For over 20 years I lived the life of a corporate employee.  I walked the company line and did what I was told.  I was hard working and was rewarded with a company car and yes, more responsibility.  Life was good, or was it? 

Along the way, I realized that I had a career yet my life as a mom and a wife were suffering.  I started to feel the important things like attending my son’s tennis matches, being around for my dad who was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and just having the chance to be a “mom” were being replaced with work meetings and after hour conference calls.  Time with my husband also began to suffer as our “unwind” time in the evening was him listening to me talk on the phone to overseas suppliers.  Yes, my normal workday continued into the evening as our day grew to a close but another day around the world was just starting.

The final straw occurred when my new boss who worked in China had this expectation that “we all” start work Monday morning.  Well that might be fine for him, but Monday morning for him was Sunday evening for me because of the time change. So now my weekends were being chipped away with work responsibilities.

After considerable soul searching I submitted my resignation and began my search for more balance and a chance to do something I really enjoyed. Well, I’ve always been creative.  I love home decorating, especially creating tablescapes to match the seasons.  I also enjoy sewing and love craft projects.  So when I found a business for sale that allowed me to use my creative talents, I was sold.  The business is called Lil’ Baby Cakes.  And the rest, as they say is history.

At Lil’ Baby Cakes we take stacks of diapers and arrange them to look like a traditional tiered cake.  The “cake” is decorated with ribbons, bows, and baby goodies to match a popular baby theme.  The finished result is a baby diaper cake.   Baby gift buyers purchase our diaper cakes to send as a welcome home baby gift or to use as a baby shower centerpiece. 

I’ve now found a niche that allows me to use my creativity on a daily basis.  I also have the flexibility in my schedule to be the mom and wife I’ve always wanted to be.  Is everything perfect?  Nope.  Running a small business is a tremendously hard work.  It can be tiring and exhausting at times.  So what’s the difference between my corporate job and Lil’ Baby Cakes?  Instead of overseas conference calls, now I speak to customers and clients throughout the US who enjoy sending our unique baby gifts.  My reward is hearing my creations are making a new mom smile. I’m also doing something I truly enjoy and along the way have found doing work you love doesn’t feel like work at all.  I’m driven to succeed because my business fits my natural talents.  What a concept.  Too bad it took me 20 years to figure it all out.

Candy Budyta is the owner and creative director of Lil’ Baby Cakes based in Grand Blanc, MI.  Her diaper cake creations are available online for shipment worldwide.  She’s also the mother of 4 in a blended family and enjoys reading, traveling, and home decorating projects.

The post Is it Time to Ditch Your Day Job? appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

An Eye for Design Leads to a Career for a Lifetime 

Some people think of a bedroom as nothing more than a place to sleep. Kim Gellman sees a place where children can express their creativity and let their imaginations run wild. Through her online store, ArtisticSensations.com, kids – and their parents – can discover designer décor to dress up the bedroom of their dreams.

A mom of two boys and a former marketing manager for a restaurant chain, Gellman launched Artistic Sensations in 1996 after struggling to find the perfect touches to her own kids’ nurseries. “When I was pregnant with my first child, I felt there were limited choices in St. Louis,” she explained via email. “I wanted a nursery that was a combination of funky and traditional, and could not find items. It inspired me to start looking other cities for these items, and I found there were many more choices in New York, Chicago and LA.”

Gellman decided to take design into her own hands. She began selling 25 different nursery décor items out of her house and at hospitals, craft shows and gift fairs throughout St. Louis. After a year, a friend offered to build her a website at the time the Internet was first taking off. “I thought why not sell across the country, even the world? I sold a step stool to London my first 90 days and then a set of bedding to LA. I was hooked and caught the ‘entrepreneurial spirit.’”

Setting today’s trends 

Today, Artistic Sensations features designer bedding, furniture and room décor from 50 different artists and companies, offering the hottest trends for girls and boys of all ages. In fact, according to Gellman, some of the most popular looks for the winter include peace signs, polka dots and stripes as well as animal prints in browns and crèmes.

In terms of color, pinks, chocolates and purples are popular with girls while boys favor denims, greens, oranges and browns.

By mastering the art of customer service and creating a strong network via social media, Gellman has built her business by building long-lasting relationships with vendors and customers, all while raising two active boys. To any parent wanting to start a business, the duties of running a successful company like Gellman’s seem overwhelming, but she insisted strategic planning and networking can turn a creative spark into a full-blown business.

“If you have the passion for your ideas, you can make it happen. Set realistic goals, create a business plan. Meet with other business owners. Listen and learn from everyone you come in contact with, and surround yourself with motivated, intelligent people. Just go for it!”

  Kim Gellman

 www.artisticsensations.com

 314-757-8552

“sensational kids rooms”

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