Spotlight Entrepreneur: Nicole Andrews Moore

Nicole Andrews Moore

A while ago I wrote an article titled, Hiring Your Husband: A Modern Day FairyTale? In my research I spoke with a lot of business owners including Nicole Andrews Moore. Like many women I interviewed, Nikki's perspective of working with her hubby was a positive one and one that she cherished. I was expecting the complete opposite when I started writing my story, so I was thankful to have follow up conversations with Nikki learning more about her husband Sam, their business relationship and how it made their family home improvement business, Carolina Home Enhancements, a success.  Many a tweet later we were scheduling coffees and cultivating a supportive friendship as we navigated the highs and lows of self-employment.  I realized I had a lot to learn from this woman!  Not only was she adventurous, but she loved to write about adventure. Are you in the mood for the romantic escape of Sugar Daddy? Or maybe the real journey of Kenna, Sam and Nicole's 9.6oz wonder-baby?  Meet Nicole Andrews Moore: wife, mommy, novelist, blogger, life coach, traveler, adventurer, foodie, friend and author of her latest novel, Hiding Out:

Tell us about your business and target market.
I am a novelist, blogger, and lately…shameless self-promoter.  I write stories of hope, happiness, and love.  From what I gather, my audience is predominantly female, 18-80.  Don’t believe me, the fan page says it all.  ☺ 

When did you decide it was the right time to take the leap into self-employment?
I have worked a number of jobs and potential careers through the years.  Helping others build their dreams was a means to an end for me.  It was always my intention to be self-employed.  I always wanted to be a writer.  And when I met Sam, I encouraged him to build his own company.  After a while, Carolina Home Enhancements was too busy for him to handle it on his own.  We returned from a sailing excursion Memorial Day weekend and Sam called me at work and asked me to turn in my two week notice.  On June 15, 2011, I retired from that life and we’ve been working on building our dreams ever since. 

What is the most challenging aspect about being an entrepreneur?
Leaping and hoping the net will appear.  There is no fall back for income, no guaranteed salary, no benefits, no retirement package. 

What is your #1 tip for balancing work and family?
There are agreed upon times that are dedicated family time.  We accept that our weekends aren’t always Saturday and Sunday.  We have to be willing to chip in and help in areas that we might not always want to.  I have had to mow the lawn in the spring or fall when Sam is busiest.  He has had to help out around the house more than he expected, more than he would sometimes like.

What small business resource(s) can you NOT live without?
My mentor, JB McGee.  I have no idea what I would do without her.  She has introduced me to so many people, taught me how to market, helped me to build my brand.  It’s a process.  I’m growing and learning. 

What advice would you give to a friend who was thinking about starting a business? 
Do it, but do it smart.  Make sure that you have done the research, have a plan, have a net, make sure you have the support of your family/spouse/partner.  All of that is essential.

Favorite social media site? 
Facebook.  It is so easy, so versatile, so user friendly, so interactive…

What book has been an inspiration to you as an entrepreneur? 
I read everything I can get my hands on that has to do with Kindle marketing.  I think the first and most important book I read was by John Locke’s How I Sold a Million ebooks in Five Months!  It taught me so much about how to be a successful writer.  To begin with…he didn’t sell a million books by only having one book out there.  He had many books published on Kindle.  He knew how to market using Twitter, his blog, list build, and create successful sales emails.  I had no idea there was so much involved in it.

When you’re not working, what is your favorite activity? 
When we’re not working? I don’t remember not working.  I think the difference is that we’re doing what we love so that it doesn’t feel like work.  Sam has down time, and I can write anywhere, so we love to travel.  Of course, we’ve been on lockdown the past year because of Kenna.  So…we developed new hobbies.  We planted a vegetable and herb garden.  I learned to make homemade marinara using our fresh basil and our varieties of tomatoes.  Once in a while I get to read for pleasure.  Oh, and Pinterest became my drug…and another marketing tool.

Where do you see your business in 5 years? 
In five years, I hope to be a best seller, have a few series to my credit.  I’d love to have books in production to be movies or even made for TV movies. Yes, I not so secretly want to be Nicholas Sparks.   

Enter to Win the GoodReads Book Giveaway featuring Hiding Out, or follow Nicole @thenicknick, Facebook, Pinterest. And don't forget to stalk her on Amazon!

About the author… 

Nicki has lived in Charlotte, North Carolina with her children for the past eleven years and her husband for the past three years.  Her journey has barely begun and she loves every minute of it.  Every day of her life seems to bring new adventures, some bigger, better, shinier and prettier than others.  She's still getting used to that new life smell she's experiencing, a combination of hope, love, and happiness.  (The perfect scents to build a new life on...)

For fun, she spends time with those she cares about, cooks, reads, writes, and especially lives to travel.  The current travel goal: visit every Margaritaville.  Two down!  (Eleven to go?)

In addition to writing on Suddenly Single Journey, Nicki is a contributor for Project Underblog.  Her writing can also be found on Shine, where she is a Shine Parenting Guru and an award winning Yahoo! Contributor on YourWisdom as the relationship and dating expert.  And she has been published by McClatchy News in their syndicated papers.

www.sleeveshirtconsulting.com

Book Review: For Better or For Work

When I saw the title of this book I had to chuckle: For Better or For Work: A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs and Their Families.  When you decide to jump into self-employment, it certainly becomes a family affair - doesn't it?  

Meg Hirshberg, author of For Better or For Work provides tools to building a successful business without sacrificing your personal relationships.  Entrepreneurship is a financial and emotional roller coaster and we strap our families in for the ride (whether they like it or not).  Meg is an authority figure on the subject; she is a wife, mother of 3, freelance writer and co-founder of Stonyfield Farm organic yogurt.  

If you think your personal relationships may be suffering due to your self-employed aspirations ask yourself: 

• How many times have you asked your child to "Shhhh..." while you were finishing an email?

• When was the last time you asked your spouse to pick up the childcare slack while you planned a multi-day meeting across the country? 

• Are you having an affair with a sexy little accomplice that knows more about your life than your spouse? (a.k.a Your Smartphone)

If you're uncomfortable with any of the scenarios above you may benefit from reading Meg's book.  Her advice also touches on the profound gesture of faith and often uncomfortable complications that can arise with business loans amongst family, how to balance care of your babies- that is your literal children and your figurative business-baby, and what to do when you're looking to transition your business to dissolution or when you're ready to pass the reigns.

The book is peppered with stories of other entrepreneurs with devastating challenges and inspiring wisdom.  An easy, fun read and very relatable for anyone who is self-employed or is married to a risk-taking entrepreneur.  I especially favor the ends of each chapter which give you suggested lists of "Things to Talk About" and "Things to Do" in order to keep your relationships on track.  It's like marriage-counseling for entrepreneurs without the copay.

www.sleeveshirtconsulting.com

Book Review: The Championship Formula

I'd like to consider myself an athlete even though I haven't played a team sport in approximately 15 years. But I believe once you have trained with an athletic mindset, you are always an athlete. Which is why I can relate to Jack Stark and his book, The Championship Formula: How to Transform Your Team Into a Dynasty.

Stark, a clinical psychologist has consulted and mentored leaders of top Fortune 500 companies as well as numerous sports teams that have gone on to win championships.  He is the authority on understanding what it takes to dominate a playing field and create a dynasty whether it's on the field or in the board room.

Stark says, "Leaders of teams need to inspire hope but always remain vigilant of what causes failure...it can happen quickly." The first time I felt like a true leader was middle-school softball.  I tried out in the 7th grade and was cut. Coach Walsh implored those who were cut to return and try again next year. I don't know what made me do it after the bruise to my ego, but I did- I tried out in 8th grade and not only made the team, but was chosen as Captain.  Coach couldn't believe the transformation in one year.  (Turns out I was too proud to wear my glasses the previous year).  It's amazing what vision can do for hand-eye coordination.

Chapter 3 is titled: Dynastic Leaders are Caring & Honest and begins with a quote by Flavia Weedn "Some people come into our lives and quickly go.  Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same." When I read this quote it brought me back to my days on the softball field. I was ecstatic that when I moved up to high school that Coach Walsh was transferred to a coaching job with the Varsity softball team.  He was my first mentor. The first man in my life to sit and talk with me, ask me how I was feeling and what I wanted to do with my life. I felt like when I talked to him that he saw through all the teen-age bull shit and truly understood me.  I asked Coach to write me a college recommendation.  The best present he could have done was to leave the envelope unsealed. He wanted me to read it before it was sealed and sent off to the University.  I only wish I had made a copy so that I could read it again after all these years.

Was our softball team a sports dynasty? Nah. But the lessons I learned, my competitive spirit and my desire to mentor others has carried through to my career.  Thank you Coach.

The Championship Formula can be found on Amazon.com as well as Barnes and Noble.com.  A great read if you are looking to get in touch with your inner-champion.

www.sleeveshirtconsulting.com