Success comes in many forms. It’s not just startups that conquer the market with innovative ideas, but also individuals who choose to change the world around them, whether they are entrepreneurs, scientists, students, or philanthropists. Sometimes all it takes is a bold idea, other times it takes years of persistent work. But they have one thing in common – they don’t give up, they look for new ways and push the boundaries of possibility with their efforts. In our section Paths of Success, we give space to these people who have a vision and the courage to make it happen, even if the path to the goal is not always easy.

Lucie Janauer decided to start her own company Monkey Mum when she was on maternity leave. Her goal was to create safe, quality and innovative products for children that support natural development and parenting. Since then, the company has grown very quickly, and today sells its products not only in the Czech Republic, but also in other European countries such as Germany, Spain and the Nordic countries. What was behind this success and what motivated her to venture into building such an ambitious project?

1. Lucie, what specifically inspired you to start your business during your maternity leave?

My entrepreneurial aspirations were well before I went on maternity leave, so I would say it was during maternity leave that I first managed to turn a business plan and idea into a real business and company.

2. Could you describe your biggest challenge in setting up Monkey Mum?

There were several. The first challenge was not to be discouraged by all the advice and critics around me who tried to discourage me from trying to start my own business from the beginning based on their own failures in life. It was also very difficult to find funding to start the business and at the same time to find investors who would help me financially (not only) in the beginning. And of course one challenge I had left at home. Working with a baby, later two, was very demanding, many times even unbearable.

3. And when did the thoughts of expansion start to appear?

Actually, already when I was setting up the company and looking for the right name for the e-shop. I always knew that it didn’t make sense to do business only in the Czech Republic when there is so much potential in the world. That’s why I came up with an English name and a domain with a .com ending and only then did I realize that the e-shop could really expand in real terms, even in less than a year. The advantage was that the unique product that I launched here was also missing on the European market. The first countries – Slovakia, Poland, Hungary – were launching within the first year.

4. Looking back on your journey, what would you change or do differently?

I would never do anything differently in my life. I wouldn’t. One always makes the best decisions one can based on past experiences and circumstances. Of course, a lot of things have happened that have brought complications, and it may seem like if we had prevented it, we would have made our job easier. But business just isn’t easy. So many things have gone wrong and so many things will go wrong in the future. Rather, a good entrepreneur learns to live and work with problems simply, but more importantly . learns to deal with them calmly and promptly.

5. What motivates you in the most difficult moments, when you feel exhausted or in a difficult period?

In the beginning, it was thinking about the moms we make life easier for. Literally. I knew that hundreds, later thousands of moms, could finally sleep peacefully with their babies, and that was a great motivation for me. I saw that we were growing as a company, and that we could create something that would have a bigger impact. And even though there were times when I was really struggling, I always loved the business and would never think of giving up. 🙂

6. And the last question, what advice would you give to your “younger and inexperienced” self?

Do everything you do, do it to the fullest with love and never give up!

Thank you so much for the interview!