This week is a continuation on the lessons I’ve learned over the past year as a mom and an entrepreneur that have had a deep impact on who I am and what I want to create for my life.

I already shared five lesson I’ve learned so far. If you missed them they were:

- Lesson 1 – Stay Open to the Possibilities and Be True to Yourself
- Lesson 2 – Enjoy the Collaborative Process
- Lesson 3 – Create Systems and Move On
- Lesson 4 – You Have to Invest in the Future
- Lesson 5 – Take Action Quickly

In this blog I will share five more meaningful lessons:

Lesson 6 – Maintain a Circle of Business Supporters

This is a lesson I already knew but was really emphasized to me over the last year. On my community membership page it says…

“The core of The Metromom’s philosophy is this-your success depends on association with other women who have great ideas, a broader, more creative perspective and who are already achieving the kind of lifestyle you visualize for yourself.”

I whole-heartedly believe this… yet at times I’ve been challenged to maintain that circle of support. I was watching many other mompreneurs come onto the scene with their own websites and communities and my first reaction (which was coming from a place of scarcity) was to view them as competitors. Fortunately after some soul-searching on my part, I realized their bigger value as collaborators. I also needed to find business supporters that would challenge me to take my business to the next level. I wasn’t looking for “YES” people – I wanted honest feedback.

I reached out to women that I saw on a similar path and playing at a similar level and I’m so blessed by their continual support. Instead of competitors, I now have a fantastic group of collaborators I can turn to.

Wisdom Tip: It might be time to widen your circle to include women who are achieving great things. Be brave and reach out to women you admire and who will challenge you to be AND do your best.

Lesson 7 – Remember You’re Always a Role Model for Your Children

I started my business because it’s my passion to support fellow mompreneurs, AND also to be available to my family. I want my kids to have the opportunity to see for themselves what mommy believes in and is doing so they can see all the possibilities for their own future.

The challenge kicked in when my husband was laid-off and I began feeling the pressure of mounting bills and an increased pressure to succeed financially. Looking back I see that kids need a role model about what works and what doesn’t. They need to see how you cope with the ups and the downs. I realized that how I dealt with these various challenges, the fact that I can move on and keep growing, makes a tremendous impact on my kids.

Wisdom Tip: Working from home gives you a unique opportunity to teach your kids valuable lessons. Be open with them and let them join you as you work through your challenges and celebrate your victories.

Lesson 8 – Schedule Regular Downtime for Yourself

This has been a busy, busy year for me. What I realized is that relaxing doesn’t just happen. Like anything that I’m committed to bringing into my life, I have to plan for it by setting aside chunks of time to do nothing since my natural tendency is to perpetually stay busy, especially since I’m quite Type-A.

I’ve learned to meditate on a daily basis. I participated in the 40 Days and 40 Nights Program which encourages a morning and evening meditation, and also use the Holosync meditation CDs. I also treat myself with simple pleasures like a pedicure or meeting a friend for coffee.

Wisdom Tip: You need to find ways to rejuvenate yourself, even if it’s just a few hours. You’ll be far more productive and creative if you’ve allowed yourself time to recharge.

Lesson 9 – Create a Positive Shift in Your Energy by Being of Service

I’ve noticed this year – when I was internally focused (and in a fearful place) – others around me felt my desperation. As I grow and become more aware, when I’m able to turn my attention to how I can be of service to others, and let go of my own concerns, (regardless of what’s going on for me personally) everything shifts.

Wisdom Tip: When you step out of your own personal focus and begin asking how you can be of service to others, everything in the universe shifts and you embark on a path to much greater success.

Lesson 10 – Stop Hiding Behind Your Computer and Really Connect

There were times over the past year where I would spend days at a time just responding to emails that came in, reacting to problems that needed to be solved. I was in a reactive mode. To shift into being in charge of my communication, and the universe back in motion positively, I made conscious efforts to start reaching out and connecting. Something magical always happens when I do this.

That first phone call is often hard, but once I get a kind voice on the other end, I get in a groove. I remember how much I absolutely love speaking with others and connecting. For me, and others I know, email (as well as Twitter and Facebook) can be a trap. We think we’re communicating and developing relationships, but email can be very passive and allow you to hide behind your computer.

Wisdom Tip: To truly be successful in your business, which is built on relationships, you’ve sometimes got to shut the computer down and pick up the phone. Magic happens.

Being an entrepreneur and specifically a mompreneur is a journey and one that requires great awareness and consciousness. There is no manual telling us the right way to do things. That’s why I’m thrilled to have a community of Metromoms to turn to where we can share what works (and what doesn’t).

I want to share a little bit about what’s transpired over this last year since I launched Metromom. It’s just one year ago that I put 1,000 letters into the mailbox setting them free for the world to hear about my exciting new launch.

I remember that it was one year ago because it’s the day that we were leaving for Martha’s Vineyard., and we always leave the week before July 4^th. At 4:30 in the morning, my daughter and I stood before a mailbox and said a beautiful prayer as we set these 1,000 letters out into the universe. I was letting my friends and family know my vision, and I was beginning a thrilling journey..

It’s interesting to reflect on the words I used to describe a Metromom – a “driven, evolving woman” – because I see how my business has been evolving from the very beginning. There have been a few major shifts (or maybe leap is the better word) along the way I’d like to share with you…

Leap #1 – Opening my doors to a wider community

In that letter I sent out a year ago I explained how I’d created an online community – The Metromom Direct Sales Association – for all women in direct sales businesses to receive training, promote themselves, and connect with other like-minded women. But within a month, I was receiving queries from women who were not in direct sales. They were approaching me saying, “I’m a graphic designer.” “I’m a realtor.” “I’m a coach.” “I’m not in a direct sales business, but I really love what you’re doing. I’d love to be a part of what you’re doing. Would that be possible?”

Another thing happened at this same time. I received a letter from the Direct Selling Association of Washington, DC. They were not happy with the association name I’d chosen – The Metromom Direct Sales Association. They thought I was infringing on their name. I spoke with my lawyer who said, “Kim, we probably could fight it, but is it worth it?” that was an eye-opening moment for me. I thought, “You know what? I really would love to serve entrepreneurial women in general.”

I happily gave up the name of The Metromom Direct Sales Association and swapped it for The Metromom Entrepreneur’s Association. The time had come to open my doors to a wider community of women.

Leap #2 – Acknowledging my voice as a mom

When I first launched Metromom, I had a male coach who said, “Kim, I don’t really get it. Every time you talk about your company called Metromom, you talk about women, but you never use the word ‘mom’ in the description. Why are you not using the word ‘mom’? Your company is MetroMOM.” I had excuses but no good answer at the time.

I soon realized that I can’t look at the world any other way than as an entrepreneurial mom. I have three kids and everything that I do is based on how I want it to work for me as a woman juggling my business and my children. My experiences are now colored through the eyes of a mother’s lenses. I don’t know how to do it any differently and more importantly I realized that I don’t want to do it any differently.

The truth is I don’t exclude women who are not moms from joining Metromom, but the voice with which I speak is going to be that of one who is a true Metromom, a driven mother looking to balance her work and family on her own terms. Once I stepped into that place, all of a sudden my writing was more fun and more authentic. In fact I was creating A LOT of content which leads to another shift…

Leap #3 – Time to become THE resource for mom entrepreneurs

About six months after going live my web designer approached me and said, “Kim, you know what? I know we just designed this great site, but I think it needs to change again. You’ve got so much content and so much available to these women, but it’s kind of hard to find. It’s buried within the site. I’d really love to see you feature more people in your role as a connector and get all your great resource material out in front.”

I had honestly never envisioned that. Who would’ve thought of me as the content queen especially when writing isn’t easy for me? With the help of my collaborative copywriter, I really had become a huge resource for content on marketing, mindset and motherhood. We set about to re-launch the site creating a much different, interactive, content-rich site than it was back in July of 2008.

Leap #4 – The “Get It Done Girl” emerges

When I initially launched Metromom, part of the vision for me was to reflect how much I enjoy connecting with other women. I felt really comfortable in my role as a great “connector”. Through some pretty great coaching I experienced back in February, I was also able to acknowledge that I’m also an incredible “implementer”. I really do get things done quickly.

I emerged from that coaching session as the “Get It Done Girl”. I stepped into that and owned it. All of a sudden I realized my language started to shift. A good friend of mine said, “Kim, I feel like your DNA has shifted, your whole posture has changed.”

With this renewed sense of confidence I was able to tackle some monumental tasks. The first one was implementing my site redesign. I didn’t know how to execute it but I had great clarity about the experience I wanted my visitors to have and I pulled together brilliant people who knew how to implement my ideas.

I was simultaneously putting together the Metromom Online Success Telesummit that went live in May. That event was a great combination for me as connector plus implementer. I gathered together amazing experts to provide the content I’d learned that my community of Metromoms really wanted and needed to support them in their business growth.

With these huge leaps you’d think that I’d settle into a groove. Not a chance! I have some great new programs I’m rolling out shortly because of a whole other shift I’ve recently taken. I’ll share more in an upcoming blog…

I’ve been able to move my company authentically in the right direction and serve that entrepreneurial mom because she is me. She is so many other women that I know and love. It’s easy to think of her and make sure I’m doing my best to provide her with content, resources and programs that serves her in a way that works for her.

As I relax this week with my family on Martha’s Vineyard I can look forward to another great year! A big thank you to all of you that have supported me along the way!

There are times in your life when someone special shows up and you have that inner knowing feeling that they’re meant to be there for a bigger reason. That was exactly how I felt when I met Sandy Grason for the first time in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. As someone who picks up on other people’s energy, I felt a strong connection immediately. We were together as part of a group of entrepreneurial moms collaborating on something bigger than ourselves, and the spirit of abundance was incredibly prevalent in the room.

In sharing what she was working on, and the gifts that she could bring to our group, the one word that stood out for me was “empire”.  For some reason, the word empire has always intrigued me from a business perspective. Not in a Martha Stewart kind of way, but in a way that feels limitless, and feminine and full of choices and possibilities. (As a side note, when my NY lawyer father helped me to incorporate my company, he advised that if I planned on having an empire, (a very unusual word for him to use in describing my entrepreneurial pursuits) I should incorporate in Delaware. The word just felt right, and that’s what I did.)

As Sandy spoke more, I got the gist that she takes women through a fun process to create their empire. I definitely wanted to learn more, and I tuned into her artfully-created video entitled The Jerry Maguire Manifesto (which is a must-see). She asks the important question:

Why do you have to either do the work you love with your heart & soul and struggle with the money part or go so deeply into the marketing of your business that you feel like a used car salesman willing to do anything for a buck?

The answer is: You don’t. You can have the Coin and the Kwan (love). You CAN be recognized for your passion and your purpose. You can create an empire that works for you.

Before I conceived of Metromom, I was very clear that I love to connect with other women. This is a joyful experience for me, and I do it effortlessly. IMAGINE… if I could create a business where I get to connect great women to each other, provide them with lots of value, make a great income for my family AND give back in a really big way. In my first year of business, this was my vision and I moved forward on this path.

As I embark on year two, I realize, I’m being called forth to figure out my next step, and expand and deepen the work that I’m doing. One idea I feel compelled to finally share (even though I don’t  know how it will happen)  is that I am meant to  help 12 amazing women take their brilliance and passion, and get it out there in a bigger way so they can dramatically change people’s lives. (Who are these 12 women? I don’t know yet, but I trust they’ll show up perfectly, and imagining them brings up delightful visions for me of being in a candy store.)

The timing of my meeting Sandy is serendipity and synchronicity all rolled into one. With her new program, The Fabulous Formula, that I am just thrilled to begin, she will share (with me and a group of other amazing women) a new way of experiencing your business, of creating wealth, and of BEING. She will focus on getting clear about your biggest vision and going after it. And focusing on who you are when you’re at your greatest.

The other important question Sandy asked is “who’s coming with me?” I immediately raised my hand, signing on to participate in The Fabulous Formula with her. The question I offer to you is: would you like to join us? If this speaks to you, I’d love nothing more than for you to join me on this empire-building journey. Please visit her site to learn more. I’d also love to hear your comments about your own dreams for your own empire.

My husband Allan recently asked me why I love my business so much. One thing I shared is that I love change, fluidity and flexibility. I like to have boundaries but I also like to push them (and break the rules occasionally). I also believe there’s nothing quite like entrepreneurship to help you learn who you are and what’s important to you.

I’ve been a serial mompreneur for over ten years. This last year has been my biggest and most daring year as I launched Metromom.com. It started as an online community to support women in direct-sales and evolved into being THE resource for mom entrepreneurs (in all businesses) for all the issues they have as business owners, mothers and more. As I celebrate the one year anniversary of Metromom I wanted to highlight the biggest lessons I’ve learned so far.

Lesson 1 – Stay Open to the Possibilities and True to Yourself

Soon after launching Metromom.com in July 2008, I realized that my focus was too narrow. By listening carefully to women entrepreneurs, both inside and outside my community, I realized the need to expand my niche. The lesson I learned was that by staying open, and not being fixated on being “right”, I was able to expand my business and reach out to many more women.

At the same time I realized that while staying open to the insights of others, I needed to trust my instincts. I learned to take the time to make sure I was truly aligned with my values, beliefs and goals before moving forward.

Wisdom Tip: By being open to the possibilities and staying true to yourself, you’ll be amazed at how the right people, places and opportunities appear.

Lesson 2 – Enjoy the Collaborative Process

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned since starting Metromom is that you can’t do it alone. But, you can achieve amazing things when you build a team and leverage each other’s strengths. I’ve learned to delegate whether it means having friends to carpool my kids, VA’s to set-up my ezine or business coaches to help me discover the next step in my marketing plan.

I’m also collaborating with other mompreneurs with the belief and vision that together we can do something much more amazing than any of us on our own. I’ve brought on “experts” to offer a broader range of information to my community. This last year has taught me how I can use my gift of being a natural connector to harness the power of so many other wonderful women.

Wisdom Tip: Learn to enjoy and benefit from the collaborative process of what others add to the process of building your business.

Lesson 3 – Create Systems and Move On

Having a team is great but they don’t work without a system. I’ve learned the value of systematizing all our processes and creating delegated lists so everyone is clear about their responsibilities and timelines. I’m also using a great new program called Basecamp to help me keep track of it all! After determining the process, I’m able to delegate it, and go on to create new products and services that fuel my business and my soul.

Wisdom Tip: Creating systems can be time-consuming the first time around but it’s amazing how they’ll save you hours down the road and provide you with great clarity that comes from working through all the steps.

Lesson 4 – You Have to Invest in the Future

There have been moments where I’ve felt great scarcity over the past year, especially after my husband lost his job. I learned this lesson the hard way but I’ve realized that I have to continue making investments in my business and trust that they will pay-off.

Sometimes this has meant investing in my personal growth, like Baeth Davis’ Life Purpose Spiritual Summit that I attended. Sometimes it’s meant investing in great back-end technology that supports huge growth and many end-users. I’ve had to be smart with how I invested but I’ve had to keep moving forward to grow my business.

Wisdom Tip: Maybe you’re thinking to yourself… I don’t have the time or I don’t have the money. The truth is if you want to be successful you can’t afford NOT to invest in yourself and in your business.

Lesson 5 – Take Action Quickly

This lesson has led me to embrace my new nickname – the “Get It Done” Girl. I’ve learned to let go of perfectionism, and I trust that I’m enough as I am. I’ve discovered knowing the “WHAT” is more important than the “HOW”. I’m very capable at knowing and figuring out WHAT needs to get done. I may not know HOW it’s going to happen and how to do it but I am resourceful and can connect with others who do have the expertise I may be lacking to get the job done.

This skill has served me well as a mompreneur. Because there’s nothing that truly prepares you or gives you all the experience you need to be an entrepreneur – you just have to go for it!

Wisdom Tip: You have to be willing to jump into unchartered waters, and trust that other experts can fill in your gaps.

I share five more lessons in part 2 of “Lessons Learned from a Serial Mompreneur”.  Please share any lessons you’ve learned in your journey as a mom entrepreneur!

We watch our children and our husbands do it, but for us as moms it’s so hard to do “nothing”. It’s hard to let go of our to-do list and spend a weekend or even just a few hours really relaxing. You’d like to sit and read a novel, take a bubble bath or play an endless game of Monopoly with your 9-year old.

But… if you’re like me there’s always something you really SHOULD do. You’re already mentally gearing up for next week and thinking of ways to get ahead—maybe it’s catching up on laundry, getting a head start on your next newsletter or responding to last week’s emails.

 

 Mom’s Weekend Dilemma – Time to Relax or Time Get Ahead? [Metromom Podcast] [6:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I did a lot of traveling earlier this year, which was taking a toll on me and my family. They were well-prepared to handle things without me for a few days, but it felt like each time I returned home and we reconnected, I was turning around again to leave. I promised myself that I’d stay put for awhile and I’ve really enjoyed this last month at home.

Then I was listening to the CD’s of Baeth Davis speaking at Ali Brown’s last workshop. I eagerly awaited carpooling time so I could listen to her stories. What I heard made me reevaluate my decision to stay home. I realized that I needed to attend Baeth’s Life Purpose Spiritual Summit on June 4th-6th.

Let me share some of my history with Baeth…

Baeth Davis came into my life in October 2006. During a hand analysis she shared my life purpose with me in and I knew at that moment, she would be my next coach. One of the key things she shared with me about my purpose is that when I have fun I can manifest all that I desire, and it is incredibly important that my life be oriented around being of service. The two points became a huge shift for me. “Fun” and “being of service” became the filters through which I made all my decisions.

At the time we met, I was working with Melaleuca (a direct sales wellness company) and I wasn’t having a lot of fun. I wanted to grow a business, but was dragging around all the wrong people. From my earlier experience with my first entrepreneurial company, Metromom Maternity, I knew that I was meant to do something bigger and serve a special kind of entrepreneurial mom (aka Metromom). Baeth suggested that I build my Melaleuca business around being of service to “Metromoms” and it worked – my business tripled!

I was enjoying myself but I felt there was a bigger way for me to have fun and be of service to Metromoms. Baeth and I agreed that for the time being I’d focus on growing my Melaleuca business and every time I had a “Metromom” idea, I’d put it in a “beautiful box”.

Then, in August of 2007, at the urging of my husband, I attended Baeth’s first Life Purpose Summit. I showed up there in two worlds – a bit of Melaleuca and a bit of Metromom. Through the summit I recognized my life purpose calling me more towards the Metromom world. To pursue that purpose, I chose to do an intensive 3-day coaching program with Baeth and two other coaches, Kendall Summerhawk and Kailash Sozzani.

I was so excited to be on track with my purpose. On the flight to my coaching program, I wrote in my journal:

I love to connect with other women. This is a joyful experience for me, and I do it effortlessly. IMAGINE… if I could create a business where I get to connect great women to each other, provide them with lots of value, make a great income for my family AND give back in a really big way.

Adrenaline poured through me as I wrote this—an inner knowing that I was on the right track. After three days with three unique and highly-gifted women in a collaborative coaching circle I was able to focus in on what I love to do, what I’m really good at and what can benefit others the most. With Baeth’s support, I went onto to create my Metromom community and website as it currently is.

When I learned of Baeth’s second summit, my first thought was not to consider it because I’d already attended once. After listening to her talk on the CD I had a sudden realization. I realized that I’m not in the same place as I was 18 months ago. I’m now fully in a Metromom place and my vision has evolved and changed drastically from my days as the Melaleuca representative.

While I’ve certainly stepped into my purpose in creating Metromom, I determined that I am ready for some fine-tuning. Now in this place in my business and my personal growth, what new insights may I receive? What new people will I meet and special connections may I form?

It’s very easy to have the “bright shiny object syndrome” and want to attend every event. I have learned to say “no” to many, not because they’re not wonderful but because they’re not right for me at the time. Now, it feels amazing to feel a complete “yes” about attending Baeth’s. I’ll certainly share more about my experience when I return next week. (If you’re going to be there, please make sure to find me and say hello, or send me a tweet.)

The beauty of an entrepreneurial business, is that there is a direct connection between your personal growth and your business growth.  Many work-at-home moms feel guilty even thinking about putting themselves first, so their needs are always relegated to the backburner. You can’t afford NOT to invest in your personal growth as an entrepreneur and even as a mother. Discover ways to invest in your personal growth that will help you achieve dramatic results in your business growth.

 

 Mom Entrepreneurs – Personal-Growth Means Business-Growth [Metromom Podcast] [5:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

At the beginning of December, my husband lost his job, right before the holidays and right as my business was getting off the ground. He felt grief, stress, feelings of shame and embarrassment and fear. I felt great compassion, a desire to support, and strangely calm, believing and trusting we’d be okay.

It had definitely been his salary (and some savings) that have gotten us through the start-up phases of a business that fills my soul and that I know deep in my gut can have a huge impact on so many.

Fast forward to January and my resolve broke. Fear and doubt crept in. The more I felt the fear, the more fearful things showed up. The more I focused on my bills, the more they showed up. My focus turned from my big vision to the piles of bills, fear of spending, worry about providing for my kids and overall huge anxiety. I was sleeping (if you could call it that) 3 hours a night. I wasn’t present with my kids nor was I caring for myself properly or having much fun.

The final straw came a few weeks ago. I’d flown out to Arizona to meet with my mastermind group. I arrived at the car rental counter and learned that my license had expired. “Don’t worry miss, we’ve got a connection to a guy who handles high risk situations.” Within moments I was whisked away in an unmarked car to an off-site lot to pay 4 times the price of my original rate because I was so “high risk”.

When I got into the car, I called a good friend. Once she picked up the phone, I completely lost it. Weeks of fear just poured out.

After pulling myself together, I reached into my bag and pulled out my iPod and had the full audio from The Secret saved. (I don’t even recall putting it there.) Listening to the messages I typically live by (but clearly hadn’t been this month) I was reminded how I’d completely let my thoughts go in the wrong direction.

In that moment, I was reminded that it’s only me that can control my thoughts. In that car ride, I shifted.

I started focusing on what is going right, what I do have (which is so much) and what I am building. Has my husband gotten a job? No. But each day we focus on what we’re grateful for. I take charge of the thoughts I allow into my head and I forge ahead in building my dream and move a bit closer each day.

I just got back from Arizona where I experienced a major breakthrough with my mastermind group with Kendall Summerhawk. I started the session in a challenging place. My husband has been making a career transition and as a family we’ve been feeling some additional financial pressure.

Thankfully I opened up and shared my concerns with the group. Later that evening, I met over a glass of wine with a woman from the group and we talked about what I’ve accomplished with Metromom since our last meeting in May. After listening she shared, “Kim, you’re an incredible implementer. I’ve never met anyone who can make ideas happen as quickly as you do.”

My energy shifted as she said these words because I realized that, although they were true, and I knew it about myself, I hadn’t really let it seep in and accepted it as valuable. I do make ideas happen REALLY quickly and I can’t even tell you how excited I feel to really own that.

This recognition allows me to really dig deeper on what I can offer as a coach to women in my Metromom community. After speaking to this woman, and others in the Mastermind Group, I was also inspired to do more one-on-one VIP private coaching. Stay tuned for the details!

The lesson I’d like to share is the value of opening up and then listening to any positive feedback we receive. Don’t be overly modest and dismiss the praise, instead acknowledge your strengths. Sometimes we walk around with a “story” about ourselves and for whatever reason we chose not to recognize our true talents. Please share a comment on a “hidden” strength or talent you’ve recently owned up to – I’d love to hear your stories.

I’ve learned a lot of crucial lessons this year as I launched Metromom — one of the biggest has been the need to stay open. Open to change, open to feedback, open to trusting my intuition and open to new opportunities that perhaps I never considered before.

Many of you remember that I started Metromom with a focus on providing a community for women in direct sales. My member’s area was called The Metromom Direct Sales Association. Soon after launching I realized that my focus was too narrow, and I needed to open up to the possibilities.

This realization came to me as I led a 4-week Incubator Program in my local area for Ladies Who Launch. During this time, I met with 6 fabulous entrepreneurial women. Not a single one was involved in direct sales, yet they were very interested in what I was doing with my Metromom community.

These women were entrepreneurial and they were moms. I suddenly realized that they could benefit from connecting with like-minded women that were a part of Metromom. But how could that be, since I had worked so hard to establish my niche?

I made a decision. I expanded my niche. I realized that being a Metromom isn’t about being in a particular kind of business or industry – it’s really about your attitude. A Metromom is a driven, evolving woman committed to caring for her family, nurturing her career and achieving success on her own terms. So in October I officially changed our member’s area to The Metromom Entrepreneurs Association™.

I didn’t abandon moms in direct sales, in fact, by making our community more inclusive they benefit even more because I truly believe that every member has something valuable to share and teach.

During one of my Coffee with Kim calls my recent decision to expand my community was confirmed. I listened to the interaction between a new member, not in direct sales, with another member who was. They both were benefiting from the connection and I was so pleased that I was able to provide the space for this new relationship to develop, and for their businesses to thrive.

The lesson I learned was that by staying open I was able to expand my business and reach out to more women.