If I were Oprah or Angelina Jolie and writing about the fears I overcome, this would be on A list media. 

But I am Vera Babayeva, 26 year old married female with two kids, and an aspiring entrepreneur from the middle-class neighborhood of Queens NY.  Therefore, this will not be making an appearance on A list media, today. 

Regardless of that fact, I think this deserves the same attention because what I am about to share with you is inspiring and honest. 

2008 is the year I:
• dared myself to face my fears,
• stop thinking about what others think and do what I want,
• be more direct about what I want and what I expect. 

This is what I have learned through the many challenges I have faced this year:

1. I finally learned to swim.  Bid deal for me because I feared water the way many people fear heights. 
2. I finally learned that it’s ok to let go of a steady paycheck to start something new. 
3. I learned to have a conversation with highly accomplished entrepreneurs that appeared on A list media. 
4. I learned to stay married, manage two kids, while continuing to pursue my ambitious dreams. 
5. I learned to say, “These are my dreams, and I need you to respect that.” 
6. I learned to ignore negative and discouraging people. 
7. I learned that I must not rush if I want to accomplish something of value. 
8. I learned that you have to speak loudly about what you want, to get it.  And if I am clear about what I want, I don’t waste anyone’s time.
9. I learned that if I believe “it,” whatever “it” is, will happen. 
10. I learned that comfort is beautiful.  (Flat shoes and cotton clothing are great).

Becoming a full time entrepreneur was the most difficult task, I have undertaken; yet it created great changes in me and in my life. 

And finally, allow me make a toast to my upcoming year of 2009, the year I will be generating revenue from my business idea! 

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

What would you like to share about your 2008 and 2009?

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Coupon Mom appeared on the Today Show this morning giving money saving tips for Thanksgiving. Her tips made me nauseous. She recommended canned, frozen and processed foods as a cheaper alternative to fresh and organic. While I am all for saving money, I will not compromise my health. I will search for bargains on clothing, furniture, date nights, gifts and other things. But when it comes to my health, don’t tell me to eat frozen, canned and processed foods to save a couple of dollars. It’s saving today that can result in serious health issues tomorrow.

Holistic health counselor Inna Shapkina, explains that, “canned foods have no nutritional value due to processing, contain huge amount of salt, and chemicals that are aligning the can. Fresh foods offer the most nutrition, while frozen have a lot less. Good food is your great investment. What matters if you are not healthy?”

Here are my healthy holiday tips that save you money in the long run:

Tip One: Thanksgiving is a family holiday which may be worth your investment of time and money. Cook using fresh foods. Food TV is full of tips and easy recipes for holiday cooking. Also, it’s fun to watch. Also getting together with family around good food is nice and relaxing.

Tip Two: Don’t do everything yourself. Ask for help from family members. Have them come over and cook with you or have them bring a dish.

Tip Three: Search for bargains on fresh healthy foods offered through online grocery stores and local stores. The online grocery stores I like are www.freshdirect.com or www.peapod.com. Check the circulars for your local stores, when they are delivered to your house/apartment building.

Tip Four: Plan your menu and your grocery list in advance. Then go to the store and shop by yourself or with a frugal and health conscious friend/family member. Don’t take the kids or those that like to buy junk food. (I like shopping with my mother. She will steer me in the right direction by helping me save money while still staying healthy).

What are other healthy tips do you recommend? Or do you disagree with my healthy and long term savings plan for the Holiday? Share your thoughts in the comments section. Look forward to “chatting” with you.

Have Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!

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Today’s economy is full of opportunities for you! Yes, it’s full of opportunities.
Job stability and job security does not exist anymore. The time has come for you to rediscover yourself and take control of your future.

Here are some opportunity tips for you:

1. Think about the skills you have gained through your work and hobbies, its value and how you can deliver it to the rest of us. My friend has been able to plan beautiful weddings on a tight budget for himself and his friends. He is now starting consulting services for couples to help them plan a wedding of their dreams on a budget.

2. What’s that idea that has been floating around in your head? What problem do you wish you could solve for the rest of us? Liz Lange hated the labels and the looks of the pregnancy clothes. So she created stylish and chick maternity wear that embraces rather then hides the belly. Get started on working to make that idea a viable business. Take classes, join a network of positive people, and talk to seasoned entrepreneurs. If you are in NYC area, join my meet up group and visit us here. We are offering resources for entrepreneur moms in the Queens, NY community.

3. Learn about smart money management and investment strategies. You can start learning about, real estate, stock market, mutual funds, bonds, etc. and slowly start building a portfolio. There are many resources available for you.

• Subscribe to the Wall Street Journal. The book, Young Entrepreneurs Guide to Starting and Running a Business by Steve Mariotti has a chapter on how to read the Wall Street Journal.
• You can take classes offered through the local continuing education programs or libraries. Watch television shows about money and investment, (check out MSNBC).
• Read books, (check out the dummies series).
• Talk to current investors in your community.
• I am putting together a resource page on money and investment on my website, stay tuned for that.

Don’t be bogged down with all the reports about today’s economy. Seek for opportunities and you will be happier and healthier. Please share your thoughts and your stories in the comments. You can also contact me for any additional questions or concerns.

Filed under: Business Solutions, Entrepreneur Moms, Q&A, Taking Care of Yourself, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

This question is more common then I thought.  While having breakfast with Laura Allen, as she teaches me how to effectively pitch myself she asks, “do you like to be called mompreneur?”

“NO,” I said. 
“OK, just so I know because some like it and others don’t.” 

I was curious to know more opinions about this term.  So I asked around. 

Natalie Sulimani, an intellectual property attorney and a mom of a 15 month old boy and expecting, said, “I like the term.  I can’t deny that being a mom is part of who I am.  I have responsibilities to both my family and my clients and I have to juggle both.  Being an entrepreneur is challenging enough, add the facet of juggling playdates and sick days and that’s pretty darn amazing!  Plus, as moms, we can understand the plight of other moms and that’s especially helpful when that’s your target audience.”

Nancy Zucker, founder of Nancy Zucker Associates, and a mother of two adult children, says, “As a consumer I don’t necessarily need to know or want to use someone because they are a mom starting a business….that may diminish the amount of business the person can attract.  I just worry it will take away from rather than add.”

My personal feelings about this term were that being called mompreneur diminished my abilities as an entrepreneur.  It made me feel less capable. 

But after careful thought and consideration, there are also terms such as webpreneur, netpreneur, solopreneur and parentpreneur.  Why must I think that adding mom to entrepreneur is demeaning? 

Perhaps, with everything available to moms today and dads becoming more involved in their family then ever before, that is changing.  Perhaps today, mompreneurs are demonstrating the wonderful abilities of a woman to be a “super-mom.”  Or, fully capable of achieving her dreams of a family and entrepreneurship. 

What do you think?  May I call you mompreneur now, or do you still not like it?

Filed under: Taking Care of Yourself | 1 Comment »

As this year’s presidential election is about to conclude, I am deeply inspired and filled with hope.  This has been an incredible year for the minority.  I am a woman filled with hope and inspiration and give a standing ovation to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for being daring.  They are daring, ambitious individuals with big dreams.  They dared to be the first.  They dared to dream big.  The result, they gave hope to the rest of us.

I get emotional as I write this because I am too an ambitious, daring individual with big dreams.  I do not just dream.  I put much effort in making things happen. 

I am about to make a statement that got Michelle Obama in trouble.  Ok, here it is.  For the first time, I am proud of our country more then I have ever been before. 

I immigrated to USA in 1993 and I have always been proud.  However, this year I am proud more then I have ever been.  Thanks to the daring Hillary and Obama, ceilings have been shattered and more doors then ever have been opened to the minority.  This country is about making hopes and dreams come true for everyone.  This year’s election proved just that. 

I don’t support Obama, I am not sure what kind of change he will bring.  But I support him for the fact that he ran for president and worked tirelessly.  I support Hillary for going as far as no other woman did before.

Once again a standing ovation to Obama and Hillary.  I am shouting out to you, THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DID.  THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME HOPE.  THANK YOU FOR REAFFIRMING THAT WITH HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE DREAMS DO COME TRUE.

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