A Baby, A Business, a Blog

Today was a big day. Today we launched the latest beta version of Ouchie, the app I’ve been tirelessly working on for the past year and a half. This is the app that I was developing all while simultaneously running a profitable production company, remodeling our first home, advising another startup, and helping a friend develop a web series. Oh and also while raising a two-year-old girl. But none of these accomplishments matter because more importantly, today was the day I co

There's a popular view in the startup world that some of the best founders are contrarians. This idea was spearheaded by PayPal founder Peter Thiel, who was also an early investor in Facebook. For those unfamiliar with the term, it's someone who rejects popular opinion and in doing so, is able to create exceptionally successful products. If this opinion is truly the key factor to a strong entrpreneur, then I have a future Mark Zuckerberg on my hands. Maisie is the ultimate co

This morning, Maisie was sitting in her high chair chomping down on blueberries, a distraction as I prepared her oatmeal. As the oatmeal cooled, I gave her a small piece of banana, knowing that like blueberries, it's among her favorite things. When the oatmeal was ready, the tantrum started. I tried to take her out of her highchair. That made it worse. Back into the highchair she went and I retreated to the kitchen. I returned with a banana in my hand. There was an audible so

Last week I wrote about a quasi-negative review I received about my parenting. It came from a disgruntled man on a JFK-bound flight from West Palm Beach. It may have seemed like just a look, but to me it might as well have been a 1,000-word essay. I wrote about the hurt it caused and the lessons I learned. I'm no stranger to receiving negative reviews. In the world of online video, particularly when you run a YouTube channel, you get bombarded with hateful, chauvenistic, raci

Greetings from the CEO. And the vice president. And the secretary. I'm quite important. As is Jason. He is not only the CTO, but also the president and treasurer. But we're not just going crazy with all these titles. Turns out, they all exist for a reason. Secretary is more than just a consolation prize for Hilary Clinton. In our company, it's the only person, besides the president, who can call a board of directors meeting. It was all in our corporate bylaws -- and I learned

I officially can't be really scared of not being a successful business woman. That isn't real fear. Real fear is hearing a coughing sound and arriving to find your tiny, 15-pound girl gagging in vomit in her crib. It's grabbing her slightly-limp body and holding her until the episode passed. Then watching it happen, helpless, several more times. Real delight isn't closing a deal. It's hearing her babble and watching her smile at your husband after you've wiped off her face. T

Maisie is in full military crawl mode, making whatever squirming motion necessary to get her to her desired destination, which is most times either my cell phone or the buckle on her car seat. She occasionally will get in to this squatting posture and then, after a few furtive glances, will propel herself forward without any fear of smacking her face onto the floor, which is nearly inevitable based on her form. A quick yelp, a reassuring pat from me, and she's back on the mov

It’s 4 a.m. and I can’t sleep. Two weeks from now I will officially trade in the comfort of my rather well-salaried, full-time job to take on the challenge of running my own business. Rachel Trobman, CEO. There’s only a rough business plan, a bunch of great ideas, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Did I mention that my business partner is my husband? And that I have a 7-month-old baby? I’m already beyond comfortable wearing many hats, so to speak. For the past decade I’ve worked