Ready to Learn Mom

You know you picked the wrong business partner when…

• They don’t believe in the power of the internet!
• They wanted to stop our website, after we had invested $10,000 to get it to be a self-sufficient, traffic producing and income generating site!
• Didn’t want to overnight product samples to the Boston Globe, per their request to be reviewed and place in the Sunday Book Review Section.  The cost of overnight samples:  $13.  The Value of the placement:  Priceless!

Need I say more?

Smiles – Stacey

Stacey Kannenberg
“Ready To Learn Mom

I am a Home Based Working Mom as well as an author, publisher, consultant, speaker, motivator, keynote, spokesperson and Mom CEO.  My publishing “house”, Cedar Valley Publishing, has sold over 60,000 books and was just voted as a top 50 Children’s Publisher!  And I mean “house” literally!

Here are my tips on how to work at home with kids and balance it all:

• Plan to do something fun each day for the kids: host a lemonade stand for a few hours, have a pie or water fight, do the water balloon toss, create a chalk masterpiece on the sidewalk, have a picnic lunch at the park, go to the beach for a few hours, take a hike, ride bikes — the more you make it fun the more they are willing to let you work. 
• Empower them into the process.  Find things that they can help you with for your business! From adding postage on mailings, to helping balance the checkbook, answering the phone, helping me think of things to tweet about, to being involved in video blogging, add them to the team! My kids know my email backlog and will often ask me how many I am behind and they motivate me to get caught up and celebrate when I can get catch up! They will challenge me to get say 20 more done and then we can play!
• Work around their schedule so they still have summer fun activities:  take them to swimming lessons and bring the blackberry; have a picnic in the park for lunch and if you end up spending more hours playing, make up the hours before they get up or later after they are in bed.
• Find backup: a college student or high school student to help during days when you simply can’t be interrupted during conference or client calls and media requests.  Find sitters that your really kids want to “play with” who are home with you while you are working in another room. 
• Set the boundaries with your kids and explain they get to be at home with you, rather than at a daycare all day, but this is a privilege that can not be abused or off to daycare they go.  If you have older kids who have never experienced a daycare, see if you can do drop off service for a few hours and then ask them to make the choice:  home or daycare.  They might like the activities of playing with a room full of other kids and if that is the case, try to build in this drop off service as a once a week treat, depending on your budget or they might love being at home and help to work hard with you to make this work.
• Have a safe area where you can see kids playing outside.  They sit outside my work window and have tea parties on the covered porch and make that into their playhouse while I working inside or they drive up and down the driveway, outside my window on their bikes or dribble the basketball up and down the driveway or play catch where I can see them!  If they are playing in the backyard, away from my window, I grab some work and take the phone in the room that I can see in the back yard.  While they are in the house, I fold laundry in the same room that they are in and make it into a family activity!
• If I am on the phone and snap my fingers they know they are being too loud and I explain to my clients that I work from home around the kid schedule.  I can make their lunch while I am on the phone and multitask with only my kids knowing that we are all in the same room.  I have done conferences from the car, using my speaker phone and letting them listen to the conversation from the backseat, playing their hand held video games with the mute on their sound and they like to hear what is going on in the business.  They often get to listen to my phone messages to give them a taste of what running our family business is all about! I ask their opinion and make them feel a valued team player because they are — they are made up if the demographic I am trying to reach.
• Network with other work-at-home moms and do day swaps — I will have all the kids on this day if you can take them on that day — no money changes hands and it is a win/win for you all.  Many times the other kids occupy your kids and you can actually get a bit of work in between the fun!
• Take time to practice balancing!  A tight rope walker doesn’t just wake-up and walk around a rope, 500 feet up in the air without first practicing!

Smiles – Stacey

Stacey Kannenberg
“Get Ready To Learn Mom

When I was in my 20’s I started a list of 10 things I wanted to do before I die –  fly a plane, sky dive, bungee jump, scuba dive, write a book, start a business, travel outside the USA, get married, be a mom, build a house and I have done them all!!!  I started another list at age 40 when I started my business and I have a few left to accomplish! 

I posted this on my blog for New Years and thought you might be interested in some of the things on the list for your story!  The ones in bold I have accomplished!

RULES: There are 100 statements and you bold the ones you have done. Grab it and play for yourself!!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to DisneyWorld
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Rocked a baby to sleep!
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Been the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (solar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32.  Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Been in a movie
55. Visited the Great Wall of China
56. Started a business
57. Taken a martial arts class
58. Visited Russia
59. Served at a soup kitchen
60. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
61. Gone whale watching
62. Got flowers for no reason
63. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
64. Bounced a check
65. Flown in a helicopter
66. Saved a favorite childhood toy
67. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
68. Eaten caviar
69. Pieced a quilt
70. Sood in Times Square
71. Toured the Everglades
72. Been fired from a job
73. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
74. Broken a bone
75. Been on a speeding motorcycle
76. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
77. Published a book
78. Visited the Vatican
79. Bought a brand new car
80. Walked in Jerusalem
81. Had your picture in the newspaper
82. Read the entire Bible
83. Visited the White House
84. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
85. Had chicken pox
86. Saved someone’s life
87. Sat on a jury
88. Met someone famous
89. Joined a book club
90. Lost a loved one
91. Had a baby
92. Seen the Alamo in person
93. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
94. Been involved in a lawsuit
95. Owned a cell phone
96. Been stung by a bee
97. Read an entire book in one day
98. Ran a lemonade stand!
99. Did door-to-door sales! 
100. Went bungee jumping

Smiles – Stacey

Stacey Kannenberg
“Ready To Learn Mom”

Jill Hare | Editor, TheApple.com

Educators need to speak carefully… 

Some teachers have the gift of language down pat. They know how to use their words in a way that everyone around them feels good about themselves and motivated to do their work. However, there are some teachers out there who let their adult sense of humor and frankness go too far. What one person may think is perfectly acceptable language, another may find rude and hurtful. I asked my education colleagues and members here on TheApple to share quotes they’d heard but wish they hadn’t. Think about your words carefully, because once you’ve spoken, there’s no taking it back.

Click Here to read more…

I am not sure why I was actually dreading the event.   Yes, I have gained weight since I graduated from High School 25 years ago…whatever! I wasn’t the only one!  I was excited that it was to be an outside picnic with our families invited.  I was always a late bloomer, so it did not seem to surprise many that my kids were 5 and 7 along with a handful of others who had children later in life, but I was overwhelmed by the number of high school classmates who had kids right out of high school and were already grandparents!

My entire family had fun, even my husband.  My kids found a group of older and younger kids and were entertained the entire time.   My husband heard stories that he had never heard and met many new and old faces.  I am so glad I introduced my husband to my first boyfriend and was amazed at how alike they really were: both into hunting, fishing and watching football.  They even made a date to go fishing on Lake Michigan together.  I was happy he married an old school friend of mine so that we could get together while our husbands go fishing.  And we all laughed when we found out that their daughter lived near us and was dating my husband’s cousin!   Fate?

I tried to talk to everyone and was shocked at how many different career paths:  three owners of manufacturing companies, a state patrol sergeant, several plumbers, a nursing home director, several restaurant owners, patent owners and publishers, a few in real estate, banking, entertainment and employees for the airlines.  Since I am always networking this day was no different.  So a promise was made to keep in touch with a handful solely for business purposes.

Many people gained weight.  Two had lost too much weight and looked very sick, pale and washed out.  A few had lost their hair, many wore white and gray proudly.  I did not recognize a few people and would never have done so until they were pointed out to me.  But the majority of people looked very much like the day we all graduated.

Here is what I would recommend to those of you that have the big day looming in the distance.

Remind yourself to put on a big smile and set out to enjoy the event.  It’s just one moment in time.  And sadly it went way too fast!

So if you are trying to lose weight before your big day, make sure you are truly doing it to please yourself, because if you are not, you probably will not stick to it.

If you are using this day as a day to motivate you to get in shape, great!  Make sure you set a realistic and safe goal of a few pounds a week and make exercise and eating right part of your daily plan.

And even if you do not lose the weight, here’s the most important thing:  be a happy and positive person and let your spirit shine, because even with a few extra pounds people seem to gravitate to those people that are happy and fun!   Enjoy!

Are you getting ready for a reunion?  What steps are you taking to prepare?  Are you anxious or apprehensive? Or a little of both?  Please share your thoughts with us.

Smiles – Stacey

Stacey Kannenberg
“Ready To Learn Mom”

I am the queen of using all the free marketing techniques available.  These tips helped build my own company with a phone, computer and shoestring budget to a national platform; selling over 60,000 self-published books, being reviewed by over 700 mom bloggers and profiles on over 40 + social networking sites to become a top 50 Children’s Publisher for 2009. 

My top 7 marketing techniques:

1. Take “Google Alerts” out for your name and company and also on “keywords” that target your marketing niche.  I have Google Alerts on “kindergarten” and “Let’s Get Ready for School”.  Everyday Google sends me a list of free leads that tag all the stories and blogs that include my key word(s). 
2. Post genuine comments on those blogs contributing to the conversation, not “buy me, buy me, buy me.”  Such as, “I see you are worried about your son going to Kindergarten; I would love to send him a set of my books to enjoy!”  It works, and those 700+ mom blog reviews are priceless!  Yes, giving away products will come back to you!!! I want those bloggers to have my books to see and touch and share with someone else!  Those blogs are amazing, many with pictures of their kids with my books and actually quotes from the kids playing with them!  They will live forever on-line and increase, as I like to call it, your “Google Footprint” or the number of records on the search engines.  This is free and natural SEO.
3. Elevate your platform by networking with movers and shakers in your industry.  If you want to be an author, start reviewing your favorite author’s books on Amazon.   Put yourself in a position to network with and meet other authors!   I reviewed Jim Stovall’s Ultimate Gift and a few years later he emailed me asking if I would like an advanced copy of Keeper of the Flame.  A few weeks ago he sent me a nice note with The King’s Legacy.  PRICELESS connection that elevates my platform too!
4. Belong to all the free sites for media leads:  www.helpareporter.com; pitchrate.com; and reporterssource.com, to name a few.  I have been interviewed on hundreds of radio shows, over 30 parenting magazines, over 30 television segments and 15 newspapers!  Can you say free credibility?
5. Develop a platform to be bigger than you – for me it’s about educating preschoolers at the core to empower parents, kids and teachers to all be involved.  If you teach a child to wear their seatbelt they will re-teach and train everyone to wear it, too.  If you teach a child what they need to know for preschool, they will empower their parents to be involved in the process every step of the way!  “Mom, let’s practice shapes and colors because I need to know them for Kindergarten!”  I am creating a brand that will live long after me!!  When parents, kids and teachers think Kindergarten they are starting to think of my books!  So my goal is to be the Good Night Moon of Kindergarten!
6. Become the expert and pitch your local media to develop long-term relationships and start your media platform.  The local media can help you grow to the national media.  Many of my favorite local media stars are now some of my biggest fans!!  I would never have gotten this far without all their support!
7. Create social networking profiles on all the sites that match your target market as well as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.  I am on over 40+ sites.  Even the sites that I am not active in get traffic.  I have one that has over 24,000 page views, another over 5,000, 6,000, 150 — now times that by 40 and that’s free exposure for YOU!  The more people than know your name, the bigger you will be!

Hope that helps!

Smiles – Stacey

Stacey Kannenberg
“Ready To Learn Mom”

I am an author, publisher, consultant, blogger, speaker, motivator, keynote, spokesmom and Mom CEO and run 4 companies from home, around my family schedule.  I just did a segment on Milwaukee’s Morning Blend talking about balance using these talking points:

• Balance takes practice!
• Learn to say NO and not always YES!
• Carve out time for yourself daily. 
• Only you can make you happy!
• STOP comparing you to unrealistic role models.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff
• Good is good enough
• Be the best you can – one small change a day!
• Add an extra serving of carrots and a banana to keep your body in balance, too!

Smiles – Stacey

Stacey Kannenberg
“Ready To Learn Mom”

• Empowering our family to be part of our business
• Keep moving forward and looking at obstacles as opportunities
• Network with amazing people that inspire us to continue to elevate our platform
• Our platform has become a movement, larger than our products
• Our mantra, coined by my husband:  “The Dream is Clear, To Believe is the Reward”

Smiles – Stacey

Stacey Kannenberg
“Ready To Learn Mom”

The key to a child’s success in school is directly related to parental involvement in school and extracurricular activities.  I believe that it is the job of the parent to build a network of support for their kids, at home and school.  If you want your child to have friends at school, help them build a network.  Start networking at the park, zoo, church, library, school events, community activities, PTA and school board meetings as a family to help build a base of friends for the entire family. 

Tips for families getting ready for that first day of school:

• Make an appointment to visit the school with your child to turn it into a fun adventure;
• If your school or teacher is in session during the summer, see if you can visit inside the classroom
• Involve your child each step of the way!  Asking them if they would like hot or cold lunch and explain that hot lunch is made at school and cold lunch is made at home and brought to school in a lunch box to eat in the cafeteria;
• If you live near school, do frequent “drive-bys” and point out the school and playground;
• If you can, during off-school time, stop and play on the equipment or practice walking up to the door pretending it is the first day of school;
• Share stories with your child about your days in Kindergarten:  “Mommy used to play on the monkey bars, do you know which one is the monkey bars?”;
• Ask your child questions to get them excited and talking about school;
• If the public is welcome, visit the school and school library, to get your child familiar with the new school layout;
• Check the school schedule to see if they have any summer events coming up that would interest your child and get involved now;
• Find other families that will be attending the school and plan some summer fun together.  If you don’t know anyone at the school, call the school for direction;
• Join the PTO/PTA!  This is a MUST and a great way to build a network of friends at home and school;
• Start reading everyday for 15 minutes with your child – start practicing this now, as this will be a requirement when they begin school;
• Start making those doctor appointments for immunizations, eye and dental visits;
• Make sure your child is familiar with the kindergarten curriculum:  the alphabet mixed up; numbers 0-10 mixed up, basic colors, shapes, coin, counting objects to 10 and how far they can count to 100;
• Practice will make for a great first day of school!

Smiles – Stacey

Stacey Kannenberg
“Ready To Learn Mom”

1. Set up an environment where it is easy to have fun:  the pool, the beach, the playground, or a big backyard or playroom full of fun things to do.
2. Structure it for parents and kids to both have fun.  Depending on the size, pitch in for extra help to be there to keep an eye on the kids and allow the parents to socialize with the playgroup parents, to have a break too.
3. Create a network for the parents and the kids.  Invite families that could become life long friends or will be in your school district to move from close toddler network to the school PTA/PTO.
4. Have playgroup activities planned:  field trip to the children’s museum, zoo, apple orchard or pumpkin farm; holiday theme parties to celebrate them all:  Easter egg hunt, cookie exchange at Christmas, trick and treat parade at Halloween, and a birthday party with name exchange once a year to celebrate everyone’s birthday!
5. Know the personalities and group dynamics to keep conflict to a minimum among both parents and kids.  Have rules:  we must respect each other, be polite, and treat others as we want to be treated.  And if you can’t do that and are having a bad day, it’s time to leave early.
6. Have a set time:  such as 9-11 a.m. on a certain day of the week or once a month or every two weeks.  Short intervals are always best.    
7. Alternate locations and have each parent bring something to pass: muffins, juice, fruit, veggies, etc.
8. Invite people from your community to join but keep it to a manageable number.  If you don’t know people and are new to the area, set a time and date and invite people your children meet at the local playground or church.  Have a conversation with the parent and watch how the kids play to determine if you want to invite them to your house to start your own circle of friends for yourself and child.  Remember if you want your child to be successful in school, it helps to build that social network for them starting when they are toddlers!

Smiles – Stacey

Stacey Kannenberg
“Ready To Learn Mom”