Shownotes
Robin’s Story
Being a teacher and why she made a pivot [3:15] Zannie & Zoe and her other businesses [4:25] Robin’s focus on supporting women business owners [5:40]Women’s Business Workshop
How she identified the need “Summer Mom” issue [16:17] When to start the summer plan [17:42] The trick with a special activity a week [18:55] The importance of buy in [19:35]Candle Flickering Moments
With a limited amount to invest at startup, where do you begin? [7:16]Business Building Insights
The first big idea. Where do you begin? [6:22] Live events and interaction with others is the start of learning [7:47] SCORE [9:33] How to fight overwhelm [10:00] List management and prioritization [11:47]Success Trait
Robin’s strengths are being a good communicator and connecting people together [26:55]Productivity/Lifestyle Tool
Google Drive – Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and moreRecommended Reading and Listening
Yes, Your Teen is Crazy! with Michael J. Bradley
Robin’s Resources for You
Free Printable – Work at Home Mom’s Summer Activity List for Kids Summer Cheat Sheets – A weekly activity and meal plan for kids that arrives in your inbox all summer.Contact Links
Website Facebook Instagram LinkedInIf you found value in this podcast, make sure to subscribe and leave a review in Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts. That helps us spread the word to more makers just like you. Thanks! Sue
Transcripts
Hi there.
Speaker:You're listening to gift biz on rapt episode 113,
Speaker:Running a business has all these other working parts.
Speaker:And we just are like,
Speaker:where do we even begin?
Speaker:Hi, this is John Lee Dumas of entrepreneur on fire,
Speaker:and you're listening to the gifted biz unwrapped,
Speaker:and now it's time to light it.
Speaker:Welcome to gift biz,
Speaker:unwrapped your source for industry specific insights and advice to develop
Speaker:and grow your business.
Speaker:And now here's your host,
Speaker:Sue Mona height.
Speaker:Hi there.
Speaker:It's Sue and welcome to the gift biz unwrapped podcast.
Speaker:If you are a gifter Baker,
Speaker:crafter, or Baker that you are in the right place,
Speaker:whether you own a brick and mortar shop and sell online,
Speaker:or are just getting started,
Speaker:you'll discover new insights to gain traction and to grow your
Speaker:business. And today pleasure introducing you to Robin Robin,
Speaker:formerly an elementary school teacher and has been building businesses from
Speaker:home for the last 14 years.
Speaker:Jean owns and runs Zoe,
Speaker:which offers through a website on Etsy.
Speaker:Robin also connects and supports business owners through her women's business
Speaker:workshop. She's the author of the summer survival guide for a
Speaker:work at home moms and this hosted a two day conference
Speaker:for women business owners looking to grow their businesses.
Speaker:I cannot wait to find out what we're going to get
Speaker:into today.
Speaker:Welcome to the show Robin.
Speaker:Hi, thanks for having me glad to be here.
Speaker:I'm so thrilled that we were able to coordinate this and
Speaker:we are going to start off the show like we always
Speaker:do because we are creators and makers here.
Speaker:And that is by having you describe yourself through a motivational
Speaker:candle. So if you were to tell us what color and
Speaker:what quote would best describe you,
Speaker:what would those be?
Speaker:The candle color would be the colors of the ocean.
Speaker:The turquoisey light blue light green,
Speaker:because I find those colors so relaxing and the quote would
Speaker:be this too shall pass.
Speaker:But I see the quote in two ways as a mother,
Speaker:I see it as this too shall pass for the hard
Speaker:times, but also that they are growing quickly and before you
Speaker:know it,
Speaker:this stage is done and that can be a good or
Speaker:bad thing.
Speaker:Miss those good stages cause a blink of an eye and
Speaker:they're over.
Speaker:Yes, exactly.
Speaker:So that is something my mom used to always say,
Speaker:is this too shall pass and kind of has good perspective.
Speaker:Yeah. And people who listened to our show are mostly women.
Speaker:So a lot of us can relate to this,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:especially when you're trying to build your business and you do
Speaker:have younger children at home and even teens.
Speaker:Cause I would say that may be the time when we
Speaker:need to be watching them the most.
Speaker:I totally agree.
Speaker:Perfect. This too shall pass,
Speaker:but you want to catch and capture every single moment along
Speaker:the way,
Speaker:for sure.
Speaker:Right? Give us a little background of the past with you,
Speaker:how you started,
Speaker:went from being a school teacher to a little bit of
Speaker:zany and Zoe.
Speaker:And most of it is going to be focused more on
Speaker:the women's business workshop,
Speaker:but kind of walk us through what's happened.
Speaker:Sure. I grew up always wanting to be a teacher,
Speaker:but it's funny when you look back at what you actually
Speaker:played, when you were little,
Speaker:I played dry,
Speaker:cleaner and restaurant and actually played business all the time,
Speaker:but my mom was a teacher.
Speaker:My dad was a small business owner.
Speaker:So I went to college to be a teacher.
Speaker:I taught for a few years and I really loved it.
Speaker:But then I had my oldest daughter and I taught one
Speaker:year while she was a baby and just realized I really
Speaker:wanted to be home with her.
Speaker:So I was going to be a 100% stay at home
Speaker:mom. And that lasted very short while before I started getting
Speaker:very antsy and just started little businesses on the side for
Speaker:money to just kind of help out.
Speaker:And that's stuck.
Speaker:And three kids later never went back to teaching and was
Speaker:making turbos or before I was making Cheerios,
Speaker:I was doing Haribos on Etsy and someone approached me and
Speaker:said, our cheerleading team needs bows.
Speaker:Would you be willing to do that?
Speaker:And then that took over the majority of that business.
Speaker:So you did have another business.
Speaker:Was it called zany and Zoe right from the beginning or?
Speaker:Yeah, the little girl hair bows was Amy and Zoe,
Speaker:but I also did things.
Speaker:I had a consulting business,
Speaker:so to speak where I did continuing ed training for preschool
Speaker:teachers, where I created courses.
Speaker:And then we would go in and teach those as continuing
Speaker:ed. I tried to run an in-home daycare.
Speaker:I just couldn't get it out of my system.
Speaker:I did a show,
Speaker:a couple of episodes back talking about people are thinking that
Speaker:they want to do something for themselves.
Speaker:It's like,
Speaker:what should that be?
Speaker:And as I've been doing podcasts now,
Speaker:when I turned about the 50 Mark,
Speaker:I was starting to see a trend and I'm not going
Speaker:to go into all of it.
Speaker:But one of the things that I saw as exactly what
Speaker:you're talking about here is,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:what did you like and what did you naturally gravitate to
Speaker:when you were younger?
Speaker:When there were no stipulations on what you like,
Speaker:what does that inner energy that really excites you?
Speaker:And clearly for you?
Speaker:It was business for me,
Speaker:it was business in a different way.
Speaker:I had all my stuffed animals lined up and I was
Speaker:a veterinarian.
Speaker:Nice. But still that business aspect,
Speaker:right? Sure.
Speaker:It filled a void.
Speaker:It felt,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:it helped pay some bills,
Speaker:but it was never truly like a passionate industry for me.
Speaker:And so that then at some point moved into your women's
Speaker:business. Yes.
Speaker:Mostly it resulted because I was,
Speaker:this was before Facebook groups and podcasts.
Speaker:And so I was really home doing it by myself and
Speaker:not really knowing what I'm doing because I have,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:an education degree.
Speaker:And so I started kind of gathering women around me that
Speaker:I started to see were to do the same thing.
Speaker:So we would meet locally and try to help each other.
Speaker:And that's just kind of spiraled into supporting women businesses.
Speaker:Beautiful. So let's talk now.
Speaker:So you do a lot,
Speaker:you're interacting with lots of people,
Speaker:right in the space where we are in terms of getting
Speaker:started, having interest and starting to build and grow their businesses.
Speaker:What are you seeing are the biggest concerns that people are
Speaker:having? The women that are first starting out?
Speaker:I feel like the big question is where do I even
Speaker:begin? A lot of women,
Speaker:at least in my experience did not go to business school.
Speaker:Maybe they were a nurse or I do see a lot
Speaker:of teachers,
Speaker:people that have gotten out of their industry and reluctantly kind
Speaker:of became an entrepreneur because they were doing something or making
Speaker:something. And someone said,
Speaker:you should sell that.
Speaker:And we know how to do that thing.
Speaker:But running a business has all these other working parts.
Speaker:And we just are like,
Speaker:where do we even begin?
Speaker:What's the most important thing to Exactly.
Speaker:I totally agree with you.
Speaker:They know everything about the craft and the tools that they
Speaker:need or the baking ingredients that they need.
Speaker:But converting it over into a business is an entirely different
Speaker:thing. I totally agree.
Speaker:Okay. So the first thing is where do you begin?
Speaker:Where do you start?
Speaker:What are the steps?
Speaker:What else are you seeing?
Speaker:Are challenges.
Speaker:One that's come up a lot in my circle is where
Speaker:do you spend the money when you're first starting out and
Speaker:maybe you're taking part of your husband's income or income from
Speaker:a different source.
Speaker:And you say,
Speaker:okay, I have this much money and I'm trying to make
Speaker:it stretch.
Speaker:Should I get a coach?
Speaker:Should I do a website?
Speaker:Where should this limited amount of money go?
Speaker:What would be the most important place to spend it?
Speaker:Where would you get the most bang for your buck?
Speaker:So to speak,
Speaker:Let's unpack this a little bit.
Speaker:How do you decide Huge fan of live events?
Speaker:Personally? I love them.
Speaker:So I feel like in some instances you can get a
Speaker:lot of information in one place.
Speaker:You know,
Speaker:whether it's a conference,
Speaker:a workshop,
Speaker:I'm a big fan of that.
Speaker:But I also think getting feedback from other entrepreneurs,
Speaker:whether it's in a Facebook group or a forum,
Speaker:I think coaching is great.
Speaker:It's just a little out of reach for a lot of
Speaker:people financially at first.
Speaker:And also I recommend people to score nonprofit with the retired
Speaker:business professionals.
Speaker:They have a lot of resources.
Speaker:Absolutely. I totally agree with you there.
Speaker:So your thinking is in terms of where does the money
Speaker:go? Cause you're right.
Speaker:Your funds are limited when you're starting for sure.
Speaker:And I think a good thing to do is take whatever
Speaker:that number is,
Speaker:whether it's $500,
Speaker:$2,000, whatever it is.
Speaker:And before you start spending any of it,
Speaker:figure out all the elements of what you need to do
Speaker:and then create the plan.
Speaker:I agree.
Speaker:And so you're suggesting local events.
Speaker:If you're fortunate enough to have something around you and a
Speaker:quick Google search gift,
Speaker:biz listeners would be able to uncover those for,
Speaker:and then if not,
Speaker:if there isn't anything around then Facebook groups are a wealth
Speaker:of information you go in and you really can buddy up
Speaker:with people who aren't even in your area,
Speaker:but are in a similar space and can provide so much
Speaker:information for you.
Speaker:Then Robin's also suggesting coaching and score to look in your
Speaker:local neighborhoods for score what these are,
Speaker:are people who have run small businesses all the way up
Speaker:to big corporations.
Speaker:And now they are volunteering their time and their expertise back
Speaker:to help people like us grow and develop.
Speaker:And it believe it's all free,
Speaker:right? Robin for score,
Speaker:Yes, you can get a one-on-one mentor and it's at no
Speaker:charge. And they walk you through doing a business plan.
Speaker:Sometimes your first match,
Speaker:isn't always the right fit.
Speaker:I've talked to a lot of women that have gone through
Speaker:a couple of different mentors until they found someone that really
Speaker:understood their industry and was a good personality match.
Speaker:So just to keep that in mind.
Speaker:Good point.
Speaker:All right.
Speaker:And then what would you say is the third challenge that
Speaker:you're seeing Getting the overwhelm of,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:you think,
Speaker:Oh, someone said I should make my creations and try to
Speaker:sell them.
Speaker:And then you start looking into what it would really take
Speaker:to do a business.
Speaker:Or sometimes if you do go to a live event,
Speaker:you get completely overwhelmed that what's a funnel.
Speaker:Why do I need an email sequence?
Speaker:And does that even apply to me?
Speaker:And there's just so much coming at you,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:it's just really overwhelming.
Speaker:So what do you do?
Speaker:I'm an old school,
Speaker:put things down on paper.
Speaker:I don't know if that's my teaching background,
Speaker:but I do brain dumps where,
Speaker:when I'm feeling really overwhelmed,
Speaker:I set a timer and I just write down every single
Speaker:business thing I'm thinking of just to get it out of
Speaker:my head.
Speaker:And then if there's anything on there,
Speaker:that's an actionable item right now,
Speaker:then I can prioritize,
Speaker:but I personally just need to get it out of my
Speaker:head and then really just focus.
Speaker:But what is the best for my business?
Speaker:Not everyone.
Speaker:Else's, There's a couple of things here.
Speaker:Your shiny objects are very dangerous.
Speaker:You'll listen to even this podcast or you'll see something on
Speaker:social media that looks like it's something you should be doing.
Speaker:And you totally vacate all activities that you were doing and
Speaker:dump over to that other project.
Speaker:And then yet another shiny object comes in.
Speaker:You jump over to another project and then you have all
Speaker:these projects partially started and nothing's actually getting accomplished.
Speaker:That is something I still struggle With.
Speaker:Well, that's what you were saying,
Speaker:the fighting the overwhelming,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:or just making sure you stay on track.
Speaker:I totally agree with you.
Speaker:And I think more and more,
Speaker:I see people resorting back to lists because I think it's
Speaker:just ingrained.
Speaker:There's something about that tangible pen and paper versus the online
Speaker:apps. And there's something very fulfilling with checking off steps to.
Speaker:Yeah. And what I love with a huge list is I
Speaker:put it away and then I just have a small to-do
Speaker:list for each day with maybe five items that are important
Speaker:to move my business forward.
Speaker:And then,
Speaker:I mean,
Speaker:it'd be wonderful if I got through all five,
Speaker:then I can look back at the list,
Speaker:but I put it in my binder.
Speaker:So I'm not seeing it all the time,
Speaker:because then that just adds to the overwhelm,
Speaker:Right? If you have a list of things,
Speaker:there's nothing wrong with having a parking lot saying,
Speaker:Oh, you know what?
Speaker:This is something that I should apply,
Speaker:but it's not the time now I'm working on whatever your
Speaker:specific goal is,
Speaker:but the time,
Speaker:right? I think the other thing really good and gift biz
Speaker:listeners, if you're not already doing it,
Speaker:I would suggest you picking up this activity.
Speaker:I do the same thing is what are the most important
Speaker:things for you to be doing in a single day?
Speaker:If you work a day job,
Speaker:and you only have a little bit of time at night,
Speaker:maybe you only have one hour,
Speaker:one night,
Speaker:what is the single most important thing that you should get
Speaker:accomplished and know that before you sit down to work,
Speaker:so that hour can be as productive as it possibly can.
Speaker:And you want to make sure that your tasks to are
Speaker:actually tasks that move you towards a goal.
Speaker:Okay. So let's say your goal is I need to get
Speaker:more visibility for my business,
Speaker:a task that could you move you to a goal is
Speaker:what kind of networking groups are in the area or what
Speaker:kind of conferences like Robin was talking about before,
Speaker:but you only research it for a certain amount of time
Speaker:and then you take action.
Speaker:You don't keep researching and research and research and Just decide.
Speaker:And you just Take that action,
Speaker:right? Yes.
Speaker:There's a saying,
Speaker:I always say to myself and to my kids someday,
Speaker:but not today.
Speaker:So if I see something great online and think,
Speaker:Ooh, that might work for me someday,
Speaker:but not today.
Speaker:I love that someday,
Speaker:but not today.
Speaker:I'm writing it down And it's great for kids because it's
Speaker:not a definitive.
Speaker:No, but it means not today.
Speaker:Today. We are not going to the zoo maybe someday,
Speaker:but not today.
Speaker:It's a little easier now.
Speaker:Yep. And that's your parking lot list for sure,
Speaker:right? Yes.
Speaker:All right.
Speaker:So your big three are the challenges that many people are
Speaker:seeing and I'm thinking our listeners can probably resonate with these.
Speaker:Maybe all of them actually is I want to do this
Speaker:so badly,
Speaker:but what is the first step?
Speaker:Where do I possibly start?
Speaker:And I think the solution to that,
Speaker:we didn't cover that in the beginning is just take action
Speaker:and get started.
Speaker:Find some advice,
Speaker:find some guidance and start going.
Speaker:What I really love about your story Robin is that you
Speaker:kind of identified after you were teaching that no,
Speaker:it was the business side.
Speaker:You really liked.
Speaker:Cause that's what you were always doing when you were younger.
Speaker:And then there were several courses.
Speaker:You took two,
Speaker:you really landed on what you really,
Speaker:really liked,
Speaker:but you didn't wait to figure it out because sometimes you
Speaker:really don't know it,
Speaker:it kind of unveils itself as you go along.
Speaker:Right. And businesses evolve too.
Speaker:And even those three things we discussed,
Speaker:I still go through those,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:things are smooth sailing for a little and then the whole
Speaker:rollercoaster of entrepreneur life.
Speaker:Then you get back to those three things again and think,
Speaker:okay, where do I even start now?
Speaker:Right. I think that's a fallacy of being an entrepreneur,
Speaker:a business owner for yourself is that you get to a
Speaker:point where it's smooth sailing.
Speaker:Like you're going through rough waters.
Speaker:You get to a point.
Speaker:I think there's always things that come up and you just
Speaker:have to accept that.
Speaker:That is the way it is.
Speaker:That's the life you're buying into and pros and cons to
Speaker:it. But you're the type of personality.
Speaker:The pros clearly outweigh any cons,
Speaker:but being uncomfortable,
Speaker:being challenged is just part of the gig.
Speaker:It's part of what you're buying into.
Speaker:And I think a lot of entrepreneurs secretly crave that.
Speaker:And that's why we're not sitting in a cubicle somewhere doing
Speaker:the same thing every day.
Speaker:And if we were,
Speaker:we'd probably start another business.
Speaker:If things were smooth too long,
Speaker:it's like,
Speaker:okay, well what's next.
Speaker:Right? Exactly.
Speaker:It's just a personality trait.
Speaker:Yeah. We're just a group of crazy people.
Speaker:Yes, absolutely.
Speaker:Okay. So let's,
Speaker:Let's move on to another area that you have really focused
Speaker:on and specialized in.
Speaker:And that is moms who have kids who get out of
Speaker:school in the summer and I've heard so many different reactions
Speaker:when it's like,
Speaker:okay, school's out.
Speaker:Some people are like,
Speaker:yay. And then some people are like,
Speaker:Oh no.
Speaker:How am I possibly going to do this?
Speaker:You know,
Speaker:go through the summer.
Speaker:So I'll be very interested to hear what advice and a
Speaker:conversation around that.
Speaker:But first,
Speaker:how did you decide that this was a topic you were
Speaker:really going to dive into Instead of need?
Speaker:Because my husband is a chef,
Speaker:so he works nights and weekends in the summer cause we
Speaker:live in a tourist area.
Speaker:So he has gone a ton.
Speaker:And I was doing these businesses at home by myself with
Speaker:three little kids,
Speaker:trying to figure out how to actually do this,
Speaker:where we're all still happy at the end of August.
Speaker:And my teaching background came in to play at that time.
Speaker:And we started doing daily to-do lists or activity lists.
Speaker:And I started planning our day,
Speaker:not completely scheduled,
Speaker:but a little more of a routine like they have in
Speaker:school. And I just saw such a huge difference in my
Speaker:productivity, their happiness.
Speaker:And so I said,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:I have all these years of resources.
Speaker:I should get them out there.
Speaker:Cause I kept seeing women say,
Speaker:Oh no,
Speaker:summer's coming.
Speaker:My business is going to die or everyone's going to be
Speaker:stressed out.
Speaker:So I thought why I have all these resources so I
Speaker:should put them out into the Yeah.
Speaker:And then you tested them with yourself first.
Speaker:Right. And have been tweaking them as they've gotten older.
Speaker:So I remember what worked when they were younger and now
Speaker:they're a little bit older,
Speaker:but they still need,
Speaker:even though they're 11,
Speaker:13 and almost 16,
Speaker:but we still need that structure so that I can work
Speaker:in making,
Speaker:get their stuff done and have some fun as well.
Speaker:Structure is one thing.
Speaker:And so specific time slots,
Speaker:if you will,
Speaker:and probably someday,
Speaker:but not today.
Speaker:You probably use that a couple of times.
Speaker:I sure do.
Speaker:I advise,
Speaker:I know it seems contradictory to the whole idea of summer
Speaker:being fun and relaxed,
Speaker:but I really advise women to start their plan now or
Speaker:before the kids are out.
Speaker:So on day one,
Speaker:you start with,
Speaker:okay, mom works from this time to this time and while
Speaker:I'm working,
Speaker:here's what you guys are doing depending on their ages and
Speaker:abilities. But to get that from day one so that you're
Speaker:not having to go back and say,
Speaker:well, I know we were doing this before,
Speaker:but now we're going to do it this way because you'll
Speaker:get a lot more resistance than if it starts from day
Speaker:one. But I do do chunking of time so that I'm
Speaker:more productive because I plan it.
Speaker:Let's say I'm going to work from nine to 10 in
Speaker:the morning and my kids are doing their daily chore list
Speaker:or whatever.
Speaker:I know I'm going to work really hard during that hour.
Speaker:I'm not going to be surfing Facebook because I know that's
Speaker:the hour I have to get my social media plan or
Speaker:whatever the task is for that hour.
Speaker:I think if the kids also know that after that time,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:that is your safe zone for working.
Speaker:If you will.
Speaker:And after that time,
Speaker:then you're back on the scene with them.
Speaker:They're more willing to not interrupt you or anything.
Speaker:Right. And we try to do an activity a week.
Speaker:So I save it for Friday so that I can use
Speaker:it as the carrot all week long,
Speaker:we try to do an outing on Friday.
Speaker:So let's say it's our beach day or we're going to
Speaker:the park or whatever it could be.
Speaker:Then during the week when they're saying,
Speaker:when are we going to the beach?
Speaker:Why can't we go to,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:I have that,
Speaker:well, Friday,
Speaker:we're going to the amusement park or wherever.
Speaker:And it helps them not just feel like it's 90 days
Speaker:of how are you going to entertain me.
Speaker:Right. And what I'm sure they're more comfortable too with the
Speaker:plan. I mean,
Speaker:it's better all the way around.
Speaker:Absolutely. A couple of questions for you here.
Speaker:Do you get input from them on what their activities are
Speaker:going to be?
Speaker:So there's some buy-in there.
Speaker:Absolutely. We do like a bucket list,
Speaker:a summer bucket list at dinner,
Speaker:or sometime,
Speaker:hopefully in the spring usually.
Speaker:And they write down the kind of things they want to
Speaker:do. And it's not just where do they want to go?
Speaker:It's what kind of summer do you want to have?
Speaker:One of my kids would say,
Speaker:I want to have a play date every day.
Speaker:Obviously that's not going to happen,
Speaker:but now I know that's something really important to him where
Speaker:one of my other kids might say,
Speaker:I just want to read outside all summer long.
Speaker:So you make sure,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:so we do a bucket list and that really helps.
Speaker:Some of the things are just,
Speaker:mom says you have to do a chore off this list.
Speaker:So you just have to do it Well.
Speaker:Yeah. Cause they still have chores.
Speaker:Right. But I do like our daily to-do list,
Speaker:they can do it in any order they want,
Speaker:they can wait a little while to do it,
Speaker:but they can't have any screen time until that list is
Speaker:done. So some of them will do it right away in
Speaker:the morning and be done.
Speaker:Others will put it off all day long and whatever,
Speaker:but mine are a little older that I can give them
Speaker:that responsibility a little more.
Speaker:And I bet there's challenges between,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:if you have a couple of children,
Speaker:if someone gets their chores done,
Speaker:then they get to move on to a fun activity.
Speaker:And the other one is kind of dawdling then they see
Speaker:that, Oh my gosh,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:he's outside.
Speaker:It's so fun.
Speaker:So what do you do about if they want play date
Speaker:during some of this time,
Speaker:would that then integrate into the plan In my household?
Speaker:It's mom works till noon.
Speaker:And so don't plan anything and don't ask to go anywhere
Speaker:unless we're asking ahead of time.
Speaker:And obviously there are certain circumstances that things change.
Speaker:If a friend calls and says,
Speaker:will you come to six flags with our family?
Speaker:I'm not going to say no because I'm working.
Speaker:You know,
Speaker:but my kids can't ask for a play date during my
Speaker:work time because I just know,
Speaker:I feel like I'm responsible for their child while they're in
Speaker:my home.
Speaker:So I can't focus as well.
Speaker:So they know after lunchtime,
Speaker:that's when you can ask to have a,
Speaker:Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.
Speaker:I like that a lot the rules are set and that's
Speaker:the plan and that's the way it goes,
Speaker:Because the more you make exceptions,
Speaker:I mean,
Speaker:I do allow grace and there's some days where you say,
Speaker:you know what,
Speaker:we're just going to the beach.
Speaker:I can't get any work done.
Speaker:We're all like,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:you know your kids,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:when you're all at your breaking point,
Speaker:but overall I try to stick with it.
Speaker:It just makes it the expectations clear.
Speaker:Right. Okay.
Speaker:Before we move on,
Speaker:I want to,
Speaker:because I think since we're in this mindset,
Speaker:in this conversation,
Speaker:I am looking at the couple of things that you are
Speaker:offering our listeners,
Speaker:the free printable and the summer cheat sheet.
Speaker:So talk a little bit about these,
Speaker:if you would.
Speaker:Sure. One of the things I give my kids in the
Speaker:summer is an activity list and has over 70 fun things
Speaker:that us kids of the seventies and eighties probably did naturally
Speaker:in our summer days.
Speaker:But now with technology,
Speaker:it's a lot more tempting for kids to just sit on
Speaker:a screen all day or watch Netflix.
Speaker:So if my kids are bored,
Speaker:I'll say,
Speaker:go do something off of your list.
Speaker:They each have the list on a clipboard and they keep
Speaker:it in their room and they just peruse it and look
Speaker:for something that they'd like to do.
Speaker:So what kinds of things are on the list?
Speaker:It's like make a bird feeder or make an obstacle course
Speaker:and time yourself,
Speaker:write a letter to grandma,
Speaker:ask your mom what you can help her with.
Speaker:Well, that sounds a little self-serving,
Speaker:but I love it.
Speaker:Well, it's a good training thing To ask for kids to
Speaker:ask how they can help.
Speaker:Perfect. How about his jumping rope on there?
Speaker:I believe it is.
Speaker:It's all just that stuff.
Speaker:Make a Fort for your army guys.
Speaker:Little things that we did and kids do,
Speaker:but sometimes just a reminder of,
Speaker:Hey, let's have a paper,
Speaker:airplane contest.
Speaker:I want that list.
Speaker:Can I be a child for like a couple of days,
Speaker:one day,
Speaker:Friday. So I can go on the field trip day or
Speaker:fun trip.
Speaker:Yeah, the fun trip.
Speaker:Yeah. So I have that as A free principle and I
Speaker:do have one for teenagers and younger kids.
Speaker:That's in a course that I'm launching,
Speaker:but the one for school agers,
Speaker:I have free on my site.
Speaker:If anyone wants to download that and print it and you
Speaker:can always have your kids and make their own as well,
Speaker:or make a big,
Speaker:huge family list where you all brainstorm these kinds of things
Speaker:together and just have it on a huge chart somewhere.
Speaker:Okay. And what about the summer cheat sheets?
Speaker:Okay. The cheat sheets are something I came up with because
Speaker:I had some people say,
Speaker:well, can you just do it for me?
Speaker:And so this is also the teaching background.
Speaker:I love doing this kind of stuff.
Speaker:So every week in your inbox,
Speaker:you'll get an email.
Speaker:And in that is a theme for the week.
Speaker:So it might be the beach or the zoo.
Speaker:And then you get themed activities for the kids,
Speaker:one crackpot meal,
Speaker:and I hate to cook.
Speaker:So it's like a four or five ingredient dump crackpot meal.
Speaker:So there's three kids' activities.
Speaker:There's a weekly outing suggestion that goes with the theme,
Speaker:a business challenge for mom and then three easy snacks and
Speaker:lunch ideas that most schoolagers can make on their own.
Speaker:And then there's a shopping list for all of the activities
Speaker:in the foods so that you can just go to the
Speaker:store, buy the stuff everything's printed out,
Speaker:kid-friendly with pictures and very easy steps so that they can
Speaker:do it themselves.
Speaker:Oh my gosh,
Speaker:Robin, that sounds awesome.
Speaker:I love that.
Speaker:And so the link that you've given me is to sign
Speaker:up, to get those weekly emails.
Speaker:Yes, I do have a free sample one.
Speaker:If anyone wants to check it out first,
Speaker:before they purchase,
Speaker:just to see if it's something that they'd even be interested
Speaker:in. And I do have to say as a disclaimer,
Speaker:for all of the summer things for your kids are used
Speaker:to being able to run in at any time,
Speaker:have you at their Beck and call any of this stuff.
Speaker:We'll take some baby step guidance and training to get them
Speaker:to do these things on their own.
Speaker:So there's a little bit of an adjustment period.
Speaker:You'd say,
Speaker:Well, yeah,
Speaker:if your kids never clean up after themselves for lunch and
Speaker:you always make them every part of their lunch and serve
Speaker:it to them,
Speaker:them making it all on their own,
Speaker:we'll take some,
Speaker:there will be a learning curve.
Speaker:I bet the like that.
Speaker:And you know,
Speaker:that ability to be independent and all that.
Speaker:I think kids feel so proud of themselves when they can
Speaker:make their own food.
Speaker:So give biz listeners,
Speaker:I'm going to have the link to both the free printable,
Speaker:which has all of those activities.
Speaker:I'm just curious what all of those are.
Speaker:I think there'll be memories coming back.
Speaker:And then also the link to let's just do the sample,
Speaker:the example one.
Speaker:So they can see that.
Speaker:And then you guys can decide if this is something that
Speaker:would be helpful for you moving into the summer.
Speaker:Those will be over on the show notes page,
Speaker:but for now I want to move into our reflection section
Speaker:and Robin,
Speaker:this is a look at you specifically,
Speaker:but it's a way for our listeners also to see if
Speaker:they have similar traits as you,
Speaker:and to get some tips from you in terms of productivity
Speaker:and all of that.
Speaker:If there was one trait that you have that you think
Speaker:you've really called upon to help you be successful,
Speaker:what would that be?
Speaker:I would say being a connector communicator,
Speaker:I have always been chatty and gotten the social butterfly stamp
Speaker:from the teachers.
Speaker:But I love just talking with women,
Speaker:chatting, communicating,
Speaker:connecting. I love that.
Speaker:And it's always been something that's come naturally Wonderful because that
Speaker:serves you so well in the business world.
Speaker:I hear so many people who are,
Speaker:Oh, I'm an introvert.
Speaker:You know,
Speaker:I could never go to a network meeting,
Speaker:stand up and talk in front of people,
Speaker:but you are one of the lucky ones who doesn't feel
Speaker:that way.
Speaker:You're the opposite.
Speaker:And it serves you well,
Speaker:thank you.
Speaker:Is there a tool that you use regularly to help you
Speaker:stay productive or to create balance in your life over and
Speaker:above the ones you've created?
Speaker:Of course,
Speaker:this is,
Speaker:I was late to the game and Google like Google drive
Speaker:and my high schooler about a year ago said,
Speaker:why are you not using Google for your business?
Speaker:And I said,
Speaker:well, I'm not even sure what it is.
Speaker:And as soon as she told me that you don't have
Speaker:to manually save your documents.
Speaker:I was sold What?
Speaker:I'm not going to lose it.
Speaker:All right.
Speaker:How many documents did you lose in the past?
Speaker:Oh gosh.
Speaker:Remember back in the day,
Speaker:when you would do a college paper and something would happen
Speaker:and you would lose everything.
Speaker:Oh gosh.
Speaker:Or even like a power shutdown or something.
Speaker:Anything. Yeah.
Speaker:So I loved it for My conference.
Speaker:I use Google forms and that was wonderful.
Speaker:How you could make a professional looking form.
Speaker:And then all of the information you can with one push
Speaker:of a button can go into a spreadsheet that you can
Speaker:share and edit for me.
Speaker:I know other people have been using this a long time,
Speaker:but it's really been a help.
Speaker:If I find something online or I need to copy and
Speaker:paste something,
Speaker:I just start a new document and plug it in there
Speaker:and move on Google drive and all the Google docs that
Speaker:are within Google drive.
Speaker:So check that out,
Speaker:everybody, if you don't know what we're talking about,
Speaker:is there a book that you've read lately that you think
Speaker:our listeners could find value in?
Speaker:It is specific to parenting and I'm very lucky to have
Speaker:very wonderful teenagers,
Speaker:but I read the book and it's kind of a funny
Speaker:title. Yes.
Speaker:Your teen is crazy by Michael J.
Speaker:Bradley and it's loving your kid without losing your mind.
Speaker:And someone said,
Speaker:read it before you have any teen troubles.
Speaker:Don't wait until there's issues.
Speaker:So I read it just out of curiosity and it's just
Speaker:been a really insightful read.
Speaker:And just a reminder that teenagers are their brains are not
Speaker:fully formed.
Speaker:I like the way you worded that.
Speaker:Perfect. Give biz listeners just as you're listening to the podcast
Speaker:today, you can also listen to audio books with ease.
Speaker:I've teamed up with audible for you to be able to
Speaker:get an audio book,
Speaker:possibly like yes,
Speaker:your teen is crazy for free.
Speaker:All you need to do is go to gift biz,
Speaker:book.com and make a selection.
Speaker:That's gift biz book.com.
Speaker:Okay. Robin,
Speaker:if there's one single place,
Speaker:someone right now real quick wants to check you out.
Speaker:Where would you send them a website,
Speaker:a Facebook page,
Speaker:just one place.
Speaker:Where should they go?
Speaker:My website has the most information and has a lot of
Speaker:links. My Facebook group though,
Speaker:is where you would get support and you'd get loved on.
Speaker:Okay, perfect.
Speaker:If that's more what you're looking at,
Speaker:you know what someone's looking for?
Speaker:Okay. So the website is women's business workshop.com
Speaker:and your group.
Speaker:What's the name of the group Name?
Speaker:Women's business workshop.
Speaker:Beautiful, Nice and easy.
Speaker:All right.
Speaker:And as you all know,
Speaker:there is a show notes page that will be connected up
Speaker:and I'll have all the other information,
Speaker:including the links to those two freebies that we were talking
Speaker:about earlier and everything else that you want to know about
Speaker:Robin. Now,
Speaker:Robin, I'd like to invite you to dare to dream.
Speaker:I'd like to present you with a virtual gift.
Speaker:It's a magical box containing unlimited possibilities for your future.
Speaker:So this is your dream or your goal of almost unreachable
Speaker:Heights that you would wish to obtain.
Speaker:Please accept this gift and open it in our presence.
Speaker:What is inside your box?
Speaker:Well, it would have to be a very large box,
Speaker:but what I would always dream about is having a cabin
Speaker:in the woods on a Lake that is just for me
Speaker:and my business.
Speaker:So I can go there.
Speaker:I can work.
Speaker:There's a Facebook live backdrop that I can use.
Speaker:There's a fully stocked kitchen.
Speaker:Maybe we'll throw in a chef.
Speaker:And that is my getaway space.
Speaker:I could have retreats there.
Speaker:I could host workshops,
Speaker:but just a really relaxing comfy space just for work.
Speaker:That sounds fabulous.
Speaker:I can envision it right now and I'm already,
Speaker:there Sounds one.
Speaker:It we'll have coffee on the deck looking out at the
Speaker:Lake. Beautiful.
Speaker:Perfect. Love it.
Speaker:Love it,
Speaker:Robin. Thank you so much.
Speaker:This has been so informative.
Speaker:I know that there are a lot of business moms out
Speaker:there who are going to have such a better summer peaceful
Speaker:laxing. The kids are going to be all in line and
Speaker:businesses can continue to grow.
Speaker:Maybe not at the same speed.
Speaker:Maybe you back it up a little bit,
Speaker:so you can enjoy your summer,
Speaker:but with the direction that you've provided and the guidance.
Speaker:And if people take advantage of some of these things that
Speaker:you're offering,
Speaker:I see,
Speaker:you know,
Speaker:we can then as moms with younger children be looking forward
Speaker:to the summer,
Speaker:just like we used to do when we got out Of
Speaker:school, that is such a great point.
Speaker:Do you remember that feeling when you walked out of those
Speaker:school doors?
Speaker:Even if you liked school?
Speaker:Cause I was a kid who likes to go,
Speaker:right? Oh,
Speaker:sure. But you walk out of those school doors for three
Speaker:months in your life or two and a half,
Speaker:whatever. And you're like,
Speaker:freedom. I just got the chills.
Speaker:That is so how I want moms to feel too.
Speaker:Perfect. And you have done a great step.
Speaker:I'd say in helping us all to achieve that by what
Speaker:you've shared with us today.
Speaker:So I appreciate it so,
Speaker:so much.
Speaker:And may your candle always burn bright?
Speaker:Do you know that you should be out networking,
Speaker:but just can't get yourself to do it because it's scary.
Speaker:Are you afraid that you might walk into the room and
Speaker:not know anybody or that you're going to freeze?
Speaker:When you get up to do that infamous elevator speech,
Speaker:where you talk about yourself and your business?
Speaker:Well, I'm here to tell you that it doesn't need to
Speaker:be scary.
Speaker:If you know what to do,
Speaker:help you with this,
Speaker:I would like to offer a coffee chat for the price
Speaker:of buying me a cup of coffee.
Speaker:We can sit down through an online video and I'll tell
Speaker:you everything that I know about networking and how I have
Speaker:personally built.
Speaker:Multi-six figure businesses primarily through networking.
Speaker:You'll walk away with a solid understanding about how networking can
Speaker:truly grow your business.
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Speaker:I T dot L Y forward slash network Ninja today's show
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