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Dear Readers,
When the idea for Savvy Auntie came to me in the summer of 2007, I gathered a number aunt friends of mine in my living room for cake to share the idea and get their feedback. I wasn't looking to hear whether or not it was a good idea (that much I believed and was committed to). I wanted to get different perspectives to help inspire my next steps in creating this brand.Now, almost three years later, I'm still friendly with these women and they all one by one have told me they can't believe... "You actually did it! And look where you are now! I'm so happy for you!" Of course, that night, they weren't all that supportive. Some who had started businesses of their own were busy telling me what I hadn't done yet (the idea was days old). Others said that identifying as an aunt wasn't important to them (and hey you can't please everyone). But most drank their tea, ate a homemade cupcake, wished me luck and went home.What if that was it? What if that night was a lovely night of women getting together to debate an idea and leave it at that?
What if I hadn't kept up the momentum but gotten lost in organizing more informal focus groups or gotten mired in a writing a 100 page business plan?What if I got lazy? What if I decided the summer weather was much too nice to sit indoors and work on this business? What if I got scared about investing my life savings in this business?What if I listened to 95% of the men I shared the idea with that early in the game who came back with ego-laden questions meant to stop me, not encourage or help me? (The women didn't do this by the way. The men were focused on the exit strategy. Exit strategy? I hadn't even started yet!)
What if I let the naysayers get to me?
What if I didn't actually do it?What if?Well I wouldn't be the woman I am today. I wouldn't be connecting with hundreds of thousands of women and connecting them with their inner-Savvy Auntie. And I wouldn't have met some of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life.
One of the amazing people I met during the course of this journey is Jen Groover. Jen is the creator of the Butler Bag and a branding and innovation expert. She recently published a book entitled: What if & Why Not?
Jen changes the lexicon in her book from "What if you fail?" to "What if I succeed." And "Why not do it when the time is right?" to "Why not do it now; there's no time like the present."Jen says that with all the tough things it takes to get started on a business, it basically comes down to four vital assets:Desire
Passion
A Great Idea
Absolute belief in yourselfShe's built a number of successful business around this and I couldn't support her thinking more. Her book goes on to help you get over all your fears that make you hold off on your dream including: job security, money, knowledge, branding and marketing, sales, profits and of course, failure.
The other night I went to a party and one of the women who had been at my gathering that summer in my living room said to me: "I see all the amazing things you are doing! I can't believe all this came out of that simple idea you shared with us that summer night. What if you hadn't done it? Could you imagine?!"What if indeed.Over the last couple of years I have helped a few friends get their business ideas going. Each one unfortunately stopped. What if they had kept going? I am buying each one of them a copy of Jen's book.You can buy Jen's book at Amazon.com. Get one for yourself and one for anyone who ever told you their big idea...
What if this is the book that helps you get your business off the ground?
What if...
XOXO,Auntie Melanie
Dear Readers, It's been a while since I've written, and I apologize. Seems like my little company has grown some amazing wings and it's been a while since I've had time to consider how I got here. I'm trying to take more time to appreciate my life and all the details that make it beautiful. A few days ago, an acquaintance sent me an email asking various questions about my business so she might borrow some of my tips to help kick start her own entrepreneurial success. I revealed as much as I could to help her. How much did it cost to design your Website? Tens of thousands, I told her. I invested in a company, a dream, not a New York City apartment.How long did it take you to get Savvy Auntie off the ground? A year, I explained.How long did it take to see success? Twenty-three minutes, I said. That's how soon after I launched that I received an email from a digital media buying agency.Maybe I just need more patience with myself, she concluded.Patience. It's something I've been working on. Until recently, I wouldn't have characterized myself as someone with much of it. Even as a child, I remember wanting what I wanted when I wanted it - NOW! It wasn't because I was a spoiled-brat... or a child without boundaries. I just simply saw a target and wanted to achieve it. I didn't take my parents' no-s for an answer. Nor anyone else's. I just saw what I wanted and went for it. Even if it took a lot wishing on wish chips. (I did get that pink room, by the way.)But a lack of patience isn't always a good thing. We make decisions too quickly, make purchases without thinking of options, make the first right instead of the third left just because it's the first open path we see.So I've been practicing patience.... and realizing more and more the difference between being patient (waiting for things to happen to me and my business) and practicing patience (being in control of making smart decisions in the right time... even if it takes longer than I expected.)Being patient means sitting on couch waiting for success to knock on your door like a pizza being delivered.Practicing patience means investing time and often money into your business.... like cooking a stew.... watching it simmer and cook... adding a little more flavor here, stirring it a little there...Yes, it's true, many awesome things have happened since I launched SavvyAuntie.com exactly 1.5 years ago tomorrow. Some of the nation's most reputable and recognizable brands have invested their sponsorship dollars in Savvy Auntie. I've had enormous support from aunts and others who see value in the resources Savvy Auntie provides. I've appeared on TV, on radio, in newspapers, magazines, online, in video... just about anywhere I can think (maybe a billboard one day?) I've been approached by investors, potential corporate partners, even a cable network! And most recently, I signed a book deal with HarperCollins. It's happened relatively quickly, but I have many other goals that are taking much longer than I expected.So... in the meantime, I take whatever I've earned and throw it right back into the stew... Yes of course I want to eat it now! I'm hungry! And I've been cooking this stew since I thought of the idea for Savvy Auntie in June 2007. But I know that the best stews are slow cooked over an even temperature. They are not too diluted or - um - full of beans. So right now, I'm not taking vacations. I'm not buying clothes (except for when I need them for TV appearances). I'm not ordering in or going out to eat as much as I used to.I'm making stew.Mmmm smells good, doesn't it? I can't wait to invite you over for the feast.XOXO,Auntie Melanie
Dear Readers, I met Ariane de Bonvoisin a year ago, and we quickly become fast friends. She is the Founder and CEO of First30Days.com, a site and brand that enables you to change your life so you are living the best life you can.I was honored that Ariane interviewed me for her Change Nation series - about launching my business, for free.Here's a link to the article, which I hope you find helpful. It includes a link to the video interview.XOXO,Auntie Melanie
Dear Readers,Exactly two years ago today, I woke up an "Auntrepreneur." It was on June 12, 2007 that I decided to start the company of my dreams. I didn't know it then, but it was the happiest day of my life.I have learned so much as an entrepreneur over the last two years - the first year spent developing the brand and SavvyAuntie.com, and the second year seeing the brand and website launch and grow. Savvy Auntie is a multi-platform media company. You've only see the tip of the iceberg....I thought this milestone was a good time to reflect on a few of the things I've learned over the last two years. 30 things I've learned as an Auntrepreneur:1) Believing in yourself in more important than having anyone else believe in you.2) Believing in yourself makes other people believe in you.3) Success is relative. It's important to relish each success. Then move on to a higher goal immediately thereafter.4) "You should..." is the hardest thing for me to hear. Not being able to meet others' expectations of me or my ability to engage their good, sometimes really great ideas, is something I am not yet comfortable with. I hear "you shoulds" just about every day. I should learn to let it go.5) I've learned that by sharing my journey, others are inspired. It's a pretty easy way to pay it forward.6) All the things I enjoyed doing as a kid are skills I bring to the task now. I loved theatre, for example, which helps me feel comfortable on stage.7) Respect is something you earn...not once, but every single day. 8) When colleagues in various stages of my career said to me: "You are meant for bigger things," they were right. I'm just now understanding what they meant.9) I've learned that I'm talented at things I never knew I was talented at. Entrepreneurship is bringing out the best in me and I'm so loving what I am learning about myself.10) I've learned that curiosity is one of the most valuable assets I have, so I've learned to be more curious, more open and more accessible to diverse ideas and new people.11) I've learned that I don't have time for a hobby. And I'm ok with that.12) I've learned that I don't work really hard because I love what I do. I work really hard because that's what it takes. Loving it is the reward.13) I've learned that a 5 year old can be proud of her Auntie14) I've learned that friends are very supportive and embracing of my entrepreneurship. And thanks to Facebook, they know I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.15) I've learned that I don't need a lot of clothes and shoes after all.16) I've learned that making really smart business decisions feels really good.17) I've learned that every problem has a solution if you really, truly believe it does.18) I've learned that as much as you may inspire a stranger, their telling you that can be incredibly empowering.19) Happiness is a decision I make every day. The days I forget to do that, I'm not happy.20) Some people really do hang on to every word I say. 21) What I don't know, someone else does. They also know the stuff I didn't know to ask them about.22) I've learned that people are incredibly generous with kindness. 23) I've learned that I can do just about anything I set my mind to do.24) I've taught myself how to accept imperfection.25) I've learned that it's not what you know. It's not who you know. It's you. It's 100% you. 26) Goals are limiting, if you think about it.27) You don't become an overnight success overnight. I studied entrepreneurship, branding, marketing, business management and self-motivation for almost 20 years (on my own - outside of school and work) before I started my company. I just needed the right idea to become an entrepreneur. 28) No one has asked me what school I went to or what my GPA was. 29) Every single day is valuable and gets my company one or multiple steps further along it's way. It sounds trite, but I now have 730 days to prove it.30) I take my company personally. And I'm ok with that.
What have you learned as an entrepreneur?
XOXO,
Auntie Melanie
PS - Save the Date! Savvy Auntie's Day is July 26th and were planning some fabulous stuff for Savvy Aunties and for those who love them.
Dear Readers,
On the same day that I decided to start my company, which I knew would serve the modern, cosmopolitan aunt, I made lists. Lists are a good thing to create when you know you need to do something, but aren't sure what.
First, I created a list of things the company would do. Or be. Gosh it was so amorphous at this point. It would be a Website. There would be tips for being the best Auntie possible. There would be things to do - Aunties need ideas for what she could do with kids. And of course, there would be products and gift ideas. And community. In my very first day as an entrepreneur, on the list of things I wrote down of what needed to be included in my company, I included: Community. Aunties need to be able to connect with each other in order to learn from each other. Community. Remember that point. It's important.
The second list I made were of men and women, friends and acquaintances, I knew who were entrepreneurs. Right off the bat, I had a list of ten people. Without blinking, I knew ten people who could give me advice on entrepreneurship. Wow. That seemed like a lot at the time.
I spoke with them all in the two weeks following my list making. We met for coffee. At the gym. For lunch. For dinner. On the phone. On a street corner. At the bookstore. At their office. No matter where, what or how, each one made time for me. And they all had great advice. I learned something from each one of them. One thing I have learned is that entrepreneurs believe deeply in karma. They know that by sharing what they have learned from others - and on their own - with a newbie, something good will come back to them. These entrepreneurs should expect a lot of great things coming back to them.
I have all the notes. I kept them all in one book. They include brainstorms for names of the company (I went with another name in the end). Names of attorneys. Accountants. Graphic designers. Names of people these people were connected with. Lots of fantastic ideas. And not one negative word. Not one hint that I might have a challenge I could not overcome.
I not only got great advice and qualitative information, I also got tremendous support. Each smile, hug, "tell me more!," "let me know how else I can help," "I'll put you in touch with...," all of that meant I could wake up the next day feeling like I would one day be like them. One day, I would be a successful entrepreneur.
On both lists I made that day, I had listed Community. One was to serve Aunts. The other was a list of ten people in my life who became my community of entrepreneurs. Less than a year later, that list has grown to dozens more. Entrepreneurs introduced me to entrepreneurs. I found entrepreneurs on Facebook. On Twitter. Through networks like Ladies Who Launch and the Jeff Pulver Social Media Breakfasts. Sometimes I "met" entrepreneurs in books and magazines. And a few I just stumbled upon along the way.
What I have learned from these people is invaluable. I will try to repeat their lessons in this Blog as the posts move forward. And I'll add a few tips of my own.
I am much smarter and will be more successful because of the community of entrepreneurs who have helped and continue to help me every day. If you want to be an entrepreneur, ask another one for help. Some of you have even begun emailing me for advice (I laugh in humble irony). I am here to help. We are all part of a community. And that's what community does.
Remember that point. It's important.
XOXO,
Auntie Melanie
