Behind the scenes in a Mompreneur household

In the mompreneur world, there is lots of talk about outsourcing, getting help - everything from a virtual assistant, nanny and cleaning lady so that you can focus on your business and do what you do best. Entire businesses, webinars and seminars have been created around this topic. But ...as Entrepreneurial Moms of Toronto leaders DoinaOncel, Bonnie Chan and I, Tereza Kumric found is that with all the help in the world there are still some days when kids and responsibilities may overlap with business. Our recent Entrepreneurial Moms conference call is a funny example.

The call was set for 9pm. The plan was that the kids would be asleep, other work done and we could dedicate a half hour to strategize. Hmmm, not so easy.

Picture this.

Bonnie's husband had a client over. Bonnie's 2 year old son was still up. Bonnie, her husband and the client were entertaining the 2 year old while doing business!

Doina is on the call too. She is interrupted by her two daughters - also failed to go to sleep on time. Doina is firmly trying to deal with her daughters while also focusing on the call.

Me -  I was successful at getting my little ones to bed but I still had two attention seeking, needy teens lurking around asking where this is and where that is and when I was going to be off my call. What did I do? The only logical thing... I locked myself in the bathroom.

Did we have a productive call... absolutely! How?

We were honest with each other. We are moms. We made sure that we were all on the same page. We knew there were going to be some disruptions, we came with an agenda and we did the absolute best we could.

How can you make these situations work?

1) Same as above. If you are faced with a situation like this and meeting with your team or even a client - be honest. 

2) Don't force it. It if just "aint gonna work", don' t force it. Reschedule rather than appear totally unprofessional and unproductive and waste everyone's time.

3) Whenever possible, have a back up plan. Someone else to watch the little ones or find a hiding place like me! 

4) Whenever possible, schedule at a more convenient time!

I'm all for getting help. I believe that when doing business you need to be professional and that sometimes business needs to be business but sometimes when stuff happens that you really can't control, make the best of it and roll with the punches.

Tereza Kumric

Tereza Kumric is an entrepreneur and founder of The Inspira Connection. , on the leadership team  of Entrepreneurial Moms of Toronto . She is also part of a thriving Mortgage brokerage at terezakumric.com  Tereza is all about those outrageous goals and providing you with the tools and resources to achieve them!

Women On Top

 In order to prepare for our next Masterminds Event at Entrepreneurial Moms of Toronto, which will take place on January 17, 2011, we decided that it will be good to give you a preview of what our next guest is all about. As one of our members herself, we feel privileged to have her on our team. We sat down with Odette A. Laurie, the founder of Women On Top an agency that empowers women in business with coaching for business. Here is what she had to say:

1. How did you get to become a business coach for women?

I have entrepreneurship in my blood. I have this burning desire to work for myself and create something unique and wonderful, something that being an employee cannot fulfill for me. My first business was hugely successful, reaching multiple six figures in a relatively short amount of time. I was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year in my first year of business and that business is still thriving almost 19 years later. I sold my shares to my partner after about 10 years to explore other options. I went back to school as a single mom of 2 very young girls and tried to be an employee but it's like putting a square peg into a round hole. I had a degree and a diploma in the social services and the money is just not there for what I brought to the table. I thought I would try opening up my own practice in counselling but after meeting with a coach to hammer out what it was that I wanted to do with my life and career, counselling was not it! We worked through what my ultimate goal was in life, where I saw myself in my future. From there I discovered that the total sum of all my business experience and success and my life challenges and rewards, all added up to me having to share my story, share my knowledge and work with women to become, to have and to be all that they were meant to be, in life and in business. I know how hard it is to start a business, to create something extraordinary and I had help every step of the way, therefore other women would need the same guidance. Let's face it, I have the tenacity, the determination and persistence to create amazing things in my life and it's hard! It's really hard to stay the course. I want to help women who aren't quite as audacious as I am to get what they want out of life. I have to be a coach, a voice of strength for them. I have the skills and the mindset to lend to them, so they can achieve the same success I have.

2. Women On Top? Where did the name come from?

I was enrolled in a Landmark Education course (which, I strongly believe, everyone should take, it's that valuable) called the Self Expression and Leadership Course. I was working on a project that eventually became Women on Top, but the business didn't exist yet. I was asking the group for a name for the project (a seminar on business start up for women) and no one shouted out anything I liked. Until I sat down at my seat. A lady leaned over and whispered in my ear; “Women On Top”. I said; “pardon?”. She repeated herself and added this; “Women On Top, that should be the name of your business. You are a woman who gets what she wants, stops at nothing to get it, and is determined, motivated and audacious as hell”. I thought to myself; “Wow, she really thinks that about me? That's pretty cool”. I can tell you, it instantly set the tone for my business, for my life.

3. What was the Best/Worst business advice you ever received?

The best advice I have ever received was this; “Take it one step at a time, but take the step, NOW! If all you got is 10 minutes in your day, take the 10 minutes. By the end of the year think where you will be.” And that's what I did. Small, consistent steps got me to where I am today, and I haven't even tapped into my greatness or reached my pinnacle. That is both scary and exhilarating! I have never received bad advice. Why? Because there is always, I repeat, always, a valuable lesson in everything presented to you. It may not mean anything to you at that moment. You just need to look at the source and where they are in their lives and know that they are doing their best with what life has presented to them.

 4. What your advice to busy moms is in regards to managing personal and business life?

You just do what you gotta do to survive sometimes. We make choices based on where we are at that moment and know that it will not last forever. As a woman, mom and coach I would say that we are all 100% responsible for where we are in our lives and that we have the power to choose. Good or bad. Chocolate or vanilla. In or out. Right or wrong. You have the power.

      5. What are Entrepreneurial Moms looking forward to learn from you at our next event?

I'd like this to be an opportunity where we all learn from each other. I wrote “How Big is Your But?” because we women really do spend more time and energy looking back at our reflection in the mirror checking out  our butt, our rear end, than we do looking past our imperfections, to the person we truly are.  Hey I wrote it, and I do it too! In other words, we focus on the negative, our “But”, aka, our excuses, justifications and foolish reasoning for not becoming, doing or having what we really want in life. And we hoard these excuses and justifications until they become our reality. I want to bust this wide open! I also wrote: “Business for Barbies: The Smart Doll's Guide to Attracting Real Clients and Making Real Money”. This is the technical know-how to starting a business or revamping your business by exploring Your Why. Your Why is your driving force behind your ambition and without a crystal clear answer, knowing Who your ideal client is, Where they hang out and How to get to them so you can make money, will be impossible to answer. So, I bring to the table the mindset and the skill set and mush them together to create one big beautiful YOU. 

To find out more about Women On Top and what Odette can do for you, please visit her website at http://businesswomenontop.com because Women On Top is about uncovering possibilities; about realizing your potential and reclaiming your life. Smarter. Faster. Women On Top lives and loves what they do. Do you? 

To hear Odette speak at our event you can register here -->> EntMomsTo

Mix and Mingle Holiday Edition

It is not to our surprise that we have had yet another successful event. Our members are simply amazing!

During our December event we were fortunate to have as our caterer our own Natalia who prepared yummy treats for us. We were also fortunate to be sponsored by Danielle from Rabbat Photography. Thank you for your amazing support! 


We started our evening by mixing and mingling  holiday style. Music playing, everyone enjoying themselves and business cards were being exchanged. The atmosphere was simply contagious that by the time guests settled in, everyone had a smile on their face, especially while enjoying drinks and food. 


We officially started our evening with one of our chapter leaders telling her story of courage and how she escaped violence with her two children just over two years ago. She explained how essential shelters for abusive women are and why it is important not to give up on our dreams. To commemorate December 6, the Official Day of Action and Commemoration against Violence against Women, our leader chose to speak up about her story to introduce our first speaker, one of the directors from Ernestine's Women's Shelter, Jill Cunningham. Jill spoke about the experience of working with women and their children which have escaped abuse. This unique line of work has shown Jill the exceptional strengths women inherit with the right support especially after escaping abuse. She also explained how a non profit agency works and what it takes to make such endeavor successful. To lighten up the evening and to show us courage Jill had brought with her an exceptional woman whom had used Ernestine's facilities for one year. After escaping abuse and seeking shelter with Ernestine, Maria had decided to open her own business. She started an import/export type of business bringing art from South America. When she went ahead to start her business Maria had only $500 to invest. One year later, she had moved on to her own place and she continued with her business to bring it to a very successful level. Today Maria is ready to invest $10,000 towards her business and that is remarkable. If you think you have it rough, remember the women coming from unfortunate situations and their success. If they can do it so can you! 


Moira Sutton of Success Breakthrough followed discussing the Law of Attraction series. Everyone was uplifted by her energy. She engaged everyone in the secrets behind the attraction showing us how attracting the positive energy can benefit us in more ways than one. She also suggested that believing in yourself is very important and by not listening to other's opinion is what will make us live a happier life. Concentrating on what we want is an important factor on how our goals are achieved successfully. Moira donated 15% of the sales of her Law of Attraction CD's on this evening to Ernestine's Women's Shelter. Thank you! 


Everyone went home with a goodie bag provided by Milissa Harding, a Health and Lifestyle Coach where yummy treats and gift certificates were included. Some of our lucky moms went home with door prizes offered by Created to Excel, Moira Sutton, and Healthy Start Health Coaching 


We ended our evening with a sneak peak of our speaker for our upcoming meeting, Odette Peek Laurie from Business Women on Top. Moms in the room were getting excited about next meeting which will take place on January 10, 2012. We would love for you to join us! 


For this Holiday season we encourage you to make healthy goals for the new year. We wish you Happy and Safe Holidays form our family to yours. We are looking forward to seeing you on January 10, 2012.

Will you be there?

Our Sponsor 

   

If you would like to make a donation to Ernestine's Women's Shelter you can safely do so here. You can also check out their website to find out more about what they do or how you can get involved  here . 

    

If you didn't RANT with us, come and MINGLE with us!

Dear Mom Entrepreneurs,
  
Our Ranting your way to Success event was a huge success and are so exited to share the highlights with you!

During our November Mastermind our members had the rare opportunity to meet with fabulous entrepreneurs and featured speakers -  Emily Chung from Autoniche Auto Repair Shop and Tina Dietz who specializes in coaching start-ups to success.

Emily Chung shared her phenomenal story  about how she developed her AutoNiche business as a woman working in a predominantly male industry. Emily shared her entrepreneurial discovery that Communication is key in working relationships with both men and women and has made communication a must in her relationship with her employees. Emily shines as a leader who focuses on her employees as individuals. Her enthusiasm for her work has led her to the understanding that  working in a male dominated industry  is  not as tough as you would think if the passion for what you do is there.  Her story is an inspiring one of hard work and determination-a woman who started her business through an apprenticeship program and learned the  business sideof the industry while still in school. With the help and support of her family, who have been by her side since the inception if her career, she manages to spend time with her children while living her passion for fixing cars. Her vision is to help each of her clients by providing them with the services they need in a unique environment where they are treated with respect.

Tina Dietz, an energetic soul, followed with a useful workshop platforming how ranting can be used as a tool to success. She demonstrated, with the help of a mom volunteer, how asking the right question while stressed can be used as a tool to emerge solutions to our lives whether  personal or  business. Tina has helped thousands of businesses across North America with the developmental aspect of their business. She does this through finding their setback and crafting the right question in which clients can answer producing solutions, saving them thousands of dollars.  After earning a Master of Science in Counseling and Educational Development, Tina developed transitional high school to college programming with more than 250 local educators. She has created college education programs for some ofthe nation’s largest utility providers. Tina is also a veteran entrepreneur and coach with many years ofexperience helping businesses grow and specializing in small businesses and start-ups.
 
We would like to thank our sponsor of this edition:  Laura and Tania from Arbonne.
 
Coming up...

We are now accepting registrations for our "Holiday Mingler" on December 13th, 2011 at 18 Spring Garden Avenue (Yonge and Sheppard). Come in and enjoy a pre-holiday Mastermind meeting with women just like you, ready to take off their business to a higher level ofsuccess. We will treat you to two special guests, Moira Sutton a life coach from Success Breakthrough and a special guest from Ernestine Women’s Shelter. Moira will be discussing the power of the Law of Attraction and how to unlock your infinite passion. December being the month of awareness in Violence Against Women, our EWS special guest will talk about their success and challenges in working with women and their children that had been witnessed abuse. We kindly ask you to bring in a gift card from the store of your choice that can benefit the women with food, clothes and home wares after they have reclaimed their freedom and moved on to their new residences. 
 
For more info and to register for this event or to become a member if you are not one already, please go to:http://entrepreneurialmoms.com/entrepreneurial-moms-of-toronto-december-holiday-mingler/
We look forward to meeting you and helping you grow your business!

The Entrepreneurial Moms Leadership Team
Bonnie Chan, Tereza Kumric and Doina Oncel