Whether you are just starting out gathering your business ideas, or are in full blown implementation mode...something is going to be difficult. As awesome as you are, you will meet a struggle. Don't worry, as your entrepreneur mentor, I'm gladly going to walk you through it!

Over the past two weeks I have talked with more and more people and felt a simultaneous sense of struggle AND a sense of power that we each have.  I have had conversations with people about their kids being sick, their parents being sick, them being sick.  I have talked with people about job losses and crazy criminals.  I have talked with people about being their own boss and crazy bosses.  Crazy customers too.  

All of this is great reason to get yourself thrown off track.  Absolutely!  And to be honest, It hits me the same way.   There is no doubt in my mind that knowing your vision and priorities, being committed to them, having this vision enter your life as often as possible (remember what I said about practice) great things happen.  I know it – I have seen it happen over and over and over again.  

But there is this undeniable force out that sometimes feels like it is meant to throw us off track.  Another example of this is the customer needing something completed bright and early Monday morning… and they first mention it Friday afternoon!   (Truth is – I have heard this TWICE -not once but twice!- in the past two weeks.)  Their weekend then becomes consumed with new requirements from their ultimate end customer.   

The black cloud, the force, the inevitable thing that is going to force you to get “off-track” is going to happen.  After hearing of all this news all I have been saying to myself over and over again – is that the hardest part of getting something done, is getting through the hardest part. 

The hardest part is getting through the hardest Part. 

The hardest part is getting through the hardest part.   

THE HARDEST PART IS GETTING THROUGH THE HARDEST. 

And the more I think of this, the more I think it is true.  Another example is that I have friends running the Army 10-miler and Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC.   I know they have been in training and I have no doubt about their finishing.  That’s not say their training hasn’t been hard and their hasn’t been commitment tested, but I am confident they have made it through the hardest part and will finish the races happily and successfully.

So whatever that “hardest part” is… fear, too much work, changes in expectations or all the above.  Maybe there is comfort in knowing that the Black Cloud does go away, that while the inevitable will occur – what’s needed sometimes is conquering this “hardest” part. 

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Do you love listening to Podcasts?  Or do you not really know what one is quite yet?? Let me make it easy for you.  It’s perfect for you - the super-busy-always-running-around woman that you are.  Pull up the podcast on your phone, plug-in your headphones and listen as you workout, do your errands or even the dishes late night! 

CLICK on the LINK Below & Go

OR another easy way you can pull up the Mompreneur on Fire podcast via the Podcast App that is already. on. your. iPhone.  

Jenny Keller learned how to bake when her little ones were just wee-ons and has since transitioned her hobby to a successful, multi-faceted business. One quick look at her website, JennyCookies.com, and you see Jenny pulls together loads of beautiful work.  Her work includes styling parties and desserts tables, hosting beautiful ladies lunches where women learn a great takeaway, she has a cookbook, has worked with plenty of celebrities and brands, like Neiman Marcus, Anthropologie and the lovable Tori Spelling. Her work is creative and beautiful in a very natural and authentic manner. 

Talking with Jenny was as easy and as it was fun.  It was like talking with an old friend and we talked all things business and family. We talked about many things including:

• How she ended up working with Tori Spelling and other celebs
• Where burnout lead her
• How she balances work and her business
• How her kids are involved in her business
• What she wants her kids to learn
• How her parents influenced her
• How she's developed relationships with brands
• Why she doesn't seek out perfection
• A great tip for up & coming Mompreneurs

LINKS

• Worst End of School Year Mom Ever - Jen Hatmaker
• Chatbooks

UPDATES

• What did you want to be when you grew up? 
  • I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up!  Now I can't even imagine that job! One day as a field trip chaperone and I'm exhausted... how do they do it??
• What was your first job?
  • My first job was at a local tanning salon.  Ugh.  What I wouldn't do to go back in time and take back all the "tans".
• What are your go-to books and apps?
  • I love Jen Hatmaker books, she's hilarious and inspiring.  Her recent book For the Love had me in tears.  My current favorite is Go-Giver.  Great read!  Favorite apps... I don't necessarily have favorite apps other than social media: Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and SnapChat.  After keeping up on all of those there isn't any time left for the others!
• What are your favorite gifts to give??
  • My favorite gifts to give are fresh flowers, beautiful home baked treats and indulgent items.  It's fun to spoil someone with something they wouldn't normally buy for themselves. 

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How many of us start the day and just go? From the moment we wake up, we feel like we are on the run and it could be bedtime again before we get a break. Our days are filled and we are in high gear. It can be especially hard for those of us who work from home. Kids, chores, deliveries- it's easy to see the crazy unfolding.

Here we go....

I’ve got to get dressed and ready for the day and I have the little ones too.  Get them dressed, fed and out the door.  

Oops, I forgot their lunch. 

And their jacket. 

Why doesn’t the little one have shoes?

Why am I getting a work call this early?

By the time the kids are in school, I am “in” for a few hours already!  

Frankly, I love it.  I love a busy day and I love it when I get a lot done too because I feel accomplished.  

When nighttime comes, I crash.  I either die into the sofa and watch some terrible show or I crash hard in bed.  My body needs to rest.  I love these days but they are hard too.  I am physically and mentally trying to keep ahead of the day. 

I think this is why I also love and sometimes prefer those nice, casual, low-speed kinda days when my mind and body simply float.  

Those days where I am just present.  My body and mind are relaxed and I can let everything go.  

Let’s face it, as a mother and business owner, I don’t have days anymore where I can just float.  But I realize, I don’t need days because I have moments.

I have lots of little moments throughout the day where I am settled and happy.  

And it’s these moments when I am comfortably settled in my day, I love them and hold onto them for dear life.  

The question is: how do I beat the crazy day?? This mom life has gone crazy! How can I feel accomplished and comfortably settled like from my low-key days? 

For me, it takes a lot of practice and a lot of resetting through the day, but a mere pause, a deep breath and becoming present changes the day like no other.   

Try this: 

STOP. 

Stop physically moving.  Stop right there in your tracks.  

Take a single deeeeeeep breath.  

Take a deep breath in and let it out ever so slowly.  

Get control of your thoughts, your moment, your energy, your day.  

Ask yourself what thoughts do you want to have?

Think to Yourself  

My day doesn’t have to be crazy.  

I have everything I need. 

My kids have everything they need.

Where I dropped the ball, others will help out.  They will be okay.

I can do this. 

I have so many gifts in front of me, right now.  

I’ve got this day.  

There are many fun, great things happening right now. 

Even if a little ugly pops up, that’s okay too, because I have all this other good around me.  

Lots of good around me today and right now.

Lots of good around me today and right now.

Don’t forget to breath as you stop and take in the world around you.  

Deep breath in, deep breath out.  

How can that 30 seconds not re-align your day?  When I am running around, I sometimes feel like I don't have a moment to breathe, and I have literally have to be doing many things at once just to accomplish what I need to in that moment.  Yet, there are these moments when I stop, take a breath, and reflect on how there IS a moment (or many) of this day that IS neat, cool or fun.  These quick moments or flashes of “being present” brings your intention back in the day.  As you are running from the first thing to the next take a moment and catch your breath.  Recognize the things around you and take it in.... 

That's it, one single step.  It's a loaded step. But you weren’t asked to spend more money or “outsource" as your could.  You weren’t asked to forget the responsibilities of the day and take time for yourself, which you could do too.  Or not do.  Nor were you told to add other items to your list and take a walk, or listen to your favorite music, even though those all help too. You can work from home and remain calm(ish).

There are loads of exercise and ways to do this but one of the quickest ways is to find your breath and take in the moment.  When I am at my craziest and busiest, “finding your center” and becoming “present" is arguably the single best way to improve your day, at that exact moment.  All day, everyday, within my crazy mom life, I have lots of little moments of joy, gratitude and happiness. 

What better way to spend 30 seconds??

Good luck!

---

Update: I started doing guided meditations this past year and cannot speak anymore highly of them.  Life. Changing.

Here's my favorite!  Download it.  I *promise* you, you will love this meditation!

---

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Don’t really know what a podcast is quite yet?? Let me make it easy for you.  It’s perfect for you - the super-busy-always-running-around woman that you are.  Pull up the podcast on your phone, plug-in your headphones and listen as you workout, do your errands or even the dishes late night! 

CLICK on the LINK Below & Go

OR another easy way you can pull up the Mompreneur on Fire podcast via the Podcast App that is already. on. your. iPhone.  

Jessica Valant is a pilates instructor and a physical therapist.  She just sold her studios in Hawaii and is now focusing her time taking care of her little one AND running an online community and membership-based health program at HappyHourMama.com. I wanted to talk with her because she not only because I love the idea of an affordable health program (think workouts and food guides for the busy mom) and I love that she is a mom making it happen.  She’s transitioning from Brick & Mortar business to Online all with a kid in tow. 

My questions are endless but start with: What? How? Why?

Jess was great to talk with and I don’t doubt you’ll enjoy the conversation as much as I did.  A few of the things that we talked about included: 

• Her first product
• How she's taking advantage of traffic from YouTube
• How she saw saw a missing element in the market and created it
• What drove her to become entrepreneurial
• The FUN first experience in setting her own schedule
• How she’s transitioning her work from hands-on to online
• How to stay true to yourself while also branching out
• Her goals
• Her Sunday To-Do List (LOVE!)
• "White space" exercise
• Her mentors
• Amazing lessons learned about listening to oneself

LINKS

• Scoliosis Workout
• Pilates Anytime
• Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield
• Marie Forleo B-School
• Screw the 9-5
• Nikki Elledge Brown 

UPDATES

• What did you want to be when you grew up?
  • I saw the movie “Regarding Henry” when I was 14 years old and knew I wanted to be a physical therapist. Before that I wanted to be a rock star :)
• What was your first job?
  • First job - 14 years old - a hostess at Le Peep restaurant in Kansas City where I grew up. 

• What are your go-to books and apps?
  • Books - “The Fire Starter Sessions” by Danielle LaPorte, “Break Out!” by Joel Osteen, “Carry On, Warrior” by Glennon Doyle Melton
  • Apps - Word Swag, Pulsar, Bloglovin’, Mindbody (to find fitness classes!)

• What are your favorite gifts to give??
  • I always give massages to my husband that I actually do myself.
  • I love giving girlfriends gift certificates for pedicures or something else to pamper themselves.
  • For grandparents I send homemade cards my daughter makes,
  • and at Christmas I always give homemade treats like cookies or spiced nuts

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A year ago today, my mother passed.  While she was not in the best of health, her passing was a shock.  I miss her, more than one could imagine.  As the year has progressed, I realize the good in her, more than I had before. I hope to emulate these characteristics too.

1. There is nothing you can’t learn, nothing you can’t do. 

I get asked all the time, where do I get my confidence from?  This was definitely a lesson from my mother.  She always told me “There is nothing you can’t learn, nothing you can’t do.” My mother was raised just outside of the MadMen/1960s era, when most women went to college, worked as secretaries, married and then settled down.  That’s not how things happened in her life and given the opportunity, I think she would have done a few things different.  She always talked about how maybe that would have been to attend law school.  She always wanted me to feel I could do anything.  I could be the CEO, I could go to Harvard, I could do anything but walk two steps behind a man.  Then as serial entrepreneurs, I watched my parents learn about many different things in order to create and make the most out of business opportunities.  She did an amazing job balancing work and family. Seriously, at one time they were experts in Wisconsin cheeses!  I learned from my mother, there is nothing I can’t do.  

2. You can always and easily make someone feel good. 

When I walked in the door to my parent’s house she would exclaim, “There she is!”  When my father walked in the same door she would exclaim, “There he is!” She would always put on fresh lipstick for us.  At Christmas time, your gift, no matter what it was, was the thing she had been waiting for, wanting, and needing.  And with all the gifts passed around, all the gifts were equally special.  Her smile to you and appreciation for your efforts was consistent, she was always happy to see you and always happy to hear from you.  She taught me that the simple effort of smiling when someone walks in your door, is day-changing for that person.  And no matter what the gift is, someone put their money, time and energy in getting it for you.  No matter what it is, it’s worth great appreciation, which is what you always got when giving to her. 

3. Anger and hurt only hurt you. 

A number of years ago, I got in a really big, unimaginable fight with my brother and sister-in-law.  I was very close with them and this thing that happened between us, as my mom said really “shook my core”.  As I processed through the hurt and anger she listened, she heard every detail, and she cried as I sobbed.   She took her time with me and my pain. She was on my side, in terms of rooting for me to feel better and giving me what I needed.  I don’t doubt she tried that with my brother either. In the end, in one of our last emotional conversations about this long-lasting disagreement, she talked with me how I had to find a way to let go of the hurt and anger and that I was only hurting myself.   It took a lot of work and the birth of my daughter to let it go but in the end, she was right.  Anger and hurt only hurt you.

4. You, too, can be your biggest cheerleader.   

Hands down my mom was my biggest cheerleader.  She was excited for me for everything I did.  Everything was an opportunity that I was going to naturally excel at.  (Really, she cheered you on in such a great manner, I never felt pressure either.)  Missing this part of my mom has been of the hardest.  When I sent her pictures of E’s nursery, she noticed every single detail and asked me about each of them.  Where did I get the pink and white striped shade for the lamp?  Where is the giant bear from?  How did I match the wall mural to the bedding so closely?  She was proud and excited for me and our upcoming arrival! When planning my little girl’s first birthday party this past year, it was mom who would have wanted to hear every detail about how the Birthday Banner coordinated so cutely with the high-chair banner, bibs and other decorations.  I miss my cheerleader but I hear her words and excitement as I continue on.  I, too, can cheer myself on!

5. It’s okay to be different, be yourself and not be perfect. 

I don’t know if it is because she was my mother, but she loved me just the way I am.  She never tried to change me, always embraced me, and was excited to see me, always.  No matter what.  I know I am different than others.  I know I am quirky and there aren’t many like me.  I know I am not perfect nor was she.  But she loved me and I loved her, just the way we were.  

I wish everyone a relationship similar to the one I had with my mother.  We weren’t perfect, we didn’t always see eye to eye.  Heck, we got mad at each other too.  But we mostly enjoyed each other’s company and loved each other very much. These are five things I have been thinking about in the year I have missed my mother.

---

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Don’t really know what a podcast is quite yet?? Let me make it easy for you.  It’s perfect for you - the super-busy-always-running-around woman that you are.  Pull up the podcast on your phone, plug-in your headphones and listen as you workout, do your errands or even the dishes late night! 

CLICK on the LINK Below & Go

OR another easy way you can pull up the Mompreneur on Fire podcast via the Podcast App that is already. on. your. iPhone.  

“You do your best and if it isn’t perfect, believe it or not, people don’t actually care that much.”

— Deva Dalporto

You may or may not know the name Deva Dalporto from My Life Suckers but most certainly you have seen her hilarious video parodies like the one below that has over 7 million views on YouTube or this one that had me laughing out loud and has been watched over 9 million times. 

Deva graciously agreed to talk with me about all things mompreneur.  How does one even get started in a viral video parody biz?? How do you create this labor intensive awesomeness while also running a home and raising a family?  I don't know what I expected but perhaps it was a larger-than-life type personality but what I got was so much better.  Deva is kind and funny and most shockingly quite real.  Yes, she has highs and lows just like the rest of us and she's embracing this journey in front of her.  But what else?? The woman is busting her butt and I totally appreciate that.  Yes, she's enjoying it and she loves it but I give props to the hard worker too. 

That and I love the gift that she gives us.  Her genius is to give us laugther and lightness during some of the most stressful times out there.  I know I'm appreciative!

We talked about many different things here are just a few: 

• What her workweek looks like
• How she's doing the work she loves and kind of stumbled into it
• When and where she's not perfect
• How she keeps Zen
• Her mentors
• How her community has grown

LINKS

• Her daughter's parody The Momster Mash
• Her twenty one pilots: Stressed Out video (I snorted in laughter when I watched this!)
• Male Patterned Blindness 
• Jenn Mann - People I Want To Punch in The Throat
• Ilana - Mommy Shorts 
• Kim Holderness
• United Talent Agency
• iMovie
• Premeir Pro
• YouTube
• Canon C100

MORE FROM DEVA

• What did you want to be when you grew up?
  • An actress. I knew from as far back as I can remember that I wanted to act. There was never, ever anything else I wanted to do with my life. 
• What was your first job?
  • My first job was babysitting. And in the summer I worked as a production assistant on workout videos blow-drying sweat off of people's bodies between takes. In my years trying to be an actress in LA I worked every job out there. Waitress. Birthday Party Entertainer. Gardener. Overnight Transcriber. Caterer. Shakespeare Teacher. Dog Walker. You name it, I did it. And I still could barely pay my rent. 
• What are your go-to books and apps?
  • Cheryl Strayed's Tiny Beautiful Things is like my Bible. I reach for it whenever I need inspiration or a pick-me-up from feeling down. The only apps I really use are social media apps since I am on social media 24/7. Oh, and I recently discovered Door Dash. I use it to get food delivered when I'm shooting videos!
• What are your favorite gifts to give??
  • I love giving my girlfriends Sephora gift cards. Probably because I wish someone would give me one! 

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Don’t really know what a podcast is quite yet?? Let me make it easy for you.  It’s perfect for you - the super-busy-always-running-around woman that you are.  Pull up the podcast on your phone, plug-in your headphones and listen as you workout, do your errands or even the dishes late night! 

CLICK on the LINK Below & Go

OR another easy way you can pull up the Mompreneur on Fire podcast via the Podcast App that is already. on. your. iPhone.  

"Rejection is Protection" - Diane Mizota

What do you do when you’re tired of waiting by the phone?  Well, you get up and go.  You figure out other things to do.  You light that fire.  You learn.  You proactively ask, help, do.  You participate.  You take “no” as data.  You grow.  Yes, you struggle too but you move, gracefully.  You plan.  You hustle.  You listen. to. your. gut.  

The podcast conversation with Diane Mizota (and all around hustler) was quick - boy was it quick- and insightful too.  She’s a content creator, a producer, a host, an actor, a dancer, and a “full-time working stay at home mom”.  She’s running her household, raising her boy, running to auditions, preparing client work and yes, hosting a style segment on Access Hollywood!

Diane has this storytelling capability that will make the time fly by.  We talked about many things but you will learn what she did to quit waiting by the phone: 

• Learned a new skill
• Act proactively and don’t judge a potential opportunity before it happens
• Started a small business
• A healthy way to look at rejection
• Ask your mentors to help
• About listening to what your gut is telling you

“Even the set backs have lead me to really great things happening.”

- Diane Mizota

LINKS

• Her Interview with Bruno Mars

Update

• What did you want to be when you grew up?
  • A secretary, Ricky Schroeder's wife and then a dancer.
• What was your first job?
  • Domino's Pizza.  I was employee of the month 3 times, thank you very much. 
• What are your go-to books and apps?
  • I'm reading Rice Noodle Fish by Matt Goulding in preparation for my trip to Japan this summer. On my phone, I'm all about FB, Insta, Snapchat on a good and Words with Friends.
• What are your favorite gifts to give??
  • I love giving gift baskets from the Broadway Baker- it's like you baked the goods yourself, only you didn't.  Pure Genius.

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Do you love listening to Podcasts?  Or do you not really know what one is quite yet?? Let me make it easy for you.  It’s perfect for you - the super-busy-always-running-around woman that you are.  Pull up the podcast on your phone, plug-in your headphones and listen as you workout, do your errands or even the dishes late night! 

CLICK on the LINK Below & Go

OR another easy way you can pull up the Mompreneur on Fire podcast via the Podcast App that is already. on. your. iPhone. 

“It’s not about networking and getting ahead, it’s about scaffolding and bringing people along with you as you make your own way.”

— Ann Imig

Imagine one day you are at a conference going from talk to talk, mingling and smiling, taking notes and doing your best.  And then suddenly you are in a room and realize you are soaking in every. word. spoken.  

You have found your people.  

You have found your tribe.  

Ann Imig, took that moment and built the Listen To Your Mother, a National Reading Series and Media Company production, that celebrates and validates all things motherhood and is hosted around Mother’s Day year now for the last 6 years.  Starting with a single show in Madison, WI, 6 years ago, this year, the show will be in 41 cities across the US, 2000 shows on YouTube.  And just recently Ann was awarded the 2016 Game Change of the Year for the IRIS Awards. 

In the conversation not only was I trying to soak in what she had to say, but I was a little nervous too.  Ann was kind and informative.  Real and knowledgable.

Below are a handful of things we discussed:

• When she feels stuck.
• What Blogging was to her in the beginning
• How being a stage actress prepared her for today’s work
• The seeds that were planted that began LTYM
• Authentic Connections & Authentic Collaborations
• How her production grew
• How being out of her comfort zone prepared her
• How luck and strategy helped her grow and a really great team
• How she almost did a reality show and DEB helped her without that…
• Who make the best producers
• How she makes it through her busiest time of the year
• What she doesn’t do with her business
• When she’s pulled off the miraculous
• Her mentors
• Her tribe.  Her tribe. Her tribe.

“Authentic collaborations really pushed me to be better.” - Ann Imig

LINKS

• BlogHer Voices of the Year
• Deb Rox

Update

• What did you want to be when you grew up?
  • A teacher-ballerina-actress-mom
• What was your first job?
  • I was a bus girl at a deli at age 13. I could barely lift the bus-tubs full of dishes after I cleared the tables.
• What are your go-to books and apps?
  • My favorite go-to book is Melody Beattie's "More Language of Letting Go" because I'm very clenched. 
• What are your favorite gifts to give??
  • I love giving gifts of jewelry, books, accessories--if I seriously consider keeping the gift for myself instead of giving it to the intended, I know it's the right gift.

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Do you love listening to Podcasts?  Or do you not really know what one is quite yet?? Let me make it easy for you.  It’s perfect for you - the super-busy-always-running-around woman that you are.  Pull up the podcast on your phone, plug-in your headphones and listen as you workout, do your errands or even the dishes late night! 

CLICK on the LINK Below & Go!

OR another easy way you can pull up the Mompreneur on Fire podcast via the Podcast App that is already. on. your. iPhone. 

The conversation starts out with us belly laughing over the realities of being a mom, a business owner and taking on yet another task.  My goodness, Heather from Safe in the City was a real gem to talk with.  W e just laughed and laughed.  This former NCIS Agent turned her badge in so she could be with her kids more and also help women be safer around the country.  She gets thank you wherever she goes and if you ask me, should speak to every Sorority out there!  Heather is kind, real and funny AND as strong and authentic as they come.  

A few of the things that we talk about include: 

• Why we started the podcast belly rolling with laughter.
• Why her balance has been thrown off recently!
• How her personal WHY is the embodiment of her business
• The interesting dinner conversations at her home
• The trigger to make a change from a stable, pension position to an entrepreneur’s life
• How she came up with her idea for her business
• Her differentiator 
• How she got her first big sale
• How her husband gave support 
• Putting things out into the black and white world
• Taking a Leap to a J.O.B.
• The support system to take her through
• Her favorite podcast and business coach!
• Where she feels behind.
• Favorite resources

LINKS

• BizChix
• Meet Edgar
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Update

• What did you want to be when you grew up?
  • When I was growing up I frequently changed my mind about what I wanted to do when I grew up. When the movie Space Camp came out I was certain I wanted to be an astronaut, but I get motion sick fairly easily, so I thought that might not be a good idea. I actually went to college on an education scholarship. I thought being a teacher would be fun since they get summers off. But once I got to college, I realized I don't really like to deal with groups of children. Lol It took 5 major changes until I figured it out. So...I guess you could say I wasn't one of those kids who just knew I would be a Special Agent when I grew up. In fact if you would've told me the path my life would take I would have looked at you like you had two heads. :)
• What was your first job?
  • My first job was at Old Country Buffet when I was 14 years old. I was a hostess and "muffin lady." If you mean my first "real" job, I was a social worker for the Department of Children & Family Services in Cleveland, OH.
• What are your go to books and apps?
  • My two "go to" books are The Alchemist and To Kill a Mockingbird. They're both very inspirational and anytime I've felt lost in the world, they have reassured me I'm on the right path.
  • My favorite fun app is Bitmoji, it cracks me up! My "new to me" favorite app is Evernote. I struggled to understand Evernote for a long time, but now I'm addicted.
• What are your favorite gifts to give??
  • My favorite gifts to give are from Etsy. I love finding personalized original gifts and supporting other small businesses. 

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As a business owner, you need to set priorities and communicate them with your team. This allows you to feel confident that your business will stay on track. Your customers and clients can be served without any major disasters. As an online business manager, I help women accomplish this every day.

There are many people who are constantly running around putting out fires and living the mantra “if it’s not one thing, it’s another”. Unfortunately, having to put out fires on a regular basis is not only energy-zapping and time-wasting, but it is also a money drain on your business.  The time spent on so-called fires takes away from the time spent on goal achieving, revenue-generating tasks for your company.  

Are you constantly putting out fires?  Do people come in your office or call you requesting immediate updates, help or answers?  Did the work need to be completed yesterday?

The need to put out a fire, a genuine emergency, in your office happens to everyone.  Having to consistently put out fires means something completely different: it represents a lack of priority setting and lack of communication.  

“The funny thing about firemen is, night and day, they are always firemen.”

— Gregory Widen, Backdraft

Priority setting is important in all businesses, but it is sometimes forgotten by the business owner. 

Setting a priority is when something (i.e. a goal) is deemed more important than something else.  What are the priorities in your office?  Who set them?  Why are these priorities higher than others? These are important questions to obtain answers to because when priorities are set and communicated, teams know what work will be focused on, what actions need to be addressed immediately and what changes can postponed for now.  

If you are consistently putting out fires, you are managing your world as it comes to you instead of managing your priorities.  To achieve success and fulfillment in your project, your goals, and/or your dreams, one must set priorities not only to have something to work towards, but also to have a scale to measure incoming work and distractions.  With a priority scale in place, when something new comes in, you can more easily determine where it fits into your task list for the short term, the medium term, or the long term.

Don’t forget to communicate your priorities to your colleagues, teams and customers.  Communicating the order of importance puts them in higher regard and keeps everybody focused.  

Always having to put out fires is a waste of valuable time, energy, and company money.  Working in a structured manner not only assists you in reaching your goals faster, but also allows the person and team to preserve their energy for a more balanced lifestyle. It's time to feel confident in your business again. 

Good luck!

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I have enjoyed reading all my life.  It’s probably one of those deep seeded recurring events that just seems natural to me.  My library visits with my mom made me a reader.  And then I had kids.  Life became overwhelmingly busy. Full blown mom life into effect. Here's how I find time to enjoy my passion for reading, and balance work and family.

This post contains affiliate links.

I’m a mom and I’ll admit it, I read!

I am a reader.  I have vivid memories of going to the library with my mom.  We’d meet this hundred-year-old, white-haired librarian who was excited for the adventure(!) I was going to have with this book!  Oh and that book!  And this one, too!  

I would literally walk out of the library with 15 books in hand.

I have enjoyed reading all my life.  It’s probably one of those deep seeded recurring events that just seems natural to me.  My library visits with my mom made me a reader.  

And then I had kids.  

Oh my goodness.  Nothing prepares you.  Reading becomes something you do in the middle of the night as you rock and feed.  People magazine now has too many words and US Weekly is too floppy.  So, there you have it.  My phone.  I am reading on my phone.  Thank you, Facebook.  

At least I can continue to be the multi-tasker I am always so proud to be.  Rocker.  Feeder.  Reader.  And scroller.  

And when that’s too much, I log onto my beloved Instagram.  (Who needs words to read?!)

Okay, but you see where I am going here.  I love to read, and for a long time reading was scrolling.  But a part me missed the deep stories and getting sucked into the story.  

Reading, for me, is not only taking me into another world filled with courage, love, and emotion, it’s a resting place from my over-active life.  

I get sucked in.  

Will the character have the courage to say the right thing?  

Oh no! It was misinterpreted! 

Hooray for a new day!  For forgiveness!  

For courage!

And I love a good historical fiction because for me, not only am I in the story, but I am being productive, too!  I am learning!

Do you remember White Oleander by Jane Fitch and when that first came out??  Ohhh how I loved it.  I still have the book because the memory of reading it is so fabulous.  

Be still my heart.  

And then of course, I have the memory of my beloved book club.  We actually started out reading the books.  We were young and mostly kidless.  We would pick a book each month and discuss.  We’d have some great conversations and debates, too.  As our friendships grew, the conversations about the book itself dwindled.  We would joke, because hours into our “book club meeting,” we would remember our “purpose” for being there!  So someone would dart their hand up, “Who read the book??”  And perhaps a 5-minute discussion would begin before we got sidetracked back to real-life matters.  But it was the books themselves that brought us together.  It was the books that opened our minds and let our voices be heard.  

So how, oh how, did I bring reading back into my life now that kids and responsibilities have skyrocketed?  I have tried everything. 

Below are 8 Ways I Get in My Golden Time:

1. Actually Sit Down & Read. It’s obvious, I know, but I sneak in times all over the place.  When my kids are in the bath and playing, I sneak into the other room and read a chapter.  When March Madness was on and my husband wanted to watch the games, I sat down and read.  When my kids were building forts in the living room, I snuck a chapter in here and there. 

2. Go to Bed Early.  I find I hate TV now.  I have one favorite show I must watch, but the rest I can take or leave.  If I’ve got a good book, I say goodnight and get in 20 or 30 minutes of reading.  
3. Audible.  I only have a few moments on my own in the car, but I just listened to this wonderful book and as I was going through it, I was looking for every moment I could to listen in.  The book, this book to be precise, just went by too fast!  I hear renting audio books from the library is great, too.
4. Kindle.  I LOVE to read from a real book with actual paper pages.  It’s like I am literally holding the story in my hands.  But reality of the situation is that sometimes my reading time is in the middle of the night when I can’t fall back asleep.  Or I am just dying for my next opportunity to read.  I can’t turn on the light so, yes, I turn on my phone and read from there.  
5. Facebook.  Yes, that counts!  I mentioned that before, I know.  But I actually follow my favorite bloggers (Some favorites are: Julie Cole, Under the Sycamore and Cup of Jo) and other magazines on there.  I read the news.  I get into the story, into the information, and am happy to have connected in this way.  
6. Middle of the Night.  You heard it.  I own it.  My kids are getting older but they still wake me up.  And they have it figured out to wake me at the exact right time.  My body has had enough sleep and I cannot fall back asleep!  It’s still pitch dark so instead of getting up, I let my body rest and read again.  If I get tired again, of course, I go back to sleep!
7. Blinkist.  Oh it’s this new app I am enjoying!  I have all these books I save in my Amazon Prime Wish List and Blinkist is the cliff notes version!  I get the enjoyment of knowing what’s really inside that business book I have to read in 15 or 20 minutes!
8. Tried-and-True. I mentioned how I loved reading White Oleander.  My other true favorite book is this epic story about Fancy.  It’s a Gone With The Wind of the West as I say.  I’ve given this book out dozens of times and just cherish every moment of it.  When I don’t want to risk the time and energy to give to a book that potentially won’t fulfill, I turn back to my tried-and-true.  

You see, there are many ways you can take a break from mom life to be a reader.  Yes, the days where you can sit for hours upon hours may be few and far between.  But chapters here and there will re-energize and re-engage you in this activity you remember. 

Your kids will appreciate you, and your mind will get to wander for a bit!

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How are you balancing work and family? What does balance really mean to you? More importantly, what should it mean to you?

“So find your rhythm, understand what makes you resentful, and protect it. You can’t have everything you want, but you can have the things that really matter to you. And thinking that way empowers you to work really hard for a really long period of time.” ―Marissa Mayer, president and CEO of Yahoo

To me, the word “balance” is a four-letter word. It’s a word that brings up negative thoughts, it’s a “bad” word and if my girls were old enough to understand, I’d likely tell them it’s a word that’s not allowed in my home. 

I cringe every time I hear someone say they are “seeking balance”, “need balance” or when I read about how to “achieve balance”. 

Goodness that one is the worst for me!

Yes, I get it.  Of course but really what we are saying is we need more or different in our lives.  I understand that we are looking for or needing something else and I am certainly not judging.  

I think it’s this linguistic nerd in me that knows they are seeking something real but it’s the word “balance”, I don’t understand or like.  To me trying to achieve balance is like trying to achieve the unachievable.  And here’s why…

When I think of “balance” I think of a seesaw.  In a seesaw, when you have equal weight on both sides the seesaw will then float evenly in the air. 

If you have the exact same weight on both sides and you lift them ever so carefully then you will have a perfect balanced seesaw. 

Hmmmmm… enjoy.  

Because who long will that last??  

How long will it stay afloat?  

A mere second.  A minute, if you’re lucky?

Or how about until someone sneezes or until the wind shifts. 

What if you put two kids who weigh the exact same amount on that seesaw.  What would happen?  Would it float?  

No!  

The kids would go back and forth back and forth back and forth.  Then one kid gets bored, jumps off and runs away.  

So let me ask you this.  

In the first example where the seesaw floated in the air, how was that perfect moment of balance?  

It was short.  

It was quick.  

It was dependent on perfect stillness.  

And it was dependent on which way the wind blew!

So to my point, if it is short, quick, dependent on all sorts of things why on earth would we want to achieve this crazy boring thing called balance?!? 

Why not have fun, go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth for as long as the other kid will play?? 

What if we put “family” on one side of that seesaw and “work” on the other side? When you focus on the family side, all your weight and energy is there and this side of the seesaw, the family side, falls to the ground while the other side, the work side, goes flying up into the air! Balancing work and family, is not a matter of perfection.

Isn’t that more accurate?  Isn’t that how life really happens?  

What happens when you are “all-in” and firmly focused on your family? 

What happens when you are “all-in” and firmly focused on your work?  

Or what if you are just sort of present with both?  Is that when the seesaw would sit evenly and then would you be perfectly balanced??

Do you want to live only half-in? 

No, of course not!

So, I ask again, why on earth would we want to achieve “balance” for ourselves??

Isn’t the goal here, rhythm?  Don’t we want to smoothly go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth in the reality of our day?? 

I say forget “balance”, it’s a four-letter word.  I root for “rhythm”.  With rhythm won’t we then simply enjoy the ride?

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Do you love listening to Podcasts?  Or do you not really know what one is quite yet?? Let me make it easy for you.  It’s perfect for you - the super-busy-always-running-around woman that you are.  Pull up the podcast on your phone, plug-in your headphones and listen as you workout, do your errands or even the dishes late night! 

CLICK on the LINK Below & Go!

OR another easy way you can pull up the Mompreneur on Fire podcast via the Podcast App that is already. on. your. iPhone. 

“When I finally reached the top of the ladder, I realized I was climbing the wrong ladder.”

— Vanessa Loder

Not long ago I was able to talk with Vanessa Loder, Co-Founder of Mindfulness Based Achievement.   She succeeded traditionally (think Stanford Business School, Private Equity Finance job) but wasn't fulfilled or very happy.  After diving into spiritual practices and leaning into her questions about her personal fulfillment, Vanessa put herself on notice and left her stable position for the literal unknown.  

In this episode, we cover several topics and stories.  Here are some of the things we talk about: 

• A bit about her business Mindfulness Based Achievement
• Process of leaving high powered finance position to taking an entrepreneurial path
• Initial steps in making her change - including what the "Reluctant Psychic" told her
• Why she skipped being very "traditional MBA" about her new business
• How she raised anxiety in ME for her!
• How her intentional focus drove her to her first steps of success and her new business
• The power of the coffee date!
• The evolution of her business(es) and how they've taken off in different directions she could have never predicted
• How her first big sale ended up devastating her and producing a lot shame.  (And how it turned out to be a blessing in disguise!)
• What's she's had to learn being an entrepreneur. 
• Creating a family, setting the boundaries and making the choices between running a business and being a mom
• How self care and support became essential in her life
• How she was able to work with no makeup, no real clothes to ease her way back into work after having her daughter
• The highest quality attention she can give her daughter
• What keeps her up at night
• Morning rituals and evening routines
• Her broad definition on what is a mentor 

“In order to make it (quitting her job with no plan) safe enough to do I had put some boundaries around it.”

— Vanessa Loder

Selected Links from the Episode

• The Instruction by Ainslie MacLeod
• Ainslie MacLeod
• Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath
• The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks
• Evolution of a Job Hater by Kristen Wheeler
• Her column for Forbes
• Loop of Awareness Technique 
• The Hendricks Institute
• Their Free 10-Day Meditation Challenge

MORE FROM VANESSA

• What are your favorite apps? 
  • Insight Timer is great for meditations, I use it most mornings. You can use the chime bell to meditate in silence for any amount of time or find a free guided meditation (if you search my name "Vanessa Loder" you can even find a couple of mine!). Other apps I use....Lots of educational games for my daughter these days like "endless 123"  ;) 
• What books are on your nightstand?  Favorite all-time book? 
  • Nightstand:  my kindle with LOTS of books, currently re-reading Lonesome Dove. I keep Mary Oliver and Rumi poetry on my nightstand and sometimes quickly read a poem in the morning when I first wake up.
  • Favorite all-time book...depends for what. For people who want to find work they love, I recommend "The Big Leap" by Gay Hendricks. For fun, The Count of Monte Cristo
• What's your guilty pleasure these days?  
  • Honeymoon ice cream, chocolate laurel flavor.  
• What one item do you love that is less than $100? 
  • MyChelle hyaluronic hydrating serum for dry skin and tropical skin smoother (exfoliant that makes my skin SO soft!). great products.
• What one item do you love to give that is less than $100?  
  • Flowers.

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“I like to learn by failure.” - Alex Evjen

Talking with Alex from AVE Styles was like having a dream conversation for me.  This mom of 2 is so laid back and successful doing the work she dreams of like collaborating with iconic companies Neiman Marcus, Madewell and even Coca-Cola.  She is fashion stylist turned lifestyle blogger and the rare Official Pinterest Influencer.   Her style is not only top notch but you can tell her attitude is just same.  I had so much fun in this conversation and laughed along the way! 

We talked about lots to things!  Alex shares

• The distinct evolution of her business
• How she used "Fake It Til You Make It" to her benefit
• How her husband feels when changes are coming!
• How she manages her schedule and her time between family and work
• What she’s learned about her personality type and what this does for her business
• When she has asked for help
• Her mentors
• The kind of goals she sets.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST BELOW

OR DOWNLOAD IT AND TAKE IT WITH YOU!

Selected Links from the Episode:

• Pinterest
• Jessica Lively

Update: 

• What are your favorite apps?
  • I don't really know if I have favorites, but the ones I use the most are pretty typical: Facebook, Instagram, Yelp, Waze, Fitbit, Dropbox.
• What books are on your nightstand?  Favorite all-time book?
  • Haha! I laugh because I haven't had any time to read these days. The most I read right now is The Hungry, Hungry Caterpillar and Goodnight Moon. I can't even recall my favorite book. That's so sad! 
• What's your guilty pleasure these days?
  • Re-watching Friends. It never gets old to me, and it always puts me in a good mood.
• What one item do you love that is less than $100?
  • GAP jeans are my favorite piece of clothing in the world. They always fit me well. I have them in every color.
• What one item do you love to give that is less than $100?
  • You can't go wrong with flowers and the Capri Jar Candles from Anthropologie.

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This post may contain affiliate links.

Do you love listening to Podcasts?  Or do you not really know what one is quite yet?? Let me make it easy for you.  It’s perfect for you - the super-busy-always-running-around woman that you are.  Pull up the podcast on your phone, plug-in your headphones and listen as you workout, do your errands or even the dishes late night! 

CLICK on the LINK Below & Go!

OR another easy way you can pull up the Mompreneur on Fire podcast via the Podcast App that is already. on. your. iPhone.  

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

“You have to get your content out there. No one is going to find you, you have to put yourself out there.”

— - Rosemarie Groner

It was great fun to talk with Rosemarie Groner, (busybudgeter.com) and simply amazing to hear how this mom of two littles ones went from being a state trooper to owning and running a daycare and made the switch to being a professional blogger bringing in over $9000/month in just 2 years.  Oh yeah - and she does this working 10-20 hours a week.  

(UPDATE:  In the 5 months since this interview was completed, Rosemarie is now bringing in over $22,000 a month!  She has been a wonderful mentor and I swear by any advice she gives!  Her Pinterest Strategy Guide is nothing to joke about!  There is tons of ah-mazing and detailed information in there about how she does what she's doing! 

I heart Rosemarie so much so if she says do something, I will!  That said, she also recommended Michelle Schroeder's Affiliate Marketing Class and sure enough that was an amazing purchase too!  Plus it's fun to be "in class" with this super expert too!

In this episode, we cover several topics and stories.  Here are some of the things we talk about: 

• Her story going from state trooper to blogger
• Her daily routine
• Her favorite training tools
• What her husband had to say about her business (ad)ventures
• How she grew her brand
• A break down of her monthly income revenue sources (at the time the interview was taped)
• What she’s sacrificed
• A look at her schedule breakdown working 10-20 hours a week
• How she prioritizes her time
• How she feels about goals and goal settings
• Favorite tools
• Favorite social media sites and why

"My success doesn't take away from your success."

- Rosemarie Groner

Selected Links from the Episode:

• Living Well Spending Less by Ruth Soukup
• BoardBooster.com
• Bob Lotich
• Amy Porterfield

More From Rosemarie: 

• Did you meet or surpass your January goals of $8000 / month? 
  • I saw online perhaps so...- Yep! over $9,300! 
  • (UPDATE - She's actually bringing in well over $22,000 / month now!)
• You mentioned that you were meeting your Mastermind group to develop 2016 goals.  Can you offer an update to that? 
  • We went to a lake house in North Carolina and spent the week planning our 2016 goal and then working backwards to determine the action steps to meet those goals. 
• How much sleep do you get a night? What time do you typically go to sleep? 
  • Usually 8, but we have a baby that still wakes up several times a night, so now it's closer to 6. I go to bed at 10:30, wake up at 6:30, but I'm up several times overnight. 
• What's on your nightstand? Favorite Books?  Favorite podcasts? 
  • Anything teen sci-fi. Nick Loper- Side Hustle Nation is my favorite podcast. 
• Name something that is $100 or less and you love it? 
  • Vera Bradley Wallet keychains- I can stick my debit card and license in there and I don’t need to carry a purse. 

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EVEN MORE ABOUT ROSEMARIE

Rosemarie is now making consistently $20,000 / month from her blog just a few months after our original conversation.  

She was amazing when I talked with her months and months ago.  Rosemarie has been a wonderful coach to the online blogging community.  She is the beloved go-to person over and over again.  She has this amazing Pinterest Strategy Guide that has helped increase traction on my site by the thousands.  Next, I heard she was all excited about this Affiliate Marketing Program.  If Rosemarie says it's good, I believe it! So, I have signed up there too! With her!! 

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Do you love listening to Podcasts?  Or do you not really know what one is quite yet?? Let me make it easy for you.  It’s perfect for you - the super-busy-always-running-around woman that you are.  Pull up the podcast on your phone, plug-in your headphones and listen as you workout, do your errands or even the dishes late night! 

CLICK on the LINK Below & Go

OR another easy way you can pull up the Mompreneur on Fire podcast via the Podcast App that is already. on. your. iPhone. 

“It’s the perfect time to be a mompreneur!”

— Cassie Piasecki

"It's the perfect time to be a mompreneur!" - Cassie Piasecki

It was a few years yeas back when I first came into contact with Cassie Piasecki.  We were at a SMARTY LA meeting where the owner of Dermologica was talking to women business owners,  Cassie came out to make the introduction and my friend next to me nudged my leg stating she was the Leader at Large for SMARTY OC, where we lived.  She was beautiful in this power top and mini-mini only she could pull off.  She spoke of her experiences owning businesses, the good, bad and the nerve-wracking.  Her authenticity and vulnerability was as real as beauty and from that moment on, I was a fan.  

She talked with me earlier this year about being a mompreneur, becoming a mompreneur, how things are different today (since she has been an entrepreneur for nearly 20 years) and the very important things you have to manage along the way.   Cassie has owned several brick & mortars and now not only runs a medical business but is a pilates instructor to very high-end clientele, she is a nutrition consultant to models and women like herself who want to get healthy from the inside out.  And in her “spare” time she is caring for her family and writing a book.  

When I first thought to pull together the Mompreneur on Fire podcast, she was the first person I wanted to talk with.  I have done her fabulous Seven to Sleek program and I can't wait for Weekly Pep talk to come out on Sundays.  She is kind and her energy is sweet.  Combine that with a powerful business sense - how can she not be one to admire??

In this episode, we cover several topics and stories.  Here are some of the things we talk about:

• Her feelings about being a mompreneur today
• How she had her first brick and mortar business at the age of 18
• How her husband works for her and she came to open a medical business
• What every business owner has to be in control of
• How she invests time in learning and trains staff, the less glamorous stuff
• When she grieved
• The role of her spouse and family when she considering a new business
• Financially - what to always plan on when opening a business
• How to attract clientele before putting up the open sign
• Cool way she keeps her intentions at the forefront
• Daily rituals - including morning, working out, spending time with husband and settling in for the evening

“You, the business owner, should be in control of your money.” - Cassie

More From Cassie!

1.  Tools I Love: 

• I love a good payroll service.  My time is worth more than the time it would take me to run payroll. 
• I use PicMonkey to edit photos and for creating graphics for social media.  

2.  My fave apps:  

• Wells Fargo (I can bank from the gym!), 
• PicPlayPost for social media and
• YELP!  

3.  Books: 

• I just finished The Girl on the Train and it is every bit as good as people said it would be.  
• Eat Fat, Get Thin by Dr. Mark Hyman, my new food bible and
• Love*Style*Life by Garance Dore.  I met Garance in Paris this past fall and purchased her book at Le Bon Marche.  She autographed it for me after we had a nice chat.  Unfortunately, the book is written in French.  I just look at the pictures.  

4.  Something that I love that is less than $100: 

• the shower cap from Drybar.  It is plastic with a terry cloth liner.  The liner helps to lock out shower steam.  I have naturally curly hair but prefer to wear it straight.  This shower cap is a game changer. 

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