Phind out Phriday: Mothers- The Original Entrepreneurs Part 2

Yesterday you got to phind out about six extraordinary mothers. Today I bring you seven additional extraordinary mothers. I bring you seven more women who specialize in engineering children for whom they make great sacrifices, have great hope, and you and I are dependent upon to carry on the change we started in our lifetimes but must be furthered in theirs. I bring you seven more original entrepreneurs.  

Phreedum: What is the most rewarding aspect of being a mother?

Marlene Agustus Idun: Helping to guide and direct my daughters lives so they can fulfill their purpose in this world. Knowing each child and guiding them according to their personality is only by God's grace and direction.

Barbara Francois: Going to pick up my daughter from school and seeing her run towards me yelling “Mommy mommy” and she jumps on me to give me a big hug and kiss!!!!! I love that feeling!!!!! No matter what kind of day I’m having it always makes me feel a little better. 

Nicole Jolly: Seeing my children growing, learning, maturing, and becoming independent and using the tools that I have instilled in them.

Erin Ryan Windholz: Looking at my little girl and realizing over and over again that new life is such a miracle.

Joyce Robert: Knowing my two sons seek to use maturity and wisdom when making choices/decisions.

Rachel King: Watching my son grow and discover new things about himself and the world around him each day!!!!
Serena Saunders: Hearing my son say he loves me, even if through text messaging. It never gets old and I smile every time.

Phreedum: What is the least understood aspect of motherhood?

Marlene Agustus Idun:  Motherhood is not a popularity contest. Often you have to make the unpopular decisions. It is sometimes a thankless job with no immediate rewards yet it brings you the greatest joy.

Barbara Francois: The constant worry about her safety and happiness. In the times that we live in I have to be extra cautious with who I let come around my daughter, where she goes and who she hangs with. I want to make sure that my daughter maintains her childhood innocence and grows up around love and happiness. 

Nicole Jolly: It is life changing. Life is not the same once they are born, you are always thinking about them and wondering if they are happy or safe, and wondering what else you can do for them...good mothers learn the true meaning of the word sacrifice.

Erin Ryan Windholz: Motherhood is at once intuitive and a complete learning process.

Joyce Robert: Motherhood doesn’t end with the onset of the child’s adulthood.

Rachel King: I can do everything I think my son needs to be pleased- change him, feed him, play with him etc. and he still seems to not be satisfied, and cries.
Serena Saunders: How difficult it is for a woman to override her sensitive, giving nature as a mother when a child needs harsh discipline, especially with young boys.

Phreedum: What would you consider a reasonable salary for being a mother?

Marlene Agustus Idun: There is no amount of money that could compensate you for the time and sacrifice it takes to love and mother your children. You do not get to retire from being a parent, even in death your parenting continues to guide your children with every action they take as a parent they will remember your voice.

Barbara Francois: At least six figures because everything is so expensive nowadays. There is daycare, food, clothes, extra-curricular activities,  and just being able to afford to give your kids the best options possible and secure their future. So something in the six figure range would be a great start.

Nicole Jolly: I don't think it's possible to put a salary on motherhood!!!

Erin Ryan Windholz: Being a mother is a gift. Parenting on the other hand deserves 6 figures at least - ha!

Joyce Robert: A reasonable salary cannot be determined or paid with dollars. However, It can be received as payable when a child displays the values of a good life taught with love.

Rachel King: HAHAHA... Do you really want me to answer this question??? I couldn’t even put a price on motherhood if I wanted to. No amount of money comes to mind.It is more of a sacrifice than anything else.
Serena Saunders: Priceless! But honestly I would take hugs and kisses from my son. Pay me in Love! 

Phreedum: What is one piece of advice that has helped you as a mother?

Marlene Agustus Idun: “Time is short and we have our children for a short time before they go off on their own. Love them, play with them, laugh with them and thank God for their presence in your life.”

Barbara Francois: “Always put your children first and make time for them even if that time is like two minutes.”

Nicole Jolly: Go with your first instinct!!! "Follow your gut feeling" when it's time to make decisions.

Erin Ryan Windholz: “Be present, each and every day. “

Joyce Robert: One piece of advice that helped me as a mother when my sons were toddlers was “Take them everywhere with you”. Also, to train up a child in the way it should go.

Rachel King: Although I am a new mom, the one piece of advice that I has helped me as a mother is to spend that one on one time, and hold your child close, talk to them, and not only tell them but show them they are loved.
Serena Saunders: Involve God.

Phreedum: In one word what do you hope to leave your child(ren)?

Marlene Agustus Idun: Power.

Barbara Francois: Fight. Fight to live, for love, and to laugh.

Nicole Jolly: Courage.

Erin Ryan Windholz: Love. Love for herself, love for those around her, love for the planet, love for God, love for life.

Joyce Robert: In a word, I hope to leave my children (including all the babies I have seen grow) is love, faith and peace. Well, that was in a few words.

Rachel King: Love.
Serena Saunders: Inheritance.

Marlene Agustus Idun is the mother of 4. Barbara Francois is the mother of 1. Nicole Jolly is the mother of 2. Erin Ryan Windholz is the mother of 1. Joyce Robert is the mother of 2.  Rachel King is the mother of 1. Serena Saunders is the mother of 1. 

Phind out Phriday Preview: Mothers- The Original Entrepreneurs Part 1

As I wrote my list of women I wanted to interview for Women’s History month it was extremely important to me to include women who were mothers. It’s not a job you get a degree for. There is no certification program for it.  Yet I can’t say I know of a more demanding, unique, and purposeful “job.” I think mothers are the original entrepreneurs.  They are the leaders, managers, innovators, advocates, publicists, healers, accountants, seamstresses, counselors, mediators, entertainers, and the list could go on. They do all of this and as women, here in the US they are still paid almost 20 cents less per dollar compared to their male counterparts, 50% are statistically projected to experience parenting as a single mother, and have yet to be president or vice president of the US.  In some countries they are seen as second class citizens and denied access to political appointments, jobs, or institutions of higher education, have their genitals mutilated, and are savagely raped.  

Women, mothers, all over the globe go through all of this and much more yet they still seem to come out on top and stock the shelves of humanity with the greatest products ever- you and I.

This week I got to phind out a little something about the advice cherished, joys, misunderstandings, salary, and hopes of thirteen mothers from Philadelphia, the suburbs of Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York. This Thursday you will meet six mothers and tomorrow you will phind out about another seven.  

Phreedum: What is the most rewarding aspect of being a mother?

Bonnie Hill: The hugs, I love you's, kisses, and smiles you receive sometimes for absolutely no reason at all!  

Alicia Oglesby: Building a lifelong connection and knowing my son trusts me and wants me when he needs comforting.

Carol King: Seeing my children making wise choices and learning the power of prayer and forgiveness.

Nichet Sykes: Seeing that what I have taught my children has allowed them to become wonderful adults and young adults.

Carly Applebaum Goldberg: Seeing my son flourish in the world and come into his own.

Renee Risner Tourville: The most rewarding aspect of being a mother is watching my kids grow and mature EVERYDAY. 

Phreedum: What is the least understood aspect of motherhood?

Bonnie Hill: Being a working mother! Many people don't understand how a mother can work so hard, sometimes they are barely home, and yet still be able to fully raise their child. People think it can't be done! NOT TRUE! As a single mom I will do what it takes to balance WORK, SCHOOL AND RAISING MY CHILD! 

 Alicia Oglesby: Self-sacrifice. I put his needs before mine 99% of the time. I don't mind having less friends or less "adult" fun if it means I can have quality time with him. I don't mind not wearing the latest cutest shoes if it means his tuition for a better education is paid.

Carol King: We care and we love immensely. We are not trying to control your life. The lessons we have learned were meant to be shared in the right way and at the right time to prevent negative results, to build up and not tear down.

Nichet Sykes: The least understood aspect of motherhood is how as a mother of five I can understand each of my children’s individual personalities which allows me to target what each of their individual needs are. Many people can't figure out how I can do it. 

Carly Applebaum Goldberg: Just because you become a mother, does not mean that you instantly lose your identity as a woman (business woman, partner, lover, best friend, etc.).

Renee Risner Tourville: I didn't understand there would never be time off when you are a mother. I enjoyed sleeping on the beach and reading at the park or window shopping in the city. Now I can’t close my eyes at the beach, turn my back at the park and when I go window shopping I am considering “What do teenage boys like to wear?”, “Is that dress appropriate for school?”, and “I think I can wear those shoes and clothes one more year.” 

Phreedum: What would you consider a reasonable salary for being a mother?

Bonnie Hill: Being a mother is a priceless job! I wouldn't dare think about compensation! This is solely voluntary and I do it with pride, dignity, love, strength and courage!

 Alicia Oglesby: 68,000 a year with full benefits + a Roth IRA + free gym membership.

Carol King: Motherhood is priceless. You cannot attach a salary, because much of it is sacrificial.

Nichet Sykes: Being a mother is priceless and truly a gift that cannot be measured by money. 

Carly Applebaum Goldberg: Reasonable salary would be in the billions. Top 1%! 

Renee Risner Tourville: If I just pay myself what I pay my babysitters it would be $113,400.00 per year. Since I have 4 kids I would hope to have 4 weeks off. That would be $12/per hour. I have 4 kids now and I am 40 with 4 years of college so with my experience I would hope to get $25/per hour so the salary would change to $226,800.00 per year  plus a company car, insurance, Christmas bonus, spending allotment, health and dental insurance, clothing allowance. Paid vacation /4weeks without the kids and a health club allowance would be nice.

Phreedum: What is one piece of advice that has helped you as a mother?

Bonnie Hill: “KEEP GOING” would be one piece of advice that has helped me in the 2yrs I've been a mother. That was my strength and courage right there.

Alicia Oglesby: Follow your instincts despite what anyone else thinks. In the end, I am responsible for his development, not anyone else’s good or bad advice.

Carol King: “One day your children will grow up and they will thank you for what you are trying to teach them. Be patient."

Nichet Sykes: One piece of advice I have received from my mother is to communicate honestly with my children and have an open mind. But also, challenge them when needed and never slack on discipline.

Carly Applebaum Goldberg: “Enjoy each moment because they fly by in the blink of an eye!”

Renee Risner Tourville: “They  will never be perfect.”  Children will make mistakes, they will hate you at least one time in their lives, and they will get embarrassed when you yell out you love them when you dropped them off at the mall. BUT I will be the one to teach them to learn from their mistakes. I will love them through their trials and I will never stop letting them know that I love them because some children have parents that could care less about their children and they send them out in the world without any care or wisdom. 

Phreedum: In one word what do you hope to leave your child(ren)?

Bonnie Hill: Strength. 

Alicia Oglesby: Humility.

Carol King: Faith.

Nichet Sykes: Grace.

Carly Applebaum Goldberg: Compassion. Compassion for yourself, others and the world around you.

Renee Risner Tourville: Christ’s Love.

Bonnie Hill is the mother of 1. Alicia Oglesby is the mother of 1 and is 7 months pregnant with her second. Carol King is the mother of 5. Nitchet Sykes is the mother of 5. Carly Applebaum Goldberg  is the mother of 1.  Renee Risner Tourville is the mother of 4. 

Swoosh

I've never owned a pair in my life but their motto often keeps me focused and moving forward. This week, don’t consider it,think about it,start it,or try it.Just do it. Whatever "it" is,  Nike it.

Phind out Phriday: Shayna Israel of Elements

I’m convinced that you will have what you need in life. You may not get what you want, but what you need will come and it will come right when you need it.

Tuesday night I met with Shayna Israel, Co Executive Director of Elements, an organization dedicated to “uniting LGBTQ womyn of color,” and I got exactly what I needed. I got an interview with a phenomenal young woman who is passionately pursuing her dreams. I got an interview that reminded me and I hope reminds you that pursuing dreams are not in vain.  I got an interview that reminded me and I hope reminds you to dream bigger, that impossibility ought not take up residence in our minds and hearts, and that you need not money nor an office to organize, mobilize, and actualize.

Phreedum: Talk to me about how Elements got started.

SI: We started as a group of friends gathering pretty much every weekend. We’d meet up, go out to parties and events in the LGBTQ community, drive to someone’s home, sleep over, carpool to a spot for Sunday brunch and we’d have conversation and cry.

Phreedum: Cry?

SI: Yes. There would be about 20 of us women of color with degrees and experience all across the board conversing and crying.  There were lawyers, designers, writers, educators, clinicians, computer specialists, and the like sitting in some coffee shop or restaurant having conversation and crying about the schism between the women we get to be and don’t get to be and really us just wanting to be whole. We knew that we had enough know how in the group to heal ourselves and be whole women but we weren’t really tapping into what we could really offer ourselves and other women of color in the LGBTQ community.

Phreedum: Twenty women is a lot. How did this go from the coffee shop conversation and crying to an organization that’s working to host its 4^th annual conference for women of color in the LGBTQ community?

SI: When one of our coffee converse and cry weekends wrapped up I found myself reflecting on our conversation and a retreat I and some of the women in the group attended a few weeks prior. I sent an email to these women and suggested we have a weekend retreat where we could all identify the needs of our community, self assess what we could do individually and collectively to meet the need, and how  we could work individually and collectively to meet needs we could not fulfill as a group. The retreat was in August 2008 and by April 2009 we organized a conference with goal being to provide a space for women of color in the LGBTQ community to heal and become whole. The conference had four different tracks, 12 different workshops, and a “keynote” artist if you will, who talked about her journey as a multiracial lesbian activist.  We later found out that we were the only conference for this population in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Phreedum: Wow that is pretty huge. I imagine there have been other huge moments for you as an entrepreneur?

SI: I got to go to Tel Aviv for an international youth LGBTQ conference. I was the only woman and only person of color from the United States at this conference that the Israeli consulate in Philadelphia sent me to because of our work at Elements. I think this sticks out as such a huge moment for me because here I am working with a great team of people in Philadelphia to increase visibility, to say that women of color in this community exist and have things to offer and have needs, and I go to an international conference and find that the need for the work Elements is passionately doing is needed and is needed beyond Philadelphia. It was one of those moments for me where I was reminded there is a bigger picture and Elements is part of that bigger picture.  

Phreedum: How does the work you do through Elements change the lives of others?

SI: We unite, network, and empower self identified women of color in the LGBTQ community. We work really hard to create a space for these women to gather, heal, and feel empowered to create the change they desire knowing they have a host of women who are committed to their wholeness. Sometimes the space and healing occurs at our conferences, sometimes at our biweekly gatherings at the William Way Center, and sometimes at someone’s home over dinner.

Phreedum: What is it that people just don’t get about the work you do?

SI: That I and all of us at Elements are volunteers. I think people see the drive, professionalism, organization, and excellence of our work and think that we have passion motivated by pay, but we don’t. We have passion period. 

Phreedum: What inspires you and keeps you motivated to do this work?

SI: The actualization of my dreams and deepest desires. In fact, I have to dream bigger.  I think if I am really honest 90% of what I have dreamed of is already before me or is within reach. I used to take pleasure in imagining what is possible but most of what I thought was possible is actually now my reality. The progress that I have seen is what pushes me further. If it weren’t for the progress I probably would have stopped.  

Phreedum: I like to think most people carry around words of wisdom that helps them to stay focused and keep moving forward. What words of wisdom do you carry with you?

SI: In a magazine interview Demi Moore once said “Don’t let your wounds make you become something you are not.”   I’ll never forget when those words resonated for me. I was on the bus reading her interview in Harper’s Bazaar. She was talking about a time when she was afraid of not fully being herself. I think for a good portion of my life I would hold back. I knew I had something to offer but I was afraid of being too loud or being too visible. I didn’t want to cause problems.  Part of this I believe was some resentment I had toward my parents for what I can now say they didn’t know and what I saw others get from their parents. I was becoming angry about these two things and I’m not an angry person. I was making my wounds who I was and I think reading that interview and what she had to say really freed me to be who I am and not who my wounds suggest I become.

Phreedum: What is the best thing about being a woman?

SI: Women have an amazing capacity to hold. Women constantly expand to take in and take on and do it well. Women constantly make room and make it work. I have always been in awe of our ability to do that and extremely grateful.

Phreedum: If you were a color in the rainbow what color would you be and why?

SI: Indigo. It’s the deepest blue and it’s mysterious. I think there are things in my life I have discovered and the mystery is gone. However there are things I am discovering, will discover, and things I may never discover in this lifetime but are there to be discovered nonetheless.

  To learn more about Shayna and Elements please visit www.ourelements.org or follow Shayna @ShaynaSIsrael

Play a Little Live A Lot

One of my favorite new webs magazines is Liberette. I guess with a business named Phreedum you kinda have to appreciate businesses who are all about similar things (i.e. empowerment, growth, education, liberty, etc.). While recently perusing the site, browsing articles about new music collaborations between the likes of Estelle and Janelle Monae, the history behind Pretty Brown Girl Day (that's a real day, February 25th), and book reviews on books like The 4Agreements, I stumbled across an article about 6 African American Women making history, and one, Nicole Lyons (google her) was a chaser.Okay well technically she’s more than a chaser, she builds engines and she’s a race car driver.  The point is she is competitive and she goes after what she wants, a nontraditional woman’s sport and career.
Now, I don’t know anything about racing a car around a track, but I do know about one of my favorite childhood games that had me chasing a person around a circle. You probably know that game I’m talking about.  “Duck Duck Goose.”  I absolutely loved that game as a kid. I never sat completely on the ground because I wanted to be ready in case I was chosen to be the”Goose.” As I sat waiting and hoping to be selected sometimes I wasn’t chosen. Sometimes I was just a “Duck.”  However, when I was tapped on the head by my classmate, I was immediately up and after them until I caught them.  I was so good at that game.

I think pursuing our passion in life is kinda similar. We engage in the process of possibility poised for opportunity. Sometimes the opportunity passes us- we don’t get chosen for one reason or another. Other times the opportunity taps us on the head and we get up and go after it, chasing it while some on lookers encourage us and others tease us, but staying focused on the opportunity that’s presented itself nonetheless.

This week I encourage you to ask yourself are you content being a duck or are you ready to be a goose?  Are you watching, waiting, and poised to chase and catch your opportunity? 

Phind out Phriday: Just Desserts, Heather Esposito of Sweet Freedom Bakery

There is something to be said for the fulfillment of liberty. It's alluring, exhilarating, and absolutely positively......sweet. And I don't think there is anyone better than Heather Esposito of Sweet Freedom Bakery here in Philadelphia who could better tell you how sweet freedom (pun intended) really is. Heather took what initially looked like dietary restrictions and with the help of her business partner Allison, started a business with the goal of creating tasty liberating health supportive baked goods. She took a list of what she couldn't eat and started an empire of what she and lots of locals can eat. Sweet!

Phreedum: Talk to me a little bit about how you went from baking the idea of Sweet Freedom to serving it up?

HE: I have always had a sweet tooth. However, it’s a little hard to have  sweet tooth when you develop a gluten sensitivity and are pre diabetic. Once I became aware of this two things happened. I was presented with a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge- how can I still enjoy my sweet tooth while being health conscious? The opportunity- Bake foods that account for dietary challenges. I passionately accepted the challenge and took advantage of the opportunity to not only create great sweet baked goods for myself, but to partner with a friend, Allison (who is allergic to wheat, dairy, and can’t eat sugar) and bake for people like us.  Everyone should be free to eat sweet treats.

Phreedum: Why baked goods? Why not sugar free candy, or some type of ice-cream/frozen yogurt shop?

HE: Well, my sweet tooth is a little specific. I like baked goods. When you have the type of sensitivities I have baked goods usually have to go. I just refused to let them go. I figured there had to be a way to make flavorful health supportive baked goods, so that’s what I chose to do.

Phreedum: What has been a highlight for you as an entrepreneur?

HE: I think at Sweet Freedom we work pretty hard to make our products taste good period. Not good for “gluten free” or “dairy free” or “whatever” free. When people come in and share how good our  goods are and they can’t tell a difference, it means a lot to us. It’s also been really great when families come in and parents say that we are the only place they can bring their child for cookies and cupcakes and other baked treats. We get to be a place parents and kids look forward to going to. Lastly, we’ve gotten a good amount of exposure. We were on the show Cupcake Wars and Foodography filmed us for a project they are working on called Unique Sweets which will air this spring.

Phreedum: What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?

HE: Knowing who we are and what we do has probably been the most important lesson I have learned so far. We have and continue to get customers and other people who want us to do more than what we do. They want us to “consider” other food allergies and expand our offerings. But that’s not who we are and it’s not what we do. McDonald’s doesn’t make pizza, they make burgers, and they don’t make excuses for it. We can’t please everyone. We know who we are and what we do and we are dedicated to doing it well.

Phreedum: How does Sweet Freedom change the lives of others?

HE: We allow people to enjoy food. There are people who have not been able to eat baked goods in years and we give them the ability to indulge in foods they used to love. We also get to help people feel normal. People don’t have to say “I can’t eat that” because at Sweet Freedom they can. At Sweet Freedom people can have their cake and eat it too.

Phreedum: What do you think people under estimate about being an entrepreneur?

HE: Generally speaking I would say the amount of work, especially when you are first starting a business. Specific to Sweet Freedom, while we love being able to offer unique one of a kind special sweets, there is a sweet price that comes with the cost of the ingredients we use. We search far and wide for our providers and so we are very happy when we find a distributor who has an ingredient for products we offer, can deliver in a reasonable amount of time, and the costs works within our budget. What that means however is we often are limited in terms of who we can get our ingredients from and our distributors at times will discontinue a product we really like.  

Phreedum: Who or what motivates and inspires you?

HE: I am somewhat competitive. So In part it’s my inner competitor. Our customers also motivate us to stay fresh and create new ideas. They keep us on our toes in terns of providing health supportive delicious products.  

Phreedum: Why Philadelphia?

HE: Besides being from the Philadelphia area, the National Foundation for Celiac Disease is here in Philadelphia.

Phreedum: Can you share with our readers what Celiac Disease is?

HE: Sure. Celiac Disease is a condition which damages the small intestine preventing the body from absorbing nutrients it needs to stay healthy. The damage occurs as a reaction to eating gluten which is often found in wheat, barley, and rye.

Phreedum: Thanks! Is there anything else that brings Sweet Freedom to Philadelphia?

HE: Philly is a food town. Philadelphians like to eat and the city is filled with amazing great eateries. It makes sense to be here.

Phreedum: If Sweet Freedom was a dessert?

HE: We’d be a lemon glazed raspberry bar. There are different  elements, a bunch of ingredients go into the bar, it’s sweet and a little tart (some balance), incorporates fruit (we want to encourage healthy life style), has that bottom cookie layer, fruit, and crumb on top. It is multi dimensional and appears to almost everyone, just like Sweet Freedom.

Wanting to indulge your own sweet tooth? Visit www.sweetfreedombakery.com , follow on Twitter @sfbakery, or stop by the shop located at 1424 South Street, Philadelphia, PA.

From one King to another

I hate mass text messages and emails as much as the next person. However that didn’t stop me from sending a text at the end of January announcing that I was taking the month of February off. Therefore people would not see me out at events as much nor should they bother to invite me out because my answer would be “NO.”  I was spending the month only doing the things that energized me, made me feel alive, and reminded me to stay focused.

So, I was sure to go to DC in February. I needed to get out of Philadelphia (that always reenergizes me.) I needed the National Gallery of Art (I come alive there).  I needed to go see to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial. That

Amazed me: One man lived what he believed. He took a conviction, looked at the horrible odds and went forward anyway. 

As entrepreneurs we usually start with the odds stacked against us. Even if we are fortunate to have strong financial backing, we start out with the unknown. That is a huge variable and is often the scariest. But Dr. King didn’t have a crystal ball and yet he prepared, planned, and moved ahead. Amazing!

Saddened me: It’s sad knowing that a man can do so much, ultimately sacrificing his life, and be delayed his due recognition.  In my opinion, the memorial was long overdue.

As entrepreneurs we don’t and won’t always get our due. We don’t always get opportunities we feel we deserve, partnerships we want, pay offs that we sacrificed for.  Now for as sad as Dr. King’s  delayed recognition makes me, I must say that it finally happening makes me confident to know that nothing, if done well and in truth, is ever in vain. 

Reminded me: We have made progress as a nation concerning racism (and many of the other isms), prejudice, and privilege but progress need not be mistaken as the end product. We are far from the starting line but not so close to the finish line that we ought reduce our run to a slow saunter. It is when we mistake progress for the end product that we deceive ourselves and become lazy and divided. As a country we are still a divided nation, many Americas, many Americans, many dreams, and unfortunately many nightmares. We have made progress but have not yet achieved the end product.

As entrepreneurs we can never afford the luxury of thinking because we have moved forward we have finished. That’s how businesses close. We can appreciate progress, celebrate milestones, but must continuously focus on seeking to do more and be better with each day we are given.  

Convicted me:  I have no excuse not to live what I believe.  None.

As entrepreneurs, dreamers, humans, we have no excuse not to be successful and live the life we have been given well. None.