{"id":632,"date":"2017-03-30T09:00:12","date_gmt":"2017-03-30T13:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=632"},"modified":"2017-03-29T18:24:33","modified_gmt":"2017-03-29T22:24:33","slug":"the-business-of-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=632","title":{"rendered":"The Business of Writing"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Business of Being Off-Off… Way-Off Broadway<\/h1>\n

By Kate D. Mahoney<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no! It\u2019s the Wicked Witch!\u201d<\/p>\n

Somewhat blinded by the stage lights \u2014 and my desire to give the people what they wanted \u2014 I stood in my lavender footie pajamas in my elementary school auditorium, and a powerful bug bit me: I was going to be an actor. Little did I know, if I really wanted to succeed, I would have to pay close attention to the man, the woman, behind the curtain.<\/p>\n

In fact, for most of my life, I opted for verbal transactions at all costs \u2014 both literally and figuratively.<\/p>\n

In fifth grade, I received a D on my report card in math class. My teacher\u2019s comment was, \u201cA pleasure to have in class.\u201d I was an excellent speller, debater and book report giver. Yet even when mathematical word problems about arrival times of trains leaving different stations came up, I instantly wanted to take a bus, a plane or just call off the trip all together.<\/p>\n

In high school \u2014 after my miracle \u2014 I continued to struggle. I joked that 25 minutes of cardiac arrest was the reason I couldn\u2019t do math. I took all the SAT prep classes. Every sample test began with the verbal questions. When I got to the real exam and opened my booklet, it was mathematics. I panicked. I cried. I got a total score of 890 \u2014 748 of which was in verbal \u2014 further solidifying in my mind the possibility that I was perhaps truly unable to process numbers.<\/p>\n

As the years went on, the sales of Girl Scout cookies, lemonade and various fundraiser chocolate bars expanded my waist line far more than my profit margins. Add to that an upbringing in faith, and a family that equated placing financial value on work with sinning, or at the very least being egotistical and arrogant.<\/p>\n

Sales ran in my family and my church. There was an understanding that girls could do whatever we put our minds to \u2014 so long as it wasn\u2019t an overt position of power. To concern or engage in such things might take me down a path leading to unladylike behavior, like a raised voice, or make the traditionally male providers in my life appear inept. I\u2019m confident this was what shifted my desire to be a voice for both characters and real people.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not saying I wasn\u2019t told to dream big. On the contrary, I was taught to always dream big and believe I would be supported. It was a powerful and positive message, but one that included not one iota of business savvy.<\/p>\n

When I met my publisher a couple years ago, I was intent on getting a book out so I could provide for my family. My initial drive was not to share my life\u2019s adventures or help others in crisis. I wanted to publish because caring for sick parents had emptied my bank account and left gaps in my resume that could only be filled with story.<\/p>\n

In the beginning, I didn\u2019t take the long view. I was impulsive and nervous and raced toward a finish line that seemed to keep inching out of my reach. I asked for money out of survival, not sustainability. Regardless of my belief in abundance or gratitude, I didn\u2019t believe I would be supported, because I didn\u2019t feel I possessed the tools to succeed. If I didn\u2019t publish a book, I would have no tangible product. Since I needed to write words in the hopes of crunching numbers\u2014the scariest path of all \u2014 if the book didn\u2019t succeed, I would have no identity.<\/p>\n

Being a woman and an artist is a privilege, and my flare for drama continues to serve me. My roots in storytelling are colorful. My business plan is much more black and white.<\/p>\n

Here are some helpful hints should you desire to take your business over the rainbow:<\/p>\n

1. Embrace failure. Making mistakes in business will not lead you directly to a fitting for an orange jumpsuit. Figuring out what doesn\u2019t work helps you get to what does.<\/p>\n

2. Make your dreams into goals. Write them down. I borrowed this from retired Dallas Cowboy, Emmitt Smith, who got the idea from his boyhood football coach. It really works.<\/p>\n

3. Ask for help! Hire people who know what you don\u2019t know. Investing in a lawyer, a CPA and even a web designer required me to recalibrate expenses and vision; but in the spirit of not creating while critiquing, I did what I was capable of and leaned on others for the rest. It doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019ll never know. It means I trust myself and utilize the skills of others with taxation, transactions and technology; I don\u2019t let fears hold me back.<\/p>\n

4. Own your value \u2014financially and legally. This can take many forms: a DBA or LLC, or learning how to write down what you want on contracts \u2014 or PostIts \u2014 and stick to them, literally and figuratively. 5. There is only one you. That matters. You matter. SWM<\/em><\/p>\n

Kate D. Mahoney is the author of \u201cThe Misfit Miracle Girl: Candid Reflections.\u201d Connect at KateDMahoney.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Business of Being Off-Off… Way-Off Broadway By Kate D. Mahoney \u201cOh, no! It\u2019s the Wicked Witch!\u201d Somewhat blinded by the stage lights \u2014 and my desire to give the people what they wanted \u2014 I stood in my lavender footie pajamas in my elementary school auditorium, and a powerful bug bit me: I was…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":386,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[101],"tags":[195,196],"class_list":["post-632","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-kate-d-mahoney","tag-the-misfit-miracle-girl-candid-reflections"],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/cropped-SWM-logo-use-this-one.jpg?fit=930%2C448&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1292,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1292","url_meta":{"origin":632,"position":0},"title":"A Year in Review","author":"Staff","date":"December 1, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"A Year in Review from my Rearview Mirror By Kate D. Mahoney\u00a0 I am old-school, often one with my car stereo, a blend of trepidation and optimism when I hit the road to share my story and hear the stories of others. Whether it\u2019s cranking up Queen in the middle\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/COVER-Misfit-Miracle-Girl-3-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/COVER-Misfit-Miracle-Girl-3-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/COVER-Misfit-Miracle-Girl-3-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/COVER-Misfit-Miracle-Girl-3-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/COVER-Misfit-Miracle-Girl-3-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2080,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2080","url_meta":{"origin":632,"position":1},"title":"The Value of Welcome","author":"Staff","date":"September 28, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Colorblind Caring By Kate D. Mahoney What if, in the month of the pink ribbon, we were color blind? What if the patient with the diagnosis was given a marketing budget, resources, treatment protocol, financial assistance and an invitation to be a part of a conversation \u2014 before there was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/syracuse-women-magazine-logo-jan-17-1-e1485623317278.jpg?fit=889%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/syracuse-women-magazine-logo-jan-17-1-e1485623317278.jpg?fit=889%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/syracuse-women-magazine-logo-jan-17-1-e1485623317278.jpg?fit=889%2C400&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/syracuse-women-magazine-logo-jan-17-1-e1485623317278.jpg?fit=889%2C400&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3346,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3346","url_meta":{"origin":632,"position":2},"title":"Q&A: The Personal Meaning of Health and Nourishment","author":"Alyssa Dearborn","date":"October 14, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Interview by Lorna Oppedisano We sat down with local author Kate Mahoney and nutritionist Emily Tills to get a preview of their upcoming event, \u201cHealing from the Inside Out,\u201d during which they will interview each other about what nourishment can look like, how health helped shape their purposes, inform their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Q&A"","block_context":{"text":"Q&A","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=1300"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Emily-Tills-headshot.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Emily-Tills-headshot.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Emily-Tills-headshot.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Emily-Tills-headshot.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Emily-Tills-headshot.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2051,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2051","url_meta":{"origin":632,"position":3},"title":"Mary Kate Intaglietta","author":"Staff","date":"September 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"From Volunteer to Executive Director By Carol Radin |\u00a0Photography by Paul Carmen Viggiano When the opportunity to become first executive director of Paige\u2019s Butterfly Run presented itself, Mary Kate Intaglietta didn\u2019t hesitate. \u201cI wanted something that tugged at my heartstrings,\u201d she remembered. 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Deb Mendzef, coordinator for the CNY Regional Center for Tobacco Health Systems, located\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=126"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/syracuse-women-magazine-logo-jan-17-smallest.jpg?fit=445%2C200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":868,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=868","url_meta":{"origin":632,"position":5},"title":"Learning How to \u201cStress Less\u201d","author":"Staff","date":"June 30, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Syracuse Reads: Being More Mindful By Christine A. Krahling\u00a0 Stress. Whether it\u2019s the pressure of an impending deadline, caring for an aging parent or schlepping to the grocery store for the third time in the same week, we all deal with it daily. Kate Hanley, author of \u201cStress Less: 100\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Syracuse-reads_0717-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Syracuse-reads_0717-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Syracuse-reads_0717-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Syracuse-reads_0717-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Syracuse-reads_0717-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/632","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=632"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/632\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":646,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/632\/revisions\/646"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/386"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=632"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=632"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=632"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}