Business & Baby On Board
A blog by Johanna Baker-Dowdell profiling successful business mums, some of whom will be used as case studies in the soon-to-be published book Business & Baby On Board.
The book looks at all the steps involved in planning, starting and building a successful business through the eyes of business mums. Each chapter discusses an important aspect of business, including a case study of an expert business mother explaining how she started her business, issues she faced, her triumphs and advice she may have for readers.
-
Last Friday (May 3) I was asked to share the story behind Business & Baby on Board at the Blogger’s Brunch in Melbourne following the theme ‘Enrich Your Life Every Day’. Here is what I said:
“So you would think having a devoted husband, two great kids and a business I love would be enough for me, right? Yes and no. All this did make me happy, and it did fulfill me, but there was always something more.
Every time I saw someone I knew publish a book I thought, ‘why isn’t that me?’ It took me a while to make it happen, but more than four years after first considering the idea of turning my business advice for mums articles and blogs into a book, I am about to add published author to my credentials.
While researching, interviewing and writing my book, Business & Baby on Board, I’ve learnt lots of things including persistence, following your dreams, how to crowdfund, how to pitch to a publisher, how to self publish and, most importantly, how to commit to yourself in the midst of being a wife, a mother and a business owner.
How is this enriching my life?
Writing Business and Baby on Board has enriched my life in so many ways - and I hope there are even more when it is published later this month - through showing me what I am capable of, giving me credibility and opening up the doors for me to interview incredible business women like Carolyn Creswell, Naomi Simson, Janine Allis and many others who are here today.
I worked as a journalist for many years before writing this book and I’ve interviewed some amazing people in that time, but none have inspired me as much as the women inside the pages of Business & Baby on Board in showing what can be achieved when you set your mind to it.
Top 3 practical life tools to inspire others
1. Keep plugging away at your dream, no matter how long it takes, because all the little bits you do every day add up to the whole,
2. Sometimes you’ve just got to jump off that cliff and have faith you’ll land on your feet,
3. Share you story whenever you can because others are inspired by your passion and you don’t know who’s listening.
-
-
WQ article by Anna Maguire about the crowdfunding campaign for Business & Baby on Board
-
The opportunity to review Kylie Patchett’s book The Tall Poppy Project came to me at the end of last year when I was contemplating exactly what I wanted for the year ahead. The words “Stand tall + stake a claim on your Delicious Life” were emblazoned across the cover and I thought it could not have arrived at a better time.
Over the past few weeks I’ve been working through each section and the seven Tall Poppy Principles, following Kylie’s personal journey as it touched on my own and feel I have finished the book more self aware than I started - and with actions to take to help myself stand even taller.
Kylie starts her readers right where they currently stand, working through what they need and want to achieve and the possible barriers. She then holds your hand as she walks you through giving yourself time to achieve your goals and appreciate them, as well as what you already have.
The Tall Poppy Project includes steps to honour yourself and your loved ones, attract prosperity, feed your mind and body with the right fuel and activity and then how to live and thrive once you’ve taken the leap into that Delicious Life.
Readers can also access worksheets, resources and the Tall Poppy Tribe via a special section on Kylie’s website.
To find out more about the book visit www.kyliepatchett.com or connect with Kylie on Facebook or Twitter.
You can win one of two copies of The Tall Poppy Project simply by adding a comment below with your answer to the following question: Which area in your life could be more delicious and why?
Entries close at midnight on April 21. Winners will be announced the following week in the Strawberry Communications April newsletter. Good luck!
-
I am usually hungry for some headlining business events in Launceston, but never for International Women’s Day (IWD).
And this year is even more exciting because there’s three IWD events that has caught my eye:
First up (and before the day) is Clifford Craig’s annual International Women’s Day lunch at the Grand Chancellor. This year Catriona Rowntree will take centre stage, sharing news about her career on getaway and her new book A Grandmother’s Wisdom – Lessons Learnt at My Nan’s Knee. To find out more about this event visit Clifford Craig.
Second is a ‘bring a friend’ breakfast for women on the day itself in Hobart presented by Shirley O’Toole and Vicki Sauvage.
And last, but definitely not least, is the event I’m most excited about because it features three women I admire and is at one of my favourite restaurants - Stillwater! I can’t wait to hear what Jane Bennett, Sarah Hirst and Penelope Dodd have to say about building a sustainable business on March 15.
Are you going to any IWD events?
-
I have exciting news!
After successfully crowdfunding to self publish the print edition of Business & Baby on Board I can now say I have an electronic publisher for the ebook - Editia!
Read about how Editia found me here and watch this space for publishing dates.
-
Which cover do you like for Business & Baby on Board? Find out more at Strawberry Communications’ blog.
-
My book, Business & Baby on Board, will be going to print very soon and I have just a little bit of time left to sell the last ads in the book for those businesses savvy enough to know business mums are a discerning bunch.
The Huggies MumInspired Report (March 2011) revealed 70% of women thought more about starting a business since becoming a mother.
Business & Baby on Board speaks directly to these women. The book arms them with the information needed, plus the inspiration and motivation to start and run a business around their child/ren through the expert advice and personal stories of 21 successful business mums.
These businesses have already snapped up the opportunity:
Michael Field Strategic Marketing Consultants
Ads will appear after the Business Toolkit resource section in both the printed and electronic version of the book. Around 100 copies of Business & Baby on Board have already been pre-sold so you’re looking at a proven captive audience.
$200 coupon ad – make a special offer to readers via this coupon (10 left)
$550 half-page ad – snap the last half page for great business exposure (one left)
$950 full-page ad – have a whole page of the book devoted to your business (one left)
If you’re interested in grabbing one of these ads let me know.
I am also signing the first 500 copies of Business & Baby on Board sold if you want to secure a pre-sale copy, head over to the ‘Books’ tab at Strawberry Communications and buy one copy for $25, or two for $40.
-
Abby Larson started her international business in 2007 with just $9.99 and shares her start-up tips in this article from StartUp Smart.
What are your start-up tips?
-
I have set up a Pozible project to raise the funds needed to self publish Business & Baby on Board and I need your support!
Have a look at the project here and make a pledge to get this project up and running. The funds raised will help pay for editing, the book/ebook cover and publishing 1000 copies (some of which are pre-sold!).
Thanks, I’m eternally grateful for your support!
