3 Beliefs You’ll Need As A Woman Entrepreneur

by Kendall SummerHawk

May I get a little vulnerable with you?

If you’ve been following me for awhile you probably think I’m always totally confident, completely in my power and never have a down day.

That couldn’t be farther from the truth!

I wouldn’t be human if that were true, and I certainly wouldn’t be a woman entrepreneur! Sure, I have a ton of confidence…except for those times when I slip into an old way of thinking.

Such as every time I begin to up-level my business.

LOL, right? But it makes sense because every time you make a big shift in what you want to achieve you’re going to come up against old beliefs that you thought you’d had handled…only to find them resurfacing at the least opportune moment.

What I’ve learned in the process of being tapped into my femininity AND growing a successful, multi 7-figure coaching business, is that every new level creates an opportunity to step more fully into my connection with spirit AND my confidence as a feminine leader.

Want the same for yourself? Good! Here are 3 core beliefs it’s time you strengthen if you’re serious about creating greater success in your business. Which one of these resonates most for YOU?

Belief #1: You ARE Good Enough

Not feeling good enough can undermine your confidence, causing you to under charge and over deliver. It can also cause you to over-worry about what others think, and fear being “found out” as a fraud.

Here’s a simple exercise you can do: identify 3 specific ways in which this belief worms its way into your life. Then ask yourself, “how would someone who doesn’t doubt her value respond or handle these situations?”

Journal your answers, then post them where you can see them for the next week.

Belief #2: You’re WORTH Being Respected

If you struggle with boundaries and always seem to be putting the needs of others first, then your self-respect is going to suffer. The solution? First, what are 3 areas in your business where you’re tolerating bad service, inferior work or late delivery?

Then, ask yourself, “if making excuses for others were no longer an option, what would I ask for instead?”

Journal your answers, then post them where you can see them for the next week.

Belief #3: You Have Valuable Gifts That DESERVE To Be Paid For

Not believing in the value of your skills and talents will cause you to give away your services without charging, to over deliver or to struggle with difficult, demanding or needy clients.

To fully claim the fees you deserve, try this: ask yourself, “as someone who has a rare talent for _____________, what is a fee that honors my gifts?”

First thought, best thought! Jot the number down and post it where you can see it and practice saying it out loud for the next week. You’ll be amazed at how you “grow into” your new number!

Would you like to learn simple ways you can brand, package and price your services, quickly move away from 'dollars-for-hours work' and create more money, time, and freedom in you business? Check out my web site, http://www.KendallSummerHawk.com, for free articles, resources and to sign up for my free audio mini-seminar "Money Blocks & Breakthroughs.

Award-winning, million dollar marketing coach Kendall SummerHawk is the leading expert in women entrepreneurs and money.

Working from Home: A Win-Win for Business Owners & Employees

by Michele Unangst 

Other ways to describe them are work from home, virtual office, home based jobs, flex jobs, but the prevailing phrase is telecommute jobs.  They've become the new employment model over the last ten years.  As companies and employees are changing the structure, so many new benefits and job opportunities are emerging due to telecommute jobs.

Ten years ago, the ability to have a telecommute job was only for highly technical or executive positions.  Now almost 40% of the nation’s employers have them  In fact there are companies today that have no traditional brick and mortar office and every employee telecommutes with every job being a telecommute job.  Great examples would be Upworthy and Evolving Wisdom, all of their jobs are telecommute jobs.  It would beg several questions as to why?

First there is a huge cost savings for the company in offering telecommute jobs.  Companies are able to hire all over the world, and save on the cost of facilities and operations.  Take Aetna for example.  Almost 47% of all positions ranging from medical, customer service, sales, operational, and administrative are telecommute jobs.  This has saved Aetna millions upon millions upon millions of dollars.  In turn?  In turn they have been able to hire more and more people for positions.

Telecommute jobs have proven regardless of the industry that the employees work at a higher level than those in a traditional office environment.  They offer some flexibility to employees that allow them to work more, be more productive, and the retention of employees has risen 19%, because they are working in that type of position.  Why?  Employees, love to have the ability to work from home.  Telecommute jobs save the employee mountains of money and time.  Freeing up an average of $11,000 dollars a year in commuting expense and incidental cost.  Gas, childcare, eating out, and spending on lunch hours.  Not only is the employee keeping more of their check, they are ultimately happier working in the environment they prefer the most, their home.  Telecommute jobs are not a trend. It is the new model.

Companies such as Apple, Aetna, UHaul, Humana, American Express, to name a small few of the 1000's of companies that have adopted the telecommute model.  It is the ever-increasing employment model.  These positions now service all positions: customer service jobs, sales jobs, medical jobs, financial jobs, technical jobs, management, project management, administrative, and education jobs.  They're the desired opening for both employer and employee.  No longer reserved for the few but open to the many.  When searching for your next position get the job that you want and need and desire to have, the telecommute job.

About the Author: Michele Unangst, is the Founder and CEO of Get My Mom a Job and its coordinating subsidiaries. Specializing in telecommute jobs only, the company's mission is clear: "Women do not have to choose between work, career, and their family or personal life." 

Women Entrepreneurs Featured on "Homemade Millionaire"

Every day, women in the U.S. think of useful inventions and business ideas and yet don't have the time or resources to catapult their creations to the next level. TLC has joined forces with HSN and Milojo Productions (owned by Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos) to premiere the six-part series "Homemade Millionaire" on November 19 at 10pm ET/PT. The series offers aspiring female entrepreneurs the potential opportunity of a lifetime - to have their innovative ideas sold on-air and online through interactive multichannel retailer HSN.

"We are super excited to be working with TLC and HSN on this project," explains Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. "We're sent so many innovative products from women every day, and to be able to help them get into the marketplace is a dream come true for us. These inventors have worked so hard in this show. We're beyond proud of them."

Each hour-long episode of "Homemade Millionaire" follows the competitive journey of three women vying for a chance to sell their inventions on HSN. The lucky inventors were put through a series of tasks designed to get their product ready for consumers. Helping Kelly coach these women along the way are two business experts, Wendy Robbins and Ed Evangelista, who serve as mentors for these budding business women as they evolve their product and build a unique marketing strategy to present to HSN.

Smart Women Practice Quality Not Quantity

by Joy Chudacoff

Last weekend, I spent the day alone with my 7 year old daughter Jenna and it was grand. We went shopping, had lunch together and enjoyed a great afternoon. I felt a much stronger bond with her when the day ended. This got me thinking about how it’s the quality of the time you spend and not the quantity that matters in every area of your life.

Let’s face it, women have very busy, demanding lives. We are mothers, wives, partners, daughters, siblings, friends, community activists, employees and business owners. There are times when quantity is all I have to give because my plate is overflowing with “to-do’s. I’m there physically but not present in the moment. I’m busy “doing” rather than “being” because I’m thinking about so many things at once. Can you relate?

Last weekend, I was reminded that it’s about quality time and being present for the important parts of our lives. As I reflect on my special time with Jenna, I realize that this can be carried over to every aspect of my life. I can apply this thinking to my self-care, my relationships and my business.

Here are a few quick tips on how you can bring more quality time into your self-care, relationships and business:

1. Your Self-Care – This is typically the last thing on your list—right? Sometimes, when I talk about nurturing yourself first, I get these weird looks from women as if I’m some sort of an alien. It’s not natural for women to put themselves before others. We are nurturers by nature, however it’s essential that you give yourself quality time so that you can recharge your own battery. By the way, I didn’t truly understand this concept until after the age of 40. Getting a massage, practicing solitude or taking a bubble bath are great ways to nurture yourself.

2. Your Relationships – Spending quality time is so much more important than the quantity of time we spend with our family and friends. I find that an afternoon or evening with one of my children or husband where I’m truly present is worth more than spending an entire weekend while being distracted by life’s twists and turns. Schedule some “special” time with those you love. It will create a stronger bond and you’ll walk away feeling much more connected.

3. Your Business – If you aren’t careful, you can find yourself working “in” your business rather than “on” your business. It’s easy to get caught up in all the emails, social media and busy work that is part of running a business. Every week I have a meeting with myself and get very present about the direction of my business and goals. I’m checking- in to make sure that the steps I’m taking daily, weekly and monthly are in alignment with where I want to go. It is only then that I can communicate effectively to my team about the vision of Smart Women Smart Solutions®.

I have the opportunity to work with some amazing smart women. They are women with Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals which means they are leading very full lives.

Sometimes the feeling of guilt can creep in when they are on the journey to getting what they want and deserve in life. I invite you to schedule in some quality time for own self-care, your cherished relationships and your business goals.

Having this realization that it’s about quality time not quantity time sure makes me feel a lot better about all of the roles I play in my life. It can for you too.

*****
© 2010 Joy Chudacoff

Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur. She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs. If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at http://www.CreatingTheSpark.com.

7 Mistakes New Business Owners Make

by Deborah A Bailey

For many of us, starting and running a business isn’t something that comes naturally. In school we’re instructed in how to choose careers, not start businesses.

If this is new to you, you will not learn how to do it after just one class in marketing, sales or writing a business plan. You will have to adjust your entire way of thinking.

Here are some mistakes that new business owners should watch out for (some of them will be familiar to you even if you’ve been in business for a while).

1. Spending lots of money on things you don’t need.  If you aren’t selling a lot of products you may not need a shopping cart. Don’t plan on big product launches or obsess over having thousands of social media followers if you’re just starting out. You’ll be setting yourself up for failure if you try to follow the gurus (who have built their businesses over time) and believe that you can achieve the same success in 5, 8 or 10 easy steps.


2. Not wanting to spend any money on things you do need. There are a lot of free applications and online tools, and that’s great. But at some point you must start to invest in your business either by hiring experts to help you, buying tools, or by investing in training. You may be able to do lot of things on a shoestring, but if you want to grow your business you have to invest in it.

3. Wanting to stay in your comfort zone. If you are doing something you’ve never done (which is something business owners deal with everyday) then you will feel uncomfortable at times. If you let fear stop you from having new experiences, your business will suffer.

4. Letting other people define your success. At one time or another we’ve all been drawn into the group-think about what defines success. Is it making 6 figures? 7 figures? Going on exotic vacations? Having 20K followers on Twitter? There as many definitions as there are businesses. You can go broke following someone else’s idea of what success looks like. Yes, you can model successful people, but if you’re trying to recreate their experience it won’t work. Either you’re following your own path or you are not.

5. Not knowing how to sell. The good thing is that you don’t have to act like the stereotypical used car salesman in order to do so. If you believe in what you’re selling and you enjoy sharing it with others, that’s half the battle. However, don’t get caught in the trap of believing you can put your business on auto-pilot and it runs itself. It won’t. Even “passive income” products have to be marketed and sold. You’ll have to get out there and get the job done.

6. Believing that you can achieve huge results with very little effort. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There are a lot of claims being made in order to cut through the noise and get our attention. Do yourself a favor and read the fine print. You’ll usually find something that says, “results are not typical.” Often the results that a few people achieve are represented as the average result of using a product or service. Don’t let desperation lead to you to make choices you’ll regret later on.

7. Not being clear on what you really want. What does your ideal business look like? Have you created goals for what you want to achieve? Do you have a vision for your life and your business? If not, it’s time to start creating one. If you don’t know where you’re going, how can you get there?

We can all learn from mistakes, so don’t beat yourself up for making them. Building a business is a journey, just be open to learning and growing as you go along.

Copyright © 2010 Deborah A. Bailey

Deborah A. Bailey is author of two non-fiction books including, “Think Like an Entrepreneur: Transforming Your Career and Taking Charge of Your Life.” She's also the creator and host of Women Entrepreneurs Radio, a weekly internet talk show. Her fiction work includes a short story collection and a novel, available on Amazon.com. 

For more information, visit http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com.

How to Take Charge of Your Professional and Personal Life

Join me on Monday, July 19th at 1:00 pm eastern time when I'll be a guest on Entrepreneurs Talk Radio, hosted by Donna Price.

Topic: "How to Take Charge of Your Professional and Personal Life by Making the Move into Entrepreneurship"

Time: 1:00 pm EDT

Where: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/entrepreneurs-talk (listen to the live or recorded show 24/7)

Entrepreneur's are facing new challenges each day. Donna Price, Business Success Coach, host brings tools and strategies for entrepreneurs from experts in the field. Entrepreneur's Talk Radio is designed to provide YOU, the entrepreneur, with real world solutions that will help you to grow your business.

We will have guests that share expertise in the areas of strategic planning, multiple streams of income, personal growth, sales, writing good copy and more.... Join me for the conversation!

Webinar: Think Like the Entrepreneur You're Meant to Be

Webinar: "Think Like the Entrepreneur You're Meant to Be"

Presented by Deborah A. Bailey 

Hosted by: Ladies Who Launch

Learn the 5 Essential Steps to Becoming an Entrepreneur!

If you're going into entrepreneurship and still holding on to the belief that it's the same as being employed (except without benefits and job "security") - you will find yourself in a very limiting position. When you have your own business you will have to develop traits to successfully transition from employee to CEO.

Access webinar recording here: http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/classes



Starting your own successful venture is completely possible, but it all starts by shifting your thinking.

In this jam-packed 75 minute webinar Deborah will teach you how to adopt the right mind-set and avoid the common pitfalls of new businesses.

It's not enough to have a business plan if your thinking and your actions are working against your business dreams.

In this webinar, Deborah will cover the five must-have traits for entrepreneurial success.

Access webinar recording here: http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/classes

 
Here's what you'll take away from this webinar:

1. Why your "story" about what's possible for you can stop you from having a profitable business - and how to clear out beliefs that stand in your way

2. Why the employee to entrepreneur transition has challenges that won't be found in a business plan - and how to head them off by trusting your inner voice

3. Why failure is an option - and how to use it to build a stronger business

4. Why old fears can stop you from making decisions - and how to make fear your ally

5. Why entrepreneurship is more about "being" and less about "doing" - and how you can become the entrepreneur you want to be.


Access webinar recording here: http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/classes

The Secret to Creating and Living Your Ideal Life

Join me on Tuesday, May 18th at 2:00 pm EDT when I'll be a guest on Grace & Charm radio show with Walethia Aquil. We'll be discussing, "The Secret to Creating & Living Your Ideal Life."

Unsure of what the "right" next steps are? Tired of taking "one step forward, two steps back?" Coach Deb provides mentoring and guidance to help you break through limiting beliefs that are keeping you from having the life you desire and deserve. Whether you want to transition into a better career with more money or a new business you will get the tools you need to achieve success right now. Stop waiting for someday and settling for less!

 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/graceandcharm

Maria Shriver: First Lady, Advocate, Mom & Entrepreneur

by Deborah A Bailey

Award-winning journalist, First Lady of California, mother of four and entrepreneur, Maria Shriver continues to make her mark on the world while contributing her time and energy to social programs. Continuing in the footsteps of her mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver who started the Special Olympics over 40 years ago, Maria is one of the founders of Lovin' Scoopful ice cream company which donates 25% of its profits to the Special Olympics and other causes.

A busy mom, Maria is firm about sitting down to dinner with her children five nights a week, and Sunday nights the family eats dinner together. Maria's advice for women who are trying to find that elusive balance between family, business and life in general?

"I think it's just to be more patient with yourself. Very often your kids are proud of you. There's no reason to beat yourself up about it," Maria says. Everybody's trying to do the best they can. Everyone's trying to make it look effortless. But I don't think anyone in their honest moments will say it's easy."

These days entrepreneurship is quickly becoming a norm for women who want to take control of their working lives. They also want more control over their income while having more time to oversee family obligations and making a difference in their communities. Maria's reason for founding an ice cream company is really no different.

"My brother talked to me about starting a company that would support Special Olympics. To reach beyond the community and be involved with fun and play and bringing families together," Maria says. "It's been a great experience, a fun experience. I buy things that will do good. I always go for the product that has a social conscience to it. It not only tastes good but does good as well."

As Creative Director of Lovin' Scoopful, Maria is heavily involved in product development including designing the packaging and concept in addition to creating flavors such as, "Out Of This World Chocolate," "Cozy Vanilla," "So Good Cookies & Cream," "Caramel Chocolate Heaven," "Yummy Cake & Cookie Dough" and "What The Fudge."

"I've loved having a hand in all aspects of the company, from creating the sumptuous flavors and coming up with the product names and logo, to ensuring that the quality of our ice cream is the best our customers have ever experienced," she says.

True to her values and concern for creating a healthy product, Maria is quick to emphasize that Lovin' Scoopful has 1/2 the fat and less calories than other premium ice creams and comes from the milk and cream of cows not treated with the cow growth hormone, rBST.

According to Maria, "This is the little ice cream company that could. It has a purpose about doing good in the world. If people start asking for it and supporting it, that's really our hope."

In addition to her role as First Lady and her duties with Lovin' Spoonful, Maria is producer of The Women's Conference which under her guidance has grown into the preeminent women's conference in the world. She's established programs across the United States to help women so that they can become economically empowered in order to make a difference within their families and communities.

For Maria, being an advocate of powerful social change is not just something she does because she's in the media spotlight. She's committed to being a voice for the working poor, disabled and disenfranchised by giving them tools to be empowered.

She advises other women who want to make a difference to: "Just do it. Look at programs we're supporting (through The Women's Conference) and just join in. There is much that is exciting, but much to be concerned about. As everyone focuses around the world, there are a lot of women in this country that need help."

She encourages other women who are considering entrepreneurship to learn so that they can be better equipped for the business world.

"The more we get comfortable about money the better," Maria says.

Leading by example is how Maria Shriver fills her varied roles as First Lady, entrepreneur, advocate of social awareness and change, wife and mother. What inspires her to keep going and helping to create powerful changes in the world?

"My children. My mother's voice. Helping people to be inspired," she says. "It's how you conduct your life."

http://www.lovinscoopful.com/

Become a fan of Lovin' Scoopful: http://www.facebook.com/lovinscoopful

and check out Lovin' Scoopful's NEW What' Flavor of Ice Cream Are You? app: http://apps.facebook.com/lovinscoopful-flavor/quiz

Deborah A. Bailey is author of two non-fiction books including, “Think Like an Entrepreneur: Transforming Your Career and Taking Charge of Your Life.” She's also the creator and host of Women Entrepreneurs Radio, a weekly internet talk show. Her fiction work includes a short story collection and a novel, available on Amazon.com. 

For more information, visit http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com.

Women Entrepreneurs Rock the World

May 5 and 6th 2010 in New York City, NY

Savor the Success’ Women Entrepreneurs Rock the World day is designed around 8 steps to skyrocket your business.

Imagine meeting the right person who can help change the course of your business forever, making more money because of an idea someone gave to you, becoming the star expert in your field, tripling your personal and professional productivity, building a team of people who support you, and – most importantly – meeting key people to create even more profitable relationships.

Readers of the Secrets of Success blog are entitled to a 20% discount on the admission fee for the event. Use code F4254 when you register.

http://www.rocktheworldnyc.com/

Today on Women Entrepreneurs -The Secrets of Success

Guest Host Elena Camp interviews Monica Thakrar, President and CEO of Joyful Soul Coaching, a coaching firm that specializes in holistic coaching focused on body, mind, and spirit alignment. Monica's mission is to help people live joyfully and authentically by finding their true passions and taking the risks to go after them. She believes that when people's actions are in alignment with their true heart's desires they can achieve their greatest dreams.

Monica's own journey began when she began to soul search to figure out what she wanted to be when she grew up so that she could live more joyfully. Externally she looked successful, but inside she knew she was not living her best life. She always wanted to help people and she found Newfield Network (or it felt like it found her!). She realized that the holistic approach to living was the most effective way of living a balanced, connected, and joyful life.

Before becoming a coach, Monica worked in the Financial Management
Program at General Electric. She also worked as a Manager in BearingPoint's Organizational Change Management group for over 7
years. As a consultant Monica worked with Executives and mid-managers in large public sector, commercial, and international organizations to prepare them and their organizations to adopt large scale technology or process changes.

Monica is also a graduate of the ICF certified Newfield Network
coaching program as well as is a certified Soul Coach through the
Denise Linn Soul Coaching Program. Monica has worked with numerous
coaching clients in order to live their most joyful lives possible.
www.JoyfulSoulCoaching.com

5 Ways to Increase Your Revenue Now

by Ali Brown

While the rest of your friends and colleagues may be hemming and hawing about how bad the economy is, smart entrepreneurs are quietly calculating not only how to thrive in these times but dramatically increase their incomes as well!

And it's not complicated either. For example, when I coach with clients, one of the first things we do is sit down and look at their current income streams -- what they are, what kind of money they bring in, and with how much effort.

From there, we look at several ways to increase their revenues from these streams alone. For the purpose of this article I'll share five with you.

1. Raising your prices/rates.

Most entrepreneurs - and especially solo-preneurs - grossly underestimate what we marketers call "price elasticity". That is, how much they can raise their prices and/or rates without losing business.

Warning: This is completely contrary to what you think you should be doing right now -- lowering your fees!

One of my Platinum Mastermind members, a Canadian coach who works in a particular niche, resisted raising her rates for months. Finally, she agreed to raise them and even DOUBLE them. She found that not only did she not lose business, but she gained better clients as well. Now she's making the same money in half the time, leaving her many more free hours to develop information products for passive income.

For a year or two I was selling my "Boost Business With Your Own Ezine" system online for $197. It sold pretty well back then, but I realized the information contained was worth much more. Ever since I raised the price to $497, it now converts even more sales! The key here is to track and test for yourself.

2. Up your transaction size.

Ladies, don't you find it amusing when you're at a fast food joint, doing your best to get a healthy salad, and the teenager at the counter brainlessly asks if you'd like fries with that? This is called "up-selling", and it's an easy way of increasing your transaction size.

I just returned from a trip where my hotel automatically billed me a "resort fee" of $20 a day. Not a huge addition to my room rate, but look at how that adds up for the hotel: If they have 500 rooms, they make an additional $10,000 a day, and that's an additional $3.65 million each year!

You can do this in your business too! Use your shopping cart system's up-sell feature to offer additional products or services that complement what the customer is buying. Ideas: a special report, resource guide, workbook, audio program, or laser coaching session. Or offer a special "bundle" price if they purchase more than one product or service at a time. And lest you think these tactics are only for widget-sellers, I've seen this work for everyone from cosmetic surgeons to accountants.

3. Increase your net.

I'll admit it took me several years after I first started my business to understand the important difference between gross profits and net profits. Today I track every product and program in my business separately for both income and expenses - including administrative time. While all this tracking takes time and effort, a quick report instantly tells me which offerings are truly bringing in the big bucks... for keeps.

A few ways of increasing your net are:

* upping your selling price
* lowering your expenses for marketing, sales, and product/program delivery
* culling products/programs that don't bring in the profits you want
* spending more time marketing and selling the products/programs that DO bring
in the profits you want!

4. Up your customer value.

Generally, when you look at your entire customer or client base, there will be a percentage who are your BEST customers and clients. They adore you, buy whatever you come out with, and are happy to pay your fees. This goes along with "the 80/20 rule" -- a good 20 percent of your current customers or clients likely brings you about 80 percent of your revenues!

Once you identify this portion of your list, why not create special offerings just for them? Either at a higher price point or delivering a more exclusive level of service. And, very important: Analyze who these folks are, and fine-tune your marketing to attract more of them!

5. Fine-tune your frequency.

You've been seeing many membership/continuity programs around these days, and it's not just because they are a wonderful way to deliver information or products. It's because smart business owners realize they can gain multiple sales from ONE purchase transaction instead of going back and trying to get folks to buy from them again and again.

Here's how it works: Jane or Joe buys into your monthly membership or widget-of-the-month club, and that one purchase gains YOU recurring income. You saw the start of this trend years ago with book-of-the-month clubs and today it's the most popular way to sell beauty products via infomercials as well. Proactiv, Youthful Essence, and many of those beauty products sold on TV enroll you into an autoship program. (I should know, because I've tried many of them!)

So think about how you can develop one continuity or membership program to continually funnel new members into - versus having to sell your prospects over and over.

First, Just Be Aware.

If you are just working day by day with your nose to your desk, or with clients nonstop, you won't have time to even be aware of your current financial situation, let alone opportunities to improve it.

Step one is taking a half day or so to review your current income streams as I described above, and look for ways to apply these five revenue boosters!

[EDITOR'S NOTE: These strategies are just a portion of what Ali will be helping her new Millionaire Protege Club members apply in their businesses. Watch your inbox for a special invitation come end of year - don't miss out on learning more!]

© 2008 Alexandria Brown International Inc.



Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown publishes the award-winning 'Highlights on Marketing & Success' weekly ezine with 36,000+ subscribers. If you're ready to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now at www.AlexandriaBrown.com

Recipe for Success

by Deborah A. Bailey

My mom usually makes pies for the holidays. This year I wrote a couple of recipes down just in case I decided to try them for myself. The reason I haven’t done it so far is because I know my pie won’t taste the same as hers. We may follow the same recipe, but the result won’t be the same. Each person puts something a little different into the thing they’re creating.

It might be a bit of a stretch to compare pies to careers, but in this case I think it’s similar. Everyone brings a part of themselves into everything they do. It doesn’t matter if there are already other people doing that work – you will bring something to it that no one else can.

During this time of year there’s always a lot of introspection about where we’ve been and where we’re heading. It’s easy to get discouraged if we think we can’t compete with people who are already doing what we want to do – or we think we are entering a seemingly overcrowded field. When I was afraid to move forward, I was always finding reasons why I should stay put. Thankfully I didn’t let any of them stop me.

So I guess it’s okay if my pie doesn’t taste like my mom’s. Her pie doesn’t taste like my grandmother’s. Each of us can add something to the mix that is uniquely our own.

Deborah A. Bailey is author of two non-fiction books including, “Think Like an Entrepreneur: Transforming Your Career and Taking Charge of Your Life.” She's also the creator and host of Women Entrepreneurs Radio, a weekly internet talk show. Her fiction work includes a short story collection and a novel, available on Amazon.com. 

For more information, visit http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com.

Today on Women Entrepreneurs -The Secrets of Success

Guest Host Elena Camp will be interviewing Jerri Graham of BlueBelle Muffins today at 12:00 noon EST.
www.BlogTalkRadio.com/CoachDeb

Today on Women Entrepreneurs -The Secrets of Success

Sharon Levy is the CEO and Founder of Taking Tea In Style, LLC, which was established in 2005. Ms. Levy worked as a Project Manager, IT Specialist and Executive Assistant at several fortune 500 companies including AT&T, American Express, Merrill Lynch and IBM. In June 2007, Ms Levy pursued her dream to launch her own business and create elegant Tea Parties for organizations and individuals, and to teach Tea Etiquette and Table Manners Workshops. Her company offers private lessons as well as monthly workshops which are interactive and fun.

Ms. Levy enjoys entertaining her friends and family and has had numerous tea parties in her home. She loves the tea experience and wanted to create this exquisite and relaxing feeling for others. Her friends and family encouraged her to pursue her dream, so she moved forward to create her company.

Taking Tea In Style was also created to alleviate the stress and hassle associated with planning an event. They bring the tea shop to your location and customize it for your special event. A complete setup, serving and cleanup services are available so that clients and their guests can relax and enjoy each other. Their goal is to ensure that everyone who attends a Taking Tea In Style event will have an unforgettable tea experience. www.takingtea-instyle.com

The Day I Learned to Start Saying 'No'

by Alexandria Brown

It was the fall of 1998 when I had just started my first business as a marketing communications writer. Most of my clients hired me for newsletters, brochures, and sales materials, but I would get the occasional request for something different. At the time I was too naive to consider saying "no" to any project that didn't fit me perfectly. (Especially when I was living paycheck to paycheck.)

A perfect example of this was when a colleague named Chip asked if I could write a short script for a customer service training video. "Wow," I said. "Video! That sounds like fun. Sure thing. I'll take it on!"

Big mistake.

Sure, at first it seemed exciting. But after I got into it, I was miserable. Not only did I spend three times as many hours as I'd planned JUST on figuring out what they wanted, but I honestly didn't know what I was doing. I'd never written a video script in my life! I thought it would be simple, but it was a whole other world.

This thing not only sucked up all my time, taking me away from my best clients, but it also drained my energy and my confidence. Even worse, I couldn't take on a wonderfully perfect NEW project that I was offered in the meantime.

I felt sick every time I looked at that project folder. I lost sleep worrying that I wasn't doing a good job on it, and worst of all, my fears were confirmed...

One day Chip left a message on my answering machine that MORE major revisions were needed. Then, it sounded like he hung up the phone, because there was a soft click. But then I heard him start to talk about me with his partner (obviously unaware that his speaker-phone was still on).

At first I stopped the message from playing, because I knew I was not supposed to be privy to this conversation. But I wanted to know the truth, so I listened. My heart sank as I heard things like, "This writer doesn't know what she's doing on this... we should have hired a real video writer... I feel bad she's trying so hard, but this just isn't getting better."

I got so ANGRY!

Not at Chip, but at myself.

Here I was... an award-winning writer for marketing communications. Marketing communications! That means marketing materials. NOT training videos!

So why had I taken on that project?

A good friend of mine calls this "bright, shiny object syndrome", and it happens to many entrepreneurs. You see, we love ideas! We enjoy moving from idea to idea, and it's easy to get distracted by something that seems new and exciting.

Especially when you start experiencing success, it's as if every opportunity in the world starts falling in your lap. You have to become a master of saying "no". That was very hard for me.

But by sticking with what you KNOW you are good at, you are always confident and calm in your work. You know how to market yourself, and you know who you're marketing to! (Plus you can charge high rates with confidence.)

I've become so clear now at what I'm amazing at, what I offer, who I'm marketing to, and how I want my life to look like, that any business or life decision is crystal clear. I know exactly what to say "no" to.

(And they say for every "no" you give, a better "yes" comes along!)

So today, make a list of what you are good at, what you're confident in doing, what you want to do, and who you do it for. And then practice saying, "No!" to anything else.

You'll find that your marketing and your business will magically become easier, more enjoyable, and more successful!

© 2003-2008 Alexandria Brown International Inc.



Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown publishes the award-winning "Highlights on Marketing Success" weekly ezine with 36,000+ subscribers. If you're ready to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now at AlexandriaBrown.com

Entrepreneur Stories: How I Got Started as an Entrepreneur

by Vanessa Torres

I never thought I'd be an entrepreneur. It wasn't something I dreamed of or studied for. It just kind of happened.

About a year ago my fiancé decided that marrying me was not the best choice for him and so he left me five days before our wedding. In a span of six months my whole life changed. I was single again for the first time in eight years. I had to find a new place to live. I had to leave my two dogs behind with the Ex, who kept the house. I had a surgical procedure looming that I was supposed to assume would take me out of commission for at least eight weeks. A routine doctor visit turned up another, completely unrelated, fairly serious diagnosis.

And then suddenly, my job was "eliminated."

I was so devastated by all that I was already dealing with, that I could barely feel the panic of losing my job. It was actually kind of a relief to not have to "fake it" through the day anymore. My job had gotten increasingly unsatisfying, and with the joint battle of having to diffuse the overwhelming pity everyone felt for me, I was exhausted. There is some adage I can't remember exactly about not being able to panic about multiple things at the same time. I can now attest to its veracity. There is only so much the brain and body can take, and the job loss was last on the list. After all, that was just about money; I found the personal affronts far more devastating.

After a few weeks of taking some downtime and filing for unemployment I started thinking about what my next steps would be. There was a little voice in my head telling me to use my experience as a springboard. Instead of trying to pretend like none of this had ever happened, I thought about exposing it further – the opposite of what the old me would have done. The idea for www.ThatHappenedtoMe.com came fast and stuck. At one point I decided not to ignore it anymore, but to grow something positive out of the seed that had been planted. I asked a friend and former colleague to help me build a website. I asked my friends to give me their honest opinions and strangers to share their stories with me. I started reading blogs written by other women. I started going to therapy to see if there was anything about myself that I had been "missing" all these years. But, most importantly, I joined two national women's networking groups.

The amount of support I've received from those women is the sole reason for my successes to date. Without their help (this site's Deborah Bailey included) I would never be this far along in achieving my goals. Asking for support has been my greatest marketing tool. Instead of assuming that everybody was too busy with their own lives/businesses/families to answer my silly, 101 questions, I just threw it out there and hoped for the best. The responses I got were incredible; these women answered my questions, sent me helpful links, and even offered to give me classes on web marketing and SEO applications. I've never received that kind of support and encouragement from people who were virtual strangers, but then again, I had never asked for it either. I had never put myself out there before in such an honest and straightforward way. And when I did, the help, support and encouragement was plentiful.

I stopped seeing my shrink in September. I ripped the band aid off and launched my site at the end of October. In November I voted for the most exciting presidential candidate my generation has ever known. This month, I am determined to enjoy the holidays. My surgery is scheduled for February. The second, scary diagnosis turned out to be false. The doctors - all three of them - HAD MADE A MISTAKE. Just like my ex-fiance did.



A graduate of the University of Southern California, Vanessa Torres began her career as a journalist in Los Angeles. In 2007 Vanessa experienced her "aha!" moment while going through the aftermath of a broken engagement. Having not actually been married, she realized that there weren't any hard and fast rules or legal precedents established regarding a breakup with a Significant Other. Not being able to find a place where women could get support from peers – and professionals – she decided to create one. www.ThatHappenedtoMe.com launched in October of 2008 with the support of a team of experts prepared to give women what they want and need – comforting! One of the main goals of the site is to encourage women to open up about this painful experience and share their stories in an effort to lessen the feelings of shame, rejection, isolation and depression that are so prevalent during a breakup. It's also a place to share tips, coping strategies, and even a joke or two.

Today on Women Entrepreneurs -The Secrets of Success

Payson Cooper was destined to make jewelry. As soon as she could hold a pencil, she began drawing tiny, beautiful pictures - always small, always neat.

As happens to many of us, Payson was side tracked from her art through school, but found inspiration and "education" through her years at the United Nations International School, the University of Wisconsin, and at the Sorbonne in Paris. Throughout these years, Payson was known for her unique artistic talent and for attracting the bling. Not only was jewelry the only thing she spent money on, but she constantly found gold, silver, and even diamonds on the street, in the sand, in buildings - everywhere.

Payson's gift sprung to life the moment she began a silversmith class at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City while desperately seeking her passion (doing everything from massage therapy and tending bar to working as a computer consultant for the City of New York). Jewelry exploded into her awareness as a form for her own creativity and she continued her studies in private schools, such as Fred de Vos' Wax Carving Studio, Cecilia Bauer Studios, GRS for engraving and stone setting, and with individual teachers including Tom Herman (Seven Fingers Jewelry) and Sam Alfano. Mastering 3D modeling software is the latest addition to the many skills she has acquired over ten years of study.

When designing, Payson follows her intuitive pull toward the curves, spirals, and lines of the natural world. And through meditation she allows inspiration to flow, creating in concert with the universe.

Payson offers her clients the opportunity to choose from her inspiring works or to bring their own thoughts and ideas for custom pieces. "The melding of two minds to create a beautiful work of art is like nothing else," she has said. "It is euphoric and exciting - an opportunity to create something greater than the sum of its parts."

View Payson Cooper's collections online at www.paysonjewelry.com or contact her to create a unique and amazing expression of heart and soul. Payson Cooper is more than a jewelry designer - she is masterful and intuitive…and has built a reputation for distinctive jewelry that can inspire and transform lives. www.paysonjewelry.com

Friendships, Fun and Networking

Friendships, Fun and Networking with The Twisted Sisterhood
Date: December 18, 2008
Time: 6:00 -7:00 p.m. EST

As business women we tend to focus on growing our businesses and often neglect the one thing that makes us unique - the connections and bonds we have with our girlfriends.

The vision of The Twisted Sisterhood is to inspire women to reclaim those connections. It's vital to allow space for new friendships and maintaining those we have developed over the years (but may be neglecting.)

Women network while having fun, and we have fun while we are networking! The Twisted Sisterhood encourages both, and in this salon we'll talk about the perfect marriage of both ideas.

On December 18 at 6 pm EST two of the six original Twisted Sisters will be interviewed. The topic will be friendship and fun and why it's vital for you (and your business) to nurture both.

Click on the link below to go to the registration page and to find out more details about the show.

Register here: http://www.successforwomen.ca/success_salon.htm
Cross posted from Success for Women
www.successforwomen.ca

You and Your Virtual Assistant

by Alba Henderson

Building a website and then promoting the site can be a challenging task, especially for those with limited experience and/or time. Having a relationship with your virtual assistant can be a promising achievement for your business.

It is very disheartening to spend hours and days trying to focus on tasks that you can pass on to someone else that cares about your business just as much as you do.
Some of those tasks can be:

• Typing a business letters


• Data Entry


• Emailing


• Scanning


• Last minute phone calls or travel arrangements


• Handwritten Envelopes


• Faxing


• Mailing

A virtual assistant can complete your team of reliable sources. Get all the help you need. Virtual Assistants are an outsourcing strategy that can give you the best of solutions, time and definitely save you money.

The relationship between you and your virtual assistant can be rewarding in your personal life as well. You will be able to spend more time with your family, you will not have to impose a task on a family member whose strengths does not include your task, eliminating stress on your marriage, friendships and family.

No task is too big or small for your virtual assistant.


Alba Henderson, founder of Your Virtual Solutions, began her career as an executive secretary. Her desire to help people succeed by offering her skills in the industry. Making a business owners life easier is her goal. To help people get a handle on their business tasks. Her clients have included work-at-home parents, "solopreneurs", teachers, students, business owners, coaches, executives, churches, and other business professionals.
www.yourvirtualsolutions.webs.com/