September Cool Mom Biz: PurplePail.tv

Meet: Jenn Kampmeier, "MomPreneur" 

The Business: purplepail.com, purplepail.tv, ladieseveningout.com

Finding Balance:  I am the type of person that works best off of a schedule. My day starts at 5:00am with a workout.  I take the next hour to review my day, meetings, pack my son’s lunch, etc. This is an important hour for me because it helps me get everything set for the day. I work an enormous amount of hours but one rule that we have established in our home is ‘technology free hours’. From 5:30om- 8:30pm no phone, no emails, no texts relating to work. During this time I connect with Zane and talk about his day, play a game or do an activity outside. I find it is extremely important that I devote that time to him so he understands that he is the most important person in my world. In addition, I take one night a month, hire a babysitter and take myself out.  Sometimes I simply go and have dinner, go shopping, see a movie but the point is I am with myself and taking time to get my balance back.

Best Advice for a working mama: Be generous on the expectations that you set for yourself. You are not a superhero person and cannot do everything on your own.  It is normal and perfectly fine to reach out for assistance. Learn to say NO! Don’t take on more than you can which will throw off the balance that you are trying to create. I rearrange my work so that I do miss school plays, sports events, special events for Zane. I recently called a business owner who I was going to meet with and asked her if we could reschedule our meeting because Zane had asked me to go on a play date with him.  She was a mom and completely understood that those are special bonding times.

Top 3 must haves that make your life easier: 

1. A good support system:  I am a single mom so at times being a business owner I have meetings at night and need for a close family member to watch Zane. I also have different friends that I call depending on the ‘life situation’ that I am handling at the time. It takes a village to raise a child and to keep a mom sane! 

2. A good organization tool: Whether that is a Smartphone, a notebook, a paper calendar. One place where you write everything down and carry with you. 

3. Outsource when needed: For my business I outsource the accounting, graphic design, and legal items. This allows me to focus on what I do best which is running the operational side of the business.

June 2012 Cool Mom Biz - Yarn Love

Meet: Katie Swick

The Business:  Yarn Love, an online yarn retailer

Finding Balance:  Balance? What's balance? :-) I work full time as a senior director for a major managed & cloud hosting company, in addition to running my business "on the side", in addition to running our household and being a wife to my husband and mother to my son. The ONLY way I achieve any sort of balance is with help - I have a part-time assistant (who's also a knitter) who helps with Yarn Love by doing almost all the hands-on work. I couldn't do it without her!

I'm also finding that rigorous schedulding and schedule management is absolutely a MUST. I try to schedule everything Monday - Friday. From my drive time to work, to getting my son ready for bed. If the time is unscheduled, it's fair game to be "grabbed" by someone. This also helps me to be realistic about what I can fit into my day (and still sleep). I scheulde "work time" - where I don't check email or answer the phone - but dedicate my time to a particular task or series of tasks. As with so many of us I can get sucked into an email black hole, or (let's face it) a Facebook or Pinterest black hole. 

Best Advice for a Working Mama:  Set your priorities and stick with them as well as you can. "Family first" is easily said, but for those of us who's income is required for our household, we often make hard decisions, like missing a soccer game for a work trip, or missing a family dinner in the evening to work late on a critical project. FORGIVE YOURSELF.  Only you know what your work (or not working) means to your family, and only YOU know what's best for your family. Don't let anyone else tell you what you should be doing.

Top 3 must haves that make your life easier:

1. My iPhone w/ email, calendar, and Internet with me at all times (it's a blessing and a curse!)
2. Downtime - I don't schedule the weekends if I can avoid it.
3. Sleep - I used to let it be the first thing to go, now I make sure I prioritize *my* sleep or I'm useless to everyone.

For more information or to buy yarn - go to www.yarnlove.com. Use coupon code MMCMB for an additional 25% off yarn for Mommy Magic readers through the end of June!

May 2012 Cool Mom Biz - Hamilton County Family Magazine

Meet: Jennica Zalewski

The Business:  Hamilton County Family Magazine

Finding Balance:  In our business, this is a challenge i must admit.  There is always something i could be doing!  I just keep reminding myself, FAMILY FIRST!  My kids are good at reminding me too--

Best Advice for a Working Mama:  Put everything in perspective--put your family first and make sure things are taken care of on the home front.  Makes working so much easier!

 

 Top 3 must haves that make your life easier:

1. Email on my phone!
2. An organized family calendar.
3. Kids that are willing to pitch in and help me out!

March 2012 Cool Mom Business - Hi Ho Vacations

Meet: Holly McGuire

The Business:
Hi Ho Vacations – a free Disney Travel planning service.  We help families make the most of their money and time when visiting any Disney owned property – Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise, Adventures by Disney, and new this year Aulani in Hawaii.  So often families become overwhelmed with the options available to them when heading to a Disney Destination,  many times overpaying for options or simply not knowing how to take advantage of amenities they have paid for.  To date we have saved families thousands of dollars – not to mention time and stress. 

Finding Balance:
This is the toughest part of owning your own business.  Balance!  I’m still learning to deal with the dishes in the sink and a living room that seems to always need vacuumed.  I do have a wonderful family who pitches in with the day to day “business” around the house.  It’s becoming our new normal and is teaching my boys the importance of valuing their belongings and their home. 

Best Advice for a working mama:
When you spend time with your kids and family focus on them. I’m sure many working moms could tell you that just because your PHYSICALLY there – does not always mean your THERE.  I do my very best to be present with them.  No cell phone – no e-mails.  It’s hard at times but I’m improving.

Top 3 must haves that make your life easier:

1. My support system, the indispensable people that help with my boys.  I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to know while I’m working, my boys are happy and well taken care of.
2. My iphone.  It allows me to be away from my desk for periods of time but still available to clients if needed.  I can find meals on the go-check my calendar – return emails from the ball field….
3. Yoga.  There can be a lot of pressure planning the perfect vacation for our sweet clients.  I could not get through a week without my Yoga and Pilates sessions.  The best stress reliever!  

For more info: www.hihovacations.com or 317-586-4002

Cool Mom Business - Pediatric Speech & Language Solutions

Meet: Jaime Backer Miller    

The Business: Pediatric Speech and Language Solutions is located in Carmel, Indiana. We provide individualized speech and language screenings, evaluations, and treatment for children ages 0-18 with a variety of diagnoses. With over 11 and a half years of experience, our therapists, Jaime Miller, M.A., CCC-SLP and Angie Wall, M.A., CCC-SLP work with families and their children to provide the best possible outcome for growth with speech and language skills.

Finding Balance: Finding the balance between work and home is the biggest struggle for me as a working Mom. Any working Mother will tell you that you cannot be the best at both. Setting priorities, both at work and at home, help me to accomplish the most that I can. I try to achieve balance by involving my family in my work when I can. Fortunately, my business involves working with children. My family often assists me when I am planning a new activity for my clients. My two boys enjoy making crafts, playing with food, or playing a new game while I get to spend time with them. 

Best Advice for a Working Mama: If you enjoy what you do at work, you will be happy. Your positive attitude and happiness will then carryover into your home. Like they say, “If Mama is happy, everyone is happy.” Make it a priority to spend one-on-one time with each of your children and your husband every day. Ask for help when you need it. I am guilty of not doing this and trying to do it all myself. I have wonderful friends that would be glad to help if I asked. Take time for yourself. Find something you enjoy and do it for as much time as your schedule allows every day. Make sure when you are having time to yourself that you leave work at work and family at home. Running is my “me time,” and I enjoy training for half marathons.

Top 3 must haves that make your life easier:

1. Organization-through my smart phone I can see my commitments and others that my family has. With the help of the Pinterest application, I can find menus, dinner ideas, and fun activities to with my kids quickly.
2. Communication with your spouse, children, and co-workers. I have dry erase and memo boards at home and work so that we can all stay on the same page.
3. A skinny chai latte!

For more info: visit www.pediatricspeechandlanguagesolutions.com or call (317) 569-0086