It’s Friday and once again those of you who tweet have seen the #FF (Follow Friday) stream through your feed every Friday. Once I again I am on my quest to get to know some of the regulars in my twitter feed to find out more about who they are, what they do in more than 120 characters.
Heading over to their twitter bio is a great start, some people have websites that give more information about who they are and what they do. But I still wanted to know more. I wanted to reach the real person and find out their Who, What, Why, How and When information. Something that could make me take a second look and find out how their business and my business could connect and collaborate on changing the world. Even if that change only meant a change in how I saw a small part of the world.
Today’s spotlight focus is Stacey Curnow from Midwife for Your Life. To find out more, read below and head over to her website, follow her on twitter and other social media and make a connection.
Business Name: Midwife for Your Life
Name: Stacey Curnow
Website: www.midwifeforyourlife.com
Facebook url: http://www.facebook.com/StaceyCurnow
Twitter url: https://twitter.com/#!/StaceyCurnow
Number of years in business: 3 years
Stacey Curnow of Midwife for Your Life
What industry do you work in and what sets your company apart from the competition?
I’m a purpose and success coach for moms, especially empty nesters, who want to SOAR after their kids leave the nest.
What separates me from other coaches or mentors is that I’ve created a proven system, The Multi-Passion Mama Productivity System, that gives my clients extremely specific, step-by-step processes for getting more clarity on their dreams and serious traction on their goals
How did you get started in the industry?
I’ve been a nurse midwife working in a busy public health hospital setting for over 15 years, but about 3 years ago I realized that while there were many aspects of my career that I loved, there were also many aspects that I didn’t love. (Anyone who has ever been employed in a large bureaucracy knows what I’m talking about!)
But I felt stuck because my husband is seriously underemployed and I’ve always provided the income and benefits (like health insurance) to support our family.
Every month felt like I was spinning a roulette wheel, hoping and praying that I would have enough courage to finally quit and devote my time and energy to work I absolutely loved – work that I knew could make a BIG difference in the world.
Back then I used to think to myself… “If ONLY I knew that I could support my family from doing work I LOVE, everything would be different…”
Finally, I got fed up with wishing and hoping and studied everything I could to make my business sustainable and profitable. I quit my hospital job in October of 2011 and I’ve never regretted it.
What inspires you to be a solo entrepreneur and continue working independently?
I highly value service to others and freedom to design my own days and those values inspire me every day. Here’s what I want you to know: Making money doing what you LOVE transforms your life and the world!
What product do you think every business should have and why?
A contact management system, like Highrise. The most important thing you can do in your business is build and nurture relationships. I get to know everything I can about my clients and prospects…from their birthdays to their kids’ names…and I rely on my database to “remember” all these important details. There’s nothing else that will help you understand your clients and how to serve them better.
What charity do you donate to and why is it special to you?
I practice tithing, so I give a lot to people and organizations that “feed me spiritually”, but one of my favorites is Kiva, the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend to entrepreneurs around the globe. I even created my own “lending team” and you can join us by clicking here. (Kiva will even give you $25 FREE to loan to the entrepreneur of your choice for following this link!)
What is on your “NEED WANT LOVE” list to do in life?
Partner with Christy Turlington (Every Mother Counts) and Midwives for Haiti. Be a Hay House Bestselling Author. Break 6 figures for my business. Vacation in Costa Rica (surf camp!). Give a TEDx talk about using your struggles as a basis for understanding your purpose-driven work.
What industry trends are you following that interest you?
None. I get overwhelmed pretty easily by technology and try not to follow trends that will trigger me.
Who are your mentors?
I’ve had many! (I’ve never been without a mentor since I started my entrepreneurial journey!) Currently I’m working with Naomi Dunford (of IttyBiz) and Pam Slim (of Escape from Cubicle Nation).
What entrepreneurs inspire you to live brilliantly?
So many! Definitely high on the list are Pam Slim, Naomi Dunford, Marie Forleo, Desiree Adaway, Lissa Rankin, Amy Ahlers, and Danielle LaPorte.
How do you promote your business?
My favorite method is my weekly email newsletter, Special Delivery. It’s free and in it I share stories and articles that are filled with tips, tools, and techniques to create an authentic and happy life. And I’d love to share it with you. You can subscribe here.
What challenges did you face promoting your business in the start up phase?
So many! Starting a business requires a HUGE commitment of time, energy and money. I’m glad I decided I was going to stay at my “day job” and build my business as a side hustle until it could support my family. It took over 2 years, and that seems to be the average.
What tip would you give a new person starting out in your industry?
Building a business presents THE greatest opportunity for personal development (next to raising a child or being in a long-term love relationship): Invest in yourself and get coaching from women entrepreneurs who are doing what you want to do.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Categories: Business, Spotlight . Tags: #businessmoms #successcoach . Author: suzettemariel . Comments: Leave a comment
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