Tag: business

Even if we were to fully book our schedules, taking 2-3 births per month, or about 1 birth per 10 to 14 days. When all is said and done, that can amount to little more than a part-time income.  For some that may be exactly what they want, for me I needed to find a way to maximize my income.
In order to do that, I had to be more than just a birth doula. In order to increase the chance of creating income, I diversified. The bottom line: to earn more money, you must offer more products or services.This had offered me many benefits. It allowed me to take on less births, to create more of a structured schedule for myself. It also had me offering products and services that complimented my work as a doula. As a result it brought in more doula business. Clients would come to ask for one service (birth doula) and I had the opportunity to sell them on other products (placenta encapsulation, Childbirth Education Classes, or counselling). It also worked in reverse.Diversifying however is more than just adding services or products to your website and business. It requires the same amount of hard work and hustle it takes become a great doula. Simply adding things to your preexisting business does not guarantee a cash flow. To get business growth through diversification you do not do more of the same; you do something different. You expand in new directions.Before you begin to diversify here are some steps to consider:

​What are your limits? Both financially and the resources available to you.

• Consider the initial investment and the ongoing investment needed to continue to offer the product or service. For example if you are looking at adding placenta encapsulation to your business you need to look beyond the initial cost of the course but also the added cost of materials needed, promotional material, travel etc.
• Look at the ongoing people power needed from yourself to maintain this add. Do you have the time? Do you have a reliable backup to cover the other aspects of your business? How will his impact your family/personal life.
•  Look at all the resources it took to build your practice already. Do you have it in you to do it again?

 

​Find your possibilities:  Finding possibilities isn’t usually the problem; finding the right possibility is. Start where you already are, and think both vertically and horizontally.

• Vertically. How can you go deeper into what you’re already doing? Or how can you step up to the next level of product or service offering? What is the next “step up” in your doula business?
• Horizontally. What are your competitors offering that you are not offering? What are the related businesses in your industry? What niche is directly connected to yours? What product or service offers a complementary fit?

​What can I offer you ask? This great video by yourdoulabag.com may help you decide what services would work for you.

Figure out what fits.
Following these steps you should now have a list of what your limits are and what potential possibilities fit with your current offering. You do not have to start from scratch. Diversification means to grow in a new direction; it doesn’t mean fragmentation.
As a final test, compare each option with the company documents you’ve produced. Which ones fit best your vision and your business values? You might not find a perfect fit. That’s okay. There should however be a high degree of correlation to what you already offer.

Balance growth with maintenance.
New things are exciting and demanding. New growth, new directions, new experiences get the entrepreneur’s heart pumping.  However don’t lose sight of the maintenance and ongoing attention that your current business needs.
A good business doesn’t run on autopilot. Do not trust yourself to automatically remember all the duties and checks you should be performing set up systems. Draw up a list, get things on your calendar, whatever you need to do so that you’re not neglecting the old for the sake of the new.

Good Growth Is Strong Growth
Diversifying can take your business into new territory, build a bigger reach, and increase your long-term profits—if you do it right. Take your time.  Don’t rush into anything until you’ve done your due diligence and know that the new endeavor is indeed the best one for you and your business.

Whether you choose to diversify or not, balance and hustle are key to moving forward in your birth business. Do your research. Find what works. Look for collaborations in your community and fly !

 Sondra is a counsellor, Doula Canada Instructor, mother and Doula.
 Interested in learning more about Doula Canada? Check us out at www.doulatraining.ca

There’s a pandemic of shame happening in the Doula world right now and it’s time we cleared the air on the adult bullying and elitism currently running course.

The Doula profession has taken off in the past decade, with more people acknowledging the overall value in the attendance of a Doula through labour and into the postpartum period.

Big certification agencies are now competing with boutique certification agencies, all making claims that they are “premier,” “modern,” “professional,” and “comprehensive.”  Each vy for the attention of potential students who are searching for the “right” certification agency for them.  Their “Doula family,” if you will.

Loyalty to a Doula organization, no different than loyalty to a family member, runs thick.  Students and alumni square off to defend their own and herald the joys of their experiences.  This is to be expected – after all they did choose them in the end!

Unfortunately as a result of this need to choose we have seen a number of our Doula sisters become subject to a stream of bullying that is uncalled for and completely unprofessional.  The explicit questioning of ethnicity, language, and choice of certification agency by some of the “leaders” in certain organizations is, to be blunt, disgusting.  These same people are teaching their students that it is important to book clients by being nurturing and professional, yet in the same breath demanding their audience “do what I say” or “hit the highway.”

​Um, what?!

Watching some of these conversations go down over social media is like watching the mean girls in fifth grade pass notes back in forth at the expense of their bullied victim.  Like, super mature (insert eye roll).

Here’s the thing.  The mean girl eventually just becomes known as a bully (I actually thought of another 5 letter ‘b’ word… but I’m playing nice today friends!).  The bully’s game becomes tiring and no one wants to play anymore.  As Doulas become recognized by policy makers, and regulatory associations grow collaboration will prevail over competition.  The mean girls may even find themselves on the outside looking in.

There is no “right” or “wrong” way to Doula.  There is YOUR way.  Can certification organizations give you training and mentorship to move you toward success?  We hope so!

However, what you do with the information you are given lies no where but with you.  There is no magic bag of tricks to guarantee that you are going to be the most successful Doula in your community.

Do we want to mentor you to make it happen?  Absolutely!

Can a certification agency guarantee it at the expense of others?  No flipping way.

We applaud the growing body of certification options available to incoming Doulas.  Personal choice and satisfaction is an important component to successfully fulfilling your Doula goals and living your passion each day.  However, what we (insert I) do not condone is the tactics of bullying and elitism that some of these options are employing.

So, in stereotypical Canadian fashion.  It’s time to play peacemaker.  It’s time to play nice.  No one likes to be bullied.  It’s time for the Doula world to grow up and work collaboratively together.  Are you ready to Doula Canada?

Here is a fantastic article by Amy Gilliland from “Doulaing the Doula” about things to consider when choosing a Doula Certification organization:  Click Here.