Mommy Marketing

This is the one place where I won't filter too much, where my opinion and experiences will not be sugar coated so it's easier to swallow. There is a lot of medicine about my life but just like the bitter taste of medicine when you're sick, life can be bitter. Especially for people like me; brown, poor, female, defiant, opinionated, and a mama. this combination of characteristics make life challenging in this young country we live in. I live in Oregon which is known as one of the racists states in U.S. America but that isn't the hardest part. The hardest part is the discrimination towards women and on top of that woman who own businesses. Following are a list of comments I've heard the last 3 weeks as I looked for funding for my business and/or meetings for new accounts...ready for this? This happened.

"I'm going to be sexist here but I always find women are unprepared for business because they get flustered so quickly and forget their purses in the car are something." (I wasn't any of those nor did I forget my purse.)

"It just doesn't look good that you are an unwed mother." a woman at a bank who didn't bother to listen to my circumstance or ask what my business is.

"Isn't there a financing organization for Mexicans you can contact?" 

"You're a minority woman! Use it!"

"Don't you have a husband who works?"

"I'm sorry we just can't help you. We know you've had identity theft but there just isn't anything our funding department has for you. I'm sorry." He never once looked at me in the eye or even towards my face.Which was fine with me because I allowed my daughter to run around in the bank yelling "Mama" really loud without stopping her. I thought it was nice to defy the system in my small way as I sat there staring at the banker and listening to Elena scream loudly in the lobby I couldn't stop thinking of so many women who have chosen to stay home and raise their children all the while knowing they are sacrificing tenure, strong resumes and retirement plans. What happens to those women whose partners take them for granted, belittle their contribution to the world and minimize their value because they aren't bringing an income in and suddenly there is no relationship, no support? It's hell! So screaming Elena and my refusal to leave the NO seat was my miniature rebellion of the system.

This has been so difficult to handle because I need the money to be able to build my business so that it is a success but no one is willing to help me. I've tried everything but becoming a hooker! (Which wouldn't work either since sex sounds annoying right now.)

After experiencing the normal emotional reactions to the constant door in the face saying "no, but hell NO!" and with constant support from my girlfriends I took a breath, pulled up my big girl panties, threw the money traditionalists all the finger and went above them! Yep! I started Mommy Marketing! 

I began reaching out to all of the mom's! First in my circle then the volunteer moms who take care of all the costuming for recitals. They all know how difficult it is already just being a parent but to have all of this other BS on top of it all in our day. Mom's understand the often absurd state of our financial system. It just doesn't make any sense sometimes and when mom's learn they are helping one of their own by supporting my business, whoa, watch out! 

So, this is what I suggest to anyone having a challenging situation at home, work or in your business, go to the moms! We are the most powerful group on the planet and when we become a team to work for the betterment of our children we are unstoppable. I'm happy I don't have to rely on the traditional forms of funding and marketing my business because to be honest my Mommy Marketing is far more efficient, powerful and fulfilling not to mention it feels damn good to begin succeeding despite the old white dude, good 'ol boy system trying to keep me down. I rub elbows everyday with the most powerful people in the world who have influence in our lives for generations to come by raising the children. We are at the cusp of big changes in our society and we will see more Mommy Marketing because we all know what happens when Mom has had it! 

I may sell leotards and I may not be earning as much as Mr. blah blah blah at the bank but he doesn't hold a candle to me and other mom's and to be honest he would never be able to handle this kind of power! ;)