MOMentum

Ep. 16–Interviewing our next guest from Canada.

Ariella Vaccarino and Theresa Ofstad share more accomplishments, from interviewing our first guest, spreading the word through social media, and creating Reels.  Our next guest will be international, from Canada. Follow the journey of two busy passionate moms while they bring other mompreneurs on the show.  
Ep. 16–Interviewing our next guest from Canada.
0:45 – First interview has been recorded and about to record our second interview.
1:12 – Creating Reels on Social media to help spread the word.
2:00 – Story of how our first reel happened. Don’t put it off until next time.
3:59 – We had a mom comment on our post is that it inspired her. It gave us the MOMentum we needed to move forward.
4:25 – Reels are beyond your Facebook page but needs to be under 60 seconds.   
5:12 – We recorded it in the wrong format and learned how to do it for next time. There are tools to change the format to the correct way.
6:00 – We used YouTube to figure it out.
6:25 – We have 70 women wanting to be interviewed on our podcast.
7:00 – The more you connect with other moms, you are able to capture their audience as well.
8:45 – Part of our walks and strategy sessions are organizing how we are going to select and get these women on our show. Starting video interview on YouTube.
10:00 – There are video editing platforms to help create the videos.
11:04 – We are recording so much that we need to figure out where to store them.
14:30 – Trying to figure out how to properly launch this podcast with a larger audience.
15:15 – Creating PDF’s in Canva to add to the content in each episode.
16:15 – We have friends texting us directly that they like the episode but we need to get more people to comment in our Facebook page or Podcast website.
17:15 – Our Co-host, Mr Yummy Tummy also has a few posts on our Facebook page.
18:00 – Hashtag expert is something we are looking into.
21:00 - International interview coming up next, a Mompreneur from Canada.
22:00 – Streaming platforms can help Zoom interviews go live, maybe we will do that one day.
 
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Some Background on the hosts!
 
Ariella Vaccarino-
Once an opera singer, mother to 5 children, voice and piano teacher, creator of
Voice Lessons To Go, a line of voice lesson CDs/downloads that sell nationwide.
She is also the host of the podcasts:
The Talented Magical Mommies Club
Ariella's Vocal Notes
and she has her own YouTube channel about singing:
www.youtube.com/VoiceLessonsToGo
 
Theresa Ofstad-
Is currently working a fulltime job while running a Basketball Club with her husband and teenage son. She is developing a business called Fuller Life, a resource for patients, seniors and their families. She is an area director with Toastmasters, a lifetime learner, leadership fanatic, and community connector.  
Sign up for her monthly newsletter to volunteer and support:
Fuller Life
 
Join MOMentum's private Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/849622462704055/
Become a Patron by clicking the link at the top of the page or clicking here:
https://patron.podbean.com/momentum

Ep. 17 Menina Fortunato-This Mom Sure Can Pivot

Menina Fortunato, founder of MENINA ENTERTAINMENT, has been in the dance industry for 3 decades and maintains a hectic schedule working both in front and behind the camera, owning multiple dance businesses, traveling the world while juggling being a wife and mother of 3.
Ep. 17-Menina Fortunato - This Mom Sure Can Pivot.
1:53 – In 2016 we moved back to Canada to raise our family.
3:40 – Before having children, I used to tour with Earth Wind & Fire, Rain, Luis Miguel, and others. I toured until I was four and a half months pregnant.
4:53 – I always knew a dance mom in the city that I was touring in to help with babysitting.
5:53 – Every summer I would travel to L.A. with my kids to run The Hollywood Summer Tour.
7:03 – Going to work was a vacation, I had all this me time.
8:08 – I love my work; I love what I do. I have never had a regular 9-5 job my entire life. I have evolved my entire career around dance and had to pivot a lot.
9:12 – During the pandemic, my events business which was my main bread and butter completely stopped overnight. Had to pivot again.
10:17 – I did my first online event over the summer and live streamed in L.A., Vegas, and London while I was in Vancouver.
12:05 – I was stuck at home, and I needed to get back in shape, so I turned that into something.
13:13 – I was undercharging and that was a whole thing. It’s hard to know what to charge people online.
14:15 – Mom’s will spend anything on their children but not when it comes to themselves.
16:00 – I started a whole library of videos that moms can watch on their time and added nutrition, chef, mindset.
16:50 – I hired a business coach that specializes in high ticket sales, it was a big investment.
18:40 – On Demand is pre-recorded lessons that they do on their time. Plus, I had weekly accountability coaching. I also added nutrition, mindset,
19:40 – Social Media Marketing is where I found most of my clients; MOM groups in Facebook are where a majority came from.
21:00 – To create each video I used my iPhone, ring light, lavalier mic plugged into computer separately, edited and overlayed video, sound, and music in final cut, using royalty free music.
24:21 – How do you know when to invest and how much to invest? If you want to make a lot of money, you need to invest in yourself and expand your mind. 
26:52 – Arman Sheffey from high ticket coaching helped Menina pivot again. 
32:30 – Instead of throwing spaghetti at the wall, find someone who has done it and short cut your success rate.
39:00 – I took the framework that I learned from my coach, pitched a 6-month mentorship program to dive deep with dancers and creating a career for them.
41:00 – How do you pick just one of your products to promote and be known for?
43:50 – Instead of focusing on high volume of sales, have less clients at a higher ticket and really nurture them.  They get better results and refer a friend, everyone wins.
49:05 – I think I am on to something here. I started the Hollywood Sumer Tour in 2006 and I still love it, but I have created something better for my lifestyle as a mom.
52:00 - I felt like I was a jack of all trades and a master of none. Now that I am focused, I can connect the right people to help serve my clients.
 
Find Menina at the following links:
https://www.instagram.com/meninafortunato
https://www.facebook.com/meninafortunato
https://www.youtube.com/meninaf
www.meninaentertainment.com  and www.meninafortunato.com
 
Some Background on the hosts!
Ariella Vaccarino-
Once an opera singer, mother to 5 children, voice and piano teacher, creator of
Voice Lessons To Go, a line of voice lesson CDs/downloads that sell nationwide.
She is also the host of the podcasts:
The Talented Magical Mommies Club
Ariella's Vocal Notes
and she has her own YouTube channel about singing:
www.youtube.com/VoiceLessonsToGo
 
Theresa Ofstad-
Is currently working a fulltime job while running a Basketball Club with her husband and teenage son. She is developing a business called Fuller Life, a resource for patients, seniors and their families. She is an area director with Toastmasters, a lifetime learner, leadership fanatic, and community connector.  
Sign up for her monthly newsletter to volunteer and support:
Fuller Life
 
Join MOMentum's private Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/849622462704055/
Become a Patron by clicking the link at the top of the page or clicking here:
https://patron.podbean.com/momentum

Ep 18 - Gail Lara-Women’s Collaborative Mentoring Program

Gail Lara is a Small Business Commissioner for the City of Los Angeles. She was also the founder of the Women’s Collaborative Mentoring Program and brought to the position more than twenty years of experience as a business owner and small-business development training. She holds twenty-five years of experience in retail buying, sales management, procurement, and advertising specialty.  Commissioner Lara also worked as a business coach with Operation Hope and progressed their Launch + Grow for women entrepreneur’s program. Over her extensive career, she served more than 5,200 business owners to start or grow their company and connect to resources for funding and new business opportunities.  Listen to her tips and advice while being a mom of three children, which includes raising a special needs child with high functioning Autism (Asperger’s) and was an instrumental leader in navigating the system to help improve school programs for youth with Special needs!
 
Ep 18 - Gail Lara-Women's Collaborative Mentoring Program
2:50 - Right out of college, moved to Hawaii, stayed there for 25 years, had her three children, and moved back to the mainland 23 years ago, and was in retail.  She decided to start her own business bringing goods from Hawaii.  
3:50 - Started the Women’s Collaborative Mentoring Program 10 years ago.
5:15 - Word of mouth is the best way to do things.
6:00 - Planning and scheduling Pau, Hana Friday’s, to them means finish work then go to the beach, watch the sunset and have dinner together. Kids get used to family traditions.
8:04 - Assigned each child a budget for a meal for the family each week. She would take them to the store to buy the items within budget. And if not, they would put it back.
9:22 - With high functioning autism, her son was in LAUSD and on so many programs that mixed them with the other children, it was a challenge. 
10:07 - Autism is a big business, “do this for him”, “take this medicine,” etc. You try to do it all and you don’t even know what is working.  
10:55 - It’s not about fixing him but understanding him. I needed to sit down with his teachers and caregivers and ask what one thing are you doing that’s working?
13:46 - we tend to want to hover and do it for them and fix things. They need to know how to do it themselves. 
15:30 - Gail is my friend that started the entrepreneurial training program 
16:25 - Tips for people starting Business - 
Work with the free resources out there (see link below) funded by the city.
Work with all of them. You never know who’s desk it will reach that needs your services.
SBDC (for each city)
Business Source Center (for each city)
SBA – Small Business Administration (Federal program)
Two most asked questions:
Where do you find a mentor.
What are the steps?
Checklist to get started.
19:10 – Not once source has the budget to handle it all, be part of all of them. 20:30 – Contracting; Women contractors, Women owned business, Black owned business certifications.
22:15 - Gail connected you with the free resources and helped get your business started.
23:13 – Women’s Collaborative Mentoring Program was put under the VEA and Launch and grow was under OPERATION HOPE.  They were both transitioning when she retired so they are no longer.  But her resources still exist. 
25:54 – My middle daughter has a wellness center in Mammoth and Bishop, Her oldest daughter is doing elixirs and works for a corporate company.  Her son has his own business. 
27:00 – You need to speak your business every day, to everyone at every opportunity, nonstop and ask yourself; did I speak to 10 people today?
28:00 – Ariella was at her son’s school event as she was starting a group class.  She was telling everyone at school about it. 
28:50 - On average, people need to hear about you 7 times to get the sale.
29:21 – Be known for something.
30:00 – Speak to anyone and everyone you come in contact with.
32:56 – What does your morning routine look like? It starts with gratitude and a morning walk.
34:35 – Look at your Business Plan and ask yourself; how is my business going to look in five years? How am I going to make money this year? Today, tomorrow, next week, next month… did I make my goal?
35:25 - I can’t tell you how many entrepreneurs want to give it away to a charity.  Get your business going first. Get yourself established, then you can think about the charities.
36:15 - Banks will lend when you have money.  Businesses will grow if you have money, so save everything you can. When you want to grow your business then borrow it.
40:25 – Speak to 10 people about your business challenge!
 
Gail Lara -
Gail has also received many Business Awards and recognition including NLBWA, LABJ, SFVBJ, and for the past five years was recognized by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal as one of the Valley 200 most Influential Leaders. Gail serves on the planning committees for the City of L.A., Women’s Entrepreneur Day, and Small Business Summit.
 
Gail’s philanthropic side has always been one of service. She serves on such boards as the Special Needs Network, a program dedicated to helping children with Autism, and the North Valley Regional Chamber. Previously, she served as event chair for a domestic violence awareness program. Gail helped charter the “Speaking Your Business” Toastmasters club and serves as their past president.
 
Gail’s resources to start a business:
No cost or low-cost services offered in the Los Angeles area.
I encourage small businesses to register for services to help start, develop, or grow their business.
 
LA BUSINESS PORTAL –
Offers planning, starting, managing and growing a business.
Up to date resources to support your business goals.
https://business.lacity.org/plan
 
Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA)
Offers a guide to doing business with the city including contracts.
https://dcba.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/LACountySmallBusinessResourceGuide.pdf
 
Some Background on the hosts!
Ariella Vaccarino-
Once an opera singer, mother to 5 children, voice and piano teacher, creator of
Voice Lessons To Go, a line of voice lesson CDs/downloads that sell nationwide.
She is also the host of the podcasts:
The Talented Magical Mommies Club
Ariella's Vocal Notes
and she has her own YouTube channel about singing:
www.youtube.com/VoiceLessonsToGo
 
Theresa Ofstad-
Is currently working a fulltime job while running a Basketball Club with her husband and teenage son. She is developing a business called Fuller Life, a resource for patients, seniors and their families. She is an area director with Toastmasters, a lifetime learner, leadership fanatic, and community connector.  
Sign up for her monthly newsletter to volunteer and support:
Fuller Life
 
Join MOMentum's private Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/849622462704055/
Become a Patron by clicking the link at the top of the page or clicking here:
https://patron.podbean.com/momentum

Ep.19 - Robin Barber, The Baby Fairy Shoppe

Robin Barber has always been a giver. About 26 years ago, a dear friend of hers struggled to get pregnant. When she finally did, Barber and her husband knew they had to do something special.  Each month of their friend’s pregnancy, Barber and her husband would send gifts anonymously to the friend, only to reveal themselves once the baby arrived.  The idea was so well-received that Barber has continued to anonymously send her friends and friends’ daughters gifts throughout their pregnancies until she decided to make a business out of it in April 2020.  Listen to her story. 
 
Ep 19 – Robin Barber-The Baby Fairy Shoppe
1:45 – The Baby Fairy Shoppe is 20 years in the making. Starting with a friend who had a hard time to get pregnant.
3:11 – Gift giving service, go to the website, pick what you choose, Robin mails them individually throughout the month.  Ships gifts every two weeks with a card that says their Fairy if thinking of her. Reveal with the last gift, who it is from (if you wish.)
5:20 – Anticipating the birth of your child, there are so many emotions you go through. This is just a way to bring extra joy.
5:50 - When they open the gift they know someone is thinking of them and it puts a smile on their face.
I love it, it is a dream
6:40 - April 2020, it became an official business. Robin started with a partner that bowed out. She has been on her own since January 2022.
7:20 - Robin works a full-time job as well.  The goal is to leave the full-time job and focus all her time on The Baby Fairy Shoppe. 
8:00 - Sometimes people need to have a full-time job, even if it’s just for the benefits. Keep doing it until your business takes off.
9:00 - Biggest challenge is marketing. She uses Facebook, Instagram, Ads, Word of mouth.
9:40 – Participating in Bridal expo’s, what happens after your wedding? A Baby!
10:00 – Business could scale to add gifts to people who are engaged.
13:12 – The hope is that her son will take over the business and keep the love going.  
13:39 - Dreams can take the amount of time they need to take. You can slowly build until you are ready to start.
15:30 – Exclusive wholesale companies that Robin works worth that are high quality items. Soon to be adding local artisans to pamper moms with lotions and things.
18:45 – Theresa suggested she add diaper cakes.  See examples by clicking here.  Theresa made the one below:
19:35 – Use your social media to connect to each other. 70-100 women connected to us through a social media request for a guest.  Robin direct messaged Ariella and continued to follow up until we called back.  She also became part of our community through our private Facebook group.  We want to support her. 
 
Robin Barber -
The Baby Fairy is a gift giving service that allows you to send anonymous gifts to expecting moms, families, friends, coworkers etc.  You shop, they ship and then they reveal who the baby fairy was (If you wish to be revealed).
Years ago, Robin and her husband’s friends had a hard time conceiving and when they finally got pregnant, they thought “we need to do something special, “the baby fairy was born!! 
This is her passion to give back and she wants everyone to experience the magic of being a baby fairy!
The Baby Fairy Shoppe
 
Some Background on the hosts!
Ariella Vaccarino-
Once an opera singer, mother to 5 children, voice and piano teacher, creator of
Voice Lessons To Go, a line of voice lesson CDs/downloads that sell nationwide.
She is also the host of the podcasts:
The Talented Magical Mommies Club
Ariella's Vocal Notes
and she has her own YouTube channel about singing:
www.youtube.com/VoiceLessonsToGo
 
Theresa Ofstad-
Is currently working a fulltime job while running a Basketball Club with her husband and teenage son. She is developing a business called Fuller Life, a resource for patients, seniors and their families. She is an area director with Toastmasters, a lifetime learner, leadership fanatic, and community connector.  
Sign up for her monthly newsletter to volunteer and support:
Fuller Life
 
Join MOMentum's private Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/849622462704055/
Become a Patron by clicking the link at the top of the page or clicking here:
https://patron.podbean.com/momentum