Hello friends!!!  I know it has been a while, but we took a family vacation to
Holland last week, and I’m back and ready for action!  The girls met their Dutch cousins for the first time and it was amazing.  We stayed with a cousin of Jason’s who has 3 little girls (8, 6 and 3).  I was very interested to see how this vacation would go because my girls (5 and 3) don’t speak a word of Dutch and their girls don’t speak a word of English.  It was the most incredible thing I ever saw.  I did not warn them what-so-ever that they would not be able to “communicate” with their cousins (a statement which I now know would have been false anyway) but instead, just let the situation play out.  Do you know that none of them really seemed to know or care that they didn’t speak the same language!  They played like they had known each other their whole lives!  All 5 of them would disappear up to the playroom for hours.  It just goes to show you that sometimes ignorance is bliss.  I kind of feel that way with business too.  Nobody REALLY told me how hard starting a company would be so I went in somewhat blind.  Thank goodness!  To this day I still don’t really KNOW the statistics (or believe them) about the success rates of companies, or how many people have ideas and fail to do something about it.  Just like my girls, I went into a situation no knowing that it was supposed to be difficult and found a way.  The girls didn’t know that they weren’t supposed to be able to communicate and so they found a way.  

I want to take a moment to give some recognition to my fantastic support system I have through www.mompreneursonline.com  My friends all knew that I was going out of the country for a week and right before I left, an inquiry came across a PR wire we all belong to asking for pitches about Summertime BBQ gadgets.  This was a Bull’s eye for me right??!!  Knowing I was about to leave, my fantastic mompreneur friends (and I’ll name them in a minute, just because these are wonderful gals you need to know and support) sent me emails to make sure I did not miss this most perfect PR opportunity.  Two of my gals (my wonderful graphic designer that designs my Grill Charms, Melissa Yamello and of course my wonderful fulfillment queen Janene Jaroscak) even took it upon themselves to act as my PR reps, replied on my behalf and sent a requested sample)  I LOVE MY VILLAGE.  It is so important to have a strong support system in business and in life and I’m so fortunate to have mine.  These gals are all running their own companies and raising their own kids and still found the time to look out for me.  This is my “shout out” to you guys for having my back and minding the store while I was gone!! 

Thank you: 

Melissa Yamello www.storybookstudio.net Creating inspirations for happy ever after… if you have little girls with birthday’s coming up, check our her company for a great gift idea and party theme. 

Janene Jaroscak www.trendingsolutions.com offers a full range of affordable, customized
services designed to help support your customer base, bringing your
customer service to the next level.  (Also the best order fulfiller EVER!) 

Annmarie Vanini www.flippee.com  She invented a product For boys & men of all ages…
(and those who clean up after them!)  If you have a little boy in your house, check out her invention/product/company 

Dianne Cernese www.saltychix.com creator of the beach fashion lifestyle taking over the country.  If you love the water, Salty Chix is your brand!   

Julie Northrop www.freebirthdaytreats.com  If you know of ANYONE having a birthday soon, this is a must see! 

Veronica Adams www.polkadotbumblebee.com for the cutest custom photo cards and stationary 

Gwen Austin www.rcarttoys.com Inventor of Color Bug which was AWARDED TOY OF THE YEAR 2007 FROM CREATIVE CHILD MAGAZINE.  (and she’s been on Oprah!!) 

Kendall Morris www.thebluetophat.com The Blue Top Hat® Experts in the Art of Gift Giving! She invented a gift giving concept that’s perfect for all occasions. 

Angela Rivet 

Jill Caren www.ilovephotogifts.com Creating Art & Gifts from Personal Photos! 

Moschel Kadokura www.timelymatters.com  Inventor of On Task On Time for Kids (If you have trouble keeping your kids on task and on time… this is MUST SEE!) 

Diana Ennen www.virtualwordpublishing.com Publicist / Author / Radio HostVirtual Word Publishing and FABULOUS person!!   

Cindy Chrysler www.clevercontainer.com Founding Consultant The Clever Container Co.
“It’s not just the product, it’s the process!”  

Robin Lucas www.chicpeeks.com Creator of Chic Peeks by MYSS “This ain’t your mamma’s dickie”  

Lisa Otto www.creativewritingstudios.com Provides professional copywriting for the small business.

Laurie Stroupe www.cobalt-world.com  Check out her site for the perfect Mother’s Day gift. 

This is just a very short list of my fellow mompreneurs who I can count on, on a daily basis to be there for me and with me during this journey.  THANK YOU GUYS!!  I love ya!!! 

Leslie Haywood, Founder and President of Charmed Life Products, Inventor of Grill Charms™  www.grillcharms.com 

This entry was posted on Monday, May 5th, 2008 at 7:51 am and is filed under Inventor Mom. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.