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Meet Kim Viernes, Founder of Busynest Cards

July 9, 2008

Typically when I am “surfing the web” I look for new Startup Princesses …women entrepreneurs whom have strong brands, flare for great design, innovation, creative problem solvers… then I introduce myself and hope to make a new friend, to inspire us here at Startup Princess. Today I am delighted to introduce you to our new friend, the very talented designer of Busynest Cards, Kim Viernes. What I love about her product is that she fulfills a need busy”nesters” everywhere have, they want to connect, to expand their community and have a sense of identity too… thus validating the role of motherhood beyond the “receipt” found in her purse she hopes she won’t need but it willing to sacrifice for a chance to meet up with a new friend again. Kim offers a solution for how moms can connect with style and personality, custom fit!

I also like that like her clients, Kim is a mom first, entrepreneur second–her business represents her personal brand and stamps a seal of approval on the role of being “Mom.” Thank you, Kim! Love her answers to the questions below, she seems very balanced and grounded in her life, way to go!

Meet the talented designer behind this adorable and functional product for moms:

Name: kim sapida viernes

Hometown: milwaukee, wi

Current Residence (City, State): carlsbad, ca

Education: B.A. Social Ecology, UCIrivine, M. Arch II, UCLA (architecture)

Professional Background: worked in architecture for 6 years, taught myself graphic design and have been freelancing for 5 years.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: a writer

What you are: a graphic designer

Brief Summary of your Start Up:
in celebrating the “firsts” with my first born (the birth, the baptism, the birthday), i searched high and low for card designs that were simple, classic, but not too “cutesy.” coming from a design background, i valued the ideal that “less is more.” not finding anything that grabbed my attention, i finally asked myself “why can’t i make my own?” turns out, i can!

Company Website?
www.busynestcards.com

What inspired you? motherhood

How long have you been in business? 5 years

How did you fund it?
savings

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)?
oprah. it sounds a bit cheesy, i know. but it ‘s so true! she’s been at the forefront of empowering women and showing us the power we already have within us, if we have the courage to listen!

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups?
i’m just rejoining some local meetups but haven’t yet attended a meeting due to time conflicts. i’ve found some great support (leads and clients) by meeting other mompreneurs! i have been “attending” lisa druxman’s (stroller strides) webinar – a 1-1/2 hour mompreneur seminar she conducts for free in which you can interact with her live. read about it & sign up for it at the bottom of her column: http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/mompreneur/mompreneurcolumnistlisadruxman/article191276.html

Current Business Challenge?
mapping out a plan for a blog

What are you doing about it?
researching, mind-mapping

Favorite motivational quote:
“the point of power is in the present” louise hay

Family?
3 kids (7 years, 4-1/2 years, 1 yr), 2 cats, 1 husband

If so, how do you balance family and business?
this is my biggest challenge – it so hard! i recently made a schedule for myself denoting “no work zones” during the days when i have kids at home (baby sleeps = i work). previous to this, i didn’t feel like i was doing the mommy thing or the designer thing well – i was always at half- attention. and going crazy, i might add!

Favorite book?
“a new earth” by eckhardt tolle: mind blowing & life changing

What do you do to relax?
yoga, deep breaths, being present, singing (no formal training – just letting it loose!)

What do you want to change most about your world?
to let go of our culture’s preconceptions of marriage, motherhood and “should’s.” believe me, i’m still working on this myself!

What are you most proud of?
i’m starting to let go of the “control,” listening to and allowing my instincts to guide me (in work & in life!).

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses?
to stop now and then and realize that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be at this moment. enjoy this moment!

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)?
RSS feeds! letting the info from my favorite websites come to me! here’s one of my favorites: the audio essays at thisibelieve.org. using just one sense (hearing) helps me stay in the present and makes the person’s story so powerful.

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use?
all the birthstones of my children! amethyst, opal and peridot.

Written by startupprincess · Filed Under Interviews 

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