Get ready, this list is long...
Though I'm sure I've forgotten some people (yell at me if I did), I hope this serves as the proof that a normal everyday working mother can take an idea all the way through, with some creativity, hard work and the help of the people around her. I did what I could but here are many of the things that helped just as much, and I will always be eternally grateful for it.
You were the one most affected by the creation of this product. Thank you for helping me with the million tasks it takes to raise a household of toddlers. Thank you for putting up with my tired and sleepless moments. Thank you for always being there as this steady wall of support and love.
Thank you for being the proof I needed to back up my intuition. I'm pretty sure you would have turned out sweet no matter how we raised you but you are every reason I need to do this. I couldn't have asked for a better pair of children to experience the love and joy of motherhood than with the two of you.
For raising me with humility and giving me a strong sense of value and strong ethics. There have been several moments where I wasn't sure what I should choose, but then I realized that when you base your decisions to help others, everything opens up. What's the point of pouring so much of yourself into something if you don't feel good about it afterwards.
For giving me the creative skills to think outside of the box. For showing me that life is short and you have only a limited time to do as much as you can. To showing me patience and giving me the ability to let disappointment roll off your shoulders and that trying is the most you can ever do.
You don’t know how much of a stress relief it is to know that they children are cared for and in loving hands, especially considering how long we work. We couldn’t have made it financially if you hadn’t been there, and the children wouldn’t have had the wonderful exposure to you I’ve always appreciated. Thank you so much.
You are everything. Thank you for being there from the start, for being you. You are the rocks when everything around me is moving. You guys help keep me grounded and make me feel truly lucky to be alive.
You were the first people that heard about the concept before it was even made. It was with this positive support that gave me the green light to take it all of the way.
It's one thing to support a friend, but to actually change the way that you parent told me that I was doing many things right. Thank you for giving me the trust and chance that truly helped motivate me through the sleepless nights.
Thank you very early on for the introductions you were trying to brainstorm, for the TON of business advice, long explanatory emails and even taking the time to create excel sheets relevant to my company. I feel like I received the rushed seminar for business 101 and it was very effective in helping me understand what I should do next.
Thank you for refusing to allow me to pay for your kit and becoming my first official customer. It made everything suddenly feel real, and the invoice will probably be framed one day somewhere besides simply taped to my wall.
You have both been so supportive, even going out of your way to help me build my first version of the PTA fundraiser. My hopes is that this will one day be a robust way to get dollars back to the community. I'm sure some of the basic functionality will be based off this initial run. Thank you for everything else too.
I feel so fortunate to have worked in a place like Crowdtap. Not only does the company foster fun, independent thought, self-motivation and a teamwork, but the unwavering positivity and support from everybody at this company took half of the stress out of starting a side business. I love coming here everyday, and I will be sad the day that I should stop. I will hopefully do this place justice and set similar standards in any companies that I start in the future. Visit crowdtap.com
Thanks for your help even when I never asked for it. It was unnecessary and touching to have friends that go out of their way for you. You're just an amazing meat heart.
Thank you very early on for some of my first advice. It was through your recommendation H.A.R.O. that I made some really useful connections. You were always someone who puts people first and a great role model. Visit allpaws.com
You're always available to play devil's advocate and make sure that all of my bases are covered. I've enjoyed arguing with you into the deep hours of the night and know that you care enough to. Thanks for being my first CEO and lifelong source of support.
Words can't express just how much you've helped. I wasn't lying when I said you were one of the smartest, well rounded people I have met. Your advice is always really well grounded from all sides of the equation. You've spent hours helping me and you've made what I was working on so much better. Thank you for everything.
Thank you so much for sharing your time and expertise in SEO. In a short time you gave me a ton of information that I can use going forward. I've known you for a large part of my life and very grateful for it.
I couldn't think of a more perfect store to begin our journey with and what an aspiration you are. You're hard working, talented and fun to work with. Thank you so much for creating a partnership with KidCash and with me. Visit kaleidoscopekidstoys.com
Thank you for your unwavering energy and support. You completely went out of your way to try to find us our first printers. You are always full of ideas, have a heart of gold and are always looking to help other people. Visit jrmiz.com
Who extended your expertise of patent and trademark law to my business when I needed it the most. What you do provides a shield of protection in a way and lets me sleep better at night. You’re a godsend. Visit jhrlegal.com
I must have contacted and spoken to at least thirty printers before I got to you but it was clear from our first meeting that yours was the company that I wanted to work with. You helped my business off the ground in a big way. Your large and impressive facilities, courteous and friendly staff, and the fact that you provide New Jersey Amtrak with all of their printed materials made me not only feel reassured that you can handle whatever I may throw at you, but that I would be working with one of the businesses that America relies on to function, and this makes me feel wonderful. Thank you for everything. Visit kayprinting.com
Thank you for taking interest in my project. You came from Philly to shoot me in Brooklyn for an amount I could actually afford, even when you are probably used to getting paid twenty times the amount. You are skilled at what you do and thank you for being so patient as I endlessly forgot my lines. Some of the things you said and reframed for me will forever help me in how I think and talk about KidCash.
I’ve always held successful women in high esteem and you have had quite the career. I am so humbled by your help, and it makes me feel like anything is possible. I hope to take this support and turn it into something that will make you proud. Thank you for making me believe that not even the sky is the limit.
Thank you for all the ways you've both reached out to help. I think big things may come of those efforts.
Thank you for all of the sound advice. This is very much your territory but you did a fantastic job getting me up to speed and I really appreciate it. To have the advice come from somebody who really cares about you is the best kind.
Thank you so much for letting me place fliers with the christmas gifts, for getting your elves to try to gather a list of contacts and for the long talks at night. Your charity is wonderful and I wish you the best with it. Visit sscpny.org
Thank you so much for being there to bounce ideas off of, for numerous coffees (iced mocha for life), for the ability to shoot the product shots that I needed to properly present the product, and for countless other things. No matter where you are, you will always have a friend and business partner.
Thank you for being the first panelist to pitch my product to nationally syndicated television networks. Special thanks for taking time out of your busy and hectic schedule to share your knowledge about my best strategies forward. It's been invaluable and I've been humbled by your willingness to help.
I have never met a pair like the both of you. I can’t even say with words how grateful I am to have you guys as friends. You really bent over backwards for me, especially with that Marc Cuban dinner. You were one of the first people I spoke to about the product and from that moment on, you've done nothing but cheer me on. You both spend your lives and energy trying to help others and it truly is remarkable. Thank you so much for everything. Visit enhancedeventsny.com
You are one of the most remarkable people I have met. In terms of leadership, you are everything I would like to strive for. A genuinely intelligent, warm, caring and fun individual, I was humbled when you made room in your busy schedule to give me amazing advice and knowledge. Any company with you at the head is a lucky one.
Let's not forget the company I was at when I started this idea. I really miss working with you but I thank you all for your support, suggestions and help very early on. You were all excited with me and it was a beautiful thing to feel. Thank you.
You helped me with my first pitch and from that, I was able to do so much. Your charity is amazing and I hope we can build a partnership together soon!
Thank you so much for believing in the product so whole heartedly, and for spending some of your free time to write that first editorial about the product. You're a beautiful mother and a great role model. You’ve been supportive with everything I’ve ever done since very early on, like close to the year 2000. That's a long time Trish.
Thank you for patiently keeping the store open when my deadline for a sellable product kept being delayed. Your customer service has been top notch and it's been a pleasure to correspond with any of your representatives, all 900 times I've had questions.