after childbirth. Through nourishing recipes, self-care practices, and cultural wisdom, Ou emphasizes the importance of honoring and supporting a woman’s body and soul during this transformative phase.
Nugget 1: Nourishment beyond Nutrition: The book emphasizes the significance of nourishing more than just the body. It delves into emotional well-being, encouraging self-care practices, rest, and nurturing connections to promote holistic healing during the postpartum period.
Nugget 2: Honoring Rest and Recovery: “The First 40 Days” underscores the value of rest and recovery, challenging the societal rush to resume normalcy post-birth. It advocates for a slower, intentional pace, allowing new mothers the time and space needed for physical and emotional healing, creating a foundation for long-term well-being.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mama-meals.com
- Instagram: @eat.mamameals
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollyastein/
