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Lilly tells us about motherhood, grandmotherhood, and the American Dream.
Full Name
Lilly Gold
Age
54
Residence
Minnetonka, Minnesota
Company Name
Lilly Gold, LLC
Type of Company
High-quality baby gear that performs more than one function. Best-sellers include the internationally patented Sit ’n’ Stroll car-seat/stroller combination and The Nap-Sac™, a deluxe diaper bag that folds open into a self-contained changing station or bassinet.
Sales
$3 million
Family:
Husband: Bobby
Children: Marianne, Simone, Mia, Spanky, Jeff
Grandchildren: Kay Kay, Sara, Adam, Sofie
HM: Your favorite thing about being a mom?
“Being a mom is the ultimate job. It lasts for a lifetime, you get many chances to correct errors, and it’s almost impossible to get fired.”
HM: Who or what inspired you to go into business?
“My daughter got married and had a baby at a very young age. The marriage didn’t last and she came back home with the baby ‘boomerang kids’…
“So, having to re-stock on baby gear, I noticed that the products available were more plentiful but not more functional—and certainly not better-quality—than when I had my “first” kids. I could see the niche for high-quality, multi-functional items at a medium price-point. My husband was burned out from his corporate job and I was ready to retire from my insurance agency. We took a giant leap of faith and went into the baby business.
HM: What advice can you offer moms about attaining their dreams and balancing work and family life?
“After a couple of martinis, everyone has a great idea. The world isn’t short of great ideas, but great ideas seem to be short of people who can make them work. You must clarify and isolate your dream and understand how and where it fits into the marketplace. Also, envision your children’s needs, fit them together, focus, and don’t let yourself get distracted.”
HM: Book that’s atop the pile on your nightstand…
State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III by Bob Woodward.
HM: What is one of the most important lessons you feel you’ve passed on to your daughter and, more recently, your grandchildren?
“Don’t look to someone else for a paycheck. Create your own.”
HM: A dance recital or crucial business meeting…how do you choose?
“I can’t think of one business meeting I’m mad at myself for missing, but I will never forgive myself for the recitals that I’ve missed. I used to choose the crucial business meeting every time. As I’ve matured and seen how life works itself out given the time and opportunity, I now choose the dance recital in most cases.”
HM: What are your guilty pleasures after a stressful day?
“A power-spa pedicure and Saturday-night dinner at a great restaurant with two big glasses of great wine.”
HM: What one belief, factor or trait would you say has contributed most to your success?
“Fear on the negative side, and resourcefulness and focus on the positive side.”
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