For many Enterprising Moms, and moms in general, it’s a constant struggle … finding enough time to meet the numerous demands of daily life, never mind the quest for a little professional fulfillment and personal joy along the way. Is there time for it all?

According to one study, there’s plenty! John Robinson, a time researcher who’s often referred to as the father of time, says that working moms have 30 hours of leisure time per week. So, where’s the disconnect?

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and mother of two, Brigid Schulte, like many of us didn’t believe it. So, she did a study of her own time and shared her findings in the February 17th Sunday Washington Post Magazine article, “The Test of Time: A busy working mother tries to figure out where all her time is going.” The controversial article kicked up storm of discussion on the subject of moms and leisure time, how we define it, and how we spend it.

At this June 8th event, Brigid will share her experience in researching and reporting the piece and the conversations that ensued as the topic exploded in print, on the web and even lead to an appearance by Brigid on the Dr. Phil Show!

Opening with a talk by Brigid about her experience, the event will feature an interactive discussion and exploration of time, work, leisure and how we define and experience them all.

Do you have 30 hours of leisure time per week? Tell us about it below and join us on Tuesday, June 8th

About Brigid

Brigid Schulte is a reporter on the Washington Post’s Local Enterprise Team, a group of narrative writers that look for compelling and insightful stories that help explain how we live now. She came to the Post in 1999 to cover education, winning a top National Education Writers’ Association award for a series exploring the achievement gap. She has since written human interest, narrative and feature stories on everything from dying bats and the way the healthcare debate feels on the street to a lost jar of marbles and the plight of struggling Iraqi refugees in America for virtually all sections of the newspaper and Washington Post magazine.

She has won a number of journalism and writing awards, including the National Association of Black Journalist’s award for sports writing for a four-part series on a high school basketball team comprised almost entirely of immigrants or the sons of immigrants. She was also part of the team that won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for covering the Virginia Tech massacre.

Schulte wrote about national politics and national affairs for Knight-Ridder Newspapers’ Washington Bureau before joining the Post. She also wrote about southern politics as the Washington correspondent for the State Newspaper in South Carolina and covered the environment and the Pacific Northwest for the Seattle Times and other western papers in the Washington Bureau of States News Service. She has worked at newspapers in South Carolina and Wyoming, written for national magazines like The Washington Monthly and trade publications like The Harvard Education Review and taught English in Japan for two   years. An Oregon native, she graduated with a degree in English from the University of Portland and later obtained a master’s degree from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism in New York.

Door Prize

Special thanks to Jenna Caudillo of JA Creative, provider award winning marketing and creative services to businesses and nonprofit organizations, for the following door prize:

We Grew It–Let’s Eat It!
DC twins Annie and Veda learn about the White House veggie garden and want to grow fruits and vegetables, too. But how, if you live in an apartment? Watch the twins and senior gardener Ida work and play their way through planting, tending, and harvesting in a neighborhood Community Garden. Then comes the fun of preparing and eating simple, tasty, homegrown food!

A picture book for young readers (ages 3-8 — Pre-K- Grade 4)
By Annie and Veda as told to Justine Kenin
Full-color photos by Becky Lettenberger
Designed by J.A. Creative
56 pages, soft cover 8.5” x 11”, with recipes and books for further reading

This is the third book they have collaborated on with Tenley Circle Press.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Corporate Social Responsibility … What is it? And why should you care? Simply put, it’s creating business value by incorporating your values.

If you donate a portion of your proceeds to a worthy cause, you’re integrating CSR. If you partner with an organization-in-need to collect food, books, clothing, etc. on their behalf, your integrating CSR. If you sponsor an event for a non-profit, if you donate your products or services to an under-served population, you’re integrating CSR.

While many of us are already doing some level of CSR, is it being done in a planned and strategic way?

Whether your already integrating CSR or would like to do so, you’ll want to be at this event where you’ll learn about:

• The business case for CSR—why it’s important &  why you should do it
• Considerations for developing a CSR aspect to your business
• How to align your CSR goals with your business mission
• How to market & communicate CSR—and why marketing is crucial
• Self-Assessment for your business—what are you doing & ways to align business with CSR

The event will feature Jane Meier of Full Circle Partnerships, a marketing consultant who loves helping businesses integrate marketing with Corporate Social Responsibility.  Whether seeking to build partnerships with non-profits, developing marketing strategy, or planning or implementing special events, clients hire Jane for her skills in partnership building, her attention to detail and passionate commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Jane previously worked for Whole Foods Market for four years as a marketing & community liaison.  While at Whole Foods Market, she created successful partnerships resulting in positive publicity, business growth, and awards for the company.  She has a B.S. Family & Consumer Sciences Education and a M.S. in Housing and Consumer Economics.

Door prizes: A choice of a communications review (assess your current communications and provide recommendations for ways to articulate your commitments) or a partnership assessment (whether refining existing partnerships or starting new ones, we’ll take a look at your business model, mission, and partnership goals and make recommendations). Each valued at $300!

Early bird rate ends on April 30th. Get details and register at http://events.theenterprisingmoms.com.

Related posts:

1. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): What Does It Mean for Your Biz? The following is a guest blog post by Jane Meier...
2. Corporate Social Responsibility: 4 Myths Debunked! The following is the second guest blog post in a...
3. Member Spotlight: Jane Meier, Full Circle Partnerships Today our member spotlight shines on Jane Meier, of Full...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

On Wednesday, April 28, members of The Enterprising Moms will come together to support So That Others Might Eat (SOME), a non-profit organization that has helped thousands of people get off the streets, transform their lives and learn to live independently. Moms will prepare casseroles assembly-line style, and then volunteers and staff from SOME will distribute the casseroles to those in need.

We did this event last November, and it was a blast! It was great to connect with fellow business-owner moms and build relationships in a fun way while contributing to the greater good.

Steering Committee Member Marilyn Nowalk of Intelligent by Design has made it incredibly easy to give back to the community this way:

Nothing to buy. Nothing to bring. Three easy ways to get involved:

1. Donate & Participate (Contribute funds for food and supplies AND join in the fun!)
2. Donate (Can’t participate? Contributions for food and supplies are welcome.)
3. Participate (Can’t donate? Come on out to provide hands-on support!)

However you plan to get involved, register and/or donate today!

If you participated last fall, please chime in and share your experience. Testimonials go a long way in encouraging others to do the same.

Speaking of giving back, also check out our May 11 event, “Doing Well While Doing Good: Demystifying Corporate Social Responsibility.” Get details and register at the early bird rate!

Carolyn
Chief Enterprising Mom  |  @EnterprisingMom |  @ApplyWithin

Related posts:

1. EVENT: Doing Well While Doing Good: Demystifying CSR Doing Well While Doing Good: Demystifying Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)...
2. EVENT: Say It Like You Mean It: Communicate More Effectively … Say It Like You Mean It: Communicate More Effectively with...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

If you read my last post, Speak your way to the top: Don’t give short shrift to your elevator pitch, you already know what an elevator speech is and why it’s important to prepare one.  You also may have signed up for The Enterprising Mom’s monthly networking event on April 13, 2010, which will give you a change to practice your elevator speech while learning tips to speak with confidence and avoid common pitfalls of women speakers.  (If you haven’t registered yet, you can register now. Only a few spaces remain.)

But before you can share your elevator speech with fellow Enterprising Moms on April 13, you need to prepare one.  As you craft yours, remember to include these three key elements of a memorable elevator speech:

1.  Describe yourself as a solution to a problem.

The most important part of your elevator speech is the first sentence.  It’s important because when you don’t have much time, this sentence becomes the short version of your elevator speech.  And even when you do have a minute or two for your elevator speech, this sentence is vital because it will determine whether the person or people you’re talking to will continue listening or if they’ll tune you out.

For that important first sentence then, make sure you describe yourself as a solution to a problem faced by your clients or customers.  People don’t necessarily care what your job title is or how your industry describes the work you do.  They do care about how you can help them solve a problem.

Rather than calling myself a presentation-skills trainer or a public-speaking coach, which leaves listeners wondering, I tell new people I meet, “I unlock the potential of talented professionals by giving them confidence as speakers.”  Notice the use of clear, simple language that avoids jargon and overused buzzwords.

2.  Tell an anecdote

After you describe how you solve a problem for the people you work with, tell a short story to explain your motivation for doing what you do.  This anecdote should be a “signature story” – one that reveals the ah-ha moment when you realized you wanted to do what you do or an example that shows that how exceptional you are at your craft.

For me, I always tell the story of how I realized the importance of strong speaking skills:

“As a college freshman, I opted to participate in two debate tournaments rather than suffer through a semester-long course in public speaking to fulfill a requirement of my major.  During my first debate — a humiliating defeat to a top team from Pacific Lutheran University — I realized that I needed to be as articulate and confident as my opponents to excel academically and professionally.

That’s when I dedicated myself to becoming a great speaker and empowering others with communication skills.” The value of telling an anecdote is that people love listening to stories (just think of your kids at bedtime), they are more memorable than highlights from your resume (people at networking events don’t always remember my name, but they can tell you I was drubbed in my first college debate) and they build rapport with your listeners (we get a better sense of someone we just met when they open up and share a personal story).

Remember that your anecdote must be brief – your entire elevator speech is just one to two minutes long.  It should have a few specific details, such as the school my opponents represented, because it makes the story more interesting and colorful.  And it should include vivid language that makes the ears of your listeners perk up, like I did with the words “suffer,” “humiliating defeat,” “excel” and “empowering.”

3.  Ask an open-ended questions

Lastly, end by asking a question that can’t be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.”  The ultimate goal of an elevator speech is to start a dialogue.  After all, you can’t learn about someone you just met when your lips are moving.  You have to let your ears do the work.

The question you ask can be as simple as, “And what is it that you do?”  Or you can make it more specific to your field of work.  I’ll often ask a question along the lines of, “What kind of experience do you have with public speaking?”  Or, “What kind of speaking do you do in the course of your work?”

The content of a memorable elevator speech should be brief, should position you as a solution to a problem, should share a personal anecdote that explains why you do what you do, and should transform your introduction from a monologue to a dialogue.  If you can make the networking event on April 13, I look forward to giving you feedback on your elevator speech and helping you deliver it with confidence.

Christine Clapp is the president of Spoken with Authority.  You can sign up for her monthly e-newsletter, Speaking of Speaking

Related posts:

1. Speak your way to the top: Don’t give short shrift to your elevator pitch By Christine Clapp, of Spoken with Authority You’ve probably heard...
2. EVENT: Say It Like You Mean It: Communicate More Effectively … Say It Like You Mean It: Communicate More Effectively with...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

You’ve probably heard that you should have a minute long “elevator pitch” or “elevator speech” ready in case you hop on an elevator with that prospective client you’ve been trying to land or that potential investor you’ve been dying to meet.

Maybe you’ve even given some thought to how you’d introduce yourself if you ever have that once-in-a-lifetime chance meeting in the elevator.  Or maybe you think you’ll never encounter that sort of situation, so you haven’t worried about preparing an elevator pitch.

You’re probably right about never needing to pitch yourself in an elevator.  But as an entrepreneur, you’ll certainly need to introduce yourself at networking events, conferences, social functions, and anywhere you’re asked: “What do you do?”  If you’re not approaching these everyday situations as opportunities to give your carefully crafted elevator pitch, you’re missing opportunities to land new clients and grow your business.

Don’t fall into the trap of all too many professionals who think that because they’re meeting potential clients in informal situations or small-group settings, they don’t have to take time to carefully prepare and rehearse what they say.  In fact, you should treat your introduction to one potential client at a networking event with as much care as you would an address to a room full of industry experts at a conference.

When you approach the crafting of your elevator pitch as you would a formal speech, it means that you need to prepare strategically, rehearse thoroughly, receive feedback and rework material if it’s not getting you the results you want.  (It doesn’t mean your elevator pitch should sound or come across like a formal speech!)

Are you ready to win clients and grow your business with your elevator pitch?

Sign up for The Enterprising Moms’ monthly networking event on Tuesday, April 13, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. at Busboys and Poets in Shirlington.  The featured interactive program, “Say It Like You Mean It: Communicate More Effectively with Your Clients, Community and Clan!” will teach you how to speak with confidence and avoid common pitfalls of women speakers.

At the event, you’ll get a chance to share with fellow Enterprising Moms the elevator pitch you will craft in advance and you’ll receive personalized feedback in person and afterward via e-mail on the content and delivery of your introduction.  And before the event, you’ll get specific advice on how to prepare your elevator pitch strategically so that it is memorable and establishes rapport.

Stay tuned for the next post, which will get you started on the crafting of your elevator pitch before the April 13 program!   Meantime, register online for the space-limited event.

Christine Clapp, president of Spoken with Authority, unlocks the potential of young professionals by giving them confidence as speakers. Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/christineclapp

Related posts:

1. Speak Your Way to the Top: Three Elements of a Memorable Elevator Speech This is the second installment in a two-part series...
2. EVENT: Say It Like You Mean It: Communicate More Effectively … Say It Like You Mean It: Communicate More Effectively with...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Where: Busboys and Poets – Arlington, VA
Date: Tue Apr 13 @ 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Fees: $15 Early Bird (through April 6th)  |  $20 after April 6th
Register: The Enterprising Moms

Join us for an interactive workshop with Christine Clapp, of Spoke with Authority, who will share strategies for communicating more effectively in all areas of your life.

Many of people aren’t fully aware of how much of an impact the manner in which they communicate their messages has on how their message is received. Some are aware of the impact, but don’t know how to communicate more effectively.

Enter Christine, who offers small-group classes and intensive coaching sessions that develop the speaking skills professionals need to advance their careers.  She also provides interactive workshops and keynote addresses to companies and organizations that want to unlock the potential of their employees or members. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, Christine customizes training and coaching to meet the needs of each client.

During this interactive workshop, participants will learn:

• The importance of speaking with confidence in professional and personal interactions
• How to speak effectively to an audience of one or 1,000
• Mistakes women speakers make that undermine their credibility

What you’ll gain:

• Confidence as a communicator, especially in high-stakes situations
• An inventory of your speaking strengths and areas needing improvement
• A more polished elevator pitch (your introduction in networking situations)

As an attendee, you’ll receive:

• Personalized feedback after the event from Christine
• Contact Connector – list of event participants to facilitate networking during and after the event

About Christine

Christine Clapp is a presentation skills expert who unlocks the potential of talented professionals by giving them confidence as speakers. As president of Spoken with Authority, she conducts small-group classes, intensive coaching sessions, interactive workshops, and keynote addresses that give participants polish whether they’re speaking to an audience of one or 1,000.

Christine previously worked on Capitol Hill for five years in communications and has been teaching public speaking to undergraduates at The George Washington University for seven years. She holds two degrees in communication: a bachelor’s degree from Willamette University, and a master’s degree from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Space for this event is limited, so register today!

Related posts:

1. Member Spotlight: Christine Clapp, Spoken with Authority Learn more about this talented orator who’ll be presenting at...
2. Speak Your Way to the Top: Three Elements of a Memorable Elevator Speech This is the second installment in a two-part series...
3. Speak your way to the top: Don’t give short shrift to your elevator pitch By Christine Clapp, of Spoken with Authority You’ve probably heard...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Name: Rene Hackney, PhD.

Title: Founder

Business: Parenting Playgroups

Industry: Parent Education, Psychology, Children’s Play

Product/Service: Parent and Teacher Workshops, Preschool Play, Social Skills Groups

Years in Business: Six

Ideal Customers/Best Referrals: Parents of children birth to ten years old

Personally speaking …

Home life: Married 17 years with two daughters: Alicen 11, Claire 8

Childcare situation: They are home with a sitter summer mornings.  They are with me after school and with dad when I lecture.

Motivation for starting your business: I wanted to work for myself, make decisions as I go.  I enjoy teaching preschool and wanted to marry that with my education.

Greatest benefit of running your own business:  Can take my children with me as needed.

Greatest success you had in the past month (personal or biz) and how you celebrated it:  We opened our second office.  No celebration yet, too early.

On your nightstand: Why Gender Matters, The Friendship Factor, The E Myth

The one tool, resource, or toy you just can’t do without: A toy – Facebook – love being in touch with so many friends.

Last purchase for self: Old Navy Flip Flops

Favorite way to unwind: Hot bath

Be advise or tip you ever received (personal or biz): If there is trouble, speak directly.

Best thing about being an Enterprising Mom:  Meeting others who overlap efforts.  I need to reach out more!

Connect and learn more:
Web Site | Blog |  LinkedIn | Facebook |  Twitter

Related posts:

1. Member Spotlight: Rene Hackney of Parenting Playgroups Learn more about the Enterprising Mom behind Parenting Playgroups ......
2. Parenting Solutions for Working Moms: Answers & Insights with Expert Dr. Rene Hackney Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 Time: 9:30 AM –  11:30...
3. Member Spotlight: Donna Memmo Learn more about this Enterprising Mom of three, and owner/operator...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Too tied up in the frenzy of the holidays to give it much thought? No worries … Join us at the next Coffee and Connections where coaches Carolyn Semedo, of Apply Within, and Suzanne Caldwell, of Vital Coaching and Consulting, will help you get on track.

What: Setting Goals and Intentions for 2010
When: Tuesday, January 12 @ 9:30am
Where:  Busboys and Poets – Arlington, VA

During this interactive event, you’ll:

• Explore, clarify and get grounded in what’s most important to you, at your essence
• Learn how to integrate those things and honor them in your everyday life
• Understand the basis of those internal struggles, external conflicts and the ever-present “should” and “ought to” and learn what to do about them

Through coaching we’ll help you learn how to achieve a sense of alignment and integration so that you can set meaningful goals and intentions for your whole life from an empowered and grounded place.

Join us to learn how to get your new year off to the best start possible!

Shared by one business owner:

“I have found clients, friends and gotten information for services I need and hired those recommended service professionals. It is a good resource because being a part of the group offers a level of trust you wouldn’t find elsewhere. I have found such a supportive environment in which I have been able to get valuable feedback from a very talented group of women. It is an important group for me especially because it is valuable to have a resource of like-minded mamas.” — Jessica Christian, Photographer, Jessica Photo

Register today!

Related posts:

1. Join us on 1/12 for ‘Setting G… Join us on 1/12 for ‘Setting Goals and Intentions for...
2. EVENT: Say It Like You Mean It: Communicate More Effectively … Say It Like You Mean It: Communicate More Effectively with...
3. The Enterprising Moms is Coming to Fairfax County Fairfax County business-owner moms share ideas and sketch a plan...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

• Thanks to all of the vendors for making the event such a hit. I continue to be amazed by the talents of the women in this community!
• Thanks to all of the fellow TEM members and shoppers who came out to shop and support our vendors and Spill the Beans. The energy in the room was palpable!
• Thank you to portrait photographer Rebecca Weiner for our grand door prize of a winter portrait session with up to three children. And congratulations to the winner – Jennifer Folsom, who just happens to have three kids!

A very special thank you to Donna Memmo for opening the doors of Spill the Beans after hours to TEM and the community and providing the delicious food (especially loved the cupcakes!) and drinks that kept us going through the night.

When I approached Donna about hosting the event, she didn’t hesitate for a minute. True to the nature of The Enterprising Moms, she’s a true collaborator and was so eager to participate and to share her shop with us. So, tell your friends about Donna and Spill the Beans and:

• Subscribe to her newsletter
• Become a Facebook Fan
• Visit her shop … to work, to play, to eat and drink, or just sneak away!

The food is fantastic (sorry, not a coffee drinker!) and the atmosphere is so welcoming. Spill is very family friendly with toys, books and games for kids (and health kid-friendly snack foods) and regularly scheduled entertainment. It’s also a great place for adults to meet and gather for work or play, with internet access for either! Learn more and check out the events calendar.

Thanks to all!

Related posts:

1. The Enterprising Moms Holiday Biz-aar Community focused Holiday Biz-aar unites mom-business owners to encourage the...
2. Member Spotlight: Donna Memmo Learn more about this Enterprising Mom of three, and owner/operator...
3. TEM Holiday Biz-aar: See Who’s Selling Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009 Time: 6 – 7pm –...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Name: Donna Memmo
Title: Owner/Operator
Business: Spill the Beans – Organic Coffee and Chat House
Location: Alexandria, VA

Type of Business: (B2B, B2C, B2G): B2C
Industry: Food Service
Product/Service: Coffee/Bagels/Pastries/Lunch/Dinner
Years in Business: 1

Ideal Customers/Best Referrals: Everyone!

Personally speaking

Home life:
My husband (and support system) Mario (above), my daughter, and two little boys and I live in Hollin Hall, a cozy neighborhood in the Mt. Vernon area of Alexandria.  We happened to find a property less than two miles from home, and are fortunate to work with and for her neighbors, friends, even her kids’ teachers and coaches!

Childcare situation:
My children are all school-aged, which was a requirement before we could embark on this adventure. My boys attend Ft. Hunt Elementary, which happens to be literally down the street from Spill the Beans!

Motivation for starting your business(es):
In this era of coffee house play dates, I saw a need for proper accommodations. Toys for the tots to play with enables mom an entire conversation or email written without interruption! I also saw a need for delicious foods without sacrificing quality or wholeness.

Greatest challenge you faced in starting your business?
Time is truly the greatest challenge. I love dealing with the public and pouring lattes for my
patrons, but am constantly trying to strike the balance between that and the management side of my work.

How you overcame it:
Still trying! I have been blessed with a super team, and they are all supportive when I need to “hide” in the office to churn out
a newsletter, plan an event or catch up on email!

Greatest benefit of running your own business:
Being with my kids almost as much as if I did not work….It’s also brought out a bond with my husband that was unexpected. We’ve joked for years that we never, ever agree on anything, but having the exact same goals for this business has finally put us on the same page!

Greatest success you had in the past month (personal or biz) and how you
celebrated it:
Spill the Beans celebrated its One Year Anniversary this past Halloween! We had an all day celebration complete with entertainment … fun!

On your nightstand:
A notepad for when the wheels in my brain will not stop turning late at night. Three or four books which I have been trying to read since opening Spill the Beans … to no avail!

The one tool, resource, or toy you just can’t do without:
Blackberry and Google Calendar. I utilize the google calendar because I can manage all my calendars at once: sports, school events, Spill the Beans events, family appointments, etc.

Last purchase for self:
I honestly do not remember. Guess I should schedule a shopping day!

Favorite way to unwind:
Glass of wine with my husband.

Best thing about being an Enterprising Mom:
The support system! I love women helping women! This is what it’s all about!

Connect and learn more: Web Site |  Blog | Facebook

Contact: Spill the Beans, Organic Coffee & Chat House  |  703-780-3561

Related posts:

1. The Enterprising Moms Holiday Biz-aar Community focused Holiday Biz-aar unites mom-business owners to encourage the...
2. Holiday Biz-aar Thanks Thank you so much to all who participated in The...
3. Member Spotlight: Tammy Goddard, Bead on Through Learn more about inspiring Enterprising Mom, Tammy Goddard, of Bead...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.