TodaysMama

Branding

We all talk about branding -- heck I've even hired a brand consultant before - but this is one of the best, quick, definitive presentation's I've look at -- Enjoy! Click here to view the presentation

A little inspiration for the day

"To have a firm persuasion in our work — to feel that what we do is right for ourselves and good for the world at the exact same time — is one of the great triumphs of human existence. We do feel, when we have work that is challenging and enlarging...that we could move mountains...and dwell in a spacious house with endless horizons. "

— David Whyte

Get on your bike!

Can this be true??? Over 40% of those surveyed by TodaysMama said that they had not been on a bike since banana seats were the style! 22% said that they've been on a bike in the last year. Having said that, I am surprised that 20% say they've been on their bike in the last week -- way to go!

I admit that it had been over 8 years for me when I hopped on a real bike again this year - but I have been missing out! It's time to dust of the old bike - but I'm also glad to hear that I wasn't alone in my absence from biking. But seriously -- it's time for ya'll to hop on a bike and go for a ride! Head over to Mamas In Training for help and inspiration from the novices!!! :)

What should I teach my kids about business?

As I mentioned I would post a few of the things I found intersting about Seth Godin's workshop. There was a high school business teacher in the audience who asked him what he should teach his students. Seth said two things . . . and I agree with the evil genius.

1- Teach them how to tell a good story
2- Teach them how to sell on EBay

Let's start with the first one. Telling a good story is essential to any business. In other words - (in my opinion) public relations is the most effective way to spread the news about your business. We've had 7 stories on us locally in the last month just in one local market all in different outlets. 3rd party validation is more credible and intersting. The key is that once you get called for that interview you need to be able to tell your story and do so in an interesting way - and hopefully they will call you again. This is how I've lined up all of our ongoing media spots. The trick is helping others replicate it. Not everyone is a great story teller.

One of my first jobs was to be a "food prep girl" at our local ranch market/natural foods store. I was 12 years old (I know, pushing the line of legal). But I was surrounded by lots of people older and cooler than I was. It was one of the most boring jobs in the world -- I just sat and chopped up food and made salads. But for me, I had to figure out how to make my small little life intersting enough to carry on conversations. So I would practically make a game out of taking the most mundane thing in my life and turning it into an intersting story.

As a matter of fact when I was little I tended to stretch the truth a little . . . I told some kids that I was from Australia, I opened my own karate dojo in my basement and claimed to be the sensai (sp), I even had a bowl cut and told a new girl that I was a boy (if you couldn't guess it, I was a tom boy!). But, I maintain that my little experiences story telling were good for me. If you child is a liar when they're little - don't be afraid! I think it's the mark of a creative and interesting person trying to figure out how to tell their story.

I'm also fine tuning the art of telling the story of our business through our brand. I've still got things to improve to tell our story through our site - stay tuned for some more good tweeks to the site!

Selling on Ebay - Something else I have done. . . My husband had a little venture in college called Jerkface Clothing. Believe it or not my husband is a seamster - and a darn good one at that. I'm lucky because he makes our kids Halloween costumes . . .not me! But, this little venture in the world of clothing didn't take off so well. So we had lots of t-shirts, hats and sweatshirts to get rid of. We put them up on EBay and we flew through the rest of our inventory. Jerkface fell by the wayside of life as time went on and we got busier and started even more businesses. But I will say that it was a great experience in working on the internet, in testing the world marketplace, in bartering, customer service, etc.

I sold quite a bit on EBay, and then I got brave and made one purchase -- a car! That's some first time purchase right! I've also bought lots of Pottery Barn seconds since then. Speaking of Pottery Barn seconds, that's a great example of lots of little businesses that started on Ebay. I've heard so many stories of people reselling items on Ebay and launching themselves into a venture they didn't expect to go that big. I think Ebay is a great business playground and test market.

OK-- so there is my 10 cents on those two pieces of advice from Seth.

Seth Godin a.k.a. Evil Genius

So, can I complain about Seth Godin for just a minute? He's an evil genius. That's the bottom line. And I know he has Technorati services that allow him to see everyone that posts about him in a given day, so Seth, if you're reading this - a grain of salt please. :)

Seth Godin just came to my hometown. Good news for us right? Kind of like Santa Claus coming to town for our little entrepreneurial community.

Well, I’m still recovering my good mojo for Seth after I was snowed in NYC in February to attend one of his day long conferences – let me get my feelings out first – the workshop was the day before Valentines Day and obviously in the winter time. What was I thinking? (and what was Seth thinking)? Take advantage of this great opportunity right – fly to NYC and soak it all in!?! (or maybe just seize the day and take advantage of the fact that he came to my city, 20 minutes away from my house) I spent a handsome little penny to do so, and then he came to my hometown for $50.

It’s well worth your $50 (maybe not worth the trip to NYC, dining alone on Valentines Day, getting 7 flights cancelled, bumped from 6 others, and watching the lame Grey’s Anatomy “ferry boat” episode alone with a huge pizza in an Atlanta Holiday Inn. There is some bitterness there.

Now on to why he is an evil genius -- he gets an incredible speaking fee -- (let me say that again, incredible), and then he unleashes his marketing mojo on you, actually converting you to his methodology, his books, his ways of thinking (which are to be honest all wonderful and effective), and then he arms you with copies of his book -- not just one, but multiple -- and then he unleashes you to the streets. What has he done? Made an incredible speaking fee, marketed his book, and turned you into one of his marketers all in one sitting, all the while skyrocketing his books up the charts via these mass gatherings. Genius, pure evil genius.

Now that I've got that off my chest, that I know what Seth has done to my brain, I will proceed to tell you a few of the tidbits that I found interesting and yes, I will probably tell you to get his book.
I do have to be honest though --- circus day at pre-school trumped Seth Godin's visit to my hometown. But I did do my part in his evil genius masterplan and I persuaded my mignions to attend. I've received scores of notes back on the event and there are a few tidbits I'm excited to discuss.

Stand by . . .

A swanky night out

So -- I had to get a nice dress, new shoes, and my brows waxed for a big night out -- I think the last time I had to do that was Senior Prom!!!

TodaysMama won the Innovation Award from an organization called Best of State -- "The recipient will be an early stage company chosen from among those Best of State entrants who meet the criteria for the award. Nominees in several innovation categories -- new product, new technology, new process, communications innovation, and management or systems innovations - will be judged based on their potential for positive impact and success in the marketplace, and include the following criteria: the nature of the Innovation; proposed benefits, current stage of development; and key company achievements resulting from the innovation."

Needless to say - TodaysMama won the award and we were honored and excited (and especially excited for a night out on the town in grown up clothes!)

I grew this

From Training Wheels to the 20-Mile-Ride . . . a.k.a. Daddy Knows Best

Yet another post from me from our MamasInTraining blog:

So of course, after my true confession about my ability to ride real bikes -- the task at hand this week has been to hop on my bike and ride. The safety kid in me has been content to stick to my front lawn mastering clipping in and out of my pedals and learning to stop.

Well, my dad showed up bright and early Friday morning and in essence dragged my lazy self out of my house and demanded I suit up and ride. I tried to bargain my way out of it, I tried to tell him that I didn't have biker shorts yet and that I wouldn't be able to stop and that I would die. . . needless to say at the command of my father-- 10 minutes later I was on a bike and slowly pedaling up the street. I thought he'd go easy on me - but I was wrong.

What I thought might be a couple of rides around the block turned into an 18 mile ride halfway across the city. To top that off, most of the ride was on roads with traffic. I'm talking about cars, trucks, trailors, high school girls texting thier friends and driving at the same time . . . busy roads.

What I learned:

1. I don't like riding in traffic
2. I learned how to change a flat tire on 7400 S.
3. I don't dare to ride as fast as my dad
4. I did learn how to clip in and out of my pedals without falling
5. That I was cocky - as soon as I thought that I made it through the ride without falling, I failed to clip out at a dead stop at an intersection. The man in the car next to me laughed . . . a lot . . . and so did my dad.
6. The sirens from a fire engine are really loud when they fly right past you
7. I need sun glasses
8. My neck hurts, not my legs
9. I don't like riding in traffic.

Are we really racing this weekend? :)

How do you unwind?

A good little thread on the TodaysMama forums right now -- how do you unwind?

One of the best ways to end my day is laughing, so I often stay up extra late to watch Conan or I throw in Talledega Nights for a good laugh -- :) What do you do?

Confessions of an Imperfect Mom

I've heard lots of moms complain that they don't like Mother's Day -- it's like the big slap in the face that they aren't good enough or something. I don't get it -- I'd like as many days dedicated to my comfort and well being as possible. Even though it's 10:33 on Saturday night and I know my husband is out shopping to get me something from the grocery store . . . I still dig the holiday. Bring it on! :)

I don't know why so many moms think we should be "perfect" -- I've known for too long that I am totally imperfect -- as long as you know that I'm not even close to perfect -- then I'm ok.

I loved Therese Borchard's article this month -- Confessions of an Imperfect Mom -- it actually made me realize that I did once have a theory that the phrase "do no harm" could be applied to children successfully. And then I dropped the diaper bag on my 2 month old's head while I was trying to unlock the door. That was my first realization that I probably would indeed subject these little people to my weaknesses. That was 5 years ago and I've had many imperfect moments since then.

Oddly my children aren't perfect either! :) Phew!

Happy Mother's Day

"Long before I was a success, my mother made me feel like I could be one."
- Toni Morrison

I hope that's how I make my kids feel! I know my mom always made me feel like she trusted me, that she thought I was responsible, and smart -- I think a lot of the good choices I've made in my life stem from the fact that my mom made me feel like I would make the right choice.

Thanks Mom!

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Popsicles!

I read a little piece in Real Simple magazine this month and thought of the entrepreneur in all of us --

" . . . did you know that popsicles were invented by accident? In 1905, in San Francisco, 11-year-old Frank Epperson left a cup of old fashioned powdered soda and water outside wiht a stirring stick in it. After an overnight cold snap, the boy found his drink frozen to the stick. He dubbed it an "Epsicle" and made more for family and friends. Years later, Epperson renamed the snack after he heard his own children scream for "Pop's sicles". In 1923 he began manufacturing the confections. He quickly sold his burgeoning business to a rival corporation, and today his trademarked and patented Popsicle is made by Good Humor and enjoyed all summer long."

Your next accident might be the next big thing! :) Or better yet, your simple solution to everyday problems might be an innovation that you haven't realized yet.

True Confessions

My latest post on MamasInTraining -- our little pet project of TodaysMama --

So, we've been training for this triathlon right? All along I've been saying -- I'm totally comfortable with the biking and swimming parts, it's just the running that drives me nuts --- truth be told I've been training on a Spin bike and when we've done the compu-trainers -- I've gone fast -- but that doesn't take into account the fact that I would actually have to balance on a bike and clip into the pedals.

Well, I got a bike. The race is in less than two weeks and this is the first time I've hopped on a road bike. Period.

It's also the first time I've messed around with these new fangled pedals that I have to clip into. Period.

So I spent some good times riding my bike on the lawn last night trying to clip in and out of the bike. To make a long story short - my 4 year old offered to let me borrow his training wheels. I wish that was an exaggeration.

This is what I call a commitment to training excellence.

5,6,7

I just wanted to point out to anyone that might have missed this momentous day -- the date today is 5-6-7

It only happens once, and we have all lived to tell the tale! :)

Forums In Beta

Make sure to check out and comment on our new forums at TodaysMama.com -- There are lots of threads started -- we've got the forums in "beta" mode right now but would love more comments!

Chat about:

The new Harry Potter Book

Working From Home

Sibling Rivalry

Good Online Recipes

and more!