As I enter the new year and come to terms with how much I enjoy traveling with my children and helping make it easier (hopefully) for other parents, I’m considering ways to take it all to the next level.
2009 was a whirlwind year for us travel wise. My soon to be five-year old truck hit the 100k mark the day before Christmas, a testimony to how many road trips we’ve taken since purchasing it new back in ’05. Although we’ve made our marks on the map before, this was the first year as a foursome that we’ve gotten to really travel. My one year old definitely got his fair share of road and air time this year.
And I’ve gotten my fair share of the expanses of the family travel world. Through social networking, I’ve discovered a whole mommy blogging/traveling community who are monetizing their family travels and providing great ideas and resources as well.
Through a domino affect, I’ve met other mompreneurs who are making it happen in other areas of business while balancing their home life. A departure from my norm, I wanted to share an interview I conducted with one such mompreneur. Chandra Clarke, owner of Scribendi.com, coined the term “power mommy”. Learning about her journey and her business has been useful and encouraging and I hope that maybe it will be useful to all my mompreneur readers out there as well. Enjoy!
Q: What inspired you to create this specific business?
Chandra: I started Scribendi.com in order to provide people with much-needed editing and proofreading services. Prior to launching the business, I was a freelance journalist and editor, a job that put me in constant contact with error-laden press releases and story drafts. I knew the market was out there, and I was determined to find a way to fulfill that demand via an online platform.
Q: Though your business is virtually based, do you travel for business and how do you manage to balance it all with a family? Do you have a nanny or consistent sitter?
Chandra: Since my three boys are homeschooled and still quite young, I try to keep my traveling down to a minimum at the moment. When I have to go out of town, my husband and business partner mans the fort both at home and at the office (he’s the Vice-President at Scribendi.com). And I do the same when he leaves town. On those rare occasions when we’re both required to head out of town, my parents live just a short drive away, and they’re always eager to spoil their grandkids for a few days.
Q: What one piece of advice could you give to a mom who is early in the entrepreneur cycle? How long did it take you to actually start making money from your business?
Chandra: We’ve been profitable since I started, mainly because I was careful about what I spent my money on. I see so many businesses that spend a fortune on the trappings of business straight out of the gate – a fabulous office, high-end computers, multi-function business phones. My advice here is that you should consider every purchase very carefully, especially early on, when you have very little capital. Consider whether you need all the bells and whistles, or can do okay, and even grow a little, with something less pricey to start.
Q: How do you define a Power Mommy? And what does it take to become one?
Chandra: I define a Power Mommy as a Mompreneur who has taken it to the next level; a woman who has moved from the home office to the executive office, all the while caring for her family and herself. It does require a willingness to sacrifice certain things—spare time, sleep, sometimes your sanity, other interests and pursuits. You really have to pare down your life and focus, at least in the short-term. For example, you’re not going to be able to fit in the piano class, the photography course, and a complete house renovation while also trying to build a big business, raise happy, well-adjusted children, and have a strong marriage. Be patient! You can have it all—just not necessarily all at once!
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