“So, you’re a mom of three and a CEO of a company—how do you do it all?”
Courtney Hirsch, 38, has been asked that question countless times, but the secret is—she doesn’t. And she’s not ashamed to say that.
Hirsch, of New Jersey, is the CEO of Jomboy Media, a creator-led media company founded by her brother. She’s constantly juggling deadlines, managing her team, and making decisions for the company, and that’s before even adding her family life into the equation.
With three children aged 7, 5, and 3, and a husband with an equally demanding career, there’s no doubt that life is a balancing act. But that’s why Hirsch feels it’s so important to ask for help. On the outside, it’s easy for people to presume that she does it all herself, but she told Newsweek that she will “shut that down quickly” whenever people ask how she does it.
“I think our generation of women was sold the idea that we could have it all, but no one told us that it’s impossible to do it all ourselves,” Hirsch said. “There are tradeoffs no matter what you choose, and it’s healthier to be upfront about that.”
Indeed, she makes no secret about the fact that she outsources many of the day-to-day tasks she can’t fit into her schedule. From a nanny to help with her kids four days a week who makes their dinner, lunches, and does laundry, a housekeeper who comes once a week to clean and do ironing, and Hirsch’s mom who also watches the children once a week and makes dinner for everyone.
Every Friday, they have a family meal together, and every Monday is date night for Hirsch and her husband.
Getting help from other people has been a gamechanger for Hirsch, and it’s given her the energy to “fully show up” as a mom, wife, and CEO. Not only is she able to spend quality time with her husband and children without worrying about household tasks, but it’s also provided her with clarity to progress Jomboy Media instead of feeling drained.
“There’s a lot of guilt and shame tied to outsourcing things at home, especially for women. I grew up in a way where this wasn’t normal, so part of me still feels guilty for doing it differently,” Hirsch said.
She continued: “I know there are some people out there that will think I’m less of a mother or wife, but that’s exactly the narrative I want to change. Having help doesn’t make you less, it means you’ve invested in a support system so you can be more present for the people and work you love.”
In a bid to try and counter the outdated narrative, Hirsch shared a video on TikTok (@courthirsch) to list all the ways she receives help as a busy, working mom. The caption alongside the video reads, “I DON’T do it all,” and it’s gone viral with over 1.5 million views and 157,700 likes at the time of writing.
Before she posted the TikTok video, Hirsch felt nervous about being so transparent because it’s still taboo in many ways. While many people have help, Hirsch said it’s often treated “like a dirty little secret” that they don’t want to speak about openly.
“I was worried people would judge me, but hiding it creates a false picture. We need more honesty about the fact that nobody is doing this completely alone and if they are, they feel like they are burning out,” she told Newsweek.
Despite her initial reservations, Hirsch is so glad she shared the video because it’s generated such a positive reaction. Many social media users reached out to tell her that it made them feel seen and lifted a weight off their shoulders.
Hirsch would hate for other moms to think she does it all and that they’re failing in comparison. By being transparent, she hopes to show that there’s no shame in outsourcing help and it’s nothing to feel guilty about.
Hirsch said: “Whether you’re leading a company, a stay-at-home mom, or somewhere in between, you don’t need to carry it all yourself. Asking or paying for help is not a failure, it’s an investment into yourself and your loved ones.
“Women especially need to let go of the guilt because you can’t be at your best if you’re running yourself into the ground trying to live up to an impossible standard.”
In just a matter of days, Hirsch’s video has gained over 3,400 comments on TikTok as social media users thanked her for being so transparent.
Among the responses, one comment reads: “Thanks for saying this. Younger women need to hear that they can’t always do it all—and that’s OK.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “From the bottom of my heart as a team lead and a single mom: thank you.”
While another commenter replied: “You sound honest. We can’t have it all and people need to stop pretending we can.”
Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to [email protected] and they could appear on our site.
The post CEO and Mom-of-3 Asked How She Does it All—Her Answer is Simple appeared first on Newsweek.
