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Quitting Business – My Daily Routine

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I had a terrible day yesterday. One of those days where nothing, absolutely nothing goes right. I woke up late, my kids were cranky, the coffee took too long to brew, I was unfocused and my workout wore me out. All before 8am.

Here’s the thing: as an entrepreneur you battle the urge to quit almost every single day. Actually, speaking for myself, I battle the urge to quit every single day, not almost every single day. Even on the great days when I’m making sales the thought of “let’s quit while we’re ahead” is always there.

Business is hard. Being an entrepreneur is even harder. Quitting would be so easy and so freeing…but then it wouldn’t.

Last night, after my latest attempt at quitting, I was reflecting about what it takes to persevere. How and why do I quit but not quit on a routine basis? [Read more…] about Quitting Business – My Daily Routine

The Top 5 Things Every New Blogger Needs to Know

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I consider myself to be a fairly savvy business woman. I started a fitness business in my mind, trialed it by running classes in my garage and in the two years since I decided to franchise Hot Mama Health & Fitness, we have sold 25 Canadian Franchises. I have worked tirelessly and driven myself and my business beyond my own expectations and, honestly, beyond most sane boundaries. As an entrepreneur, well, that’s just my norm.

As I’ve grown Hot Mama over the years I have been repeatedly told that “I’m the brand”, that “I need to be the face of Hot Mama” and that I “could be a major influencer to the Hot Mama community”. In a world where I have been so focused on growing a franchise company, I spent little time analyzing what those words actually meant and to be honest, I really didn’t have the energy to do so, so I did not care to analyze or move on this idea at all.

Until…I was forced to.

Our social media consultant has been trying to drill it into my head the importance of being an influencer for the Hot Mamas in our community. With a solid foundation of over 10,000 Canadian Mamas it finally sunk in that I should be helping them find items, tools, products, services, etc. that would help them in their journey to being active, healthy role models.

This past week I have been participating in the Mom 2.016 Summit in Laguna Beach, California. This has been an event I will never forget simply for the fact that I had NO IDEA that writing or blogging was such a massive business. I thought bloggers blogged, writers wrote and sponsors sponsored. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever realize that writing was a business. No, that’s not right…writing…it’s an empire all in itself.

So, for the newbie writers/bloggers out there, here are the top five things I have learned in the past 2 days while surrounded by incredibly successful bloggers, writers, business women, or whatever you want to call them:

  1. Writing is a business. Treat it like one. Spend time, energy and money on your website and start generating content that you love to write and that you’re passionate about. Your website can be a serious source of revenue for you, so work at it, put the time in and only write about what lights you up. Otherwise you’re just writing to write and no one will read it.
  1. Writers don’t like to be called bloggers and bloggers are really writers. I know, I find it confusing too. However, I’ve found over that past few days that many bloggers don’t like to be called bloggers. They are writers. So, I think from now on I will call anyone who publishes online a writer…just so I don’t anger any of the bloggers…er…writers…er…yeah writers. I find this confusing, Also…don’t call them Mommy Bloggers…for the love of all things sacred and beautiful, do not call them Mommy Bloggers. They are writers. End of story.
  1. There is serious money in writing. You can make a lot of money writing sponsored posts and stories and articles, but you have to make sure that you remain authentic and true to who you are and who your readers are. That may seem pretty apparent, but again, over the past few days I’ve heard a lot of stories from writers who wrote for a cheque and didn’t get picked up again because engagement was low. The only way you can help sell a product is if you truly believe in it. Again, just my observations from two days of watching, listening and observing.
  1. Business can be cutthroat and writing is business, so prepare yourself. It doesn’t matter that the event I was at was 99.2% female, writing is a business and business is hard. Male or female, this writing business is a seriously competitive. Get a thick skin, support everyone as much as you can, be positive, but remember…this is business. The cool thing? You’ll find your tribe. You’ll find the writers who believe in you and who you want to support. So, as competitive as this business is, there are also people rooting for you, cheering you on and who are genuinely pleased when you do great things or land a big sponsor. I like that. There will also be haters, but I choose to focus on the fact that you can find a new and different tribe to belong to.
  1. Pitch, pitch, pitch. You may be new and you may have 200 followers on all of your social media platforms combined, but pitch yourself, your business and some of your amazing ideas. Talk. Pitch. Pitch. Talk. I’ve realized that most writers and brands understand that everyone starts somewhere and most everyone is willing to talk to you if you’re interesting enough. They may not pay you, but that’s okay (for now). Be smart. Be prepared. Know your product. Know your website. Know the brand you’re pitching to and just pitch. Become the expert in your field and start talking. Don’t be shy. Don’t worry about the numbers. Practice. No, you won’t land the big sponsors. But, you’ll practice. And when you’re not such a new writer (notice I didn’t say blogger?!), you’ll have practiced your pitch when you’ve felt most vulnerable and undeserving. So…pitch. Pitch the heck out of yourself.

There are so many more things I could write about and I probably will. But for now, as I sit alone in my hotel room and introvert the heck out of myself, those are the five biggest takeaways I have for this new empire I will build. I need to write. I need to believe. I need to grow. And finally, I need to pitch.

And hey you…new blogger/writer/whateveryouwnattocallyourself…you got this. Write, pitch, practice, repeat. Someday you and I will be on the main stage. Someday you and I will be educating. Mark my words. We got this.

 

 

 

The Four Words a Trainer Should Never Say

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Over the past few years I have trained quite a few people to become fitness leaders. I’m lucky enough to help train people to motivate and inspire others to move their bodies, to correct form, to protect and advocate for clients. I love the educational aspect of fitness and I truly adore watching new trainers find their voice and realize the power they have to change lives. It is a very cool process to be a part of.

There is one phrase, however, that a lot (and I mean a lot) of new trainers like to throw out to their clients. But before I get there please know that I know you’re using the words that might inspire you. You’re trying to help. I understand that, so don’t get all bagiggity when I tell you what not to say. I know you’re not trying to be hurtful. However… [Read more…] about The Four Words a Trainer Should Never Say

Tips to Help Get Your Kids to Bed When the Sun’s Still Out

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Spring is in the air and isn’t that wonderful?! I love, love, love spring. Tulips, heat from the sun, kids outside playing hockey or riding bikes and the longer, brighter, sunnier days. I love it all.

However, last week I realized that as the days were getting longer, my kids’ bedtime was getting late. “But the sun’s still out” was the complaint, so a few extra minutes here and there, what could it hurt?
Oh…it hurt. A few days of later bedtimes resulted in cranky, tired, whiney kids. No amount of sun and exercise is worth that.

The problem is that even though Mr. Sun is out to play longer now that spring is in the air, our kids still need the same amount of sleep. The Sleep Foundation has found that toddlers (1-2 years) need 11-14 hours of sleep per night, preschoolers (3-5 years) require 11-13 hours per night and school-aged kids (6-11 years) need 9-11 hours of sleep per night.

While the thought of letting your kids play outside in the fresh air is tempting with the hope that they’ll sleep later in the morning (if they aren’t old enough for school) is a lovely thought, but we know that doesn’t work. Kids seemingly get up at the same time in the morning no matter what time they go to sleep!

Sleep is important to our kids. Although there is some scientific confusion as to what happens to the brain during sleep, some scientists believe that during sleep the brain sorts information, replaces chemicals and solves problems. No sleep leaves your kids tired, cranky, unable to make decisions. Lack of sleep can also affect growth and compromise your kids’ immune system. So, sleep is essential to happy, healthy, strong children.

As the days grow longer, bedtime is going to get more difficult. Here are a few tips to help you get your kids to bed at their regular hour:

  1. Routine is routine. That goes for bedtime routine, as well. If you always bathe your kids or read books to them before bed, don’t omit any part of your routine. It’s called routine because it’s expected. If you all of a sudden decide to let them play an extra 10 minutes but then skip reading books with them, they may find it more difficult to get to sleep. Routine is important.
  2. Keep your kids hydrated. A state of dehydration can affect your child’s quality of sleep. Ensure that you have offered your kids water throughout the day to help combat chronic dehydration. This is even more important as temperatures start to rise and more time is spent outside. Keeping your kiddos hydrated throughout the days also helps reduce the “Mooooommy, I’m thirsty” calls from doorways in the middle of the night.
  3. Buy blackout blinds. You can grab these blinds at most big box stores and they are a life saver. Pull the blinds before your kids come in from play and prep their rooms so that it is dark.
  4. Cool down the bedroom. Your kids will be running a little hotter with all of the activity and play before bedtime, so try to make their rooms cool and relaxing. Put a fan on them as they drift off to sleep, change over the flannel sheets for cool cotton and pull out the summer pyjamas. Try to give them no extra excuse to be up and about.
  5. Try to reduce outside noise as much as possible. As a kid there is little worse than being told to go to bed when you can hear your friends laughing and playing outside. I remember the feeling. A fan, closing the window, a white noise machine can help muffle those sounds and hopefully help your kids head off to dreamland.
  6. Aromatherapy. Finally, I’m a big fan of aromatherapy. I use “Dream Works” from Soulful Sister. I spray it above my kids’ bed and pillow before they come in from outside and have the soothing and calming effects of lavender and chamomile filling their room as they put their jammies on. You can use any aromatherapy, just ask someone in the know. Dream Works is my favorite by far though!

Good luck out there, Mamas. Spring and summer can be full of fun, laughter and joy so please enjoy it! Just remember the importance of regular sleep for your kids with respect to brain development, rest, growth and immune response. It’s incredibly important.

Also important…your alone time after your kids are in bed! Oh yeah…don’t even get me started on that.

References:
https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/children-and-sleep
http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/not-tired.html

The Good Thing About Bad Days

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Over the past few days I’ve had numerous disappointing things happen to me. As an entrepreneur for four years now (yup, still a newbie, still learning), I know this is to be expected. The valleys and peaks of owning a business are ridiculous and can often leave you feeling exhausted, disheartened, elated and ecstatic (all within a few minutes of one another).

This entrepreneurial roller coaster is not for the queasy or faint of heart.

The past few days have been extremely…trying. Lawyers, finances (or lack thereof), demands, questions, more demands and yes, even more demands can leave you feeling drained, unappreciated and exhausted. I think people often forget that behind every company is a Founder who is just trying to make a go of it. [Read more…] about The Good Thing About Bad Days