When the Virtual Connection Goes Local

Welcome back!

Well I am pumped in a big way! I just met some wonderful new/old friends and my business focus just got a little sharper.  Let me explain…

For about 2 years I’ve belonged to a pretty active and engaged women’s small business networking group that has among its membership some of the most successful and recognized online business owners like Nicole Dean, Alice Seba, Leesa Barnes and owner Kelly McCausey.  The group is called Mom Masterminds and it’s a pretty unique destination on the net.

After joining this mentorship group in 2007 I learned how to take my daughter’s art business online, set up a website for my own marketing business and establish a blog–this one– for my 15-year passion about new urbanism.

Rarely does a day go by that I don’t check-in to our online discussion forum to see what questions are being asked or to ask one of my own or even just to welcome a new member.  But that’s just the business side of things.  While this group is about business, it’s also a network of women so you know we inevitably talk about “more” than business on our treasured discussion forums.

At any given time of the day someone may be feeling a little unmotivated because of family demands, someone else may have a sick child–whatever the personal need, our discussion forum has become a place to learn, unload and relax with “virtual” colleagues who in many cases have become friends.

That explains why my first experience hosting an in-person “meet-up” this past weekend in Toronto was like a meeting of old friends.  Our virtual connections went “local” when the group’s Michigan based owner Kelly McCausey with partner Lynette Chandler decided to add a local component to our online network of hundreds of women.  By encouraging local “Meet-ups” of members and non-members in cities across the U.S. and Canada we added one more great benefit to this group.

The information and resources offered through MM are targeted at new or established women entrepreneurs who really want to grow their business through best practices in Internet marketing.  In fact, one of the great treats about this recent local “Meet up” is that Kelly McCausey came in person to talk about the group and also shared her newly published book “The Complete Internet Marketing Moms Start Up Guide.”

This guide contains just about everything a new entrepreneur should know in order to plan, successfully launch and operate an Internet based business.  I feel so strongly about this book that I plan on sharing it at other venues in my own local community.  I know a lot of commuters, neighbours and frustrated professional women who would be interested in the options/choices this guide offers for those who want to work for themselves.

I learned so much from the women I met this weekend and I look forward to connecting in the short term with Leesa Barns, Imie Belanger, Lexi Rodrigo and Angela Wills

Some pictures from our meet-up:

Supporting New Urbanism and the Question of Moving

So let’s say you live in one of those cul-de-sacs that are such a no-no in the new urbanism movement. Does that mean you have to consider moving to practice what you preach as a new urbanism convert?

Of course not. While a McMansion on a cul-de-sac doesn’t appeal to me anyhow, personally I would love to move to one of the newer new urbanism developments in my community because I love the neighborhood design, the small but stylish homes and I have friends there.

I won’t be moving though because where I live allows me to conserve energy and spend less!

I’m in one of those small, post-war homes that was thankfully built near a nature conservation area, our town’s Main St., amazing libraries and museums and excellent public transportation. Looking at all those benefits helps me to keep a level head about moving.

That’s a good thing since the temptation is always there – after all I put out the Top Ten New Urbanism Communities list every year and the research involved in creating that list has me submersed in the details and attributes of some of the most attractive and affordable new urbanism communities in all the locations we would consider moving to (both in the U.S. and Canada).

Overall I think that’s a good thing. It’s an indication that more and more builders are building quality, affordable homes that regular families like ours can afford.

So keep a level head about new urbanism. Don’t feel you have to move to embrace the ideals of this movement. If you were planning on moving anyhow, then yes this is a great time to consider your options of moving to a city or a new urbanism development that embraces the close knit community feel of traditional neighborhood designs.

But if moving isn’t on your agenda, some of the more important questions to ask are:

• Can I use public transportation more?
• Can I buy more of our food, clothing and housewares from  local vendors and producers?
• Can I lobby or work with community leaders to ensure that there are resources and infrastructures in place to support work-at-home-opportunities and attract more businesses to my town?

Through this Door a Community of Opportunity

You know that saying when the going gets tough the tough get going? Well that’s an appropriate term for the small business sector during these tough economic times.  A recent “60-minutes” television show reported that people are continuing to search out and secure loans and support for their entrepreneurial dreams even as the nation watches Wall St.’s biggest businesses and banks implode.

Why aren’t more of these new small business owners intimidated by the doom and gloom reported on the daily news?  I think it’s because the desire to have control over what they do, what they earn and how they live are strong motivational factors that serve to suppress certain kinds of fear and intimidation.

I also think it’s because many small business visionaries surround themselves with people who inspire and motivate them to follow their dreams.  Sometimes that empty bank account is all you need for motivation.  Other times it’s that late night conversation with a peer that understands your business or that timely bit advice from another friend that helps you to avoid an unnecessary business pitfall.

The challenge for some women seeking an entrepreneurial path is that they have children and other responsibilities that make conventional business mentorship groups a poor fit for them.  That’s why I am such a supporter and promoter for one of the most unique and effective womens mentorship groups on the web specifically for “moms in business.”

This online group is called Mom Masterminds and I’ve referred to this powerhouse source for mentorship and networking before in this blog.  In fact I even participated in a recent “impromptu” regional lunch we had last spring (you can see pictures here).

If you’ve been impacted by this current recession and are looking for some options to become self-employed you really should visit Mom Masterminds.  Perhaps you’ve been laid off or your husband/partner has lost a job or maybe you just need to find a way to improve your family budget–whatever the situation many of the women at Mom Masterminds have been there.

That’s the great thing about this particular mentorship group.  It’s a place to share experiences in building an online business from the ground up for the benefit of newbies and to get constructive feedback from peers who are at the same stage as you are in your business and experts who have been there.

In addition to the peer-to-peer sharing, there is an amazingly rich assortment of reference materials in the online multi-media library. This information is available to all members, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.  From mp3 audios that you can listen to in your ipod to monthly webinars where we talk to one another and with experts about various business topics from marketing your online business to affiliate sales to starting a blog for profit.

Mom Masterminds offers a comprehensive array of information of interest to women like many of you reading this blog–women who have children and various other responsibilities and who share the common desire to work in their communities and to start a business of their own.

To help give you a better idea of exactly how practical and relevant these resources are,  Mom Masterminds offers a 7-day free preview so that you can browse through the membership center to see if the networking, consultative services and resources offered are what you need to get your business into gear…now.

New Urban Mom Show No. 12 – College, Career, Family & Biz

Today’s show spans the gamut – from an update on my daughter’s college decisions to an interview with a Yale educated mom who realized that having it all didn’t necessarily mean “juggling” career and family. Christine Lowe Woolard decided that family meant more to her than her career. So she left her career to tend to her growing family and then ended up launching a successful skin products company – www.sheaproducts.info – at home while raising 3 children who are now all under the age of 6!

During the show listeners are also reminded to enter July’s fabulous Scentsy give-away contest. For details click here.

Don’t forget to view our archives for past programs.

Show 12

Resource for Business Owners and Freelancers

One of the objectives of new urbanism is to create sustainable communities. That happens when local businesses are supported and residents have the choice of securing work close to home – ideally in their community. Below is a news release about an excellent resource for business owners looking for online skilled help and contractors (freelancers) looking for a way to market their services.

Shelancers Meet the Needs of Small Business Owners

Online business management expert Nicole Dean and technology consultant Darina Loakman are making sure that business owners have a reliable resource for finding short and long-term help with the recent launch of a directory of professional female freelancers called Shelancers.

“There are a number of freelancer directories in the market place but none that have the unique focus of Shelancers. The name says it all. This is an online directory of female freelancers specializing in everything from graphic design to accounting,” explains Dean.

As business continues to heat up for online companies, managers are feeling the pressure to have quick access to reliable specialists who can

• Update the design of a website
• Write content for web pages, article marketing campaigns and brochures
• Proofread ebooks, manuscripts and promotional copy
• Provide customer service for web based or telephone help centers and
• Manage administrative and accounting tasks with ease and professionalism.

The Shelancers directory includes specialists who can address the needs of most businesses owners, especially those companies doing business online.

“The Internet has created a new and vibrant marketplace generating tremendous workloads for many small, mid-size and larger businesses. We’ve actively sought out and attracted the best people in marketing, graphic design, website management, virtual assistance (administration), public relations, business communications, accounting, business coaching and more. There is no need for business owners to panic about not having appropriate staff–not when there is a comprehensive resource available like Shelancers. Best of all there is no search fee or other cost associated with using this directory,” explains Dean.

Easy access is an attribute of this directory. Each listing provides freelancer contact information and available client feedback to help hiring managers/owners to readily secure references, quotes and samples of relevant work.

Florida resident, Nicole Dean has been helping women work from home since 2004 and is a recognized expert in Online Business and Affiliate Management. A resident of Ireland, Darina Loakman was included in a list of 50 of the most influential women in Ireland as compiled by the Examiner Newspaper (2006). Both entrepreneurial moms are available for media interviews to discuss their joint venture – Shelancers (http://www.shelancers.com). To schedule an interview please contact Sharon McMillan, Media Relations, (905)-472-5384.

Let’s Do Lunch

I love the Internet and the way it has helped us to quickly access information, manage and launch small businesses and meet friends and business colleagues from around the world.

The one minor draw back is that some of us miss that face-to-face connection – that “personal” element.

Really all it takes is one person to start the ball rolling. In this case Small Business Branding’s Vera Raposo (3rd from right in the picture above) told a few of us from the Mom Masterminds business network that she was traveling from her west coast location to Toronto – a location that was pretty accessible for some members like me.

We met in one of my favorite new urbanism towns (Unionville) and spent almost 4 hours catching up!

The best part is not only were we able to do some business (I may have found a new branding consultant!) but we were also able to get to know each other a bit better as colleagues and friends.

If you’ve got a small business you’ll want to ensure you visit Vera Raposo’s Small Business Branding website. If you need graphic design and branding work done by an expert that understands not only big business projects but the small business and online marketplace as well, you’ll want to visit Ed Roach’s The Branding Experts website – in case you have difficulty identifying “Ed” he’s the one at the far left in the picture above .

If you’re a busy mom looking for financial management, stress relief ideas and solid life and business coaching support you must visit Sarah Zeldman’s Solutions for Busy Mom’s website (Sarah’s the one on the far right in the picture above). If you are a home based business owner or anyone looking for quality products and services that you can locate from one convenient location, you should visit Imelda Belanger’s I Shop At Home site where her motto is: “Shop from your Seat not from Your Feet” (I love that tag line – no wonder she’s the one with the stylish bag in the picture above – she shops well!). Finally, every business owner or busy enterprise needs an efficient administrator to manage operations – if you need a seasoned virtual assistant who is also an expert internet marketing manager, you’ll want to contact Angela Wills of StarVa (in the picture above, Angela is 2nd from the right) .

I’m just so pumped from my meeting with these fantastic business owners. Thanks to the Internet for bringing us together virtually and for the spirit we’re all blessed with that never lets us forget the joy to be experienced from being in real community and close proximity to one another!

Finding Business Success Close to Home

Whether you have a successful online business or are just exploring the potential, you’ll want to listen to this week’s program. We’ll be interviewing a mom who has worked online for a few years as a marketer but is only now expanding her business locally and is having great success.

Her success has been so positive for her bank account that she was able to make the decision to leave her full time job. Patrysha Korchinski of PK Marketing Solutions will share her tips and insight on what it takes to expand an online business to serve the needs of your local community.

Also in today’s program…the secret phrase that you’ll need to win the 8 gig iPod as part of the Mom’s Talk Radio May contest. Click here for more details.

Other mom owned businesses that I think will inspire you:

Internet Based Moms

Multi Media VA

Chele’s Treasures

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New Urban Mom Entrepreneurs

I’d like you to meet Carrie Lauth (pictured here). Carrie is a natural living specialist and host of the popular internet radio program, Natural Moms Talk Radio. I posted about Carrie today because she’s written an exceptional business guide that I think many new urban moms will appreciate, especially if you’re thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.

As a new urbanist, I’m so thankful be living in a town that makes it easy for me and my family to access natural products and services. I’ve already posted about our farmers’ markets that help urbanites like me to feast on the best regionally grown and developed produce and products. Deciding to buy food that is grown locally is gratifying because I know its good for my family and my community.

But for many savvy new urban moms and other women the desire to live green is about more than what we eat and buy it’s about how we work.

There are many women making the transition to working in the green or “natural business” economy by creating their own businesses. Examples abound and include writers, gardeners, lactation consultants, nutritionists, event organizers, marketers, researchers, natural cosmetic consultants, home decor consultants, caterers and many other specialists and experts who are part of the growing natural business sector. If this is something you’re thinking about then I think there’s a guide that you really ought to take some time to read.

The Natural Mom Business Guide is an exceptional resource that I read in one hungry sitting. If you’re ready for a practical, step-by-step business guide for setting up your natural family living business click here.