Every year, when the Tour de France rolls around, I think about the state of Manic Mommies. That’s because we recorded our very first podcast during the Tour. Five. Years. Ago.
Sophie was only two months old at the time and Kristin’s husband Steve was in France watching the Tour. I didn’t know Kristin all that well then, but I thought she was insane to let her husband out of the country for fun while she was home nursing an infant and making pb & j sandwiches for her toddler.
Just sayin’.
As we sat at her kitchen counter, she still in her pajamas, I had no vision or idea of what was to come. No goals. No objectives. No notion that this thing would become a “platform” for bigger and better things down the road. So it seems only appropriate that earlier this week Kristin and I were holed up in an over-conditioned conference room with our business consultant discussing the future of Manic Mommies.
Where are we now? Where do we want to go? What’s the lifespan of this endeavor? Do we really have more content inside of us?
Our consultant, an uber-successful, semi-retired successful businessman also known as Uncle Jim, led us through a series of exercises including a SWOT analysis. Now the irony in this is that Kristin and I have probably participated in—and led—this very same exercise countless times in our professional careers, given what we do for pay every day.
But doing it for ourselves was different.
Chief among the list of weaknesses: Families and jobs. I also ranked this as a threat to our success.
Truth is, without our families or jobs, there would be no Manic Mommies. Uncle Jim also helped us see that along the continuum of everything we produce in a given year: podcasts, blog content, licensed products and events, the one thing that takes the most time and effort generates the least revenue. That’s the podcast. And yet the podcast is the very thing that led us to the licensed products, events and sponsorships that do earn revenue.
To hear Jim summarize our enterprise was laughable. I’m sure he’s never worked with two women like us before. Throughout the day our conversations wavered from talk of profitability and strategy to poop and household expenses (somehow it always comes back to poop). When Jim asked what our big dream was, I said, “A show on XM Satellite Radio.” Truth is, if I wasn’t so camera averse, what I really think is we’d make an excellent reality TV show.
So what does the future hold? Five years into this, we still haven’t a clue. But at least we have Uncle Jim trying to help us figure it all out.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
17 Responses to Strengths. Weaknesses. Opportunities. Threats.
Leave a Reply
News
From Real Simple- How I found my new sneakers May 7, 2012 Kristin Brandt
- What is your number one marital pet peeve? April 30, 2012 Kristin Brandt
- How I’m starting to train for my triathlon April 26, 2012 Kristin Brandt
- A Cat with a Curfew? Indoor Cats vs. Outdoor Cats April 20, 2012 Jennifer Mirsky
Well ladies I LOVE your podcast, it keeps me going some days. Thanks for all the great content and the great chitchat. Keep up the good work- we ALL appreciate what you do!!!
I second Rae. I LVOE the podcast too and the retreat! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Please don’t stop! You help keep me sane
Holy cow you freaked me out! I thought you were going to end with “so we’ve decided to quit the podcast”…and that would have been so disappointing!! Keep up the hard, underpaid (but much appreciated) work ladies!
Hear, hear. I look forward to hearing the podcast every week. It may be that on paper, the podcast generates the least revenue, but trust me…that’s your bread & butter.
I am becoming increasingly concerned that the podcast is going away or getting minimized. When I found you I was over worked, stressed out, and prioritizing everything and everyone save for my own needs. Since finding you I am cycling to work 2 days a week, yoga one – two days a week, meetups with girlfriends and weekly conferences with my husband. And I don’t prioritize it while feeling guilty, I do it because it makes me a better woman, wife, mother of two awesome daughters and employee. Please find an outlet for you podcast, whether it remains in it’s current form or grows to television. Either way you are an important part of our family and my sanity and I rely on you for support strength, support, guidance and above all LAUGHS!!!!!!
We all understand that your family must come first and that income is extremely important but please know how much your podcast means to so many…..
Keep it up ladies, you are such a source of inspiration and hope for so many!
Thanks so much!
I listen to many many podcasts and your has stayed my most favorite for 4 years now. I’d be bummed without it <3
You both have to do what you have to. Know that you are invaluable for what you have created and what you have been able to bring to so many women. I, personally, will be there no matter what!
Hey, did I say anything about quitting? No! Just can’t believe we’ve made it this far. 5 years! We decided it was time to take stock of where we are and where we want to go. Any feedback, suggestions, ideas are welcome
My two cents. Your podcast saved me from a spiral of postpartum depression, mother guilt and work life balance insanity and saw me return to the girl who could laugh at herself and the crazy roller coaster of motherhood.
Your podcast would make an amazing radio show. If radio execs know what is good for them they should be falling over themselves to sign you up!
Yes, I also cannot believe it’s been 5 years! My daughter was about Sophie’s age when I started listening and you girls have become like my “pseudo” friends over the years (I haven’t been able to Escape with you….yet) —
I think you should write a book. Then do a reality show. Then keep it going with XM radio. That’s all.
XOXOXOXXOX!
That’s so awesome you all have (& take the time out for!) Uncle Jim.
To reinforce what you both know full well… it ain’t all about the money! Indeed – your podcast is so comforting & needed & drives everything else MM. & thank you!
Going out on a limb here … perhaps – MMs would understand if you need to cut back podcast frequency to save your sanity or just savor life a bit more. You need to do what’s right for you all’s life. Maybe cutting back the MM feed would increase demand? Certainly would make your fans antsy & enjoy the anticipation of the new releases. That said — plz don’t! =)
Seriously – I didn’t read the two biggest strenghts out there…Erin and Kristin. You ladies are fantastic and have helped so many of us. I do have a suggestion – have one (or more) of us listeners help with some of the grunt stuff. Take some of the pressure off you two. I would be willing to volunteer (that mean for free) to help in any way I can. I have NO idea what you ladies do behind the scenes, but I imagine it is a lot of work to produce the podcast, keep the website going, reply to all of us, plan the escape, etc. I am sure I am not the only one that would be willing to help. Look at what Mari has done with the bookclub – it is awesome and so meaningful to so many of us. And the fitness group (can you tell I am not a member and need to be???). Talk about a great support group.
You two are truly …… simply the best.
I just listened today and I agree with everyone. I love the podcast and I’m still amazed that you two are able to consistently entertain me and make me think. If your show went to satellite radio, that is all the incentive I would need to sign up for it.
I agree with all the above Moms are saying, Erin and Kristin you are both amazing and give a window into our hectic daily lives, as we try to do it all! The podcast is your strength but how to get a business model out of it. Good Luck. Here’s to your goals and wishing for a show on XM Satellite Radio for you two gal pals
I LOVE the XM radio idea and have thought several times you ladies would be great on the Sirius Stars channel. I think it’s XM 155