Misha Ford was taught the power of entrepreneurship by her grandmother, which led her to create the consulting group 3TG, which provides staffing and professional development consulting for the federal government, Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and small and medium-sized businesses. As the founder and CEO, Ford is helping her two daughters learn the value of entrepreneurship as they work alongside her at the consulting group. Being a mother who is supportive and teaches her children about creating a life of their own is important, and that’s what Ford continues to do every day.
Ford spoke with rolling out about 3TG, being a mother, and working alongside her daughters.
How do you balance your business and being a mother?
With a tribe. Being a mom of two girls — my girls are grown now — I was married for 20 years so I had good support. But balancing? Building a career and building this company, balance, for me, is not a real thing. That’s just being absolutely transparent, and you have to forgive yourself and give yourself grace but I will tell any new mom please pay attention to your children and be present for your children. Everything else follows.
How is running a business the same as raising a child?
That’s exactly what it is. You’re raising a child; it’s your baby. Every day I have to get up and make sure I rock this baby, make sure I change the baby. That is exactly what it is. You’re raising a child but you have to be so obsessed with this like it’s a baby like no other. You have to do it with care, and it’s time, patience, virtue, and integrity. You can’t walk away now; you’re too deep in.
What have you learned as a mother that helped you with your business?
As a mom, you’re a leader already. Running a business, you have to be a leader. You’ll be a little bossy. … Both of my daughters work for the company. For me, it’s splitting that apart because I have to remember that I’m still their mom, and I work for them, really. When I think about how it all ties together, they already made me a legacy because they work every single day and they have the passion for it to know that this is their little sister in real life. Bringing it together, it is not easy. It’s a challenge, but it’s a challenge that you have to ask for and that you’re ready to take on for the rest of your life.
What message would you give to young mothers?
Pour into your children. You may not have all the tools but give them what you have and give them the best you can do. Keep them around really good people. No matter what you have to do, you want to raise a child and say, “I did my best. It’s not always going to be unicorns and rainbows, but I did my best with what I had, and I’m thankful. Don’t judge me. I did my best.” Like a toolbox, everybody doesn’t have the same toolbox. I might only have the screwdriver; you might have everything that was needed, but I built everything to go in that box to make sure my children and women around me and the girls around me, you’re going to be successful if you want it.
