Today’s guest post is written by Ally Loprete, an active Work It, Mom! member and founder of Ourmilkmoney.com, a directory of self-employed parents who offer products and services in your community. When I read about Ally’s experience I knew I wanted to provide a way for her to share it with you. I think every busy working mom I know can learn something from what Ally learned, whether you run your own business or not, work full-time or part time, in an office or at home. I invite you to share your reactions in the comments.

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Yes, I was there. I was horribly embarrassed at first, but I’ve now come to appreciate the experience as one of my most favorite journeys.

What brought me to the nuthouse was a breakdown resulting from extreme exhaustion. I’d simply forgotten to take care of myself. I had not slept since 2007. I had lost a pregnancy, I wasn’t eating, my son and my husband were being neglected, and there was no end in sight. Read the rest of this entry »

Today’s guest blog is by Anna Barcelos, a full-time marketer, mom and owner of ALB MarCom that helps small businesses with limited budgets leverage marketing efforts to get the exposure of larger organizations. Anna blogs at lifeinmarketing.blogspot.com.

Having been in the business to business (B2B) world all my career and now starting to slowly enter the consumer market in my current responsibilities, I’m finding that marketing of any size or in any market has similarities. I believe everyone (Yes, you!) has something they are good at and should always take it as far as they can. Whether or not you want to get paid (at least initially) for being good at something there are some small steps you can take to help you get there, and they may not happen in this order, but make them happen!

1. Start a blog right now!
It’s free and a perfect forum for you to talk about what you love to do and get the word out. Despite working full time as I currently do, one of my goals was to make time to start a blog, and I did it! Of course, I would love to have daily posts, but know that’s not realistic so I try for once or twice a month. I get to talk about things that may help people with their businesses, other marketers, or people who are on the edge of the pool but are not quite ready to dive in and start something new, whether business or personal. One thing I’ve learned is dive in that pool now! A blog is a nice jump to get you started. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s Guest Blogger Tuesday and today’s post is from Annemarie.

“From our earliest days in school we receive messages that undermine
our sense of satisfaction and well-being. …we need to forget a lot of what we learned…
and get on to becoming the people we weren’t allowed to be — ourselves.”
~ Willis & Hodson

Mid-life Crisis Begins in Kindergarten was sitting on my desk, open to page two, then the quote you just read cried, “ BLOG ME NOW!” Mariaemma Willis, M.S. and Victoria K. Hodson, M.A. wrote this text to stress how we probably learn the habit of settling for less at a very young age and we may not even realize we might be chronic victims of this inner mantra!

You are settling for less????

As a working mom, do you often feel that you are settling for less? Could this really have started in kindergarten or some other early experience
aside from pig tails and kissing tag? (Okay… I admit my biggest kindergarten memory was my first crush on a cute boy with red hair and freckles known as the recess- kissing- tag -target for all us girls!)

Sad, but true, I also remember an event with my teacher that may actually have taught me to settle for less! She wasn’t a nightmare teacher and I can still see how her nose would wrinkle when she laughed, but she did leave this experience in my life… It was playtime and Mrs. M said I could choose any toy to play with. Forgetting the world and enjoying my toy-zone, I was shocked when Mrs. M. came over
to my table and told me I had to give it up to another boy! I was pretty mad because I had no clue why she did that and I just sat there in my tiny chair confused, silent—and toyless. Hmmmm…sounds like I did get a lesson in getting less!

So…what do you remember about kindergarten? Do you agree our basic human needs often go unmet there and we learn to settle for less?

Annemarie is known as “Your Ego Coach” and the “Motivation Queen.” She loves her work because it is all about helping women make their desired impact in life! You can catch Annemarie online at www.egoimpact.com.

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