Mixing Motherhood and Business

Silvana Clark, 47

Current business: Clark lives in Bellingham, Washington, and travels throughout the country as a professional speaker. She talks to groups about creative marketing techniques. Her audiences range from the Canadian Llama Association to the American Camping Association. Speeches often include material from the six books she has authored, including Taming the Recreation Jungle and Getting Published When You Are Not a Journalistic Genius.

Employees: Clark, and sometimes her 10-year-old daughter, Sondra, who delivers humorous monologues during Clark’s speeches. When Clark explains the importance of innovative marketing ideas, Sondra emerges from a suitcase and presents a monologue as Cinderella’s stepsister.

Year founded: 1990

Previous life: Clark worked as a recreation supervisor for 10 years for the City of Bellingham and occasionally gave speeches in that role. She planned to cut down to part time when Sondra was born, but changed her mind and decided to stay home full time. Then Clark joined the National Speakers Association and started out giving speeches for free at organizations such as the Rotary Club.

Why went into business: "Our income was cut in half when I stopped working, and I knew I had to do something. I had always enjoyed speaking when I was a recreation supervisor, so I thought I would develop that skill. Working at home is a nice balance because I can do a lot of speech preparation at home. And even if I leave to speak, I fly somewhere, speak for an hour and then turn around and fly right back home, so I’m never really gone that long."

Was most scared about: "It was a financial risk. When I quit my job, our oldest daughter was getting ready to go to college, so we had one child in diapers and the other just about in college."

Best thing about being your own boss: "It’s totally unbelievable to have flexibility in your hours, to work out of your own home, and to be able to decide what avenue you’re going to pursue. However, you really do need a lot of self-discipline."

Miss about working for someone else: "Not one thing. People sometimes ask if I miss the social aspect, and I guess I’m a loner. I love being here by myself where there is no background music. I don’t even miss the security of a regular check. Now it’s almost like a game to see when the checks come in."

Average day like: "At 6:30 a.m. I am in my office, and I work nonstop until 8 a.m. Then I wake up Sondra between 8 and 9, and I work from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and my friends know not to call. I have never in nine years ever had lunch with a girlfriend midday. Then when Sondra walks in the door at 3:30, I’m done. I speak about twice a month, and when I travel I usually leave Bellingham at 5 p.m., speak the next day, leave that afternoon and get home late that night."

Biggest daily challenge: "Dealing with rejection. People will tell me they’ve narrowed it down to three speakers, and then they call back the next week and say they’ve decided to hire someone else who will speak for free. Often it’s someone who has never spoken before."

Best source of advice and support: "My husband. He's the one who will come up with ideas like wearing a safari outfit when I'm talking about material from my book Taming the Marketing Jungle. Now I have my safari skirt and pith helmet, so visually my book ties in."

Separate business and personal life: In a sense it blurs together, but in a positive way. When I spoke at Western University, which is only 10 minutes from here, my husband packed up bikes for Sondra and himself. We all drove there together, they helped me set up the room, and Sondra was greeting people. Then, while I spoke, they rode bikes for an hour and went all around campus. When I was done, they picked me up and we all went to Dairy Queen for ice cream. I thought that was basically family time that I could incorporate into work. But we do have one rule that Sondra knew from when she was 2 years old: If the phone rings and it’s a business call, she has to be quiet."

Reward to self: "I know all these magazines say to take time out for yourself, but I never get to the point where I feel like I need a reward. For me, I guess I enjoy what I’m doing. You do get treated well when you are a speaker. They pick you up in a limo, and you get treated like a mini-celebrity. Then you come home and you vacuum and take out the garbage."

Hopeful retirement age: "My mother is 75 and working full time, so I think it’s in my genes to keep going. Retirement isn’t something I think about."