Super Woman's Log

Ever wondered what it is like being a single mom and running a multi-million dollar business? Here is a sneak peak into a day in the life....

Random day in April - 2013

Super Woman’s Log:
 
6:00 AM
-Opened eyes
-Can’t check email because Yahoo mail sucks
-Get disgruntled because Yahoo mail sucks
-Pee

6:25
-Fix breakfast – frozen pancakes – nuke for 1:15 minutes each
-Reduced sugar by 50% - that is healthy right?
-Get boys up for school

6:45
-Drive boys to Walmart Bus Stop while fighting death-defying traffic

6:48
-We all survive - SCORE! 

6:50
My little son tells me “My friend and I have a great idea for a business…..”  I encourage him fully!  It was really a great idea.  He will have 1000 more. He is 11.  I think… “That is MY child!” I am so proud of my 3 kids. 

7:02
-Tell the boys I love them and to have a great day 

7:17 AM
-Ahhhh…first computer email of the day – I don’t have time to change stupid yahoo mail password for the 4th time in 2 days – damn! Hate yahoo but no time to learn a different thing. But I need to check it from my iphone. Grrr.  Why do they have to make things so hard???
-email with manufacturer about quality concerns and solutions
-Answered 27 emails from overnight that needed answers

8:00
-Time to meditate
-Meditate – ugh not long enough – sorry Deepak Chopra! I am doing what I can

8:17 AM
-Packed up pantry with stuff to go to new house and stuff to go to charity so I can move in 4 weeks – room 1 – way more to go
-Read glowing testimonials about FuzziBunz Diapers from a tester as well as listen to suggestions for new product development
-Research the suggestion for new product development

9:05
-Work on retailer emails to make sure everyone’s needs are met and people selling our product are taken care of.  They are paying me, it is my job.
-Look at possible expansion with new manufacturer with reliable lead – conference call later
-Deal with former manufacturer on making good on product that was sub-par to maybe recoup what we lost….we will see..jury still out on that...not holding my breath

10:08
-Room mom duty – coordinate sitter for teacher appreciation day for the 5th grade Class
-No one can sit, I guess it will be me…on my day off.  HA! I will do it. I took the job, I will fulfill the responsibility.  But likely not again.  Lesson learned.  CHECK! Single mom with 3 kids and a business to run should not be a room mom

-Shower – hair staying wet in bun – no time for make up – ugh – I hate my two tone hair bottle job to get rid of grey hair…grey hair comes with experience.  WHATEVER!  Put on shorts and no tie converse tennis shoes that smell like stinky feet.

11:53
-Consider the meeting for possible investor relationship and who will attend that meeting.
-Work on crotch width for specifications for FuzziBunz Diapers
-Analyzed and measured top stitching for specifications for FuzziBunz Diapers

12:10 PM
-Lunch – large McDonalds French fries and cold coffee from 10:00 AM

-Start going through the myriad of 10 different pinks, purples and 8 other color families to select new colors for FuzziBunz with Ashley

12:51
-Review and answer email from patent attorney – put more on my list of stuff I need to do – I really don’t want to be doing this - don't have time to do this – not fun stuff - but I will make it fit

1:00
-Email to PR team asking when our survey is going out to consumers for color preference? Manufacturer needs to plan production. I need to coordinate with retailers and ask for their feedback too. Add to-do list

1:17
-What is that crotch size again? Where is that small ruler? Oh yeah it is in the cup with the sharpie markers. Can you get that for me please? 

1:22
-Going blind from looking at 10 different shades of each color family for the last 3 days

1:40
-Deal with a possible trademark and infringement case worthy of legal involvement in another part of the world….oh man

2:25
-Go to Home Depot with Ashley for a new set of eyes and to NOT get stopped stealing paint chips a 3rd day in a row at Home Depot.  Is there a limit to “free?” My morality suffers.....

2:56
-Did we suffer any damages due to the BP oil spill?  Another email worth answering. We did all we could with the Alpaca hair and the bugs. Sorry staff…I do appreciate you for giving your all in times of crisis! 

3:28
-Yes you have to sell at MSRP! That is what our policy states.

3:50
-Pick up boys from bus stop
-Stop at Wendy’s because school lunch was terrible – both food deprived and absolutely starving!

4:48
-Conference call with possible new attorney to discuss business matters pending and legal history

5:10
-What’s for dinner mom?

5:36
-Contract from mid-western sales rep that is promising….received thank you! What are your projections for the first 6 months?

6:10
-Google marketing calling….really?  It’s dinner time and how did you get my cell phone…oh yeah…you are google! 

6:20
-Dinner – Middle son: “this meatloaf is great where did you get it?”  Mom: “Stouffers!”  Middle son “It is awesome! Thanks MOM!” Little son…”it sucks” Daughter: “I am glad I am going to college in 4 months!” Mom: “have fun starving little son- Raviolil in the pantry if you need it…children are starving in other parts of the world….be thankful you have food in front of you”
-Other fun family dinner time conversation – kind of - all good.

-Swallow two bites of little son’s meatloaf

6:50
-“Mom I need to discuss dorms and downpayment for enrollment at the University of Georgia” – yeah my 18 year old daughter is going to college – how much? Hold on….

7:10
-Conference call with investor and possible new manufacturer and textile producer in China – STOP – great lead – moving forward with follow up – send address for samples

7:14
-Remember about Non-Disclosure agreement that needs to be signed before any exchange of information is transpired between my company and prospective manufacturing lead. Note to self – send Non-Disclosure agreement to said email address for signing. 

7:15
-Ok oldest daughter – lets discuss this dorm situation…co-ed? Small or large? Concerns? Price? Date rape…you know my concerns! Don’t drink too much ..... thank you for letting me in that this is the biggest party school in the country that you know of!  OMG! Stress, anxiety…..breath! You have raised a responsible daughter Tereson….she will be fine… breath…. Palpitation.....breath some more.....still breathing....she will be fine....  

7:45
-Start following up with wholesale leads and answering questions from current retailers

8:03
-Look at what could be different and needs to be improved on our back end system to make my job easier and give better service!

8:40
-Start rounding up the boys for bed, turning in all electronic devices…anything with an “on-off switch” oh geez I sound like a flight attendant – but they laugh – its our nightly routine – screen time is bad for sleep! Read a book! 

9:10
-Our order is going to be late because China has a holiday – SHOCK – plan accordingly – I want to move to China to have more holidays!!!!

9:30
-BEDTIME…..LOL for KIDS that is

9:35
-Little son: “Mom I am hungry” Mom: “really????” Little son: “Can I have a snack?” Mom: “of course”
-Um yeah...haven't had a bowel movement today....maybe tomorrow....when I have time and it is an absolute time crunch....will put that on my to-do list

9:38
-“DR WHO” – I am not sure I really like "Dr. Who" but I have to say it is interesting. I like space travel. I am intrigued.
-Take a bath
-Think about how I can best motivate my employees because I know I may not be the easiest person to work for because I know they don’t understand how my mind processes information
-Think about how my mind processes information different than others
-Give up on trying to figure that out
-Get out of tub and get back to work – I will figure that out later – maybe – but probably never

9:50
-Good night little son – it is way past your bedtime but like me…apparently you don’t need much sleep. You have the same DNA

9:57
-Email between snap manufacturer about new snaps and old snaps and equipment lease and possible expansion
-More email

10:41
-Oh there is NOT black diapers in size XS on the next order…that has to be a mistake! Let me check. Yep….a mistake.  Please make that blueberry instead of black.  Thank you very much wonderful manufacturer that has attention to detail…and appreciated!
-Manufacturer: “Do you sleep?” 

10:49
-Email Staff: Lets make sure we run all orders by me for approval so we don’t miss a mistake on colors ok? 

11:04
-Skype phone call with manufacturer to discuss quality, process and future capability and sampling of new products – he is really great but I am not putting my eggs all in one basket.  because I am still trying to find 5 more just like him just to cross all of my t's and dot all of my i's.

11:08
-Email from Japan – we can negotiate a better price on a raw goods for you and here are some issues to look at

11:12
Look at goods negotiated from Japan and weigh cost and benefits and how to work that into our production.

11:42
-Explained Skype phone call with manufacturer to my staff so that they understand what needs to be done the following day 

11:45
-Promised my manufacturer in China I was going to sleep.  Yes, I do sleep…but not much.  Its all good 

12:18  AM --- THE NEXT DAY
-Investor: “How did you like the way that phone conference went?” Me “really well – I see lots of possibility there and I am excited!”

12:34
-Email about delay in China due to a holiday and my request to move things earlier.  No.  I still want to move to China to have more time off! They have a lot of holidays….
-Visualize the day that I can have that many days off….still visualizing!!!!! It will come one day. 

12:47
-How much can I get from the sale of my house to invest in my company?  Hmmm…after working the numbers I can be more competitive in the market and decrease the price and still get what I need. 

1:04
-Did I get everything done today that needed to be done?  Uh….maybe.  Let me check. I check.
-No I did not but there is always tomorrow

1:05
-Write a blog post about what I did today because it seems like a good idea

2:14
-End a blog post about what I did today….NOW I AM EXHAUSTED but I had a really great day!!!!!  

2:18

-Sleep