Muslim Mums in Business – Proofreading, Editing and Writing Services by Zenab

My Muslim Mums in Business series focus’s on inspirational Muslim women, who are balancing the art of motherhood along with running businesses.

Please introduce yourself and your business.

My name is Zenab, and I am a writer, proofreader and editor. 

What makes your business different from your competitors?

I like to have a friendly yet professional relationship with clients so we can work towards the best outcome. I don’t like working with flat-rates, or over-charging for something that doesn’t require as much time. I base my prices on the amount of work and the type of work that needs to be done, and I will always involve the client to ensure the work that I do is to their liking.

What inspired you to start working from home?

The flexibility that comes with working from home is second to none. I can work when my girls are napping or playing, and take breaks whenever I need to (yet it doesn’t cause delays with the turnaround time!) Alhamdulillah.

Did anyone in particular inspire you?

Khadijah RA inspires me the most. She was such a successful businesswoman and she did it without compromising on her home-life.

Is your family supportive of you being a working mother?

My husband appreciates and supports me in my endeavours. He will look after the girls if I need to get some work done (sometimes you’re just in the “zone” and don’t want to lose the chance!)

What are the main challenges you face as a mum and an entrepreneur?

It can sometimes be difficult to find work that I am interested in. I believe that we run the risk of not doing our best if we just do something for the sake of earning money. If we have a genuine interest in something, we’ll want to do the best we can and the final product will be really appreciated. 

Describe a typical working day. Are there specific times in the day that you work on your business?

I will usually work a bit before the kids wake up, and then early afternoon when they take their naps and in the evening. This allows me flexibility to do other things during the day that need to be done and give my family time.

What are the pros and cons about being a working mum from home?

Pros are that you can choose when and what you want to do. You want to take on more work, you can. You want a bit of a break, you can. You can give time to your children and family, you can run errands without having to worry about a specified “break-time” – the list can go on! Cons can be that some days you might not be able to get much done at all due to various reasons, but that also leads to another pro as you can make up for it whenever you can!

On your toughest days, what helps keep you motivated?

I remind myself of my goal and the fact that someone has trusted me to complete their project. 

Where would you like to see your business in the future?

I would like to work more regularly with previous clients (such as Kube) – smaller, more regular work is my dream! 

What advice would you give to mums considering taking the step of being a working mum?

If you want to do it, go for it. Ask Allah for help and guidance, put your trust in Him. Not of all us can invest a lot of money from the very beginning, but don’t let that get you down. Take small steps and keep working at it. And never lower your standards or aims. You do what you want, and as long as your intentions are good, you will never be a failure.