Calling All Momtrepreneurs!
We are on the search for all those amazing women balancing the life of being a mom and an entrepreneur. Submit your compelling stories about being a momtreprenuer in the comments below for a chance to be featured on The Today Show. We can’t wait to be inspired by all your amazing stories!
Enthusiastic, spunky, and positive, Punky Brewster was the quintessential eighties kid. Nearly twenty-five years later, Soleil Moon Frye—the adorable girl who played her on TV—is all grown up. Now she’s a married mom of two, a social media maven with over 1.4 million followers on Twitter and over 550,000 on Facebook, and an entrepreneur who parlayed her successful kids’ clothing line into a partnership with Target.
44 Responses to “Calling All Momtrepreneurs!”
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up!
I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back later. All the best
I’m Michele Kidwell, Chief Executive Ninja at Cardio Kung Fu in Minneapolis. CKF is a fitness program I’ve been developing over the last 9 months after being inspired by the Kung Fu lessons I take with my son, the Jr Ninja. After I was laid off 2 years ago from the job I thought I would retire from and unable to find full time employment, I decided to develop a fitness class to teach through community education to supplement my income from the part time job I finally found after over a year on the job hunt. When I was laid off, I went through a severe depression, Kung Fu lessons with my son and developing CKF were the bright spots during those dark days. CKF is fitness program based on the principles of Kung Fu. Using Kung Fu forms as the basis of the workout does amazing things to our bodies…and it’s also a ton of fun!!!! Over the next year, I will be focused on adding more classes around the Twin Cities as well as offering licensing to other aspiring Ninjas out there that would like to develop their own CKF practices. This is my life’s work and I will one day pass on this business to the Jr Ninja! I would love the opportunity to share what I’m dong with you!
4 children, 3 under five, 2 tired parents, 1 awesome business.
“Who is going to pay YOU to be their ‘Life Coach’?
If I had listened to those words I never would have pursued my business.
I made a decision about 3 years ago that I would not return back to work full-time while raising my babies.
So now what?
I had no business training, no experience in marketing or promotion, no sales background whatsoever.
What did I have?
Determination and a MISSION.
To teach other women not to accept the status quo in life. That you too can create and design a life on your terms; as a mother, wife, household CEO, etc.
I began coaching with one single pro-bono client in March of 2010. By Christmas of that year I had 10 paying clients and generated over $5000 in one month. In 8 months…
I knew I was onto something.
So how do I do it?
Ambition, focus, tenacity and desire.
I absolutely love what I do and love the women I help. I have created a business that not only contributes to my family income (my husband is a teacher) but fulfills me on an emotional, intellectual and creative level.
I don’t have a nanny, a cleaning lady, an assistant or a trust fund.
I juggle private clients in small windows of time that I have coverage for my kids during the day.
I write, email, tweet and do Facebook whenever I get a free minute.
What I have found is when you want something bad enough you will go to any lengths to get it.
I inspire women everywhere to go for their dreams, not take “no” for an answer, and learn how to dig deep fight hard and finish strong.
If I can do it, so can you.
Are you ready to “Rock Your Business While You Rock Your Babies?”
After 4 1/2 years of making samples that didn’t work, dead end decisions, sleepless nights, frustrations, headaches, and an unhealthy business collaboration with a person who tried to steal my idea, I finally have a product! AND in spite of everything I went through, I would do it all over again because it brought me to the place I am now. The biggest lesson I can now share with my daughter is that I didn’t give up my dream and I think every momtreprenuer feels the same way!
My daughter has always been very independent and wants to do things on her own. When she was first learning to put her shoes on her feet she would, like most kids, put them on the WRONG feet! I didn’t want to always tell her she didn’t do it right, so I tried to come up with an idea that would not only help foster her independence, but really help her learn in a fun way that she could figure out for herself! So, ta da, Fliperdoos! was born! It is a very thin insert that fits right into your child’s shoe. It is colorful, it is fun, and it WORKS! It is machine washable, non-toxic, and best of all, it’s made right here in the USA!
See for yourself on Facebook!
So I have been asked HOW I balance my life. The truth is, I’m not sure I do, but I expected that going in. If you are going to go for your dream, you just go for it and figure it out as you go along. Things have a way of working out and nothing and no one is ever neglected. No one has the answer and there is no secret to it that can be revealed. If we all waited for the “right time” to launch, when everything in your life has balance and you would be able to execute it perfectly, nothing would ever get to market. Every momtreprenuer knows that something will have to take a back seat at any given time, but you make up for it the next time you have to prioritize. Maybe THAT is the balancing act.
Good day! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this page to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
Momtrepreneur should have been my middle name! I am a mom of one amazing little man, Walker! Five years ago I had been in the corporate world and was not finding that satisfying at all then was laid off during middle of the recession. I figured this was a sign and my time to figure things out so During this time I started working on my business plan on opening a bridal salon that caters to plus size brides! I knew that plus size women were being ignored in this market and how many were being treated just because they were a size 16 or 20. I was pregnant at the time but knew it was time to do something I loved and had passion for so I could teach my child this.
Its been three years now and we have a thriving bridal salon that continues to grow in the Midwest. There were many people who said it could not be done but I knew to ring support from other momtrepreneurs and be my own cheerleader! Luxe Bridal Couture is one of the largest plus size bridal salons in the Midwest that creates an intimate and memorable experience for brides with curves!
Hi there!
I’m Monica – co-owner of CultureBaby.com – an unique baby and children’s boutique that specializes in global products. We sell dresses from India, bibs from Ghana, booties from Mongolia, baby leg warmers from Peru….all in the hopes of promoting global awareness and understanding for the next generation.
We are a fairly new company so the hours are long, stress and expectation is high, rejection is hard but abundant and sleep is non-existant! As most working women, I too try to juggle motherhood and professionalism to the verge of perfection. We women strive to give 100% to each while being lovable to our friends, sexy to our husbands and kind to our neighbors. UGH! I’ve slowly come to the realization that all those 100′s just don’t add up so I had to become more flexible, more accepting for help and more open to slow successes.
So, I’m not the best mother at school – I don’t volunteer to bake for anything; I don’t keep up with the 500 facebook friends and I’ve become very selective with my personal time vs social engagements; I work in incremental shifts instead of a long calm stretch (amazing what you can do in 30 minutes when that’s all you have!) and try to balance/combine kid-time with chores (supermarket games is high on our list now!). My three kids know that when I am working, it’s “homework” time for them (even for the ones that don’t go to school!) – I try to show them that you can love what you do as much as need to do it.
I have to make this business work because I truly believe in it. If my daughter sees that I have succeeded then I have shown her more than any subject in school this year! Hard work, focus and sacrifice can make a difference. I am lucky in that I really enjoy this work and want to make it blossom with all my heart. So the wee hours of the night going through sales data or the impromptu brainstorm session at drop off will eventually pay off. If not in a hardcore business success model than in teaching my kids to takes risks, plunge hard and work their little touchies off! And a little good luck always helps:-)
I’d love to share my story on The Today Show! I live in New York and can pop over at a dime!! Bother me anytime for any additional info :-)
As a single mom raising a child with special needs, it became clear to me right away that I had to figure out a way to make sure my daughter was taken care of should something happen to me. After losing a few jobs (because being a mom isn’t a 9-5 gig – especially in our house), I tried a few “start ups”, but finally settled on doing what I know and love – writing.
When looking for children’s books I could read to my daughter, I had a difficult time finding any that represented her – a funny, sweet, happy girl, who just happened to have special needs. So, I created one! “Meet ClaraBelle Blue” will be out in the beginning of May 2013, and available via Amazon, Kindle, and Arizona local bookstores (due to self publishing I have to start local and then pray to the book gods that word spreads FAST). This has been a process unlike any other – marketing, PR, advertising, social networking, face to face networking…it’s all “learning as I go”, but I know that I am well on my way to being not only the writer I was born to be, but also the business woman and MOM I was born to be!
Oops! Forgot to mention my balancing act! For us, routine is KEY during the week. Every morning my daughter and I cuddle on the couch while I sip my coffee and we watch Sesame Street before getting ready for school and work (I’m still working at a local restaurant until my book really catches on). We eat dinner together every night, read before bed every night, and Saturdays are mommy-daughter days at the park (weather permitting). I DO have a wonderful boyfriend and when I CAN get a babysitter we go out. If not, we do pizza and a movie at my place, or meet for lunch during the day.
It’s not easy, but a balanced life = a happy mama. A happy mama = a happy home. And a happy home = a happy baby.
Ok…that’s it!
Thanks!
Good afternoon. I am the proud mother of 3 beautiful spirited daughters of 6, 11 & 13, and also a loving & devoted wife, sister, daughter & friend. I am also the owner and CEO of Bettasnax,Inc, an artisan wholesale bakery that manufactures delicious, all natural, and low calorie, biscotti chips.
I started Bettasnax in my home kitchen when my constant search for wholesome all natural snacks for my children proved to be fruitless. I wanted snacks with pure simple ingredients, no preservatives, and low in sugar & fat that my children would not just enjoy, but love. Once friends and family tasted our “better” “snacks”, Bettasnax was born, and orders started pouring in!
Once my tidy hime began to feel like a factory, was filled to capacity with almonds, unbleached flour, and pure cane sugar, and my ovens were running overtime, it was time to progress to a commercial facility
Bettasnax biscotti chips are now sold in specialty and grocery stores throughout Frlorida, and we are starting to expand in the Northeast.
My family of 5 are building our company one step at a time, together!!!
Hi there! I am a “momtrepreneur” and writer, and I have 4 kids ranging in age from 9-17. In 2005 I founded momAgenda (momagenda.com), a company that makes day planners and organizers for moms, which I have grown into a multi-million dollar business. I have been featured in many media outlets such as Better Homes and Gardens and Real Simple; most recently I was featured on the Huffington Post (you can check out the article here: http://huff.to/12Mtx33 ). In addition to running my business, I write on the momAgenda blog about topics like getting organized, getting “Me” time back, bootstrapping your business, startup advice, and women business partnerships and how they work. I have also started a personal blog, gaystraightlove.com, which chronicles my experiences as a mom of an openly gay teen. The mission of that site is to use my platform to encourage all parents to love their kids unconditionally, gay, straight, whatever. I would love to speak with you more about my experiences as a momtrepreneur. Thanks!
I left corporate America 4 years ago to fulfill my dream of being an independent business owner. I was highly motivated by the idea of working on my own terms, but more importantly, by the desire to “be available” for my two daughters, now ages 11 & 9. I am the sole proprietor of Kuhl Consulting, which provides consulting and programming services to a variety of wholesale distribution companies. I primarily work out of my home, which allows me the flexibility to spend lunch hours volunteering at my daughter’s school and late afternoons catching up on their day and starting homework. I started my business as a single mom, but am now married to a wonderful man who fully supports the many hats that I wear.
Balancing my career with parenting is a constant challenge, but I feel so incredibly blessed to be in a position to have the freedom that my own business offers while still providing for my family. (My husband has been working on a start-up for the past few years, which means I have been the sole source of income – no pressure!) A typical day involves making lunches for school, conference calls for a client project, helping my 11-year old deliver Girl Scout cookies, system testing the latest software code, taking my 9-year old to gymnastics practice, making dinner, helping with homework, catching up on email and preparing for a presentation the next day.
The best part of my journey is the fact that my daughters have seen me take risks, have shared in my anxiety, but know in their heart, that they too can reach whatever goals they set for themselves. My name is Cheryl, I live in Rhode Island, and I love being a momtrepreneur! I would be honored to share my story on the Today Show.
Good morning! Happy Monday!!
My name is Lisa and I am the Founder & CEO of MyFunkins Ltd. – we make eco-fun, cheerful, reusable cloth napkins for kids. (we also have some other neat products coming out in the fall, but for now, our focus is on Funkins!).
And here is my story. :-)
After leaving the corporate world to be a full-time Mommy in 2002, {looking back at that younger me, I wonder how I ever agonized over the decision to leave my career…it was, by far, the best decision I have ever made}, I always believed I would go back to working at a big company one day. It’s funny how Mommyhood puts everything into perspective.
My journey to making Funkins began when my oldest son, Braeden, started preschool. As part of his school’s wonderful environmental awareness curriculum, the school had a “waste free lunch” program, which required that students bring in reusable food and drink containers, as well as cloth – not paper- napkins. I immediately went in search of cute, quality cloth napkins for kids. This would, of course, tell my Braeden that even though Mommy wasn’t there at snacktime, I was thinking of him and sending him love through everything I packed into his brand new lunchbox. I couldn’t find any cloth napkins for kids, there were simply none on the market. Adult napkins were too big, almost the size of a small blanket to a preschooler! So we improvised, using dish towels, bandanas and any other suitable fabrics we could find. On the days that I volunteered to help with snack and lunch duty, I took note that every other lunchbox in the room had similar challenges…..and so I went on the search for cute, fun, safe fabrics to make my own child-size napkins.
{cuddle break….my beautiful 6 year old daughter just woke up, and is now coloring at her art table in my office}
As my children started taking their homemade cloth napkins to school, I began getting requests from teachers, parents and even school visitors for homemade cloth napkins, and so came the idea for Funkins. The road to setting up a company was not an easy one (is it ever?), the days are still long, and the trials and tribulations of being a Momtrepreneur are plentiful. But the first best thing about my job is that I am able to pursue my passion and vision for reducing mealtime waste, while remaining involved in my children’s day to day. The second best thing is that I know that every day I wake up, I am going to make a difference. I have been working with schools all across the USA and Canada, and worldwide, to set up and/or enhance their waste-free lunch programs. And in the nearly a year since Funkins launched, we have won a Parent Tested Parent Approved Award, we have recently been nominated for other new product awards, and we have participated in gifting suites at the Golden Globes, Academy Awards, and we will be heading to the Emmy’s in September! And in August of this year, one year to the month that we launched our company, we will make our debut into the retail market.
My fabulous team is made up of moms and dads, and our work philosophy is that family and fun come first….and our customers are our family too. :) We love what we do and we feel so lucky to be doing what we love!
I would love to send you some Funkins to see and try in your home. :)
Thank you for sharing these amazing and inspirational stories and I send warmest wishes to my fellow Momtrepreneurs!
Lisa