Vetting the Big Idea

Vetting the Big Idea.

My Mompreneur Mistake that Led to the Stikitty!

Yes, I admit it. I was so eager to be an entrepreneur that I threw out years of training and education and just went for it.

Read more about the mistake that ended up being one of the best things that has ever happened to me in business! American Express Open Forum Interview.

Doesn’t any one see this mess??

When did I become my mother?

Doesn't any one see this mess??

You know, the one person in the house that cleans up after everyone else.  The one person that doesn’t just step over shoes in the middle of the living room floor; leave dirty dishes to pile up in the sink; ignore the dust gathering in layers on the mantle.

Is it that my family doesn’t see the mess? That my daughter isn’t aware that I nearly tripped over her shoes lying negligently, half-way underneath the sofa? That my husband doesn’t notice the finger smudges on the windows or the laundry exploding out of the hampers?

What’s more likely is that they know that Mom will take care of it all.

Or ask them, at least 20 times before any one acts, to clean up.

Maybe today is the day that I don’t do it anymore. That I let it all go. Allow everything to pile up and spill over, stop asking everyone to take responsibility for their own things, and no longer let messes bug me.

Ahhhhhh….

An image from the show, “Hoarding: Buried Alive,” just streaked across my terrified brain. My “Just Don’t Do It” moment didn’t even last 30 seconds.

Stikitty Launch Simply Spectacular!

We officially launched the new Stikitty at AmericasMart in Atlanta this past week! It was exhausting and exciting and motivating, all at the same time. In addition to being sold online, our innovative, adhesive cat litter mat is now in 5 retail locations and we are reaching out to more retailers each day!

The very best part of the launch was hearing people say, “What a great idea! Why hasn’t anyone come up with this before?” 

I showed the “before look” in an earlier post…be sure to check it out and let me know what you think of our new packaging below. I hope you agree with one of our new retailers who called the packaging, “simply spectacular!”

New Look for the Stikitty

A Busy Mompreneur’s Guide to Surviving the Summer Break

We’re nearing the half-way mark of summer break. (I know!). My kids and I are doing a pretty good job of surviving, despite some crazy time crunches, and I thought I’d share some things that are working for me.

A Busy Mompreneur's Guide to Surviving the Summer

Work-wise, it would be ideal if my company would run on autopilot from June 1st to August 31st so I could play with the kids all summer long. The good news is that my company is growing. I have several upcoming sales meetings and tradeshows this summer—I’m launching the new Stikitty to retailers next week! There are lots of meetings and lots of preparations. Also, I have new PR and advertising campaigns that need nurturing. The bad news is no autopilot for me.

Kid-wise, it’s summer time! My elementary-school-aged children worked very hard this year and deserve a wonderful break. Sometimes they want to do their own thing; other times that want Mom time. I love that they want to play with me. My schedule isn’t always as flexible as I, or the kids, would like it to be, though.

So when both the kids and the company need energy and attention at the same time, what’s a busy mompreneur to do?

Below are things that have worked for me so far this summer. I know you have great strategies, too, so please share!

1.  Summer Camps: school districts and local churches offer summer camps that are much less expensive than private camps and full-time daycare. And they provide a solid 3-4 hours to a full day of entertainment for the kids. Our school district offers a great variety of activities from fun and educational to sports related.  As a side benefit, the camps let the kids to try out an activity, such as basketball or acting, without having to commit to a full season or 6-week session.

Pros: the kids love trying new things and I get a good block of work time. Also, some camps allow last-minute sign ups.
Cons: there’s a lot of driving.

2. Blocking & Tackling: I got this tip from another mompreneur. If I have work that requires a block of time, I bargain with the kids. If they give me half-an-hour of uninterrupted work time, as soon as I’m finished I’ll put my work away—no matter what—and do whatever the kids want to do.

Pros: I don’t feel as guilty for spending time on work.
Cons: The nature of running a business doesn’t always allow for starts and stops. When it does, though, blocking & tackling works well for me.

3. Bundling: When you work from the house and have kids home for the summer, there is no way to avoid interruptions. (My daughter just came in to show me her latest jump rope trick!). When I can, I try to bundle and wait on more time-intensive activities (e.g., processing orders or recording expenses and receipts) so I can do more flexible work (e.g., responding to emails, writing blogs, and working on PR and advertising campaigns) when I know the kids likely will interrupt me.

Pros: the activities still get done and the interruptions don’t bother me as much.
Cons: there’s more stress in knowing I have pressing obligations.

4. Reinforcements: there are times when I just need a helping hand, like when I have an important call or a meeting outside the house and I need someone to watch the kids. I have a list on hand of high school students who I can call at a moment’s notice. The high schoolers are on summer break, too, and many are getting pretty bored right about now. Most welcome the distraction of watching the kids for an hour or two.

Pros: I can attend my meetings and the kids have someone new to beat at Mario Kart!
Cons: Even high school kids want to be paid one way or another; for example, my nephew is a great babysitter AND he loves my homemade potato salad. I might just work out a deal with him. Either way, it’s well worth the price.

We still have those days when the balance of demands gets out of whack. For the most part, though, the kids are having fun and staving off boredom. My business is doing well and I’m less stressed. All-in-all, it’s been a pretty good summer so far.

Laundry Revelations

I really don’t mind doing laundry. It’s just one of those things that has to be done. And, since my husband doesn’t mind it either, we pretty much share the load, as it were.

Laundry Revelations

That said I don’t like doing more work than necessary. Call me lazy or efficient, either way I prefer to get chores over with as soon as possible.

If you’re the same way, you’ll understand my bewilderment. I just realized, after 12 years of marriage, that my husband’s laundry is always inside-out. Shorts, t-shirts, undershirts, work shirts, everything!

That makes folding laundry twice as time-consuming. (I know I could fold it as is, but to me it doesn’t feel done/clean/finished if it’s inside-out).

Normally, I would just tell my husband to “stop it!” I was curious though, to see why and how his clothes end up that way. So this morning I spied on him as he got ready for work. He leaned over, crossed his arms, and pulled the shirt he slept in up from the bottom edges and over his head. Wa-la! Inside-out.

Then I told him to “stop it!”

Always agreeable, he said, “no problem.” Then he pointed out that our son does the same thing.

How Much Do I Think I’m Worth?

Don’t you think it’s funny when something is weighing on you, and then presto! an article on that very topic pops up in your inbox? That’s exactly what happened to me this morning with this article. When–if–how to pay myself has been on my mind a lot lately.

How Much Do I Think I'm Worth?

I launched my products a little over a year ago and have had some really good sales months. I’ve put those profits back into the company and also have invested a lot from my personal funds.

Now that we’re launching to the retail market next month, I may be in a position to start paying myself. What a concept! It’s what mompreneurs do; what we work toward; why we leave corporate life. But it’s also a little uncomfortable.

How much do I think I’m worth? Do I really think I’m ready for a salary? Have I created enough success yet to pay myself?

I have to delve into these questions and feelings more. Is it just a mompreneur thing or do all entrepreneurs go through this self questioning? I’ll think about all of that later.

Right now, I’m going to work on polishing up my job description. I know how cheap my boss can be and I’ll need to be pretty persuasive to get a good salary!

Great Things on the Horizon

I am so excited to showcase the new Stikitty at the AmericasMart Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market in July.

From This...Our Old Packaging & Branding

We originally launched our innovative adhesive, cat litter mat as the Kitty Litter Gripper Mat and sold it exclusively online. As a result of great customer feedback on the product and constant requests for local places to buy it, we’ve been in R&D mode and have updated our go-to-market strategy!

It’s been a fun and busy few months but we are in the last legs of preparations. Our product is redesigned, our packaging is refreshed, and we’re updating our retail-ready branding.

To This...Coming in July!

I can’t wait for you to see our new look — especially in your local retail store! Clean freaks and pet owners alike will love the fresh, light, and clean new packaging. Further, you’ll love how our product outshines traditional mats, which just trap litter, by proactively cleaning your cats’ paws!

Keep your eyes out for news about the Stikitty in July!

Ain’t Nobody Calm

I’ve always liked that old saying that starts with “when Momma’s not happy.” I like it because it’s meant to tell other family members to make sure “Momma’s happy.” Same goes for calm, at least for me.

When Momma's Not Calm, Ain't Nobody Calm

I’ve had a lot going on between prepping for a trade show, working on the relaunch of the Stikitty complete with new branding, packaging, Web site, and more, fulfilling orders, end-of-year school activities, performances, and concerts, scheduling summer camps, and trying to fit in vacation plans. It’s been a bit stressful for me.

Which means it’s been a bit stressful for my family.

Funny how it works. The more stressed I get, the more the kids fight with each other, causing me more stress. I get frustrated and the kids get stubborn. I get louder and the kids become screaming banshees. ‘Round and ’round it goes.

So I try to see myself in a calm state of mind. While imagining this often elusive state, I look around. Are the kids suddenly angels and are the socks in the middle of the living room floor magically picking themselves up? Are work challenges working themselves out and the stress just melting away?

No, no, no, and…ah…no.

But, it is a whole lot quieter in this imaginary, calm state. (Probably because I brought along an imaginary mute button for the kids, the phones, and every other noise maker in my life).

Quiet makes this momma happy; I think I’ll stick around a while.

I Like the Word Mompreneur

I wrote a post on the hardest things about being a mompreneur. There are some pretty great rewards, though, too. I love reading stories about moms who are making it all work. If you do too, check out the profiles on Volusion’s SuperMompreneur contest. And stop by our profile too!