The ParentPreneur Edge

Praise for The ParentPreneur Edge

"Who needs an MBA? Julie's book teaches you how to use your parenting experiences to build a business. Brilliant stuff!"
--Mary Cantando, author, The Woman's Advantage: 20 Women Entrepreneurs Show You What It Takes to Grow Your Business

"Finally! Something that successfully illustrates that parenthood is clearly an asset to gaining the edge in business and success. Julie has written a valuable book that inspires, motivates, and educates."
--Gina Robison-Billups, President, Moms In Business Network and The International Association of Working Mothers

"Whether you already have your own business or are thinking about starting one, you need to read this book. Full of actionable ideas that, when adopted, will bring benefits to your business before you're even done reading the book!"
--Dr. Tom Hill, coauthor, Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul

"At last--a book that demolishes the polarization of parenting and work! The skills and talents developed through parenting are a mirror image of those developed and needed in entrepreneurship. Julie Lenzer Kirk's . . . firsthand experience blows away abstractions and shows both parents and entrepreneurs how to thrive. This is a necessary and inspiring book for anyone wanting a whole life."
--Margaret Heffernan, author, The Naked Truth and How She Does It, Visiting Professor in Entrepreneurship, Simmons College School of Management

"Julie Lenzer Kirk integrates parenting and entrepreneurship in a way that incorporates the best of both worlds with a message that screams: You can do it all and enjoy it too!"
--Claudia Morrell, Executive Director, Center for Women and Information Technology

"This engaging book will inspire readers by showing them how the lessons and skills they've learned as parents can give them an edge in launching a business."
--Rieva Lesonsky, Editorial Director, Entrepreneur magazine

"Julie makes the case that parenthood and entrepreneurship are the two toughest jobs you will ever love. Successful parenting skills can be put to great use when you journey down the exciting path of entrepreneurship. This book will help readers make that important connection."
--Monica Smiley, Publisher and CEO, Enterprising Women magazine

Foreword ix

Chapter 1 Running a Business Is Like Raising a Child 1

My Third Child 1

Embracing the Parallels 4

Business or Parenting? 6

Embracing the Edge 11

The Personal Side 12

Chapter 2 Preparing for Entrepreneurship 15

Introduction 16

Deciding to Take the Plunge 16

Thinking About the Future 23

Keeping It Simple 28

Having a Financial Plan 34

Redefining Control 38

Resources for Writing a Business Plan 42

Other Resources for Starting a Business 43

Chapter 3 Launching 45

Introduction 47

Forgetting the Pain 47

Keeping Names in Perspective 50

Passion Is Required 53

Becoming Bonded 59

Sleep Is a Luxury 62

Maintaining Perspective 66

Additional Resources 69

Chapter 4 The Early Years 71

Introduction 72

Choosing Laughter over Tears 72

Learning “On the Job” 74

Wearing Many Hats 77

Teaching Your Baby to Feed Herself 79

Never Wake a Sleeping Baby 81

Spit (up) Happens 85

Persuading Creatively 89

Waiting for Delayed Gratification 92

Surviving the Terrible Twos 97

Embracing “No” as Good 100

Additional Resources for The Early Years 105

Chapter 5 Ramping Up: A Time to Learn 107

Introduction 107

Following Through 108

Disciplining in Anger 111

Refusing to See the Truth 114

Earning Respect 117

Guarding Your Time 121

Knowing Your Kid 125

Celebrating the Small Stuff 129

Picking Your Battles 132

Getting Rid of the “I Can’ts” 135

Asking for Support 137

Resources for Growing Businesses 144

Chapter 6 Growing Pains 147

Introduction 148

Allowing for Mistakes 148

Combating Entitlement 152

Getting Out of the Details 155

Creating Consistency 158

Encouraging Productive Conflict 162

Choosing Your Friends Wisely 168

Not Taking It Personally 171

Communicating Effectively 173

Celebrating Uniqueness 179

Additional Resources 184

Chapter 7 Emerging Independence 187

Introduction 188

Making Your Presence Known 188

Flying Alone 196

Training Your Replacement 199

Setting Boundaries 203

Wanting to Be Liked 207

Fair Is Not Equal 212

The Team Approach 214

Resources for Businesses’ Emerging Independence 217

Chapter 8 Exercising Your Exit 219

Introduction 221

Business Exit—The Sale 221

Walking Away 228

The Succession Plan 233

What Next? 234

Recommended Reading 236

Chapter 9 Having It All—Myth or Reality? 237

Overcoming Stereotypes 238

Show Me the Money! 244

Identifying the Glass Balls 245

Defining Your Model of Success 249

Providing a Role Model 252

The “B” Word 257

A New Model 261

Chapter 10 The Edge 265

Resourcefulness 266

Perseverance 267

Patience 267

Passion 268

Vision 269

The Bottom Line 270

Index 271

"If you are a parent, or an entrepreneur, or want to run your own business, this book is inspiring...." (HotBrandsCoolPlaces.com, May 2008) Julie Lenzer Kirk is an award-winning entrepreneur who is passionate about empowering others into entrepreneurship. She is a business owner, mentor, author, international speaker, community volunteer, and mother of two. Julie founded her first company, a software and services firm called Applied Creative Technologies, Inc. (ACT), when her children were young, and grew her business to multimillions in revenues. After cashing out and selling ACT's software to a business partner, she now teaches entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and runs another business, Path Forward International. Through this new venture, she offers workshops, consulting, and keynotes to give entrepreneurial companies and individuals a "Boot in the Butt" to launch new ideas, grow existing ventures, find their work/life balance, and fine-tune their leadership skills. You can subscribe to Julie's monthly Boot in the Butt newsletter through her Web site at www.JulieLenzerKirk.com.

Most people think you can't be serious about your business and also be a good parent. Or, if you're a good parent, you have to let things slide at work. The truth is, says Julie Lenzer Kirk, there are more similarities between these two roles than there are differences. Working parents share the same experiences and develop comparable skills—skills that can be drawn upon to provide an advantage in any business.

Unfortunately, there's no entrance exam for becoming an entrepreneur, and no way to earn a degree in parenting. Most of us start businesses or become parents without all the skills or tools needed to succeed, but we do it anyway. By sharing compelling stories of dedicated parents who run successful businesses, The ParentPreneur Edge offers inspiring proof that common wisdom is wrong. You'll learn how the abilities and lessons learned in one facet of your life can easily be applied to the other.

Julie Lenzer Kirk, a successful entrepreneur and mother, offers the word "ParentPreneur" as a way to describe entrepreneurs who are also parents. In The ParentPreneur Edge, she provides a proven, winning formula for everyone who's looking to embark on their own business adventure—or take their existing business to the next level—while still making time to balance a family life.

Julie has found five key traits that give parents an edge in their careers, whether they are running their own business or working in a larger organization: resourcefulness, perseverance, patience, passion, and vision. An expert who developed a multimillion-dollar business while raising her young children, she includes a wealth of practical advice on launching, growing, and running an entrepreneurial business.

The ultimate similarity between parenting and entrepreneurial leadership, this book reveals, is that you are building a legacy. As parents, we want to raise children who are happy, responsible citizens. As entrepreneurs, many of us create companies that we hope will make a contribution to our customers, our employees, and our community. We want to make a positive impact on the world, or at least our corner of it. The ParentPreneur Edge will show you how.

Praise for The ParentPreneur Edge

"Who needs an MBA? Julie's book teaches you how to use your parenting experiences to build a business. Brilliant stuff!"
—Mary Cantando, author, The Woman's Advantage: 20 Women Entrepreneurs Show You What It Takes to Grow Your Business

"Finally! Something that successfully illustrates that parenthood is clearly an asset to gaining the edge in business and success. Julie has written a valuable book that inspires, motivates, and educates."
—Gina Robison-Billups, President, Moms In Business Network and The International Association of Working Mothers

"Whether you already have your own business or are thinking about starting one, you need to read this book. Full of actionable ideas that, when adopted, will bring benefits to your business before you're even done reading the book!"
—Dr. Tom Hill, coauthor, Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul

"At last—a book that demolishes the polarization of parenting and work! The skills and talents developed through parenting are a mirror image of those developed and needed in entrepreneurship. Julie Lenzer Kirk's . . . firsthand experience blows away abstractions and shows both parents and entrepreneurs how to thrive. This is a necessary and inspiring book for anyone wanting a whole life."
—Margaret Heffernan, author, The Naked Truth and How She Does It, Visiting Professor in Entrepreneurship, Simmons College School of Management

"Julie Lenzer Kirk integrates parenting and entrepreneurship in a way that incorporates the best of both worlds with a message that screams: You can do it all and enjoy it too!"
—Claudia Morrell, Executive Director, Center for Women and Information Technology

"This engaging book will inspire readers by showing them how the lessons and skills they've learned as parents can give them an edge in launching a business."
—Rieva Lesonsky, Editorial Director, Entrepreneur magazine

"Julie makes the case that parenthood and entrepreneurship are the two toughest jobs you will ever love. Successful parenting skills can be put to great use when you journey down the exciting path of entrepreneurship. This book will help readers make that important connection."
—Monica Smiley, Publisher and CEO, Enterprising Women magazine