I just read a great post today from The Mama Bee, a really smart blog that I hope all of you check out.  The topic was on child development and parent interaction.  One research found that educated, affluent working moms invest more in their children’s development than less affluent moms.  It’s not just that they have the money and therefore will spend it.  It’s that they actively choose to invest the funds in their kids versus other things

This made me think not only about what a positive force working moms are in today’s society, but also about our attitudes towards money in general.  I remember years ago attending a seminar on money management.  The person on stage asked the audience how many people wanted to have $1 million.  Everyone raise their hand.  Then the person asked, how about $5 million?  All the hands stayed up.  When he asked, “how about $10 million?”, hands started to go down. “20 million?”  More hands down.  By the time he got to $40 million only a few people, out of more than 500, had thier hands up.  Then the facilitator asked a question I will never forget - “Why don’t you want $40 million?  Do you think it’s more than you need?  How much more good do you think you could do in the word if you had $40 million?”

That experience totally turned my beliefs about money - it’s not OK for me to just strive to have enough so me and my famiy are comfortable - the more I have, the more I can do with it.  I immediately started thinking bigger and the impact I could have.  My book was born, and even bigger plans are in the works!  After all the vacations, new clothes, and multiple homes, what would you spend your $40 million on?

As a small business owner, I don’t get any fancy deals from Mastercard, Visa, AmEx, Discover, or PayPal regarding the commissions I must pay them when a customer purchases my book with their card/service.  Credit cards and PayPal enable my business and I’m not complaining about the commissions.  What did surprise me the other day is how variable the commissions are.  I realized those us who have a choice in which card to use likely have no idea of the impact of that choice on the vendor they’re supporting - especially the small, local businesses.  Here are the commission percentages I was recently charged from my book sales:

·         If the customer used a Visa Business and Visa Debit card: 2.39% of the total purchase (including shipping)

·         Mastercard Business and World Club card: 4.38%

·         Mastercard Debit card: 2.39%

·         PayPal: 2.9% +$.30

On top commission there are other fees businesses pay to these companies such as a program service fee and international business fees.  Then there are the fees paid monthly (mine is $25) and annual (mine is $60) fee to the service companies that connect them to the credit card companies – they can’t work the credit card companies directly.

It was a surprising analysis when I took the time to do it.  I always use my credit card, but never gave much thought to which one or why.  I know many of us are trying hard to support local and small businesses and momprenuers.  Are these rates surprising to you as well?

I read an interesting article, and slew of comments today, on workitmom.com (great site, BTW) regarding Dr. Laura’s new book, In Praise of Stay at Home Moms.  At first, I felt all riled up.  Another attack on Working Moms!!  Can’t people leave these wonderful women in peace?!?!?!  Then I viewed the Today Show interview where Dr. Laura talks about the book and read her book excerpt.  Did that change my mind?  No.  But I did start to noticed how tired I felt.  How it was hard to keep my attention from wandering.  That’s when I realized that generating a huge outrage against Dr. Laura does nothing more than sell more copies of her book (and frankly, I’d rather just sell more copies of mine!).  Further, if there was any piece of advice working moms could take away from Dr. Laura’s book - I haven’t read it, so I don’t know - they won’t.  They won’t even buy the book, just like I don’t plan to buy it. 

My biggest rule of thumb is that it’s senseless to talk if no one is listening.  So shhhhh…… let’s just enjoy the silence for a moment, and then go back to our busy days wherever they are - at home or at the office.

I want to make sure all my readers are aware of an excellent site for women travelers, www.smartwomentravelers.com.  As a result of my children’s book, My Mommy’s on a Business Trip, I often speak to women about the hidden silver linings of business travel, like a good night’s sleep, time for self, time to catch up with old friends, reading a book, etc.  Instead of sitting around the hotel worried about what’s going on at home or at the office, I strongly recommend everyone take this time and make it really work for YOU.  You’ll come back more rejuevenated and refreshed vs. even more stressed and tired than when you left!  On the site is a great article on how to give yourself a facial with simple items you’ll find in the hotel - what a great idea! 

Some of you may have read by now the article on the Motherhood Penalty on Business Week’s working parent’s blog.  The article is about a research study that found working mothers were 100% less likely to get a job interview than women who did not present themselves as mothers on a resume.  While the statistic is quite shocking, what’s really interesting are the sentiments expressed in the comments following the article.

Really, are the mommy wars still going strong?  I am now in an enviroment full of momprenuers, so I rarely run across the non-mom these days.  However, my life at a Fortune 50 company is not that far behind me, and I must admit, I never felt the mommy wars there, either.  So the venom, and defensiveness, of some of the post really surprised me.

I found that once I was a parent, managing an employee became a piece of cake.  Convincing a toddler to eat veggies or go to bed is just as challenging as motivating an employee or managing a crisis at work, and the two worlds - work and home - end up supporting each other very well.  I also know that the year I had my first child was the year I received my highest performance rating at work and I continued to receive high ratings and big bonuses from then on - more than when I wasn’t a mom.

I also know that EVERYONE at my old company was working online after 9:00 PM, kiddos or not.  There just wasn’t time for backstabbing and gossiping or the overall waste of energy that it takes to complain about a co-working leaving to take care of a sick kid.  I attribute this to my former manager who created a very supportive culture.  Frankly, one would look like a real jerk if he or she started griping about someone not pulling their weight.  If you have a problem with someone in your office: First, look at yourself in the mirror - what bothers you about someone else is something that bothers you about yourself.  Second - talk to them directly about it instead of feeding the rumor mill. 

It’s that easy!  I left my last employer to write a series of children’s books dedicated to explaining the world of work to kids (www.mommytrip.com). The intent is to help not only children understand what mom and dad do every day and why they can’t always be around, but also help the parents really ROCK their lives. If mom and dad can build a rich life at home and at the office, then our children are raised in happy homes and the world becomes a better place for everyone. It’s that simple.

I would love to hear if you think the mommy wars are alive and well in your world or not, and if they are, what are you doing to put a stop to them?

I got a big wakeup call today when I read Renee Trudeau’s post on creating an intentional summer on her blog, The Journey.  She asks a simple question - what do you want your summer to be like? 

That’s when it hit me.  The summer?  Is it summer already?  Good grief!  I am a business owner, master of my own destiny and manager of my own calendar… right?  So what’s with all these hectic days and crammed schedules?  Do I even have time to figure out what I want?

Luckily, for me, my kids, and my hubby, Renee’s post really hit me.  I CAN decided what I want and create a summer of intent.  I will be working on my list of things I want from this summer - not a to-do list, mind you, but what I want to create - this evening.  It’s going to be filled with SLOW times with my kids, reconnecting with friends, and enjoying this wonderful place where I live.  It will also consciously plan out what I need to do these next couple of months to make the rest of the year truly successful for my book, My Mommy’s on a Business Trip, and it’s soon-to-be-released partner, My Daddy’s on a Business Trip.  What can I do in the next week to kick-start this summer of intention?  I’ll let you know.  What about you?  How are you going to design your summer?

I know it’s been said we’ll all have multiple careers in our lifetimes, but when does touting that fact get to be too much?  I just saw someone on one of my networks list their title as business owner, author, speaker, coach, and … then I got bored and stopped reading.  

If someone is that many things, I start to wonder just what he or she is actually good at.  If I were to look at my life that way, I guess I would also be a business owner, speaker, and author, plus mother, mentor, wife, as well as a marketing and branding expert.  But really, who cares?  I vote for simplicity - choose one title, and make it count.   Maybe you can even make it interesting, like my friend who’s the owner of Paperoot, who I hope will soon change her title from Queen Bee to Paper Junkie - which is what she truly is!  We all wear many hats, but filling up your business card or online profile with them dilutes your impact, your brand.  Right now, my title is Author (of the children’s book, My Mommy’s on a Business Trip), and that suits me just fine. 

Does anyone else feel like this?  If you could call yourself just ONE thing, what would it be?

I heard on NPR today that the second highest search on Google in early May was the date, May 4th.  Why?  Because of Star Wars fans, of course!  Don’t get it?  Neither did I, until they explained it.  Then, my marketer’s heart started to pound with excitement!

We all know the phrase, “May the Force be with you”.  Star Wars fans, the RABID FANS - you know, the ones who attend conferences, know every story line, and perhaps have a costume or two around the house, celebrate May the 4th as an unofficial Star Wars holiday.  Why?  So they can say, “May the Fourth be with you.”  Is that fantastic or what?!  Imagine a group of people identifying with your brand/product so powerfully.  It’s stunning.  It’s what so many companies strive for, yet most fail miserably.  There are very few brands that have reach that kind of stature and we should recognized for them this supreme achievement.  I can only hope my own book, My Mommy’s on a Business Trip, gets that kind of following among working moms one day!  Conventions, online groups, meet up groups, etc. - all celebrating the struggles and triumphs of the working mom.  Hmmm… stay tuned… we certainly are a force, aren’t we? 

If you had to pick a brand you absolutely love, what would it be?  Why is it one of your favorites?  I’d have to say that mine is Costco.  My experience there is always consistent, I’m never disappointed with the products, and if I end up there at the right time, I always leave with my belly full!

When I came across this “in the doghouse” video from JC Penny on Mary Dean’s great blog I laughed my head off (Mary is the CEO of KickSkirt, an agency that helps companies market to women - the right way).  As marketer, I was also duly impressed my how well it was produced an the creative concept.  Wives and girlfriends everywhere are going to love this one!  Hats off to JC Penny for having a management team with minds open enough to give this a try.

Awhile back I received a stunning invitation - attend a weekend retreat for mothers, for absolutely free.  The idea was wonderful and the price was unbeatable!  Was there a catch? No.  Really.  I mean it.  The wonderful woman who created the idea, Elaine St. Marie, and the women who helped her pull it off, especially Marianne MacKenzie, simply did it because they felt it was the right thing to do.

So as they set to work, they found a retreat center willing to donate the space.  They did the food shopping, AND the cooking and cleaning.  The mothers invited to the retreat couldn’t help themselves and the very first night asked how they could help contribute - either with money or labor.  Everyone was so grateful for this peaceful, loving space that was created that they just couldn’t help but want to help. 

At the end, the costs were covered, even though the organizers had planned to pay for any remaining expenses out of their own pockets.  More importantly, each mother went home relaxed and rejuvenated, a bit more in touch with her “inner Goddess”.  In a time of such scarcity and constant talk of recession and job loss, it was truly amazing to see what bounty we have when a community comes together and shares from the heart.  Thank you, Elaine, Marianne, and all the other retreat volunteers for a weekend I will always remember!