Lindy Bartell is a member of the Portland Incubator and her business is SmartyParents.com
As a late-bloomer mom (my first son was born when I was 36), my whole identity changed when my son was born. I literally left my corporate job after taking a severance package and had a baby the next morning. I went from working 10 hours a day as the director of ommunications for a technology company to nursing and diapering 12 times a day.
Despite all the changes in my life, my creative problem-solving crept in. I had my first idea as a mom-inventor within the first three months of my son being born. My boys are absolutely my inspiration. Just before my second son was born, the elder moved from the high-chair to the table andproceeded to get sticky oatmeal all over our nice wood table -- I needed a bib for the table and all the other placemats wouldn't do.
One sleepless night in between nursing the new baby led to brainstorming with my husband and much of what is is now reality with the Piggy Platter placemat and the other Perry & Penny branded products.
I love many things about our "launched" life -- the flexibility I have to work around the kids' schedule, working with my husband and pursuing the dream of creating a company of value. We're currently in the thick of really hard work expanding our distribution channels and raising capital, and doing this while still working for a paycheck from someone else. It's not ideal, but necessary. Fellow-
entrepreneurs encourage us to keep pressing on -- success comes with perseverance.
So we keep our eye on the goal, we plan for success... and even dream of going to Disneyland some day soon.
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