Motivational Monday: Interview with Tania Condon
As today`s motivational interviewee, we have Tania Condon, who`s preemie son inspired her business, JULIAN & Co.
1. What is your business?
JULIAN & Co. is a jewelry company about love for families.
2. How did you get started?
I made a baby bracelet for my preemie born at 29 weeks. We couldn’t find one small enough for him, so I set out to make one myself. I later made a necklace for both my husband and I inscribed with his own baby feet and hands. Wearing them created orders, and the business took off from there.
3. What mistakes did you make when you were starting out? What did you learn from them?
I’m not sure if it was a mistake, because I have aways tended to put the cart before the horse. I opened a restaurant without knowing anything about the food industry. The same goes for JULIAN & Co. – I knew nothing about making jewelry.
I have since taken several classes at the local university in jewelry making – including cabachons, silver smithing, casting, and precious metal clay.
I have always known to listen to the customers which I do. I think it is one of the most important ingredients in growing a business.
4. How long have you been working from home? (was this your first business or have you had others where you worked from home?)
I’ve been running JULIAN & Co. out of my home for 2 years now. Before JULIAN & Co. and Julian, I owned a restaurant for 5 years.
5. What are your tricks for balancing work, kids and household chores?
Making a commitment to only working on the days when Julian is in nursery school, which is 3 days a week. On the other two week days and the weekends I am un-plugged. We also have somebody come and clean the house twice a month 
).
6. How many children do you have? How old are they?
I have one son, and he is 3 1/2 years old.
7. When do you usually work?
I work on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.
8. What is the best part of being a mompreneur? And the worst?
The best part is being able to stay home. I wouldn’t trade it. The commitment to not working on the days Julian is home is sometimes a challenge because there is always work to do.
I also love the creative part of the business.
The worst is never really being able to unplug because there is nobody above me.
9. What are your plans for the future of your business?
Expanding the line and streamlining so JULIAN & Co. can continue to grow.
10. What advice would you give new work at home moms?
Study like minded businesses. A great resource I found is theswitchboards.com which is a forum for women in business – most of whom are work at home moms.
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