The truth is that I have been really stressed, not to mention grumpy. It’s that ebb and flow thing I write about every now and then. It’s not about being positive, perky and fabulous 24/7. That would be just annoying, wouldn’t it?!

Taking care of the kiddos, work, home and all that falls in between has created overwhelm and exhaustion. A lot of life “stuff” all at once so my writing inspiration has felt, well, fuzzy… The stress shifted into overdrive which really created a lack of focus in any area really. Have you ever felt that way?

I came across a post about a self-care challenge at The Young Mommy Life that I am beginning to think found me. It’s a way to take a look at your life and what you are grateful for presently. It’s pretty easy to get caught up in what feels off and wrong instead of focusing on what is positive and valued.

Self-care Challenge: Write 100 Things You are Grateful For

I thought I would just share 25 from my list and in no particular order. 100 is a lot!

1. My hubby and kids

2. Being employed

3. That spring is already in the air

4. That it’s Friday!

5. New opportunities may be just around the corner

6. My health

7. My family is healthy

8. That my little guy told me I am the best mommy in the world last night

9. My kids’ schools and caregivers are filled loving people

10. That my daily commute is opposite heavy commute traffic flow

11. Coffee in the morning

12. Our animals

13. Good friends

14. A deep gut laugh that makes me cry cracking up

15. The Be Positive Mom Community that can relate to the frazzle factor of being a working mom

16. How Facebook keeps me connected to family living far away

17. Life learning and how much I can learn by being open to the new

18. Supportive people in my life

19. My new pink shirt that brightened things up in my wardrobe

20. Working out in the early morning hours

21. That my cat sits close to me when I write

22. Alone time early in the morning before anyone in the house rises

23. Routines in the morning and evening

24. A solid night of sleep (when I get it!)

25. Dinner time with my family

This challenge is an excellent way to gain some perspective when things feel like they just stink. And at times it can feel like that. No one says it’s peaches and cream all the time after all!

Writing is a great way to get feelings and thoughts out.  Even though we are busy and at times overwhelmed, we still have so much to be grateful for in our daily lives.

Go ahead… take the challenge and share with us some of your gratitude!

Copyright © 2010-2012. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.

We both took the day off Thursday to enjoy a birthday breakfast as well as hike our favorite mountain in the Bay Area.

Can’t wait!

I recently heard someone compare being positive and embracing a positive energy/attitude to doing push-ups. To see results, you need to practice and keep practicing continually. The more you practice push-ups, in theory, the stronger you become and you’ll see an increase in your push-up ability as well. Easy enough for the positive stuff, right?

We have thousands of thoughts that run through our minds during any given day. Have you ever taken inventory of your positive, negative or indifferent thoughts? I heard the push-ups to positive comparison and a light went on in my head. I haven’t been truly practicing my positive push-ups lately. Sure I have been getting “me time” and patting myself on the back for my accomplishments along the way.

Aside from all of those important things, I’ve been having a tough week. It has included pangs of negativity about my job and anxiety over my future goals with a dash of self-doubt in the mix. Not fun. It was hard for me to write my Working Mommy Wednesday post this week because I was gravitating to the negative.

So why has it been a week of negative thinking in spite of all the good I can acknowledge? I’ve written about how positive thinking, feeling and living is a continual process. You can’t just do it once and be done. I truly believe that. I also see how not practicing my positive push-ups has made for some squishy muscles lately.

My daily “practicing positive push-ups” suggestions to me (and you, too if you’d like to use them!):

• Evaluate the positive aspects in my life. Fabulous working mom, hard working employee and all-around great person, even if I do say so myself (yeah me!).
• Focus my energy and not let my surroundings take my positive energy from me. That includes being aware of who I surround myself with on a daily basis. Positive people resonate positive energy. On the flip side of that, negativity exudes… well, the negative.
• Break the habit of self-doubt with a practice “push-up” of self-admiration each day.
• Leave myself a note at work to greet me in the morning…. “You’re awesome BABY!” (the note I left last night really says that and it’s on my desk at the office waiting for me).
• Remember life is a marathon, not a sprint. Slow it down, breathe and smile.

My solution is not immediate nor a quick fix because building muscles takes time and practice. I know I may experience some bumps along the way but being authentically positive and happy is worth the daily “push-up” practice.

Tell us how you practice your positive push-ups!

Copyright © 2010 – 2012. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.

Are you thinking about starting a business or trying something new? We all have different things that motivate us to explore the exciting possibilities. Many moms have started new businesses as a way to provide income for their families as well as spend time with their children, especially during the new born years.

Karen from Anna Bean did just that. As a way to stay home with her babies, she started AnnaBean.com when online businesses were up and coming.  Karen is the featured working mom for the month and I’m excited to introduce her to you.

One of the best tips she gives us is to “ask for help” and that can be applied in all aspects of our working mom lives.

Are you wondering what AnnaBean.com is all about? You can find affordable children’s clothing, room decor, bedding, furniture and so much more at Karen’s online store!

As we continue into 2012, I hope you take the time to explore those possibilities. The first step is to take one… and then another and another.  We can do it together!

Enjoy the interview!

___________________________________________________________________________

Since 1997 you have been providing quality “mom gear” and more to your customers, can you take us back to the beginning and share the first steps that got you started?

When I started my business 15 years ago, my main motivation was to be able to stay at home with my kids.  It was an idea that just very gradually came to fruition.

Online businesses weren’t very common when I started, so I basically started from scratch by going to the library. I researched products, suppliers, and learned how to set up my online store. It was a trial and error experience. My first website was designed by a local woman. At that time, customers would have to place their orders over the phone because I didn’t have an online shopping cart.  After this first design, I had my site redesigned so that people could order directly online.

At this point however, the site was not published in real time so every time I wanted to change something I would have to email it in and wait for the company to update it.  Finally, I redesigned my website with the basic Yahoo Store template, which enabled me to publish my site and any updates in real time.  Today, online business owners have such an advantage with all of the resources available on the Internet.

 Do you have tips for moms starting a business while trying to juggle a home and work?

Ask for help! Being a mom is difficult enough all by itself!  One of the things that really helped me find time for work in those first years with my kids was babysit swapping.  Instead of paying to have a babysitter watch my kids for a few hours, I would babysit my friends’ kids with mine for a few hours and then swap off with my friend so that I could get some work done. I would also say having a supportive spouse and a good support system is a necessity. My husband is a local business owner so he understands the everyday demands of running a business.

What are some ways you connect with other business owners outside of social media?

I have a few friends who also own online Yahoo businesses that are very similar to mine and cater to kids or mom products.  Our “Yahoo Sisterhood” meets on a monthly basis for lunch to talk about our businesses and bounce ideas off each other. It’s helpful that we own similar businesses because we can compare what each of us are doing individually and what seems to be working.

Can you share with us some of your planning tips for the New Year and the value planning provides?

For 2012 we decided to start the month of January off with two major month-long sales.  Aside from basic site maintenance and keeping things up to date, this year I went over AnnaBean’s analytics to see what we need to do to keep improving and grow as a company.  This year, we also plan to branch out by adding new products and possibly different types of products than what we normally have carried.  We always add new products periodically throughout the year and I think this gives an advantage because people like to shop at stores that have new things and update their inventory.

How do you fit in “me time” for yourself as you manage so much being a mompreneur?

It definitely gets easier now that the kids are older.  Although, they seem to have a busier social life than me! I think everyone has to make it work for themselves.  Every family is different so it really depends on that.  I try to find a couple of hours here or there to go out and have a date night with my husband.  Finding time is a lot easier when you have a lot of family support. My family has always been there to help me out with the kids or pick up the extra slack when I’ve needed to focus more on work.

___________________________________________________________________________

About Karen:

Karen Fontaine initially launched Anna-Bean in 1997 as a means to stay at home with her then newborn daughter, Anna, and not miss a moment of those formative years. Since then, Anna-Bean has not only grown in family members (second daughter Emily followed three years later) but product categories as well! Quickly becoming a thriving one-stop-boutique-shop, Anna-Bean offers thousands of different items, ranging from baby clothes to nursery decor, toddler raincoats to diaper bags.

While always focusing on offering the newest in children’s fashions, room décor and essential “mom-gear”, Anna-Bean has never lost sight of the importance of merchandise quality and aims at providing convenient online shopping, fair prices and of course, excellent customer service.

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DISCLOSURE

The Working Mom Interviews is brought to you by Be Positive Mom™. This information reflects the author’s experiences, interviews and thoughts about being a working mom, family life, motherhood, parenting and all other topics found within this interview. The people interviewed for The Working Mom Interviews have chosen to remain anonymous unless Be Positive Mom™ received written authorization to use of the interviewee’s name, blog name or likelihood. If authorized, approved contact information is provided within this document.

As the reader of this information, you have assumed responsibility for the application or use of the information provided. The author of this information assumes no responsibility or liability in any way. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or meant as a directive action in any way and is intended for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of your baby’s pediatrician or other qualified health care professionals with any questions you may have regarding you, your baby’s or your family’s needs.

Images found on the Internet and used within this document are believed to be public domain. Be Positive Mom™ and The Working Mom Interviews do not claim any ownership over said images. If you are an owner of an image used within this document and would like it removed, please contact steph@bepositivemom.com and your request will be processed immediately.

Republication or redistribution of content, text, image or personal photos used within this document, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited without prior written consent from the author.

February 2012, Issue Number 2. Stepping into Entrepreneurship. Copyright © 2010-2012. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.

The word “stupid” is one that I’m noticing more and more in cartoons and in kid conversations. Our little guy knows that word is not a good one.

When he does hear it, a “red alert” look comes over his face and he gasps. It’s pretty funny, but a good thing he realizes it’s not a word to use when talking with someone. It’s a word that you’d expect pretty much from a five year old when being taunted.

You wouldn’t exactly expect to hear it from an adult. Or would you?

My “red alert” face went up no too long ago when I was told something I was working on was “stupid”. Yep, by an adult. A professional. That word was dropped right on me. The exact word my son knows is demeaning, yet a grown adult was using it to describe my work.

I do sometimes reference the work world to the liking of kids playing in a sandbox, but it was a shocker none the less.

When I was my son’s age, I was called “stupid” and probably called others the same thing. The gift of growth, experience and maturity provided me the ability to decipher whether or not the person using the word is really describing me (my work) or actually making a statement that reflects more so on… well, him.

Once in a while people let their own 5 year old come out, the mean and nasty one. I’d actually like to see the curious, fun 5 year old come out instead.

Either way, I took a page out of my work life book which is probably written somewhere in this blog!

I practiced the 92 Second Rule and decided not to name call back at him. I will admit that I took my emotions over the whole thing and went for a walk (Get Out And Decompress).

In the end, the project that was called ”stupid” went off without a hitch or at least nothing note worthy. In fact, it’s still live today. No fuss, no muss and really not worth the drama.

What tips can you share for coping with the office naysayer or negative Nelly? 

Copyright © 2011. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.

The Goddess Collective is a forum of women who come together to support each other (the collective) and meets once a month in Oakland. I was invited to their event a month or so ago and I am so glad that I attended!

Although I was away from my family for the night, the event was amazing and included Amy Ahlers, best selling author of The Big Fat Lies Women Tell Themselves as well as SARK. I absolutely loved being able to meet Amy, especially after completing a review of her book on the heels of what turned out to be a very successful book launch for her… Click here to learn more about the book!

If you are wondering who SARK is… Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy, I was too until Wednesday night. As the keynote speaker, SARK was radiant, hilarious and inspired the large group of women (and some men). While I don’t want this to sound like a review, I would like to also introduce you to SARK! Her message is touching and beautiful.

Our time is precious and how we spend that ”me time” is so very important. My evening out with the women of The Goddess Collective nourished my soul and taught me many new things. It was also pretty cool to meet these fabulous women!

Have you attended any local events lately?

Or, would you spend an evening away to meet with other working moms or women in business?

Copyright © 2010-2012. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.

My Top 5 Career Teaching Moments

The Cardiac Arrest Breakfast with a Side Order of Divorce
One of my first corporate jobs was at a start-up. Well, it was a start-up that had just gone public and still operated like one. People worked 7am to 7pm and on weekends. Holidays included work and I even planned an off-site that a VP insisted began on Father’s Day Sunday. Yep, Father’s Day. Shortly before I left the company, I witnessed the toll that pace can have on a person.

Of the 5 directors in my department, all but one were in the midst of divorce proceedings. One director started to have heart issues due to extreme working hours, poor diet and no exercise.

Lesson Learned: Hard work and commitment are a must, but killing yourself or your marriage doesn’t have to be part of the package.

The Broom Closet
I answered the phone at an office job incorrectly one morning. My mistake was assuming the Office Manager was not in when she had been there since 6:30am that morning. The problem was that I told her boss who was on the phone that she wasn’t there and took a message. When I was asked to speak with my manager and she led me unwittingly into the broom closet, I had no idea that I was about to be read the riot act for answering the phone incorrectly and reduced to tears.

The closet incident was a reflection on her being over stressed and acting out in her “power” position. The ironic thing was after leaving the company, I learned she was demoted and later let go.

Lesson Learned: No matter how stressed you are at work, there’s no excuse for taking your anger or frustration out on a co-worker or someone who works for you.

There’s Always Room for Laughter
When I was pregnant, I laughed hysterically. I was one of those women who had the hormonal funny bone that went crazy once in a while during pregnancy. At a really tense moment in a meeting with 2 men, I literally lost it with laughter. My manager who was stern and  mad started laughing because I couldn’t stop and then the second guy started laughing, too. I had to leave the meeting and compose myself.

Lesson Learned: Laughter is good, even in business.

Lead By Example
Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? As a manager, you are the example. I once had a manager who was the office gossip, hands down. Yet, constantly told the staff to let things roll off your back, don’t engage in the rumor mill and walk away from the battles. What did he do? Engaged and battled. Needless to say, the respect factor lacked and the reputation of that manager was really tarnished by his own actions.

Lesson Learned: Actions truly do speak louder than words.

“Those” Days Will Happen
Once in a while, I have a day that a wrench gets tossed into the mix, the stress overwhelms and my attitude stinks. It happens. No matter how good the attitude, how strong the affirmation or what the circumstance, a bad day is simply a bad day. One of the biggest lessons I’ve taken away from all of these years as a professional, I can find some good in each day.

It doesn’t mean all of the days are good, but with a simple hug, a kiss or smile, what feels like a crappy day can turn with a fabulous moment…

Now that is a lesson worth learning.

What career lessons have you learned along the way?

Working Mommy Wednesday theme this week:

What events from your past have helped formed the professional you are today?

Copyright © 2010 – 2012. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved. 

What were you doing?  What did you want then?  How did it feel? Scary, exciting or cool? Maybe you were graduating college or working a full-time job. You may have already had a baby or about to get married.

I can remember being in college and feeling unsure about what I wanted to do once I graduated.

Being in Silicon Valley, graduation meant going into a corporate job. What else would I do, right?

Now fast forward to today. What does that picture look like?

The mid 30s, 40s and sometimes 50s can trigger this thing we have coined a “mid-life crisis”. True that looking back at the shoulda, coulda, woulda is not exactly the healthiest thing for the psychie. We can’t change the past, but we can learn so much from it. I used to see silver-haired men driving around in fancy cars and think that guy must be having a mid-life crisis.

Or, when an executive throws in the towel and shifts gears to a completely different job path. I’ve seen it happen. Or, a working mom changes careers to spend more time with her child. It’s not necessarily the “mid-life crisis” we are so used to tossing around. Believe me, I’ve done it.

I’ve come to realize recently… it’s a mid-life consciousness.

It’s the time in life when your experience leads you to a point that you realize you want to do something different and make a change. It’s that time when you know what you wanted at the age of 21 is a far cry from what you desire at 30 or 40-something. It probably doesn’t happen to everyone, but you know when it is happening to you. It’s a good thing!

Making a change is scary. Doing something different from what others think you should do is taxing. It may be others don’t understand the meaning it has in your life or they want a change as well, but afraid to go for it themselves. Who knows..

Creating something that is in line with your mid-life consciousness and passion is exciting, isn’t it?

When I think back to the college years which I am grateful to have had the opportunity to attend, I remember telling the career counselor how hard it was picking a major. I remember asking, “How can I pick a major and career at 18 when I have no idea what I want to be when I am 30.” Funny, now at 30-something, I understand even better what I already knew back then.

Our careers provide great opportunities and comforts we are so fortunate to have these days. It doesn’t mean we need to bury the passion we have to explore, learn and accomplish different things. We can fit it in among the rest of the things that keep us busy, like the day job.

When you are passionate about something, you’ll make the time for it.

Copyright © 2010 – 2012. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.

I’m sure you are enjoying your Grey Goose martini, a little dirty, in heaven and causing all kinds of ruckus.

You were your own person, our family rebel and full of life. Full of light.

You were taken too young but, I am thankful you were here for the short time that you were…

The laughter.

The memories.

The lessons.

And our crazy, sister-filled fun.

Happy Birthday to you on your very special day!

Copyright © 2010-2012. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.

While I was getting my pedicure, I was reading Working Mom– Survival Guide by Working Mother magazine. See my book review! The guide is a valuable resource.

The lady who was working on my pedicure and I laughed about squeezing in time to pee, going to work being exhausted and managing the schedule. The book sparked the conversation. Then she told me that her husband died when her kids were 7 and 10 years old. I was completely taken back because I had no idea and at that point, I put my book down.

She lived in Vietnam 20 years ago when he died. She decided to come to America to give her children a new opportunity a few years following his death. I didn’t ask, but I’m guessing it was around the late 80s and she was a single mom, a widow.

She worked on an assembly line in Silicon Valley and when she was laid off from that job, she decided it was time for a new career. She put herself through beauty school.

Her kids are in their 20s now. Her boy is in the Marines and her girl is in college. My synopsis of her story probably does not capture the trials, the heartbreak and obstacles she faced being a working mom, in a new country and in the 80s.

Before I heard her story, she told me this…

“Life can feel hard and be very difficult at times, but

you need to find the things that will make you happy from the inside and will keep you going.

It’s so important.”

I can only imagine in the last 12 years how difficult things were for her and her family. I was in awe though over what she accomplished and how she told me the way you think about things influences what you can do. Our thoughts helps use move forward or they can hold us back. It’s up to us to decide.

I always find the journey that people experience amazing. We all have one and we are all in one now. I know so many stories are out there, too.

Sometimes when we learn about others, it puts things into perspective and can inspire at the same time. That’s exactly what her story did for me.

Copyright © 2012. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.

Today is to honor a person who was a great civil rights leader… Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This federal holiday is just over 25 years old with the first day of observance back in 1986.

Have you ever listened to the “I Have a Dream Speech” from that day in 1963? I listened to his “I Have a Dream” speech many years ago and just listened to it this week.

While I will admit that I am not the biggest history buff around, the message, the movement and the meaning are unbelievably inspiring and came during a time the U.S. was in such civil unrest.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW “I HAVE A DREAM”

I’m off to breakfast and a play date with a friend this morning. I can’t help but pause to honor him and feel thankful for those leaders who made a valuable impact on our lives.

Happy MLK Day!

Copyright © 2010 – 2012. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.

So with my goals and focus set a little thing popped into the equation this week… life. Oh yes, the craze of the first half of the month made me really stressed out this week. Although I write and talk with others about transforming balance and making it my own as a working mom, there’s also that reality of life that sets in and sometimes takes over. I think no matter the plan, person or tips we ALL have this happen.

Much like Clorox says, “Life gets messy, so clean it up.” We can really apply to what we do each day. Some weeks just feel a bit messier.

OK, their tag is meant for the wipes they market but you get the picture!

Typically, Friday is my “take five” day where I share how I took time for myself to re-energize and decompress during the week. I am committed to that… this week, it didn’t really pan out. I was stressed and really just wanted to walk away from what felt like big messes both at work and home. Ever feel like that?

The interesting thing is that when I get to feeling that way, something pops out and usually makes me laugh. A funny way to regain that focus, but it works for me.

I came across a Facebook post from my friend at Working Mom Journal that made me laugh… out loud! I think we were both having the same kind of week.

While no one is advocating punching someone in the face, it’s another reminder that we are not alone as we try to accomplish great things and still experience the stressful days every now and then. Our life journey in the making…

Here’s to a new Friday and restful weekend ahead!

Happy Friday!

New to “Take Five Friday” at Be Positive Mom™?

“Take Five” is a challenge for working moms or moms who just feel overworked to slow it down and do something to rejuvenate after a long week. It can really be done at any time during the week though. The goal is for you to take a break, even if it’s for five minutes…

Get creative and make it happen!

Copyright © 2012. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.

The week before last was completely mellow because I was on vacation. Completely opposite!

As I was thinking about my tips for “balancing” it all, it dawned on me that how tips are applied is pretty situational.

1) When guilt is a factor in any given week, you can practice Kicking The Guilt Habit. Acknowledge it, turn it around and talk about it with others.

2) If it’s a week with that feeling of so much to do and so little time, I consider how multi-tasking can cause more stress and overwhelm. Multi-tasking: A Good Approach or Misconception

3) On occasion, you may wonder how you can deal with the people at work and still head home to a nice evening with your family. We all play a role in the office culture. I take inventory of me and also take note of others in the office. I call it “What’s Your Corporate Personality?“

4) Are you feeling like you can’t “find” the time for you? You won’t find it anywhere since you have to make and take that time for yourself. Self-care is not selfish.. it’s self preservation! Create a Self-care Strategy!

5) Remember that everyone is going to have an opinion… whether you are interested in it or not. We each have our own set of choices to make for our families and careers. No need to justify and there’s always room to agree to disagree. The Choices We Make as working moms belong to us and we can be proud of them each step of the way!

We have new experiences every day. Some good and some not so good. With a few tips for different situations, it will support us as we navigate each day, especially since we know tomorrow won’t be the same as today!

This week’s Working Mommy Wednesday theme:

“What are your “super mom” tips for balancing work and family life?”

If you would like to participate in Working Mommy Wednesday,

join us by connecting with Rachel at Occasional Boredom!

Copyright © 2012. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.

Part of navigating the work world includes keeping our personal information safe as well as staying on top of the latest security measures.

Another thing to manage, right? Well, yes. It’s an important one!

I thought I’d help you out by sharing this informative and funny Cyber Security video from Digitwirl.

If you want to jump ahead to about 3:32, you can catch the recap of the main points. It’s worth 4 minutes though!

Here’s a quick recap you’ll find in the video…

• Lock up your home network
• Activate firewalls
• Run anti-virus software
• Limit what you do on public hotspots and be sure to log-off before you walk away
• Adjust your privacy settings on Facebook
• Set passwords on your phone and computer

Set a monthly reminder in calendar or email system to do a quick check using the list above. You don’t want to give those cyber prowlers easy access to the goods…

Good luck!

Copyright © 2012. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.

Give yourself a pat on the back and don’t forget to “Take Five” (a break!) in honor of you.

“Take Five” is a challenge for working moms or moms who just feel overworked to slow it down and do something to rejuvenate after a long week. It can really be done at any time during the week though. The goal is for you to take a break, even if it’s for five minutes…

 Here’s my “Take Five Friday” for this week:

A date with my hubby. It seems like the stars align and planets literally move for us to get a night out to ourselves. Yet, it’s so important. This weekend we will get some time away so we can head to our favorite restaurant out in Monterey. If you’ve been to Cannery Row in California, you know it is a beautiful place. One of our favorites.

The funny thing is when we are away from the kids, we talk about them! Sound familiar?

Either way, it’s a way to enjoy time together, reconnect and actually have a meal without food flying. I don’t think me dropping food on myself counts as flying

Quick tip: It may seem like you need to move mountains to get a sitter lined up or sneak away for an afternoon, but once you head out that door, it’s time for you to relax and enjoy. We all deserve a break!

Find your moment and take five. Something fun, something different and something that will make you smile!

Share with us!

How did you “take five” this week?

New to “Take Five Friday” at Be Positive Mom™?

“Take Five” is a challenge for working moms or moms who just feel overworked to slow it down and do something to rejuvenate after a long week. It can really be done at any time during the week though. The goal is for you to take a break, even if it’s for five minutes…

Get creative and make it happen!

Copyright © 2011 Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.

The store was opened in 1980 by a husband and wife who combined their talents to build a small town success. It was an establishment that was almost iconic to the strip mall it remained in all of that time.

It’s been about 12 years since I was employed there and I still keep in touch with three special ladies from those retail days.

Yesterday I was sitting in a meeting and received a text from my friend telling me the store is closing. The shop that seemed like it’d be there forever is going to close its doors for good on January 31st. Another mom and pop saying “good-bye” to their neighbors and friends.

I went to see them after work since I still live in the area. The store was empty and picked over from the 50% off sale.

As I looked around, I thought of all I learned working there during those five years…

• Entrepreneurship
• Customer Service
• Responsibility
• Teamwork

I got choked up saying good bye, but I was able to tell them “thank you” for the valuable things they taught me a long time ago.

Good bye Fiori’s Hallmark…. thank you!

Copyright © 2012. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved. 

When you look around your office, does anyone stand out? Could it be you?

Gauging an employee’s sense of value can be tricky because we all place value on different things, especially when we are employees. Some companies go to great lengths, even in this economy, to show employees they are valued as people, not just company assets.

• Compensation
• Leadership Interaction
• Advancement Opportunities
• Paid Sick Leave– READ More on This Topic>> Working Mother’s  Taking a Temperature on US Paid Sick Leave
• Recognition Programs
• Health Benefits
• Communication– stating goals and strategic plans through meetings, emails, notes, etc.

All of these items play an important role in workplace morale. We play a role in it as well.  I came across an interesting study from Make Their Day- Employee Recognition That Works. Taken in 2010, the results indicated that people felt less valued than the year prior. No surprise there.

Why did the survey group feel less valued?

You may think it was compensation, benefits or work overload. Not exactly.

Employees felt less valued as a result of the behavior of their manager. In this particular survey, it boiled down to the relationship the employee had with the manager. Employees didn’t feel valued when the manager didn’t seem to care.

Synergy, motivation and engagement are a result of the relationships we have with our colleagues. If the combination is there, achievement can reach new heights. If it’s lacking, then it’s likely the outcome will be as well.

Whether we are in a corporate environment, work from home or own a business, the relationships we build with others is the most important piece to the “value” puzzle.

What makes you feel valued at work?

This week’s Working Mommy Wednesday theme:

“Describe how a company can prove they value you as an employee.”

If you would like to participate in Working Mommy Wednesday,

join us by connecting with Rachel at Occasional Boredom!

Copyright © 2012. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.

I hope you are ringing in the New Year with a fun celebration! Celebrating the little wins along the way will keep us motivated in the year to come. Just the other day I tweeted my excitement over figuring out some code on my blog. Silly it seems, but hey a small win!

With celebrating those small wins in mind, I asked my friend Grace Marshall from “across the pond” to share with us her productivity tips for the New Year. We set our goals and now it’s time to move them forward with purpose. She also included information to help us get ”over” the overwhelm and more!

Grace is a working mum of two from England and a life coach. She is kicking off the 2012 Working Mom Interview Series with strategies just for busy moms and starting us off on the right foot as we transform that balancing act between career and motherhood.

Cheers to the New Year and enjoy the interview! 

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Tell us about “Connecting you to your Clarity, Confidence and Calling”.

Ah, the strapline on my website. Actually, these were the three things I lost touch with when I first became a mom. My focus was so fixed on my baby and his needs, that I forgot about myself. I lost touch with who I was, and ended up second-guessing my decisions, questioning my judgement and doubting my ability as a mother.

My story is not an uncommon one, and in any job, especially the wonderful, demanding, frustrating and rewarding job that is motherhood, these three things are precisely what we need to do it well.

Six years later with another child and a coaching business, that’s what I’m passionate about helping my clients with. Whether they hire me to work with them on productivity, work life balance, motivation and mindset or business strategy, it all links in to clarity, confidence and calling (i.e. a strong sense of identity and purpose).

What are some useful productivity tips busy working moms can kick off 2012 with and apply throughout the year?

I would start with getting clear about what productivity means to you. When we’re busy, it’s often tempting to focus on just getting as much done as we possibly can, and yet we can get to the end of a busy day and wonder what exactly we’ve achieved. There’s a video on my blog that talks about what to do when you find yourself busy being busy.

Productivity is not simply about how much we do, but what we do. In fact, our actions will only feel productive if they are purposeful and personally meaningful. You could say the difference between productivity and busyness is taking meaningful action.

That’s why it’s always good to be clear about your purpose and your goal. It helps you to direct your focus and be selective about what you do. It helps you to identify what matters most, rather than just react to whoever shouts the loudest!

Clarity is always the first port of call in any journey, and the first chapter in my Productivity Profits Guide. You don’t have to see the whole staircase before you get started, but it would help if you could see the first step. Just as you would make sure you have at least a clear windscreen before driving a car.

Be clear about your ‘why’ too – why you’re choosing to pursue a particular goal, why it’s important to you, why it matters. It’s one of the vital ingredients to setting powerful goals that keep you motivated and persisting even in challenging times.

How can we get over the overwhelm in the New Year?

I did a teleseminar on overwhelm recently and this topic resonated with lots of moms. Here are three of my tips.

Keep it simple. If you’ve set lots of goals or have lots of ideas you want to get stuck into, pick one to focus on first and get it off the ground before diving into the next.

Focus on action: If you’re pursuing a goal that is overwhelmingly big, scary or complex, then make it actionable by breaking it into bite size chunks. I call these baby steps that move mountains in my special “Yes You Can!” report.

Great things can be accomplished by taking tiny steps every day in the right direction. A mammoth task, however big or complex, can be broken down into lots of small, manageable, achievable steps. This way you can concentrate on taking action one bite at a time, rather than get stuck in overwhelm.

Pep talk: Notice what you are telling yourself. Overwhelm is essentially a feeling, and feelings are influenced by our thoughts. What thoughts are leading you to feel overwhelmed? Thoughts such as “I haven’t got enough time… There’s too much to do… I can’t…” might not be very helpful, however true they might seem. Reframing your thoughts to “This is how much time I have. This is what I can do in that time. This is what I will do / choose to do in that time” can be much more helpful in empowering us to take action rather than be stuck in overwhelm.

Can you share your top timesaver tip for moms?

Take time to think. When we’ve got a lot on our plate, it’s natural to just keep rushing as fast as we can to get it all done. It may feel counter-intuitive to stop, but that can save us so much time, energy, headaches and heartaches!

Take the time to take stock and plan ahead with some simple questions, such as:

• What am I doing?
• What do I need to make it happen?
• What can I put in place to make it easier for myself?
• Does it need to be done (now)?

This can help you identify ways of taking the pressure off exceptionally busy times, for example, getting some things ready the night before, so that you can get out the door on a busy morning with less stress. It can also help you make the most of your time, so that when the kids are finally at school and you’ve finally got a window of time to focus, you can get on with your work rather than waste time thinking of what you need to do. And when you are clearer and more focused about what you’re doing, you are less likely to go round in circles, get distracted or get carried away.

As a busy mompreneur, how do you fit “me time” into the schedule?

The only way I ever have “me time” is if I make time for it. If I wait until everything else is done, or try to fit it into ‘spare time’, it never happens! There’s always more to do, that’s just the way life is.

The key for me is to value “me time” as a necessity rather than a luxury. It plays a vital part in all areas of my life. It keeps me well, fuels my energy and gives me perspective. It helps me to think clearly, work faster and laugh more. It means I can give the best of who I am to my kids, my husband, my clients, friends, colleagues and others around me.

For example I love to sing. Sometimes the opportunity comes up and I will negotiate, juggle and plan work and family things to fit around singing. This doesn’t mean that singing is more important than family or work, it just means that it is all part of what’s important. There’s always give and take and that’s quite a learning process.

Of course, things come up, plans come unstuck and life happens, so making “me time” happen can be hit and miss sometimes. With all things, I try and take the opportunities when they come, commit to seeing them through when I can, and learn to embrace plan B when things change.

So tell me about your “Yes You Can” report?

It’s called “Yes You Can! Top Ten Ways to Grow a Successful Business without Compromising Your Family” and I wrote it to share some of my strategies with moms who are juggling business and family (except on my site you’ll see I refer to ‘mums’ as that’s what we say across the pond!)

I’ve had some great feedback from moms who have been really encouraged, equipped and inspired to grow their own successful, profitable business at the same time as raising a happy healthy family.

You can get it free over at http://grace-marshall.com/yesyoucan/ – I’d love to know what you think!___________________________________________________________________________

About Grace:

Grace Marshall is a life and business coach who lives in England with her husband and two children. She is passionate about doing life, motherhood and business on your own terms. If you’re juggling business and family, get her top ten tips free at http://grace-marshall.com/yesyoucan

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DISCLOSURE

The Working Mom Interviews is brought to you by Be Positive Mom™. This information reflects the author’s experiences, interviews and thoughts about being a working mom, family life, motherhood, parenting and all other topics found within this interview. The people interviewed for The Working Mom Interviews have chosen to remain anonymous unless Be Positive Mom™ received written authorization to use of the interviewee’s name, blog name or likelihood. If authorized, approved contact information is provided within this document.

As the reader of this information, you have assumed responsibility for the application or use of the information provided. The author of this information assumes no responsibility or liability in any way. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or meant as a directive action in any way and is intended for informational purposes only. Please seek the advice of your baby’s pediatrician or other qualified health care professionals with any questions you may have regarding you, your baby’s or your family’s needs.

Images found on the Internet and used within this document are believed to be public domain. Be Positive Mom™ and The Working Mom Interviews do not claim any ownership over said images. If you are an owner of an image used within this document and would like it removed, please contact steph@bepositivemom.com and your request will be processed immediately. 

Republication or redistribution of content, text, image or personal photos used within this document, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited without prior written consent from the author.

January 2012, Issue Number 1. Connecting Productivity with Purpose in 2012. Copyright © 2010-2012. Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.

Here’s my “Take Five Friday” for this week:

If you read my 3 P’s this week, you know I am a goals grabber, planner and action taker. That doesn’t mean I don’t take a break or relax once in a while. Heck, even the most energetic or driven people take a break on occasion to avoid burn-out. We need to…

I received a comment from Blessing at Working Mom Journal about her goals in the new year I wanted to share (note: goals, not resolutions!). She listed her 3 F’s… goals that involve  family, finances and fitness.

So let’s talk fitness. I am starting to see more ads for gyms, weight loss programs and resources for all of those weight loss resolutions. I also happened to stumble across a stat about the length of time it takes to form a habit… 14-21 days to be exact.

I’ve always included fitness into my life, even before kids. Now that I am a working mom, fitness is important to me because my family needs me to stay healthy and it just feels good to exercise. I know not everyone enjoys exercising though, but small steps are a way to form new habits. Our fitness regimen is no different!

I was off work over the holiday week so I took time out to go for walks. During a regular work week, it’s too dark and cold to take the kids out when we get home. This week was different so I took advantage of the daylight time and took the “me time”to enjoy the cool outdoor air.

Quick tip: Fitness doesn’t have to entail a lengthy workout regimen or a trip to the gym. A brisk 10-15 minute walk, stretch it out for 5 minutes or climb the stairs instead of using the elavator counts, too. A fitness step each and every day will turn into a habit you enjoy in no time… within 14-21 days as they say!

If skipping makes you happy, then add some pep to your step! I’m sure at the very least it will give you a laugh

Find your moment and take five. Something fun, something different and something that will make you smile!

Share with us!

How did you take a break this week?

New to “Take Five Friday” at Be Positive Mom™?

“Take Five” is a challenge for working moms or moms who just feel overworked to slow it down and do something to rejuvenate after a long week. It can really be done at any time during the week though. The goal is for you to take a break, even if it’s for five minutes…

Get creative and make it happen!

Copyright © 2011 Be Positive Mom™. All rights reserved.