This blog, The Inspired Mom, was born out of the concept that there must be more moms like myself.  Who had an idea, a dream, a goal and they might need some support in order to pursue their ventures.   In fact, the very reason I was able to reach my goal was because I had a support network of friends and family who wanted to see me achieve my goals.  Even though I have launched my website, I still have a huge journey ahead of me.  I need to get out there and market my book.  This is not something I have experience in doing, but then again everything I have done over the last three years has been outside of my “scope” of experience.

Up to this point, I never considered myself to be a creative person; but, as I look at my website and a finished baby book, I realize I am sort of creative.  Also, I didn’t envision myself as an entrepreneur, but I can’t think of anything else to call someone who has created his or her own business.   I knew nothing about technology or how to build a web-based business, but I have managed to ask the right people and do enough research so that I could bring My Own Little Story to life.  Now, I am going to teach myself something about marketing and public relations.  I guess in the near future, I might have to hire someone if I want it done right.  In the meantime time, I am going to harness my passion for my product and see who will share my enthusiasm

I hope that my readers will take a look at my website you can click here: www.MyOwnLittleStory.com.  There are some really cool features of My Own Little Story that have never been done before on a baby book site. Email reminders of important milestones, the ability to omit questions and pages so they don’t appear in the final version of your child’s story.  For example, if you used a surrogate or adopted your child, you might not want the page that describes all about where you travelled while you were in my belly.   The hand-painted watercolors created by Devon Galusha are timeless and adorable.  Check out our baby onesies, gift vouchers and stationery.  They make great gifts for friends that are expecting.

If any of you reading this have had a small itch to start your own business or float a concept- I hope you will contact me.   I can be your cheering section or even share some of the mistakes I made.  Maybe you can avoid the same pitfalls!

I am typing this message up at the end of the day- Mother’s Day, feeling exhausted and somewhat lazy.  On that note, I am going to wrap up my blog. I hope that anyone who is reading this had a wonderful day being honored and cherished.  Thanks to each one of you for your support throughout the two years I have been blogging.

Her desire to build her dream business grew stronger when she went looking for the perfect birth announcement to share the joy of Austin’s arrival.  After visiting a couple of stores around town, Phyllis felt frustrated by her limited choice of stationery suppliers.  And, after she got settled into her routine of being a ful-time mom, she decided to take action and embark on her dream of building her own little company. In 2004 she created her company, Broadcasting Baby, and headed to the National Stationery Show in New York City.  She found several suppliers that she loved and wanted to work with.  She gathered up resources and headed back to Los Angeles…not sure exactly what she would do next.

One of my favorite quotes is: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step (Lao Tzu).  The way Phyllis describes starting Broadcasting Baby was a series of manageable steps.  First, there were several administrative items that Phyllis had to tend to such as registering her company name and applying for a wholesaler’s license.  After that, Phyllis talked to her favorite vendors from the stationery show, established accounts and got samples of all their products.  After investing (3 months in getting everything set up…she threw a party to announce her new business.  In addition, she participated in a few shopping parties hosted by friends.  Each time she  learned more about what her customers were looking to buy and made adjustments in her business offerings to accommodate the demand.

She found some success in this formula, but felt she could really ramp up her business if she was able to sell products online.  Once again, Phyllis took several small steps and created a website for Broadcasting Baby. But, here is the interesting part:  Phyllis had no experience in web commerce at the time and she wasn’t really aware that her site wouldn’t allow her the control she needed to find that success she was looking for.  Each time she wanted to add a product or change a detail on a product, she had to work through a programmer…which required time and money.  She found herself struggling to break even on the time and money she was investing.  The reason I find her experience so interesting is that in order to find success, there usually is some sort of a “learning curve”.  Any time along that curve, the desire to give up might be intense.  But Phyllis didn’t give up.  She did scrap her first website- because after doing some research she found out that there was already infrastructure in place that could be bought for business like Broadcasting Baby.  A company called Network Solutions created a new site for her business and gave her the tools she needed to take control of her own site.

Phyllis’s perseverance resulted in a great site.  This time, she is fairly confident she got all of the pieces correct.  If you visit Broadcasting Baby, you will find every kind of personalized gift you could imagine.  I got the personalized stainless steel water bottle for myself- so I can stay hydrated without polluting the earth with plastic bottles.  They also make a great birthday party gift for the child who already has every toy sold at Target.  She has a monthly newsletter that highlights different products and has fun gift ideas for everyone on your list.   Next time you are looking for a gift for someone who has everything (sister, brother, friend or grandma), visit Broadcasting Baby and you will surely find something unique and useful.  And if you ever dreamed of owning your own business- think about Phyllis and her 5 year journey to arrive here, today.  She is a great example of someone who doesn’t quit when the going gets rough.

By following her gut, she saved her own life and that of her unborn child.  The attacks of September 11th had a dramatic impact on all Americans.  But, for those people who escaped death and witnessed tragedy first hand the impact was even more profound.  On that day, Denise lost her boss, several co-workers and even knew a passenger who was on board one of the planes that was hijacked.  When we talked about how this has affected her life, she said after September 11th she had two choices:   she could spend the rest of her life reliving the events of that day or she could embrace the fact that she escaped death and live each day to the fullest.    We are sitting here today talking because she chose to embrace life.

Before I knew any of Denise’s background, I admired her.  Bright, warm and beautiful are some of the adjectives that swirled in my head when I saw her around town.  I decided to interview Denise for this site, because she is a stay at work mom and I have not yet featured an Inspired Mom who works in corporate world.  Denise works at AON International where she is the Chair of the  Women’s International Network (WIN).  WIN provides a global community for working women seeking mentorship, professional and personal growth, workplace flexibility, and visibility.  In addition, Denise writes for Mommytrackd.com (under Newsflash see “hot topics”) and does a radio show on MomsTheWordShow.com.  She is an advocate for women on every level.  Whether you are a stay-at-work mom or a stay-at-home mom, keep reading, there is something here for everyone.

I asked Denise some of her secrets for keeping track of her various commitments while raising a family. Her advice follows below:  

First, you must have a calendar/scheduling system that works.  Keeping track of your obligations as well as scheduling time for yourself can all be managed if you have a calendar or appointment system that is effective.  Some of Denise’s top priorities include breakfast with her kids, picking them up at school twice a week, two trips to the gym every week (hopefully three), one night out with her husband and, of course, work.  Her scheduling system keeps her from over-committing and forgetting important tasks.  It also assures her that she can stay true to her priorities.

Don’t overcommit/over schedule yourself.  Denise recently wrote an article which discussed a problem that many of us encounter:  too much to do and not enough time to do it.  This situation can be improved if we selectively say “no” or “not now” to commitments which do not harmonize with the list of priorities we have for ourselves and our families.  Furthermore, you will be less stressed and less likely to cancel or flake on those people who are important to you.

Finally, don’t feel guilty about the decisions you make.  Take charge of your destiny and move through life with vigor and happiness.  Denise decided to leave her office on September 11th- that saved her life.  She decided to continue working after having children- and she is proud of her accomplishments.  She takes time to go to the gym- because her physical and mental health are just as important as her family.

When I commented that she seems to live with no regrets, she assured me that she has doubts about the choices she makes just like the rest of us.  But, having doubts is a normal part of progress making choices. By trusting your choices and focusing on why those decisions have made you better or stronger you are more likely to find peace.

No matter what you want to do in your life, think about starting today.  Tell your kids you love them, thank your husband for his support, let your friends know you care.  Figure out what is important and be committed to your goals.   Life is too precious to make excuses. 

That’s why we could all use a great calendar or planner to help family life run smoothly and eliminate the likelihood of getting the dreaded call from school that your child is sitting  in the office because you forgot to pick them up!  Laura Marusa, a mom of two kindergarten girls, had a hard time finding the right calendar to fit her needs.  As a result, she dreamed up the perfect calendar then created it using her own computer and design skills.   She named her creation My Life On Time.  

The calendars that Laura creates for her clients are personalized to fit their life and family.  No two calendars are the same.  She will add the names of your spouse and children to the weekly planner so you can keep track of their activities.  Then, she will include any important dates or recurring appointments so you don’t have to add those later.   Finally, she will customize the theme of the pages and even change the colors if you don’t like the choices she has offered.  To top it off, she offers fun additions to your planner, such as pendant watches, coordinating pens, and paper clips.  Check out her  site: www.mylifeontime.com

 Two years ago, Laura’s life was quite different from today.  She had one daughter age 4 and was working as an Executive Assistant in Denver, Colorado.  She and her husband decided to adopt a daughter from China.   Around that same time, her husband took a job in Houston, Texas.  As they were beginning the process of moving they were also on the way to China to pick up their 3 1/2 year old daughter.  Given all of the changes in the Marusa household, Laura decided to put her career on hold until her girls were settled in their new lives and new home.  It was during this time that Laura came up with her personalized calendar concept.

Even though Laura was extremely busy with life (common amongst most moms) she slowly began to explore how she could bring her vision to life.  She did most of her research on the internet.  She was able to  find the binders and accessories for her calendars from the comfort of her own home after her girls had gone to sleep.  Once she had most of the pieces in place, she started creating for friends and family- who gave her welcome and honest feedback.  Finally, her husband created a website for her, so she could extend her reach outside her immediate community.

Now that her girls are in Kindergarten, Laura is able to dedicate blocks of time to her business.  She uses her calendar to block out time for volunteering at school, time for her business and time for herself.  The most important ideas from my interview with Laura:

There is always time to pursue your dreams- it might be late at night or early in the morning, but if you REALLY want to do it you can.

Be motivated by the product you create, feedback you receive and the satisfaction of seeing your vision to reality.  The profit you receive will come as a result of these factors. 

Be willing to make changes to your plan and/or product as you begin your journey.  Your idea may not be a new product or idea…set yourself apart by offering a fresh and creative approach that inspire your clients!

1- Release my online babybook- my readers will be the first to preview this labor of love that I have worked on for almost 2 years.

2- Run a half marathon- possibly the LA Marathon…need to figure that out.

3- Increase the reach of this website- so we can support other moms, both near and far.  I will let you know when I get over 2,000 in any given month.  I want to be a resource for moms who need support on anything ranging from fitness and family to business and relationships.  If you have a question about how to get something started, ask me and we can find answers together.  If we grow as a community, we will be able to help one another on a wider range of topics. 

4- The last goal I have for 2009, which cannot be measured, is absolutely enjoying my three boys as much as possible.  I can’t believe how quickly they are growing up.  The picture was taken a couple of nights ago before my youngest son’s Christmas program.

I have to say I am a bit overloaded with ads and catalogs this holiday season.  It looks like retailers REALLY want me to buy another flat screen for $999.99.   Considering most of us are too busy to sort through all of these catalogs to find something sort of cool, I want to share a link to a gift that I received and absolutely love.  Take a look at Naturally Knotty totes and clutches.  

I was introduced to this brand when one of my stylish girlfriends gifted me with this water proof, sand proof, spill proof (because it’s laminated)  tote.  The very next morning, I tossed my workout gear in and headed out to teach my spin class.  I was given the bag with four pockets (pictured above) which came in  handy for my keys and a water bottle and my bike shoes with clips didn’t scratch or tear the interior.  Afterwards, I threw my sweaty towel along with a half open water bottle  into the bag and when I came home to realize that the water had spilled, I just dumped out the contents and dried it. No damage to the bag and my life got just a little bit easier.   Now here is the story on how these bags came to life:

Naturally Knotty founder and designer, Jasmine Fullman, took inspiration to start the company from her years living in Shanghai.  In 2007 Jasmine started designing handbags as a creative outlet for herself, her friends and her family.  She named her company Naturally Knotty because it combines her nature friendly business goals with the values symbolized in knots: goodwill, friendship, peace, prosperity and happiness.  

Her first big hit was the signature Knotty Tote- made from gorgeous silk fabric scraps and covered in plastic made from recycled soda pop bottles.  These bags were designed for any purpose and effortless care.  Next, she designed the Market Tote with special attention to the pocket design and hand tied knots on each bag.  The Simply Knotty’s are simple silk totes in a variety sizes.

Naturally Knotty utilizes as much silk and other fabric remnants as possible in production and focuses on quality first- to ensure a lifetime of use.  The “Scrappy Clutch” is made from 100% silk remnants bought by the ton and converted into beautiful bags.

What started as a creative outlet has grown into a successful business.  Jasmine’s company now sells to over 100 retailers in North America and has sales representatives across the United States.  Jasmine has said that she hopes her success will inspire mom entrepreneurs everywhere:  ”I am living proof that no dream is too big”.   I love hearing another mom say those words because I have some pretty big dreams myself.  Each day I force myself to take a small step towards one of my goals and I feel more fulfilled with my life than I ever have before. 

You can purchase these bags at a discount by clicking on the following link:  Naturally Knotty at a discount.  And enter this code on the bottom left of the site under the tree that says KU Code: PIKYTUAPHJVZBH

Erin’s journey to success was hard fought and included some setbacks that might have have caused many-a- woman to throw in the towel.  The lesson to be learned from Erin is that sometimes disappointment is part of the actual journey on the road to success.

Being creative is part of Erin’s make-up.  Her career started designing t-shirt for Nike and she worked in the apparel industry for years.  In fact,  the clothing industry was where she experienced her first detour on the path to success.   Erin and her brother were designing their own clothing line in 2001.  They put in countless hours sketching, creating patterns, and choosing fabric.  They purchased high end fabric from France and had all of the pieces cut here in Los Angeles.  Orders had been placed by stores like Nordstrom and other high end botiques.  Erin was working from her bed since she was put on bed rest at the end of her pregnancy with her twins.  Just when she and her brother thought the hard part was over, the truck caring the cut fabric to be sewn in Mexico was stolen and never found.

While they were partially insured for their tangible losses, the loss of time and energy was immeasurable.  Erin, was on the verge of giving birth and idea of re-ordering fabric, buttons, zippers etc. was difficult to handle.  She and her brother thought about starting the process over; but, their decision was made for them as the heartbreaking events of September 11th caused the department stores to cancel their orders.

Now ask yourself what would you do in this situation:   you have just given birth to twins and lost countless hours and dollars on your initial effort to develop a clothing line.  If your answer is: give up on dreaming and focus on the babies; you are in the majority.  If your answer is: continue dreaming and start creating videos for children- you are just like Erin.  And, that is what she did.  She worked as a co-producer on videos called BABY TRAVELS.  While the entrepreneurial spirit was there, Erin and her partner decided that their experience in this arena was not enough to get the project finished.

Erin never gave up dreaming and her next project brings us up to date.  What started with stationery and notecards has turned into an amazing line up of products from ErinCondren.com.  Take a minute to click the link- then come back to read the rest of this story.

Erin started creating personalized note cards when her young twins were napping or sleeping at night. Initially she made them for gifts and special occasions.  So many friends asked about them that she decided to sell some of her designs at a holiday “shopping” party that one of her friends was hosting.  The orders started coming and Erin found herself staying awake all night just to fulfill the orders she had received.   She hired Dice Media to create a website and business really started to pick up.  After merging with a much larger, fine art printing company (macrofinearts.com) she can now focus on new designs and products. And, as I said in the title, remember the name because she has  lots of other ideas up her sleeve.  Her creations include everything from personalized wrapping paper to life planners.  Her products have appeared on Ellen DeGeneres show and in US magazine. I have a few of my own favorites 

The family calendar hangs in my kitchen- this is the first thing I would take with me in a fire (after my kids and husband of course).  It has inspiring phrases for each month, stickers to mark every occasion and it even has our family name!  The other product that I can’t live without is the gift labels.  Not only do they save you the time of buying a card for every occasion, they save you money (because cards aren’t cheap) and they dress up any gift.

If you are working on your own business, remember Erin’s refusal to give up on her entreprenuerial ideas.   So be inspired to take a chance, give it a try, throw caution into the wind.  Know that your mistakes are your own unique way of getting where you need to be.  And, remember that the story is never over.

Fearless, intelligent, determined are just a few adjectives that I would use to describe Ally Conley, the owner of Mani Pedi Cutie. With two children ages 3 and 6 she created an upscale nail salon that is both eco-friendly and child friendly. When you read her story, you will understand why I chose the adjectives above to describe her.

The concept of an eco-friendly, child friendly salon came to Ally when she had her first child. After being home for three months with her first child, the fog of motherhood lifted and she discovered she needed a pedicure for an event that her husband wanted her to attend. She had no babysitters in her rolodex (being a first time mom) and no family in the immediate vicinity. The idea of taking a 3-month old baby to a salon with the overwhelming odor of polish, acrylic and acetone didn’t seem like a great idea. That’s when the idea of a family friendly spa first came to her.

Six years later, Ally has taken her idea from concept to reality. When Ally and I sat down to talk I got an in-depth glimpse of what she went through to create her spa oasis. I wish there was time and space to share the entire story. The highlights of her journey from start to finish included writing a comprehensive business plan, obtaining financing, finding a location, gutting and rebuilding the location, hiring employees and finally, opening the doors! Her biggest challenge was creating a business dwelling that met the rigid standards of city planners. This also added tens of thousands onto her initial planned budget.

Imagine the disappointment that Ally felt on the day that she learned she would have to completely rebuild her restrooms. Just when she thought she had accounted for every unseen expense, another one would pop up. Ally didn’t let any of these obstacles deter her. She has a mantra that she repeats to herself, “ You have to jump into the deep end if you want to find the treasure.” She persevered and has created a spa where mothers and daughters can enjoy spa services together.

Ally was very honest with me. She said there are days when she feels like the sacrifices she and her family have made were greater than she expected. And, there are days when the rewards of following through with her goal exceed the sacrifice.

Grab your girlfriends, daughters and nieces and visit Mani Pedi Cutie to show your support for the incredible effort of this inspired mom. I guarantee, you will want to tell your friends about it too!  The phone number for appointments: 310-376-9988 or visit: www.manipedicutie.com

PS A great website that Ally wanted to share with all aspiring small business owners: www.sba.org

If you are brave enough to share your vision with others you might hear some popular and expected responses. Of all the moms that I have met and interviewed each one has had their critics. Statements such as, “it has already been done”, “how will you find the time” or “what happens if you fail?” Instead of allowing any doubts to stop your pursuit, use the criticism to refine your focus.

This week I interviewed two inspirational moms who own their own businesses (look for those interviews in August). One of the businesses is called Mani Pedi Cutie in Hermosa Beach. The place is darling and the owner, mother of two, Ally Conley heard every objection in the book before she courageously signed her lease and got to work building her dream. She made her spa different and special in so many ways, you really have to see it to understand.< Nonetheless, she had a hard time finding a lease because she couldn’t find a landlord to believe in her concept.  Her critics didn’t stop her, instead they forced her to refine her business plan and strengthen her pursuit of the perfect location.

Another inspiring businesswoman who defied the critics is Erin Condren. Erin started with personalized note cards and created an amazing product line from there. Her calendar is my godsend. If Erin was deterred by the fear of failure or the idea that stationery already exists she wouldn’t be living her dream. She created a line of products that is interesting, unique and practical. www.erincondren.com

When you read Erin and Ally’s stories next month be inspired to pursue your own dreams.Criticism has it’s place, but too often I hear of friends who change their plan based on one or two comments that aren’t in favor of their idea.

Another positive point about the critics: they make you appreciate your supporters even more. I surround myself with individuals who want me succeed as much as I want myself to succeed.

I challenge you to share a personal dream or goal with someone close to you. Saying it out loud creates a certain level of commitment. Another thought before I stop…if someone has a goal or dream that they share with you, try to provide some positive support. Everyone needs a little encouragement to get started on the path to fulfillment.

At moments I am paralyzed with fear that my efforts to build a website focused on inspiring other moms will fail miserably.  Who am I to think that my words and the stories of others who motivate me, will have the same effect on my readers.  I have such lofty goals for this site…can I even live up to my own expectations?

 I can sit here on my living room chair (aka my home office) and fearlessly start typing, or I can continually look back on today and regret that I didn’t just give it a shot.   There is a chance that I fall short of expectations, but there is also a chance that I surpass my expectations.

If I motivate one mom, to take action to turn some goal or dream into a reality, then my efforts are not in vain.