Mompreneur: Christie Crowder
Company: CGC Connections
Website: www.cgcconnections.com
Blog: www.chrisitecrowder.com
Tell us about your business
I am a certified Life Enrichment Professional or more commonly called Life Coach. My company is CGC Connections – Life Coaching for Women. My practice is centered around helping women change negative thinking, embrace imperfections, look beyond labels and learn to live in and love the chaos of our every day lives.
What inspired you to start your business
I have always been passionate about helping women but I think having children really did it. I had another business prior to this one and also wrote two books… one of my own (Your Big Sister’s Guide to Surviving College) and the other I co-authored (A Book Is Born). Wife, Mother, Author, Entrepreneur… I was constantly being asked “How did you do it?” I was always telling other women my story and I soon found that I was truly inspiring them to think out of the box and get creative about what they really wanted in life. I got really charged up when they would call me or e-mail me months later and tell me how my encouragement lead them to pursue their passions. I soon realized that I had a “calling”. I also wanted a simpler life… I was working long and physically demanding hours which was fine when I didn’t have kids. I wanted more control of my schedule and work load.
How long has your business been in business
About 2 years
What did you do in your past work life
For 7 years prior to becoming a coach, I owned and operated a Facilities Project Management company that specialized in corporate office relocations. Basically, I planned office moves for a living.
What is your ideal work day like
Ha! Ideal work day??? That would be a day that everything I set out to do would get done in the order I set it in. Now, being a WAHM/SAHM, that rarely happens. I do try to compartmentalize my day as much as I can so I can focus on one subject (mommy, coach, maid) at a time. I try to keep my “business hours” between 10am-2pm Tues thru Thurs… my 1 year old son is with me all day on Mondays and Fridays so that is all domestic (but I sneak in some computer time during naps) . My 4 year old daughter goes to Pre-K 5 days a week. So here goes…
Tuesdays & Thursdays
7am-8:30 – get kids ready for school/daycare
8:30 – 9:30 – breakfast/coffee for me, clean up, throw in a load of laundry (or some other household chore)
9:30-10:00 – boot up computer, check messages, review client files for any coaching sessions
10:00-12pm – blogging, writing, coaching sessions, administrative tasks
12:00-12:30 – break for lunch, personal calls
12:30-2:30 – blogging, writing, coaching sessions, administrative tasks
2:30 – 3:30 – quick household chore, power nap before getting the kiddies
3:30-5:30 – pick up kids…why so long? My aunt keeps my son (she has an in-home daycare) so we always chit-chat and sometimes have dinner if hubby is working late.
What have been some of your major successes and challenges
Successes…definitely being a published author. That is so big…I didn’t realize how big until I did it. It takes a tremendous amount of courage and faith in yourself. Writing my books was definitely the catalyst to the decision to coach. Also the fact that I have been self employed for almost a decade. The fact that I built my relocation company from the ground up and worked it for seven years solely on referrals! I never made a cold call in the entire history of the business. Challenges…doing all of this and keeping a relatively balanced home and income…big challenge! Turning my brain off… I am a naturally enterprising person and I am FULL of new ideas… though I love that about myself, sometimes I would just like to turn it off and give my mind a rest!
On those impossible days, what motivates you to keep going: Most people would think that since I am a Life Coach, I don’t have impossible days. Nothing could be further from the truth! I am not immune to bad feelings and bad days. What keeps me going is remembering the reasons why I chose this life and that I am doing what I love. I also remember that I have made it this far and I was not put on this earth to fail. It is all about faith… on many levels. I hold to that when the going gets rough.
Do you have a motivational quote
I have a few… “It’s okay to sit on your pity pot once in a while as long as you flush it when you get up.” Also: “If you build it…it will come.” This one is from Dr. Phil and I don’t have it exactly as he said it but the gist is… “the best thing a mother can do for her family take care of herself.” This on is just for fun from Dr. Kathleen at The Stress Institute…”I meditate. I burn candles. I drink green tea…and I still want to smack someone!”
If there were one piece of advice you could give to your children about running a successful business, what would it be
First I would say is never doubt your abilities and special gifts…you are a light in this world and a force to be reckoned with! The other would be if your business is something you are passionate about (and if you are in business for yourself, you should be)…be sure to have fun… if you are not having fun, it’s just work…why would you want to be miserable working for yourself? Don’t do it for the money…you will make more if you are doing it for “the love of the game”
What is your balancing secret in managing a business and family
LOL! I am still trying to figure that one out!! But one important thing I can say to work on that balance is put everything in it’s place… resist the urge to multi-task too much! If it is “mommy-time”, get off the computer! If it is “work-time”, tell your best friend you’ll call her back later. Sometimes it is really hard to do that…I am guilty of it occasionally but being aware of it is key. Sometimes we dont even realize that we are doing 10 things at once and still not getting anything done. Multi-task when appropriate…pay attention to your surroundings and you will know what is right and what isnt. Before you send that quick e-mail (that will most likely not be so quick) take a look at what is going on around you first to make sure nothing else requires your attention. (hey this is turning out to look like a great blog post…LOL)
Do you have a favorite business tool or resource
The INTERNET!! Nuff said! The “Ning” brand of social networking communities are fantastic. Twitter and Stumble have increased my website traffic. I love to write… therefore I blog! I have no idea how we survived without e-mail! Love being online!
What advice would you offer to aspiring mompreneurs
Basically what I said for my children and what I said about balance. Also to always remember that YOU ARE WORTH IT!!
What’s next for your business
I just launched some Self-Study Coaching Systems and some online courses. I understand that sometimes women want to explore their authenticity on their own and in their own time so I developed ways for them to do just that. Included with these systems is optional coaching sessions with me for when they are ready to actually express themselves with another person. Work/Life/Mommy balance and Time Management is actually not just a passion and what I coach on…it is kind of an obsession (LOL)… I am working on a new blog that deals with just that! I am hoping to launch it in early October! I also have a couple of manuscripts in the works…no idea of when they will be completed!
Your two cents sales pitch
CGC Connections offers life enrichment coaching services to bring you closer to an imperfectly inspired life… a life you love that excels within the chaos of the everyday!
To learn more:
CGC Connections: www.cgcconnections.com
My Life – A Work In Progress Blog: www.christiecrowder.com
Your Big Sister’s Guide to Surviving College: www.bigsisterguides.com
A Book Is Born: www.abookisborn.com
