Creating With Impact

5 Great Success Tips for Solo Entrepreneurs

Starting your own business means it’s time to step out of your comfort zone. You need to set aside that inner critic and give yourself permission to think big – really big, bigger than you’ve ever dared to think or dream before. You need to be your most idealistic, inspired, creative, powerful you!

But what if you can’t set aside that inner critic?  Many women starting out feel vulnerable and exposed. Their darkest fears rise to the surface and create barriers to success.

Stacey Shipman, is a writer, speaker, and Boston’s Downtown Women’s Club director.  She wrote about her own experience on The Women’s Dish Blog giving us five great success tips for solo entrepreneurs.  I love them all and wanted to share them with you.

1. Work on myself first – Awareness has to be the first step. I needed to find out where my fears were coming from so that I could recognize them when they surfaced. Talking, journaling and taking action were helpful activities. I realized my business started with me.

2. Get Rid of the F Word – Successful business leaders do not let the fear of failure get in their way of taking action. How could I build a successful business if my fear was keeping me from taking action? Learning to remove this barrier was very freeing.

3. Build Resilience - Mistakes happen and bouncing back was critical to achieving my goals. Resilience is about seeing mistakes as learning opportunities rather than an excuse to give up.

4. Have patience – A successful businesswoman once told me, “I feel like a 20 year overnight success.” Building a business takes time, which requires patience. Celebrating baby steps and taking a look at where I started was a big help. I found I achieved more than I thought.

5. Get Support – Networking provided me with new friends, collaboration partners, and a group of trusted colleagues I can call on for help. You don’t have to travel the road alone and DWC is a perfect place to find the support you need!

Do I Need a Business Plan Now?

                                                         This is a guest post by Sheryl Daida, MBA.

This is the second of a series of blog posts I’ll be doing in coming weeks regarding business nuts & bolts, humor, and happiness.

The most compelling reason to write your plan ideas is that ink or print gives them life—it’s not really that tough! When we’re serious about something, we capture it on paper. Why? So that it doesn’t get away--with the vicissitudes of modern mental life, let’s not lose our good ideas. By writing, we can show them to others.

I’m amazed when I go back over the notes I’ve made about starting my coaching business. I keep everything in notebooks—no loose scraps of paper. The notebook (spiral or otherwise) is a step forward for me. Several months down the road, I see I’ve forgotten to explore many of these. Each entry is dated, and I can take time to reassess how sound it was. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since I entered it.

With some distance, I have a chance to decide whether those original thoughts still please me. Is the joy still there? Have I already pursued that concept, or do I now have an evolved one? Can and should my ideas be implemented—who will gain value from them? Will it be enjoyable? What is their value in dollars? How sustainable is the idea?

At this point, you’re already beginning the structure your plan will take. Feel free to title these pages or entries anything you want—just keep them! As you’re speaking with others, make new entries or edit the originals. It’s like journaling, but for profit eventually. The marketing mix is the largest piece of most business plans so be sure to clarify your thoughts on product, price, and how you’re going to promote it. These notes are the beginning of your business plan. Pulling this into one format will concentrate your energy. You’re writing your plan already.

To learn more about Sheryl, visit DaidaGroup.com. Sheryl can be reached at sheryl@daidagroup.com

New Study Shows Female Entrepreneurs Fall Into One of Five Categories

A two year study, commissioned by Jane Out of the Box, www.JaneOutoftheBox.com, a research-based online resource community for female entrepreneurs, shows that all women business owners, though highly dynamic individuals, can be categorized as one of five types. The distinction between the categories, says the study, is based on women's choices in balancing personal and professional needs.

Study results show women business owners fit into one of five categories. Knowing could change your life and your business.

Which Jane are you?

The first type listed in the study, referred to as Jane Dough, enjoys running her business and is comfortable and determined in marketing and selling. She may be working longer hours, but she doesn't mind because she enjoys the enterprise so much.

Go Jane Go, is the second Jane type. She is a successful female entrepreneur who has grown her business to the point that she may now struggle to get time away from her work for vacations or to take care of herself.

The third type of female entrepreneur, Tenacity Jane, may be struggling with cash flow concerns, but her passion is undeniable. She's likely to be feeling stressed and may also feel overwhelmed and worried, specifically when it comes to business finances and cash flow.

Merry Jane is the fourth "Jane" type. She has created a business that meets her needs for time freedom. She has time to take care of herself and can take time off when she wants to. She is typically working 40 or fewer hours per week and does not feel extreme stress.

The final "Jane" identified in the study, Accidental Jane, is a successful, confident business owner who makes a good income. She most likely did not intend to start a business, but had an area of expertise that lent itself to a business idea.

If you want to learn which group you fall into, then take the 10-15 minute self-assessment.  By taking the self-assessment now, you will:

 

• Learn more about yourself and how you compare to other women entrepreneurs
• Get ideas for where you should focus in order to improve your business and entrepreneurial lifestyle
• Help other women entrepreneurs by furthering our research
• Have a chance to be featured in our upcoming book (we won’t disclose any of your info without speaking with you, first)

Take the assessment and discover which Jane you are today!

Grow a Million Dollar Business Virtual Summit

Announcing the Grow a Million Dollar Business Virtual Summit
September 18-20, 2008

The WECAI NETWORK is excited to present this three + day webinar/teleconference Event to "Help you transform your business from a small business endeavor to a multi-million dollar enterprise."

Here is your chance to attend the Virtual event that is both educational and inspirational. Bringing together experts in marketing, media, wealth building and more ~ women and men who have built their own EMPIRES, the Grow a Million Dollar Business Summit offers business owners and rofessionals the opportunity to meet the people who've been there, done it and are going to show you how to do it too!

Do you want to achieve financial freedom and peace of mind? Do you want to build your own EMPIRE locally or globally?  Did you know there are common elements that most millionaire business owners share?

The reason for the phenomenal success of many firms hinges on common elements that reveal the secrets of business growth.  These businesses "made it" because they had 3 things in common.  The right product offerings, impressive marketing savvy and solid management skills.

When you join us for the Grow a Million Dollar Business Summit you have the chance to meet and learn from some of the leading experts on wealth creation and management to get YOUR BUSINESS on the path to building a million-dollar enterprise.

Here is the lineup of Star-studded Speakers who want to help you reach (and even exceed) your financial goals:

Tom Antion, President of Great Internet Marketing ~ From Small Town Kid to Internet Multi-Millionaire

Loral Langemeier, The Millionaire Maker ~ Building Leading & Protecting Your Business

Andrea Nierenberg, President The Nierenberg Group ~ Million Dollar Networking: The Sure Way to Find, Grow and Keep Your Business

Kim Lavine, Inventor and Author of Mommy Millionaire ~ How to Build an Empire from Your Kitchen Table

Margaret May Damen, Founder of Institute for Women and Wealth ~ Be the ECO of your Philanthropic Plan: Give Meaning to your Money

Nicola Cairncross, President - The Money Gym ~ How to GROW a Million Dollar Business with a Wealth Mentor

Annie Jennings of Annie Jennings PR ~ The Mindset, Making & Marketing Of The Million Dollar Expert

Heather Juma of Wealth, Success and Women ~ How to Become a Millionaire Diva: Helping Women Create Riches in all Aspects of Their Lives

Elizabeth Gordon, Author of The Chic Entrepreneur ~ How to Grow a Million Dollar Business, The Chic Entrepreneur Way

Joyce Bone, Founder of Millionaire Moms ~ How Millionaire Moms Achieved Financial Independence ~ and You Can Too!

Melanie Benson Strick, Entrepreneur Success Coach ~ How to Build a 6- and 7 Figure Business Using the Power of Virtual Teams

Chris Ramey President, Affluent Insights ~ How to Market to the Affluent

Diane Keohohou, CEO - Direct Selling Women's Alliance ~ How to Grow a Million Dollar Direct Sales Organization

Marilyn Jenett of Feel Free to Prosper ~  How I Attract Million Dollar Clients Using Prosperity Principles - and You Can Too!

Sheri McConnell, CEO of Sheri McConnell Companies, Inc. ~ Why Creating a Membership Based-Business Is So Smart - The Millionaire's Business Model

Read about the Speakers, learn more about the Program Topics and register to Attend the Grow a Million Dollar Business Summit Sept. 18-20, 2008 .

If you want to feel Empowered, Inspired and Enlightened, join us September 18-20, 2008!

Your investment for this 3+ day event is only $77 when you register before September 7th! 

Not to worry, if you miss even one session, an entire day or ANY of the program, all sessions will be recorded and everyone who registers will receive full-access to the recordings when the event is over. 

AND you will also receive a 50+ page workbook filled with each guests interview questions, handouts and resources. 

And that's not all! After the event, we will put together a comprehensive list of ALL resources mentioned during the sessions and send to you along with the links to the recordings.

We have a 100% money-back guarantee!  So you have absolutely no RISK when you sign up.  The first 60 people to register will receive a copy of Live Rich & Stay Wealthy for Women ~ by Kenneth Himmler, Sr AND A Copy of Smart Women Create Membership-Based Business. These are NOT ebooks, they are paperback books that will be sent to you upon registration confirmation. 

Turn the tides on the slump in our economy by investing in your business! Register to Attend the Grow a Million Dollar Business Summit Sept. 18-20, 2008 today! Our Mission is to "Empower You to Achieve and Exceed Your Financial Goals"

Using the Internet to Make Your Business Click!

The My Digital Coach September 2008 ezine is now available!   You can easily subscribe using the link at the end of this post.

In this issue:

• 5 Superb Ways to Advertise for Free
• Robin Recommends HARO (Help a Reporter Out)
• The Big Idea Startup Community
• Ebooks, Audio & Video
• September Classes & Workshops
  

Sign up for my Email Newsletter

For Email Marketing you can trust

Are You a Risk-Taker? Take the Test!

Mel Robbins is the host of the hit syndicated radio show Make It Happen With Mel Robbins and one of the top life coaches in the country. She is also a frequent guest on The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. On a recent show, the Art of Risk-Taking, Mel talked about the art of taking risks. "Successful people take risks... it's that simple - no risk, no gain - and one of the biggest questions people have is how and when to take those risks."

 

Are you a risk-taker? Take the test. Developed By Mel Robbins

Do you have what it takes to make it?  Let’s find out:

Write down the letter of the answer you select on a piece of paper for scoring!

1. You are driving to meet some friends.  You’re running late.  The traffic light ahead turns yellow.  You:

a. Always stop at yellow no matter what.

b. Break and stop at the light.  You’re late anyway, right?

c. You blow through that sucker!

2. Your friend gives you a tip.  She heard this stock is gonna go through the roof in the next week.  You:

a. Hear this stuff all the time, know it’s not true and ignore her.

b. Nod, squint your eyes, log onto E*Trade and invest a grand.

c. Take 5k of that money you had for a rainy day and invest.

3. You are a really cool cocktail party.  Your spouse is home.  You see this seriously smoking hottie across the room.  You:

a. Look at your wedding ring, order yourself another drink and continue on with your conversation.

b. Envision a plan where if the stars aligned and you were both at the bar at the same time you would definitely have something to talk about. [+2]

c. Immediately excuse yourself and head across the room.

4. You’re with a friend in Thailand.  You walk into this interesting tent.  In the center is a cobra in a cage.  People are queued up to pay ten dollars for a chance to grab the five one-hundred dollar bills on top of the snake's cage.  You:

a. Leave.

b. Stick around to see the free show.

c. Exclaim, “Heck, I’ve got ten bucks!” And get in line.

5. You’re sitting next to this old man on the airplane.  It’s obvious he hasn’t showered and he sleeps through the beverage service.  When he wakes up he starts talking to you, his ramblings culminate with him explaining how he can help your business.  You:

a. Thank him politely and inside your head you can’t wait for the plane to land.

b. Give him your business card and ask for his, knowing full well this guy is full of crap.

c. You try to find a polite way to tell him his body odor offends.

6.  It’s the dreaded annual company Christmas party.  The COO is a little inebriated and asks if anyone else would like to get up to attest to the company’s good fortune.  You:

a. Put your head down in shame.

b. Chuckle with most of the crowd.

c. Realize this is your time to shine and head up to the front.

7.  You’ve spent time researching the perfect part of town to buy a rental property.  You think you have all your bases covered, but investing in this property will definitely put you and your family out there.  You:

a. Decide it’s better to wait until you have more of a cushion.

b. Buy the property and hope for the best.

c. Are so convinced the deal is so good, you buy two.  The other with money from a 2nd mortgage on your home. 

8. Today is your birthday and you are on vacation in the Bahamas to celebrate.  Everyone has been drinking and the gang decides it’s the perfect time to rent mopeds from the front desk and go bungee jumping.  You:

a. Tell your friends you’ll greet them when they get back.

b. Go to the front desk and hire a car and recommendations on the best places to drink in town.

c. Are the first one tethered to the cord.

Scoring:
For every answer A, award yourself 1 point
For every answer B, award yourself 2 points
For every answer C, award yourself 3 points

So, what kind of risk taker are you?  Well, if you scored from:

8 – 10  Death warmed over.  Check your pulse.  Are you even alive?  What are you doing with your life?  I can’t believe you even risked taking this quiz.

11 – 13 Nervous Nelly.  Come on, Nelly it’s time for you step it up.  You want to be more adventurous, and I can see you are trying.  Try a little harder.

14 – 16  Risk Master General.  Nice.  You know how to balance risk with reward.  This is exactly where you want to be.  You know how to have a good time and you will be very successful.

17 – 19 You’re the Pusher.  You like to push the envelope.  That’s great, I just warn you to be careful.  Scale it back from time to time.  Risk is not its own reward.

20+ Email me now at radio@melrobbins.com .  You have serious issues and you should seek professional help.  If you haven’t crashed and burned yet, you will soon. 

I scored a 15. I love this test!  Let me know how you did.

Entrepreneurship is All About Risk-Taking

In my constant quest for new and exciting ways to learn about entrepreneurship, I came across a great resource I just had to share. Entrepreneurship Corner (ECorner) is a Stanford University collection of online resources for teaching and learning entrepreneurship. The mission of the project is to enhance the teaching of high-growth entrepreneurship and technology innovation.

ECorner is a collection of recordings from hundreds of Silicon Valley's most practiced entrepreneurs and thought leaders. The collection offers over 1,200 videos and podcasts, freely available to the public.

Check out this video:

The Dynamics of Change and Fear 
Carly Fiorina, Former CEO, HP - 3 min. 23 sec.
Fiorina talks about the dynamics of change and fear.  She notes that entrepreneurship is about risk-taking, and this is always associated with trying something new. Fiorina concludes by asserting that change involves gathering enough energy and force to overcome the power of status quo.

There are many ways for you to subscribe to their podcasts and videos. You can sign up for their newsletter or use a feed to receive ECorner content automatically.

BizTechDay: Technology Day for Entrepreneurs

First business technology conference that makes technology easy for entrepreneurs.

BiztechDay is a business technology conference slated for October 25 at the Hilton San Francisco. The conference targets not-so-tech-savvy business owners who want to fully embrace and take advantage of what technology and the internet have to offer, but are not 100 percent sure where to begin.

An intensive day of educational seminars, workshops and panel discussions, BiztechDay is produced by San Francisco-based Clue Market Inc. and a group of local major corporate sponsors.

“YouTube, Facebook, Linkedin, Ning and many other Web 2.0 tools can really help business owners to promote and grow their businesses. It’s not as complex as it may seem, but there are just way too many choices for business owners to stay on top of it. We want to address this issue and use BiztechDay to empower and support the business community.” said Edith Yeung, an online marketing strategist and blogger and who has worked with more than 50 small, medium and Fortune 500 businesses.

Yeung created BiztechDay after realizing how many business owners want to leverage technology advantages, but were too intimidated and embarrassed to ask for help.

“The web is changing much too fast for us to stay abreast of new ideas and technologies on our own. I am not a “techie”. I just need someone to slow down and explain how these technologies work so I can focus on running my business, ” said Terry Hird, owner of Negotiation-International.

“Small business owners will definitely benefit from an event like this. I hear from businesses all the time looking specifically for this kind of help,” said Gary Marshall, public information officer for the San Francisco SBA district office.

BizTechDay will gather together experts and resources that speak the language of entrepreneurs, not buzz words. The event will give business owners access to different technologies they can apply for immediate results. Some of the topics that attendees will learn that day:

• Setup a High Traffic Business Website
• Google Secrets - the Basic of Search Engine Optimization for Business
• Using Facebook and Linkedin to Promote Your Business
• Marketing your business with Youtube
• Successful Email Marketing Campaigns
• Promote Your Business Event Online
• How to Build Your Customer List by Creating Your Own Social Network
• Collect Money Online

Tickets and more information are available online.

I Have an MBA. Now What?

This is a guest post by Sheryl Daida, MBA

This is the first of a series of blog posts I’ll be doing in coming weeks regarding business nuts & bolts, humor, and happiness.

Why did I get an MBA?  Three reasons:

1) A solid and credentialed business education;
2) Enhanced career and income opportunities; and
3) A love of the education “process.”

Goals 1 and 3 worked out; I’m still working on 2. I just had to get those 3 letters behind my name to make me happy. School loan payments forever!

How does a spontaneous, rational, logical, earthy Virgo make headway? One way is by listening to, partnering with, and supporting others. I can’t take myself too seriously. A sense of humor is great as long as it’s self deprecating. The Dali Lama has it right—most people do seek happiness. Dr. Howard Cutler’s conversations with the Dali Lama captured the idea that our state of mind determines happiness, much more than external events (read The Art of Happiness). Even when blessed with great fortune, after awhile we migrate back to a baseline state of happiness (or unhappiness).

That’s why business can be wonderful. Some roles may be tedious, but we do enjoy our partners and coworkers, even if it’s just griping with them. We find joy in the company of others along with progress and accomplishment. Isn’t our work all about others in the long run? Remember, in business, we’re all looking for “what’s in it for me.” The way we translate this makes the difference.

My MBA program was marvelous for revealing the mechanical bolts: the interdependence of people, processes, and technology. And the nutty stories of our lives keep me chuckling. Now I want to wave my emerging entrepreneur wings. Whew, this is a lot harder than it looks.

To learn more about Sheryl, visit DaidaGroup.com . Sheryl can be reached at sheryl@daidagroup.com

Blog Action Day: One Issue, Thousands of Voices

Blog Action Day is an annual nonprofit event that aims to unite the world’s bloggers, podcasters and videocasters, to post about the same issue on the same day. The aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion.

The purpose of Blog Action Day, October 15th, 2008, is to create a discussion.  Bloggers are asked to take a single day out of their schedule and focus it on an important issue. By doing so on the same day, the blogging community effectively changes the conversation on the web and focuses audiences around the globe on that issue.

Out of this discussion naturally flow actions, advice, ideas, plans, and empowerment. In 2007 on the theme of the Environment, bloggers ran environmental experiments, detailed innovative ideas on creating sustainable practices and focused attentions on organizations and companies promoting green agendas. In 2008 the aim is to again focus the blogging community’s energies and passions, this time on the mammoth issue of global poverty.

Register your blog for Blog Action Day and help spread the word.  

Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.