I thought a fun way to start some discussion in our group would be to talk about the businesses we're all running and/or starting.

Since mine is easy I'll go first: Work It, Mom! is my first full-time entrepreneurial baby. (My husband and I had previously started a student publishing company, but we didn't quit our day jobs to do it, so this is my first foray into full-time entrepreneurship.)

I quit my decentsalarywthfullbenefits job to launch http://www.aswearemagazine.com , which I'm aiming to develop into my publishing empire!

BTW Nataly - I love this website!

I quit my job as a bookseller after teaching my first piano student in November 2001. Since then, I have taught piano, voice, organ, and guitar to school children (and a few adults) in my neighborhood through a music store. I also play piano for a Lutheran church.

In December 2006, my husband and I incorporated our business, and he developed the website. Now I have students pouring toward me. I have a waiting list, and my schedule is completely full! And it's the summertime (s-l-o-w time in the industry). We're going to have to hire a few teachers before autumn falls around.

I especially love that between the two of us, my husband and I work less than 40 hours per week. And our children are constantly under parental supervision.

I am a medical editor/writer. It's actually hard to find a word for what I do. Sometimes I am introduced as "Our editor" or "our writer." Or a "professional" editor. Or a writing consultant. A grant writer.

Anyway, I work with primarily academic medical faculty to improve their manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals. I also write grants. I also do a lot of editing and reduce a lot of word counts.

I call it a small business because even though I am a contractor, I have several repeat clients. Well, all of them, actually. So, even though it's freelance work, I don't really think of myself as a freelancer. And I established an LLC, too.

I run NICU101.com, which is a company that provides products and information for families of premature and sick newborns. I was working on my MD when both of our girls were born - both premature. I did graduate, but have never actually practiced medicine because I got swept up in taking care of my kids and running with this new adventure.

Our goal is to become the "webMD" of the preemie/NICU baby community.

-Kristie

Last year I began a communications agency with two partners. We specialize in marketing, PR and event planning.

Right now we're really at a a make-or-break point and are hoping to make it!

Hi everyone

I'm a Virtual Assistant based in Australia and I started my business 34 weeks pregnant with my third child. After her rocky start to life it became even more important to my husband and I that I am able to stay at home with our children. Only problem with this is my boredom. I'm not cut out to be a SAHM only.

I have now been in business for myself for 15 months and I look forward to getting to know you all better.

Kylie

Hi,

I run an online store with my husband called Boys to Men Gifts which specializes in unique gifts for the male gender.

Hi,

My name is Lisa and I am fairly new to WorkIt, Mom. I became a SAHM 6 months ago when my program was relocated and I wasn't willing to commute the distance (at the time my son was 6 months old). Since it is difficult for a family of 6 to survive on one salary, I began to look for WAH jobs...I didn't find many legitimate opportunities. So I created a website to support moms, with a focus on being a resource of legitimate WAH opportunities. It has become my baby and I am very proud at how far it's progressed in such a short time. So this is what I do: http://www.dirtydiapersyndrome.com/ (BTW, I probably would have had more time for my family if I had kept my job and commuted but I love what I'm doing!)

Hi All!

My name is Heidi and I just signed on with WorkIt, Mom. I am a work at home mom with a company called www.workathomeunited.com/heidip and so far its been awesome! They are partnered with a wellness company and I am so thrilled about that.

My husband works fulltime outside the home and I am just trying to help out our income as I stay at home with my 11 month old, and be here when my 5 year old comes home from kindergarden.

Hi moms!

My name is Martha and I am an educator. I started out in my career as a college professor and did that for almost 6 years. After I had my children I was blown away by how fast they learn and develop. I knew at this point I wanted to work with kids. I became a franchise licensee with EncouraGYM and I teach classes for kids age birth-7 and their caregivers here in Henderson,NV. Our website is EncouraGYMNV.com.

My name is Bobbie and I love helping people in finding out about Healthier and Safer Products Or working from home to be with there family's. I came across a wonderful comapany and team that lets me do just that @ www.workathomeunited.com/bobbiejp
I love everything about what I do and I can do it all from home awesome....

Hi all,
I started a company making custom handmade personalized bibs, burpies, and blankets for your favorite babies. Our website is http://www.MaggieandAlison.com.

I look forward to meeting and hearing about all of your experiences.
Thank you,
Alison

Hey, Gals!

I'm a professional voice talent who's lucky enough to be able to work from home to be with my two girls who are almost 3 and 16 months (a planned 18 month spread that is fantastic for us!). Dandysound (www.dandysound.com which hasn't been updated in over a year since there's NO TIME for me to try and do that, too, but all because we have happy, healthy little girls) is just my husband and I doing voice over work for television, radio, phone systems, internet presentations and almost anything else you can put your voice to. We also do audio production, tape-to-digital conversion (all those old '80s tapes people want to hold onto forever but now want as mp3s) and that sort of thing. Hubby works FT 40 minutes away and commutes via train and bus so he's gone 13 hours a day which leaves me with many hours of child care. You've probably heard my voice if you've been put on hold or called a company with a "press one, press two" phone system. Those mall store credit cards (victoria's secret, structure, ny & co, etc), Travelocity, Sony, Cox communications and a ton more all use my voice. I love it, though it doesn't save the world and in most cases is highly annoying! So I balance my work life with also being a yoga instructor and love, love, love helping other people find comfort in their own bodies.

I'm so glad I found this terrific site and am looking forward to meeting others. So far it's been great to hear what other ladies are up to and how you're all handling it ALL. Love it!

Thanks for listening,
~mandy

Hi everyone!

I am a graphic designer/web developer/illustrator that works from a home office while homeschooling my 6 and 8 year old daughters. I've been doing this for about 13 years, and I love what I do.

My husband also works from home so it gets a bit chaotic here...but he's learning to get along on our schedule so it might just work out.

It's great to be a member of this site, I really like it.

Thanks!

Hi SuperMoms!

I'm a mom of 4 kids who are lovingly known as The "A-Team" ...Amber (7 in Dec.) Aubrey (6 in Dec.) Aidan (2 1/2) & Aren (14mths) and I can't imagine life without them!

My hubby and I work as a team in everything we do. It's nice to have him be so "hands on" with the kids and it works really well with all we have going on in our lives each day! I would be lost without him!

So, after realizing that even though I liked the idea of the "home party" business, it really wasn't a "stay at home" business because you have to do home parties to make any money and sell your products, and that required me to leave my family in the evenings when it's most hectic (bedtime/bathtime) as well as on the weekends when we're supposed to be having family time with my hubby and kids since he works all week.

I stumbled upon SendOutCards. At first I was super excited to just use it for my own personal use because I was raised to send cards. The tech age has taken alot of these basics out of the picture because you can now send an e-card or email to stay in touch instead of sending snail mail. I still like the personal touch of a handwritten note.

You can send ACTUAL greeting cards (NOT E-CARDS) from your computer. You either create a card by uploading a photo, or pick one from the 10,000 cards they have in the card catalog. You personalize your card with a message that can be in your own handwriting and signature or use their standard fonts. You then click send and the company prints it off, stuffs it, and mails it for you with a first class stamp on it..all for about $1/card. You can even include gift cards or checks with the cards.

I do FREE gift accounts where I set you up on a temp. account, I show you how to send a card and you have a few days to send out some more cards and test out the system to see if you like it or not...no pressure, you decide and it's that simple!

www.sendoutcards.com/christine


I also help my hubby with his side business which is a new weight loss/energy product called Zylene. It's an amazing, all natural supplement that REALLY works! I've lost 8lbs in the last few weeks and inches all over my body...I've never had a product work like this and also make you feel good instead of bad or jittery! We can't keep enough product on hand, we give samples and after just 1 pill, they order bottles of it. It's a nice problem to have, we're having fun helping our friends and associates lose weight and feel great too!
www.health4wealth.com/hans

I am really loving this site...I don't feel so alone anymore in my plight to be all and do all as a mom, wife, business woman and more!

Thanks!
Christine

I love the diversity of business here - it's really cool to learn about what everyone is doing!

Hi everyone!

A friend just told me about Work It, Mom! And I'm so excited that I joined!

I'm an Intuitive Business Coach, and I specialize in teaching women entrepreneurs to break through their mind-set traps and step into success in their business. I help women break through fear, old thought patterns, self-doubt and comparison sabotage.

I am really looking forward to getting to know everyone! Please feel free to check out my web site: http://www.CreateAThrivingBusiness.com I offer a free report to help you identify your mind-set traps and begin breaking through them.

I also love to build communities! I have a Yahoo Group - Powerful Entrepreneur, and a blog - Create A Thriving Business, which you can get to through my web site.

Looking forward to hanging out here!

I just launched a Web site site selling my homemade, handcrafted natural soaps online.

http://chesapeakebaybathandbody.homestead.com

Kathy! Congratulations on your web site!!

I got my start as an entrepreneur selling handmade toiletries. I started in 1999, became a certified aromatherapist, and specialized in selling products with Essential Oil blends that I created.

I just spoke at the New Jersey Gathering for Handmade Toiletries Makers a few weeks ago.

You're in a great industry! I wish you much success!

Jenn_Givler,

I would love to hear about how you got your business off the ground. What started for me as a hobby (making soap bars for a few friends) has turned into a something more...that I love to do when I am not producing seminars.

It started as a hobby for me as well and then grew from there!

I actually had a lot of success with the home party business model. I started doing home parties in 2001 - after I was laid off from the corporate gig. It went really well. Home parties were my main marketing activity. Though, I did do some networking and such.

The other thing that really helped my business grow was to specialize in a focused niche. I marketed my products to "spiritually conscious" moms. This helped me focus my marketing efforts, and helped me really get to know my customers needs - and developing products that met those needs.

My company is Websmith Group which offers website services such as website design, web application development, website hosting and ongoing site maintenance.

www.websmithgroup.com

I designed & built a biodiesel processing system that can produce diesel engine fuel that costs less then petroleum fuel.

I do this by consuming half the normal energy input rates other companies have. I can use multiple feed-stocks which lets me hedge against commodity spikes in prices. The processor is continuous and modular (very small processor). I have another technology in the pilot stage. I am also looking at two other technologies for licensing. All tie in together to make my company self- sufficient, streamlined, and efficient.

I am building a corporation around this that commercializes the technologies I invent or am acquiring.

I am building an advisory board and am hiring a CEO. I have a 3rd phone call with the new CEO Tues. I hope it goes well.

Oh yes, the CEO will be my first F/T Employee. (and I am the President and COO)

P.S. me being the creative type please forgive my random way of writing.

Hi to all,

I am a dietitian and took July of 2006 to June of 2007 away from the workplace to be a SAHM. Although, I love the time with my daughter I found I needed something else to stimulate my mind. Therefore, this past June I started my own business - eNutritionServices. I provide online nutrition counseling and education, specializing in weight loss, heart health (high cholesterol/blood pressure), pediatric nutrition, prenatal nutrition, and lactation. I've been up and running since September and learning way more about marketing than I ever dreamed I'd want to know. So far I enjoy every aspect of having a private practice and I am excited about the possiblities. Baby number 2 arrives in 3 weeks - wish me luck keeping everything balanced!

If anyone is interested - www.eNutritionServices.com.

Lisa

My home business site is www.easyresultswithradio.com - basically I'm setting up to provide resources for home and small based business to learn how to advertise effectively with radio, both traditional and internet (or podcast) radio.

It's not my first kick at the cat when it comes to home business. I've been a home childcare provider, freelance writer, had a website and newsletter for childcare providers, done some direct sales and provided promotions and public relations services for small business.

Of course, I'm only counting the things I've done since the boys started coming along. I had a little empire of cleaning, babysiting, dogsitting and housesitting going when I was in highschool and not at my part time job.

Wow! That sounds really busy and slightly nuts...it's really not as bad as it looks in writing.

My sister and I just started our online business this month. Our company is making leather handmade baby shoes with baby's photo on it. We also provide moms a chance to design their dream shoes for their kids. If you have any idea about your baby's shoes and want to make them real, do not hesitate to contact with us. Our business site is www.greytabby.com

By the time I found Women's Dream Team I had already spent $350 on scams! This was very frustrating for me considering I really didn't have the money to spend. When I found them I was looking for a "job" and now I own my own business! I love making money from home while taking care of my family. Afterall the family would have been there when the "job" wasn't. So check me out at

www.2BSuccessfulMoms.com and click on Hitch Your Wagon To A Star if you might be interested in another stream of income.

Great to meet you all...I love your businesses!! My name is Shannon ....I have two munchkins DD age 7 and DS age 4.5. My business went live two months ago..Beyondmotherhood.com is a niche job board that connects employers with the "untapped" workforce, stat at home moms. There are thousands of educated and experienced moms nationwide looking for flexible/part-time opportunities, and Beyondmotherhood.com wants to connect them with employers. We want to help ALL moms with ALL skill sets. Some moms are looking to get out of the house a few hours a week and earn extra money...while others are looking for a stepping stone to a full time position in the future.

My goal is to help as many moms as possible...we have over 35 nationwide employers waiting to post work from home and on-site opportunities.

Let me know what you think.... www.beyondmotherhood.com ...and what features you think I should add in the future...blogs, advisors, resources etc.

I am running a small (very small) tutoring business. I go to student's homes or meet them at the library. I only have a few clients, but I am working on it. I am also moonlighting as a waitress. My website is iamyourtutor.com