Pod Cast Interview

How fun !... My Pod Cast interview with Nancy Marmeljo from Comadre Coaching. Nancy is an awesome talented women . Check out my interview http://www.innerloca.blogspot.com/. You'll hear about my vision, challenges, heart ache, the truth about entrepreneurship.

I'm really glad I had an opportunity to share my story with Nancy. Although I've been blessed with so much, my experience has taken much sacrifice the past 3 years. Countless hours of working for pennies, feeling exhausted, mentally & physically drained, countless donations. If you know someone whom is starting a business, support them.

I totally respect and support fellow business owners. We experience so many pressures on a daily bases, month to month, year to year,.... thoughts of how to attract clients, too many bills, little income, sometimes there are not enough resources or manpower, how about unpaid invoices. Media exposure does not prompt people to purchase. The results of owning your own business are lack of sleep, worrying, and hoping that things will get better. Our dreams guide us through the good, bad and ugly.

Business is full of excitement and heart ache; it too is exhausting and disenchantment. I found myself paying to stay in business, some times only selling $ 100.00 of product a month. I often thought of going back to the corporate world and having my own cushy job with a budget, office and nice pay check. No wonder so many business fail the first year. I was so close saying forget it..... let's change statistics and help one another. My ensight and understanding of entrepreneurship hardships has assisted me in making business decisions into win-win . Consequently my business in moving into the right direction.

I have not or will not lose my dream.. my business will be an international lucrative empire that will assist the community, create jobs and make a difference in this world. But like anything, success does not come overnight, it takes a lot of ganas (will) and having a dream. I'm a big dreamer...

I had two of my friends experiencing the pain of running a business. One of my friends was stressed in attracting clients to her new business and so worried about paying her monthly operations and staff. Another friend was experiencing dismal sales while trying to keep her spirits up. I wish I had the power to have money or resources and help them. This is the reality of entrepreneurship... it's a gamble. Some will make it and some will not. I'm determined to make it regardless of the challenges that I will face. With faith, support from my family and friends we can make it together. It's okay to ask for help, we all have resources , friends the word of mouth.

Back to my pod cast, Nancy is so full of energy, technical expertise and an enjoyable/fun speaker. Anyone looking for a speaker, I highly recommend my fellow Sagitarian Dragon comadre. (we were both born on the same year-year of the Dragon and day's apart) She spoke to NLBWA "National Latina business women's Association". This is such an awesome group... my membership has been worth the investment in more way's than one. The topic was on technology... I learned a great deal from Nancy and also from Rick & Scott from PuebloTel. What an incredible background Rick has, so down to earth and very approachable... I learned he's a grad from Harvard!...:-) After hearing their presentation about Quality Voice Over Internet Phone Service and talking more a length I thought making the switch and supporting another fellow entrepreneur.

While my pod cast interview was taking place , my little guy wanted Hawaiian Cookies. I remained focused on what I was doing while I multi-tasked with business and family . Most of my clients are familiar with either hearing my two little chatter boxes or seeing them. My two little pumkins are getting exposed to the business world . Every time they meet my friends or clients, I always let my children know that my friend is an attorney, reporter, politician, Dr, president of an organization or an entrepreneur. It's cool seeing how both my little ones pretend they are running a business with a cash register, a set up and their money. I'm amazed at hearing how professional my little 5 year girl carries herself and how my little four year old uses big words and the way communicates with me.. This reconfirms why I'm staying home. They are learning by seeing me run my business . We also make time for our riding bikes at the park, taking walks, doing crafts, reading... Both of my children also have their little computers . Many folks are surprised that they respected my work area and do not touch all the enticing sparkle designs that have freshwater pearls, Swarovski Austrian Crystal, Bali Silver, fresh water pearls, semi-precious stones, plus seeing the earrings, bracelets, necklaces, card holders....

Above you will see some of my upcoming freshwater pearl designs and a one of kind design for Nancy.

Stay tuned for more exciting news as Addy rides away in the Addy Mobile with Bling and sparkle.

Challenges of Time

Oh my .....









I'm so overwhelmed with my TO DO List

• Upcoming tax apt
• personal & business bills
• following up with invoices
• applications for upcoming boutiques
• upgrading my website
• learning cool software
• filing piles of paperwork
• inputting names for my data base
• working on new designs
• designs for an upcoming fashion show
• I'm a VIP Sponsor for Hollywood Indi Producers.... what design and what to give
• Trying to stay fit
• a design for my pursue hooks that need sparkle and bling
• ideas for next email blast ... is so time consuming
• unpaid December invoice...why hasn't she paid?
• keeping up with my schedule

Many times people try to figure out why I stay up so late...When your taking care of two little people from 7 am till 9pm it's impossible to get much done during the day. I'm able to sweeze 10 minutes or 20 minutes of work during the day. Most of my interrupted work is done after my 4 and 5 year olds are a sleep which is about 9:30 pm to? Hubby travels a great deal so many times it's me, myself and I conquering the everyday life. This is the life of the entrepreneurial mommy....that's why having a passion for what you do gives you the strength.

After attending the 3rd Annual Hispanic Family Owned Business Conference, sponsored by CSU Fullerton College of Business and Economics and the Family Business Council, on March 1st, I was selected the recipient of a one year membership valued at $2,700. While we were hearing a OC Register panelist speaking during the conference about marketing, he gave some ideas on how folks made the neighbor. He actually talked about me...." the Stay-Home-Mom whom started her jewelry business from home"..... When Question & Answers followed, I stood up and told him I was the person whom he was referring to. I made some comments about my entrepreneurship experience . Upon the session ending, an OC Business Journal Repsresenative said I would be a great canidate for an upcoming entrepreneurial awards. Wow... to think that I almost missed this session....

Last week I also attended a women's conference in LA as an exhibitor. Although my sales just barely covered my fee, something made it worth while. At all my events, I proudly display my Small Business Award along with the OC Register Article by Jan Norman. You need to strategically position your business and promote your uniqueness. While I was talking to a person from Wells Fargo Bank, I realized I had met last year at the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce State Convention in Oakland. She encouraged me to apply for the Latina Style Anna Maria Arias Memorial Business Fund. This award is given to "Award for Outstanding Latina entrepreneur- Ten winners receive a grant of $5,000. Wow... hot diggiddy dog!.... (that came from watching the Beverly Hill Billies when I was a kid) I was fortunate to have attended the U.S. National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Convention last year and had two of my friends receive this award. So you just never know what might happen by attending some events.

A few exciting things happened this week. I received a call from Blue Suit Mom based out of Florida. The Hispanic Chamber of Orange County referred me as a speaker for a panelist that they will be participating. This is so cool.... I'll fill you in on other things that may occur in the future; I may be able to submit an article to a big magazine...! I also submitted my profile for Terrilee Harrison, Founder of The Business Mom and author of The Business Mom Guide Book: More Life, Less overwhelmed for Mom entrepreneurs... Teri's book is scheduled for Sep 2006. I'm so excited about this book.... there are so many talented mom's that are doing so many amazing things .

Life challenges this week. While I was preparing for an event at Long Beach Memorial Hospital Boutique on Wednesday... I planned on getting to bed early. Our condo tenant calls at 11:20pm telling me she is locked out,... I still had much work to do... I thought I can't wake up my kids and put them in the car and take her a key so late... Luckily she had someone that gave her a ride to pick up the key. Hubby calls... I tell him I need to sleep so our conversation is cut. I have problems sleeping ...sleep after 12:30am.... My little boy wakes up at 2:30 am , he finally sleeps, at 3:30 am my cat starts pounding on the kitchen cabinets... then she starts meowing really loud. 5am comes around and it's time to get ready.... By the time hubby flies in on Saturday (being gone 7 day's) I'm totally exhausted and allow myself in being a couch patatoe. Entrepreneurship has it moments... I'm so glad & grateful that my mom came in from Fresno to take care of my little one's while I was taking care of business. She was ill a week prior so I was stressed in not knowing if I was going to attend. Now that was a blessing.

CHILD mischief: While I attended one of my events, my little girl was sneaky.... she somehow managed to take the cell phone away from her baby sitter and made about 30 call.

The hot item this season is the Swarovski Austrian Crystal high heel card holder. Everyone loves them, their beautiful, unique, elegant...makes a great eye candy and sparkles up a desk.

Stay tuned for more as Addy rides away in the Addy mobile with Swarovski bling & sparkle :-) Watch for up coming Pod Cast Interview with Nancy Marmeljo from Comadre Coaching.

www.heavesentjewelry.com