This momtrepreneur has diversified her talents and seemingly does it all. Alexandra Levit has written three books, speaks regularly at corporate functions about her expertise, and is a media darling on all things job-related after college graduation. Read on, aspiring writers and speakers…and watch her on TV, below.

What business did you start up?

Workplace advice consultancy.

What motivated you to do it?

The desire to meet new people and have an alternative revenue stream for my nonfiction book writing.

How many children do you have, and how old are they?

One child, Jonah, 12 months.

How long were/have you been running your business?

Since 2005, but full time since 2008.

How long did it take you to start becoming profitable and/or successful (however you chose to measure success)?

Because I took a measured approach and set small goals at first, I was always successful in a way, but I would say that it was only last year that I became objectively successful (i.e. able to support my family with my business).

How did your family react to you starting your own business?

Everyone was very supportive, but part of their positive response was due to the fact that I always had a safety net under me. Until last year, I was still very involved with my original career, which meant that I always had a means to pay the bills.

How did you get from writing down a few things to publishing a book?

I developed a non-fiction book proposal, which is similar to a business plan.

How did you get published?

A book deal, but for a very paltry advance. Most first-time authors have to start that way to establish credibility. After a few books, you have more options.

What were you doing before becoming an author/speaker?

I worked in marketing communications, developing offline and online promotional campaigns for Fortune 500 companies.

Easiest part of your job?

Writing.

Hardest part of your job?

Dealing with tax and administrative issues.

What, if any, tools or advice do you wish you knew then that you know now?

There is no such thing as an overnight success. Everyone with great accomplishments has, in one way or another, worked very hard for them. More practically speaking, hook up with a mentor who is already established in your area of business, and make sure you understand the realities of life as an entrepreneur before embarking on the journey. It’s not for everyone.

Can you recommend 3 essential websites for moms in, or going into, business?

www.ladieswholaunch.com.
www.downtownwomensclub.com.
www.sba.gov.

Anything else I should have asked you that you should answer?

I am the author of three career advice books, which are They Don’t Teach Corporate in College, How’d You Score That Gig?, and Success for Hire. I am also a columnist for the Wall Street Journal who speaks at universities, corporations, and conferences on issues facing modern employees.

A few more questions, just because American Express should be featuring more momtrepreneurs…..

childhood ambition…..To be an actress.
Fondest memory…..Summers at the beach with family and friends.
Indulgence…..Girl Scout cookies and Valentine’s chocolates.
Last purchase…..A new Coach bag for my birthday.
Favorite magazine…..Don’t really read magazines, check out snippets of tons of publications online.
Inspiration…..At the moment, Michelle Obama.
My Life…..is a quest for contentment.

Clear The Clutter, Meagan Farrell’s answer to my messy office (how did she know?), is a Seattle-based business that will organize anything. Talk about one seriously organized momtrepreneur.

What business did you start up?

I am a professional organizer doing in home organizing as well as project management for business and organizations.

What motivated you to do it?

My daughter was going to be starting school full-time and I wanted to do something, but getting a job meant that I would not be able to be as flexible for my child. People had always told me that I should organize professionally so I just decided to go for it.

How many children do you have, and how old are they?

I have one daughter who is 7.5 years old.

How long were/have you been running your business?

I have been running my business for 2 years.

How long did it take you to start becoming profitable and/or successful, however you choose to measure success?

I got clients immediately. I felt like things were going really well and then the economy tanked. Up until then I had been focused on doing just in-home organizing. A friend who was a director for a non-profit asked me if I was still offering project management services. I realized that there would be a lot of opportunity there, so I started marketing that aspect of my business. In the last six months, the project management work has continued to increase. Despite the economy, I feel like my business is continuing to grow.

How did your family react to you starting your own business?

Everyone was really supportive and excited. I think everyone knew that I would do it one day.

Easiest part of your job?

The actual organizing is the easiest for me. I love doing it and it comes naturally.

Hardest part of your job?

I think the self promotion/sales part is the hardest for me. I am not naturally someone who talks a lot about themselves, so when people ask, I need to really put on my business hat so that I can sell myself.

What, if any, tools or advice do you wish you knew then that you know now?

I wish I had joined a networking group right off the bat. I found a wonderful group that is free (on MeetUp.com) and it has been so helpful!

Any people or materials that you recommend for fellow momtrepreneurs to use/buy for their companies?

Nancy Juetten of Main Street Media Savvy is wonderful. She is a wealth of information on how to promote yourself using the internet and media.

A few more questions, just because American Express should be featuring more momtrepreneurs…

childhood ambition….to be a television news woman.
fondest memory…. riding my pony.
indulgence…. travel.
last purchase….. eye brow wand.
favorite magazine….. Family Fun Magazine.
inspiration…..My family.
My Life…..fulfilled.

How dare I post a video that does not feature a momtrepreneur?

Please forgive me. This video is too inspiring not to post it.

Watch MIT grad student David Merrill’s live demo of Siftables at the TED 2009 Conference. Siftables are toy blocks that think. As you see them in action, you will be amazed at the technological advancements we’re making for our children–”we” being David and partner Jeevan. The tech blocks are an example of “a new ecosystem of tools for manipulating digital information.”

The last bit of the video is mind-blowing, particularly if you are a live music fan.

New to Twitter? We all are.

The addictive application appeared in March of 2006 and three years later, it winds up an essential tool with which to grow one’s business.

You can type up to 140 characters, max. And it is so invaluable that I want to discuss why you should join the party.

(The last two paragraphs have under 140 characters in them. At first, the character limitation is comparable to the challenges that Haiku presents, but after a few tweets you’ll get used to the brevity factor).

But why Twitter, you ask?

Because it is no longer just a social experiment. It’s not a “shorter version of Facebook,” as my Twitterilliterate friends put it. It is a viable online community within which, for the sake of your business, you must partake. Ten years ago, if you started your own brand of clothing, you might have owned a retail shop in your hometown to sell your goods. If your brand was offered the opportunity for exposure at a new shopping center in another city at no cost to you, would you have turned it down? Twitter is that that new, free retail space–but it’s online and it offers worldwide exposure.

A few notes on using Twitter:

1. When you post, your phrase-under-140-characters is called a “tweet.”

2. When Twitter users want to track your posts and interact with you, they will “follow” you. Not unlike Miley Cyrus, you, too, can have thousands of “followers.”

3. What is impolite in real life is impolite online. When promoting your company, do not post 43 tweets in 29 seconds–you will turn into Crazy Eddie or some such irritating salesperson and followers will be turned off. You’ll also be interrupting many conversations and people will unfollow you.

4. When you speak directly to anyone, their Twitter name is preceded by the “@” sign. Good usage: “Hey, @MCHammer, love those pants!” Bad usage: “Hey, MCHammer, look @ those pants!”

5. Understand that if you have yet to use Twitter, much of this won’t make any sense until you begin actively exploring it. When a Twitter user tries to explain it to non-users, the explanation is akin to describing why chocolate is good. You must try it to thoroughly understand it.

If you’re asking yourself whether you should join up or keep twittering–perhaps this post has not convinced you–then please note that Sir Richard Branson, President Barack Obama, Whole Foods, The Momtrepreneur Maven, Jet Blue, Ringo Starr, and NASA all Twitter.

See you online, tweethearts.

Time to start scrapbooking! Kim Guymon brings the scrapbook industry right into your living room. And any momtrepreneur who puts chocolate and peanut butter together is a brilliant businesswoman.

What business did you start up?

In 2002, I started ScrapBiz.com, a business support and networking site aimed at helping other moms set up businesses in the scrapbook industry. We offer support and information to women who have never owned a business or who want to network with other business owners. I refer to it as a small business incubator. We work largely with home-based businesses but have also added some actual brick and mortar stores recently. I also just started a retail site for photo books and custom photo products called PhotoBooks{etc}. It’s a great fit for what I do since scrapbooking has really moved into the digital age the last few years.

What motivated you to do it?

I realized there was a need. There was nothing in the scrapbook industry between multi-level direct sales and renting a storefront for a bricks and mortar store. There wasn’t an option for an entrepreneurial-minded mom who wanted to have an independent home-based business. I have always tried to find something that didn’t involve multi-level sales because you give up a degree of control. Some are happy to have that type of business but many women feel like they want to be more in charge of their business operations. My new PhotoBookBiz option at ScrapBiz fits that model, too. It’s an alternative to the direct sales MLM companies out there who are selling the photo books.

How many children do you have, and how old are they?

I have two sons who are 10 and 11.

How long have you been running your business?

I started with a direct sales company in the scrapbook industry in 2001 and started ScrapBiz.com in 2002, so we’re coming up on 7 years this Fall.

How long did it take you to start becoming profitable and/or successful, however you choose to measure success?

I felt like we were nearly an overnight success. Many women recognized the uniqueness of our business model and we grew rather quickly our first year without any advertising – it was all word of mouth. Being that my business was largely on-line and out of my home, my overhead is really low. I really define my success by the number of happy business owners in my group and the fact that many of them might set their businesses aside for a while but then will come back and re-join when they are ready to get going again. The fact that they want to be part of our awesome group of business owners is my definition of success!

How did your family react to you starting your own business?

My husband helped me write our business start-up guide. He has been supportive from the beginning and is still my best business mentor. My kids roll their eyes and say, “Mom’s on the computer at ScrapBiz again…” Of course, they have thoroughly enjoyed the fruits of my labors for the past 7 years.

Easiest part of your job?

The easiest part of my job is being helpful to all the great retailers at our site. I consider them all friends and I love it when we have a trade show get-together. It’s such a positive and supportive group that it’s easy to be there with them. I love to celebrate their successes!

Hardest part of your job?

Balancing the work/life thing. Sometimes I have a hard time walking away from my computer because I love what I do so much!

What, if any, tools or advice do you wish you knew then that you know now?

There are probably too many things to name! I learn and grow every day just like my members do. I’m always saying, “Oh, I wish I had done THAT!” But, you can’t dwell on the what-ifs very long. You’ve got to keep moving forward and trying to make yourself and your business better.

Any people or materials that you recommend for fellow momtrepreneurs to use or buy for their companies?

If you’re an online business, get a good web designer! You can’t have a DIY website from a template anymore and be taken seriously – there are too many other good sites out there for customers to choose from. You need a website with personality and curb appeal that will make people want to stop and look. I also think Momtrepreneurs should read some good business books. I love Seth Godin – he puts business in terms people can understand. I consider ScrapBiz to be a bit of a “purple cow” in the industry since we are one of the very few companies who do what we do. I would also say to get a good accounting program. You can’t wait until the end of the year to do your bookkeeping – it will drive you nuts! And find a business mentor. It’s lonely being in business alone. A group like ScrapBiz or local women-in-business groups will help you stay focused and motivated.

Can you recommend 3 essential websites for moms in, or going into, business?

ScrapBiz.com – we can really help all sorts of small business owners in the creative industries like scrapbooking, crafts and photography.
StartUpNation.com – a great community of small business owners
Seth Godin’s Blog

A few more questions, just because American Express should be featuring more momtrepreneurs…

Childhood ambition….to be a competitive ice skater. That dream ended at 17, though. The Ice Rink closed in my town and the nearest one was an hour away in Canada. So, I stopped skating. I wasn’t that good anyway!
Fondest memory….being with my young family in a run-down vacation cabin on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, during the Fall of 2000. It was the most peaceful, beautiful place in the world and the kids loved it.
Indulgence….chocolate and peanut butter together in large quantities.
Last purchase…..groceries – this morning.
Favorite magazine…..food magazines – I’m a total foodie who loves to cook.
Inspiration…..my brother-in-law, Dave, who just passed away from ALS in September. He turned his troubled life around 180 degrees and took on this awful disease with amazing dignity, grace and humor and died fighting.
My Life…..as blessed as anyone I know. I’m amazed at the trials and triumphs that come to us – all to make us better as a family. And, I have the most amazing husband in the world and two kids who are pretty darn good, too!