It might seem as though I’m working my way through the Real Housewives circuit, but in essence, my interviews are always to teach and inspire, you my audience.

To my readers, including the budding female entrepreneurs out there, enjoy my interview with entrepreneur and TV star Ramona Singer. This woman is right up my alley. We chatted on the phone and literally, within 25 minutes, I had everything I needed. She talks fast, she thinks fast, and well, Ramona really just GETS IT.

Today is Ramona’s birthday. Happy birthday to you. Here goes, ladies…

Ramona, can you tell us a little bit about your business and how you got started, notably your skincare line TruRenewal, your jewelry line Ramona Singer Jewelry for HSN, True Faith Jewelry,  and Ramona Pinot Grigio? This is a place where many entrepreneurs come to get inspired and educated.  I read that your father gave you a $70,000 loan when you were 29 years old to start your own business, and you paid it back, with interest, in one month.

I was witness of domestic violence growing up. I would constantly ask my mother, “Why are you married? Why don’t you leave Dad?” Her answer to me was always the same, “I had no money, I got pregnant, and I have 4 kids, where am I going? Promise me Ramona, you will always make your own money. Become successful in your own right, so God forbid your marriage goes south, you can walk out the door.”

That was my message growing up.  I have been on my own since 19 years old, and put myself through college.

Yes, what you read is true.  I was 29 when I started my own business. I called my dad, who was a very smart man, an engineer at IBM, and told him my business idea. I actually think I got my brains from him. I had an idea and was looking for a partner with startup capital. My dad said to me, “You don’t need any partners in life. How much money do you need?” I told him I needed $70,000 to get my business off the ground.  My dad cashed out $70,000 from his retirement savings and lent me the money so I wouldn’t have to have any partners.  I paid him back with interest, in one month.

From there, began my journey of all my businesses, four in total, TruRenewal, Ramona Singer Jewelry for HSN, True Faith Jewelry, and Ramona Pinot Grigio. I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, because I wanted flexibility in my life. I wanted to have it all- motherhood, marriage, career, and owning my own business gave me that flexibility. Owning your own business lets you work around your own schedule, make your own hours, and there’s no ceiling to your financial ability. I always knew that working for a corporation meant 8-8, missing birthday parties, missing school plays, and special moments.

I believe women today can absolutely have it all – and we can be happy too.  The way to do that, is to follow your passion and to never take no for an answer. Passion breeds success.

Alright, since you’re the second Real Housewife I’ve interviewed on WomenOnTheFence.com, tell us about your journey on the Real Housewives of New York, and how it came to be. We have read about all the feuds. What is fact, what is fiction, and would you like to clarify anything? Also, can you give us a clue on the upcoming season?

I will continue doing the show as long as I enjoy it, and I do. I originally did it as an opportunity to promote our website www.truefaithjewelry.com. My husband was in the jewelry business, and I knew that in order to succeed in business, you had to change with the times. If you stay the same, you die. I knew the upcoming trends were shopping online and on TV. So that is why TV was so appealing- I got to sell on HSN, and promote my jewelry on Real Housewives too.

As far as the show goes, everything I do on the show is real. You can blame editing – yah maybe some highlights are edited, but it’s real, and I’m really me.  And that is why I have a strong fan base. I’m not mean spirited. Sometimes I’m unedited, and I do need to filter things, but I am trying to learn to keep my mouth shut a little (chuckling).

We are starting to film this season. For me, this season is all all about showcasing how you can have it all. I feel very blessed with a great family, and great friends.

You have a quote from Season 1 that I love–“I love making my own money… I find that an aphrodisiac.” I gotta confess, I do too. It’s a bold statement, and many women shy away from talking about money. Talk to us a little about that.

Money is power. Money is freedom. I got married at 37 – I didn’t need a man to buy me things or take me on vacations. I married for love and family. Even growing up, I always enjoyed business- business and math were my best subjects. Listen, some women love to shop– I love business! It gets my juices flowing. I get off on it (laughs again). There’s no reason to shy away from talking about money.

You’re a mom to Avery, a businesswoman, and wife of almost 20 years to Mario. For a woman to become successful in all her roles, what would be the top three pieces of advice you would give her? What must a woman do to rock what she does?

Ramona, daughter Avery, and husband Mario Singer

1) Trust. Without trust in life or business, trust with your partner, your friends, you have nothing.

2) Communication- People aren’t mind readers. Tell people how you’re feeling- both at work, and in your home life. Often we keep things bottled up, and then it’s too late and the damage is done. Communication should always be open.

3) Keep the passion alive (my husband would like that that to be number 1). We are sending my daughter out one night this weekend to go to our house in the Hamptons. For people who don’t have a second home, swap with your girlfriends! But take those romantic nights. Trade with a friend – you take her kids one Saturday night, and let her take yours another night. But just to be able to eat dinner when you want, make love when you want, sleep in until whatever time you want, there is something to be said for that.

What advice would you give to a woman looking to start her own business or even break into media as you did? What must she know or do?

Erica, did you know that anyone with a great idea can start a business for $50.00 today?  For $50, you can be in business. You get yourself an EIN number online, open up a business checking account, open a p.o. box, and start on the side! I actually talked about that on the Rachael Ray Show.

Service businesses are the best kinds of businesses to start– they require the least amount of startup capital, and they are the fastest growing businesses. You also must love what you are doing, believe in it, and be passionate about it.  If you believe in it, others will believe it too. When I started at 29, there were tons of other people doing what I was doing, but yet I sold one million dollars my first year, and that was back then. I believed in myself. I always say– don’t look behind, don’t look sideways, focus straight ahead and focus on your own journey. I have worked my ass off, but then again, I love working.

You were just honored as Mogul of the Year at the Stevie Awards. Congratulations! As a businesswoman, tell our current female entrepreneurs, how does one reinvent themselves and keep their brand fresh? It’s a challenge few do well, and most do poorly. What does it take to always stay at the top of your game?

You have to constantly reinvent yourself to stay on top. I believe I have reinvented myself. To stay on top, you have to have a great product– my Pinot Grigio is truly one of the best pinots out of there. It beat out the others in a blind tasters test. You have to make something of quality, and you have to constantly know what’s going on in the marketplace.

A few more tips… NETWORK. I am a very verbal person. I tell people what I’m doing all the time. I believe when you put it out into the universe, then things come to you. Positive thinking is way more important than people think. I tell myself, “I’m gonna make this happen.” I write my goals down and I believe in creating our own luck. Just this year, I put it on paper, and told my team, “We will sell x amount of cases of Ramona Pinot Grigio this year,” and we are just about there. Have your goals in your mind and put them on paper. Envision it. Positive thinking. Then action plan.

And finally, what does the future look like for Ramona Singer? What’s the dream?

I just wanna be happy. I pray to stay happy. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. Just good health, great family and friends, and happiness. That’s the dream.

Six years ago, had you asked me if I thought I would have all this, and a reality show, I never would have believed it. But life is an experience, and you go where it takes you.

–

Ladies, if you have a question or comment for Ramona, please leave it right here. She will be reading.

Happy weekend, readers! Thanks again, as always, for sticking with me.

xoxEDxox 

Other articles you might enjoy:

• INTERVIEW: Erica Diamond Goes One-On-One With Real Housewife Jill Zarin

Cool. Brilliant. Amazing. Turn on your speakers. Watch ’till the end. Worth the 1 minute, 45 seconds of your time.

What do you think?

xoxEDxox

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• Wisdom Wednesday: A Little Bit Of Inspiration
• A Hump Day Chuckle
• Wisdom Wednesday: Carrots, Eggs and Coffee
• Priceless Wednesday
• Wisdom Wednesday

By Guest Blogger Alisa T. Weinstein

“Hello, Alisa? This is your gut calling.”

You know the feeling that you were meant to do something? When you just feel so infinitely concrete—so sure—that not following through doesn’t exist as an option?

I’ve felt that twice.

The first time, I was 24. Without a moment’s hesitation, I left NYC to live near a boy I’d been dating long-distance for almost two years. (Seriously. Who moves for a boy?) Last October we celebrated our 11^th anniversary.

Then at 36, I got that feeling again.

This time, I was sitting in our playroom. My book proposal was ready to go to publishers. I had signed a contract with a literary agent and it had become glaringly real that my commitment would change our family’s dynamic, either in the short term or permanently. I had to convince Adam (yes the boy has a name) that writing a book while my kids were in preschool, (I was freelance copywriting and he was traveling almost every week) was a great idea. So out spilled, “I just have to write it.”

The look he gave me was alarmingly similar to the one his mother gives me when she thinks I’m full of crap.

Undaunted, I gave him my next reason: if I wanted to encourage our then four-year-old daughter, Mia, to be the type of woman who’d live her life “off the fence,” I needed to live my own life off the fence.

And thus began my life of no sleep.

What was it about this concept that would motivate me—a widely known nap-lover—to parent, copywrite, “wife” and stay up past midnight almost every night for a year?

Easy: this book was cool. And it was important.

It all started when Mia and I were in Target (nothing unusual there. Mia and I are always in Target). She wanted a new Lip Smackers lip balm (also nothing unusual). I said no. She started to… pout. (ditto). So I suggested we go home and count all the lip balms she already owned. She accepted. And we did. But even after a final tally of thirteen lip balms, she still wanted the new one. In my exasperation, I told her to “Get a job.”

So I gave her one. A real one. And thus sparked the creation of an alternative allowance program, where instead of household chores, Mia test-drives real careers by doing kid-friendly versions of professional tasks—and then earns money for her efforts. Her first job was as a Market Researcher. She and her father (a Market Researcher for more than twenty years) created a survey of her friends and family (Do you prefer chocolate, vanilla or strawberry ice cream?). They had so much fun. Adam even created a pie chart of her results, which she presented to me (the “client”). Afterward, I paid her $2 for her effort.

And just like that, the Earn My Keep Allowance Program was born! I then realized two truths: (1) This would make a really, really cool book (already noted); (2) To write this book, I’d need to interview/be guided by/owe my life to 49 real-life professionals who were willing to donate countless hours of their time to tell me what it was they did for a living, so I could then translate their day-to-day tasks into kid-friendly tasks for each of the career profiles in a way that remained authentic and true to the career itself. In a nutshell.

And then like wildfire, the ideas started coming—and they never stopped. What began with “I could find and interview a real marine biologist!” opened doors to a world I never imagined: I never thought I’d write a book. Build a business. Or for that matter, be considered an expert on anything that has to do with math (I recently asked the cashier at IHOP if 7+5 was indeed 12). But here I was: one day a Mom/Copywriter. The next, a Mom/Copywriter/Author/Entrepreneur.

The resulting book, Earn It, Learn It: Teach Your Child the Value of Money, Work, and Time Well Spent far surpassed what I ever thought it could be. Earning allowance by doing chores, was, well, not the route I felt would serve as the best life teacher. Instead I thought, let’s put four-to-twelve-year-olds in some real-people shoes! As Paleontologists. Astronomers. And Investigators. Because when our little ones become real professionals, they’re exposed to benefits far beyond traditional allowance programs: promotion of a lifelong love of learning, seamless incorporation of subjects like science and art, even quality family time (to name just a few). The end result was a better, more concrete understanding of how the real world works—an effective tool in battling the oh-so-popular “But I waaaaant it!”

On top of the more than 950 activities, I included expert interviews, bios and lots of fun facts. The insights and expertise from more than a dozen child development and education experts really teach your children about money. There’s even a create-your-own chapter to help parents and kids emulate the program for any career their little hearts desire!

This ride has been thrilling, gratifying, eye-opening, nerve-inducing, humbling and clearly, exhausting. But there’s also validation for that gut feeling I got in the first place. Because I didn’t write Earn It, Learn It for everyone else. I wrote it for my own kids. I wanted to find a way to curb their sense of entitlement in a way that was engaging, educational, enriching, easy and fun. Since nothing like that existed, I knew I’d have to create it myself.

All hail listening to your gut!

If your gut is telling you your kids could really use a kick in the fiscal-responsibility pants, here’s some fun ways to get started:

• Start as young as you can. Yes, even four-year-olds can begin to grasp basic money concepts. And the earlier you start, the more natural the experience will be. Even four year olds can grasp basic money concepts. Begin at a young age to explain to your child that you work to pay for things like the yummy food they eat, the clothing they wear, or DVDs they love to watch. Show them difference between bills and coins. And give examples of why it’s important to “save” money earned and put it aside for the future.
• Keep it fun. Money is a necessary part of life. Helping our kids learn about it in an engaging way will help them be more open to the lessons you have to share.
• Be brief. The next time you buy groceries, show your kid how you swipe your credit card—and then at home, show her your credit card statement. You just packed a big educational punch into a whopping two minutes. Yes, I’m serious. The idea is for your children (and yourself) to create a healthy relationship with money, and that starts with knowledge and exposure. It’s these little moments, done consistently, that have the greatest impact on our kids.
• Redefine the “value” of money. The work we do can be worth more than the numbers on a paycheck. And that message is powerful. Kids who experience and appreciate the value of effort—of putting their all into something they care about—are less likely to succumb to a sense of entitlement.
• Look around for guidance. Pick up a book or two from the library. Ask a money manager at a local bank. Talk with fellow parents. Take a class.Remember: no matter how little we think we know, we still know more than our kids. (And if we don’t know, there’s always someone to ask!) Teaching our kids to be financially responsible even at a young age will serve them well later on in life.

I’m not saying I can guarantee that Mia will live the rest of her life in financial bliss, financially responsible, loving her career path and enjoying a healthy relationship with the money she earns. But I will say this: about two months ago, I asked my now six-year-old what she wanted to be when she grew up, “I don’t know yet, Mommy. All the jobs are so fun.” And two weeks ago I found her list for Target. At the top it said “Mia’s Wants.” The bottom was titled, “Mia’s Needs.”

My gut says we’re on the right path.

~Alisa

I’d love to know how you teach and talk to your children about money? Is allowance something they GET or something they EARN in your house? I’d love your tips as well!

BIO:

Alisa T. Weinstein is the mother of two kids; author of Earn It, Learn It: Teach Your Child the value of Money, Work, and Time Well Spent (Sourcebooks, January 2011); and founder of Earn My Keep, LLC—the first and only allowance program that allows kids to earn money by having “real” jobs. Parents help kids choose a quick, easy, fun task from one of fifty career profiles (like Toy Designer, Investigator, Entomologist and Chef), complete it within a set amount of time, and earn while they learn. For more, visit earnmykeep.com.

Other articles you might enjoy:

• Raising a Child With a Backbone
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Erica Diamond Brand Ambassador For Self Esteem Dolls – ‘Our Generation Dolls’
• Generation Z – A Sense of Entitlement
• Dealing With the “Boss from Hell”
• Shutting your brain off for a good night sleep

By Guest Blogger Amanda Steinberg

When I was a kid, being raised by a single mom, money was tight. But I always believed that when I crossed a certain income threshold the money stress would evaporate. I’d be free of the need to be frugal. I’d be able to buy whatever I wanted or needed.

One of the great, ongoing revelations of my adult life is that, for most people, myself included, that is not true. Despite having an excellent income – one year’s earning usually surpassing the last – my husband and I still have financial stress and need to make mindful money decisions. After making these spending cuts and mindful decisions pertaining to money, I’ve come to a great realization. A parallel discovery actually…

I’m a Weight Watchers master. In 2003, I was 5’8? and 160 pounds — not exactly ideal for a 25-year-old single girl living in Manhattan. I spent three (!) years on Weight Watchers, and for two years, failed repeatedly. I obsessed over every drop of salad dressing and kernel of popcorn only to learn at my weekly meeting weigh-in that I’d gained half a pound. I quit multiple times, but would return months later with new resolve. Finally, in my third year, something clicked. I dropped 30 pounds in just six months.

To this day – and two babies later—I can still lose weight when I want to by altering certain habits. That parallel discovery? I can use the same rules to shave pounds off of my spending:

I’ve learned that, for me, diets of any form work better when I can track progress in my head. That’s why I like simple rules I can repeat daily. If a system is too complicated to track, it’s not a good system.

To top off the diet, I’ve also come to a few personal realizations and a list of “I thought I coulds” which might be your AHA moment as well…

• I thought I’d be able to afford a few new outfits every season.

Despite all the “save more” cheering that we do here on DailyWorth, oh how I’d love to drop $500 every quarter on a few wardrobe refreshers. Truth is, that money belongs elsewhere if we’re going to stick to our goal and save 20% of our take-home pay.

• I’d enjoy regular, womanly pampering.

Haircut and color, mani/pedis, waxing – I assumed these were a basic right of being female. These days as we look for more ways to cut, so that we can truly max out our retirement, I’ve said goodbye to mani/pedis (doing them to myself while watching Modern Family isn’t so bad), and am toying with DIY hair color touch-ups. Got any product recommendations or tips? I’m all hair, I mean, ears.

• I’d have a weekly cleaning lady.

Had one. Loved her. Can’t afford it right now.

Truth is, it’s painful to cross those old daydreams off my list. But I take pride in the new realities: smarter spending, steadier savings and a sense of control.

~Amanda

BIO:

Amanda Steinberg started DailyWorth.com as a way to give women key insights into building real net worth. DailyWorth stands out as the go-to source about personal finance for smart, ambitious women. Since its inception in January 2009, DailyWorth has garnered 55,000+ subscribers and a stream of media appearances, including New York Times, Forbes, USA Today, and a recent 2-page spread in Cosmopolitan magazine. A graduate of Columbia University, Steinberg also runs a Web consultancy called Soapbxx, and contributes to ForbesWoman.com. Amanda lives in Philadelphia with her husband, two children, and her iPhone.

Financial Confession: I confess that in 2006 my husband and I bought slightly more house than we should have. Yes, on paper we can “afford it” and we had no trouble qualifying for the mortgage. In retrospect, we could and should have bought a house 1/3 of its size. Ah, hindsight is indeed 20-20.

___________________________________________

What is YOUR financial confession? Have you come to any realizations about your own spending after reading this? Do you have poor spending habits? Are you a saver? Do you allow yourself to splurge every now and then, guilt-free? Are you even afraid to talk about money? Most women hate speaking about money, but let’s bring these important skeletons out of the closet.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend, my American friends. Slow down, and enjoy.

xoxEDxox

Other articles you might enjoy:

• Women Would Rather Talk About Their Sex Life Than Their Finances
• Because I’m Worth It…

If you’ve been following my Twitter stream or Facebook fan page over the past few days, you know that I was in Boston over the weekend. I was thrilled when Tory Johnson, workplace correspondent on Good Morning America asked me to come and speak to the female entrepreneurs of Boston, at The Spark and Hustle Tour. My husband also had business in Boston, so we decided to leave the boys for a quick trip, and mix business with pleasure.

Spark and Hustle, you may ask? In a nutshell… you bring the SPARK, and I teach you how to HUSTLE. Catchy right? Years ago, Tory experienced something unfortunately too many working women face today. Check out Tory recently on CBS’s The Talk, and see how she turned disappointment into triumph. Tory’s energy is INFECTIOUS.

Many you have asked me about Spark and Hustle, and what was discussed and taught. My panel was HOW TO DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE SALES STRATEGY. I shared the stage in an engaging conversation with two other dynamic women, also sales experts. Looking into the crowd, I saw so many women nodding their heads in agreement, relating to the issues and struggles so many businesswomen face today.

My Sales Panel

And because you asked, instead of sharing only great tips from Spark and Hustle, I’d like to show you how these business lessons can also serve as life lessons. So for ALL readers of Women On The Fence, you might learn a few new things:

#1: Mel Robbins: “All of your excuses are bullsh*t!
Not some or most or the majority. ALL of your excuses.”
IN LIFE: Often we’re great at making excuses. But excuses prevent us from reaching our goals and dreams. Excuses keep us in our comfort zones, because our brains love routine. Excuses prevent us from growing and thinking outside the box, and therefore keep us from living a fulfilling life. No more excuses.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#2: Erica Diamond: “Make a wish list of potential clients.”
“You can’t walk away from Spark & Hustle without realizing the profit and power of knowing who your target market is, and getting to know them intimately. Erica took it a step further when she encouraged the participants to actually make a wish list of potential clients and go after them individually.”
IN LIFE: Make a wish list or vision board of your own. Is your goal to revisit an old hobby, to find a part time job, to get rid of toxic girlfriends, or rid yourself of people who weigh you down? Businesses have plans, clear set goals, and detailed outlines. Your life should have the same. And post these life goals, or Bucket Lists, or resolutions, or vision boards in a VISIBLE PLACE. They should serve as a constant reminder to stay on track.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#3: Sheila Marcelo: “Surround yourself with people who inspire and teach you.”
“Pretty simple, but too often we’re brought down by the doubters and naysayers. No more.”
IN LIFE: It is no different in life than in business. Often we believe the naysayers, and they prevent us from reaching our goals. We hear a few negative words uttered, and our self esteem is shot. We hold back. We stay stuck, immobilized and powerless. Remember, no one has power over you. Real talk. You are in complete control of your own destiny. Don’t hand your power over to ANYONE. Surround yourself with good, and cut out the negativity wherever possible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#4: Vicki Donlan: “Toot your own horn!”
“You don’t want to go around bragging about yourself constantly, but you certainly do want to make sure your circles of influence know what you do well, and how you (or your product) can help your target market. Don’t leave it to them to guess.”
IN LIFE: Often, we are our own worst enemies, when we should be our own biggest fans. I am not claiming to be braggy or cocky, but confidence will do you good in life. Good self esteem will spiral into all other areas of your life… in your relationships with your partner, co-workers, with your children. When you feel good about yourself, this breeds positivity. Don’t be afraid to be confident. As women, we’re often told to sit quietly, to be a lady. But remember, you can still be a confident lady.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#5: Tory Johnson: “Tell me what you do in FIVE WORDS or less!”
Tory: “I had to bring the group’s attention to something I overheard on Friday in Boston. One participant was speaking to another when they were interrupted by this, “You’ve been talking for 10 minutes and I still have no idea what you do.” We can’t afford to confuse the people we hope to turn into clients, champions or referral sources.”
IN LIFE: Don’t wax on. I’m guilty of over-share. This was a great lesson for me. Sometimes too much information can also come back and bite you in the butt. I will leave it at that. No one cares. Be brief.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#6 Michelle Pippin: “There’s Power in the Pounce!”
Michelle told a story of when Tory chastised a private client for her own failure to pounce on the profitable opportunities right in front of her. Don’t sit on leads. Don’t wait for the economy to change. Don’t assume tomorrow will be a better day unless you’re hustling to make it so. No more waiting. No more excuses. Your time is NOW.
IN LIFE: It is the nature of the beast to put off to tomorrow, what we can do today. After all, it’s so easy to slide things under the rug. But, there IS POWER TO THE POUNCE. When we put life off, we put off our happiness. No exaggeration. When we leave our house is disarray, or we don’t attend to our bills on time, after a while, this build-up creates anxiety. But there is tremendous comfort in crossing off to-do lists, and getting things done. Time management is crucial to your life success.

I heard something I loved on the Gayle King Show last week. She had an expert on, who said: The current state of your house, is the state of your entire life. Just think about it. She went on to say, that everything stems from your home. If your home is cluttered, disorganized, and a mess, that reflects your mental state. Your home is therefore the barometer of your life. Is it time to clean house?

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I hope that you will take away these business and life lessons. We are all put on this earth with our own unique talents, abilities and creativity. Find your calling… whether it’s to be the best volunteer possible, to rediscover an old hobby, or to be the best boss or mother or partner you can be. Every woman deserves the right to go through life living, instead of simply existing. Don’t let the days turn into weeks, into months, into years, until you wake up one day and realize time has passed you by.

This is your ‘frying-pan-over-the-head’ moment.

What do you think? Tell us, what are you biggest career and life challenges? Can you jot down ONE ACTION you will commit to getting done this week?

And finally, enjoy some photos from the weekend…

Me and Tory Johnson

Romantic dinner in Boston

My hubby keeping me company after dinner at my book signing

xoxEDxox

Other articles you might enjoy:

• 10 Lessons From 10 Years in Business: A Mompreneur’s Tale
• Wisdom Wednesday
• Spark & Hustle National Tour
• INTERVIEW: Erica Diamond Goes One-On-One with Actress Holly Robinson Peete
• Charlie Sheen: My Side

So when I told my friends I was off to New Orleans to speak at Mom 2.0 Summit, they were all like, “What’s a Mom conference?” Even I was a little skeptical, I’ll admit. It all could have sounded a little bit flowery– sounding perhaps like a bitch session with a bunch of moms getting together, hanging and kvetching about motherhood and trying to learn the tools to become a better parent.

Well, that could NOT have been further from the truth. The “Moms” I met this weekend were “knock your socks off” capable. These were no silver-spoon mamas. These were serious rockstars. And the Brands that came, came to play ball.

When I arrived in NOLA, having left the 40 degree Montreal weather behind, and walking right into the 88 degree humidity, I realized I had packed all wrong. But hey, I just surrendered and watched my hair-do become a hair-don’t. My cab brought me directly to the clean and sunny Ritz Carlton, and that was lovely of course. I left my bags in the room and headed downstairs to meet the “Mompreneurs,” many of them whose Blogs and websites I have followed, but never met.

I immediately ran into Anissa Mayhew, LITERALLY, whom you may remember from her two guest appearances on this site. I practically jumped into her wheelchair. I was so excited to finally meet this inspirational and incredible mom and writer. The rest of Thursday afternoon was spent just hanging in the hotel and meeting more fabulous people.

The Thursday night Speaker’s Dinner was definitely a highlight. The food was delicious (much of it was cooked in batter, making it all-the-more EXTRA delicious, but NOT great for my ass).  I chatted with many of the speakers, as well as with the “MOM OF ALL MOMMY BLOGGERS” herself, Heather Armstrong, AKA Dooce. I was expecting arrogant, I got pure humble joy. She was a doll. Here we are…

Heather Armstrong and Erica Diamond

I also got to hang with old friends too. Remember the episode of Mommy To Mommy TV that I co-hosted with Kimberley Clayton Blaine, on the set of CBS’s Rules of Engagement??

Kimberley Clayton Blaine and Erica Diamond

Day one was simply fab. I slept like a baby and kinda enjoyed waking up on my own, without a mini person climbing on top of me at 5:30AM, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!

I was thrilled to be speaking in the AM. I’m always one to love getting things over with. I always ask to speak first, and go first in anything I do in life. It’s my thing. I love delivering, and then resting. The moms on my panel were beyond amazing. My topic was, “The Other New Normal: Entrepreneurial Strategy in a Post-Recession, Post-Web 2.0 World.” My co-panelists were Stephanie Smirnov, President of DeVries PR Firm, Shelly Kramer, Marketing and Brand Strategist of www.v3im.com, and Gabrielle Blair, one of the founders of the women’s site Kirsty.com (she also has 6 kids!). Hello awesome women!!

It was a fascinating discussion about how all of us are living, thriving and succeeding at entrepreneurship, on our own terms, in our own way, all using different approaches. I learned so much from these savvy women, and was honored to be included in the mix.

Getting miked up before speaking

Left to right: Stephanie Smirnov (standing), Shelly Kramer, Gabrielle Blair, Erica Diamond

The session went without a hitch. I’m not going to summarize what we discussed, instead for great entrepreneurial tips, click here for some reviews and what “people were saying” about our panel.

http://www.mom2summit.com/the-other-new-normal/

http://digitalmomhandbook.com/good_reads/the-new-normal-entrepreneurial-strategy-in-a-post-recession-post-web-2-0-world

http://thehappiestmom.com/?p=3160 – THANK YOU! This was too kind!

http://treerootandtwig.com/2011/04/17/hits-misses-lived-mom-20-summit/ (Hey, glad to hear we were a “hit” instead of a “miss”).

I also got to meet some dynamic women starting their own businesses after our panel, during my book signing. That was definitely a highlight for me.

99 Things Women Wish They Knew Before Starting Their Own Business by Erica Diamond in the Mom 2.0 Summit Bookstore

At book signing

After I finished my talk and book signing, I relaxed, and sat in on some incredible sessions. A favorite was Erin Loechner, Liz Gumbinner and Maggie Mason’s session. Honestly, check out the lineup from this year, so you know for next year…

Dinner Friday night was absolutely delicious. I reunited with a Blogging friend I had met at Fashion week in Nashville, and we decided to catch up over dinner. We left the Ritz and walked through the French quarter, jazz in the streets, the town oozing with energy and such a pulse. We ended up at Emeril’s NOLA, which was to die for. Here’s a pic of us…

Whitney Wingerd and Erica Diamond

After dinner, Whitney and I met up with some friends at a party hosted by Lego, and I had a ball with some great mom bloggers. The heat was overwhelming, but the vibe was all good.

Susan Kay Wyatt and Erica Diamond

Erica Diamond, Susan Kay Wyatt, Whitney Moss, Kimberley Clayton Blaine

Erica Diamond and Audrey McClellan

But I must admit, the best part of my trip was the FOOT MASSAGE I received at the Dole hosted Pyjama Party in the Brangelina Suite at the Ritz. Lavender oil on my tired feet was exactly what the doctor ordered. Exactly….

Erica Diamond enjoying a foot massage in the Brangelina suite at the Ritz Carlton

I’m still recovering from the weekend of fun and learning. My ass doesn’t fit into my jeans, for real… I didn’t need those 4 beignets I wolfed down on my way to the airport. But I’m not going to wax on about it.

I also want to sincerely thank my amazing corporate sponsor Microsoft. My Windows Phone was in my hand the entire time at Mom Summit. When we walked to Emeril’s for dinner,  I TALKED to it, literally, and it mapped out my route for me in 2 seconds flat. The camera took amazing pictures, many of which are shared right here on this post, and the 7 hour talk time and battery life was such a pleasure.

Seriously, if you are a busy mom or woman on the go, this phone has an unbelievable amount of features you need to know about. My favorite one being, with the click of the SEARCH button, the voice recognition feature takes over on the BING search, and you simply tell the phone exactly what you want it to search, and boom, it’s right there.

I also used Twitter, Facebook, downloaded music on Zune, opened an excel document (remember this is a WINDOWS phone, so you have Microsoft Windows with Word, Excel, etc…), and way more. Read more about the incredible features I love about Windows Phone, click here.

I also met the incredible team at Windows Phone, Microsoft Office and Windows, and we had a great time filming an interview.

Interview for Microsoft, Women On The Fence Corporate Sponsor

It was truly a magical weekend. If you’re a regular reader, you know that I never go anywhere without a lesson learned, or a take-away to implement into my life and pass on to you. After spending 48 hours with other moms, most of them also building a business from scratch, I have come to realize a few things:

• I am more independent than I thought I was. This has served me well.
• Despite being more independent, I am nothing without my family, namely my role as wife and mother.
• If you always remain OPEN, good things come.
• If you plant enough seeds, eventually something sticks.
• I realized that not all women are catty. At least not the ones I have allowed into my life. Give and you shall receive friends for life.
• Work hard, play hard. Whether you’re working out of necessity, or a trust-fund baby, you can’t simply live off the fat of the land. Give back. Life is nothing without purpose.

“Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity” ~Louis Pasteur

What do you think?

xoxEDxox

PS – If we met in NOLA, can you say hi below?

Other articles you might enjoy:

• Wordless Wednesday: This Week In Pictures
• Los Angeles and Being Back On The Fence
• What’s Hot For Moms (and Dads)!
• International Women’s Day
• Friday Updates

Hi Ladies,

Enjoy this interview I did with the lovely, Stephanie Goetsch, founder and Editor-In-Chief of HerExchange E-Magazine.

I have never heard that term before… “inspirational entrepreneur.” Wow, I am so humbled.

Thank you, Stephanie!!

Click here to read the interview…

xoxEDxox

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