*This giveaway is now closed! Congratulations to our winner, Aysha - comment #7!
by Jill Salzman
Ever go on a business-book-reading binge? Every 6 months or so, I put down US Weekly and People and pick up 12 business books. I don't really know why. It's like a craving, one that fills my corporate curiosity and that hopefully makes me a better businesswoman.
Except that it's a let-down every time.
Most of them are too heavy on the theory of business. At least four of them are very badly written and I spend more time correcting grammar mistakes than I do comprehending the content of their pages. Eleven of them are written by and for men. And the twelfth? If it's authored by a female, which usually means co-authored, she's a professor or a PHD who's well-versed in studying the how-to's but hasn't done so herself.
So, I sat up one night in bed with that insomniac spark that strikes every so often. You know what I mean. The one that hits so hard that you can't really fall asleep unless and until you write it down. But the pad of paper is always in another room. And how can you find the pen in the dark? But this time was different. I dragged my tired self to my office where I took out a yellow pad, lined it with numbers, and jotted down 50 chapter ideas in under 10 minutes. Just like that. The next day, I began fleshing out the first few ideas…and continued non-stop for two weeks. There! I was done.
Only I really was just getting started.
I knew the book needed to be a quick read. What parent has time for verses on business theory? I also wanted it to be in parts. One part entrepreneurship. One part parenthood. And maybe one part resources? Not there yet.
After cold-calling a billion agencies, I got lucky and found the cleverest agent of them all. She shopped and shopped and shopped a proposal I put together describing my book. What with publishing companies in a massive state of flux these days, she got a few offers but they were all terrible. After a year and a half of searching, I decided to have her stop. I mean, what could be more entrepreneurial than publishing your own work? Shouldn't I endeavor to self-publish so that I could talk about yet another startup?
So I stopped waiting. And I self-published.
I created a whole new company and called it Piggott Press. I hired an editor. I hired an illustrator. I hired a book designer. I found a printing company. I applied to a distributor -- one who only takes 20 percent of applicants -- and got in. Four months later, I was standing at my book launch party autographing copies of my very own book.
WHAT A WHIRLWIND.
Am I thrilled with the final product? Absolutely. Do I hope that it changes the lives of thousands upon thousands of entrepreneurs? Of course. Do I wish that a publisher had picked me up instead? Not in a million years. And do I hope that Ellen or Rosie or Oprah or Mr. Colbert himself features my book? My fingers have been crossed permanently since last June.
Introducing…Found It: A Field Guide for Mom Entrepreneurs. "Easy-to-digest suggestions to give mom entrepreneurs the confidence that the business mountain is indeed scalable," says a columnist at Inc. Magazine. Here's hoping you enjoy the fruits of my latest entrepreneurial adventure.
Want to win a copy of Jill's new book, Found It: A Field Guide for Mom Entrepreneurs?
Giveaway Details!
The winner of this giveaway will receive one copy of Found It: A Field Guide for Mom Entrepreneurs. giveaway will officially end on Friday, March 2, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The winner will be chosen by random.org.
To enter, please leave a comment on this post about why you'd like to read this book. After you comment here, you can earn extra entries! {Please leave a separate comment for each, including contact information!}
1. Like Founding Moms on Facebook
2. Follow Jill on Twitter
3. Like Market Mommy on Facebook
4. Follow Market Mommy on Twitter
5. Sign up for the Market Mommy rss feed
6. Sign up for the Market Mommy free e-newsletter
7. Tweet about the giveaway & tag both @MarketMommy and @foundingmom {daily entries permitted}
Here’s a sample tweet for your convenience!
R u a mom biz owner? Win a copy of A Field Guide For Mom Entrepreneurs from @foundingmom at @MarketMommy #giveaway http://tinyurl.com/85t58hk
Good luck!
Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at 12:11PM 
Leisurely reading, who has time for that? Taking care of the kids, cleaning the house, cooking dinner and trying to build your own business from scratch doesn’t really leave much free time to sit down and engulf yourself in a good book. Wouldn’t it be great to multi-task (like many moms do) and read an enjoyable book while learning essential tips and facts about creating your own business? Well, lucky for you, “Mom, Inc.” is the perfect book to crack open!
