6 Lessons From a Filipino Mom Who Started Her Business Over From Scratch
Nadine de Guzman Lansangan shares how she rebuilt her rhythm at home and in business—one small, intentional step at a time
For Nadine de Guzman Lansangan, starting over isn’t a grand fireworks moment or a neatly written plan—it’s about small, intentional steps that weave together family, faith, and work. A homeschooling mom of two, wife to Paolo, and co-owner of Posh Pocket Shoes, Nadine’s story is a testament to how millennial moms can reclaim their dreams without leaving behind the heart of motherhood.
“I try to be an intentional and responsive mother to my children, but I also believe boundaries are very important,” she shares. “Right now, we’re in the early years of parenthood, so we are homeschooling our 6-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son. Faith is a big part of our home, so I’m really hoping to raise children who love Jesus!”
How a Career Pause Became the Start of Something Better
Starting over, for Nadine, begins at home. It starts with habits: earlier bedtime routines, consistent homeschooling schedules, quiet time with the Lord before the kids wake up, and mindful breaks from her phone. “This month I want to work on improving the atmosphere of our home and form good habits that will help us balance our time between homeschooling and business,” she says.
But starting over also takes form in her professional life. Nadine reflects on her pause from creating leather accessories with Posh Everyday, her business line, which she put on hold during her pregnancies. And after 15 years, her family finally relaunched Brethren Heritage, a men’s footwear line that had long been a dream.
“When we finally relaunched Brethren Heritage, it really felt like we were starting over again,” she recalls. “Jesus really gave us a brand new hope and fresh fire of creativity through this brand relaunch, because we’re literally doing all the work from the ground up.”
How Nadine Turned Floods, Closures, and Loss Into a Comeback
The path hasn’t been without obstacles. From permanently closing their Salcedo store during the pandemic, to losing hundreds of shoes and materials to flooding in Marikina, Nadine and Paolo have faced trials that could have stopped any parent entrepreneur in their tracks.
“There were days that my husband and I were just crying and praying to God, and we felt so lost,” she remembers.
Yet even in moments of brokenness, community and faith carried them forward.
“After sharing online about our flooding experience, donations from our customers and even strangers kept pouring in, including people from overseas. We tried to recover all of the damaged shoes, and we sold every single rewashed pair online,” Nadine shares, her voice a mixture of awe and gratitude.
What Starting Over Actually Taught Her About Grace and Faith
Through all of this, Nadine has learned that starting over doesn’t erase the past. It’s about choosing which pieces of life to carry forward—some of these happen to be grace and faith.
“Give yourself grace,” she advises. “There is no perfect time to reset, but don’t be afraid to start today and take small steps. Build good habits and work on providing a loving atmosphere at home. Include your children in the process and don’t be afraid to ask for help from your family.”
Her faith guides her every decision. “Proverbs 3:5-6 has been my blueprint: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.’ This verse reminds me that no matter how messy life feels, there’s a way forward when you trust in God.”
Her Advice for Every Mom Who Feels Ready to Start Over
Starting over doesn’t have to feel like standing at the bottom of a cliff. For Nadine, it’s been a process of gentle steps, patience, and grace. She reminds fellow moms that there’s no perfect time to hit reset. Some days it’s as simple as clearing the clutter at home or setting a new bedtime routine for the kids. Other days, it’s as big as relaunching a business that’s been paused for years.
“It’s about taking small, intentional steps,” she says. “Build routines that support your family and your work. Don’t try to do everything at once.” She encourages parents to bring their children along for the journey, letting them see what resilience and faith look like in real life.
Nadine also emphasizes the power of community. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help—from your family, your partner, even friends who can step in. We weren’t meant to do it all alone.” Above all, she trusts God’s plan, believing that every pause, every detour, is part of a larger purpose.
“Starting over doesn’t mean you failed,” she assures. “Sometimes it just means that a certain season of your life has fulfilled its purpose, and God is redirecting you toward His perfect plan.”
Why the First Step Is the Hardest — and Why You Should Take It Anyway
For millennial moms navigating career pauses, major life changes, or the challenges of parenthood, Nadine’s story is a reminder: starting over doesn’t mean failure. It’s a chance to honor the past, embrace the present, and create a future that aligns with your values, your family, and your faith.
Whether it’s building a workshop, relaunching a business, or creating daily routines that nurture both her children and herself, Nadine shows that starting over is a process of weaving the threads of life into something meaningful—a life that’s intentional, resilient, and full of hope.
Frequently Asked Questions
It comes down to intentional routines — consistent homeschooling schedules, protected work hours, and clear boundaries between family time and business time. Many mom entrepreneurs also involve their children in age-appropriate parts of the process, making the journey a shared family experience rather than a solo hustle.
Start small and community-first. Nadine and Paolo recovered from flooding in Marikina by sharing their story online — turning crisis into connection. Their customers responded with donations and purchases, proving that transparency and community trust can be powerful business recovery tools.
Not at all. A pause isn’t a failure — it’s a pivot point. Many entrepreneurs find that returning to a paused business with a fresh perspective, stronger values, and a clearer sense of purpose actually produces better results than if they had never stopped.
Early morning quiet time before the kids wake up, a consistent homeschool schedule, intentional phone breaks, and a weekly family reset are habits that help mom entrepreneurs protect both their productivity and their presence at home.
Community is key — whether it’s a partner, family members, friends, or even customers who believe in the brand. Filipino entrepreneurial culture has a strong tradition of bayanihan, and many moms find that asking for help openly, both online and offline, brings unexpected support from people willing to show up.
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