WomenEntrepreneur.com: Lorna Lorenzo

Being My Own Boss

Lorna Lorenzo — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:00:00

I've always wanted to be my own boss, and now I'm doing it. It's great to wake up in the morning and have my child-care business in my own home. Every morning it's the same routine: Wake up at 6 a.m., prepare breakfast and snack for my students at 6:30, prepare materials and activities at 7, drop off my daughter at school at 7:15 and open my doors for my students at 7:30.

Having my business in my home saves me money on gas because I don't have to commute. However, I did see a slight rise in my electric and water bills. Being my own boss is great for many reasons: I make the rules and policies, I have no one to answer to, I have no employees and I get to work out of my own home. However, it does get lonely sometimes being around children all day without any adults to talk to.

But I find solutions, and it's nothing I can't handle. On some days, when the children are taking a nap, I'll make a quick phone call to my boyfriend or another friend just to make small talk. One major pitfall of having my own business is paying my own medical and dental insurance every month. If only I could get free medical and dental insurance, that would be great!

I'm still working on getting the word out about my child-care business. I've been posting new fliers around the community, advertising on Craig's List and by word of mouth. It's an ongoing process that will continue until I am fully enrolled.

I'm still hanging in there and always being positive even on the toughest days. I'll keep you posted on what happens next.

Hanging In There

Lorna Lorenzo — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:17:06

I'm still in business with my child care service, Miss Lorna's Learning Place. I have a full-timer and a part-timer. I will have another full-timer starting next month. It's been tough financially with just two children enrolled. But I'm keeping my hopes up and always looking at the bright side of things. I know things will start to change once I am fully enrolled.

I do have days when I start to wonder what the heck I have gotten myself into. Was I better off unemployed and working only part-time? But I know I cannot turn back the clock and live in the past. When that happens, I focus on the present and on making my business a success.

So for all of you who just started your own business, hang in there, because that's what I'm doing. Think of positive outcomes and it will all pay off in the end.

I Want...I Believe...I Will...

Lorna Lorenzo — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:53:44

I WANT to enroll more children. I BELIEVE I will enroll more children. I WILL enroll more children. That is what I tell myself every single day. I am a believer, and if I want something and believe in it, I know it will happen!

Having said that, starting next month, I will have another child enrolled in Miss Lorna's Learning Place. Yes . . . that is a total of two children. He will be a part-timer, coming three days a week. He is excited to start, and I can't wait to have him. His grandmother is also excited to be sending him. He will be turning 4 years old next month, and she said that I am what he needs right now to get him ready for kindergarten.

In the past few weeks, I did have another parent visit my facility. He wanted to send his son to Miss Lorna's Learning Place but said that I was too expensive. Being that he was in the process of starting a new job and that I had space available, I did offer a $100 discount for the first month. He said he would think about it and give me a call back. I never heard from him again.

I will keep you posted on what's next to come.

The Waiting Game

Lorna Lorenzo — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:05:30

Nothing much has happened in the past few weeks. I still have only one child enrolled in my day-care facility and still am patiently waiting for more enrollments. My goal is to be fully enrolled by the end of August. What will it take? Well, more fliers out in the community, business cards and just spreading the word.

My one student is only 20 months old, but she's showing so many signs of progress (and she's been attending my facility for less than a month). She has learned the daily routine, and her speech has picked up a lot. She is learning finger plays by doing the hand motions but still needs to learn the words. It's so great to see how much of an influence I'm making in her life.

I'm looking forward to making an influence in other children's lives, as well.

Be Positive

Lorna Lorenzo — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:45:01

A lot has happened in the week since I opened Miss Lorna's Learning Place. First, I received a call from a parent of a former student of mine who was supposed to start at my facility next month. He informed me that the subsidy he received from the state of Hawaii is only for licensed preschools, not family child-care providers. So the student will be returning to the preschool where I used to work.

Earlier this week, a couple visited my facility and seemed excited about sending their daughter here. We planned for the child to start next month. But after doing a few calculations and shopping around, these parents also decided to send their child to the preschool where I used to work.

I was very disappointed but soon realized that these types of situations will occur no matter what. I know that once the word gets out about Miss Lorna's Learning Place, I will be fully enrolled. I tell myself: "I've been open for only a week . . . give it time." At that point I got a phone call from another parent, who asked me to send her an application.

So far I still have only one child enrolled. She and her parents love the one-on-one attention she's getting. Her mother tells me that after just a week of attending my facility, she can see the difference in her daughter at home: She's using one crayon at a time, putting caps back on markers and learning the letter "A." What a sense of accomplishment for her 19-month-old daughter--and for me, too.

Grand Opening

Lorna Lorenzo — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:06:41

I just returned from the trip I won on Wheel of Fortune. My 10-year-old daughter Nicole and I visited the New England states: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. What a trip it was! We had a great time, and it was also educational for Nicole. I'm glad we had the opportunity to spend time together and learn new things. It was a trip we will always remember.

Visiting the New England states has always been a dream of mine. While growing up, I always wanted to travel to the East Coast. I want to thank Wheel of Fortune for making that dream a reality.

Reality . . . Yes, back to reality. Today is actually the first day of Miss Lorna's Learning Place. I have one child enrolled and will have another starting in August. Everything is going as planned, but I'm still waiting to enroll more children.

I am a person who does lists and schedules. Having a daily schedule and sticking to it really works for me. It will also give the children a routine so they will know what to expect. Doing this keeps me organized and prepared. These are some of the skills I hope my students will learn while attending my facility.

HTML clipboardMy Daily Schedule

7:30 to 8:45 a.m. Free-Choice Time

8:45 to 9:15 Morning Snack

9:15 to 9:45 Morning Circle

10 to 11:30 Outdoor Time

11:30 to11:50 Calendar/Story Time

12 to 12:30 p.m. Lunch

12:45 to 2:30 Nap Time/Quiet Time

3:00 to 3:30 Afternoon Snack

3:30 to 3:45 Afternoon Circle

4 to 4:30 Free-Choice Time Indoors or Outdoors

I am no longer working at my part-time job and will be doing this full-time now. I've always wanted to be my own boss and be able to work from home . . . and now I'm doing it. I'll keep you informed with how things are going.

More on Promoting My Small Business

Lorna Lorenzo — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:05:58

Being a sole proprietor, I have to do everything on my own. I don't mind doing it since I have time on my hands. Working only two days a week gives me that privilege. I like to take advantage of my free time now, before I open my business in less than a month.

One of the major things I've been working on this week is creating a website for my business. I found creating a business website to be very rewarding because it has a meaningful purpose. I created it for parents who are looking to send their children to me and also for parents of children who will be in my care. It will be one of the ways I communicate with parents on a daily basis.

I've also been working with PATCH, a nonprofit child-care resource and referral agency in Hawaii. PATCH helps parents take the guesswork out of choosing child care, with referrals to local providers and important child-care information. As soon as I get paperwork turned in, someone from PATCH will make a home visit to discuss quality care and sign me up for the USDA food program. Once I get on PATCH's referral list, I anticipate more phone calls from parents inquiring about Miss Lorna's Learning Place.

I received a phone call this week from a parent whose child currently attends the preschool where I was previously employed. She feels that maybe a smaller group setting will be a better environment for her child. I told her that a smaller group would give her child the one-on-one interaction and attention he deserves. Having this one parent consider pulling her child out of this preschool to attend my "mini preschool" was a reminder I needed that I am good at what I do and parents can see that.

Reminders like this are an awakening for me to let me know why again I'm doing this ... because it's something I love to do and have a passion for. My best business scenario is: If I can get this parent to transfer her child to me, then other parents will follow in her footsteps and do the same.

When I begin to wonder if I'm doing enough to promote my business, I get a phone call from another parent inquiring about Miss Lorna's Learning Place because of an ad I posted on Craig's List. It's a relief to know that there are other potential parents out there seeking child care.

Being a new small business owner in today's economy, I cannot help but wonder about the "what ifs." But I consciously stop the "what if" thinking and focus on making my business being a success. I've learned that when you think positive thoughts, only positive things happen. More on this in my next blog.

Getting The Word Out

Lorna Lorenzo — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:49:40

Now that I've passed my home inspection with the State of Hawaii Department of Human Services and received my temporary license, the next step is to get the word out about my business.

I will open my business, Miss Lorna's Learning Place, in mid-July. I am very excited about getting started. So far I have one child enrolled. The maximum number of children I can accept is six at one time.

Besides using word-of-mouth, I've been posting fliers about my business around the community, at places such as grocery stores, the public library, baby stores, the public laundry facility, the health department, doctor's offices and schools. So far, I've received one phone call inquiring about my child-care services. I'm waiting for more phone calls to come my way.

Another way I'm getting the word out is by writing an article to put in the local community newspaper. Things I will include in my article are:

A brief history about myself

Hours and days of operation

Cost per month

What to expect at my facility

Benefits of sending your child to a quality, family-based child care center

I've also been doing other things for my business. This week I've been busy applying for a grant. I could use extra funds to buy more furniture, outdoor equipment and teaching materials. Things are a little tight for me since I've only been working part-time, and grant money would definitely help.

All this is new to me. I'm learning as I go. So far everything is going great, and I'm having fun building nothing into something. Keep reading to find out what happens next.

The Adventure Begins

Lorna Lorenzo — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:00:00

Starting my own business was the last thing on my mind until I was laid off from my job as a preschool teacher. I was given just four days' notice that I was losing the job I had had for 5Â½ years. What was a single parent to do?

But just days after I was told the bad news, I had a plan . . . a plan that would change my future for the better. My plan was to work part-time (I found a job a few days later) while starting a day-care business in my home.

Exactly one week after losing my job Feb. 13, I received my Wheel of Fortune check in the mail. Yes, I was a Wheel of Fortune contestant and winner. I appeared on Wheel of Fortune on Nov. 17, 2008, with my best friend on "Best Friend's Week in Hawaii." We won a total of $114,550. I thought to myself, "what perfect timing. It couldn't have come at a better time."

After I decided to open my own business, I discussed the idea with close friends and family. I got full support from everyone.

One of the first things I did was call the Department of Human Services to get an application. I had to:

Get a TB test
Renew my CPR certification
Get a physical examination from my doctor
Get a general excise tax license
Write an operations policy and contracts and
Contact a public health nurse I could turn to if I had any health questions
Contact a nutritionist to help me plan healthy and nutritious snacks and lunch.

In the meantime, I've been turning my family room (a spare room in my house) into a day-care facility, and making sure everything is childproof and safe for children ages 15 months through 5 years old.

I've also been taking classes every Tuesday night on how to start my own day-care business.

I've used some of my Wheel of Fortune winnings to buy a few things for my day care, such as shelves, a child-sized table, curtains and teaching supplies. Most of the things I need I already have from being a teacher.

A social worker from the Department of Human Services has inspected my house and reviewed all my paperwork. I passed with flying colors! I'll get a temporary license, effective June 1 through September 30. He'll come back to do another inspection and, if everything goes well, he'll issue a one-year license.

I thought being laid off was the end of the world, but for me it's just a new beginning and better opportunities.