Monday Mumpreneur with Melanie Kissell

26 Comments Monday Mumpreneurs

Every Monday we feature a mumpreneur who’s ready and willing to open up their lives to us.  They share with us their motivation, challenges and proudest moments in business and they also tell us how they take time to nurture themselves. It’s lovely to have them here at Mums Got A Business and we hope you enjoy connecting with them too.

I'm absolutely delighted to introduce you to Melanie.  We met online during a blog challenge (she is the queen of blog challenges, let me tell you) and became instant friends.

She is the kindest, most generous person and she nurtures everyone she meets.  I just know you'll love reading about her and I hope you will connect with her and learn from her wisdom, as much as I have.

Name: Melanie Kissell

Website: Solomompreneur

Brief description of your site:

Solo Mompreneur shares the entrepreneurial mindset and online marketing strategies with savvy mompreneurs and moms who want to ditch the corporate world and work from home.

How many children do you have?

Four talented, beautiful, brilliant, and resourceful young women call me “Mom”. My daughters range in age from 29 to 19 and my youngest are twins. I’m a single mom and I also have two four-legged furry “children” named Kona and Maxwell. That’s “Max” in my photo.

Where do you live?

I reside in the U.S. in Southern California in a valley at the base of the Angeles National Forest. I awaken every morning to a beautiful panoramic view of the foothills and lots of palm trees.

PC or Mac?

My household is divided. I have a PC and my twins have Mac’s. Personally, I prefer using a desktop computer.

Tell us about your business

By nature and character, I’m a nurturer. So it won’t surprise anyone that I’ve been a medical professional for many years in the field of perinatal education. I nurture others through teaching. In my online business, I share my talents, skills, and expertise with mompreneurs who have great tenacity but who are exhausted, short on time, and tapped out financially.

I’m a shoestring marketing expert who loves to toss in a dash of magic and a splash of mindset! Most of the mompreneurs I meet need help with blogging, social media marketing, and developing a personal and powerful brand online.

What motivated you to become a mumpreneur?

My motivation was twofold. As a role model for my daughters, I wanted them to learn it’s possible to design a life that’s right for you and it’s perfectly okay to break with tradition. Working for someone else in the corporate world is a choice, but it’s not for everybody. I wanted them to witness and embrace an entrepreneurial spirit.

Secondly, I’ve always had a strong desire to be my own boss, steer my own ship, and work exclusively from home.

What’s been your biggest challenge in business?

No question about it, not having nearly enough time to focus on my business has been my biggest challenge. Since I also work a few part time jobs outside the home, I have very stringent time constraints surrounding my business-building activities.

How have you overcome it?

I made the conscious decision to relax and accept the fact I cannot manufacture more minutes on the clock so I must stay within my boundaries. I’ve learned to use productivity tools that help keep me organized and on track – notebooks, timers, calendars, templates, etc.

Most of all, I’ve learned to say “No, thank you” when an invitation comes my way to get involved in something I know I can’t comfortably fit into my schedule. It’s a difficult lesson to learn but one of the most valuable lessons for mompreneurs.

What’s been your proudest business moment?

I feel blessed to have experienced so many poignant and exhilarating moments as a mompreneur. But the most memorable and hallmark moment was when a very prominent and successful business owner wrote to say, “I see you everywhere online!” I was beaming with pride when I received her note. It made me realize I had done a great job of building relationships and establishing a presence online.

What’s your favourite catchphrase or quote?

Oh, this question is almost impossible for me to answer – I’m a quote junkie! But here is one of my favourites:

“Now that it's all over, what did you really do yesterday that's worth mentioning?” ~Coleman Cox

This quote always reminds me to make the most of each day and, more importantly, to add value to the lives of others.

What do you do to relax or nurture yourself?

I enjoy being outdoors. So I grab a cup of my favourite coffee or tea and head for the patio with a book or magazine in hand. If I‟m not careful, though, I can sit there for hours! I also find it very relaxing to take long soaks in the bath. And I love listening to music.

What was the last treat you bought for yourself?

I purchased some special skin care products and lavender bath oil. I must admit I don’t treat myself often enough so I’ve made a commitment to change that scenario. Hard-working moms deserve a little treat once in a while!

Favourite colour: Without hesitation, I love blue. However, most people tell me I look best in different shades of mauve.

Favourite flowers: I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a flower I didn’t like. But my all-time favourites are tulips and paperwhites. I seem to have an affinity for flowers that are grown from bulbs.

What one piece of advice would you like to give to new mumpreneurs?

Although you’ll need to wear lots of different “hats” as a mumpreneur, keep the hat of “flexibility” permanently affixed to your head! It looks great with any style of clothing and in any kind of weather.

Don’t beat yourself up, emotionally, if your days don’t always go as planned. Roll with the punches, stay confident, and meet your daily life challenges and business challenges one at a time.

Remember – you only have two hands, two feet, and one voice.
You can’t produce miracles – but you can pledge to make every day magical and meaningful!

Fancy featuring as one of our amazing mums? Drop me an email over on the contact page and I’ll be in touch.   And remember to drop by every Monday to welcome our latest profiled mum.