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Condensed Milk - Helpful tidbits for parents & entrepreneurs

Helpful tidbits for parents and entrepreneurs

Mar 07, 2010

OMM Gives Away Products and Services Donated by Self-Employed Parents on National Podcast

...Read More

Mar 03, 2010

March Member Spotlight - Jill of Crafty Baby

Our Milk Money's March Spotlight member is Jill of Crafty Baby!   1.  Tell us about your business and the service you provide: Crafty Baby hand crafts fun and functional creations for...Read More

Feb 26, 2010

We Are Giving Away 52 FREE ANNUAL Memberships & more than $5000 in Ads!

Want to win a free annual membership to OurMilkMoney.com, plus $100 in Ad credit? We will be giving one away each and every week on the show. (Current members will have the option of taking the...Read More

Feb 11, 2010

Live Internet Radio Broadcast Motivates Parents to Leave Their Jobs and Come Home

...Read More

Feb 04, 2010

Watch Us on KABC TV Channel 7 Eye Witness News Los Angeles

Work-at-home parents become a growing trend Ric Romero LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- With big businesses in the news for paying their executives lavish salaries and bonuses there is a new...Read More

Jan 21, 2010

Partnership Spotlight - The National Association for Moms in Business

As the only national association representing over ten million* Entrepreneurial, Executive and CEO moms, The National Association For Moms In Business (MIBN) started in 2003 to provide a voice,...Read More

Oct 04, 2009

We must be doing something right! Read what others are saying about us...

   Testimonials / Quotes   "I believe (Our Milk Money) is a vehicle for belief and ultimately, that - BELIEF - is what a person needs to be successful - the belief that they...Read More

Helpful tidbits for parents and entrepreneurs

Mar 17, 2008
Member Spotlight - Shara Lawrence-Weiss

Shara Lawrence-Weiss and her husband Rick Weiss run three businesses between the 2 of them. They are motivated by their role as parents, the two children they are raising, and the community that supports them in their work. Read about how these self-employed parents do it all!

Shara Lawrence-Weiss
www.PersonalChildStories.com
www.mommyperks.com

1. What businesses do you and your family run?

Three! Design Media Pros (Web Design and Hosting), Personal Child Stories and Mommy Perks (co-owner).

2. What made you decide to work from home?

I think it just fell into my lap by the grace of God, really. I was going to school to become a teacher (still am) and all of these shifts and changes began to occur in my life. I just decided to allow the changes to happen, knowing it wasn’t me in control, anyway! Until I began working from home, I never fully understood just how hard people work to own and run their own home business. I stand in awe of all the people who have done this before me and succeeded at it.

The reason I got into the business of creating custom books is because my son was born was a disease in his eye. His right eye had to be removed when he was a year old. He would pop his prosthetic eye out and chew on it or hide it. I created two custom books for him, laminated and bound (so they would be lasting and durable). I used personal photos so that the books would really draw him in. The books talked about the importance of leaving his eye in and taking good care of it; also of leaving his glasses on for the sake of safety. The books worked so well that years later I decided to start offering custom books for others; anything and everything they could possibly think of to have a story written about for their own child!

I have been a freelance writer for many years and have published probably 100 articles by now. I nannied for over 16 years for all ages so between writing and understanding kids…I know how to write stories that draw them in. Using custom photos is a proven emergent literacy strategy and truly pulls the kids into reading like no other book can do.

THAT is why I work from home now.

3. What kind of support have you gotten from your community?

Well, this is an interesting question! To be honest, it has been very mixed. Some of my family members have been incredibly supportive. Some of my friends have also been supportive. Others have decided it’s best to ‘ignore’ what I do; I suppose they fear I will expect them to BUY something, eh? It’s been a real lesson in human psychology, though, I’ll tell you. I think some of my biggest support has come from other WOMEN and MOMS who also run a home business and know the challenges. Women who are confident in what they are doing and don’t feel at all threatened by the idea that another woman can be successful. Those are the people I have found the most support from, to tell the truth.

4. What sort of things does being self-employed allow you to do, for example, being involved in your child's life, school projects...etc?

Being self-employed has really opened doors in so many ways. We can head to our cabin any time we want. We can wear our PJ’s all day long if we don’t have any meetings in public (smile). We can take our kids to school and pick them up every day and never hire a sitter unless we WANT to. We can live anywhere we want to live because we both work from home…so we are not “stuck” in regard to any one option with schools or homes, etc. We love that!

5. How do you feel your child sees you as an entrepreneur?  What things are they learning by watching you work?

Oh, boy. This is a good one! Last year, I was chosen as the “Working Parent of the Year” runner-up by a panel of judges in Arizona (the Diamondbacks coach, Sherriff Joe, Arizona Moms and Sunrise Preschools). My son is 9 years old and said, “My mom is such a hard worker! Some day I want to be her partner in the book business!” He asked me what I would charge or if I’d allow him to partner with me for free ïï¿½Š Then he asked if he could buy me OUT! So funny. My kids both sit and help me with the books when I create them. I enlist their participation because they give invaluable marketing research input as the very demographic I am working for! It couldn’t be a more perfect lesson to teach them right from the comfort of our home – hard work, commitment, dedication and passion…all rolled into one “job.”

6. How is being a self-employed parent difficult?  What sort of things (if any) would make your job easier?

The hardest issue, by far, is lack of quiet time to just focus. With kids around, we rarely get time alone to work without interruption. Our daughter doesn’t like to sleep and takes but one nap a day (a short one!). Our son is very chatty and energetic and needs a lot of attention. If we had a little office away from home we could take turns leaving the house to go and work from time to time. That would sure be helpful.

7. What would you most like for consumers to know about you and the businesses that you run?

I suppose it would be that both my husband and I stand behind the things we do. We do not run our businesses because we have to. We do it because we want to and because we love it. My husband loves doing web work and I love Mommy Perks and creating custom books for children. We are passionate about our businesses and we attempt to present that in everything we create. We are not in this for the money. We want to live what we love and love what we live.

8. What are you most proud of as a parent?

Hmmm…that although I cannot keep plants alive, I have managed to keep two human beings alive? Just kidding…I think I am most proud of the fact that I have tried to learn from the mistakes my own parents felt they made – I try to take what I learn from the people around me and turn everything negative into a lesson; and everything positive into something I can pass on. I do not dwell on what goes wrong but rather on what can be learned and made BETTER. I hope to pass that outlook on to my own children.

Other News:

Mar 07, 2010OMM Gives Away Products and Services Donated by Self-Employed Parents on National Podcast

Mar 03, 2010March Member Spotlight - Jill of Crafty Baby

Feb 26, 2010We Are Giving Away 52 FREE ANNUAL Memberships & more than $5000 in Ads!

Feb 11, 2010Live Internet Radio Broadcast Motivates Parents to Leave Their Jobs and Come Home

Feb 04, 2010Watch Us on KABC TV Channel 7 Eye Witness News Los Angeles

Jan 24, 2010OMM Staff

Jan 21, 2010Partnership Spotlight - The National Association for Moms in Business

Jan 17, 2010Want to Earn a FREE Annual Listing in our Directory for EACH of Your Family-Run Businesses? Find Out How!

Jan 17, 2010If you've been waiting to become a member, now is the best time to join!

Jan 15, 2010Daddy's Den - A Blog For Dads, By A Dad

Jan 15, 2010February Spotlight- Rae Largura

Jan 15, 2010Announcing the Launch of Our Nationally Syndicated Radio Show!

Dec 09, 2009The 2009 Holiday Catalog is Here!!

Nov 03, 2009Member Article - Teri Williams

Nov 02, 2009November Product Spotlights

Oct 20, 2009Review Local Business Listings Here!

Oct 05, 2009October Product Spotlights

Oct 04, 2009We must be doing something right! Read what others are saying about us...

Oct 01, 2009Growing Up Green #3 - Member Articles

Sep 23, 2009An Exclusive Interview by Ally Loprete

Sep 15, 2009Event - Women For Hire Career Expos

Sep 03, 2009September Product Spotlights

Sep 01, 2009September Member Spotlight - Karen Kanefsky

Aug 30, 2009August Product Spotlight

Aug 29, 2009RockStar Marketing BootCamp - Los Angeles Event

Aug 28, 2009Growing Up Green #2 - Member Articles

Jul 20, 2009FREE Social Networking Seminar

Jul 16, 2009Growing Up Green #1 - Member Articles

Jul 01, 2009July Member Spotlight - Susan Knudsen

Jul 01, 2009July Product Spotlight

Jun 22, 2009June Product Spotlight

Jun 02, 2009June Member Spotlight - Erica Bernal

May 02, 2009OMM in the Press! Working Mother Magazine, May 2009 Edition

May 01, 2009May Member Spotlight - Rachel Floyd

Apr 02, 2009Hey, How’s Business? (You too, eh…?) - Member Articles

Apr 01, 2009Our Milk Money turns 1 year old!

Apr 01, 2009April Member Spotlight - Kandra Morales

Mar 02, 2009March Member Spotlight - Amy Williams

Mar 01, 2009Clear & Present Dangers - Member Articles

Feb 02, 2009Leading Moms In Business - 2009 Competition

Feb 01, 2009February Member Spotlight - Vera Babayeva

Jan 02, 2009Free teleclasses and chats with Pampered Pregger & Beyond

Dec 15, 2008Happy Holidays! 2008 Holiday Emag

Dec 05, 2008Member Connections/Featured Business

Dec 01, 2008December Member Spotlight- Marina McLennan

Nov 06, 2008OMM Annual Winter Holiday Boutique

Nov 01, 2008November Member Spotlight- Mandy Vemulapalli

Oct 28, 2008Are You Prepared? Member Article

Oct 24, 2008Ally's Member Close-Up Interview as seen in Work It, Mom!

Oct 01, 2008October Member Spotlight - Stacey Kannenberg

Sep 23, 2008Family Meetings: To have or not to have?

Sep 02, 2008September Member Spotlight - Cathy Reay

Sep 02, 2008Free Internet Marketing Seminar- TODAY!

Aug 27, 2008Arbonne Skincare and Wellness Products - Member Articles

Aug 17, 2008Ally's Articles, as seen in Work It, Mom!

Aug 05, 2008August Member Spotlight - Tiffani Lawton

Jul 29, 2008Pay it forward: Me Helping You

Jul 28, 2008Skin Care- Member Articles

Jul 14, 2008Lessons from the Leche

Jul 07, 2008Member Spotlight - Lisa Lange

Jun 29, 2008Ally's Journey to Phoenix

Jun 27, 2008Going Green- Member Articles

Jun 25, 2008Classifieds

Jun 22, 2008Product Review by Liz Saller, My Orgreenics

Jun 17, 2008OurMilkMoney Survey

Jun 01, 2008Member Spotlight - Lisa Smith

May 16, 2008Member Spotlight - Sandra Beck