This video has circled around the blogosphere quite a bit. But in case you have not seen it, I highly recommend. It is very creative.
It is a palindrome, which reads the same backwards as forward. This is only a 1 minute, 44 second video. Make sure you read as well as listen…forward and backward.
This is a video that was submitted in a contest by a 20-year old. The contest was titled “u @ 50″ by AARP. This video won second place. When they showed it, everyone in the room was awe-struck and broke into spontaneous applause. So simple and yet so brilliant. Take a minute and watch it.
This blog post marks our 2nd annual Top Picks list. If you missed 2008′s list, check it out here…>
Every year, we receive dozens of products to review. We do not review them all due to lack of time, but all products we receive are eligible for The Mom Entrepreneur’s annual favorites list. The only criteria is that the products fit some need for a woman who is either a mom and/or an entrepreneur.
The Mom Entrepreneur’s 10 Top Picks Count Down for 2009:
10. Scentsy* – I received a beautiful Scentsy Warmer as a gift from a member of The Mom Entrepreneur Online Support Group. It is a ceramic holder with a light inside that melts a fragrance bar, which sits inside a warming dish. Mine was from their autumn line and the dish was shaped like a leaf. It is very decorative and the scents I received, Cinnamon Vanilla, Poinsettia Pine and Pumpkin Spice, all smell wonderful. I prefer this over a candle since it is safer, and when the fragrance bar is used up, you do not have to throw a glass jar away.
9. Coco-Zen – As a mom entrepreneur, I rely on chocolate to get me through the day. It is a much better day when the chocolate is really good. That is why I choose Coco-Zen. All of their treats are made from organic and Fair Trade Certified™ chocolate. My favorite is the Chocolate Chai Spice followed by the Dark Chocolate.
8. My Storytime Friends*- Last Christmas, I received a stuffed bear packaged in a colorful box, which included a 32-page hardcover storybook, and a unique code for lifetime membership and online access to free stories, downloads, activities and more for children ages 3-8. The company has combined the things children love – books, animals and fun – and packaged them in such a way that encourages children to explore, learn and interact. All of the books include key messages of empowerment over adversity, attaining dreams, and aspiring for the future. Messages that children of all ages should hear over and over again. These stories come to life with cheerful characters, rich illustrations, and realistic dialogue that families can enjoy together. A book and a bear might seem like a common gift to give, but what really excited me about this product was the lifetime membership to mystorytimefriends.com. That is why I choose them for this list.
7. Lilypad LunchMates* – I am always looking for new ways to be more environmentally sensitive. My goal is to teach my kids these valuable lessons so that they will carry them into adulthood. That is why I love Lilypad LunchMates – they made switching from paper to cloth napkins easy. Lilypad LunchMates is a set of 5 reusable cloth napkins that come in fun colors and patterns. The company uses repurposed fabric to keep it from going in the landfill. That means they are not purchasing “styles” to sell, rather they are using the fabric that they liberated from the cutting facility as well as their excess fabric that would typically just get tossed. Their napkins are 100% cotton and handmade in the USA. They are also durable and hold up to multiple washings.
6. Frommer’s 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up (affiliate link)* – This bestselling guide takes you across town and around the globe to 500 of the most exciting places on earth. It comes complete with hotel information, age recommendations, websites and more. It is comprehensive and easy to use. You can search by country, state, or alphabetically. This book makes it easy to plan family vacations and to be assured the destination is one that all will enjoy.
5. Mosquito 86* – Every summer I worry about the many pests that invade our yard and home. Wasps build nests under the eaves of our house, swinging chair and in the ground. Ants of all sizes invite their relatives to move into our house for the season, and mosquitoes are highly abundant no matter how many bats we try to attract to our bat boxes. This past summer, we had days upon days of endless rain. Soggy weather is an open invitation for ants to move in to a home, and puddles are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes. I was invited to test the Mosquito 86TM Pest Eradication System, a professional-grade mosquito elimination system that is EPA approved and safe around humans and pets. The system worked extremely well for us and that is why they our on our Top Picks list.
4. Dinner Games – Last Christmas, I purchased the Gather ‘Round Dinner Game and Classic Style from Families with Purpose. Their dinner games are quick, simple, and fun. To play, families just sit down to dinner, pick a card, and read it aloud. My boys, ages 5 and 9 get so excited to play these games, and look forward to family dinners. More importantly, they are more apt to finish their food because we have found a way to make it fun! 3. HP Color LaserJet CM2320nf MFP* – You can click the link I embedded to learn all about this printer and get a full list of specs. What really matters though is that this printer is the first and last printer you will ever need. It was the easiest printer my husband has ever had to set up (his words). The printer, which includes copying, faxing and scanning capabilities as well, is very intuitive. It asks you questions during the setup process of its different functions that makes it easy to understand and use. This is perfect for us work-at-home moms who may have limited space and need to have a reliable printer that can perform many functions.
2. GoPicnic* – This product is a mom’s dream. GoPicnic creates the highest quality, best tasting ready-to-eat meals that are exceptionally convenient and require no refrigeration or special preparation – you can truly enjoy them anytime, anywhere! A GoPicnic meal is ready to eat right from the box, just grab a drink and enjoy one of their delicious, nutritious meals. They come in many varieties, including full meals, kids meals, and quick snackboxes. This was perfect for baseball games, soccer games, trips to the beach or park, etc. when you may be in a hurry, have not gone grocery shopping in awhile, or need something that will last if you are sitting out in the sun all day. Not only did my kids love the taste and selection, but so did my husband and I. They also offer gluten-free, kosher, halal and many other health conscious choices.
1. Citizen’s Bank – Last year, I was faced with the challenge of having to switch banks. I was very disappointed with the customer service I was receiving from my current bank at the time. I asked friends and vendors for recommendations, and the popular choice was Citizen’s Bank. Among the many perks I received was a free personal checking account for setting up a business checking account (which was also free), $.10 back for each online transaction I conduct (Green$ense program), a credit card that pays me back every time I purchase gas, and much more. I was also very pleased with their customer service, and their genuine willingness to help me get my business setup with their bank. That is whyCitizen’s Bank IS my #1 Top Pick for 2009!
What was your Top Pick for 2009?
*(The products listed above marked with an * were sent to me at no charge. That being said, I am under no obligation to write a good review or to write any review about these products, and what I’m writing here are my own opinions based on my personal use of the products.)
This post is part three in a series of three posts about Balancing the Supermom Act. If you missed part one, click here…>, and for part 2, click here…>
Lucinda Cross is the author of Corporate Mom Dropouts. Recently, she gave a teleseminar on Balancing the Supermom Act for The Mom Entrepreneur Online Support Group. This event had a record sign up. Seems this is a very hot topic amongst mom entrepreneurs!
If you were not able to attend the live event, you can download the podcast at this link…>
This week, Lucinda shares her last two tips with us for Balancing the Supermom Act:
Stay focused, and don’t get sidetracked: There are only 24 hours in a day. There is also a price to pay for spending too much time on one activity, which can limit your ability to do other things. It is important to focus on the fact that success is equal to results, not effort. Avoid spending time on an activity that is personally satisfying, but not driving the results you want.
Just say NO: You will cure some of your frustration and burn out by just giving simple answers without elaborating why YES or why NO. Try it for one week without using the words “Maybe”, “I might”, or “I will see what I can do”. This helps avoid the pressure of feeling obligated or frustrated to commit to someone. Learn to make quick decisions and say “Yes” or “No” instead. Don’t elaborate or give extensive reasons for your decision. A simple “No, I can’t do that at this time” is enough. In the end, you will feel emotionally free without having to fit in yet another activity, conversation or event you were not that interested in anyhow.
I am very grateful to Lucinda for taking the time to offer us valuable tips over the three blog posts we have written, and for the live teleseminar she gave.
For more information about Lucinda or Corporate Mom Dropouts, visit www.corporatemomdropouts.com/. You can also learn more by watching her recent ABC News video.
Wow 2009…what a great year! I had a lot to say this year and many of you had a lot to say back. I thought it would be fun to count down the Top 11 Blog Post of 2009 based on comments and feedback from readers.
I also learned a lot about what you like and what you want to hear more about in 2010.
My favorite posts are #5, #3 and #2. Which one is your favorite?
Thanks so much to everyone for reading The Mom Entrepreneur Blog and for sharing your thoughts, ideas and emotions. You have been so supportive and I appreciate it very much!
I have lots more to tell you in 2010 so stay tuned!
Supermoms are often identified as those women who do it all, they run a business; take care of kids, the husband, the house, the laundry, the car, everything and everyone in between.
Balancing the Supermom act starts with taking off some of the weight we carry and directing our energy to get more done without burn out. There’s no perfect balance so we sometimes feel pulled in too many directions and we end up putting out fires and not taking care of ourselves or making the necessary steps inspired by our vision or our passion to succeed. In the end, we spread ourselves so thin, we become disillusioned about what matters most.
After interviewing over 200 moms, Lucinda has come up with some of the most interesting ways Supermoms can fly and create a life that operates the way you want it. Unlike the Marvel characters Superwoman, Cat woman, Batgirl, etc we have a bigger job to play and the roles we play are several.
If you want more for your life & from your business, this teleseminar is for YOU! During this presentation, Lucinda will show you how to:
find peace and balance in your life by being true to yourself
how to create a focus calendar
apply the “Supermom” principles and techniques to your business
use energy management vs. time management
delegate for success
Who will benefit from this teleseminar?
Moms who do everything themselves
Moms who won’t seek needed assistance
Moms who refuse to delegate assignments
Moms who are overwhelmed juggling family and business
Moms who are experiencing “Burn Out” or “Melt Down”
Three participants will win the Corporate Mom Dropouts Book and Journal at the end of the teleseminar.
About the presenter: Lucinda Cross is a speaker, author and mom. Now founder of Corporate Mom Dropouts, blog, radio show and book.
For several years, she has made it her life’s mission to uplift, inspire and change people’s lives. She likes to call herself a catalyst for motivation, passion and high energy and has worked with small business owners supporting them to work ON their business and not in their business. She also works with women who are interested in learning how to work from home, and take charge and create the life they love.
Her life has been filled with wonderful experiences – from being a single mother, to a Mompreneur as well as sharing her gifts as a marketing strategist, mentor and writer. She uses this wisdom and insight to motivate moms to create a better life, a better community and a better business.
This post is part two in a series of three posts about Balancing the Supermom Act. If you missed part one, click here…>
Last week, we learned about Lucinda Cross and her new book Corporate Mom Dropouts. This week, Lucinda talks more about the book and the mom entrepreneurs who are featured.
TME: Can you explain how Corporate Mom Dropouts was written to represent the birthing process? Lucinda: The book took nine months to write and the stories in the book bring you from conception of an idea to the full term birth of a business. Each story starts with an idea and then takes the reader through the growing process. It ends with their success of attaining a business model they love, the time with their family and a profitable lifestyle.
TME: There are several interviews with mom entrepreneurs featured in the book. Can you tell us about these women? Lucinda: I interviewed over 200 mom entrepreneurs for the book, and the women featured in Corporate Mom Dropouts were hand picked based on their stories about the raw truth. These women provided me with the inspiration and comfort I wanted reflected in the book. Each of these women is living purpose driven lives and they love what they do and who they serve.
This is a FREE event for moms who do everything themselves, won’t seek needed assistance, refuse to delegate assignments, are overwhelmed juggling family and business, and who are experiencing “Burn Out” or “Melt Down”.
This week, Lucinda offers us more tips for balancing the Supermom Act.
1. Get–and stay–organized: There are so many tools and gadgets that are useful for us as moms to make business at home run a lot smoother. Here are some tools that I use that I know you can enjoy and add to your Get-and stay-organized list.
Vitalist.com – Helps you to get things done and stay organized. It’s easy to use and most of all free. The free version does everything you need.
A habit list – Your habit list keeps your action list from becoming overwhelmed by the every-day things and helps you to separate your to do list as well.
Remember the Milk – Handles lists and tasks very well, including repetitive tasks. It has a plug-in for Google Calendar for one-stop organizing.
Google Calendar – Along with Gmail and Google Reader, this application allows you to keep your life easily organized, intuitively, with no hassle and share your calendar with your network or team.
Backpack – Great list-maker, perfect for to-do lists and other types of lists. Backpack can be accessed from anywhere: home, work, Mac, PC, mobile.
The trash bag - Clean this bad boy out on a regular basis – not the actual trash but many of us use our desk space as a trash can. Please reduce this bad habit by tossing anything that’s not absolutely needed and you won’t have a need to organize. Free yourself!
Don’t forget me when you leave rack - It’s for unloading your stuff as you come in, so it stays organized, and so you don’t forget it as you leave the house. You can personalize the rack and include the kids section or partner section that will hold things that you don’t want to forget such as mail, keys, sunglasses, cell phones, library books and more.
2. Delegate: You do not need to do everything yourself. Identify activities that only you can do effectively, and those that could be done by someone else. What are you spending most of your time doing. Are you putting out fires all day or coming up with creative ideas that can generate cash flow? You also want to examine whether you are using technology effectively to reduce the time you spend on low value tasks.
3. Schedule a mommy day: This is also known as a “Take Your Mom to Play Day” this is not considered me time, this is just time that your child or kids schedule a day that they want to hang with you by themselves. Therefore, since I have two kids, my daughter chose Friday nights to do something together and my son chose Wednesday for me to watch wrestling with him. This not only helps me unwind but I get to know each of my kids likes and dislikes without them battling each other for attention. It works and it keeps them busy.
Stay tuned for more tips on Balancing the Supermom Act next week and for details on a great giveaway from Lucinda at Corporate Mom Dropouts.
This post is part one in a series of three posts about Balancing the Supermom Act. I know that this is a topic all mom entrepreneurs can relate to.
Lucinda Cross is a speaker, mom and the founder of Corporate Mom Dropouts. She also runs a blog, hosts a radio show and is the author of the book Corporate Mom Dropouts, which was released in August.
TME: What is the concept behind Corporate Mom Dropouts?
Lucinda: The concept is to become a successful mom in business and have the flexibility to create a profitable business that fits your lifestyle as a mother, wife and woman.
TME: How will this book help moms make the transition from the corporate world to running their own business?
Lucinda: It provides real time stories with expert advice from women who have started and are now highly successful. This is not a step by step guide to transitioning but a book of life that will inspire women and moms to step into their greatness with confidence.
This is a FREE event for moms who do everything themselves, won’t seek needed assistance, refuse to delegate assignments, are overwhelmed juggling family and business, and who are experiencing “Burn Out” or “Melt Down”.
Yes, I am talking about YOU and ME. To learn more and to register, click here…>
After interviewing over 200 moms, Lucinda has come up with some of the most interesting ways Supermoms can fly and create a life that operates the way they want it to.
5 Tips for Balancing the Supermom Act – By Lucinda Cross
Identify where you want to be: The most important thing is to know what you want and where you want to be. Think about the end result. If you have a clear identified target of desire to succeed, you can walk that path with confidence. But you must know where you want to be and what does that vision look like. (Create a vision board.)
Work your super star pitch: Know that you have 20 seconds to make a wow impression, but first things first. Always mention: who you are, what you do, and what type of industry your in. Add in some personality so that the person your talking to feels your passion. Be able to describe who you are and what you do in the time it takes to ride an elevator.
Develop a clear strategy: Strategy is one of the steps in the planning process and success cycle. The sequence in creating a clear strategy is having a Vision, Mission, and Goals. Take a look at your business model and write down what worked and what did not work. Then list the things you have not tried and combine that list with your “this worked” list. Begin to craft an execution strategy plan and be deliberate in your actions.
Refuse to lower your standards: Many times we lower and drop the value of our personal and professional goals and values in exchange for something or a project that requires more commitment or more sacrifice for less value. Understand your value and refuse to lower your standards if it is not a win-win situation.
Realize your purpose and understand that its not about you: You are in business to service others, this is not about you and how you feel, its about creating that ultimate experience for your clients and prospects. What is your purpose and how is it fulfilling the needs of others? How does your product or service make others feel? What problem is it really solving besides for example (saving them time, creating a brand, marketing their service or etc…)?
Stay tuned for more tips on Balancing the Supermom Act next week and for details on a great giveaway from Lucinda at Corporate Mom Dropouts.
Filed under listen and learn, mom entrepreneurs, palindrome, the truth, work life balance | 
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(affiliate link)* – This bestselling guide takes you across town and around the globe to 500 of the most exciting places on earth. It comes complete with hotel information, age recommendations, websites and more. It is comprehensive and easy to use. You can search by country, state, or alphabetically. This book makes it easy to plan family vacations and to be assured the destination is one that all will enjoy.
