What if building a business didn’t mean sacrificing your values, family, or sanity — but actually supported them? That’s exactly what my friend Crystalee Beck has done. She’s a mom of four, a serial entrepreneur, and the founder of The Mama Ladder and Comma Copywriters. She’s also one of the clearest examples I know of what it looks like to create a “life-first” business.

Crystalee’s story is full of reminders that success comes when we align our work with our values and protect what matters most.

Saying Yes to the
Season You’re In

Several years ago, Crystalee made the difficult decision to pause The Mama Ladder. COVID had turned everything upside down, she experienced a miscarriage, and her plate was simply too full. Instead of forcing herself to keep going, she chose to step back.

It wasn’t quitting. It was wisdom. She honored the season she was in and gave herself the gift of margin. That decision allowed her to focus on her health, her family, and the other business that was sustaining her. When the timing was right, she turned The Mama Ladder back on with fresh energy.

I love how Crystalee reframes growth. It doesn’t always mean adding more. Sometimes it looks like creating space.

Redefining Success on
Your Own Terms

From the beginning, Crystalee decided she would design her work around her family (not the other way around). She knew she wanted to work part-time hours so she could be present with her kids. She built her company, her team, and her systems with that boundary in mind.

She also redefined success in a way that’s radically freeing. For her, it isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things, in the right season. That clarity is what’s allowed her to grow both of her businesses without losing sight of what matters most.

Protecting Time and Energy

A life-first business doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of daily choices and clear values. Some of the ways Crystalee protects her time and energy include:

• Setting non-negotiable boundaries around her work hours

• Building a team culture rooted in freedom, accountability, and care

• Saying no to opportunities that don’t align with her family or values

This approach has given her the capacity to grow sustainably, lead a thriving team, and still make space for the rhythms of motherhood.

Creating Opportunities for
Other Moms

One of the most powerful things Crystalee has built is The High Five Grant for Moms. It’s a business grant created specifically for women raising families while growing companies. Since 2018, it’s distributed tens of thousands of dollars to help mom-owned businesses take their next step.

What I love most is that the grant is about more than money. It’s about confidence, momentum, and community. It’s about moms cheering each other on and saying, “You can do this too.”

Crystalee’s story reminds me (and I hope it reminds you) that motherhood and entrepreneurship don’t have to be at odds. You can build a business that reflects your values, prioritizes your family, and still makes a lasting impact.

And if you’re a mom who’s built a business with at least $10K in revenue, I want you to apply for The High Five Grant. Applications are open through September 30, 2025. It might be the very thing that helps you climb the next rung on your own ladder.

🎧 Want to hear more of Crystalee’s story? Listen to this episode of Business Origin Stories now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.