Today we’d like to introduce you to Kalen Isreal.
Hi Kalen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the mother and creator behind this desk. I’ve always considered myself a lifelong student, an adventure seeker and very particular about my journals, planners and fine-point pens.
Growing up, I remember my grandmother would keep a drawer full of blank note cards for birthdays, holidays, get wells and many more occasions, along with heartfelt handwritten cards given to her down the years. Bettye Harmon had a way with words and the most beautiful penmanship. She was a homemaker and an educator at Marlton School for the Deaf in Los Angeles, CA. I grew up wanting to follow in her footsteps as an educator, instead I pursued a career in hospitality, still with the mindset of loving and serving people.
Having a stationery business started with a semester-long project in my entrepreneur and innovations class. I developed a way for hard-working students, career-minded individuals or dedicated parents to customize a planner that fit their lifestyles. The process of creating an innovative business idea was to simply listen to the needs of my classmates and CEOs I was interning for. Whenever it came to organizing their day in a planner there was always something missing or pages that weren’t as important as the others or the size of the planner itself was never right for them. My greatest challenge with this idea was the developing age of mobile devices. While typing is the most efficient means of jotting down ideas and information, I’ve found that writing by hand forces us to be more emotionally engaged with what it is we put down on paper. After a successful project, I continued my education at Cal State University, Pomona and in two years I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management and I gave birth to two babies; my sonshine Kasche (pronounced cash) and my business baby, Mother’s Desk.
The foundation of this brand stands on these three pillars; CONFIDENCE, CREATIVITY and COMMUNITY. As a single mother, I’ve learned it not only takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to raise one another on this motherhood journey. In this community, we are building each other up in grace and embracing the creativity within ourselves and our littles. Mother’s Desk sells stationery and accessories while serving each other in love.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”
The journey of entrepreneurship is not easy. There are so many trials and errors we face that make us want to give up and continue operating in someone else’s dream. We’re mostly self-taught individuals in the areas of marketing, branding and even the legal side of things. One of my personal challenges is being an introvert with a major love for seeing people thrive. So how do introverts have successful businesses? That’s a question with answers I’m still searching for. Another personal bump in the road was having a child, getting divorced and graduating college all within an 18 months span.
Despite the many cracks and bumps some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned were:
– You have to be disciplined even when you are not motivated.
– Slow progress is better than no progress
– Lean heavily on your faith! God is my strength and peace in times of weakness and storm
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Mother’s Desk is a products and services-based business. We offer for sale custom-designed stationery products and home goods such as journals, pens and mugs.
As of recently, Mother’s Desk has branched into virtual assistant services specializing in administrative tasks, scheduling, planning, customer service, content creation, web design and more. With my experience in multiple industries such as hospitality, non-profit organizations, church, beauty and basic accounting, clients can expect reliability, resourcefulness and genuine care for their brand. Hiring a virtual assistant allows creators and business owners to focus on their passion while we handle the softer skills.
Mother’s Desk is working towards obtaining adaptable creative spaces for more entrepreneurs to work while giving our children space to play.
My life experiences set me apart. Who I am, the jobs I’ve worked for, the struggles I’ve faced, the people I’ve come into contact with are what make Mother’s Desk unique and thrive in this product and service-based industry. I am a mother for mothers. I am a student for students. I am a hotelier for hoteliers. I am a Christian for Christians.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
1. Get a business coach! (Preferably Jamila Moore, esq. of I Am and More, business strategist and attorney)
There are so many pitfalls I could have avoided starting out had I been properly coached in the beginning. I would not have had to “start over” or re-brand so many times without the right business coach to steer me in the right direction. You don’t know what you don’t know, so hire a professional or learn from their tips until you can afford to do so.
2. If the dream is inside of you, pursue it! As I said earlier, slow progress is better than no progress. However don’t be stagnant, continue pushing yourself and commit to learning and becoming 1% better every day.
3. Be aware of your community and surroundings.
There are times in my life I’ve rehearsed and embodied the negativity someone spoke over me. By changing the people I surrounded myself with, my confidence shifted to a higher place.
4. Have faith and believe in YOU!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mothersdesk.com
- Instagram: @mothersdesk
- Tiktok: @mymothersdesk
Image Credits
A.N.S Photography
