Category: Owning a Business

Oh Momma Monday: Sharon Delaney McCloud

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After 20 years as a television news anchor, Sharon Delaney McCloud now works behind the camera as a managing partner at Greenroom Communications and has never been happier. In today’s Oh Momma Monday Q&A, Sharon shares with us why she made the switch and what motherhood has taught her about work, life and what’s really important.

What is your occupation?

Managing Partner of Greenroom Communications, a Raleigh-based video production and digital marketing agency.

What inspired you to start your own business?

I wanted to see my family. After 20 years as a television news anchor working crazy hours, a couple of us newsies decided to go out on our own. While we certainly don’t work fewer hours, they are OUR hours.

How has your career/professional life changed since becoming a mom?

I feel like becoming a mom opened up a magical place inside me, and nothing else can even remotely compare. I’m forever grateful for these amazing little people that are my children. They bring me endless joy and frustration every day. Making sure I can enjoy being with my kids as much as possible does require tremendous time management skills, and although I fail at it often, I do my best each day to prioritize work schedules with my family’s needs.

Sharon 3

Any tips for juggling work and motherhood?

The work can wait. Honestly, is a client or a project really worth missing a performance or a ballgame that can’t be duplicated? Of course I don’t attend EVERY one of my sons’ practices and/or games, but if there is a way to shift my work schedule so that I am in the stands cheering them on, I do it.

Most important thing motherhood has taught you…

We are here for a greater purpose. My legacy is my family, not my work. While I’m immensely proud of what Greenroom has become, in the end, it’s my family of which I am most proud.

What do you enjoy doing when you have down time?

Downtime – LOL. Family game night on Friday nights at the McCloud house looks like this: jammies, hot chocolate, pizza and the fireplace roaring, if it’s winter. We generally start with Clue or Yatzee and move to Rummikub or Qwirkle. In the summer, we spend lots of time in our cul-de-sac playing Kan Jam or riding bikes on the Greenway.

What are your favorite Raleigh hotspots?

My favorite Raleigh store is Deco. I always find the perfect gift and rarely walk out of there without a cool, new Raleigh t-shirt. For eats and drinks, my go-to spots are The Rockford, Raleigh Beer Garden, Clouds Brewing and The Station.

Sharon 1What are three of your “faves” right now?

My new iWatch. I drank the Apple Kool-Aid years ago and it just keeps going.
Also, live concerts at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre fill my summer calendar. I have a whole routine where my crew meets at my house, we load up my coolers with adult cocktails, beer and food and we head to “The Creek” to tailgate for a minimum of two hours before showtime. The bigger the “hair” band, the bigger the tailgate.

Want to read about other inspiring moms in Raleigh? Check out previous Oh Momma Monday posts here.

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Oh Momma Monday: Tori Fox, Barre3

Tracy LathanBlog, In Our Community, Oh Momma Monday, Owning a Business, , ,

We are fortunate to live in a community with so many inspiring female business owners, entrepreneurs, bloggers and professionals. What I find truly amazing is that many of these women are also running households and raising young children. I, for one, am always looking for tips on how working moms are able to juggle everything. So during the next few months, Oh Momma Monday will be sharing a view into the lives of some of these busy women. Hopefully, something you read here inspires you!

Tori Fox wears many hats – entrepreneur, business owner, wife, mother of two young girls, motivator. In the spring of 2014, Tori opened Barre3 Raleigh-Five Points and since day one has been changing the lives, bodies and minds of women across the Triangle. Her positive energy is infectious – I was hooked after the first class! We were able to catch up with Tori to find out what inspired her to start her business and how she manages to maintain a healthy balance.

What is your occupation/business?

Owner, Barre3 Raleigh – Five Points

What inspired you to start your own business?

I knew what I wanted didn’t exist in Raleigh. So it was up to me to get it here. In a word – passion.

How has your career/professional life changed since becoming a mom?

It’s a lot more challenging to have a career once children enter the picture. I stayed at home until my youngest daughter was two and my oldest was five. If I’m perfectly honest, I have a lot of guilt when I’m working because I’m not with my kids and guilt when I’m with my kids that I have so much work to do. However, I wouldn’t trade either for the world. It just requires a lot of juggling.

Any tips for juggling work and motherhood?

I’m really working on being more present…present when I’m at work and present when I’m with my kids. It helps with the aforementioned guilt. Additionally, we live by the calendar.

Most important thing motherhood has taught you…

To appreciate the little things. My girls notice everything and often we must stop whatever we are doing (whether we are late or not) to admire things. Sometimes you just have to stop, take a breath and look at the beautiful things around you.

family2 crop

Describe your personal style.

Ah, I love jeans, comfy flats and soft t-shirts, but you usually find me in work-out clothes.

What is your philosophy regarding healthy eating/lifestyle?

Moderation! I do not deprive myself of my favorite comfort foods, but I don’t over indulge. We eat organic fruits, vegetables and meats whenever possible. We stay away from dairy (except my husband) unless it’s too good to pass up.

Obviously, I love exercise. In addition to teaching Barre3, I take it. Nothing feels as great as a sore tush. I love a great run, and I’m also exploring yoga these days.

What is a favorite place you have visited or trip you have taken?

Positano, Italy. The culture is so easy going, the scenery is breath-taking and the food is fresh, local and delicious.

What do you enjoy doing when you have down time? (Does that ever really happen?)

Sleep! Ha. Seriously, my favorite thing is travel.

What are your favorite Raleigh hotspots? 

My husband and I really enjoyed Death and Taxes. You’ll find me at b.good Raleigh 3-5 times a week grabbing lunch. I love Glenwood Grill bar for dinner with my good friend. The bartender, Chad, is the best. Umstead Spa. Acupuncture at Bloom Integrative Health. Dr. Dishman is fabulous!

What are three of your “faves” right now? 

Harvest Kale Salad at b.good Raleigh-add chicken and avocado, Rag n Bone Boyfriend Jeans (thank you, Style Hawk) and playing “Spot it” with my kids before bed. Gracie is finally old enough to participate.

For an inside look at other inspirational moms, check out these previous Oh Momma Monday posts.

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Oh Momma Monday – Mom’s the Word

Tracy LathanBlog, Oh Momma Monday, Owning a Business, Starting a business, , ,

It’s been said that being a mom is the hardest job in world. As the mother of a two-year-old and a four-year-old, I agree whole-heartedly with that statement. I am in the weeds. I’m trying to balance work and family, school schedules and new business presentations. Some days I feel I can barely keep my head above water. Funny part is, I wouldn’t change a thing.

For those of you who know what life is like with young children, you probably think the idea of starting a business at this stage in life seems crazy. But the army of Momtrepreneurs, or so they’ve been called, is growing strong. I love this recent article, Mothers of Invention, in Walter magazine highlighting local moms who saw an opportunity and took a chance. What inspiring stories!

The truth is, we see these women everyday. They are friends, neighbors, sisters and PTA moms. They are passionate and smart and want to share their talents, but also seek flexibility and choose to spend the time they are working outside the home doing something they truly love. And often times, these new business ventures are born from a realization that there must be an easier way to do something. I sure wish I was the one who invented the fruit and veggie squeeze pouches my kids love.

Do you know momtrepreneurs or other amazing moms you’d like to see profiled here? If so, please let us know!

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My First 30 Days at a Raleigh PR Agency: Day 22

Margot HorganBlog, Entry-Level PR Job, Marketing, Owning a Business, , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment on My First 30 Days at a Raleigh PR Agency: Day 22

If you are a start-up or own a small business, search engine optimization is essential in order to be found by potential consumers searching for your product or business on  Google, Yahoo!  or other search engines. Making sure to use key words and phrases to ensure higher SEO is a good start, but Maile Ohye, developer program tech lead at Google, has shared some more tips and tricks for startups to really optimize their SEO.

Here is her advice (in less than 10 minutes) on how startups can master their SEO:

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Clairemont on MSNBC This Weekend

Dana PhelpsBlog, Owning a Business, Public Relations, , , , , , , , 3 Comments on Clairemont on MSNBC This Weekend
Mike Michalowicz, author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, with Asheville Playgrounds owners, Jerry and Evelyn.

I have had the extreme pleasure of being part of one of msnbc tv‘s business makeovers for the show “Your Business.” The segment will air Sunday at 7:30 a.m. EDT, and I can’t wait for the owners of Asheville Playgrounds (formerly known as Just for Fun Playgrounds) to get to share their story nationally!

Evelyn Anderson and Jerry Hayek are  like most business owners I know. They are passionate about their company. They love working directly with their customers (and their customers love them). They are willing to do whatever it takes to make the business thrive. And, they are wearing many, many hats to be the owners, the bookkeeper, the sales team, the marketing team and much more.

I met Evelyn and Jerry when I walked into their showroom on the first day of shooting for the msnbc makeover. (You might see our actual introduction during the show.) I instantly fell in love with them, and as I continued to learn more about their story and witnessed how sincere and hardworking they are, my admiration grew. I’m resisting the urge to tell you everything about them, but instead I’ll say… WATCH THE SHOW! I promise you will be inspired.

On location with msnbc tv.

Next week after the show has aired, I’ll blog more about the role Clairemont played in the Asheville Playgrounds makeover. For now, I’ll leave you with the news release below that was issued this morning. Thanks Evelyn and Jerry for allowing me to be part of your journey, and thanks to Mike Michalowicz for getting me involved in this amazing project!

Asheville Playgrounds and Clairemont Communications to Appear on msnbc tv’s “Your Business” Sunday

Two North Carolina Companies to be Featured on National Business Show This Weekend

 Asheville, N.C. – August 26, 2011 – Asheville Playgrounds, formerly Just for Fun Playgrounds, and Clairemont Communications, a public relations and marketing communications  firm in Raleigh, will be featured Sunday, August 28 on msnbc tv’s “Your Business,” airing at 7:30 a.m. EDT.

Continue reading “Clairemont on MSNBC This Weekend”

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