Keep It Simple

I know there are times when I just don't get it and then there is today. It suddenly came to me. It's all about slow, incremental growth by utilizing consistent behavior. No matter how little, doing it consistently.

So instead of lamenting about my schedule and the little time I have to be working on my business, I am working on it when I can. Basically I am picking myself up from my boot straps and doing what I said I would do.

I am also rejoicing and honoring the mom that I am the other time. As I sit here typing my 3 year old is trying to fall asleep and I am waiting to get my 5 year old. I cannot wait to get him and bring him home so we can pop some popcorn and watch a movie together. What a great feeling.

This is a major step. I am able to live in compartments that can overflow but don't have to. The best part is that I am content where I am.

Oh the sounds of silence . . .

Yes, the kids are back in school. I do miss them, and I must say that I am enjoying these moments of quite and inspiration. I am catching up on emails, making follow-up calls, setting my schedule for the next month and enjoying a "hot" cup of coffee. Yes, I said hot.

I know when I get my boys I will be happy to see them, yet I can say without guilt that it is good to have this time. They grow in their independence and they learn while I recharge and plug into the world again.

Thank you God for a moment of clarity and the joys you bring.

Blogged Down Without Inspiration

It's Friday, Good Friday, and for some reason I don't feel inspired. However, I have been trained to behave whether I feel like it or not, so here I am writing.

Today we have a play date and we are going bowling. I really am looking forward to that. I love spending time with other moms, specially if they are moms like me, streetsmart. Becka is that. Her boys are just wonderful, so all in all, it will be a great day.

I am looking forward to Easter, celebrating the joy of the season, for He is Risen In Deed. I am mostly looking foward to enjoying time with my family. The holidays are a great time. Why can't we capture that feeling all year long. I guess it wouldn't be special then.

Until Monday, unless inspiration takes over before then.

Speaking off the Cuff

Well we are still in the middle of Spring Break. Last night was a little haven in the middle of a busy week. I go to Toastmaster to hone my speaking skills as well as my listening skills. I also go to be with people who are looking to improve themselves. They are a great group of people. My favorite part of the meeting is Table Topics where you get the opportunity to develop you impromptu speaking skills. I was fortunate to win for the evening.

After the meeting a few of us went to catch a bite to eat. There I get to further develop friendships. I really appreciate the group of people I am meeting and how generous they are with their knowledge. I get to see how they care for each other and what they do to make themselves better. It keeps me focused on my priorities and grounded. What more could anyone ask for, a great meeting, good people, good food and then I get to go home to my resting family. It is like a flower in the middle of snow storm.

Spring Has Sprung

Sunday was the first day of spring. It was realitively warm and I really enjoyed a great weekend. I had my family in from NY and David, my 2 year old, got his big boy bed. He will be 3 next, so this is his birthday present from my Mom and Dad.

Meanwhile, my google alerts were busy bringing me articles about sales, sales coaches and moms who work. I read a great one from the DeMoines Register on moms who work and how they make their lives work for them. It was terrific.

Well today is Monday and the boys are on Spring Break. I will have to make sure I have a plan so we can have fun and I can maintain my sanity. I really enjoy my boys.

The reason I do what I do!!! 

Blue on a Green Day

It's St. Patrick's Day!!! Although I am not Irish I usually love to wear green and enjoy the day with my Irish friends. However, today I am blue because my boys are not feeling well and tomorrow starts Spring break. Normally Spring break would be a good thing, but for me it is more time that I cannot work. I don't like to feel unproductive. But I guess once I am in the swing of things, we will have fun and enjoy our time. I will work at night an during naps. I have to be honest, there are times when I have a hard time keeping my perspective and realizing what is important. Luckily it only last for seconds and then I hear a cute little voice and realize this is productive time. And my boys are the best little products I could ever want. Thank you for a moment of clarity on a blue day.

Hump Day - Wednesday

I realize today is Hump day, the middle of the week. For some reason I feel a little tired and quite frankly overwhelmed by the many things I need to do. So I find I am not doing much of anything. I hate this feeling. The good news is that this too shall pass and I will be productive. You see I am blogging and that is something.

I did make some calls and get online and do some research. I have checking out a new website www.hbwm.com dedicated to women business owners. It seems like a good site. I hope to learn there and meet some like minded people.

I also am enjoying time with David and looking forward to picking up Tom. The days really do fly. Tonight is church so we will be home late and hopefully I will have the energy to work on the computer tonight. I guess being a homebased working mom is filled with both joy and challenges. I wouldn't trade it in for anything.

My Why is as Important as my What!!!

So why am I doing this anyway? Why am I running a business, and streching out of my comfort zone. I only have two words for that - Thomas and David. They are my pride and joy.

- So when I don't make a sale, I think of them.
- When I feel overwhelmed, I think of them.
- When I feel like I don't want to get out of bed, I think of them.

They are my First Things First and the rest just falls into place. So when I am faced with decisions about activites or things that need to get done, I have a point of reference. I ask myself, does this make sense in my life right now. Is this going to fit into my life right now. Will I be a better mom to the boys. Will it enrich our lives. The answer must be yes, or I say no.

So once you know your why, the rest all falls into place.

Naps are a good thing!

I am sitting here typing as my 2 year old sleeps on the floor in the living room. For him life is a full speed and then at full stop, where ever he is. He just layed down and sleep was there. Oh I miss naps.

During his brief nap (please let me have a few more minutes) I have cleaned and disinfected the bathroom. Anyone with young boys around understands how crucial that might be. Are there courses in aim? Anyway, I also started a pot of chicken soup, threw in a load of laundry, caught up on email, made a phone call and a pot of coffee.

My husband and my 5 year old are out at the Railroad Musuem enjoying a father/son day out. So it is relatively quite.

Yesterday, we had a great day at our local St. Patrick's Day parade. The kids love all of that stuff, and I must say the grown ups do to. All in all it has been a great weekend. But I am still waiting for my nap.

Husbands are wonderful for Streetsmartmoms!!!!

I never thought to ask Jim to help me so I could go out and network. After all, he is the bread winner of the family. I just bring in rolls. And then it came to me that we are team and it would be a streetsmart thing to do. And without hesitation he said, when do you need my help. He's amazing.

So this morning I had the pleasure to network with small business owners at a local Chamber event - it was terrific. I met old friends (bk - before kids) and made new contacts. I even got the opportuntity to share about my blog and web site as an "outside the box" idea for marketing. Pretty cool.

Now, I am home playing with David and Jim is back at work. I guess this is what it is all about. Working together toward the same goal. Thank you Jim for believing in me and helping. You are the best.

Is it Thursday already?????

How do the days go by so fast??? Today has been pretty cool. It was show and tell for my 5 year old, so Tigger our Cockerspaniel/Golden Retriever got to go to school. Oh the joy on those little faces (well maybe some had terror - it's hard to tell the difference) as they got to pet Tigger and give her treats.

It was off to a meeting at Starbucks for coffee, fellowship and potential sales leads. I always feel encouraged when I meet with Denny and I see what the Lord is doing in his life.

Then it was back at the home office after picking lunch and some smiley face cookies for the boys. After eating or should I say inhaling. I made a few calls and then went to get my 3 year old.

The little guy was so tired he just crawled on to the couch and went to sleep. What an answer to prayer. I was able to make calls, write letters, write a few poems, check email and IM with my best friend. As I sit here I hear David stirring so it is off to school to get Tom and we are back at it again.

Poetry in Motion

Last night I went to a Toastmasters meeting. It is one of the things I do for myself. It helps me grow professionally, and it is a place to network and fellowship with like-minded people. Bill Diskin, Poet Laureat of York, spoke of the joys of writing or reading poetry and asked us to make time to enjoy some poetry. Long story short, I did. Check out Bill's blog on poetry http://yorkwrites.blogspot.com/.

Speaking of poetry, I received a poem from a son of a streetsmart mom. I wanted to share it with you.

By Brandon Leshchinskiy

Street smart moms,
They are the best,
Join us -
You’ll have a blast

Street smart moms,
Can dream and dream,
Join the club –
Become a money machine!

Street smart moms,
They do not fuss
Neither will you
If you join us!

Milana was sharing my thoughts, and what I was planning and this is what he created. Pretty cool. Brandon is clearly a streetsmart kid. Thank you Brandon.

And the beat goes on . . .

It's Tuesday, cold and snowing. I dropped the boys off at school and I came back to the home office to work. What does that look like for me:

• Update database on my prospecting calls on a recent direct mail campaign.
• Make new calls to set up appointments for the next few weeks.
• Do internet research on the latest and greatest in sales and being a street smart mom.
• Enjoy a cup of coffee and make a few friendly calls to balance the rest.
• Check emails and also return them.

Then it's off to pick up David at 11:30, feed him and pray for a nap so I can do it again. Because in another three hours I get Tom.

Tonight is Toastmaster's so I need to have the kids bathed and fed so I can enjoy a great evening of networking and speaking.

I love my weekends

Well it's Monday and I did not have a minute to blog all weekend. What does a Streetmartmom do on a typical weekend?

Friday Night

• Made dinner and fed the family.
• Worked with a client to help her with client fulfillment on a project (see www.milana.com)

Saturday

• Went to an open house of a new school for my 5 year old (probably not going to change schools).
  
• Went to a women's ministry lunch at a church member's house (great time of fellowship), this is my time. I have to do something for me or I will scream.
• Went back to my client's house to finish the job.
• Went shopping for groceries.
• Made dinner for family and watched a movie with my husband.

Sunday

• My husband was sick so we stayed home and I put on a bible story for the boys.
• Took my 5 year old shopping for a birthday present for his buddy and went to a bowling party.
• Came home and made dinner and got ready for the week.
• Reviewed the bills and created an action plan for the week.

This was a light weekend.

Masterminds think alike!!!!

Yesterday was the highlight of my week. I meet bi-weekly with a group of entrepreneurs at Border for coffee. This particular day I got there early and saw a former client waiting for someone, so we caught up for a few minutes. It was great to see him. It turned out he had a no show, and we invited him to join us. What a great turn of events. He has always had a great entrepreneurial mind.

Our group is made up of solo-prenuers who work out of their homes, share a challenge we are facing and then we brainstorm how to handle it. The meeting usually lasts about two hours and quite frankly it's just not enough time. I enjoy it so much. As the sparks fly, the ideas are fast and furious and the encouragement is amazing. Everyone walks away energized and ready to take their business to the next level. Even if we don't have a challenge we come ready to help and be filled up with the energy of the group. I left ready to face a new day.

I then went to a new Toastmaster's meeting. I really enjoyed it and was able to participate. The energy from the first meeting overflowed into the second. It was great.

Next it was time to put my mommy hat back on. I picked up my boys, played games and read books. Before I knew it dinner was upon us and it was bed time. The days just fly.

By night I was pretty tired. But I was still feeling ready for more. So I put on some training videos and soaked up our Sales Training. I feel so encouraged when I see the clients get it. You see the lights go on as they realize there is a new way to behave and it is not only effective, but fun and safe. Wow.

What a day.

So What is a Streetsmartmom Anyway?????

I had an hour of discretionary time to kill. That is time that I really can't do anything else so I went to see my best friend Kathleen, a fellow streetsmartmom. She is my best friend, confidante, was my dulla for both my boys and my business consultant. Tall order for a friend. We were catching up with each other. I saw her insides, they were beautiful (she had an endoscopy done). And I shared my challenges of the week. I asked, have you seen my blog and she said yes but she noted she did not like the tag line of my website, "Women of Quality not Pedigree." After we talked, I agreed and I did not like it either. It was not a put down of women with college education, because there are a lot of streetsmart college educated women out there. No that was not it at all. So the the journey continued.

Since our talk, here are some of my thoughts, for what it is worth. I see streetsmartmoms as women who have a "make it so" attitude. They know how to get things done. They reach deep down within themselves to do things even they did not know they could do. They know when to use force and when to be politically correct. They create a circle of support that is far reaching and accessible at any time. They have an innate ability to take care of themselves, even if it is through someone else. They are driven to a higher purpose, even if they do not know what it is. They are doers and as well as thinkers. They are dreamers and not wishers. They usually don't want to be on this journey alone, so they tend to bring people with them. They have an intestinal fortitude that allows them to get through adversity and see the light at the end of the tunnel. They know deep down that it is not an oncoming train. They realize there are lessons to be learned in every situation. They don't rush through it, they just look for the grace to get through it and they hold on for the ride. And, when it is done, they look at where they came from and say, Wow.

I am still working on it. I would love your feedback as you travel with me on this journey. I believe we have a responsibility to share this with people so there can be more of us, and we can raise streetsmart children.