As Laurel and I set out on this journey together as friends, bloggers, and business partners I look to other entrepeneurs for inspiration.  This week we were able to speak to a woman who partnered with her husband to form a business that epitomized a lifestyle change.  Midwest Coasting LLC is a company founded on the ideals of living life fully, purposefully, and taking every opportunity to… reel it in.  They are now venturing into retail to spread their lifestyle and get the word out that you can indeed choose to  live a balanced, blessed, and purposeful life.  Check them out at midwestcoasting.com. 

We all live in a rat race of a world and those of you out there with the experience of having young children in your life know, living life to it’s fullist is a delicate balance between organization and letting loose.  Founder and Chief Simplifier of Midwest Coasting, Tania Maschhoff was happy to tell us about the founding of her company, what it meant to her, and the challenges they have faced along the way.  She shared with us what she has learned, offering us the opportunity not to have to make the same mistakes.  I’m sure we will make plenty of our own along the way, and I look forward to the day Laurel and I receive an email or a phone call from an entrepreneur looking to learn from the road we have trodden.  I’ll grab that opportunity, take hold, and pour out lessons learned so others may have the opportunity to start a business making their own mistakes and learning their own lessons.   Thank you Tania for your wisdom and your time.

I received inspiration this week from one other women in leadership, Ms. Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook and author of the book Lean In.  My dear friend Ms. Marsia Geldert-Murphey introduced me to a great internet source where Ms. Sandberg gave a 15 minute TedTalk on why we have too few women leaders.  I encourage you to visit this link and listen for yourself as well as take in any other talks you find of interest.  It’s completely free! 

http://www.ted.com/talks/sheryl sandberg why we have too few women leaders.html

In this TedTalk Ms. Sandberg pointed out that as women we must “sit at the table”, we must lean in to reach the top.  I’m not a feminist and although I do somewhat believe in the glass ceiling I in no way believe that we as women cannot bust through it.  What I do believe is that we have to do that by leaning in.  We have to ensure we foster the connections, obtain the education, and perfect the skills to be effective leaders despite the what society still believes and the data still shows should be the female norm.  Thank you Ms. Sandberg for your enlightening talk and for inspiring me to chase my dreams of being not only an awesome mom, but also keeping my feet on the gas pedal toward my own successful future.

Run on sisters.  

Love,

Collena