Princess Cabalan-Cantal: From Stay-At-Home to Work-From-Home
With most stay-at-home moms opting for more work-from-home or at least hybrid set-ups, Social Media Marketer and Career Coach Princess Cabalan-Cantal offers her insights on how any mom can start.
If any mom is looking for proof that a stay-at-home mom can still have a successful career then, they should meet Princess Cabalan-Cantal.
While some might “judge” a mom for being a “work-from-home mom,” Princess assures that remaining true to one’s path of building a career from home easily dismisses those comments. Especially with today’s technology, stay-at-home moms can upskill with free online courses to stay relevant in today’s corporate market.
“The important part is to never limit yourself,” Princess intimates. “Besides, there are so many valuable skills moms can pick up that can easily translate into a work-from-home career. For example, social media management, virtual assistance, content writing, and online customer service are all great options. Many of these skills are flexible and can be learned through affordable or even free online courses!”
Building a career in the digital space
Like many passions-turned-career stories, hers started with a choice. In 2009, Princess Cabalan-Cantal began her journey into the digital space when it was still just a space where people gathered together to share their interests and find others who believed the same. Doing what many considered digital social work as an administrator for celebrity fan pages, she then discovered how “interesting” social media marketing could be.
“I eventually translated it to running my small online flower shop,” she reveals. “I was a stay-at-home mom with my own business and so, I joined the FHMoms Community, where I took free and mastery courses.”
Since the floral industry is dependent on the seasons, her career as a social media marketer was the one that grew. By 2019, she eventually secured her first client — one from New York. But where does a mom truly start building her work-from-home career? Besides finding various workshops, Princess assures moms that they already have one soft skill that they can build on and businesses love: time management. Moms are expert multi-taskers, she shares. All it takes is the right kind and amount of support they can become efficient and effective.
“I’ve seen companies provide onsite playgrounds for moms who can’t leave their children at home, which is a great way to help them balance work and family life. Emotional and mental support for moms in the workplace is also incredibly important. Allowing moms to choose their work schedule can make all the difference,” she cites.
When the lines between work and home blur
While working from home may sound like a cushy idea, Princess reminds the set-up comes with its own fair set of challenges. Besides the isolation, there’s also the lack of a clear division between work and home which can amplify the mom guilt. The feeling that they’re not able to offer 100% to their work or their families can be quite bothersome.
To cope, Princess reveals her secret to balancing the work-from-home lifestyle: time blocking, as she calls it, has been one of the “game changers” to help her achieve the transition from stay-at-home to work-from-home. It’s to help manage their expectations and prevent her own burnout, she explains.
“I set clear boundaries with my clients—like not working on weekends—and I’m fortunate that they respect that. I focus on household tasks and mommy duties during the day, and once my kids are asleep, that’s when I start working.”
Those boundaries then are what allow her to unwind in whatever way she wants, whether it’s playing with her two daughters or binge-watching her favorite K-Dramas. It’s also through asserting those boundaries that she achieves her definition of success.
“I’ve realized that true success isn’t measured by material wealth but by contentment and having the freedom to choose how to spend your time.”
Succeeding in Social Media Marketing
Now a career coach and content creator herself, the freedom Princess Cabalan-Cantal has earned for herself comes from mastering the art of digital marketing — a skill that takes time to build. Despite the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the idea of automating most social media daily functions, some aspects still need a human touch. There’s no denying the support bots and automated operations provide. However, Princess points out it’s the experiences she’s had and having an entrepreneurial mindset that allows her to remain relevant amidst the transition into automation.
“Being a social media manager is far more than just posting and managing pages. It’s about representing the brand authentically as if it were your own. You need to understand your client’s vision and values, so you can translate that into effective content. I also believe in shifting from an employee mindset to an entrepreneurial one, which helps me manage pages with more ownership and drive.”
That mindset is not something that she came up with on her own, however. It’s something that came from the community and people she follows, paying tribute to the people who have helped her. She cites that filling social media feeds with the right influencers or people who have the same mindset can make “taking the leap” for any stay-at-home parent easier.
“Find your community and seek support. Follow the right people and influencers for inspiration and guidance—remember, you are what you consume. Take that leap! Working from home offers the freedom and flexibility to be there for your family while still pursuing your career. It’s not always easy, but with passion and dedication, the rewards are worth it. Build a strong support system, set clear boundaries, and always make time for yourself. You’ve got this!”
More about working moms?
Camille Co: “If You’re a Working Momma, Know That You’re Not a Bad Parent.”
Melissa Gohing: “You Can Be A Good Mom and A Working Mom!”
How These Working Moms with Toddlers are Managing Without a Yaya
