Movers and Shakers Interview with Lesley Pyle

Tell us your name and a little about yourself.

My name is Lesley Pyle, and I’m the founder of HireMyMom.com. I have been working from home since I had my first baby in 1994 because I could not bear leaving her in daycare every day. I had just finished my Master’s degree and had always dreamed of climbing the corporate ladder. But after having my baby, I wanted nothing more than to work from home and be able to be an integral part of her life.

I took the scary leap and left my full-time job and started freelancing. And after looking for support and networking with other moms working from home and not finding it, I started my first online community in 1996 called HBWM or Home-Based Working Moms (way before social media or anything like it). From there, I started HireMyMom.com in 2007.

What exactly does your company do?

HireMyMom.com is a boutique service connecting Entrepreneurs and Small Business owners to top-notch Virtual Professionals across the country. I like to call it the Match.com of small businesses and mom professionals looking for remote jobs and projects.

What were the biggest challenges you have faced, and how did you overcome them?

Going at it alone has been difficult at times. When you work for yourself, there’s no one above you to teach you things you don’t know how to do. You are responsible for learning new skills and staying on top of new technologies, trends, etc. I was brand new to the working world, so I had much to learn and taught myself everything from creating my first website to learning all sorts of new apps and programs along the way. Other than the initial sacrifices of selling my car and living on a tight budget, I feel like I’ve gained more than I’ve sacrificed.

What piece of advice do you wish someone had given you at the start of your career?

I would recommend really taking the time to discover what you are passionate about and what you are good at. Don’t just do something because you think you will make money. The honeymoon will be over on that before you know it. I believe you’ll have much more success in doing what you love. Because then, it doesn’t feel like work, right? I love what I do, and I look forward to sitting down at my desk every day. Instead of looking at the clock 20 times a day wondering if it’s 5:00 yet, I look at it and think, “oh no, I only have x more hours to work today.” That’s when you know you love what you do!

Who are your biggest influences and people you admire, and why?

The people I most admire are those who have built successful businesses without sacrificing their beliefs and treating all people with dignity and respect. The two most well-known examples I can think of are Truett Cathy and David Green. I believe their legacies will long outlive them and the good they have done.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are?

My husband has believed in me and my mission from the beginning. It has never been about having a zillion dollar business but about people and their lives. Allowing moms to raise their children and to have freedom and flexibility to do that. When I started in 1996, remote work was almost unheard of. I never openly shared that I worked from home when working with clients in the early days. It was deemed as somewhat unprofessional back then. But I knew in my heart there were MANY other moms who desired to keep their career without sacrificing their role as a parent. And I knew there were so many small businesses that could not afford to hire on-site employees, so hiring a remote team member would work beautifully for everyone.

What do you see as your greatest success in life?

My greatest success in life is knowing that I’ve helped thousands of moms find ways to work from home and prioritize their families. And at the same time, helping small businesses grow and thrive by hiring some incredibly talented “Mom Professionals.” I really feel like it’s such a win-win. In addition, I would say my family. I feel incredibly blessed to have four great, imperfect kids and a husband who would do anything for us.

How can people follow your journey? Please list your social media URLs

https://www.linkedin.com/company/9214439/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lspencerpyle/
http://instagram.com/hiremymom
https://www.pinterest.com/hiremymomcom/boards/
https://www.facebook.com/HireMyMom/
http://www.twitter.com/hiremymom/
https://www.youtube.com/user/hiremymom/videos