3 Austin Entrepreneur Moms Prove the Value of Failure

Guest article by Dana Minney

What do babies and businesses have in common? They both have moms! Well, with babies, it’s literal. But in a manner of speaking, businesses have to be birthed into existence, too.

Read on as three entrepreneur moms in Austin tell the truth about raising kids, running a business and the common thread of making failure work for them. After all, what prepares kids for real life better than learning how to recover after a fall?

If You Fail, Make it Fun: Laura Beck, Striped Shirt

“I wanted my kids to see how you can decide to change course in life,” said Laura Beck, who started, then stopped, Striped Shirt. “I envisioned my business being successful and wanted my kids to see me running it and being a role model for them.”

Even though Beck’s business failed, she is a role model. “Letting kids feel disappointment helps them become strong. I made a video announcing my defeat and called it a “Kickstopper”…showing I’m not afraid to admit I failed and not afraid to close a chapter and move on.”

Beck first started the business to spend more time with her kids. “After nearly 18 years working in PR, I was ready to get out of the office and put family first.” Striped Shirt was formed with the idea that sports fans could order shirts in their team’s colors, but with a more flattering and better quality than most sports shirts. But Beck was in for a surprise. She hadn’t done market testing and the orders didn’t come through. After five years, she closed shop.

But her failure had a silver lining.

Letting her kids be involved in running the business helped them learn. “Honesty, self-awareness, feeling proud and creating value even when unexpected things happen. These are just some of the things my kids have learned. They also have a different view of money than most kids.”

Seeing this difference inspired her to create classes for kids about business principles like budgeting and profit. Now every first grader at Gullett Elementary School attends her classes, “Business Basics: Where Does Money Come From and Where Does It Go?” and “Lifecents: How to Spend Earnings and Budget.”

Beck also has PR clients, as she continues to work around her schedule as a mom.

Turning Her Kitchen Into a Truffle Lab: Nicole Patel, Delysia Chocolatier

Nicole Patel, chocolatier and owner of Delysia Chocolatier, also knows what it’s like to fail. In fact, it was her willingness to fail that prompted her to keep improving the truffle recipes she was experimenting with.

“Nine years ago, I was pregnant with my first child. I wanted to make something for my husband to take to his office as holiday gifts. I looked up a recipe for truffles, but didn’t like the result. I kept fiddling and fiddling, until I perfected it.”

Without trying, she’d created a product. “I made truffles many times as gifts and always received requests for more.” People offered to help her market before she even started a business.

In 2008, the owners of Becker Vineyards approached her and requested she create a special line of truffles to market as a pairing with various wines. She accepted, and Delysia Chocolatier was born! This line is now called the Wine collection.

Early on, Patel saw her business as a way to grow her children. “We involve our kids in as many aspects as we can. As a businesswoman, I can be a role model for how to treat people with respect. They also see my commitment and work ethic.”

Not only do her kids serve as an inspiration for her business, giving her flavor ideas (like the Childhood collection), but they also give her strength to continue in tough times.

“There was one time,” Patel shared, “during the build out of our new store, when I discovered the contractor skipped out and took a load of expensive tools with him. I was overwhelmed, shocked and devastated. I sat down on the floor and put my head in my hands. My son toddled over to me and said, ‘I love you mommy, what’s wrong?’ The connection and the look in his eyes got me through that moment without shedding a tear.”

Patel is happy with her choice to run a business AND raise children. She says she gets to be creative and have control over her schedule. “It’s a trade-off from having a job where you have one kind of stress…to having freedom and taking my own risks…it’s a different kind of stress, but somehow feels better.”

It tastes better, too. Patel was recently voted one of the world’s Top 10 Chocolatiers.

Putting the Mom in Family Business: Gina Blackmore, Your Mom’s

If there’s any question whether Your Mom’s is a family business, just look at the company name. Gina Blackmore, mom and entrepreneur, couldn’t be more dedicated to putting the “family’ in family business. Her website states, “When you order you are NOT a customer, you are family!”

Blackmore grew up in her parent’s restaurant, learning the qualities it takes to run a business at a young age. “I think it is very beneficial to raise children while running a small business,” she says.

She is also someone who understands the benefits of failing. Her first business venture was opening a restaurant with her husband, Ryan. Several years in, they realized it was not for them. “It wasn’t our passion and it interfered with our first love…family time!”

Closing the restaurant and reevaluating lead the couple to open Your Mom’s, a hamburger and slider kit delivery business. Restructuring the product around what works for her family is something every mom can understand. “Being a mom prepares you to run a business because it requires patience, negotiating and using creativity to solve problems!”

Blackmore’s creativity recently gave birth to a new branch in the business. Your Mom’s secured its own trailer and will soon have a food trailer in Austin.

Her kids carry on the entrepreneurial tradition. “We always found ways for them to be involved. Our youngest daughter (nine years old) already wants to start her own homemade dog treat business. She has a logo drawn up and everything.” Blackmore’s oldest daughter and son (16 and 22 years old) help out with prepping the food and serving stuffed sliders for Your Mom’s at the Mueller Farmers’ Market on Sundays.

“It truly is a family affair! We’re a very tight family. And that is just the way we prefer it!”

 

@theAustinot wants to know:

Which entrepreneur moms do you admire in Austin?

 

Dana Minney is happy to have finally found sanity as a single mom by having fun, together time with her kids. Learn more on her website.