Meet a Mom – Think lounge

Jen Nilan the owner and founder of Think Lounge sits down with us and talks all things business as a busy mom of two. 

Hi Jen – so glad to chat with you today. Can you tell our readers a little about yourself?

My name is Jen Nilan. I am in a loving marriage with my husband, Steve, who I started the business with. We have 2 young kids, Henry, 6, and Sammy, 4. We’ve lived in Austin for 4 years. I was actually born in the Philippines and came to the US when I was 3 and grew up in NYC. My professional background is in marketing and my husband is in software engineering. I enjoy the outdoors, food and wine/beer, live music and the arts. I have a passion for working with kids and supporting families.

Can you tell us a little more about Think Lounge? What’s the history and mission behind the business and what drives you to expand in Austin?

Our business is a 3-in-1 childcare, coworking space and cafe. We have been open almost 2 years now. We started this business because we saw the need for a coworking solution designed specifically for parents of young children. Think Lounge® is a unique place, where parents can focus and kiddos can play – flexible, accessible and practical. We hope Think Lounge® brings convenience, stress-relief and a sense of community to all those who come.

Our mission is to Give Moms the Gift of Time — What are your best time-saving tips/resources as a mom?

Start every week with intention. Always prioritize your time and your energy. Planning and preparation is not a waste of time and can be a Mom’s super power!

What advice would you give others thinking about starting their own business? What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your business?

What I wish I knew before starting a business:
1. It’s a lot like having your first child. You have no idea what to do or expect no matter how hard you try. You experience moments that completely and utterly break you. And you don’t get a redo, a pass, or a lifeline. There’s literally no way but through it, success or failure.
2. Although you work for yourself and you get to “set your own hours” just remember that the hours are literally every waking hour of your life.
3. You thought you knew anxiety but this is the kind that makes you lose 20% of your body weight without noticing.
4. If you do commercial construction of any kind, take what you think it costs and 3X it. Then check to see if you can realistically cover that amount. If you can, great! If you can’t, just know you’ll be forced to eventually.
5. Customer awareness takes a while but it does happen. You can’t give up on it. When awareness happens, it sometimes takes a long time before they even show up. You have to be prepared to cover all the costs of this waiting period.
6. Never lose sight of your why. Never stop learning. Never give up. Never short change yourself. Never feel guilty for dreaming big.
7. If you don’t make time for rest and recovery, it’s only a matter of time before you burn out or break down. Respect your limits and honor your needs.
8. You get out of it what you put in.

Any promotions or events that you want to share with our community?

We are open Saturdays now from 10am-4pm at the reduced rate of $14.99/hr.

Where do you see your business in the next 5 years?

Just for fun – lets do some rapid fire questions

Something interesting about yourself/something that others may not know about you

I was in an all girls acapella group in college called The Quirks