Boss Mom of the Week: Allison Carter
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Allison Barrett Carter is a freelance writer in North Carolina. She is on a journey to keep learning and finding the best life, documenting it all on her website Her pieces have appeared in many places such as New York Times’ Motherlode, Washington Post’s On Parenting, Redbook, Role Reboot, The Good Men Project and in several print anthologies as well as various local news outlets. She’s also one of the founding members of the NC Blogger Network and has helped unite the unique, talented voices of bloggers all over NC in to one powerful voice.
Tell us a little bit about your family and your Boss Mom journey.
We just got a golden retriever puppy and made sure it was a girl to get some balance in our house: I am mom to two little boys and happily married to one big boy! We recently made a dream-jump to move from our home of 10 years to the coast of North Carolina. It was a lifestyle choice, and it has paid off. Today, I can write this while looking out over the water.
I have always wanted to be a writer and, after a brief fling with content marketing and blog consultations, I finally can say I earn money writing. Am I writing in-depth stories for The Atlantic? Nope (not yet). But I do work with many local publications and companies I love and the fact that I get to sit down every day and craft words makes me full. I had to pay some dues to get here, and I also have big plans for myself, but I am so happy to be where I am.
What are some of your favorite go to meals when time is tight and dinner MUST get on the table?
Rotisserie chicken and the salad bar from our local grocery store. Also, I always keep Trader Joe’s tilapia fillets and edamame in the freezer (they both thaw so quickly so it doesn’t require planning ahead) and rice in the pantry. I try really hard to feed my family healthy (we all feel so much better). While I like to cook, it isn’t always realistic to be able to spend time in the kitchen every night.
What are you currently reading or listening to (podcasts, books, blogs etc)?
I read a lot, I have to use Goodreads to keep it all straight. Also, I am on a first-name basis with our librarian, who I am sure has my phone number memorized. I just finished up Year of Yes by Shonda Rimes and am starting on Simply Tuesday by Emily Freeman.
For podcasts, I devour Freakonmics. My husband said he is going to start a drinking game based on whenever I mention one of their podcasts. Random life goal? Be on Freakonmics for something.
What is one piece of business advice that you’d give to a mom just starting out?
Build yourself the infrastructure to be a business woman. I have always tried to go into starting businesses (like my NC Blogger Network and then my consulting work) thinking I would just do it “in my spare time” as a mom, around my kids. But, then, when things were successful… Or when summer hit…or a child got sick…or there was a teachers workday…or the laundry piled up…or there was mold growing in the bathtub…I would end up in tears on the floor, stressed and overwhelmed with no time for any of it. If you start a business be honest with yourself and your family about the hours required and how your family can put structures in place (and hire help) to make those hours happen. It will be a hard initial adjustment but much easier in the end. It is the only way for sustained success
What are some of your favorite quotes or words to live by?
“What you create doesn’t have to be perfect.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf
As a writer, someone who lives in a creative space and field that is fraught with rejection moreso than success, this quote is printed out and framed immediately across from where I sit at my desk.
Allison has a great challenge on her blog that she’d love for you to join in on. This challenge was designed in September 2015 by her to push herself outside of her comfort zone. She wanted to force herself to try new things, to learn to embrace life, to take a situation where she was feeling sad and lonely and force a new perspective. You can find all of the details here.
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