Tag Archives: prioritizing

And the Reviews Are In!

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Mommies-to-be, isn’t it great when you get sound advice from sage moms?  Mom bloggers are loving The Pregnant Entrepreneur, and they are willing to take up their blog space to talk about it.  Check out what they are saying, and click on their links to enter to win a copy they may be giving away:

In my opinion, this book is really one of a kind. Owning a business is a dream for many woman, but they may think it’s impossible to do this while expecting or already raising a family. Not anymore!

-Kecia at  http://southerngirlramblings.com/the-pregnant-entrepreneur-book-review/

Although there are some great business related tips, the book does not read like a textbook.  If you are trying to balance work and family, then you will most likely find this book extremely helpful and informative. 

-Cake Mom at http://jamielz.blogspot.com/2012/05/pregnant-entrpreneur-review-and.html

Whether you have a small starter business or a larger established company this book will help you navigate through pregnancy while owning your own business.  I wish I had this book 2 years ago while I was pregnant with Jace.  I had been working my jewelry business but stopped because I was so overwhelmed.  This book would have helped me to put things in perspective and keep the business going. 

-Lisa at http://www.astheygrowup.com/2012/05/mamas-ultimate-giveaway-bash-pregnant.html

 

Two aspects of the book that I especially enjoyed were critical questions and case studies. The critical questions at the end of each chapter help motivate and inspire the reader. The real examples of mom success stories are also inspirational and educational.

-Scarlett at  http://momswearyourtees.com/management-tips/pregnant-entrepreneur-book-review/ and https://www.facebook.com/Moms.Wear.Your.Tees.SMM

 

I kid you not – this is one of the most impressive non-fiction, how-to books that I have read in quite a long time.  Targeted to pregnant women who either have their own businesses or are considering starting their own business, it is also an invaluable resource for any self-employed, stay-at-home, working, or student mom.  I suspect that it is a terrific resource for all moms, at every level of working. This book has the potential of being life-changing!

– Cluadine Wolk, Author of It Gets Easier! And Other Lies We Tell New Mothers, Help4NewMoms.com

The Submission- Book Review

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If you are over the age of 30 and if you were awake on 9.11.01, you can probably pinpoint where you were on that awful day.  You might also be able to point to certain actions in your life that are a direct result of what happened to you and how you felt in the wake of 9-11.  A lot of us shifted or changed course entirely on that day.  I can honestly say that my journey to becoming an entrepreneur, and subsequently a pregnant entrepreneur, started that day. 

That day I decided that my north Jersey work location was too close to New York, that I really was doing a thankless job that would not leave the world better, and that maybe it was time to possibly think about perhaps considering to start a family that had more two-footed people in it, and not just four-footed children.  I started prioritizing differently.

The Submission image from Amazon

I hadn’t really thought about reading a fictional account of the events until I heard about The Submission by Amy Waldman.  The book is superb and worth a read.  For a first novel, she really tackles a big topic.  The book starts two years after the attacks and follows a handful of families on all sides of the issues surrounding a monument being chosen to stand at Ground Zero.  When the architect of the monument surfaces as a muslim, albeit a non-practicing one, the firestorm starts. The characters are very believable, mirroring actual politcal figures.  Event the event could have been inspired by the real life group who wanted to build a mosque close to the site.

What kept me reading was the desire to see America turn out OK.  I wanted to know that people could work through their fear, distrust and ignorance to arrive at the America that we imagine we are.  The America who accepts the poor and tired teaming on her shores.  The America who prizes religious freedom for all, not just those who sit beside us in church.  Ms. Waldman does a wonderful job of developing the situation into the complex, messy situation that it is.  The champions change course.  The downtrodden really does have an agenda, even if he doesn’t know it.  The spokesperson for the issue, who has influence she never intended, is someone that no one at all elected.  In the end, success comes despite the turmoil, but not in a satisfactory way. 

I wanted to see America turn out OK.  I’m still not sure if it did.  But I’m sure that those who are earnest enough to read this book are the same people who will be thoughtful about how they spend their time, what they do to shape their family, and how they think about the dark-skinned person standing next to them at the airport next time. 

If you still have time for a fictional read, The Submission is a good pick. 

How Does Being A Working Mom Benefit Your Children?

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Every now and then you might read a story about the effects on children from moms moving from the home to the workforce.  Usually the news (or perception) is not positive.  However, I think that entrepreneurial moms have a different story to tell.
From an expert perspective, I strongly believe that being expert problem solvers (notice I didn’t say expert multi-taskers!) gets passed on to our kids.  This isn’t just hearsay, it appears to be neurological and something we can influence through upbringing.  I reference Richard Nisbett in his book, Intelligence and How to Get It, in this excerpt from my book, The Pregnant Entrepreneur:

“It turns out that being read to and exposure to books are socio-economic indicators that are found with higher-IQ children according to Nisbett.[i] Earlier and more consistent access to schools and learning programs are also highly correlated with higher intelligence.[ii] Being exposed to the problem solving, like that required to run a successful business, must qualify as educational, rich, and diverse experiences. Entrepreneurial mothers were not highlighted as a group in Intelligence and How to Get It. Although not scientifically studied, it makes sense that if you are steeped in the entrepreneurial environment and, even better, expose your child to aspects of it, your child is likely to benefit cognitively from that experience.”

From the perspective of a services professional, I can tell you that one of target client sets is young adults who have not learned the skills or organizing because their parents never taught them.  I believe that the entrepreneurial family is more likely to pass on skills that allow a person to be self-sustaining and more able to achieve their own goals.
From the perspective of a mom, I can tell you that my 4-year old helps me take care of the house because I expect that, and she’s learned to be part of the family team from an early age.  She’s also learned that there are times when you work, and times when you play.  She gets it now, and I expect that she’ll continue to grow into a person who can structure her own time to meet her goals.  Prioritizing is a critical life skill, so you can enjoy life more.
I’ve talked to at least three people just this week who said to me that their inability to prioritize is their biggest problem.  Successful business owners must prioritize, or they aren’t successful.  If we pass this trait or skill alone onto our kids, we’ve done our jobs as entrepreneurs and moms at the same time.  Ka-ching!