In a quest to seek and share inspiration with readers I turned to a fantastic source, The Yummy Mummy Club and got an opportunity to conduct an interview with it’s founder, Erica Ehm. My friends and I all remember Erica as the Much Music VJ queuing up the latest top hits at a time when the VCR was the only way to capture those videos for repeat viewing (if you could figure out how to program the damned thing). Now a days we all turn to YouTube for such indulgences anytime / anywhere and we’re all intimately familiar with the yummymummyclub.ca, as are most other Moms I know. It is a truly progressive online environment with an international following and loaded with heaps of original and relevant material that Moms of all sorts can’t help but relate to. Getting an insight into the mechanics behind YMC and the growing movement of Entrepreneurial Moms from Erica’s perspective was both informative and enlightening – it really drove home the tremendous amount of challenging work and the rewards that come with it.

Below is my interview – I hope you enjoy

What has been your greatest accomplishment since starting the Yummy Mummy Club?
Erica: The greatest accomplishment of starting my own business has been the team that I have assembled. Through putting together my team I have met the most like minded women who inspire me. There are 30 people on the team, all unique and very passionate in a variety of topics. My staff give me the means to communicate with many other women. We are thankful for the opportunities that we have given to each other. I used to interview rock stars, never feeling like I really fit in, now I feel I am amongst kindred spirits. Our content is written for me and by me and our team and our readers are apart of the team. Our readers submit material for the web site and leave comments on the blogs and this creates community. They also "retweet" for me on twitter. Spreading the word!
What has been your biggest obstacle?
Erica: We all work virtually, so communicating effectively across the country is challenging. I give up the face to face with my full time staff and in return I get very loyal staff . They get to have it all – they are mothers who have time with their families but also work and get the job done – no matter what it takes. I believe 100% that women can do a good job working from home because women are great multi-taskers. Somehow they manage to do it all. They are able to be committed parents and also have a work life too. Actually, I am having a work party with all of our staff and this will be the first time that we have all been in the same room together.
Do you think that the Yummy Mummy venture provides you with work life balance? Erica: Yes, I am my own boss, I can decide how much work to take on and because of that there is security and a feeling of control that a traditional workplace doesn’t provide. You don’t have to travel on a daily basis, this certainly saves time. I was nominated for Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the year award and when I was interviewed I was asked if I was a risk taker. I said I thought there was less of risk in being your own boss because I was in control of the work I took on and the money I could make. Yes, you have the luxury of salary when you are employed but you can’t control if you get fired or even the money that you make. It is decided by someone else.
What are the trade offs ?
You have the stress of not knowing when the next pay cheque is going to arrive. If you work from home you have more distractions, I can’t do meetings at home because it is too busy in my home. There is no face to face brain storming with staff which is also a draw back. I work 24/7 and I have lost the objective of being at home for the kids. I end up working more than if had traditional position. My husband works from home as well so our children have two parents around a lot, but we are often busy and because of this we have a nanny for our children.
What do you consider the perks of owning your own business?
Erica:  

  • Don’t have to travel on daily basis
  • Control over the money you make as your own bos
  • Creativity
  • Develop your own vision
  • Pride from ownership and growth
  • Pride of the corporate culture you have created
What have been your major influences and sources of inspiration?
Erica: I would have to say my mom. She started a web site called journeywomen.com with no experience. She has been really successful. My other inspiration is Julie Cole from Mabel’s Labels. I have been impressed with how she is building the business and her forward thinking. I also like her corporate culture as well.
What is your most effective marketing tool?
Erica: Word of mouth for sure. YummyMummyClub resonates with moms because its true! Our readers feel connected so they spread the word!
What key elements of advice would you give to aspiring mom entrepreneurs?
Erica: Think very hard before starting your own business. It will cost you more money then you are going to make in the beginning and it will take time away from your family life. I would also read the book The E- Myth by Michael E. Gerber. You need to follow business rules with a solid foundation.
Have you ever had a moment where you thought you would give up? What do you say to yourself to get through?
Erica: No, I never had a moment where I thought I would give up. I love writing, creating and making the world a better place. There is nothing else I would rather do. The challenges are just things that I have to get through so that I can have great things happen in the days to come.I have had several disappointments. When things fall through I always learn something so I have never actually failed. You learn to make the disappointments turn into into a positive. You learn to delegate.
 Did you take any special training to go into business for yourself?
Erica: No, I did not take any special training . I started my business because I wanted to connect with moms on the web and it fell upon me.I read the book –
E-myth to learn more.
Did you employ people from the beginning? If not, was it a struggle to manage?
Erica: I did my business for a year and half on my own, then I hired Karen. I even taught myself to do the web design and then hired Karen to take over the building of the pages. I then hired Sharon (who had entered one of our Yummy Mummy contests), she is now an Editor for us. The business grew from there- we now have 30 employees.
What does the future hold for the Yummy Mummy Club? Erica: Exciting question, I get offers on a daily basis for partnership. We are ready for it to expand. I understand the importance of consultants and making it better.
I read that you are a Runner? Is that your form of stress relief?
Erica: I started running 15 years ago for stress relief. Before I had children I would take 10 KM runs with my dogs. Then it got all screwed up when we had kids. I just started running again recently with the " Energizer Bunny". I am a social runner and will be running the Disney half marathon in October. It is an evening run with a wine fest after.

 

About Erica: Erica is one of Canada’s most recognized personalities, having started her career in the mid-80’s as the voice of her generation on MuchMusic. Her multimedia resume includes acting, award winning songwriter, playwright, author, journalist and most importantly, The Yummy Mummy Club. It was her difficult transition from career woman to new mother that inspired Erica to create an online destination for women with children. Thousands of women have become devoted members of the Yummy Mummy Club, and Erica has become the passionate voice of a whole new generation – Yummy Mummies. A busy woman herself, juggling multiple activities at once, Erica has become a resource for Canadian women, who often look to her for insight and advice on how to manage their busy lifestyles and still make time for themselves. Marketing to today’s modern woman has become one of Erica’s strengths. Advertisers and marketers often use Erica as a resource to connect with mothers. Erica sits on the MomWise Marketing Panel.  

Want to connect with Erica? Consider twitter (She is the most committed tweeter I know!) – twitter.com/yummymummyclub 
or become a fan of her site on facebook and last but not least – visit the Yummy Mummy Club to see what all the fuss is about. 
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