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Teaching It, Learning It, Doing It!

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Genma Holmes is a homeschool mom and co- owner of Holmes Pest Control and GSH Consulting, LLC - and that’s just for starters!

Homeschooling Entrepreneurs

                          . . . that are doing it!

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Genma Holmes falls into that category that I refer to as “Supermoms”. Starting her day at 4 am, she has homeschooled 3 well accomplished children, runs a “green” pest control company, helps her daughter run her business, is a model, a voice over speaker, a seminar speaker, and has even done some acting!

 

Having done all those amazing things, Genma believes that homeschooling her 3 children is what has helped her to become more organized and a better mom.

 

 

When Genma Holmes first considered homeschooling to have more time with her children, Genma found herself becoming the student. Realizing if she was going to balance being a mom, going to college and working with homeschooling, some changes had to be made. Many of the skills she incorporated during that time have been one of the biggest factors in her success. Organization and goal setting are key skills for anyone in business.

 

Combining her work schedule and home schooling began to be a way of life. While intensely scheduled in many areas, complete with color-coded calendars and protecting her early morning quiet time and work out that starts at 4 am, she claims to have a very fluid homeschool schedule. Considering her homeschool ‘unorthodox’, she was doing what Homeschool-Entrepreneur has witnessed and promotes to be one of the most productive home school methods-learning by doing.

 

Much of their education was accomplished by going with mom to conventions, meeting great people, and being a part of her business from day one. Colleges can teach accounting, marketing and PR, but these real life experiences cannot be taught sitting at a desk. As any college graduate will tell you, very little of the knowledge gained in universities, though necessary, really teaches you the skills needed in the marketplace!

 

Don’t get me wrong, “book learning” was definitely not neglected. Her children obviously also learned their 3 R’s, her oldest son graduated college with the highest GPA, her younger son is starting college in May, and her daughter has her own business, Alexis’ Famous Pies. Her son that is starting college soon also received an internship in the field of his choice (sports journalism) with networking skills he learned from his mom.

 

Seeing a need and meeting it

Having what we call here at H-E “The Entrepreneurial Mindset”, Genma’s pest control business was started from seeing a need and meeting it. Her corporate/engineer husband had been communicating to his wife the frustrations he was experiencing with the sloppy performance of the pest control company he was dealing with, and lack of alternatives to choose from. Most people can identify with how the smallest task in a management situation, however large or small, can be such a large frustration when done poorly and/or ineffectively. So when Genma heard how impossible it was to find reliability in this field, she saw a need and met it.

 

Finding an edge

Genma not only found an edge, but an ideal niche, in a very large market. Even before the current ‘green’ trend, adding the safety factor with environmental safe, botanical pest control was a million-dollar idea! Starting with just $600 and working out of the trunk of an ‘85 Lincoln Town car, she found herself to be the punch line of many jokes. But hard work and excellent customer service has proven itself a timeless recipe for success. Within 3 months, they had cash to purchase their first truck.

 

Giving Back

The feelings of accomplishment and meeting her goals is just a side perk to her success for Genma. What she loves the most is being able to reinvest much of herself in giving back to her community. She speaks to groups of young mothers encouraging them in the possibilities of combining their entrepreneurial dreams with homeschooling. Along with helping others get a chance to go to colllege through several of the initiatives she works with, Genma also loves mentoring others who never would’ve thought they could own a business.

 

Her #1  tip:

When asked what advice she would offer other families starting a business, Genma encourages setting goals and staying determined. Don’t let anyone discourage you from going after your dreams. To begin the process, write down your goals. We addressed goalsetting in our last newsletter because it does seem to be a pillar of success for the majority of those that have made it to the top.

 

Goal setting doesn’t have to be complicated. Genma suggests starting with just five short goals. Write them down on a 3 x 5 card and make copies for every member of your family (that can read, of course!) to keep you accountable. When you accomplish one of your goals, celebrate, and replace it with a new goal. It’s very important to be sure to review them every single day. She offers this example of five goals to get your business started:

1. Get business license

2. Open business checking account

3. Start market research

4. Attend a seminar in your new field

5. Attend a trade show in your chosen industry

 

I think these five goals are excellent starting points for anyone considering a business of their own.

 

Speaking frequently at colleges, Genma emphasizes that every job you have along the way shapes who you are and gives you new skills. Learn everything you can at every job, and never think it doesn’t matter. The good, the bad, and the ugly at every turn meshes into experience that can make you a better person if you let it. Like the colors in a great painting, it’s how you paint the picture.

 

More pictures of Genma and her kids to be posted soon...

 

You can find more about Genma Holmes at her blog: Genmaspeaks.blogspot.com  or Genmaspeaks.com

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