Meet Melanie Hansen | Pediatric Sleep Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melanie Hansen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melanie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I wanted to start my own business for a couple of reasons. The number one reason was to have some flexibility in my work and home life. I wanted to be able to be home with a sick child while still getting work done, but also to have the freedom to work from anywhere. My second reason was that I felt a passion for more than what my career has been up until this point. I wanted my hard work to reflect in my paycheck. I always felt an entrepreneurial spirit, but wasn’t sure what that meant for many years. Once I started having children, I realized there was no better time than now to jump in with both feet. Starting my own business leaves so much potential for the future, and I wanted to have something outside of my family that lights my soul on fire.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My career was born from a passion of helping others. I have always been a “fixer” by nature. When I decided I wanted something that was my own, sleep coaching was a step that made the most sense. As a helper, I wanted to help my child learn to fall asleep independently, and in doing so I found that I was good at it. I could use the tactics I learned to help others get their babies to fall asleep too. I am always so proud of the parents that I work with when they tell me their baby or toddler slept through the night. It feels like a win for me, but in reality it is a huge win for them. What sets me apart from others in my field, is that I will meet every family exactly where they are. I will give the tough love that families sometimes don’t know they need, but also give the loving empathy that matters when dealing with the sensitive topic of parenting. I will work hard for my families in order to see results they can be proud of. I help families gain confidence in themselves and their children and in doing so, help them become stronger parents.
I have always been a hard worker. I started my career as an X-ray tech when I was 20 and always found joy in teaching others in the field. When I started my business, I realized I could teach families all over the globe how to do something I knew how to do. Nothing about what I do in my business feels easy. I have to work very hard everyday to make connections and find clients. Overcoming challenges is all about being in the right mindset. I made a conscious decision to surround myself with supportive people that will challenge me to be better and work harder. When you have people in your corner, it is difficult to fail.
I have learned so much about myself as a business owner that I never knew. I have learned how to make difficult decisions when it comes to finances. I have learned how to sell myself and enjoy it. I have learned to put myself out there so much more than I ever would have before.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in New England has many benefits. My favorite places are the beach and the lake. I love to spend my summer days on the pontoon boat in the water. When you live here, driving to three states in one day is just part of the appeal. I would bring friends to Boston for a day in the city. I love to bring friends to get fresh lobster from Brown’s Lobster Pound at the beach. You bring your own drinks and sit out and watch the sunset while enjoying fresh caught lobster. It doesn’t get better than that. When it comes to cocktails, the jury is out for the best. If you want to have the best mudslide, you go to the Puritan Backroom in Manchester NH. If you want a great local, farm to table meal to pair with your beer you would go to Throwback Brewery in North Hampton. If you’re feeling fancy, anywhere in the south end or the seaport district of Boston will suffice. My favorite days are spent sitting outside with a cocktail looking at the lake or ocean. New England has it all.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to give credit to the support of Jayne Havens, owner and founder of Center for Pediatric Sleep Management. She is a superstar when it comes to being an entrepreneur, and has a passion for helping others find their own path in the entrepreneurial world. I took her program to become a sleep consultant and in doing so joined a community of like-minded, wonderful people full of advice and support in all things sleep and business.

Website: www.sleepforlittles.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sleepforlittles

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/sleepforlittlessleeptips