Too busy to work less hours & earn more money?
Model how an unemployed, homeless and pregnant singleton
morphed into the entrepreneurial mother® and
builds a 7-figure business during guilt-free school hours
PLUS lives a "DESIGNed" Life to make it work…
Discover this revolutionary and refreshing approach
to earn Maximum money in Minimum time
by building a Mother of a Business
 ME again, and the reason why I do what I do...
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What would a 7-figure business mean to you and your family?
Lifestyle and financial freedom; family harmony; peace of mind...
- Are you nervous about being the only bread winner, if not already?
- Are you afraid your kids won't have all you want for them?
- Are you sad that you can't send your kids to the school of your choice?
- Are you concerned that bullying might happen because you can't?
- Are you feeling guilty about all the time you spend away from your kids?
Don't get me wrong, I already know you're a smart person and caring mother. I know that because you're here...
It's just that you're also very busy with things to plan, children to collect & run around, chores to do, budgets to keep and as always, everything rests on you - the glue! I hear you loud and clear!
I also know you want to be bold and opportunistic but need to be conservative as well.
It's a balancing act you have to "juggle" every day...
But let me ask you this?
Having Answered These Important Questions Truthfully,
Are You Truly Happy with the Answers? Really?
- Are you also nervous about being the only bread winner, and whether you can actually care for your kids?
- Are you also afraid your kids won't have all you want for them, and think less of you?
- Are you also sad that you can't send your kids to the school of your choice, and they may suffer later?
- Are you also concerned that bullying may happen because you can't, and you're at a loss how stop it?
- Are you also feeling guilty about all the time you spend away from your kids, and that they'll be grown up before you know it?
- And that none of this is changing any time soon?
Do you lie awake at night worrying about this stuff?
I used to, and here's why... but first, some cold hard facts to ponder on as well...
Discover the Embarrassingly Simple Mistakes that are Being Made,
Before Having to Make Them
"Divorced women with children are 4 times more likely to fall into poverty than married women with children" (Brian Willetts - "Breaking Up Easy To Do")
What about this one...
(Note: Even though these statistics are Australian based, they are definitely representative across all developed countries)
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Social Trends Report, September 09;
of the 1 in 5 families with children under the age of 15
that have 1 parent;
only 7% are headed by fathers.
On top of that, it is projected that by 2021, almost one-third (31%) of 0-4 year olds could be living with one parent...
…according to the same report, a snapshot of what our working life typically looks like:
- One or both parents usually worked extra hours in 70% of families, however relatively few were doing this to increase their income (only 12% of those were paid for their extra hours).
- People were mainly working extra hours to get the work done and meet deadlines.
- At least one parent usually worked some hours from home in 63% of couple families where both parents were working. Some parents worked from home to balance work and caring responsibilities, while for others it was a way to catch up on work or meet deadlines.
Couple that with; two key income results from the ABS 2007–08 Household Income and Distribution Report:
- Of households with middle and high-income levels in 2007–08, wages and salaries were the principal source of income; while for low income households government pensions and allowances were the principal income source.
- People living in households where the reference person was aged 65 and over had the lowest mean incomes per week $561
And this one...
women are 2.5 times more likely than men to live in poverty in their old age
(Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency)
Sadly, I'm not making any of this up… not painting too bright a picture is it?
Here’s the rub… it would appear that even though you work all those extra hours, once you hit 65 and the wages and salaries stop, so does the high income you've been used to... so, the point of your life sentence as a wage slave is what exactly? what happens to your Lifestyle then?
One Simple Reason Why Businesses Fail, And It's Got Nothing To Do With Money
"That won't happen to me ", I hear you say...
"I've got clever and decided to instead start my own business and work for myself. That'll do it!"
"Needless to say, the dream of self-employment becomes more appealing when the workplace begins to feel more pressured and less secure, and when a desire for more flexibility and control isn't being satisfied. Some employees ...imagine that if only they could get into their own business, they could take greater control of their lives. In particular, they assume self-employed people have more latitude in their working arrangements and are able to strike a better balance between their working and privates lives."
(Advance Australia - Where? Hugh Mackay 2007)
Certainly a step in the right direction, however the fact remains that few small businesses fail because of bankruptcy. Only one in seven small businesses that fail leaves unpaid debts. Rather, they fail because the owners come to the conclusion that it's just not worth the effort relative to the return they are receiving, whether that be financial, lifestyle or a combination of both (source: TBA).
"What Am I Supposed To Do Then?"
Good news is - this isn't a problem. It's a HUGE opportunity.
I
too dreamt of changing my lot.
And change I did!
I share what I did to open up your thinking a little and give you a couple of ideas you know worked...
It all happened back in 1997 when (to quickly recap if you're not familiar with my story)… within a two-week period; I sold my apartment, I resigned from a regular high-paying international management consultant job, and had a pregnancy test confirmed.
Much to my surprise, at the ripe old age of 36, I found myself unemployed, homeless and pregnant,
in a single kind of way!
Despite having to handle the shock, and a few highs and lows along the way, I eventually got to a point where I had to FOCUS on DOING something because basically, I HAD NO CHOICE.
The bottomline is that I am solely responsible for the bottomline!
What I knew for sure was that there was to be NO financial support coming my way from anyone or anywhere else but me (other than a little from the government in the form of welfare, initially).
I was (and still am) the primary and only breadwinner.
Is it my preference to do this single-handedly?
NO
But being a realist; it is what it is, so I've had to make the most of it.
The two main reasons for this:
- Firstly, it slowly but surely dawned on me that I had been handed the chance to DESIGN Life how I wanted to, moving forward.
- Secondly, I had a little time on my side. The beauty about pregnancy is that at the time of confirmation, the birth itself seemed a long way away. This gave me plenty of time to work out what to do and how to do it, post arrival of baby.
I'll Be Honest With You. I Wouldn't Necessarily Believe What I Am About To Tell You Either. But; I Am Living, Breathing Proof That It Works...
By putting all that worldly management consulting experience and my highly-connected networks to good use, my entrepreneurial spirit was well and truly fired up.
The time to start the new design of MY Life had arrived!
First attempts looked like so…
- I secured my first solo-consulting project; lasting a couple of months providing good replacement cashflow leading up to the due date
- I housesat up until almost birth time; that covered the accommodation issue with an added bonus of sampling a few different neighbourhoods as well
- I used the time during the pregnancy to work on a fairly detailed 18-month “baby project plan" encompassing all aspects of Life including my 6 Pillars; social, family, business, health & well being, spiritual and education.
- I talked to as many people as possible...
Resulting in an offer from an ex-consulting colleague, to open the Melbourne office of aCE talentNET. Even though this original arrangement went pear-shaped, I took over what was left and
My Mother of a Business built into a 7-figure business
rebuilt it into what is today a 7-figure business.
(FYI - my Mother of a Business is still going strong, details below)
- The next really exciting chapter is working out how to best CASH OUT this business, maximising its FULL VALUE,
freeing me up to move on to my next Mother of a Business...
You have always been an inspiration to me, and also a coach, mentor, business partner but above all a friend. You are indeed inspiring… having overcome a lot of hurdles that may have sent some women screaming, you have faced them all head-on in your interminable style. This is a testament to that as it got me thinking… congratulations Deirdre Gruiters |
Now, the amazing thing about someone like ME owning aCE talentNET and cracking 7-figures in revenue is... according to recent statistics in the Wall Street Journal from the Center for Women's Business Research in the U.S., that places me
as only one of the lone 3% of women-owned businesses with a revenue of $1million or more in the The Million-Dollar Club...
(& I bet that percentage is a whole lot smaller again if being the only breadwinner is also taken into account)
Only 3%, is that all? Me, are you kidding? But, it's true...
Join me as a member of the Million-Dollar Club, and lets make it not so exclusive!
Come on, join the club too...
Is the notion of a 7-figure business scaring you right now? Are you thinking that it must mean a whole lot of work that will take you away from your family even more? WRONG! You couldn't be further from the truth.
No need to be scared of becoming a member of the Million-Dollar Club. It does not mean more work. It does mean better use of tips, techniques and Mothers Little Helpers, hence the 11P's (but more on that later).
Yes, it can be done, that's for sure.
All in guilt-free school hours.
How do I know? Because I've done it.
Get the picture? ...OK, enough about me, and the facts. Lets talk about you doing the same...
“Go girl! I am so proud of you. Stet that. I am even more proud of you. It’s great to see you conquering the business world. Your unique, irrepressible optimistic personality shone through the words. Thank you. In fact, your “Denisisms” have far more power than quoting those other folks. You really have a special voice. Penny Tarrant |
What Is Your FUTURE Worth?
My guess is you have lots of things you want to do, and you may have started a few already, BUT... you either don't know how to get your Mother of a Business to FULL VALUE (where you want it) or you don't know how to CASH OUT (sell, not just pack it away with the toys!) or both. Does that sound right?
How's this for a plan?
What if I was to offer to help you connect the dots? Help work out the good, the bad and the ugly?
Course-correct your current path?
namely:
- How to Build a Mother of a Business; by picking the brains of someone who has!
- Structure your Mother of a Business to MAXIMISE FULL VALUE, both in Lifestyle and $$
- Reenergise your existing business, and get it Unstuck!
- Work through the CASH OUT (sell) process when you're ready to pack it away!
- Manage your time so that all can be done in guilt-free school hours
- Access regular, ongoing Mothers Little Helpers ready, willing and able to be actioned immediately
- Introduce you to like-minded entrepreneurial mothers, your very own supportive Mothers group
- Why you should never think that having a job is the safest option
- Live the 11P's by Building a Mother Of a Business you dream of
- Discover the entrepreneurial mother® Life you want to live
- Set yourself, and your family, up for ongoing success now, and into the future
- Stay across Buy and Build and Sell Mother of a Business opportunities
- and most of all, actually know what dots to connect (or leave out) on your way to joining me in the Million-Dollar Club!
PLUS much much more...
It was great chatting to you last week. I really got so much out of our discussion so thank you. It seems so simple, but it’s the way you communicated the approach that made it clear. I spend so much of my time doing things that really don’t help grow my life, nor my business. Now is the time that I should be out there promoting the program to ‘key’ people within the industry. Thanks again for your advice and guidance – very helpful. Tina Nikolovski |
How Would You Spend the Extra $$ You Earned?
What I know for sure is that
BUSINESS GIVES YOU LIFESTYLE;
to be the Mother you long to be...
and how do I know that for sure? well, here's 7 very good reasons ...
1. you corner your own market
2. your control your costs
3. you tailor your budget
4. you work in guilt-free hours to suit your family
5. you contribute to the household purse, with the option to upsize!
6. you accelerate your learning and personal growth
7. you create potential for big ongoing returns
And that's just for starters! Especially when compared to what you're doing now...
Time is free, but it's priceless.
You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it.
Once you've lost it, you can never get it back.
Harvey Mackay
Be One Of The FIRST in Your Life To Strike Out An Alternate Path,
Taking Control NOW (before It's Too Late).
Just before we go on, please indulge me a moment...
Imagine if all the mothers united, truly sharing and looking after each other, all our children and all our businesses... what a mega powerful community we could be, would be.
What's wrong with world domination I ask you!
Seriously though, why not leverage our collective mothering, and entrepreneurial, skills to do so much better at both... and STOP trying to do it all ourselves. Agreed?
Winning the Lifestyle Game is About DESIGNing and Mastering
The 11P Formula for Maximising Your Money, and Minimising Your Time...
It is with great pleasure I
introduce… the 11“P's” to Build a Mother of a Business!
You will no doubt have heard a number of these terms bandied around (sigh!). So I've used them assuming they are familiar to you BUT I'll talk about them as they relate specifically to building a Mother of a Business...
 The "Connect the Dots" 11P formula for building your Mother of a Business |
Wondering what these 11P's have got to do with building a Mother of a Business? Good question.
The 11P's illuminate and give substance to what you've got to work with now; highlighting where the gaps are so you know what to work on. They also act as a pseudo "scorecard". By that I mean you can score your business against each of these at any given time, to get a clear picture on how you're progressing (or not!), enabling you to work out what dots to connect to Build (and rebuild) your Mother of a Business, and even to CASH OUT (sell) when you're ready! (if that's where you're thinking is now heading...)
Use the 11P's as the "line in the sand" (as they say in the classics) on your way to taking your world by storm!
So... you think you're in business; let's check that shall we?
Open Your Locked Doors of |
Aligns the Heart & Soul; Your Head, Heart & Hands
What are you truly Passionate about? Has that changed from when you started perhaps?
Does what you're doing still push your buttons and get you excited? If not, why not?
We all know we're supposed to turn our passion into a business and the riches follow, right?
but what does that mean exactly? How do you actually do it?
Make no mistake, IDEAS are the only true fuel for growth. And you are the only one capable of firing and refiring your business. When you focus your energy on the right idea, you dramatically enhance your skill and drive to take action. It is from the idea that your passion flows. When the idea is aligned with your heart and soul, your passion is a natural.
the entrepreneurial mother® not only has passion, but is passionate with a purpose regardless of whether it’s for her Mother of a Business, being a role-model mother, starting a project, looking after the family, or contributing to the household purse.
Lets dig a little deeper, and work out where your Passion lies... a classic "Mothers Little Helper" to help you get started:
- What pictures do you tear out of magazines?
- What articles do you have piled up somewhere to read one day?
- What always grabs your attention when you hear it on radio or TV?
- What do you like to "Google" when you're not actively looking for something in particular?
- What have you always dreamt of doing?
- If tweaked a little, would your Mother of a Business still excite you?
Answers to these will certainly indicate where your passion lies, and whether what you're doing is in snyc!
Stuck?
Try this then; put together a “bucket list”.
 What would you include in your Bucket List? |
The term "The Bucket List" hit the popular psyche a couple of years ago, following the release of the film starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.
In one of the scenes from the movie, against the backdrop of the pyramids, Nicholson and Freeman’s characters discuss how, when the ancient Egyptians reached the gates of the Hereafter, they were asked two questions.
The answers determined if they’d be allowed in...and the questions:
1) have you found joy in your life?
2) has your life brought joy to others?
What great questions to answer to start on your path to Personal Passion discovery!
Besides which, if you’re not passionate about what you do, it’s too easy to walk away or just stop doing it (as we know!). Most parents cannot walk away from their children for example (I say most because sadly, there are some that can, and do).
Follow your beliefs and let them shape the business that will work best for you.
So...what makes your heart sing?
You are a bloody genius. You have done it so clearly and with your characteristic no-nonsense style that makes even an old cynic like me want to do it. And I will! When we had lunch in Feb I thought this EM thing was just an idea - it's a fully developed arm of your business - or should be. Good on you. I love YOUR work!! Sabi Chakman |
A Focused 
Lives Their Own DESIGN
How clear are you about what you do? And why you do it?
How clear are you about not chasing distractions, just because they're there?
What do you know needs attention that could be turned into a Mother of a Business?
The most difficult yet important problem to solve when focusing is not only deciding what you want to do but also what you're NOT going to do. You know, following the next bright shiny object (BSO) we're all guilty of lusting after. And we often do it because it's going to be the next best thing to bring "overnight success"... right?
the entrepreneurial mother® solves problems. For most it's about identifying something that we knew needed fixing, that also captures our attention and imagination, whether that be for ourselves/children/ partner/family, friends/colleagues/business associates, which in turn stems to the greater good.
the entrepreneurial mother® aspires to things others might barely see but once accomplished, will make hearts soar. This requires mastering the ability of true identification and focused problem solving.
Still stuck? another Mothers Little Helper for you...
Think about what problems you have solved?
What problems you enjoy solving?
What would you eliminate if you got really focused?
Learn How You Can Quickly Maximise Money Without Wasting Any More Time... |
Building 
Into Your Daily Routine Is The Key
Is perseverance part of your daily routine?
Do you do what's required over a steady period? or when the fancy takes you?
Very rarely does "success" happen overnight, we know that, but if we have the determination and belief to keep going when many would give up, it's all the more sweet when we not only understand why we're doing it but when the rest of the world does too.
the entrepreneurial mother® works at getting "it" as right for our individual circumstances as possible.
the entrepreneurial mother® does it again and again and again, course-correcting ourselves and our circumstances.
Not only do we connect the dots, we persistently chip away at each and every one of them over and over again, refining, realigning and renewing. A bit like nagging the kids really! (who said that!!)
Notice I say course-correcting. You know, like when you're driving. You don't stop and start from the beginning every time you go for a drive. When there is a wealth of wisdom already available, whether that be your own, or experienced others only a phone call away, the smart thing is to tap into it.
There are plenty of examples of Perseverance in the book "Secrets of Inspiring Women Exposed", in which I feature in Chapter 11. (Bonus: If not already, you'll get your very own copy of my chapter). |
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| Here I am, that's me on the front! And in Chapter 11 on the inside |
One of my favourite Mother Little Helpers is this; actually I share 2:
1. DO one thing every day.
Every day; FIRST off, immediately after the school run each and every morning. Do whatever is the next thing in your diary or PDA or daily do list (or whatever you use) first. That way, if Life does take over for the rest of the working/school days, it doesn’t matter. You’ve done what you need to do.
Think about it; by adding all the ticked-off daily-do's at the end of the month, you will have done approximately 20 more things towards building that Mother of a Business…adds up doesn’t it!
2. What's the Lifestyle formula that best works for you?
DESIGN YOUR FORMULA, then rinse and repeat, rinse and and repeat.
If you're unsure about what your formula could look like, or even how to start thinking about it, that's where researching others in the same situation becomes critical. Find people who are doing something similar to what you want to do and model them, it's as simple as that. Just like the ones featured in the "Secrets of Inspiring Women Exposed", for example.
“Thank you for giving me BIG BIG surprise!!! Yes of course I have read your chapter and was inspired by you!! I have never read English book with curiosity before. SO that means YES you inspired me!!!!! Thank you for sending me your book and you always give me surprise, which I do love it!” Yumi Sugiyama |
How's that comfort zone of yours feeling about now?
Starting to tighten around your brain a little?
Ideas and Creativity Are Your Ticket To Being 
What do you do that is unpredictable?
How do you "display" your imagination? Strut your stuff?
What can you do that is not expected?
Business and Creativity work hand-in-hand. Being in business is being creative. Creativity fuels your business, in both product and/or service and informs how you pull it all together. One does not and cannot exclude the other.
the entrepreneurial mother® thinks of doing things differently, a certain lack of orthodoxy - like a box doubling as a castle; creative household financial planning or a new way of dealing with mince! We put ends and means together in all sorts of different ways. In other words, innovation and creativity feature highly, regardless of whether we actually call it that or not.
For example; I knew I wanted to continue adventuring (a passion of mine), even with Daughter in tow, and therefore had to set up my Mother of a Business to finance and handle that. Daughter didn't have much choice actually! Part of the Life I choose to lead has to include exotic travels; and that is exactly what we do.
Why you may ask? Because I want Daughter growing up truly understanding what it is to be a "global citizen", and that cannot happen from the safety of the couch, or the classroom. This in turn enables us to also learn how others do what they do, with the view to incorporating them into our DESIGN; whether that be personally or in regard to my Mother of a Business.
 Mother, Daughter and friends getting friendly with the Moroccan locals |
Destinations to date have included Europe and the UK; Singapore and Thailand; a Gospel Tour of the USA, a more recent African Safari through some of the same countries plus some more, and most recently to Spain, Morocco (pictured), France, Portugal, Belgium and UK; with the next one planned for Peru and Bolivia.
Innovation; Creation; Education; on so many levels…
Priceless - Yes. Predictable - NOT
Apart from practice practice practice; think, DO, think and practice some more ...unpredictability generates an energy of its own, inviting the rest to definitely follow.
“Always found you an inspiring woman! If only more Women (and men, for that matter) understood the simple things you say, (and did them); we'd be in a very good place! Keep up the good work.” Cindy Tonkin |
So, what are you thinking? Are there things that must change?
Being Bold and Opportunistic Is 
In Action
What examples do you have of where you changed course? And the outcome, positive/negative?
What worked? What didn't work? Are you still glad you did it? What would you do differently?
What can you build on for next time?
My story goes some way in showcasing one real life example of pluck, I hope. What I have definitely learnt is that being opportunistic and bold will get you so much further, and points you in directions where you can work out the rest as you go!
the entrepreneurial mother® has the pluck to DO stuff - If we hit a roadblock, we find a new way to do what we want and need to do, rather than give up. We also continually reaffirm that doing it our way is okay! We identify, establish and live our own Design.
To quote Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter...
"It is our choices that show what we truly are,
far more than our abilities."
The more you digest and make your own, the more comfortable you will be when making all sorts of lifestyle-centric decisions including the BIG ones, and/or you'll know who to go to for advice. I'm talking about ongoing learning, growing, building of Life skills that never ever stop! The ones you want constantly feeding your pluckiness levels. What it's definitely NOT is waiting to get all the planets to be in a row first...
Far and away, to have pluck is to be educated. I don’t mean the sort that train people to be employable i.e. through the more formal school type education channels. I mean the sort that positively impacts your Life; facilitating ongoing growth in mindset, lifestyle choices and bank balance!
Such as these Mothers Little Helpers:
- be mentored by talented targeted people
- read (or listen to) as many relevant books and articles as you can get your hands on
- participate in access-from-home webinars and teleconferences
- regularly attend at seminars and workshops, you'll always pick up something
- apply what you learn...
for example: one of the most impactful books for me of late is "The 4-Hour Work Week" by Tim Ferriss (recommended reading for all entrepreneurial mothers for sure). One of the many, many suggestions of note is this one, which I have applied to great use, and is now a confirmed Mothers Little Helper...
Turn OFF the automatic send/receive on your email...
Rather than be distracted by emails randomly landing in your inbox with their customary “hello, pay attention” ding potentially taking you completely off track, don’t do it. Just turn that function off. You will be pleasantly surprised by how much more controlled you feel in doing so. Decide which hours of the week to set aside to handle emails and correspondence generally, lock it in the diary; and that’s when you do it, and only then.
"The human journey is charaterised by chaos and contradictions, and the cult of perfectionism can blind us to the fact that 'perfectly reasonable' may be as close to perfection as Life gets,
for most of us, most of the time."
(Advance Australia - Where? Hugh Mackay 2007)
Busy? Just Want What Works? Now? |
Just checking in...how are you doing? Making sense?
Ready to get a little more detailed?
If You Can't Have it All; What Does Your 
Look Like?
"Vision"; a term used a lot. But what does it mean exactly?
Isn't this a concept usually geared towards the big end of town?
Yes and No. Yes, it is what large companies brag about and have framed on their walls.
No, as it also has a place in what you're setting out to achieve. As Richard Branson has been known to say "small is beautiful". There has been much banter about whether women can "have it all", but doesn't it really depend on what the women ultimately want?
the entrepreneurial mother® has a big beautiful vision of what the DESIGN of Life has to be to make it work! - a panoramic picture, a 3D dream, the BIG kahuna, call it what you like! We must always have a panoramic perspective on all things Family, and Business; a Lifestyle focus.
Why panoramic? One thing I "knew" as a child was that “mothers have eyes in the back of their head”. Now why was that exactly? Because the mothers I revered were all knowing, all seeing, and all doing; there was no getting away with a thing, and that's the kind of vision I'm talking about!
As Vine and Kindersley say in the book “Backwards in High Heels" …
"Sometimes by the time we hit 40, our career will feel like the great Talking Heads song
'this is not my beautiful house, this is not my beautiful wife, how did I get here?'
You may, through a quirk of good luck or fate or sheer brilliance,
find yourself in the job that entirely suits your personality,
stretches your imagination and illuminates all your strengths. Or, you may not."
So how do you vision your vision, panoramic that picture?
Ponder on it every chance you get. Play with it in your head, in all it's guises. Fundamentally it's about WHAT YOU WANT. Start with the end prize in mind, and work backwards. Not only do you "keep your eyes on the prize" (thank you Ms Beauregard, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), you will also have a firm handle on what the prize is in the first place.
Once you’ve worked out your Passion with Purpose in P1, you’ll find the vision morphing into this more structured panoramic picture of what you want, almost by magic! Why you want to do it becomes more clear also.
Ponder on this Mothers Little Helper...
Business is creative. I’m not just talking about what you produce, more about the way you do it. You can structure your Mother of a Business any way you want. As an example, at aCE talentNET, we knew we wanted to push our name consistently into the marketplace but we had also made a conscious decision not to spend money advertising, so how to do that? Reciprocal Marketing is a term I think I came up with, and it goes like this. Because we reach a large and specific talent pool, others who can not want to get in front of them. If their product/service is selected to be included free in our monthly eNewsletter, we in turn agree how aCE talentNET is marketed with that same product/service wherever they’re doing so.
What can you do that is savvy & high impact, low effort & low cost?
A worthwhile and enjoyable experience. Certainly helped steer my business and my motivation in the right direction. Jennifer Wilcox |
Time to start getting into the Design of it now...
to Open The Floodgates to Your Mother of a Business...
Do I really need to plan? I'm not very good at it really?
Given it changes all the time, do I need one?
I'm not very good at planning, what's the point?
Oh yes you are!
If you can organise the family holiday; the shopping list; the birthday presents...you are good at planning.
the entrepreneurial mother® has a plan with possibilities, giving elastic structure to achieving our Mother of a Business and Lifestyle DESIGN goals, always mindful though that there is an element of making it up as we go along! I say this because as we know;
“Life – that series of unexpected, seemingly unconnected events –
ricochets right through our reasonably well-thought-out plan.
Of course being the glorious humans that we are,
we rise to the unexpected with great style.
But then, after we’ve saved the day and caught our breath,
we pick up the pencil again for a few revisions“
(Sarah Ban Breathnach in Romancing the Ordinary).
OK, so you get that you need one...what form will your One-Page Business Plan take then?
Always include:
- Your possibilities (how you’re going to deliver this Plan)
- Your playing FULL out (what daily tactics and activities will you DO)
- Your pitch (YES, regardless of what you’re working on, we are always selling something!)
- Your passOUT (who will do what? when?)
- Your purse (how you’re going to pay for what you want to do)
- Your perfect packaway (what will CASH OUT look like for you?)
Being constantly mindful, of course, of your 6 pillars which are...
- family life
- social life
- business life
- health and well being
- spiritual life
- education
…but before you can get started, do you even know how much time you even have to dedicate to your Mother of a Business? Try this Mothers Little Helper, it's usually very revealing...
Grab a piece of paper, or on your PC, and draw a grid, with Monday to Friday along the top, and school hours in 30min chunks down the left hand side. Now, add in all the usual daily activities you are currently locked into, under the day, next to the time slot.
See much white space left?
No, then what can you move or get rid of to create the Mother of a Business hours you seek?
Remember though, the impossible only exists until we find a way of making it possible.
Real luxury is not just what you buy, it is about taking charge of you, and your family's, destiny.
Learn to Earn Regular Income Regardless of |
The Art of 
Is Not DOing What Others Should
Who do you surround yourself with?
Who do you need to have around you? What help do you need?
What are you good at? What do you like doing?
What are you not so good at? What do you not like doing?
Have you built a Mother of a Business before?
The only way to get anywhere in business, and Life generally, is through relationships. I can't stress that enough. You won't ever be able to do business successfully all by yourself. Even your customers are there for a relationship of one kind or other!
the entrepreneurial mother® is always people focused. Not only is it evident in the way we respectfully talk to and about ourselves/children/partner/family, friends/colleagues/ business associates, but also in who we choose to spend time with. In fact everyone we let take up our time is really important, and should be there for a reason.
the entrepreneurial mother®, and those around us, can't grow unless we understand our own strengths and are willing to passOUT, (outsource, delegate) our weaknesses or less popular activities to others. This in turn frees us to do the stuff we, much more importantly, want to do.
As soon as you work out what you want and don’t want to do, then passOUT is easy.
The good news is that there are plenty of places to delegate to. As Loral Langemeier points out in her book, “The Millionaire Maker’s Guide to Creating a Cash Machine for Life”,
“Despite myths to the contrary, there have never been entrepreneurs who are Lone Rangers. Successful wealth builders do not go out into the business world alone. It just doesn’t happen. The best leaders gather support around them so that they can do more with less of their own time and energy.”
Read that again; do you get it?
There is however, no point in establishing or hiring a team if you have nothing to pay them.
“That’s why the first member of your team should be those who will give you advice,
and help steer your ideas and strategy. These are your mentors.”
“It is a wise student who proceeds by imitation. But too often we follow the footsteps of those nearest us, in distance and time, and the figures we model ourselves after are not necessarily the best or the noblest, merely the most familiar… aim higher” so eloquently noted by Harriet Rubin in The Princessa.
(I wish I had said that!)
Look for mentors at each stage, whether for Building a Mother of a Business or the Lifestyle you crave.
"Some will stay with you throughout, others will come and go. Your initial mentors should be successful at what you want to know. You want to learn, and though you can learn plenty from others’ mistakes, successful people make enough mistakes, and they know how to fix those mistakes, and do things right.”
Finding a mentor is easier than you think. Ask around.
The best place to start with a mentor is someone you can model (just like me!). Very important.
Consider this Mothers Little Helper...
I love the word “outsource”. Yes it does sound rather big business, but that’s no reason why you can’t adopt the same principles to suit.
OK, tell the truth! What are you doing that gets in the way? What are you not doing that you must? What can be done elsewhere? What don’t you want to do and who could? Make rules. Work out what you want to keep, and what you want to find an alternative for. Then start making enquiries. You’ll probably know people that are doing or have done what you’re looking for, so talk to them and get it sorted. If not, I know many people doing many things so feel free to ask me too.
Time is more valuable than money even...
You can get more money, but you cannot get more time
(Jim Rohn)
Serious About Living Your Life of Choice? |
Continuous Connecting the Dots Is What a 
Is All About
Not much use doing all this if you're not going to get ahead, now is there?
Do you manage the household budget? If not , do you at least know the family financial situation?
Do you know the true profitability of your Mother of a Business?
Profits and cash flow are like blood and water to a healthy body:
They are absolutely essential for life, but they are not the very point of Life.
("Good to Great", Jim Collins 2001)
the entrepreneurial mother® knows the exact financial position of the family including her Mother of a Business, and makes it her duty to be across all the details. Whilst we don't necessarily have to do the day-to-day management of it, we know what's happening and why. Running a family financially is, in essence, no different to running a Mother of a Business. In fact they are closely linked. Both must be set up in the most savvy way, each looking after the others interests. Both must be run at a profit, and at least have adequate cash flow.
Initially what you're looking for is your financial baseline, which is an overview of your current financial situation. This can be achieved fairly painlessly (although the findings may not be so painless!). It can be as easy as reorganising your files, putting your accounting into a software package, and/or passingOUT to someone skilled to do it.
Doing an exercise such as this not only reveals how you spend your money, but also how respectful you are of both money and your Mother of a Business. Just because you may be home-based does not mean that sound business practices should not apply. As Robert Kiyosaki says in "Before You Quit Your Job" -
"Too many people struggle financially because they do not know how they spend their money. Too many spend it and it never comes back. An entrepreneur needs to know how to spend money and have more money come back. It is not about being cheap, tight or frugal. It's about knowing when to spend,
what to spend on, and how much to spend."
Does this sound like you? If not, try this Mothers Little Helper as the very first step of many...
Knowing what you must earn really helps take some of the pressure off, as anything else earned outside this figure is "adventure money" (well it is for me!). Knowing what you must earn provides very specific focus, and a means to very measurable actions.
To roughly calculate what that number is… using your grid from P7 as a guide, how many hours do you have per year to build your business? eg: grid shows 25 hours per week x 40 school weeks per year = 1000 business building hours. Divide that number into what you earned last year (eg: $50,000 p.a. / 1000 = $50 per hour).
I’m excited about implementing all that I’ve learnt during this program and mentor sessions, and especially benefited from the one-on-one sessions. Thanks for the opportunity. Natasha MathersTOAST magazine |
The Ultimate Reward Is the 
Do you want a Mother of a Business as it's time now for you to start your own family?
Did you set it up because your family had reached a certain stage in Life?
Does your Mother of a Business represent a Problem to Solve relative to that stage?
What happens when you've passed through that stage, and ready to move on to the next?
Picture this...for whatever reason, you have decided to move on from your Mother of a Business in its current form. What do you intend doing with it? With a little unpredictability and little tweaking, can you get it into a form that would suit for example, the next Mother who is at the same particular stage of family Life DESIGN you were when you started it? Or someone that could potentially replace you?
Think about it...
The best, easiest and fastest way I know to get a grip quickly on what to spend time on (or not) in your Mother of a Business is to start with the end in mind, whatever that happens to be at this point in time... By getting a handle on the most valued elements, structuring and renovating accordingly, the process highlights the exact places to hone your efforts for maximum pay back, so it could even be sold on the spot (if you choose to, that is!). After all, what’s the point of going through all this effort if you end up packing your Mother of a Business away with the toys once you’re done.
the entrepreneurial mother® starts with the end in mind by thinking through succession planning of some sort. What that means is, we know the timeframe we want our Mother of a Business to last, and we have some thoughts on what to do with it once the time is up. Thus enabling us to always focus on the structure and the elements so that when we're ready, so is our Mother of a Business. Importantly, we have already identified a number of prospective parties that could be interested when the time is right, for either of us.
Here's another of my favourite Mothers Little Helpers to get your thinking fired...
As you can probably tell by now, I've got many of these...
You've managed to build a nice little asset, and you're going to do what with it? Time to consider your "exit strategy". If selling your business is a goal, you should be courting relationships early on. Not sure where to find them, try these... go to Google, or eBay, or Clickbank or the Yellow Pages. See who's doing what you do, and how. Make a list of them, plus who's doing something similar where your Mother of a Business could be complimentary. Start to research what and who are in your market, and keep an eye on them. You just never know when the time is right!
Congrats Denise!! Obviously a job extremely well done. Got to give yourself some big hearty whacks on the back for proving to yourself, Daughter and the business world what an asset you are. Good on you!! Elise Cann |
What You Want Won't Just Land In Your Lap, You Must 
What do I need to do to get this show on the road?
Have I sorted out the above 10P's well enough, so that I'm ready to jump right in and DO?
If not, what's stopping me? What further help do I need?
What Lifestyle DESIGN do I want? In what form do I want it to take?
Mark Victor Hansen (of the One Minute Millionaire; Chicken Soup of the Soul book series fame) said at an event I attended,
“Focus is the only predictor of the future”.
I completely agree but I think he is only telling half the story. I would hasten to add that,
”Focus plus ACTION is the only real predictor of the Future.”
If the focus is not actioned, if you’re not serious enough to play FULL out, it will be yet another great idea and dream that didn’t amount to much…
the entrepreneurial mother® works smartly and deliberately to bring it all together. Call it what you like; play FULL out, take action, whatever. The point is it’s all in the DOING. Bottomline is, it’s agreeing, arranging, approving and actioning what has to be done, and not only doing it, but having absolute fun in the process.
So, how to pull it all together?
What I’m talking about here is really is no more difficult than delivering on any type of project plan; whether it's crafting your next piece, knitting your next jumper, getting a building extension sorted or delivering on what someone has ordered. It’s just that the emphasis and the context is on you and your wants, rather than somebody else’s. If you already have a track record of any sort in project planning and execution, then what I know for sure is you can apply the same principles to your personal Life as well. If you don't, the techniques are not hard to find nor learn.
This is about determining the Mother of a Business DESIGN and the Lifestyle DESIGN that works best for you and your family and going for it, to the max!
Hope is not a strategy.
One false move or an episode from the left field of Life can cause all as we know it to crumble, especially when it’s out of our control. The recent GFC is a prime case in point.
If you do nothing, you run the risk of getting exactly that; nothing!
Of course Life doesn’t have to stay the way you know it today.. If identifying and achieving certain Lifestyle aspirations is what you now want to do, then playing FULL out is your only option.
Fulfil the plan you have set yourself. Not only commit, but carry out each and every tactic and action. If you DO all the Mothers Little Helpers sprinkled throughout, you cannot help but play FULL out and build your Mother of a Business. Execute all, and you'll be well on your way. Guaranteed.
Finally, the First Practical, Step-by-Step Roadmap for Building a Mother Of a Business Success... |
So, you think you're in business... are you really?
As a token of my belief in you, download The 11P Scorecard by clicking on the link just below. Print out one copy and save it for future reference (with my compliments). Now, this is where it gets investigative! Go through each and every "P" and score your Mother of a Business by circling the appropriate number with...
1 = oh no, no, no; no where near it, to, 5 = oh yes, couldn't be better.
The key here is to be REAL.
To download and print your own copy of The 11P Scorecard, click here Happy with your score? If your score is 75 or less… |
Once you've done that, total your score by adding up each of the numbers you've circled, and come up with a grand total. If your score is 75 or less, you're definitely in the right place and I invite (urge!) you to join my mentoring program.
If your score is more than 75... you're sure it's done and dusted, and requires no more work at this stage? Yes, I agree that you can always tweak and do better. But do you have all the fundamentals right, in place, doing their thing? If you do, congratulations (we should probably be talking about what we can do together! email me info@theentrepreneurialmother.com). If you don't however...
Now what?
Spending more money willy nilly is rarely the answer to building and growth. The first wave of Internet companies proved without a doubt that hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising and the like could not buy success.
Pouring extra $$$ and time into a flawed or flagging product or service is not nearly as impactful as thinking smarter and more creatively about how you spend the first 100% of your resources. Investment in yourself, learning how to maximise your $ and minimise your time is a much smarter way of spending what you've got, especially if the budget is limited.
So if the following describes you, and your score is 75 or less:
- Are you the primary breadwinner?
- Or at the very least, you must contribute to the household purse?
- Is the amount of money you currently earn restricted?
- Is the time you have available to earn that money also restricted?
(Due to the number of hours available to work, and/or a capped hourly $ rate)
- Are you wondering what to do next?
- Are you ready to push the boundaries and really see what you've got?
- Are you ready to push the boundaries and really see what you're made of?
- Would you much rather earn more? Work less?
- Doing it differently to the way you're doing now?
It's time you found out more about my motherLode mentoring program, by clicking here.
You know we've got work to do...
"Curiosity about the interior life of other people's day-to-day work
is one of the most fundamental of human impulses."
Malcolm Gladwell – What the Dog Saw…
With that, and all before, you’ve heard a little of my interior...
Each and every one of us however has our own story.
I can only encourage you to take the steps to further author your own. Starting NOW!
If it seems just too hard or too boring to do on your own, there is an easier way. For just USD$49 per month you not only get access to my motherLode mentoring program guiding you in detail every step of the way including many, many more Mothers Little Helpers to Minimise your Time and Maximise your Money
Oh, and you also get access to ME, yours truly.
I trust you will have worked out by now that I have much to offer to get your situation right back where you want it, and
…it’s easier to do than you think
Invest in yourself and you'll get so much more than just the tips and techniques.
You'll get much more done faster, with less effort and resistance.
Believe me, in case you're new to the entrepreneurial mother®, and aspiring to be more of one, the main thing that may be holding you back right now I suspect is a form of fear! It's OK, and quite normal... which is why I'm here.
I'm sure I don't need to remind you that if you don't embrace an opportunity such as this, you potentially run the risk of not doing what you want to do, especially if you have a history of being either too fearful and/or not confident enough to believe you can. It doesn’t have to be that way you know.
YOU CAN DO THIS…and I'm here to help you every step of the way.
If creating and DESIGNing your Life is truly what you want, then I am more than happy to mentor and assist you in finding ways, means and tools to do just that, based on my ever-expanding single-handed mothering and business experience (what a mouthful!)... please join with me.
Here’s the thing…
as Leslie Bennetts – author of the “The Feminine Mistake” so adeptly puts it:
The promise of the fairy tale – that Prince Charming marries you and takes care of you forever – usually remains far more powerful than the realities women see all around them. No matter what catastrophes befall their friends, sisters or neighbours, the lure of dependency keeps them mesmerised by a mythology that no dose of reality could break its hold on true believers – at least until such shocks are visited upon them personally. So the main thing I want to say to other women is this: PROTECT YOURSELF. Given the likelihood that you will have to fend for yourself (and even your children) at some point in the future, maintain the capacity to support yourself. Protect your children by making sure you can support them financially should anything happen to you, or their other parent. Protect your future happiness against the doubts harboured by frustrated stay-at-home mothers who can’t shake the guilt and regret they feel about failing to explore their full potential. Protect yourself against the desolation of the empty nest, which inflicts the deepest sense of loss on full-time mothers with no other identity to sustain them. Protect yourself against the feelings of uselessness and isolation experienced by so many women who didn’t cultivate meaningful work that would nourish them in later years. You’ll be glad you did. |
In this step-by-step program I show you exactly how to Protect Yourself & Transform your Life;
using a Compelling Mother of a Business that not only Generates Results
but also gives you the Lifestyle you Deserve.
Access to me is via email and phone, ready to answer your questions, make suggestions, and point you in the right direction. To find out all about what the motherLode mentoring program covers, please click here.
What the program is NOT is the standard, run-of-the-mill "how to start a business" or "look at me, I'm a coach" program. You know the ones; where the want-to-be's talk about doing things that they've NEVER actually done themselves. As you know by now, the best mentoring program will always be with the person you want to learn most from...
Let me finish off by saying…
It’s not about finding oneself; it’s about creating oneself.
My strongest wish is that you discover the freedom that comes with choice.
As I disgracefully(!) grow older, my Life will not shrink (nor will Daughters life for that matter).
My Life will continue to expand. Burst at the seams even!
Now You Can Do More Than Just Dream Too...
Lets face it; all mothers are working mothers!
But now is the time to embrace that fact by being deliberately entrepreneurial about how we do so.
Lets get clever around how to use the hours
available
to earn what we must earn (plus a whole lot more!);
and at the same time be
the role-model mother we want to be.
After all, “mother” is a verb.
I truly look forward to helping your Build your Mother of a Business...
and I will mostly enjoy watching you take your world by storm!
The rest (as they'll say) is history…actually HERstory!
Here's a little something to whet your appetite…
(note - I have no affiliation with the creators of this video, but I share it with you because
a) I think it's fabulous, and b) one day, we'll collectively make our own to replace it; but until then ...enjoy!)
Imagine, what changing and DESIGNing your own Life will mean?
Let your mind wander for a moment... it's a year from today. How well is your Mother of a Business doing? How good is your Lifestyle looking? How well are you living up to that role-model you long to be?
Remember - if you continue to live the same way, you're going to get the same results.
A year will pass by in a flash. Your choice is clear...
Cheers
P.S. What kind of a Life can you provide for your family if you get good at this?
Picture the look on your loved ones face when you bring home that surprise they've always wanted. Or better still, when you can help lift the burden of bringing home the bacon...
P.S.S. Whilst it's impossible for me to guarantee your particular results (how could I do that, in all honesty?
I don't yet know about you, your skills or your experience), let me say this. If you don't feel that my program generates enough for you at any stage, just let me know and we will stop. Absolutely no questions asked (well maybe a few! only by way of constructive feedback that is). I sincerely mean it.
P.S.S.S. I'll end on one final note. If you're expecting the same old outdated and rehashed content, then think again. I personally guarantee to commit to keeping you on your toes, with fun activities, introducing fabulous people; fundamentally uncovering all there is to know about morphing into the entrepreneurial mother®.
While I'm happy to receive general email queries, I don't guarantee that I will get back to you immediately. However if you join my motherLode mentoring program, you get access to me, and the team of experts who support me almost immediately!
If You Want Lifestyle Independence, |
You Don't Even Have To Say 'Yes' Right Now
The last thing I want is for you to join the entrepreneurial mother®Lode mentoring program and not feel like you've got true value. I have absolutely no doubt that if you want to
then the entrepreneurial mother®Lode program is the one and only for you. After you've done all this, you can cancel any time during the first 60 days and Clickbank will refund your entire investment, no questions asked. |
Your monthly subscription amount will be deducted automatically from your chosen credit card or bank account. Your initial charge will be USD$49. You will then be charged USD$49.00/month for 23 months
(or unless you cancel) after your initial charge has been made. The payee will appear as "Clickbank".
To further check out the my 7-figure Mother of a Business I talk about; introducing... a.C.E. = available Consultants & Educators aCE talentNET is a Corporate Talent Agent; who engages and represents talent, specialising in Organisational Development. This is achieved via the engagement of consultants and contractors for all stages of a project, regardless of the duration. Government departments and organizations large and small tap into aCE talentNET's expertise and talentNETwork, to achieve positive results by engaging Talent who are available, pre-qualified and highly skilled. |
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