But the business finally took off after the San Jose Mercury News published a wonderful feature about me in Summer 2004, and the biz had its first profitable months with an almost-full load of clients. Of course, that was just about the time we got pregnant (after we had stopped officially “trying” and had decided to put it off until my business was further along, lol).  

Four years ago today, after just 4 hours of easy labor (used hypnobirthing) and 45 minutes of intense-craziness at the end, Grace was born at 3:44 PM.  When we got home we went through the adventure of nursing with a girl who did not care about eating (and kept losing weight) until she was 4 1/2 weeks old.  She did sleep wonderfully (7 hrs at night at 5 weeks!) but could not stop moving — living in a sling, Baby Bjorn, swing, or Amby Motion Bed.  Her newborn quirks were a big shock to me. 

After those 7 weeks of intense newborn-dom, I came back from maternity leave to my business as a mom entrepreneur.

Phase 1:  Part-Time Nanny & Trading Hours for Dollars

After my daughter was born, I had fleeting thoughts of dropping my business and simply being a stay at home mom for a while (course, nothing simple in that, eh?).  But I did not feel finished with working, and frankly, I needed a break from my high-intensity, clingy daughter.  I needed grown up, intellectual stimulation.  And a situation where no one was trying to get inside my shirt.  

Since I was still seeing clients in person, I needed care for my daughter while I was working.  But day care did not seem like a good option for us, since I wanted to nurse her without pumping, and she was an always-needing-to-be-carried kind of kid.  And, face it, I wanted control over the situation and day care made me nervous.   So instead of getting on the (long) waiting list of a good day care, we opted for a part-time nanny.

We hired our wonderful nanny Sarah using Town & Country Resources nanny service.  She was more expensive than we had imagined, but she was unusually suited to us – she had a college degree, was working on her own floral design business, and had tons of nanny experience.  And, she enjoyed carrying Grace around in a sling for hours each day.  

My business went through a short post-maternity slump, because I had not been marketing or prospecting during my leave (ah, the days before online marketing).  But after a few months, I was back in business.  

Lesson Learned:  We must automate our marketing (via online marketing, eZine’s, auto-responders, etc.) to avoid slumps when life gets crazy. 

Phase 2:  The Nanny Turnstile & I’m Bored.

In Spring of 2006 I seriously thought about shutting down my business.  The business had plateaued.  And since I was bored, I did not want to pound the networking pavement to fill up the rest of my practice.  Heck, I didn’t want to fill up my practice – I resented spending time on clients.  As was not making enough money.

Instead of shutting down my practice, I hired two coaches – Kim Fulcher as my life coach and Kelly O’Neil as my marketing coach.  And gave my business another 6 months to turn around.  Kim helped me bring some balance and intention back to my life, and, for the first time, helped me find the beliefs about money and success that were keeping me in self-sabotage mode.  

Kelly kicked my butt in marketing, got me (scared and wining) to schedule my first teleclass series, and brainstormed with me to come up with the new name for my business, “The Wealth Spa.”  I started my first blog that August, and learned about Ali Brown & this whole information marketing thing.  My business world was getting interesting again.  

Then nanny Sarah went on maternity leave, so we were forced to hunt for new nannies.  We went through 4 nannies in 6 months (including a brief stint from Sarah who realized she wanted to be home with her own baby).  I can’t even tell you how many women we interviewed.  Gave offers that were too late, considered women who were less than optimal.  Then the last nanny worked for us for only 6 weeks until she gave her leave, and I was on search again.

Every time we were nanny-less I had to fight for solutions.  Backup daycare through my husband’s work was okay, but Grace always came home with a cold afterwards.  Working at home with her was okay for email but did not fly for client appointments.  When my parents were in town (from St. Louis, Missouri) they watched her so I could make client calls & teach a teleclass.  Course they could not make the 2000 mile commute more then for a vacation visit.  

Lesson Learned:  Before the breakthrough there is a breakdown – so welcome the breakdown, it means you’re ready to make a leap forward!  

Phase 3:  All Day Preschool & Projects, Teleclasses, Book, oh my!

After attending Ali Brown’s Online Success Blueprint Workshop in November 2006, I relaunched my eZine & website and my online business began to take off.  Raised my fees and standardized project fees (instead of hourly work), taking on a high caliber of clients. Started regular free teleclasses to build the email & mailing list, launched a viral movie w/ Scott Stratton’s Un-Marketing team (adding thousands to my list), and started hosting my radio show (back then on Voice America Business).  

Then in Spring of 2007, Ali Brown asked me to be part of her Platinum Mastermind program.  I freaked out when I got that voicemail – why was she calling me?  What did she see in me that I did not see (yet)? I knew her program was a huge financial and time commitment.  But at that moment I decided to get serious about taking my business to the next level, and I knew I needed that financial commitment and a mastermind team to hold me accountable.  I took the jump in faith.

Meanwhile, when Grace turned two I decided to put her in an all-day preschool (and day care) program.  The theory was if I was going to get serious about my business, I needed more time.  (And my secret theory was when my business took off, I would be able to pull her out of school and homeschool her.)  She cried for the first few days, bonded with the caregivers, made a best friend, and was then excited to go to school.

Lesson Learned:  We don’t see our own brilliance because to us, it’s ordinary.  We need coaches, teaches, mastermind partners to reflect our brilliance back for us to see.  

Phase 4:  Part-Time Preschool & No More Clients

In March of 2008, I started reading my friend Sandy Grason‘s book, Journalution, which is about how to find solutions to your life using journaling.  I had stopped journaling years ago, with some weird idea that my husband might read my journal so it was not safe (as if he would ever read it, how nuts of me).  But per Sandy’s advice, I bought a brand new, unlined, lime-green-covered journal, and sat down to answer the journaling prompt “Describe Your Perfect Day.”

The idea of a perfect day seemed so unreal I was unable to answer the question until I added the caveat, “…three years from today.”  So I described a perfect day in 2011, where I was running an publishing/information marketing/magazine business, teaching a teleclass, and talking to a coaching client on the phone, while homeschooling my daughter (and with my husband working on his own home business in the next room).  As I read my entry, I realized that I was waiting for magical circumstances (that would never happen) for my vision to arise.  Instead … what if I just did that perfect day right now? 

So I pulled Grace out of full time and put her in a 2-days a week, 1/2 day preschool program, and invested in TONS of homeschooling resources.  Stopped seeing financial planning clients (drastically reducing my income but freeing up time and energy).  Finished my first major information product.  Published my first book.  Re-launched my business as The Wealth Spa Online Magazine.  And did that with just 6 hours of regular childcare each week (plus a few days each quarter of temporary nanny time for out-of-town travel and speaking engagements).  It is possible. 

Lesson Learned:  Don’t wait for something to happen to start living life (because that day will never come).  Stop waiting.  Simply live in the moment today.  

Phase 5:  Homeschooling & and Clients again?

Until on December 30, 2008 when Grace said, to no one in particular as she was getting in the car, “This is the last day I’m going to school.”  What?  I completely freaked, I needed those 6 hours a week to make phone calls, teach teleclasses, write articles, get work done!  Now I was not surprised, really…she had stopped enjoying school when she moved to the 3 year old “real preschool” classroom that fall, with its large class size, higher student-teacher ratio, and absence of her best friends from the 2 year old room.  (And, as she told me a few weeks later, one boy had been kicking her on a regular basis, what the heck?!)

But after 5 years in business and almost 4 as a mom, my freak-out-ness was not long lasting.  Tons of resources popped up into my awareness, from Cubes & Crayons on-demand childcare/work sharing, to the zillion classes for kids in my area, to homeschooling co-ops.  After just 2 weeks, we were back in a routine, and, frankly, I was more productive than ever before.  

Now it’s Spring again, and again I’m moving to another business & personal growth phase.   The online business is growing exponentially, and I’m doing tons of speaking engagements. (Ironically to my no-more-clients decision in 2008), I’m secretly planning to open 4 one-on-one coaching spots and a 15-person group coaching program for other mom business owners.  (Okay, it’s not secret if I’m blogging about it, lol.)  After casually, speaking about my personal mompreneur strategies for the last few years, I want to bring these solutions to all of those moms who are trying to grow a business and raise kids, all without losing their minds or struggling through daily life.  

Lesson Learned:  After the last 4 years as a mompreneur, who knows what next challenge/opporunity will jump into my life tomorrow.  But as always, it’s an adventure (and that’s the point, eh?).  

–

Join me for the free teleclass, “The 5 Shifts Moms Must Make to Succeed as Entrepreneurs,” where you will learn:

• Why mom entrepreneurs are different, and how being a mom makes us better business owners
• What you must do differently to feel fulfilled in your conflicting roles
• How to create the support you need asap
• The big myths of successful “mompreneurs” and work-at-home moms, and why you can’t buy into them
• The #1 mistake moms are making that’s holding them back making the really big bucks, or even just a profit

Date:  Wednesday April 1, 2009

Time:  Noon Pacific (3 PM EST)

(this free call will be recorded)

Join us at http://MompreneurCall.com

Related posts:

1. What type of a mompreneur are you?
2. A Day in the Life of a Mompreneur
3. What is a Mompreneur?

Last year she enjoyed her 2-year old classroom, because she made some great friends (yes, little kids can make best friends, isn’t that amazing!), and with only 4 kids per adult, she got tons of teacher-attention.  Not so with her 3-year old “official preschool” room.  Her best friends were split off into other classrooms, and she did not find a new best friend in her new group.  While her teachers were caring, with only 2 teachers to a room full of kids, they spent most of their time leading the group (and managing the messes), instead of 1:1 attention to any child.  Just like regular school, it’s impossible for teachers to really run it any other way. 

I had planned on her going to her preschool 6 hours a week until the end of the school year, to give me time to figure out other solutions.  

But on December 30, 2008 my daughter said quietly to no one in particular as she got in the car, “The is the last day I’m going to this school.”  

What?  What are you talking about? 

“Mommy, I don’t like this school.  So I decided that today is the last day I’m coming here.”  

Now mind you, I had teleclasses planned, shows scheduled, meetings on calendar … and no solution for keeping her amused while I ran the business and fulfilled my commitments.  After panicking for a few hours, I realized that I needed to listen to my daughter.  This is a girl who loves nannies and babysitters, who used to love school, and who loves learning.  This wasn’t about discipline … it’s that her current program was not the right fit.  And that was one of the big reasons I had planned on homeschooling her in the first place … so why not start today?  

Instead of continuing to freak out, I broke down our needs into a few categories (yes, I do have a logical side, are you surprised?).  Preschool (and school in general) was not the only solution for our needs — time to put on the creative-problem-solver hat!  

Dear Daughter (DD) Needs

• Learning the basics (reading, writing, math) 
• Learning fun extra stuff (i.e., science, arts & crafts, history/cultures, music) 
• Exposure to different types of people/things/cultures
• Playing with other kids (same age and mixed ages)
• Attention from other adults (esp. since our families are out of town)
• Running around & other high-energy physical activity
• Just getting out of the house
• Attention from mom  

Categories for DD:  Learning, People, Activity

Elizabeth’s Needs

• Quiet, uninterrupted time/space to write
• Place to record videos & audios
• Quiet space to return phone calls
• Place to teach teleclasses, guests on radio shows
• Childcare for speaking engagements
• Childcare for out-of-town travel to meetings, seminars, conferences
• Time with grown-ups
• Time to answer email, manage staff
• Time for social networking and online marketing
• Time to read, listen to teleclasses, learn new stuff
• Time to run technical part of website, upload files, posts to blog
• Time to do housework and run errands
• Time for hobbies like hiking, crafts, reading, cooking, gardening
• Time for traveling, meeting new people, experiencing nature
• Quality time with DD

Categories for Elizabeth:  Quiet, Out-of-Town, Teaching, Computer, Fun

And I realized that there was no one solution that worked for us.  And that’s important.  So many times in life we are looking for one “magical” solution to our needs, but it takes a creative assembly of resources to craft a solution to each of our unique concerns. 

Solution #1:  Co-working/childcare

My first search was to look for childcare on demand in an environment that did not seem like a child storage facility (you know what I mean!), where she would have fun and be safe while I could have concentrated work time.  And, I wanted something cost effective yet flexible, so I can get more time when I’m working on a project yet not have to pay for time I don’t use.  

Cubes and Crayons has been on my radar for a few months.  They are a co-working / childcare-on-demand place, where parents can work in a room while the kids are playing in another room down the hall under supervision by certified peeps.  You can pay by the hour or buy hours in blocks of time — either way you just schedule time a few days before and use it as you go. So we signed up for a few hours to try them out.

DD loves playing in a room of mixed ages (ages 3 months to 5 years), with small child-teacher ratio (since they are going by the lower age group rules) and where she knows that I’m down the hall if there is a major problem.  I suspect that she does crafts for hours — she usually has 4-5 completed projects when I go down the hall to pick her up.  What’s her favorite part?  ”My favorite part is the little babies.”  

For me, I’m working (right now, actually) in a room of other adults who are also all working on their computers.  Kind of a great peer pressure for me to be productive, unlike at home where I can always find laundry to do or books to read.  These people are looking at me (not really, but) so I can’t be futzing around on twitter instead of working on my work.  I’m using the quiet time primarily for writing; I’ve been neglecting writing original content and the urge to write something new has been driving me nuts.  Also a great time for phone calls (just step outside for privacy) and mind-mapping or journaling.  

Solution #2:  Classes for DD

Here in the Silicon Valley there are TONS of classes for kids to learn everything such as gymnastics, drama, cooking, musical instruments, art, or gardening.  And now that DD’s is almost 4 years old, she’s eligible for the lowest level of these classes (and they are not parent participation, btw).  I’m trying her out in gymnastics and drama first (it would be so each to over-schedule us with everything available!).  

What needs does this fulfill?  DD gets to play with other kids, spend time with other adults (usually these classes are 1:4 or 1:6 ratio), and learn fun new information or skills.  In gymnastics she also gets tons of running-around and high-energy-play time. I also get a little alone time for writing, reading, or computer time while she’s in class.  

Solution #3:  Temp Nannies 

We’ve been using a local nanny service (Town and Country Resources) to supply temporary nannies for a few years for date nights or when I travel.  Yes, they are a bit different than babysitters, because they tend to be professional nannies who are in-between jobs or are moonlighting, have tons of experience, are non-teenagers, are screened by the agency (and the state), and are a bit expensive (especially around here!). 

But DD has NEVER been upset or cried when I left her with one of these women.  Why?  Because she gets the undivided attention (how often is my attention undivided?) of a loving adult who is being paid to hang out with her all day.  Typically they walk to the park or library, do arts & crafts (that are too messy to try my patience), read tons of books, cook together, and play.  

Not only are nannies a great solution for when I travel, but they are solving the challenge of time for me to teach classes and record videos/audio — where I need a private, quiet space with a land line and computer.  For DD, she gets to learn new stuff and gets 1:1 time with a fun adult.  

Solution #4:  Homeschooling

In April of last year I realized that I wanted to start homeschooling DD now, instead of waiting for when my business was “ready” (does that ever happen?) or when she was school-age.  Now, of course, she’s 3 years old, so we don’t really do “school” (and I doubt we will ever do “school”).  All we did was set up one room as the “learning room” and fill it full of materials for (science, math, phonics) projects, educational books, great fiction books, workbooks (she thinks they are great fun), and learning materials for preschoolers (blocks for math, chalkboard & wood pieces for writing, sand-cards for phonics).  

DD has a little desk for her to draw or do worksheets, a great chair for cuddling while reading, and a little table to do our projects.  Each day we spend some time in the learning room, which DD regards as just a place to do fun projects with mom (learning is the great side effect!).  

But it’s not just what we do in the learning room.  Homeschooling is not school-at-home, it’s a style of parenting, it’s a lifestyle, it’s what we do everywhere.  From grocery shopping to walking through the park to weeding the garden, everything we do has opportunities for quality time and the joy of learning something new (or practicing/teaching what we already have learned).  She weighs fruits, counts buttons, points out letters, color-devides laundry, categories utensils, and names plants in the flower bed.  Let me tell you, chores and errands are so much more fun for me when we are doing them together in this purposeful, intentional way.   

Now at home she also spends time each day amusing herself.  That may be making up stories, doing crafts, playing with toys, running around in the backyard, or watching a video.  For a girl who never wants to be alone, it’s a good way for her to build her playing-alone and creative-play muscles.  And while she amuses herself, I do computer work, like social networking, emailing, managing staff, or updating my blog. 

Solution #5:  Travel, Day-trips, and Field Trips

Both DD and I love to travel — her because she loves to meet new people and see new things, and I love to experience nature and different cultures.   She loves flying (bonds with random people in airports), loves staying in hotels (pools!  big bathtubs!) and is convinced that something exciting will always happen on a trip (ducks at papa’s house!  fast boat ride!  disneyland!).  

The one big challenge has been that my husband’s practice is not compatible with vacation planning (client pitches, court dates, brief deadlines).  So I finally realized that DD and I can travel alone (especially since we can homeschool and I can run my business from anywhere), both for short day-trip as well as longer vacations.

The ideas is that each month we will go on a few “field trips” – such as to a zoo, nature preserve, state park, beach, or museum.  Then once a month we will go on a longer day/overnight trip to some where we will both love and have fun, such as Santa Cruz or San Francisco.  Then every couple months we will go on a big trip, just the two of us.  Our first big trip is a 4-day cruise (my first cruise too!) from Los Angeles to Mexico – they do provide childcare on board so I can get a few breaks, and the ship is set up to amuse kids.  I also have plans for a train ride to Portland (she’s really excited about sleeping on a train!) and international group tours once she’s a bit older.  

Will I get any work done on these trips?  Hum, depends upon the trip, of course.  DD does go to sleep at 7:30 PM, so I will have time, but I may prefer to spend that time reading or journaling instead of futzing with email.  But I know I’ll get time to experience nature and have fun.  

Would Multiple Solutions Work For You? 

If you are challenged by marketing, getting new clients, dealing with childcare, or de-weeding your lawn, your solution may not be just one “magical” thing.  Break down what you really need — you may find may be better to use 2, 5, or 7 different solutions to replace whatever is not working in your life.  And, once you diversify your solutions you are less dependent upon one of them breaking (for example, if Cubes and Crayons goes under, I already have other solutions to hold me over until I find a replacement).  

So what’s not working for you today?  

Related posts:

1. What type of a mompreneur are you?
2. A butterfly flaps its wings in China — and my childcare falls apart.
3. 4 Years Ago Today I Became a Mompreneur