Mom Entrepreneurs - How to lead by example and model what you learn

By: Kim DeYoung

As women we get to know ourselves and grow in our relationship to others. That's why women tend to lead -- not by words alone -- but through our example and by modeling what we learn. This is the kind of leadership that's most impactful because it's accomplished day in and day out.

At some point in our lives we are all leaders especially in the minds of our children. The traits we exhibit in business should align and be the same ones we want our children to value. When they have the opportunity to see for themselves what mommy believes in and is doing, what's working and not, and how she deals with it and moves on and grows...that makes a tremendous impact. Often better than anything you can directly say.

It's not just at home where your example and model is needed. Most likely there are women that are in your team, are part of your direct sales organization, or who look to you to take the lead in a mastermind or networking program. How can you to take on a leadership role, learn to enjoy it and thrive?

Who You Are BE-ing?

The key to being a leader is exactly that -- who you're BE-ing. This is something that I address frequently since people want to follow those that are attractive. Think about the qualities of leaders that you admire -- their focus, vision, character, initiative, communication, commitment, competence, self-discipline and passion.

When you model these leadership qualities it makes it easy for others to duplicate what they see. Beyond qualities, success in business and in life also requires skills. Take a look at the following list of skills that fantastic leaders (and parents) model. Then read the action tip for practical suggestions on enhancing your natural ability as a leader.

Natural Leaders (and parents)...

Care about helping others and being of service

ACTION TIP - When you step out of your own personal focus and begin asking how you can be of service to others, that's when true leadership emerges. When I started in my first business I "needed" to earn an income and was internally focused on that. That's what others felt when they were around me. That was not very attractive. When I turned my attention to what other's needed, everything shifted. Stop and notice when things aren't going smoothly. Ask yourself, "Where's my focus?" Are open to learning

ACTION TIP - You can't just rely on past knowledge and experience. Natural leaders see the need to continually put good information in. One way to do this is by starting each day reading something positive. This thirst for knowledge is something that your children will naturally absorb. Take the time to follow and learn from those you admire. In the words of Debbie Ford in her book The Dark Side of the Light Chasers, "If you can see it in someone else you've got it in yourself. "Attract other leaders

ACTION TIP - You can't be a leader if you're hidden in the shadows. Be on the lookout to share with sincerity and enthusiasm what you know works especially with beginner work at home moms. What's really great to see are the "potential" leaders that will gravitate to you as a result. You'll also enhance your children's leadership abilities that they can put into practice whether they're in kindergarten or college.Don't make excuses

ACTION TIP - Someone shared with me a powerful idea, "you can make excuses or you can make money, but you can't do both." When your head is in a negative place of excuse-making you literally can't see anything better yourself, your brain shuts opportunities down. When you make that shift, stop making excuses and see the smallest possibility, you're able to think of what small step you can do and you can begin to move forward.Find ways to make things happen

ACTION TIP - Leaders are proactive rather than reactive. This might mean making calls vs. relying solely on emails to communicate with your customers. This also means you take the initiative and always follow-upBrush themselves off when they go through a flat spot

ACTION TIP - It's not that leaders don't get upset, but they don't let it linger. Develop the tools to dust yourself off and get going again. This might mean spending some time analyzing your mindset. Attitude is everything.

Some of these skills might seem natural to you and some might require more effort. I really believe that we can all be leaders in different ways. Every time you encourage, inspire or support someone, be it a business partner or your child, you're displaying leadership.

As a parent you always wonder, "Can I trust that in the choices I make -- even if I make mistakes along the way -- I'll be teaching my kids through modeling?" In a recent conversation with my 10-year old daughter about career choices, I felt compelled to share with her that I was still on a journey that always includes following my heart and my gut. To me that's the most important lesson I can teach her.

Take a moment and reflect on what lessons you'd like to help your children to learn. Think about the advice you share with your friends and colleagues. If you're modeling what you teach then you'll be an inspiring and natural leader.

How Cute Are Baby Girl Dresses

By: Mitch Hampson

That day can sneak up on you if you're not careful. That moment of truth when you at long last meet that human being whose existence takes priority over yours. It's far too late to attempt to back out now. That little lady, squinting and grunting in your arms is all yours. At this point it's your responsibility to care for her appropriately and make sure she's contented. It's without a doubt a lengthy road ahead, but you knew what you were getting into. Luckily the sight of her miniature face immediately put your mind at ease. She's the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen, and currently your life will in no way ever be the same. That's pretty much the feeling the majority of parents get when they set eyes on their newborn. Even though they in no way contemplated it in the past, they currently harbor a stronger love for someone other than themselves. This is a typical parental response. All of a sudden it's all about that little child. What crib to set up, how hot must the bottle be, does she have sufficient clothes on, and what baby girl dresses seem to be the cutest? Get ready!

How many times have you been shopping for baby girl dresses? Do you venture out to the shopping malls on a almost weekly basis in order to peruse the department stores? Or perhaps you proceed directly to the specialty shops that merely supply baby girl dresses and toys. These have a tendency to run a little high in my experience. I have to say that my wife and I hit up to the city center baby shops and were astounded by the high costs. We looked at a small number of baby girl dresses for our daughter, but can't pronounce they were worth the preposterous price tag. I mean come on, 85 bucks for a dress that your toddler will be dressed in for a couple of months? They grow up astoundingly quick at that age. It seems somewhat stupid to blow so much hard cash on garments that they can simply take pleasure in for a short period of time. If it was throughout their teenage years, at least they might be grateful for it more. If you are in search of quality baby girl dresses lacking the eye-bulging price label, there are other places to shop. The World-Wide-Web is a perfect place to surf for baby girl dresses. Not merely do they have a enormous range of apparel online, but they also offer comparison sites. This way you can do a contrast of stores and prices. Obtain the most superb baby girl dresses, but at the most sensible prices. Hop on your home pc and check out the variety now.

Some Tips For Preserving Your Baby Girl Dresses

By: Joshua Poyoh

Perhaps one of the most treasured items a mother may save will be her daughter's baby girl dresses. Many moms dress their babies up in the frilliest of dresses knowing that one day they may prefer jeans. These dresses can be saved for a lifetime of memories.

While many moms like to save the very first in a long line of baby girl dresses, there are other dresses they may wish to save as well. Perhaps some of the cutest dresses their little girls may wear are christening, flower girl, or ones worn on special holidays such as the first Christmas or birthday.

A professional can carefully preserve these dresses or you can do it yourself by simply wrapping your girl dresses in acid free tissue paper and storing them away. It is always a good idea to find a container that will repel moths, as they can be the death of any garment.

When planning to store your little girl dresses for the future, make sure they are professionally cleaned first, much like you would do for a wedding dress before you slip it into the closet. Some cleaners can package the dress for you in a box or a garment bag that will help preserve the integrity of the garment.

These dresses can be passed down to your daughter one day when she has children of her own. She may wish to she her daughter wear one of her old baby dresses, or may cherish that you have saved it all that time as a reminder of when she was young.

Special dresses life flower girl dresses can be used from generation to generation, much like wedding dresses. Choosing simple yet beautiful baby girl dresses will ensure they will be loved and cherished for generations to come.

If you have a ton of baby girl dresses that you can't part with, it may be unrealistic to keep them all boxed up and saved for the future. It may be painful for you to watch or do yourself, but you can have the dresses cut up and made into a quilt. I

f you are into quilting, you can easily do this yourself. If not, there are places you can go to have someone make them for you. You may not have the entire dress left, but you will have a lifelong reminder of the beautiful baby girl dresses your little one once wore.

Whether you choose to preserve a few dresses, or to turn your baby girl dresses into a treasured keepsake quilt, you are keeping the memory of your babies alive and well. As they grow, they may irritate you, rebel against you, or try to run away from you, but you always have those baby girl dresses to remind you that under all of their teen angst, they will always be your little girl.

Cooking For Children – important tips to make your dishes more attractive.

By: Bunty Khimta

Meal times so easily become a battle field when we are cooking for little ones. We spend hours preparing a nutritious meal but it all ends in tears with a toddler tantrum at the tea table.

Are there any simple guidelines we can follow when cooking for little ones? I would say after many years of experience and many tantrums, mine as well as the kids, that it is possible to take some of the tension out of cooking for little ones.

My first rule when cooking for little ones is don't cook. Or at least cook less. Children love raw foods and they are very healthy. Keep some cut up carrot sticks in the fridge. Washed, peeled and sliced into finger sized pieces they make an excellent snack.With a little houmous, or peanut butter maybe, they are extremely nutritious. Raw food really is good for children.

On the same principle why not try homemade smoothies. They can be prepared in advance and kept in the fridge. This is one of the simplest ways of getting children to eat fresh fruit and vegetables. You can also turn smoothies into a kind of ice pop by freezing them. They are lower in sugar than commercially available products.

A thing we easily forget when cooking for little ones is that they have small stomachs. They need to eat little and often. The large meals we habitually prepare for adults are just too much for children. They simply cannot wait four hours from one meal to another. You need to have lots of healthy food in small portions ready to hand.

When it comes to the main family meals the single biggest problem is vegetables. So many small children will not eat vegetables, especially green vegetables. The answer is to get creative. Sauces exist for a reason. Broccoli was surely made for garlic butter or cheese sauce.

Some people will object that children will not eat garlic. But if they are introduced to it slowly they will. It will soon become a favourite and it is very healthy. The same is true of cheeses.It is worth introducing children to variety of cheeses. They might not like them all but they will develop a taste for some. Cheese is a valuable source of calcium and vitamin D which are important to growth of strong bones and teeth.

It is important to introduce children to what we think of as "adult" tastes because that is the way to ensure that their diet is varied. You will also avoid the trap that so many parents fall into of having to cook two meals. One word of warning here: when cooking for little ones never add salt. Salt is very bad for babies and small children.

Many of the problems associated with cooking for little ones can be overcome by cooking with little ones rather than just cooking for little ones. That is to say let them help you in the kitchen. I know that will make twice as much work and twice as much mess, but it will be worth it in the long run. Cooking for little ones should be about introducing them to the world of food and encouraging a healthy relationship with food. It is better for a child to learn that a muffin is something you bake with care and love rather than something you grab in a hurry and eat without thinking. You can guarantee that the peas they have shelled themselves will be eaten and not left on the plate.

Even after we have done all these things there will still be time when the kids simply will not eat the meal you have lovingly prepared. This brings me to what is perhaps the golden rule when cooking for little ones. At this point you must resist the temptation to scream at them and throw dishes across the kitchen. Their refusal to eat is not a reflection on you or your cooking. They are only human and so are you. The best solution is to learn to make soup or keep some chickens in the backyard. They will always eat what you cook. Well, nearly always.