Tag Archive - Diary of a Mumpreneur

My Guest Posts from Diary of a Mumpreneur

June 3, 2012 in Digital, Lessons from Oola with 1 Comment

For the past few months, I’ve been guest posting on the Connect2Mum’s Diary of a Mumpreneur feature. Once each month, I provide an update of what’s going on in my business distilled down into 400 words. So far, I have not published these on this blog, but decided that going forward I will.

Because C2M requires a login, I am providing a link to the full contents of each post here with a link back at the end to the original. If you’re a mum in business, C2M is a great community, and I’d encourage you to take part.

May 2012: The Happiness of Hard Work

April 2012: Where’s My Team? 

March 2012: Toys, Toys, and more Toys! 

February 2012: The Accidental Entrepreneur

If there’s something you’d like to hear about, let me know and I’ll find the time to share it.

The Happiness of Hard Work

May 12, 2012 in Lessons from Oola with 1 Comment

Road Trip to Adelaide - Thinking Time

The long road to Adelaide

Work hard, stay focused, and good things will happen.

Is this true?

I am still not sure, but this month has been an exhilarating, manic and fun attempt to find out. And it is making me believe that maybe the hard work and focus will pay off.

As I wrote last month, the adjustment I’m making from large corporate to small business has been filled with discoveries of how challenging this road is. But, I’ve been fortunate to have taken two long road trips during the past four weeks, giving me 24 hours in the car to reflect and think Continue Reading…

Where’s My Team?

April 12, 2012 in Digital, Lessons from Oola with 0 Comments

Where's My Team

photo credit www.muehlemann.com

Whew! It is been a whirlwind month of activity. And while I enjoy the same ups, downs, and daily lessons of every small business owner, I’ve recently been longing for the teams of talented people I’ve led in the past.

Even as a manager who was happy to muck in when there were “all hands on deck” tasks that needed doing, it’s been a tricky transition going from relying on a large department to provide ideas, know how and energy to embracing that a small business life means Continue Reading…

Toys, Toys and more Toys!

March 7, 2012 in Digital, Lessons from Oola with 1 Comment

This week I am totally buzzing with excitement after attending the Australian Toy and Hobby Fair. It is the annual must attend event for toy buyers in Australia. It has been an amazing learning experience and an exhilarating chance to imagine the future of Oola.

My first spark of excitement came when I picked up my badge at registration. It was the first time I had felt excitement rather than trudging through yet another conference over the years. This time my badge said “BUYER”. Although I spent the entire day selling my business to potential suppliers, I was officially a buyer. This was going to be fun. Continue Reading…

The Accidental Entrepreneur

February 8, 2012 in Digital with 0 Comments

Kelly Brough | Diary of a Mumpreneur | Accidental Entrepreneur

Kelly Brough | Diary of a Mumpreneur | Accidental Entrepreneur

 

I have always been a career girl. And I had always wanted kids. Once I had both, I saw no reason why I should not be able to work hard and succeed at both. And so for seven long years and three babies later, I did. I pushed myself by day to compete with my male colleagues as if I had no children, burying a part of myself each morning when I left home, often under cover of darkness to jump on my bike and cycle into the office – the only possible way I could squeeze in a little exercise.

For the first several years of my working motherhood, I could not fathom that I would ever feel the need to deny the existence of the most precious part of my life. Continue Reading…