As a hiker, I appreciate what nature has to offer in every season. I noticed that many trees had taken a toll this winter…

We’re all susceptible to uncontrollable circumstances, both with nature and in business.

So a couple of questions arise: Can you weather an unexpected storm? How deep and diverse are your business’ roots?

After the showers come the flowers, but first, you must be prepared. With the right systems in place, all storms and seasons are an opportunity! The rain brings growth, lightning inspires insights and thunder cracks us back onto track. (There’s a reason the saying when it rains, it pours is related to success in business…)

If your “why” isn’t clear, BIG and ever evolving – maybe it’s time to do some Spring-cleaning! Our Future Vision Map system connects you with business strategy experts, to provide you with additional insights and opportunities. The rest of our complementary services are designed to keep you on track with your ideal Future Vision for your business.

So far, 2012 has been as awesome as it has been enlightening for DemGen. Learning to dance in the rain has ensured our continued growth over the years.

To highlight some our recent blossoms:

• Check us out on our new green-themed website and social media!
• The Future Vision Map has been approved for Continuing Education credits.
• Our Expert Team continues to grow as we add people to our Talent Vault.

DemGen is a green company in all senses. Our support and systems encourage businesses to grow! By working virtually we reduce the environmental impact of doing business.

To your deep roots and growth!

Gary Evans
Chief Growth Officer
DemGen

Kris Murray is, “Living the dream!” Through her company Child Care Marketing Solutions, she has helped hundreds of early childhood business leaders and owners grow and prosper through unique strategies that work to attract and retain new customers.

We recently had the chance to chat with Kris about her work.

Please tell us about your business.

Child Care Marketing Solutions provides business coaching, training products, and consulting to child care center owners and managers. We help child care centers and preschools grow their enrollment and revenue, and receive a better return on their marketing investment and advertising dollars.

How did you get started in this industry?

As a marketer who happened to be a mom of young children, I noticed that child care center owners and managers really struggled with the business side of child care. These folks are mostly educators and caregivers, not “business thinkers”. When you find a problem and can effectively solve it for people, that’s a great basis for a successful business.

What challenges have you faced as an entrepreneur?

Like many entrepreneurs, I have many ideas and I love to start new things. The follow-through and completion of ideas, visions, and tasks is the tough part. The DemGen team members help me stay focused and also help me do a better job of optimizing everything we do at Child Care Marketing Solutions.

What’s been the most rewarding thing about being a business owner?

For me, the payoff is when one of my clients tells me how much more successful they are by using what I’ve taught them. I’ve had so many incredible success stories and I know we’ve helped create more stability in the child care industry, which is good for business owners, children, and parents. I am making a unique difference in the world, and that feels really good.

What have you done to increase revenue and achieve your goals?

We have doubled our revenue every year so far (knock on wood!). We do that by closely monitoring our various streams of revenue and having a strategic plan for how to grow each one. Each year we receive more clarity about our best target customer, and we create products and solutions that get results. And lots of testimonials and success stories – your clients can “toot your horn” far better than you can.

How do you manage your time?

That’s been a challenge, but I’m getting better at it! DemGen builds our team, and we’re starting to use online tools like Basecamp, Google Calendar, and TimeTrade to automate tasks and improve communication within the team.

How did you become an expert in this field?

I have a marketing background – that’s all I’ve ever done, for the past 24 years. In addition, many of my best strategies and ideas I’ve learned from Dan Kennedy, who I consider my marketing “guru.” If you’re not familiar with Dan, get his books and start reading.

What programs have helped you the most as an entrepreneur?

I attended Dan Kennedy’s Renegade Millionaire Retreat in 2006 and that was a turning point for me – the concepts laid the foundation for me to quit my day job and start my own coaching / information products business. I am currently in two mastermind programs – my mentors are Fabienne Frederickson and James Malinchak. I strongly believe in the power of the mastermind process and it’s one of the key things I’m doing to continue fast growth of my business.

How do you juggle mothering and running a business?

Of course, finding that balance can be challenging! I’m lucky to have an amazing, supportive husband who has always been willing to help with child care, homework, and even laundry! So that makes a huge difference. If you can carve out some hours to work after the kids are in bed, or in the wee hours of the morning, that will help you get things done and still be there for your kids when they get off the bus. I usually am at my laptop by 6:00 am so I get a lot done in the 2 hours before they wake up.

What tips can you offer those just getting started?

Be persistent – don’t give up. You’ve got to have a burning desire to make it work, or it probably won’t. Find a mentor and/or mastermind group of peers that can support you. Try to be very clear about the value you provide and what problems you solve for your ideal client or customer.

Have there been any challenges and/or benefits to being a woman entrepreneur?

I love my life right now. I absolutely love being a woman business owner and I think it’s a great model for my children. They already think very entrepreneurially. The challenges are many, but the benefits are huge. We can live wherever we want, so we are moving to a small ski town in Colorado. Life is good.

To learn more about Kris Murray or Child Care Marketing Solutions, please visit: www.childcare-marketing.com

When I was a kid, 99% of Moms stayed home and raised their children. Today, we live in a completely different society. With the high cost of living, both parents have to work in order to keep food on the table and the bills paid.

I have a 1 year old son and I cannot imagine leaving him with a stranger every day in order to go to work. However, you need to provide for your children so you do what you have to do. I am blessed to work in a “Virtual Environment,” (the office of the future). This way I get to provide for my family and raise my son at the same time. I know that I need to be there for my family every step of the way so that is what I am doing.

There are so many benefits to working from home, and every time I tell someone what I do they say “you’re so lucky”. I agree with them 100%. I am grateful everyday for the opportunity to raise my son and work at my business all at the same time. I feel great when I wake up every morning and start the day; I make my husband’s lunch, feed my little man and fire up my lap top. I am at the office as soon as I wake up. No stress, no commuting, and a big smile. I am ready to put together a sales presentation or write a blog post before most people have even left for work!

The most amazing part is that I work for a company where we help other businesses grow. We help business owners free up time in their lives so they can concentrate on what is most important to them (personal/family time). I can put in an abundant amount of work time, much more than if I worked in an “actual” office. If I was to work in an office and something happened with my son at daycare or I got sick, I would have to leave/miss work and catch up the next day. This would add a huge amount of stress to myself, my co-workers, and my family, and put a hold on whatever I was currently working on. Being at home I can handle anything and EVERYTHING that comes up, I am already at the office. Even on sick days I can still manage to get what needs to be done, DONE!

They say that a happy employee is a productive employee! I will second that 1 million times. The reason for that is in today’s day and age I can work from anywhere. We have a place on the lake that we go to every weekend in the summer, but guess what? Yes, that’s right, we have Wi-FI! I can stay up there all summer if I want to. I take lunch breaks and go swimming. I come back to my “office” with a huge smile on my face, more than ready to work. How would you like a person that is happy, stress free and motivated working for you? The main advantage to working in a “Virtual Environment” is being able to have a whole team of dedicated and motivated individuals working for you, to help grow and expand your business.

If you are trying to start a business or grow your current business, then a virtual team is the way to go. You can be even MORE successful than you are now, and know that whatever comes up; you have not just one person behind you, but a whole team of experts. Take it from me. Even after my busiest day of sales presentations, conference calls, and looking after my son I am more than proud of everything I accomplished that day. Everyone should feel like that after a hard day at “the office’. In a dream world we would all feel that great about what we do for a living. Anything is possible. All you have to do is make the right decisions, and believe!

Louise Jackson

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