How many times…

Have I started a business?

When I hear an entrepreneur’s success story, I always wonder what their path actually looked like. This wondering led me to ponder my own path. How many times have I started a business, and what happened?

(For reference, I was born in 1982)

1988

My mom let me have this beautiful, ornate, wood jewelry box that she did not use anymore. On the top center, you could lift the lid up, towards the back. On the top sides, you could lift the lid towards the right and left. Facing me, there were multiple drawers to open.

This jewelry box was my first cash register. We had recently moved, so not only did I inherit a register, but also checks since they had our old address. With my register, my checks, and my set of play money, I opened my first store. To me, it was fantastic. To a real investor, with a lack of inventory and customers, including only my mom and brother, it was a failure before it started. Yet, ever since then, I still love the idea of typing numbers into a cash register and the drawer popping out to receive my sales!

1993

On my mom’s side of the family, the Bellefeuille clan, I have a group of girl cousins that are all around my age. We started the Bellefeuille Club, probably in response to the ever-popular at the time, Babysitters Club. During one of our club meetings, we decided to start a newsletter. My mom had an old, Apple Mac, and I would write, edit and print the paper. We could sell it to our family to share all the important Bellefeuille news. 

We published two issues and sold none.

2009

After leaving my corporate job to stay at home with our children, I got really serious about starting a business. I thought – I have time since I am home all day, and I could help Mike bring in additional resources. 

• Primerica: I attempted to sell loans and insurance. At one point I remember my trainer telling me that I needed to book more appointments with my friends and family so I could gain more practice. I told him I was already spending a lot of time away from my family (our oldest was 6 months at the time). His response. It’s not that much time. Oh, you know inner tita came out and I said see you later.

• Cards: I enrolled in a monthly stamp club and tried to make cards that I could sell in packs. 

• Coasters: I sewed fabric coasters.

• Baby Items: Carseat canopies, diaper bags, diaper changing mats, and burp cloths. The company name was Heather Feather.

• Baby Clothing: I started this company with my cousin-in-law. She was so talented in pattern making and design. We named the company Two and Ten since, between the two of us, we had 10 kids. Their family moved to the Big Island of Hawaii. I live on Oahu. We did not see how it would work with us physically separated.

• Cookies: I make a really good chocolate chip cookie and a fantastic dark chocolate espresso cookie. I created a label and designed packaging, figured out the costs, wholesale price, and retail price.

• The First Blog, The Second Blog, and The Third Blog

• Bookkeeping

Reviewing this list causes different emotions. From one viewpoint, I could count the number of failures and assume I am not called to be an entrepreneur or that I am a quitter. From another, I cut my losses at a good time and I learned many different things that I can still use in my current business.

Timing is another important narrative that frames your perspective. 

Between 2009 and 2014, I had 3 newborns, 2 pregnancies, 2 labors, 2 years of homeschooling, sold and purchased a home, and a long list of life moments that happened.

If your list looks similar to mine, give yourself grace mama. Every experience creates learning opportunities rather than a finish line. Take the time to make your list today and celebrate every moment that has led up to your place as an entrepreneur today.