:: Mompreneur Spotlight :: Pattie Fitzgerald
Pattie Fitzgerald
Santa Monica, California
Astrological Sign: Scorpio
# of children: 1
Age: 11
Favorite Business Book: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey
Favorite Family Book: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (my husband turned me on to this one and is now introducing to our daughter.
Favorite Quote: “God Bless The Child”
1. Which came first: the biz or the kid? My child came first.
2. What is your biggest productivity secret- the thing that helps you accomplish the most in your day? Sometimes beds don’t get made, and floors don’t get swept… and it’s okay ‘cuz nobody’s going to drop dead because of it!
3. How well do you feel you are balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship? Depends on the day! Sometimes the balance is working, other times it needs to be readjusted. Any tips? My biggest tip is that I block out a certain chunk of time for my daughter and focus on her needs, be it homework, or talking time, or just sitting together watching our favorite tv show. The “daughter-mom” time is for us… I don’t answer the phone, check emails, or do other work related duties.
4. What was the tipping point for you when you realized you were truly an entrepreneur? Probably when other professionals in my field reached out to me to ask advice, network with me, etc. A few years ago I was sought out and interviewed on several national news programs. At that point, I thought “hmmm… maybe I’ve got something here!”
5. What one word describes your purpose in your family, your biz and your life? Passionate! Which is how I feel about every aspect… my life, my family and my work.
6. Where do you find your greatest source of support for your goals in your family, business and life? My daughter and my husband. No matter what, they are always behind me, encouraging me, supporting me, and understanding when things get hectic. Without their support, I couldn’t do any of this.
7. What do you do to recharge your spiritual batteries? Because I live near the ocean, often that’s the place I go to just chill out and meditate. When you look at the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, everything else is put in perspective. There are also times when I will just go to Church and just sit still in the quiet. While I am not what you would consider “super religious”, there are times when just going into the building on a weekday morning when no one else is there, can be very calming and very moving for me. I think it touches upon some part of my childhood.
8. One thing you can’t live without: A really great cheeseburger with my daughter!
9. iPhone or Blackberry? iPhone for sure!
10. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate (but really I want both!!!)
11. PC or Mac? PC (though my husband is constantly on me to switch over to MAC!)
12. Which do you do most often: Eat out, Order In or Cook it yourself? I order in about 60% of the time, not because I’m too busy, but because I really hate to cook! Thank goodness for Whole Foods and their ready-made foods. We eat great because it’s just up the street from our house.
13. Who is your biggest supporter? My daughter. She tells me she’s proud of her mom for protecting kids.
14. Who is your greatest inspiration? My mother inspires me more than anyone. From her I have learned how to be a mother, how to be a friend, how to keep going when things are really tough, and how to laugh. She has a silly sense of humor that she always shared with us as kids.
15. What do you see yourself doing in 5 years? I’d like to take Safely Ever After, Inc. national to train others in how to teach my brand of prevention education. I’d like to license my curriculum to schools throughout the United States. Whenever I am teaching a parenting class or a children’s workshop, I always have people comment afterwards, saying how much they loved my practical approach to child safety, and that the language and concepts I bring are unlike anything else they’ve ever heard. I’d like to be able to train others to do the same so that the positive message gets out there that we can protect our kids without being “scaredy-cats!”
Name of Business: Safely Ever After, Inc., Pattie Fitzgerald founder
URL: www.safelyeverafter.com
Facebook Page: Pattie Fitzgerald
