We were lucky to catch up with Amber Gilmore recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amber, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made?
The Golden Investments: The best investments for myself has definitely been, investing in evidence based education, business education, my confidence, my talents, reading books, consistency, dedication to my craft and self care. I believe these are topics to explore and mention for investing in all areas of life because it takes determination and focus on your goals and health to be an overall well balanced person. Finding the ideal school to enroll in, certification programs, or any other relevant trainings you may find that offer detailed and insightful educational material, will assist you, make you more comfortable and confident to talk to your clients/customers about what you’re passionate about. You should be able to be an instant resource for yourself, customers and clients. By being an instant resource to my clients, it has granted reassurance and built trust for them when they consult with me followed by hiring me.
Business education is just as equally important because you need to learn how to set up your business correctly, how to run your business, reading business books, find professionals for legal reasons, knowing business pros/cons/advantages and how to keep your business flourishing and thriving for every season. Know when to hire out, don’t allow yourself to be your own obstacle. If you don’t know how to do something find someone within your budget, to help you accomplish the task at hand. You need to spend your time executing and mastering your craft and outsourcing tasks that you just don’t have time to complete yourself. Having confidence in yourself and your goals is super important. How do you find your confidence or become confident? You have to learn and accept your strong areas and weak areas in yourself equally and not talk down on yourself. Don’t allow others to talk down on you as well. Keep negative comments at bay from yourself and from others. This is so important because you will get far if you don’t listen to the negativity. Believe in your talents and what you can present and deliver to your clients and customers.
Don’t be afraid to ask for reviews of your products and or work performance, when it’s appropriate. Reviews, referrals and references goes along way and getting feedback good or bad helps you positively progress further in your business. A great reputation is everything and wholeheartedly believing that your talent is needed in this world will help you take action, get comfortable and focus on bringing change and happiness your customers and clients. Avoid feeling like you have imposter syndrome, if you’ve taken the time to master a skill and put thousands of hours and years into mastering your craft that’s something to be proud of yourself for. Being consistent and staying consistent is key to all these points I have made and has helped me to stay the course and keep going. Yes, it’s a definitely balancing act and everyone’s situation is different so please find what works for you and that should be what you try to prioritize. Consistency and dedication to your work and having realistic expectations of yourself will lead you to breakthroughs, when you want to give up.
Self care is an investment too. You have to watch your mental health and physical health while working, studying and building your business and maintaining your life. Get massages frequently when you can, getting fresh air and eat nutritious and energizing meals and staying hydrated is a great habit to start. Take sleep days to rest. Allow yourself to have a lazy day or week where you shut off the business side of things and enjoy a moment away from obtaining goals. This will definitely help in the long run. You don’t want to miss living because you’re just chasing goals and missing every event happening around you. The best investment is acceptance in who you are, finding balance, loving yourself, staying on top of your health and being excited about what you offer.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I became a career nanny in 2006. I’ve always wanted to work with children, I love babies and wanted to exclusively care and nurture them. I made sure to get education and educated in the child-care field to perform at my best and be very knowledgeable for myself and families. I am now a published children’s book author, pediatric sleep consultant, lactation consultant and a master newborn care specialist. I have published 2 amazing children’s book about sleep hygiene and sleep routines that parents and children LOVE to read.
I help parents in their 4th trimester with their newborns to adjust to their new normal and set up schedules and routines that fit the infants needs and parents needs. I approach everything from a holistic point of view and making sure I keep baby and parents personality, culture and wants in the forefront. This is to insure, the parents needs are met and the infant especially, are getting what they need so they can grow, sleep and thrive daily based on their individuality. Being a lactation consultant and being on hand for moms helps give them a peace of mind when their having good and bad days with breastfeeding their infants.
Overall, I service families for newborn care and nurturing as well as specializing in this area to make sure every scenario that may or may not happen is well communicated, troubleshooted and explored when they hire me for my services. I’m happy with knowing that my services provide the insight that is needed in day to day celebrations and challenges when I’m chosen to be their go to person.
I’m very proud of the fact that I didn’t give up on myself and believe I could make things happen with or without tons of support or money. Having a survival mindset at times really gets me through some tough situations. I want families to know that when I work for them, it is a great honor and one I greatly appreciate and don’t take for granted. When they choose me for the most important job in their household, I’m thankful. Granting me trust with their children, trusting me to be in their homes and become aware of private information and not sharing anything with the public or with my family and friends is why I’m hired again and again. Most people don’t stop to really think about how precious and delicate a childcare worker is to the child and families and how being professional, welcoming, having self awareness and being instinctively non-judgmental you have to be, it is a MUST. I bring this innate specialty, so the initial awkwardness rather I, work overnights or live-in with families wears off quite quickly because I show and prove with my actions, experience and reviews that I can be trusted.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
How I built my reputation in my market is getting educated in my field, reading books, having tons of hours dedicated to learning, studying and hands on work experience to be able to get to a point where I’m comfortable enough to guide and give advice to families in need of all the services I offer. They loved the services I offered then and now and wrote great reviews about me as well as verbal referrals to their local communities, family, friends and parent and mom groups.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
I would say the most effective way to grow clientele is to be authentic and realistic in who you are and what you offer. Be very knowledgeable in your subject, continue learning, and offer services people genuinely need, to solve a problem in their life. Most of all being trustworthy, professional and respectful to yourself and your clients and customers.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.creativenurturing.com. www.ambergilmore.com
- Instagram: @creativenurturing
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/creativenurturing
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-gilmore-287ba7169/
Image Credits
Ida John