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Those of you who’ve been reading this blog will know that I am very open about the process we’re going through to build Work It, Mom! into the the most rockin’ community and resource for working moms. I talk about things that are working and that aren’t and share feedback we get from our members. I frankly think that being open is the only way to build a successful community where members truly feel like they are part of it (but I am sure there are 10 CEOs out there right now who will emphatically tell me how wrong I am!)
Today is the six-month anniversary for Work It, Mom! and as I did when we turned three months old I thought I’d share some fun, tough, and unexpected feedback we’ve gotten as we’ve continued to build our community. Of course, this is partly self-serving - I’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and reactions, so please post them in the comments or send me a private message through my profile, if you prefer.
(The comments below are real, although some have been shortened.)
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I don’t think working moms want to hear about work-life balance stuff — it’s impossible to achieve so why talk about it?
This is a site for working moms and I don’t see any discussion about work-life balance — how can you call yourself a community for working moms?
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Working moms will never participate in an online community — they are too busy to go online for anything other than shopping.
As a working mom I rarely have time to go out and meet up with friends — I love being able to connect with moms like me online, which I can do at 11pm and without having to pay a sitter or convince my husband to watch the kids.
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The moms on this site talk about their kids and kid issues too much — I thought this was a site for working moms who want to succeed in their careers?
I like that members on this site talk about all types of issues in their life - kids, relationships, marriage, work, friends. I like that I am with a group of fellow working moms who know what it’s like and I like to hear about all aspects of their lives and discuss my own.
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I am a serious career mom and frankly, I don’t think that a site can succeed if you have VPs in the same community as secretaries, even if both are moms.
I like to see that members on Work It, Mom! come from all types of backgrounds and careers — there are so many ways to work and it helps to be able to see how different moms are doing it.
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I only trust advice from experts; reading articles by regular working moms doesn’t add much to my life.
I am tired of “expert” advice about all the things I should be doing and changing in my life; I like coming here and connecting with other working moms, talking about things I am dealing with and getting some support.
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I don’t care about community and don’t want to spend any time participating in it. I just want to read some articles that help me save time, get organized, and laugh a little.
I love that this isn’t just a content site and that I can actually connect with real working moms. I’ve already gotten a lot of support and feel empowered to learn that I am not alone going through a tough time as a working mom right now.
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So, how about a six-month anniversary present for us? Share your reactions and comments in the comment section below!
This entry was posted on Monday, October 1st, 2007 at 9:50 am and is filed under Work It, Mom! Latest.
Tags: working mom community, working moms
October 1st, 2007 at 11:45 am
Like one of the commenters, I work and raise a child, etc., and don’t have much time for socializing. I don’t know many working moms, so it is nice to come here and read about other people’s lives. I am thinking about starting up my own business in a few years, so I enjoy the entrepreneur discussions although I can’t participate in them. I LOVE the working mom closet and companion Flickr site. I haven’t bought any clothes in the longest time and am curious about what people are wearing these days. I also love to see how people photograph themselves and their clothes. My favorite section is the Q and A (but you knew that!). The questions often are discussed by the family, they are so thought-provoking. When I first joined up, I was mostly being supportive of a friend who is part of the talent, but now I check in every day to see what is going on. Thank you very much.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:59 am
Happy 6-month anniversary to Work It, Mom! I love being part of this community!
I actually think it makes sense that in trying to offer a variety of things to working moms, you’re getting a lot of contradictory feedback - that just seems to reflect community diversity. Just like we can’t have it all, all the time, all at the same time, this community can’t realistically be everything to everyone all at once, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:48 pm
I agree with Florinda above that what the comments illustrate is the fact that there’s no way to make everyone happy. I, for one, love how different “Work It, Mom!” is–that the essays and articles are by all sorts of women from all sorts of backgrounds and fields; that the members include everything from CEOs to SAHMs who also do freelance work on the side; from “white-collar” to “blue-collar”–whatever those labels are worth. It makes it more interesting to have diversity on the site!
As far as the comment about not wanting to read articles by regular moms (only experts), I have to point out that included in the “regular moms” on this site are, naturally, scores of experts–because we are also the doctors, attorneys, educators, psychologists, early-childhood teachers, professors, etc. that you go to in real life when you need to consult an expert in any of these areas! We just also happen to be the moms who contribute to this site, as well! So, in response, I would say, “Take advantage of all the expert commentary you didn’t know you were reading here!”
October 1st, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Hoo, boy! I so admire your tenacity as you face all sorts of conflicting feedback. I think you’re doing a fabulous job. I’m on of those moms that doesn’t have time to really give to a community, but I love knowing that there are answers here from people I can trust to at least be honest. [And what makes one an expert, anyway? Most online "experts" are really experts at PR. They don't neccesarily have any magic answers.]
Not everyone is going to make this their home, but it can be a resource for just about anyway, at one time or another. Great work!
October 1st, 2007 at 2:42 pm
wow! it’s interesting how people can see the same thing so very differently! i love that this site is different and easy to connect with people - either in your network or through articles or the forums, etc. i truly enjoy the vast range of information/opinions/feedback/backgrounds that are represented here. THANK YOU for starting this company! (and when i am VP i would be happy to talk to any secretary and ask for advice!)
October 1st, 2007 at 5:37 pm
I LOVE IT! It just goes to show you how diverse a market women really are! There is no ‘one size fits all.’
As for me, I honestly go through phases. Sometimes the LAST thing I want to hear about is someone else’s kid problems and then other times, I find that hearing about the challenges of others reminds me that I am not alone!
October 1st, 2007 at 8:50 pm
This site is one of my very favorites, and it has such a great community already. My only complaint (though it’s not really a complaint) is there’s just too much! I can’t even begin to scratch the surface of all the great stuff here. But that’s a good thing. I’ll never get bored, and I’ll always have plenty to come back for. Keep up the awesome work, Work It, Mom!
Susan at Working Moms Against Guilt
http://www.workingmomsagainstguilt.com
October 1st, 2007 at 9:27 pm
I’m sure I had something to say, but I laughed so hard I completely forgot what it was.
Bless you, Nataly!
October 2nd, 2007 at 10:57 am
Working mothers are inconsistent.
Working mothers consistent.
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Wow! Guess I’d better just drag myself back under the rock I came out from.
~ Lowly Legal Secretary
Thanks for sharing these comments, Nataly. Guess you can’t please everyone!
October 5th, 2007 at 9:16 am
I a little late to the party but happy belated half anniversary! Nataly, you should be proud of the community you have fostered!
October 5th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Thank you everyone - but mostly, thanks for making Work It, Mom! REAL - in every sense of the word!