#MomCrush Monday: Meet Sasha Mayer – Willows Sunglasses Founder, TikTok Sensation, & Single Mom

1.) You’re an entrepreneur, founder of WILLOWS and most importantly, a mother. You built your business from the ground up while in the thick of motherhood and personal struggles. What do you want to share with our readers who might be going through tough times and feeling completely defeated?

Nurturing anything from infancy is hard work. Whether a baby or a business – they take your time, energy, and patience. There are days you will feel like a supermom and great businesswoman and days when you are a deer in headlights. It’s only human. Deep down, I have always had this conviction that I was going to be okay, and I think believing that made it okay. You need to remember to speak to yourself with kindness and that words are POWERFUL. I have found that if you add “right now” to the end of your sentences (for instance – I’m really struggling “right now”), it will remind you that this too shall pass. This is a journey, and the road will shift and change. Nothing stays the same so try to embrace the ups and downs!

2.) I love the name of your company, WILLOWS, and how it came to you in a dream. Can you share with us a little more about this and why it was the perfect name for your company?

When I started my business, I didn’t have a name for it for months. One night, I dreamt that I needed to call the glasses Willows, and upon waking knew it was perfect. You have got to love the subconscious mind! Willows have some of the strongest root systems. When faced with a storm they bend (instead of, say – an Oak tree – that would resist the wind and break). I loved the symbolism of this for two reasons: our sunglasses have chains instead of arms that bend. Traditionally what breaks on your eyewear are the arms. Much like the Willows, our arms bend instead of break! On an even deeper level – I left my marriage with a toddler and had to restart my life from scratch. I had to be flexible and stay strong for my son. The Willow tree has long been associated with healing and nurturing. It represents new beginnings, and starting this business gave me a new life.

3.) Being such an incredible mother and mompreneur, what are three things you would like to share with EVERY mom or mom-to-be about how you can still achieve your CAREER goals while successfully managing mom life?

 a.) Postmates!!!!

b.) Give yourself a break. Even if that means locking yourself in the bathroom for 20 minutes. We all need to remember to make some time for ourselves because nothing gets accomplished if we don’t do that.

c.) Let it go: if you beat yourself up constantly, it will only make things harder. We are juggling a lot. Balls will fall, and that’s okay. You’ll pick them back up tomorrow.

4.) As a small business owner, what keeps you up at night? What gets you out of bed in the morning?

Honestly, I should be worried about a million things, but the minute my head hits the pillow, I’m out. I’m exhausted! But my biggest worry (especially when I was starting out) was finances and how I would be able to support my son with a brand new business. I recommend reading “Money a Love Story” by Kate Northup for anyone that might want to create a better relationship with their finances (because I think it does keep most of us up at some point in our lives) What gets me up? Tip toeing into my son’s room and seeing his peaceful sleeping face and taking that moment to appreciate that any struggle that I’m about to have today is for him.

5.) What is your favorite song lyric? Why?

“Time” by Pink Floyd – The concept of failure has always been much easier for me to digest than not trying. This song really captures the idea that we don’t get time back (and we all know how quickly it goes! How is my son already 11 now???) It serves as this beautiful reminder to make sure you don’t waste it!

“Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day

Fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way

Kicking around on a piece of ground in your hometown

Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Tired of lying in the sunshine, staying home to watch the rain

You are young and life is long, and there is time to kill today

And then one day you find ten years have got behind you

No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun”