| Canadian Small Business of The Month | |
by Susan Ward
|
The idea for Confident Girls! sprang from Monique's personal experience. "I was dealt a few tough blows as a child and I worked very hard at building my self-esteem," she says. Having the vice principal of her school tell her that he believed in her when she was 14 made a huge difference to her.
Monique always enjoyed inspiring people and made several "notable but awkward attempts" to do so, such as a novelty item called Luck Dust (which sold very well in Bingo Halls), and a motivational tape for teens and single women.
But her desire to help young women develop their confidence and boost their self-esteem crystallized when her fourteen-year-old niece committed suicide. "The entire program and workbook are dedicated to her memory," Monique says.
"The biggest challenge facing me today is the next young girl or teenager who has had her self-esteem shattered by people or life's events. Or the girl who can tell you in ten seconds what confidence looks like but has absolutely no idea what it feels like. I consider it my challenge to make sure that she knows the wonderful feeling that confidence can bring."
Monique feels that her optimism, enthusiasm, curiosity, and sense of fun have contributed most to her business' success. "The optimism and enthusiasm help me be a great personal cheerleader to kids who might need it, while the fun part of my personality is most necessary for maintaining the interest of the kids. And curiosity keeps me wondering what else I can do to become better at what I do."
While Monique is proud of the business journal she keeps which documents her struggles and triumphs throughout the development of Confident Girls!, she is "most proud of the beaming smile of a girl who begins to believe in herself and her uniqueness."
Next page > Overcoming Challenges > Page 1, 2, 3
You can contact Monique Howat at confidentgirls@hotmail.com , or by phone at (905) 986-1441.
The Confident Girls! workbook costs $35 Canadian ($30 American) and ships in less than a week. To get a copy, email or call Monique Howat.
Disclaimer: The Canadian Small Business of the Month feature is provided for information purposes only.
If you would like your business to be considered as The Canadian Small Business of The Month, email me at sbinfocanada.guide@about.com, and I'll send you a questionnaire. While completing a questionnaire is no guarantee of being featured in this series of articles, all completed questionnaires will be considered.
