What is your name & how many children do you have?
Carol Covin, AKA Granny-Guru. 2 grown sons, 2 grandchildren
What’s the name of your company and the inspiration behind it?
Twenty Minutes Press, publisher of the Granny-Guru series. As one friend pointed out, when we become grandmothers, we all get really smart. So, we’re all granny-gurus.
I have just finished a book on mothers and grandmothers, and what they would like to say to each other about raising the grandchildren.
It is based on interviews with 40 mothers and grandmothers. Spurred by a story from a young mother about how a friend of hers, not the oldest sister in the family, but the first with grandchildren, found herself in the position when her older sister had children, that she was asked to have her children change what they called the grandparents. She refused, but there was much anger from her sister.
When I found that I was about to become a grandmother, and thought I was much too young for such a role, friends flattered me by agreeing. One came up with a new name for me, “Glam-ma.” I loved it and relayed this to my son and his expectant wife. They were crushed. My son finally stammered, “You will be our child’s only grandmother. We thought you’d be honored.”
And, of course, I am. Grandma it is. As it turns out, both mothers and grandmothers have things to say to each other, but realizing the sensitivity of such relationships, sometimes hold back. I asked them to tell me, on the promise their stories would be anonymous.
The result is, “Who Gets to Name Grandma? The Wisdom of Mothers and Grandmothers.”
What was your start-up cost (rough estimate) and when did your company become profitable?
Startup costs @ $10K. Not yet profitable
What is your current business struggle?
Marketing. When I tell people personally about the concept for my book, they get it right away. But, I have to get to the point where people are finding it, and understanding the concept, from written materials, from the Internet, from friends/customers who talk about it, and take myself out of the loop as the critical element.
What is your current business goal?
Get marketing/visibility to the point where I can take myself out of the loop and write more books. The next one will be: “Who Gets to Name the Baby? More Wisdom from Mothers and Grandmothers”
What is your favorite business book or website? Why?
The Rich Dad/Poor Dad series. This is the first time I’d heard anyone talk about the fact that working for someone else isn’t as secure as you might think. Starting your own business is hard, and certainly not secure, but it does not have the upper limits of working for someone else, and frees your creativity in ways nothing else does.
What is your favorite quote?
“Leadership is the art of persuading the other fellow to want to do what you want him to do.” General Dwight Eisenhower
Who is your business idol? Why?
It’s a tie between Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart.
Oprah because of her generosity, despite all her success.
Martha because she makes you think you really could put on a party for 200, no problem. That’s a gift.
What advice would you give to a new mom entrepreneur?
- Do something every day to market your business. Talk to people, blog, twitter, buy ad words, do product reviews
- Do something every day for yourself, even if it’s only for 5 minutes, like putting fresh lavender in a bowl.
- Build a database/spreadsheet of everyone you talk to about your business, so you’ll know what the last conversation with them was about.
How can we connect with you?
Author, “Who Gets to Name Grandma? The Wisdom of Mothers and Grandmothers” ($18.95, downloadable .pdf)
Email: granny-guru@granny-guru.com
Twitter: @Granny_Guru
Facebook: facebook.com/carol.covin
Web: http://www.granny-guru.com
Those who sign up for my email list on the web site will get a free copy of the report, “How to Leap the Generation Gap: 58 Reasons Child-Rearing Is Different Today” It is designed to help Moms understand why their Moms recommend some of the things they do.
Best wishes to all the Mom entrepreneurs out there. You’re not just starting a business. You’re teaching the next generation how to start a business.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
This is great! Are you planning to put any of your books in print? This would make a perfect gift for grandparents.
I too was a very young Grandma and it was a surprise to me as well, and to my daughter, the difference in child rearing that happens with each generation. I would love to had heard my Grandmothers version of child rearing in her day to now.
Back to being a entrepeneur I started and ran my own Medical billing and collections business for 12 years and as a six figure earner I am contemplating writing a book about my experiences.
Very smart advice Carol… thanks for sharing.
Twitter: heathall
July 25, 2009 at 3:51 pm
My mom always says that my generation’s parenting downfall is that we don’t use playpens. LOL. We laugh about that all the time.
Things were indeed different when our parents were raising us…not better or worse, just different.
Thanks for sharing your story, Carol.
Heather
What a great idea! It has been so interesting and fascinating talking to my mom about how she raised me in comparison to how I am raising my child. Especially with breastfeeding versus formula. Best of luck, Carol!
I do print spiral-bound copies of the book on request, and for book signings. If someone would like a copy for a gift, please send me an email with the request and a snail mail address to send it to. I will send details about where to send a check, and include a shipping and handling fee.