Mompreneur Tribe

Trying to decide the balance between motherhood and mompreneur can be a hard thing to juggle.  Felicity Fox sits down with Ashley on Mompreneur Tribe Podcast to discuss how to she is chasing big dreams as an author.  Felicity talks about how she does not take no as an answer and how that has landed her with a published book that can be found in major retailers.      How to support Felicity in 2020?   For sure follow this Mompreneur on social media, but also go get her books at local retailers because we know after this episode you will want to read it to your kiddos.  Everything you need to follow this goal getter can be found in the link below.   https://thefelicityfoxhouse.com/     Want to connect with more Mompreneurs? Share your new years goals with us on our Mompreneur Tribe facebook group.  We want to cheer you on to make this the best year yet. Join our tribe of Mompreneurs on our new facebook group: The Mompreneur Tribe . You can also connect with Ashley on the gram @mrsashleymalfitano; Also if you enjoyed this podcast, we greatly appreciate a review for us on whatever listening platform you join from.

Gratitude is more than just saying Thank you, it is a mindset. When you put into place a lifestyle of gratitude it can fundamentally change your life.  Lolo from Grateful Gratitude comes to talk about how she felt the calling to put together an organization for the sole purpose of spreading the warmth of gratitude from God.  Lolo shares some of her story, the power of how practicing gratitude in ones life and how to put in place a daily practice of gratitude.   Want to connect with Grateful Gratitude? Spam your social feed with quotes about gratitude that make you want to pay it forward.  You do this by following Grateful Gratitude here: https://www.facebook.com/gratefulgratitude/ https://www.instagram.com/gratefulgratitude/   Want to connect with more Mompreneurs? Share your new years goals with us on our Mompreneur Tribe facebook group.  We want to cheer you on to make this the best year yet. Join our tribe of Mompreneurs on our new facebook group: The Mompreneur Tribe . You can also connect with Ashley on the gram @mrsashleymalfitano; Also if you enjoyed this podcast, we greatly appreciate a review for us on whatever listening platform you join from.

There is this phrase that constantly plays over and over in my head.  Use your voice, power and influence for those that do not have that or are struggling to find theirs. Shiloh Place is an organization that I hold dearly in my heart, because of the power I have seen they have had to change the trajectory of a families lives for generations to come. Having living in the North Texas area for most of my life, it can be so easy to get caught up in the affluent community.  But there is a population that is being underserved and very much apart of our community, and that is the homeless population.   Shiloh Place is a ministry to single moms and their children that offers housing, childcare and tuition assistance for up to 2 years.  Their purpose is to come along ide the homeless, single mother, deeply invest in each individual over the course of their time with Shiloh Place.  Then celebrate them as they move back into self-sufficient living.    Ashleigh Fanning the Development Coordinator at Shiloh Place talks about the mission of Shiloh Place, the work they are doing and have done.  PLUS ways to get involved!   How to connect with Shiloh Place? Was it put on your heart to serve or give to Shiloh Place. Or if you would just like to find out more information about the work they are doing you can so here Want to connect with more Mompreneurs? Share your new years goals with us on our Mompreneur Tribe facebook group.  We want to cheer you on to make this the best year yet. Join our tribe of Mompreneurs on our new facebook group: The Mompreneur Tribe . You can also connect with Ashley on the gram @mrsashleymalfitano; Also if you enjoyed this podcast, we greatly appreciate a review for us on whatever listening platform you join from.

Few times do you get to see a business go from a dream to thriving unless it is your own business.  But I have watched and cheered for my good friends with The Blank Slate Designs as they have grown their business over the last several years. Crystal Spencer talks about how The Blank Slate came about, what is means to be a Mompreneur but most notably when her business took on a whole new meaning in her life. Crystal talks about finding your passion in your business and using it to thrive. Want to connect with Crystal and The Blank Slate Designs? Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblankslatedesigns/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/theblankslatedesigns/ Want to connect with more Mompreneurs? Share your new years goals with us on our Mompreneur Tribe facebook group.  We want to cheer you on to make this the best year yet. Join our tribe of Mompreneurs on our new facebook group: The Mompreneur Tribe . You can also connect with Ashley on the gram @mrsashleymalfitano; Also if you enjoyed this podcast, we greatly appreciate a review for us on whatever listening platform you join from.

Jamie Trull continues giving you great advice.

Many female entrepreneurs are afraid of the mentioning of “business finances”.  It instantly brings panic and shame to so many business owners.  But Jamie Trull is teaching women to have the inner confidence to say, “Not Today Pam” and teaching women how to stop the shame cycle with their business finances. Jamie worked in finance for several large Corporations but left for a higher calling of helping educate women through her company Balance CFO, where she is a virtual CFO.  She discusses what you need in order to get your finances organized. balancecfo.com/checklist This episode is a must listen for all the mompreneurs ready to make this the best year yet and it all starts in your business finances. How can we show up as a tribe to support Jamie? Join Jamie’s online community, where she goes live on a regular basis to share her wealth of information with female entrepreneurs.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/financialliteracyforwomen/?source_id=492989254568689 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BalanceCFO/     Want to connect with more Mompreneurs? Join our tribe of Mompreneurs on our new facebook group: The Mompreneur Tribe You can also connect with Ashley on the gram @mrsashleymalfitano; Also if you enjoyed this podcast, we greatly appreciate a review for us on whatever listening platform you join from.

Show Notes How do you plan out the new year?  Do you just live life or do you set intentions and set goals for the year. For the past several years, my friend Crystal Spencer and Ashley sit down to chat how they set goals and intentionality that work for our personalities and enneagram numbers.  Crystal discusses New Years goals through the eyes of a enneagram 1 and Ashley as an enneagram 3. We talk through tangible steps to successful tackling yours new years goals, but also knowing when to show yourself and acknowledge that goal might now be right for this season of life Want to connect with Crystal and The Blank Slate Designs? Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblankslatedesigns/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/theblankslatedesigns/     Want to connect with more Mompreneurs? Share your new years goals with us on our Mompreneur Tribe facebook group.  We want to cheer you on to make this the best year yet. Join our tribe of Mompreneurs on our new facebook group: The Mompreneur Tribe . You can also connect with Ashley on the gram @mrsashleymalfitano; Also if you enjoyed this podcast, we greatly appreciate a review for us on whatever listening platform you join from.

This year was a hard year.  And to be honest to just say those 5 words out loud just drained me.  12 hours ago I was barely able to say them, I felt them in my heart.  I knew it in my mind, but to say it out loud here on my podcast today is terrifying.   I am a 3 on the enneagram, I may have mentioned it before.  But in my world I don’t like to admit when I am feeling something, because it feels like my weakness.   But after this past year and spending the past 2 months and entire holiday season trying to figure out how to pick myself up I realized that I needed to share it, but completely transparent and vulnerable.     In 2019 our kids went to the pediatrician over 30 times.  We literally started the new year with pneumonia with our youngest, and are ending the year with our oldest having had the flu for the entire Christmas week and now have walking pneumonia.  But in the 12 months between those dates we have had a buffet of other illness including whooping cough, multiple viruses, allergic reactions that lead to anaphylactic shock, and a diagnoses of Celiac in our older.   I must stop and say here out forever grateful I am that everything is treatable.  And it is not a terminal illness.  And I will be honest I was not going to share all of this on the podcast, until at thanksgiving a close friend came to visit. She needed something and I opened a kitchen cabinet that housed our daughters medicines.  She was blown away and noted that I should share.     But my thoughts have always been there are people suffering way worse then we are.   And that is where I have identified my problem for the year, it is in the mindset.  I have spent the last half of 2019 saying that someone has it harder and chose to internalize all of the pain at home.   Then in my business that mindset let to me getting discouraged when things were not going as planned and I felt like I was failing to use the saying, well someone else can do it better than me.  So why try?   I will be honest I literally feel like I was having to pick myself up off the ground here at the end of the year. I feel like had failed at so many things.  Which doesn’t sit well with me, plus it is not something I have experienced many times in my life.     I ended the year angry and bitter.  I was short with everyone in my house.   I had started 2019 so strong and determined, why did I end on such a low note?   The start of the year I started with strong habits, it was a new year.  Things were fresh, I was rested.     But then when the girls got sick, I tried to keep up with everything.  I was determined to keep up with everything, instantly in Captain Mood.  I will keep this ship afloat and be the super hero that saves us.     But the truth is, and may be hard for some to hear….. that someone being myself, we are not super heroes.  We are humans who have needs.  And those healthy habits helped meet my needs.     So ending the year, this is what I learned that a routine of self care each morning is a MUST.  I must be grounded in myself, fill up my cup so that I can overflow and fill the needs of my family and pour into my business.   For me that looks like getting up before the kids, and having time to myself where I read my bible, meditate and then do a practice of gratitude.  Then I take the time to plan out my day with intentionality, so the goals are clearly defined.    I challenge you this year to find a practice of self care to pour into yourself.    Want to connect? Join our tribe of Mompreneurs on our new facebook group: The Mompreneur Tribe You can also connect with Ashley on the gram @mrsashleymalfitano; We are starting the year off with a book club, so come join in the conversation. Also if you enjoyed this podcast, we greatly appreciate a review for us on whatever listening platform you join from.

Mompreneur Holiday Hodge-Podge    The holidays are stressful time, then add on being an entrepreneur and running a business it adds a little extra busyness to the mix.  If you a business that’s peek session is during the November & December timeframe you are probably constantly asking yourself, how will I go it all this holiday in my business while also showing up as the best version of myself for my kids.   This episode of Mompreneur Tribe is for you.  Through personal experiences, I have learned several key things about running a business and juggling the kiddos during the holidays.  How to thrive instead of just survive.   Listen Now   Do you need the holiday checklist mentioned in this week’s episode?   Download Now   How you can show up as a tribe?As we end each episode on the mompreneur tribe, with a challenge in how our tribe can show up.  And on this week’s episode it is simply taking the time to pour into yourself to determine how can you personally set yourself up for success this holiday both at home and in your business.  We are cheering you on, your tribe is here.     Follow up on Social Media:     Subscribe & Review Have you subscribed to the podcast on iTunes?  If not please do, this will prevent you missing an episode.  You never know when we might drop a bonus episode and you don’t want to miss out on that fun.   If you truly felt moved by the podcast and want to join the tribe, we ask you to do several different things.  The first is at the end of each episode we close the show with how you can show up as part of the tribe.  Secondly, please head to iTunes and leave us a review.  We truly want to hear your feedback, as it allows us to bring in guests and create content to serve you, our tribe.

Ashley catches up with Amy Klein of Give Her Courage As a former online TV host, Amy will make you laugh until you cry and find a way to make every #momlife moment humorous - even on the days when adulting seems way too hard.Amy has an award-winning sales and leadership background of coaching and managing very dynamic teams. As a coach, Amy has built her career on bringing out the best in everyone around her and helping each person she touches perform at their best, and believe in themselves .As a coFounder of Give Her Courage, Amy has committed her life's work to helping women know their worth and break the paradigm that comes with age.

On this episode of Mompreneur Tribe we have Angela Hosking, who truly is a thought leader.  Angela is a women’s leadership and empowerment speaker, author and coach.  She started a community called Here One Tribe a little over a year and half ago as a passion project to serve women and encourage them to stand up and let their voices be heard.   Angela talks about falling into entrepreneurship after reading the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.  Angela homed in on the joy of her blog she had created to become more to serve women.  Angela talks about her experiences as a nurse and her passion to learning that pushed her to grow into a leadership position in the medial industry in her professional life.   Angela is working to build awareness of more women being invited to the table.  Which is exactly why she wrote her book, Women on Top, Lead Like a Lady Boss.  It is to give women the skills and encouragement to rise up.   Hear our entire conversation on why there should be more women at the table on this week’s episode.    Listen Now   How you can show up as a tribe?This week when we asked Angela how our tribe can support her in her mission of supporting other women.  She requested to head to Instagram and engage with her there, and also tag fellow women in her posts that need to hear the encouraging message.   Links mentioned in the Podcast: www.instagram.com/heronetribe http://heronetribe.com/ http://heronetribe.com/my-book/     Subscribe & Review Have you subscribed to the podcast on iTunes?  If not please do, this will prevent you missing an episode.  You never know when we might drop a bonus episode and you don’t want to miss out on that fun.   If you truly felt moved by the podcast and want to join the tribe, we ask you to do several different things.  The first is at the end of each episode we close the show with how you can show up as part of the tribe.  Secondly, please head to iTunes and leave us a review.  We truly want to hear your feedback, as it allows us to bring in guests and create content to serve you, our tribe.

Ashley: Hello. This is Ashley here with the Mompreneur Tribe. I am so thrilled today to have someone that's in it kind of different market. You really sometimes wouldn't think of a mom entrepreneur in this area. But here is a mom that is rocking it, is business partner with her husband. Her name is Catie Bird. She is with Harley Davidson of Durango, Colorado. Welcome, Catie. Thanks for being on. I'm just so excited because this is just ... You have such a unique business. So can you introduce yourself please and tell us a little bit about you? Catie: Yeah, absolutely. Thank you so much first of all for thinking of me and wanting to include me on your podcast, it's a really big honor. I think that being a mompreneur is definitely something to be really proud of and excited for. I'm in about two and a half years of entering that mompreneur role. So I'm still learning quite a lot of what it takes to be a business owner and whatnot. I'm just really grateful to you too for including me in this podcast. Catie: A little bit about me, my name is Catie and I am a southern girl from Texas, was born and raised in South Texas my whole life. And now as of about two years ago, I now live in Southwest Colorado with my husband, Trevor, who he and I have been married for 10 years, celebrated in November. We have two beautiful children. Millie is our daughter. She just turned nine last week and our son Reese, who turned seven recently as well. Catie: My husband, Trevor and I own Durango Harley Davidson here in Durango, Colorado, which is far Southwest Colorado. So if you think about the US map and you're looking in Southwest Colorado, we're right next to the four corners, so where we connect with Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. It's really a pretty amazing place to live as far as landscape, the mountain ranges and the rivers. It's just a beautiful place to be and a really big destination for motorcycle riders. Catie: There's so many wonderful rides that draw people here. So we are mostly a seasonal business, which is a big change for us from coming to Texas because we in Texas ... It's summer basically year-round. So people are riding motorcycle all the time, so things don't really slow down. Here, it's very, very different.We have about six out of the year to really sell, sell, sell, make it or break it before winter hits, and everything basically comes to a halt. So it's definitely a very different way of life in a very different style of business from what we're used to. I think we've done a really good job of adjusting to that and running our business based on that model now of seasonality. So- Ashley: Tell me about how you got there. That was the next thing is like why did y'all leave Texas to go up to Colorado and start out on this business? Because y'all been a part of the Harley Davidson Family for a while now, right? Catie: Yes, yes. My husband, Trevor has been working for the brand, sell Harley brand for gosh, close to 17 years now and with two dealerships back in Texas where we're from. I've never been involved with the Harley business. When I graduated college, I went into the corporate world and I started working for the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs was my first job out of college. Catie: That was a really amazing experience and really learned a whole, whole lot there. Then from then, from there I decided we were ready to start a family. And so I became a stay at home mom for about seven years, which I feel very blessed that I was able to do that as long as I was. All the time while I was staying at home or working with the Spurs, my husband was continuing with Harley Davidson in San Antonio in the New Braunfels area. Catie: Then I kind of started feeling my kids were getting a little bit older, starting Mother's Day out. I was kind of feeling like I was missing something, I love being a wife and a mom, but I was missing a purpose I felt like for myself outside of those roles. My best friend actually has started her own business selling custom men's wear, custom men's wear company. So I jumped on with her. Because I have a love of fashion, I have some merchandising background as well. So I jumped in and started my own business with her selling custom men's wear. So that was really fun and fulfilling. I was able to do it on my own time and still be there for my kids, and be home for Trevor and do the whole mom-wife thing as well. Catie: But just a few years ago, an opportunity kind of arose, Trevor and I had been really praying and thinking a lot about our future and what we wanted for our kids. While he had a partnership in some of the dealerships in Texas, we felt like it was time for us to branch out on our own, with all, with all of his years of knowledge, it was time for us to go and find our own dealership where that could be 100% owned by us and our family. Durango kind of fell in our laps, it's kind of a long story of how that happened. But it has been such a huge blessing. If you would've asked me 10 years ago where I saw myself today, living in Southwest Colorado, owning a motorcycle dealership would never have crossed my mind. Catie: I never grew up around motorcycles. I didn't know really much about them at all other than I would ride with Trevor and we would go places and do stuff. A little bit of the business side from what he would share with me. But that definitely was not in my wheelhouse of plans for myself. So it's kind of really interesting to see where I am now. But I wouldn't change a thing. It's been an amazing blessing for our family to be here. I also never thought I would leave Texas. I've gotten my Southern roots and they are deep. But it's really been fun, a fun adventure to try somewhere new and be somewhere new with meeting different people. There's so many wonderful blessings that have come from it. Catie: But now, when we took over ownership of the dealership back in June of 2017 is when we started, we were just blown away immediately by the team that was already here and in place. All of the managers that were with the business before we took over ownership are still with us today. That's something that Trevor and I are really proud of because this team that we have is in my opinion, the best in the business. Catie: They were really great about transitioning and learning a new way of doing things with our business model and whatnot. They have just really, really made our jobs easy as far as leadership because they all are leaders. They all do a great job. We really are a family here. And that's one thing that sharp and I have always talked about from the beginning is that we want to be a family where we want everyone to feel welcomed, and loved, and supported. Also, we are a family owned business. Our kids are very much involved in everything that we do here at the dealership and combined with them being here all the time and having a strong relationship with our team, we feel really lucky to be here. So that's kind of how we got where we are in a nutshell. Ashley: That's such a leap of faith to leave, be a Texan and leave. I feel like so many ... So many people come to Texas, they rarely leave unless it's a big calling. And you found that calling and y'all left. Now here you are, you're two and half years into this new business venture. But it sounds like you guys are very settled in it. Can you tell me a little bit about your roles? And what it's like being in business with your partner? And how you all divide up responsibilities and then day in and day out of juggling the kids? Catie: Yes, absolutely. So it's really kind of cool how it's worked out because I, to be honest, was not quite sure how it was going to go, working with Trevor 'cause we are together all the time anyway. And I'm thinking, are we going to butt heads? We've never worked together before. How is this going to work? And so it just fell into place in that I know his strengths, his strengths are my weaknesses and kind of vice versa as well. My strengths are kind of his weaknesses. So where Trevor takes over, he handles most of the overlooking things, the motorcycle sales division and all of the finance part of the business, which I am not a numbers person. That is so far over my head, and I will admit it. Catie: That is a big weakness of mine. Being a business owner, it's definitely something that you should know really well. I'm taking the baby steps to really try and dive, dive in and learn more about that side of it. But for now, it's great that I have this partner that does know that side really well so that I can focus on where the other needs in the business are, which are marketing and the merchandise sells, so the general merchandise department. So if any of you who aren't familiar with Harley Davidson or have never been into a Harley Davidson dealership, I'll just kind of explain a little bit of what it looks like. Besides this your showroom floor with all of the motorcycles, the new and used, we also have a very large general merchandise department. Catie: So clothes, fashion, writing gear, your leather jackets, your riding boots, all of your protective gear as well as just your casual gear that you wear when you're not on the bike, so the fashion side of it. There's also a parts department where you can come and buy motorcycle parts and then have them installed in our service department, which we have a really large service department. Very, very wonderful service department. Catie: We get compliments on our team back there all the time on their great service and, and how well that they do. So there's lots of different areas of the business that need to be managed and watched over. So Trevor does sales and finance and I handle all the marketing and the merchandise. And it works really, really well because there wasn't a marketing department here in the shop beforehand, before we took over ownership. Catie: It was kind of a split job between like our accountant. The accountant would kind of do it, the controller and everyone kind of shared responsibilities, which was great. They made it work because again, as a seasonal business, we only have about 10 full-time employees that are here year-round. Then once the season starts to pick up, usually in May, then we add about 10 to 15 more just for the summer. So we grow quite a bit in our peak season and then kind of go down to the skeleton crew in the winter time. But there wasn't a specific person that was handling the marketing. So my degree is in public relations and communication. So it was kind of an easy role for me to kind of just step into and start handling that part of it. Catie: So it's actually been really awesome working with Trevor because we respect each other's strengths and we lift each other up. We always lean on each other because we know that this is make it or break it for us. We moved our family away from everything that we knew to take on this dealership. This is our livelihood. So I know to respect him when he says, "No, Catie, this isn't going to work. We've got to restructure and think of something else," and vice versa. Catie: He does the same with me. So having that mutual respect and trust in each other has really made this partnership work, being able to work with my husband each day. I will say there are those days that he really gets on my nerves. I just go and I just shut myself in my office so that ... 'Cause we are husband and wife. We don't get along all the time and we don't always agree, but we respect each other. Catie: So I know when he's in a bad mood, if he's having a bad day, I'm just going to keep my distance today and I will handle what I need to do and vice versa. So it works. It works for us. Ashley: I like that you pointed out several different things. Being in a partnership with my mom, we've definitely learned that we play off of each other's strengths and weaknesses. So her strengths are some of my weaknesses and my strengths are some of her weaknesses. We really play that to the advantage of our business. Then at the end of the day, when you just have respect for your partner, your business partner, whether it's a parent or a spouse or a friend, it really truly goes a long way in business and being able to trust them that "Hey, this is for the good of the business." And like you said, it's your family's livelihood. It's the same with us. It's, actually two families' livelihood and plus you feel the responsibility of all the employees that you employ as well and their livelihood. Ashley: You want to make it work and make it successful for everyone. So I love those points that you pointed out. And then at the end of the day, not everything's perfect. We're all humans, right? So you really know how to keep your space. Catie: Yeah, absolutely. Ashley: So what is a tip that you would give to fellow mompreneurs that are trying to juggle it all and juggle having a business and kids? And because you were a stay at home mom, lik you are very active in your kid's lives and everything. How do you make it work? Catie: That's a good question and I think that I'm still figuring it out honestly. It's just day by day and for me, like I'm such a Type A planner type person that I feel like I have to have every moment of my day and my week planned out. I'm trying to reverse that and to just like being present in the moment and what I'm doing right then, and focusing on that and not stressing so much about what's going to happen later because I find that when I do that, if I'm at either when the kids are at work with me or if I'm at home with them, my mind is just constantly thinking about the next thing. Okay, what do I have to do next? What do I need to do for the kids next? Catie: Instead of being present right there and jumping down on the floor and making that puzzle with my kid or going outside just to kick the soccer ball with my son. I need to be more intentional and more present. And that's something that I'm really working on. So my advice for other mompreneurs out there is that even if you're not a planner or if you are, I do think it's ... I'm a very big list person. I think like being intentional and like actually scheduling that time even if it's just 10 minutes to give your children like your full attention is important 'cause otherwise, the day can just get away from you and you get busy getting ready for dinner, doing laundry talking to that client on the phone problem solving, doing homework, all of that tha. I find that if I schedule lik okay, from 6:00 to 7:00, that's strictly for Millie and I. Catie: Millie and I are going to sit and we're going to chat about her day. I'm going to give her what she needs right now. That's not going to happen every day. And that's okay. I think we also need to give ourselves as moms a lot of grace and understanding that we're not going to be perfect every day, all the time. The mom guilt is real. I have it all the time. The first year for me going from being a stay at home mom to working full-time in a new place without any other family here to help with the kids and all of that, I was really hard on myself and I felt like I was failing at everything, whether it'd be work or the kids because I wasn't doing it perfectly and I didn't have it all figured out. Catie: But now going into, let's see, we did two and a half years now. Like I'm finally learning that it's okay to not have it all figured out and to not be perfect in everything. My kids are loved. They're happy, they're flourishing in this new place. I rest in grace and mercy in that. Like I know that they are good. I guess the advice is just don't be so hard on ourselves. We're doing the best that we can and that's all we can do. I also think that it's really important for our kids to see us as moms struggling. I think that they need to see that mom isn't perfect but mom tries her best. I think that's important especially at work because my kids are at work with us all the time because we don't have extra help. We don't have other family here or whatnot. So a lot of times after school, they come up here to the dealership and they, luckily it's a pretty cool, fun place to hang out. My son loves to go to the service department and sit there and watch all the technicians work on the motorcycles. Ashley: Yes, a young boy's dream playground. Catie: Yeah. It's cool. I mean, I feel like he's getting an education just being back there, watching these guys work. He's got this engineer brain and it's really cool. He loves that. My daughter, she'll jump in on the sales floor and start folding t-shirts. She's an expert t-shirt folder now. She is very confident and talks to customers. It's so cute because I'll have customers come up to me and ask me if she's my daughter and I'll be like, yes. And they'll say, "Oh, she was so great. She came up to me and said, hi, welcome to Durango Harley Davidson. Can I help you find anything today?" So it's a cool place for them to be. I think they're also learning the value of hard work being here and seeing mom and dad running this business. Catie: But our kids also see our bad days. They see it like when there is an upset customer and they're watching how Trevor and I are resolving that. They're seeing like, if Millie comes back to my office and I'm just way behind on stuff, or I just lost this campaign that I ran just didn't go very well and I'm upset about it. I don't hide it from her. My son still so little, I think he's kind of oblivious to a lot of it. But my daughter, she's very in tuned to emotions and things. She doesn't miss a beat, but I let her see me. I don't try and hide it whenever things aren't going great. I think that obviously for her, her age, I don't show her everything that's bad or horrible. Catie: But I think it's important for kids to see that we're human and that we struggle when we fail. But the important thing is that we don't give up. That's one of our family rules. Birds don't give up, we don't quit. We can fail and that's okay, but there's more honor in failing than there is in not even trying because you're afraid to lose. That's big lesson that we want to teach our kids is you can't be afraid to go for what you want. We didn't make this leap of faith to Colorado with the expectation of failing. But we knew that we needed to do, we needed to make a change and this was where God's leading us. We're here and it's not always going to be easy and it's not always going to be exciting, fun, happy days. Catie: But we stand firm and knowing that we're here for a reason and we've got a purpose here. I just think it's important for our kids to see that we are human. When they see how we react to the problems and to things that are going good or bad, then they're learning as well. I'm hoping, my hope is that one day when they enter the workforce for real, they're going to know the discipline that it takes to be successful and not being afraid of failure because that was a big challenge for me is failing. Catie: Watching my husband throughout his business and his life with Harley Davidson, I've seen him take a lot of risks. We've also had a lot of failures. But I really respect that he's never let that stop him from trying something new and doing what he wants. So watching him go through that has given me the confidence to know that I can do this too. I may not know a whole lot about motorcycles. I do a lot more now than I did two years ago, but I know that I have passion for this brand. I have passion for our business and the people that worked here and our customers. It makes it extremely fulfilling to come to work every day. Ashley: Your passion just now, I am just taken away. When you said the we will show honor, more honor in failing like the life lessons that you just talked about right there and how you're showing that to your kids, it's so impactful. I tell this to my husband sometimes, I'm like taking our kids to work with us, they will learn so much more some days than they ever will in that classroom. Ashley: The life lessons, and you just like nailed it with everything you said and how your kids are involved in the business in the day in and day out, and being a part of it, and seeing your reactions with customers. I absolutely agree with you just because we have a retail store too. My oldest is old enough to come and understand those interactions. You're absolutely right. They're watching our interactions, they're learning from it. Ashley: It can be such a good thing. It can be such a good thing to show that to our kids and just the way you articulated it was so great and just hearing your passion behind it, how it's more than actually just you being a mompreneur and being in partner with your husband. But it's a whole family. It's the whole family there that made the move, that's doing this business together. That's incredible. I applaud you guys. I loved hearing all your passion just now when you were talking about just the tip that you give, it is true. It is so true. And how we be present in our day to day lives for our kids, but also to give ourselves grace. So much grace. Catie: Yeah. Exactly. So much grace. Yeah. We're not perfect and we never will be. But all we can do is just do the best that we can. I'm making it a goal of mine to just not worry so much about everybody being happy and everything being perfect and take me. It's okay. It's okay if they're not ... It's okay that they're here at work with me every day after school this week because I have a lot going on. You know what, that's all right. Because what would they be doing at home besides sitting there watching TV or jumping on the trampoline? They've got stuff to keep them busy here and I can be okay with that. They're going to be just fine. Ashley: Yes. Catie: So yes, grace is a big, big thing. Ashley: Yes. I look at it with our family business is that they could be at home with a babysitter in front of the TV or they could be there interacting with ... It's great communication skills. Catie: Absolutely. Ashley: It's much better than them learning to text or play on the computer. They're learning great communication skills, dealing with customers and learning to talk to our employees. Ttalking respectfully, I feel like that's a great teaching studio for them. Catie: Yeah, 100%. Ashley: Catie- Catie: That was awesome. Ashley: I have thoroughly enjoyed this conversation today. I think you provided such wisdom to other fellow mompreneurs and especially that we just need to show ourselves grace. Something I ask all guests is what is a way that we can show up or support your business and you guys during this season? Yeah, how can we support you guys? Catie: Awesome. Well, you can support us if in the way of just follow us like on our Instagram page we actually have a really cool Instagram page. We do all these different lifestyle posts everyday of different motorcycle riders far and wide all around the country, in the world. They're really, really neat. They all have positive messages to them as well. So our Instagram page is @DurangoHarleyDavidson, all one word, no dash or anything. And then you can also check out our website, DurangoHarley.com. But one thing I want to touch on and follow us on Facebook too. Yeah. 'Cause we post a lot on there as well. But we also own a motorcycle rally that happens here every Labor Day weekend. We just finished year two for us. It's actually a rally that's been around for like 26 years or something. Catie: But right when we moved here, it kind of fell out. The previous owner that had some bad business skills kind of had ran it into the ground. But it used to be, there used to be 20 to 30,000 motorcyclists that would come through Durango on Labor Day weekend. It kind of fell apart. So my husband and I, and our marketing partner in the rally, John Oaks really tried hard to rebuild this rally. Catie: Bring it into a new light with different, with newer events like hooligan dirt, dash races. We just did our first ever motorcycle hill climb at Purgatory Resort, which is where our ski mountain here. It was a huge success and it was really, really awesome. I encourage you also to follow Four Corners Motorcycle Rally on Instagram as well. They post a lot of really awesome content, but the rally is a great way to support our local community here in Durango. They would bring a lot of economic success here for that, that one weekend. So that's a great way to support as well, just talking about what it is that we're doing here in Durango for labor day weekend and bringing in that next generation of motorcycle riders and bringing something fun to the community. Ashley: Awesome. So we will. We will ask, we ask all of you listeners out there if you will engage with them. So follow them on Instagram for the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally as well as Durango Harley Davidson on Instagram. I'm going to go check them both out. Then of course I didn't realize that different Harley Davidson dealerships have different websites. So that's good to know. If you are a Harley fan or maybe you have a need to buy a gift for a Harley fan, that's where I am. My dad had a Harley day was then growing up. And so my only purpose I've ever had in life is just to buy gifts. Ashley: So I literally walk up to the counter and just check out. I've never even explored the dealership. I just ordered and picked up there. S go and shop you guys at Durango Harley Davidson. All of this information will be in the show notes as well as if you click through and you got to our show through a social media link, go back to the social media page cause we're going to tag those in the social media pages. Ashley: Catie, I thank you for being a guest on today's show. Listeners, I invite you, you just heard me talk about how we can support Catie and her husband, Trevor in the Durango Harley Davidson dealership, their business. Please go out, engage with them on social media. Ashley: That is something you can do that is free, to support any business. And sometimes you hear a big brand and you think, "Oh, that's just some national brand." No, there's actually families behind these big brands. So the Bird Family owns this dealership. It's family-run. Sometimes people get lost in those big brands, but no, it's actually a family-owned business. So go out and support them. Ashley: And if you liked today's episode, I invite you to hit subscribe and leave us a review. We always are looking for feedback and comments, and want to hear all your great thought and reviews. So thanks for listening and have a great day. Speaker 1: Thanks for listening. To find out more about Ashley, log on to the MompreneurBoutique.com that's the MompreneurBoutique.com.  

My friend Andrea Patrick is in studio. Andrea owns a marketing consulting company, Andrea Patrick Consulting. She provides a wealth of information for business owners on how to narrow down on their brand, who their customer is and how to speak/ engage with them through a personal brand.   Andrea is a busy mom of three, who became an entrepreneur in order to be able to stay home to take care of her twin daughters that were born premature. It was through this road block and pivoting in her business that she has developed her company.   During the interview Andrea gives great advice on how to be your own authentic brand when building a business.   Why did you start your business? What is big challenge are you currently battling? What is a lesson you have learned while being an entrepreneur? What is the big goal you are going after this year?   And as we end each interview on the Mompreneur Tribe, we ask our guest to share how we can support them. Let’s support Andrea by engaging with her on social and listening to be podcast.   Or even better hop onto Amazon and buy her book, Be the Brand Business Journal. https://www.amazon.com/Brand-Business-Journal-Authentically-Organically/dp/1074235371/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=be+the+brand+business+journal&qid=1566500993&s=gateway&sr=8-1       Follow Andrea in the following places and your will be blessed with a wealth of information.   https://andreapatrick.com/

Amy Rosenthal with Amalli Talli joined us to chat about designing products for Tall women. She started her business 5 years ago with her sister. Amy is 6’4 and understands the battles and lack of options in the tall clothing category.   When Amalli Talli started out as a brick in mortar store that traveled to the major markets to find apparel that would work for the taller customer. After seeing that the market did not have what they were looking for, they started developing their own line of clothing. It is through this development they are able to fully fill the needs of their customer base by providing a product that fits the customer well.   Amy and I talk through the following questions about her business.   Why did you start your business? What is big challenge are you currently battling? What is a lesson you have learned while being an entrepreneur? What is the big goal you are going after this year?   And as we end each podcast on the Mompreneur Tribe, we asked Amy in how our tribe can support her business.   You can shop for Amalli Talli on www.themompreneurboutique.com or at www.amallitalli.com. You can also find them on social media at: https://www.facebook.com/amallitallihttps://www.instagram.com/amallitalli/

  Episode #4   This week we welcome Allison Carter to the Mompreneur Tribe Podcast, where she talks about her business Allison Carter Creates, and creating special moments for our children.  Allison is a party planner who offers a service for the busy mom on the go by creating a party plan for the desired theme.  The plan includes links on where to find the products and how to put it all together, thus doing the heavy lifting for moms.   Allison has a podcast, Memories in Moments, where she talks about creating special moments in your day to day lives.  Through the podcast she provides very actionable tips for creating memorable magical intentional moments in the day to day life.   Allison takes the time to answer the following questions about her business.   Why did you start your business? What is big challenge are you currently battling? What is a lesson you have learned while being an entrepreneur? What is the big goal you are going after this year?   And as we end each podcast on the Mompreneur Tribe, we asked Allison in how our tribe can support her business.     Please follow and engage with Allison on social media and download her podcast, Memories in Moments.  The biggest way we can support fellow Mom Bosses is supporting the on social.  So consider purchasing a party plan and sharing that positive experience on social media.   https://www.facebook.com/allisoncartercelebrates/ https://allisoncartercelebrates.com https://allisoncartercelebrates.com/memories-in-moments-podcast/            

On this episode of Mompreneur Tribe, Ashley hosts fellow Ladies out Loud Network Ladies Keri Huth and Tracey Roberts in study discuss their business and passions they are pursuing in life.   Ashley talks with Tracey about her journey with surviving cancer and how that has developed her why for pursuing being a speaker on being a cancer survivor.   Keri talks about her personal journey in having a deeper understanding of living a toxic free life.     The crew walks through and answers the following questions about their personal growth journeys.   Why did you start your business? What is big challenge are you currently battling? What is a lesson you have learned while being an entrepreneur? What is the big goal you are going after this year?   Want to follow and learn more about the Ladies Out Loud, who can find them on Facebook: The Ladies Out Loud Network

On this episode of Mompreneur Tribe, Ashley hosts a mom that is one step ahead of her in the motherhood Journey, Christie Thornton.  .   Christie talks about her experiences of being involved in the community and how she gives back to the community while being a realtor.  Christie is a realtor with Remax Prestige and passion to help families achieve their home owning goals. Christie talks about staying focus and giving what you can at that stage in life with your kids.  That each day is a new day and just give the best for the day you are tackling.  Christie talks about how we need to give ourselves grace to avoid the burnout of juggling it all. Christie takes the time to answer Ashley’s set of interview questions to dig into life as a mompreneur.   Why did you start your business? What is big challenge are you currently battling? What is a lesson you have learned while being an entrepreneur? What is the big goal you are going after this year?   And as we end each podcast on the Mompreneur Tribe, we asked Christie how we can support her as a Mompreneur.  Christie answered by asking guests to reach out to her if any real estate needs.  You can find her at:   Christie Thornton Realtor at REMAX Four Corners ChristieThorntonRE@gmail.com 214-335-5825 (call/text)  Facebook: @ChristieThorntonRE  

Welcome to the first episode of Mompreneur Tribe podcast, hosted by Ashley Malfitano, entrepreneur, wife and mother of 3 girls, Ava (7), Maddie (4), Sophia (2). She talks about her entrepreneur journey of finding her passion for merchandising at age 16 and journey she took to pursue that passion from college to corporate America. Then when she made the jump to become an entrepreneur and join her mom as a a partner in their 3rd party marketplace retail business.   This episode provides the reason why Ashley Malfitano created a podcast for mom entrepreneurs. Ashley takes the time in this episode to tell her “Mompreneur” story.    Also Ashley will goes through a list of she will be asking her podcast guests. Why did you start your business? What is big challenge are you currently battling? What is a lesson you have learned while being an entrepreneur? What is the big goal you are going after this year?   Ashely answers these questions for herself to give a deeper understanding of where she is currently in building her business.   She also goes into her latest business venture, The Mompreneur Boutique. Providing fashions for the mom in the post baby bod. While searching out products that sell on her website that are that are designed by other Mompreneurs.     Follow Ashley on social: IG @the_momprenuer_boutique Facebook @ The Mompreneur Boutique    Or if you want to check out the fashions of The Mompreneur Boutique. You can do so at www.themompreneurboutique.com.  

A vulnerable, authentic conversation with  women who are navigating the journey of entrepreneurship and motherhood.