Meet Monica - Solemates Inventor!

I was first introduced to Monica – Solemates inventor, via an email introducing me an amazing collaboration between Solemates and SoulCycle. Solemates’ all natural anti-bacterial Deodorizer is going to be the exclusive deodorizer for all SoulCycle studios globally, keeping their rental shoes germ free and fresh!

Can you imagine what this spray could do for my boys’ shoes, baseball helmets, and more!?

I read that and knew I needed to learn more about how Monica, and her longtime friend and partner in Solemates, started out and how she has become the powerful womanpreneur she is today!

Solemates began with a well-needed product – their heel protector is perfect for protecting your heels from sinking into the grass, getting caught on cobblestones, and the all-embarrassing stumble!

solemates inventor monica

Solemates’ products have been highlighted by O, The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, People Stylewatch, The NY Times, Glamour, and The Knot to mention a few…

Did I mention that Solemates was on Shark Tank?!

Monica of Solemates

MEET MONICA!

When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up?

A writer

How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Personal necessity; I was tired of my heels sinking into the grass at weddings so I invented the Solemates Heel Protector. After the success of the initial product, we expanded the brand into other solutions to common footwear problems.

What is the biggest struggle you’ve encountered as an womanpreneur and how did you solve it?

Prioritizing my time and delegating; there is always so much to do. It’s easy to get caught doing the same repetitive jobs, because they provide a sense of accomplishment. If you aren’t pushing yourself in new directions, you are treading water instead of advancing the business. Any job that can be repeated, should be delegated.

What do you think are the pros and cons of being a womanpreneur?

Pros: There are lots of resources that are dedicated to the support of women entrepreneurs; from networks to funding to media opportunities, everyone seems to love the idea of a women entrepreneur.

Cons: Women are often not taken as seriously. I have been asked “do you do this full time?” many times. Men are never asked the same question. Even women treat women entrepreneurs differently; they often talk down to them or treat their businesses as though they are “projects.” It’s not malicious, but it’s interesting how both men and women treat women entrepreneurs differently.

Do you have any mentors or coaches that you work with?

No, but I’m open to it.

What advice would you give to someone reading this that has the entrepreneurial “itch”?

Write a business plan. Figure out how you are going to get from A to B to C. Brute force and the raw will to succeed are not nearly enough. Understand your costs; have deep savings, and have a plan B.

What is the secret to achieving work-life balance for you?

Taking care of myself; living a healthy lifestyle is paramount. I eat well, I exercise, and I sleep. I feel sharpest mentally when I am physically fit, and this allows me to work efficiently. Because my time is limited, as is the time of my friends, I will often work out with them in order to catch up with them without losing out of my precious fitness time.

How do you find inspiration?

Inspiration is everywhere! I’m inspired by the countless entrepreneurs who came before me. I read their stories, listen to their podcasts, look at their content on social media, etc.

What is your favorite book?

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles; Shoe Dog, the Phil Knight story, is also a must-read for everyone.

What is your favorite quote?

“The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” – Ayn Rand

What do you do to decompress?

Exercise + Read. Working out is crucial to my stress management. Reading calms my brain down and allows me to focus on one singular thing. I read mostly fiction and listen to audiobooks for non-fiction.

Takeaways

I love that Monica recommends creating a business plan because that is something that may sound daunting and “not fun” but will essentially be the roadmap for your business.

Please follow Monica and Solemates on Instagram, Facebook, and of course check out the ingenious and needed Solemate line on the web. I am so buying a few pairs of the heel protectors for myself and the deodorizer for my teenage boys’ shoes.

Did you catch last week’s womanprenuer article – Theo of The Real ChaCha Olivia?

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Comments

Tamara says

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What an interesting idea! Thanks for sharing! I could really use these in my life.

Nicole Bertrand says

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Oh my gosh! Where have Soulmates been my entire adult life?? What a great idea and what a great interview! Thanks for sharing.

Gervin Khan says

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I really enjoy reading this interview. She is such an amazing woman and I am so happy for her success. I would love to have that heel protector I really need that so badly. LOL!

CHad says

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Monica is so inspiring! Thank you so much for the great interview, very insightful.

Bree says

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What a great interview! I love her favorite quote
“The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” – Ayn Rand I think that’s my new fav quote!

Shannon Gurnee says

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This sounds like a great product line! What an awesome interview. Thank you for sharing.

Catherine says

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What a great interview and these products look really good and very useful. I wish her all the best…thanks for sharing her story!

- Dana says
  
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  Aww, thanks Catherine!
  
Bella and Dawn at Dear Mummy Blog says

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My daddy is really into sports and plays a lot of hockey. He could do with these to keep his shoes fresh.

Yeah Lifestyle says

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Thank you for sharing about Monica and her solemates products, I have just seen the heel protector for the first time and what a fabulous invention! I would love to own one of this

Patricia says

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I’m a huge fan of the heel protectors, and I’m absolutely certain the shoe deodorizer is going to be incredibly popular at SoulCycle and in pretty much every home. She’s an interesting person, and I love that what she had to say not only about work/life balance but how people perceive women as having “projects” rather than legit businesses until they become major players. Thanks for sharing!

- Dana says
  
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  I’m so glad you took away such great points from her interview! Those heel protectors are heaven sent
  
Sundeep says

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I really like this lady. This is an amazing interview, I love reaingd such reviews. She suggested some amazing books which I am going to read sooner

Kuntala says

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Such an inspiration to learn about her success and work life balance. The heel protector will definitely be a great use for mang.

AMY says

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You are such an amazing woman. This interview is really nice. And the products are great! I’m gonna get that heel protector. I love wearing heels.

Cynthia Nicoletti says

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What a great interview and a fascinating story.

Danjay Reyes says

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This is inspiring for would be entrepreneurs.

- Dana says
  
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  I agree!
  
tweenselmom says

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An ingenious business and just can’t help feeling proud of these women!

- Dana says
  
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  So proud!
  
Annemarie LeBlanc says

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I am happy to learn about women who find their success in following their passion. We usually neglect caring for our feet, but Monica’s products would really encourage us to pay more attention to foot care.

- Dana says
  
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  I agree – I think Monica’s products are perfect for saving our shoes!
  
Sophia says

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This product sounds awesome. I will have to give it a try.

Jay says

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Hi!
I really enjoy reading this interview. She is such an amazing woman and I am so happy for her success.
Thanks.