Well, the Institute has landed! I signed on new lease space a month ago, and it feels great. What feels even better is how I negotiated the lease. The office space came with access to their conference room for a certain number of hours each month. That is great, since it is one reason I … Continue reading An uncomfortable moment saved me $1200! →

Washington Post Reporter Julia Feldmeier called me a few weeks ago, wanting to interview me for an article on self-promotion in the workplace. I had a thing or two to say! I told her that women have to toot their own horn, regardless of how uncomfortable it is. Because whether you like it or not, … Continue reading Should you master the “art” of bragging? In the Washington Post! →

I keep thinking about the stated reasons women make less then men, and the differences between being salaried and self-employed. (In my previous post, the article mentioned negotiation skills, choosing lower paying work and lack of childcare as reasons that contribute to the pay gap.) Many women chose self-employment to help balance work with family, … Continue reading 1 Question Self-employed Women Need to Ask Themselves →

I was reading the Seattle Times yesterday, and there was the latest depressing article on the pay gap: Gender Pay Gap Emerges Early, Study Finds. Basically: One year out of college, women working full time earn 80 percent of what men earn, according to the study by the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation, … Continue reading 3 reasons women earn less →

I just got back from a trip to Las Vegas where I spoke at the International Mom’s in Business Conference, put on by the Moms in Business Network. What a great day! Working mothers came together to support each other in being mothers AND working women! Gina Robison-Billups, founder of the MIBN, said to me … Continue reading The Secret of Millionaire Moms →

Today I had a fabulous radio interview with Marsh Engles of the Marsh Engles radio show. We discussed why women really undersell themselves. As a “creative consultant”, she made an interesting point. Sometimes women have a hard time charging enough money if what they are doing is creative. Because this work may be “easier” for … Continue reading Do you undercharge because you’re a “creative”? Great radio interview →

Today is April 24, 2007, and that means that we, as women have finally earned what the average man earned in 2006. Yep, you read that right. Each year, the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) organizes the national observance of Equal Pay Day to raise awareness about unfair pay for women and people of … Continue reading Surprise! Today is the day we finally equal men—it’s Equal Pay Day →

Being self-employed means you do so much yourself! I have these moments when I grip the desk and say, “Should I really be the one doing this? I mean, who is in charge here?! Oh crap. It’s me.” With so many tasks to do, it really makes you confront your perfectionist tendencies! So when it … Continue reading “Who is in charge here?!” Press Release Time →

Years ago, I heard Woman Business Owner of the Year Mimi Kirsch speak at Seattle Women Business Owners. She owns Paradigm Communications (they produce the in-flight magazines Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air) and she was addressing working mothers. I remember her message very well. If stay-at-home mothers like being at home, their children are happy. … Continue reading More Self Employment and Motherhood- how to have happy kids →

This is just not working. As my final client for the day was writing me a check, I sent a quick instant message to my husband asking him if he could pick up our son from school today, even though it was my day to do it. He couldn’t. So I pulled it together, picked … Continue reading Self-Employment and Motherhood- What is not working? →