women entrepreneurs
now browsing by tag
9 alternative ideas for financing your business start up
When I started seriously thinking about my business idea and how I’d launch it, I had a rough idea in my head of what my initial start-up costs were. So one of the first things I’ve been doing is looking into what sort of funding might be available to me.
For the last 5 years the banks have been reluctant to lend money to new start-up businesses. This is well known and it has put a lot of people off even contemplating the idea of giving up a steady job and going it alone.
However, starting a business doesn’t have to mean going down the traditional route of speaking to the bank manager and asking for a loan. I’ve put together below a list of some more creative alternatives to get together the sort of funds you need to make that leap into the dream of working for yourself.
Government business grants
These are a rare sight nowadays unfortunately, but they do exist. The government tends to fund in areas they want to see growth in so some industries are more popular than others. Similarly, some are local to the area you live in and more common to find if you live in a more disadvantaged area.
A really good starting point is the gov.uk which has a easy tool to find finance you might be able to apply for:
https://www.gov.uk/business-finance-support-finder
Support if you are under 30
You lucky people. Not only do you have nice wrinkle-free skin, there are great support organisations for starting a business if you are under 30.
There is a government run loan scheme for anyone 18-30 planning on starting their own business. The website is here:
http://www.startuploans.co.uk/
The Princes Trust is another long well established and long running scheme which can offer you a low interest loan if you are 18-30 and planning on starting your own business. Details can be found on their website:
http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/need_help/enterprise_programme.aspx
Do you like to make things?
There are some great independent websites now to sell handmade goods. So if you are the crafty type, why not create your own little shop online and make and sell a few items in your spare time, using the extra money towards your business? You might even find that these websites are a useful launch pad for your start up if your business idea is to make and sell handmade items. Below are some of the biggest online marketplaces in the UK at the moment:
http://www.notmassproduced.com/
http://www.shoponyourdoorstep.com/
http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/
http://www.allthingsoriginal.com/
How about earning some spare cash?
Could you take on a part time job in your local community? Not only will a part time job allow you to get some extra money together for your business start-up, it may also be something you can continue for a while until your business is making enough money to provide you with a salary. If you have specialist expertise in an area, there are some useful websites where you can promote and sell your services:
http://www.peopleperhour.com/ or http://guru.com/ – Peopleperhour and Guru.com are useful sites to have a look on if you have professional skills as it advertises remote work for professionals, mainly writers, technical and business bods, and creatives.
Get people to buy in to your idea (literally)
Crowd funding is the hottest way for start-ups to source funding for their business ideas. They are essentially websites to allow you to pitch your business idea to a group of investors and one or many can choose to invest in your business. Here are some websites to start you off:
Peer to peer lending
If you are keen on a loan and have a good credit rating, peer to peer lending can offer you more competitive rates than many banks at the moment. Here are some of the top peer to peer sites:
https://www.fundingcircle.com/
Lending from friends and family
Perhaps you have immediate or extended family that are looking to invest somewhere. Well, they won’t get much from putting their savings in ISAs, where the best rates on the market are 2% or 3%. Perhaps you can offer an alternative; either a higher rate for a loan, or allow them to invest money in exchange for shares in the business.
Working with another business
Is your business complimentary to another business? Perhaps you have common customers and can exploit cross-promotion. It’s worth having a think about whether you can pitch your idea to another company and use their resources, offices, or premises. Perhaps you can sell the idea enough for them to invest in your company. There is a lot of support that an established business can offer to a start-up.
Enter a business competition
There a plenty of business competitions out there for best new business idea, best female entrepreneur, best entrepreneur under 30. They may have cash prizes. Even if you don’t win, they are worth entering just for the exposure they give you, especially if you get shortlisted. Here are some places to start you off:
http://www.shell-livewire.org/ – they have a number of awards for entrepreneurs aged 18-30 with cash prizes of between £1000 and £10000
http://www.enterprisingu.com/ – Arranged by RBS, and is open to students and recent graduates
http://www.mykindacrowd.com/ – another scheme aimed at the younger crowd (16-25) this has a number of smaller ‘challenges’ you can enter and various types of prizes
http://www.joinourcore.com/ – sponsored by Ben and Jerry’s and offering cash prizes for social entrepreneurs across Europe
https://www.thebigawards.co.uk/Page/Home – run by Cisco, with big cash prizes of up to $250000
http://www.nectar.com/dynamic/smallbusiness – each category winner receives a £2000 cash prize
About the author:
Lauren is author of http://www.theglitteringeyesbrigade.com and entrepreneur currently in the process of starting her own business in the UK
Dispelling the Myth of the Common Law Wife
The myth of the common law wife runs deep, in a Good Housekeeping survey, more than 50% of women believed that cohabiting couples won the same rights as those who are married after living together for a number of years. When you consider the number of opposite sex cohabiting couples has increased, from 1.5 million in 1996 to 2.9 million in 2012, that’s potentially a lot of women in the unknown as to their rights.
The Law Commission in 2007 put forward proposals to give the same rights to cohabiting couples as married couples so as to ‘reflect the growing prevalence and public acceptance of cohabitation.’
However there seems to be little political appetite to clarify their rights, which essentially means unmarried couples are still in legal no-man’s-land.
The recent English county court case of Pamela Curran and Brian Collins highlights the difficulties that arise when unmarried couples in England and Wales separate and it should serve as a warning to others in a similar position.
Rights for cohabitants are very limited indeed (unlike those who have married) when they part ways. Unlike in divorce there is no automatic right to make a claim against assets held in the sole name of their former partner. Due to this difficult position cohabiting couples are left dependent upon property and trusts law when their relationships break down which is notoriously difficult and costly to pursue successfully.
The rights for divorcing couples are a stark contrast to those of cohabitating couples. Divorcing couples are able to much more easily make claims against all assets including; businesses, pensions, savings and properties. Furthermore, divorcing couples are able to claim for maintenance payments in their personal capacity with cohabiting couples only being able to claim maintenance for the benefit of their children. When the children are grown up if parties are not married it is not possible to pursue a maintenance claim through the Courts.
‘Sadly, the appellant found herself in the classic position of a woman jilted in her early 50s, having very much made her life with the respondent for over 30 years.The law of property can be harsh on people, usually women, in that situation. Bluntly, the law remains unfair to people in the appellant’s position, but the judge was constrained to apply the law as it is’
Lord Justice Toulson in Curran v Collins.
An appeal has been granted permission in light of the above statement.
Given recent government announcements that no major amendments to the law are planned in the foreseeable future, this leaves an unfortunate position for people like Miss Curran who is left feeling a victim of laws which arguably ought to be updated to give those in her position greater protection.
The couple ran a successful business, and has been in a relationship for thirty years; however the family home and business were both legally owned by Mr Collins. Upon the relationship breakdown, Mrs Curran was effectively without any assets of her own. Ms Curran described how she had trusted that she would be provided with a “fair share” of the assets if the relationship broke down.
In order for her appeal to be successful, Ms Curran will have to show that the couple originally intended for her to have a share in the property and business – to do this, she being the party whose interest has been undocumented will have to go through the struggle of establishing that there was a joint intention for them to have an interest.
The starting point is different because the claimant whose name is not on the proprietorship register, here Ms Curran, has the burden of establishing some sort of implied trust, normally what is now termed a ‘common intention’ constructive trust. The claimant whose name is on the register starts (in the absence of an express declaration of trust in different terms, and subject to what is said below about resulting trusts) with the presumption (or assumption) of a beneficial joint tenancy.
Word Of Advice:
Put it in writing
Whether an asset is to be held in joint names or one party’s sole name, a document clearly stating what the parties intend for each one to own allows for transparency and certainty. Asserting your rights without a written agreement is fraught with difficulty, and in the absence of such clarity, the court will interpret the intention based on fairness, by looking at the behaviour of both parties during the period of ownership.
Both financial and non-financial contributions can be taken into account. But the extensive examination process of the relationship can prove costly and time-consuming and most worrying of all is that the outcome is, of course, uncertain.
The best way for anybody purchasing a property or a business with anyone else – be it a partner, a friend or a family member – is to have a formal document such as a cohabitation agreement or a declaration of trust. As such, the easiest, most efficient way to protect oneself legally against this old-fashioned and outdated aspect of property law is to record each party’s intentions in a legally binding document at the outset.
This can be prepared by a lawyer to record each person’s share, who has contributed what, and what will happen should the asset be sold or if the relationship breaks down. Couples should also be beware that financial liabilities can last even longer than unhappy memories.
Most people do not think to take advice or just are not aware that there are straight forward steps they can take at the beginning of a relationship to protect themselves should things not work out as expected. This can spare them considerable cost financially and emotionally if the relationship ends.
Camilla Choudhury – Khawaja LL.B Hons LL.M Barrister
Video interview from Lady Val from “Lady Val’s Professional Women’s Network”
If you want to know more about Lady Val’s fabulous network go to www.LVPWN.com
How You Might Be Sabotaging Your Sales Career
- Jill Konrath: author, trainer and sales strategist
- Kim Duke: former sales exec and current owner of Sales Divas, a training firm aimed at women in sales
- Kristine Scotto: sales exec with 25 years of experience under her belt.
- Avoiding self-promotion
- Undervaluing themselves and/or their services
- Not asking for help
- Prioritizing relationships over closed deals
- Being afraid of messing up
2010 Year in review with Simplicity Mastered
2010 has been an extremely eventful year, full of learning, sharing and growing. The feedback, comments and traffic from the articles below have shown themselves to be the most helpful to readers. They are sources of encouragement, strength and empowerment. Use them to set the tone and foundation for a remarkable New Year!
9 Powerful Social Networking Sites for Women Entrepreneurs. Not just for women, this list of social networking sites provides women with connections and resources they need.
91 fundamental habits of highly motivated small. Use this list to keep the momentum and excitement of starting the New Year on the right foot.
31 of the best business books for solopreneurs and micro business owners. Business and personal transformation are equally important. One without the other is unsustainable. Use business books to expand your mind and hone your business skills.
35 ways to keep your clients YOURS. It’s not too late to give your clients the gift of ATTENTION. Use this list to find ways to provide your clients with an extraordinary experience.
7 Seeds to Plant That Will Grow Your Business. These simply strategies are practical and easy to implement. Water one seed at a time and watch your business flourish.
5 Ways to Erase Daily Procrastination in Your Business. Increase your business discipline with daily practice. Prepare yourself to break old habits and cultivate new ones.
10 Smart and savvy small business questions for 2011. Proper planning prevents poor performance. Review and analyze the past, present and future direction of your business.
Need more help creating a business that works for YOU? Be sure to check out Micro Business Therapy for additional information and support. Don’t forget… I want to hear from you. Share your comments and questions below! To address your specific concerns, Skype me: amichelleblakeley or email me atinfo@simplicitymastered.com Did you enjoy this article? Subscribe to Simplicity Mastered RSS and never miss a post!
WANT TO RE-POST THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR BLOG OR USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
For over 18 years, Simplicity Mastered™ founder and CEO A. Michelle Blakeley has owned or managed small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Expert in her field, Blakeley personally guides her clients out of their Business Brain Freeze™ to streamline operations, increase return on investment, and attain quantifiable results. Forbes.com and FinancialPost.com each recommended her as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter, joining the experts who know that Blakeley is a master at growing small businesses … and doing it with “Simplicity.”
Change is not as easy as you think
Progress should be every small business owner’s objective whether it be increased sales, establishing expertise, brand recognition, organization, functional systems, etc. The list could go on. With a new year, brings excitement, motivation and aspirations. However, it also brings new challenges, anxiety, uncertainty and soon, overwhelm.
The problem with a new year and resolutions is that the New Year essentially is just another day. Unfortunately, we don’t get a clean slate at the strike of mid-night, so all of our issues and concerns and disappointments of the day before are still there. With resolutions, we employ the best of our intentions and ideals to motivate ourselves to look forward to a better year and give us hope. However, resolutions become short-lived and the New Year gets tramped on in anticipation of yet another new year. And real change becomes the daily struggle again.
Progress can only be made with careful calculations. You have to truly understand how you got to the point you are at right now; the past. You have to know who you are and what your capacity is. Sometimes the best of intentions cause the greatest harm; the present. And you have to be able to move forward from a standpoint of reality and practicality; the future.
The past. You can’t move forward without knowing where you’ve been. There is a reason we’ve heard this over and over again. Because it’s true. How will you ever know what needs to change unless you know what the underlying faults and root causes of missed opportunities are? Just like a doctor, you have to treat the disease, not the symptoms. If you are lacking a clearly defined target market, you may not be clear on what the benefits of your product or service are.
The present. What are you capable of right now? With everyday distractions, deadlines and commitments, know what you can realistically expect from yourself. Know your faults. Know your strengths. And be able to exploit them both.
The future. Rome was not built overnight, so why do we continue to expect ourselves to achieve so much in such a short period of time. Without benchmarks to closely measure your progress on a regular basis, you’ll have no idea what works, what doesn’t work and why. Which, in turn, prevents you from making necessary adjustments. (i.e. how will you know if you are reaching your ideal clients?) Real progress is carefully planned for and measured. Your future is created by the actions you take today.
Real change should yield progress. Progress cannot be made without proper planning. Smart and savvy small business owners understand the importance of and value proper planning. Proper planning is never complete without giving careful thought to the past, present and future. So, if you resolved to make changes this year and find it difficult to break away from old behaviors, take some time to reflect and understand why you do what you and how you can better work within your means.
Developing, managing and growing a small business is a tremendous challenge. If your mission and purpose have been lost in the daily grind and fire-fighting, consider Micro Business Therapy. It’s common sense, practical and realistic. Don’t forget… we want to hear from you. Share your comments and questions below! To address your specific concerns, Skype me: amichelleblakeley or email me at info@simplicitymastered.com
WANT TO RE-POST THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR BLOG OR USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
For over 18 years, Simplicity Mastered™ founder and CEO A. Michelle Blakeley has owned or managed small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Expert in her field, Blakeley personally guides her clients out of their Business Brain Freeze™ to streamline operations, increase return on investment, and attain quantifiable results. Forbes.com and FinancialPost.com each recommended her as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter, joining the experts who know that Blakeley is a master at growing small businesses … and doing it with “Simplicity.”
The Art of Child-Proofing Your Office
A home-based or virtual office is often an irresistible temptation to the young children of a household. The desire to be with the parent who works in the office and to be included in their activities is a powerful attraction. Young children love to mimic the activities they see their parent involved in, whether it be sitting at a big desk with the computer or writing important documents. The key to child-proofing your office is to provide space and materials in a safe environment so the time your child spends there does not upset the productivity and peace of your office, but rather adds to quality time with your child.
Keeping safety as the major motivator, develop a plan of action to make your home office a welcome place for your child to spend time. Some ideas to consider when developing your plan are:
- Create a distraction. Set aside a corner of the office where you can have a toy box filled with toys that are suitable for the space you have available and is out of the traffic area required for the smooth operation of your business. Encourage your child to keep the toys in the designated area so they don’t become a hazard.
- Provide materials similar to those you use while you work so the child can “do work like Mommy or Daddy.” Be sure to emphasize that they now have their own things that are like yours to work on and that yours are off limits.
- File important papers promptly. Papers that are left sitting around are often attractive to children; they see you working and writing on them and want to do the same. Don’t leave important papers out where your child has access to them. Provide your child with paper and crayons they can draw on, allowing them to be creative.
- Make sure the area is physically safe for your child. Attach electrical outlet covers to outlets that are not in use. Look for window blind cords, hazardous chemicals and other such items that are used in your daily business making sure they are stored out of the reach of children.
- Get rid of the electrical wires. Cable ties can be used to tidy and shorten wires that can be a danger, not only to children but to anyone who moves around the office. Making sure wires are not in the way protects the people in the office, as well as expensive equipment, from damage.
- Keep garbage contained. The answer to this can be as simple as purchasing a garbage container with a lid.
- Keeping drawers and cabinets inaccessible to children with child-proof latches is another great idea. Small items present a safety risk for young children. Storing loose staples, elastics, tacks, and paper clips in plastic containers with tight fitting lids will remove this risk if you don’t have a drawer or cabinet that is equipped with the appropriate hardware to make it inaccessible to a child.
These simple ideas, do not take long to implement and the cost is minimal. Having a child-proof office in your home gives you peace of mind and has the added benefit and pleasure of you being there for your child.
About the Author: Michelle Jamison is a Virtual Assistant, Coach, Speaker, College Instructor, and Author. Her latest book, Virtu@l Office Essentials provides virtual office workers with solid strategies to ensure a successful virtual work environment. http://www.virtual-office-essentials.com
What happens when you take your own advice? (Part III)
This is Part III of a four-part series on “what happens when you take your own advice.” (Part I, Part II ). In the middle of a re-brand of my existing business, my husband and had the opportunity to open a fine art gallery (seewww.evolvethegallery.com). To minimize the disruption to my existing business and maintain my clients’ needs, I relied heavily on my established systems and the same tips, tools and techniques I encourage my clients to use. Including:
Collaboration with complementary businesses is a must. A great way to collaborate with other businesses is to have them contribute to and sponsor your event. They get the exposure and you get the added help, product or service. You always want to enhance the value of what you are providing your clients. Look for hidden and creative opportunities in your local communities.
There is a small movie theater (The Guild Theater) across the street from our gallery. As part of our inaugural opening, we wanted to show movies that went with the theme of our show. The movie theater was looking for new ways to draw traffic and increase their presence in the community and we needed a cost-effective way to provide film-screenings. We invited the manager over for a tour of the galley and discussed the benefits of collaborating. It was a win-win. So much so, they offered to do the film screenings every Friday for a month at no cost to us and we did the same by offering the screenings to our guests at no cost. Yes, free double-feature film screenings for a whole month (and access to the theater for two complimentary panel discussions on Saturdays to boot! How’s that for collaborating and keeping it local!)
Never underestimate the power of 6 degrees of separation. Connections can put a business on the map quicker and faster than “word of mouth.” Everybody knows somebody who can help somebody. Through six degrees of separation, we were honored to have philanthropists, museum curators, the Mayor and a Senator either attend our private preview reception or come by for a private tour. In addition, when we attended a book signing and discussion at the Thelma Harris Gallery, we met fine art Master, Richard Mayhew, and Bernard and Shirley Kinsey (whose personal art collection is now on exhibit at the Smithsonian). During our due diligence, we visited many galleries to see how other owners operated, looked for ways to distinguish ourselves, ways to collaborate, yielded wisdom from the experts, acknowledged their mistakes and made some good friends along the way. Thelma was kind enough to welcome us into the industry with open arms; which included introductions to art legends. The Kinsey’s are the ones who advised us to contact Senator Price’s office (see Part II).
On the day after one of our panel discussion we received a beautiful book reflecting 38 phenomenal years ofBen F. Jones creative works. There was no note, just the autographed book and a business card. When we called Ben to thank him and find out how he had heard about us, he simply said he read about our opening in a blog (The Black Art Project). After a delightful conversation, needless to say, we were humbly honored and floored. The Internet has made it a small world and you never know who knows who.
Always capture your leads, follow-up and keep in touch. Every business should have a platform for engaging and capturing leads. This could be a sign-up for newsletter box, link to a landing page, CRM system or even a link to your Facebook fanpage. For live events, it could be a registration sheet, sign-in sheet or guest book. Don’t pass up the opportunity to introduce potential clients to your product or services, share upcoming events, specials, etc. via newsletter, e-blasts and online updates. Staying top of mind is crucial. People want to know “what’s next?” and “what’s new?” CAVEAT: Do not overburden new clients and your connections with unnecessary emails and updates. It is a major turn-off and you will soon see your numbers decrease instead of increase. Be relevant, informative and resourceful.
To date, the gallery has been extremely well received in the community and we continue to be amazed at how fast the word is spreading and the wonderful people we are meeting. However, now that the “fanfare” of the grand opening has worn off, it’s time for the real work to begin; the work of maintaining and sustaining a business. There is no way I could have opened a second business without having functional systems in place with my existing business; Simplicity Mastered. The chaos and confusion would have been insurmountable and I would risk losing my clients.
Never underestimate the power of Simplicity. When your operations are organized and streamlined, it makes it easier to introduce new products/services and test new ideas. It helps you manage information and stay focused on your priorities and objectives. It also makes stepping away, less disruptive.
There’s a reason why my business is called Simplicity Mastered. There is a reason why I specialize in simplifying business processes. Owning a business doesn’t have to be hard. But it does need to be functional and productive. And it needs to be effective, efficient and done smart. There is a reason why overwhelmed and frustrated business owners call me to help them be mentally and intellectually organized to grow. I keep things practical, realistic and utilize existing resources. At some point, you have to put knowledge to work and startdoing. You are responsible for your business; the good, the bad and the ugly. It will grow or fail by your action or inaction. Make a commitment to make better business decisions today. That includes asking for help. We could not have accomplished all that we have without asking for help.
Next week, I will share with you some of my “silly mistakes,” “brain freezes” and “forget me NOTs.” NOTE: I never said the opening of a second business went off without a hitch. ☺
If you need help NOW! Get help here
WANT TO RE-POST THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR BLOG OR USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
For over 18 years, Simplicity Mastered™ founder and CEO A. Michelle Blakeley has owned or managed small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Expert in her field, Blakeley personally guides her clients out of their Business Brain Freeze™ to streamline operations, increase return on investment, and attain quantifiable results. Forbes.com and FinancialPost.com each recommended her as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter, joining the experts who know that Blakeley is a master at growing small businesses … and doing it with “Simplicity.”
Fabulous event in aid of the Acorn’s Children Hospital
DOUBLE BILL: The Celturian and Space Odic Samurai with Guests
A superb night of music, dance, Japanese ‘Tessen Fan’ and Japanese Sword display will take place at the Solihull Arts Theatre on Friday 24 September 2010 at 7.30 pm as part of the Solihull Festival.
The double bill of music includes the amazing acoustic guitarist ‘The Celturian’ and the new band ‘Space Odic Samurai’ who are launching their debut single and album.
Martin Lucas is enjoying success in the USA as well as the UK with his Celtic and Classical music. Martin’s latest classical piece entitled ‘Visions’ has gone straight into The International Association of Independent Recording Artists, (IAIRA) at number 19!
Guaranteed to provide a wonderful night of music and entertainment for all in support of the Acorns Children’s Hospice.
For more details please visit:
http://www.solihullfestivals.org.uk/home.asp
Venue: The Solihull Arts Complex Theatre, Homer Road, Solihull, West Midlands, B92 3RG
TO BOOK: To purchase tickets please call The Solihull Arts Complex Theatre on 0121 704 6962, email artscomplex@solihull.gov.uk www.solihull.gov.uk/artscomlex/
Start Time: 7.30 pm – 9.30 Ticket Price £ 8.00
We look forward to hopefully seeing you there!
Marketing for women for women with Yvonne DiVita of The Lip-Sticking Society
7 Creative tips that could change the way you do business
7 Creative tips that could change the way you do business.
Sometimes momentum comes from making the smallest tweaks and changes. It’s not always about “going big.” Why not keep it simple for a change. Stop throwing everything at the wall hoping something will stick. Pick 1 or 2 things and make them work. Concentrate and focus on doing them right, doing them well and doing them consistently. Any one of the following tips could be a great source of rejuvenation, organization or inspiration:
1. Specialize and stick with it. Don’t be afraid of creating a name for yourself. You should create your niche early in your business and continue to refine it. David Newman says, “Wannabes know 10 topics 1 foot deep. Experts know 1 topic 10 feet deep.
2. Give away something free to everyone who brings in the print version of your advertisement. This is a great way to see which ads work, which ones don’t and which ones are effective.
3. Got an overstock of audio CD’s or a product you just can’t seem to sell? Offer it up in gift bag or offer a “name your price” program.
4. Cloud compute. Use web-based applications for efficiency, increased security (review and check them out first), to access your information for anywhere and for better organization. Always start with free before you upgrade to make sure the system meets your needs.
5. Lessen your impact on the environment (personally and) professionally. (i.e. only print when necessary, use both sides, sign documents electronically with programs like Ecosign https://secure.echosign.com/public/home, turn your computer off at night and on weekends, change the light bulbs in your office, recycle your ink cartridges and reduce unnecessary car trips.
6. Offer a proposition to your competitors to trade or exchange clients you were both unsuccessful in selling to.
7. Make the most of networking opportunities. When you are at an event have an objective and purpose (i.e. to find 3 people in your industry, 2 people who need referrals to someone you may know, 1 person to remember who you are).
BONUS: Professional image. Just because you are a small business doesn’t mean you have to present yourself like one. Your entire profile should always be professional. YOU are your brand. Everything that has your business name on it (website, business card, press kit, etc.) represents you and your brand. Make sure your marketing collateral is consistent, clean and clear and that includes you!
If you want to change your business, sometimes you need to change. A tweak here, a tweak there can make all the difference in how your ideal clients see, connect and buy from you.
WANT TO RE-POST THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR BLOG OR USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
A.Michelle Blakeley is in the listening business. As a Micro Business Therapist, she provides an open-minded and non-judgmental ear to listen to the real issues and concerns that start-up, emerging and women entrepreneurs experience and negotiate solutions through comprehensive discussions and practical micro business plans. She is featured in Forbes.com and the Financial Post as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter, contributor for the San Francisco Examiner and Fearless Woman Magazine; the host of Simple Truths for Women Entrepreneurs on BlogTalkRadio.com and author of the NEW e-book: “Get it Right and Move Along… a collection of practical tips, tools and techniques for small business owners.”
AMB
STOP information overload and decision paralysis. Get your priorities in order with a Micro Business Plan for as little as $495. No promises. Just results™
Your Success Magnet- Colors That Create Wealth
By: Walethia Aquil
Want to sell more? Need to command respect and gain recognition? Want instant sex appeal? Consider the colors you wear.
What we wear and the colors we wear can help us project an image of success and trust; or one of uncertainty and distrust.
Color plays such an important role in our lives whether we realize it or not. It has the ability to influence our feeling and emotions in a way that few other mediums can.
Color is powerful. It can make us see, feel, hear, and taste. The next time you have an important meeting with a client, or with your significant other consider the message you want to send.
Here are some ways to use color to achieve the results you want.
- Energize or warm up an outfit, wear socking pink, fuchsia, red, yellow red, orange, and turquoise.
- To soften the starkness of neutral color such as black, beige add Lilac, pale yellow, baby blue, pale green, peach or pink accents.
- Add more dimension with silver or gold.
- Colors that sell more: True blue, light shades of blue; inspire trust. Orange ; friendly and appeals to all. Yellow, cheerful and stimulating. Blue based pinks, are calming and inspire others.
- Colors that demand attentions: Yellow based pinks and peach, demand attention, enhance perceptions of romance and lull the heart.
- Midrange red violet, attract men of wealth and influence, radiate spirituality, and illuminate the personality.
- The power colors are: blue, black, beige, and red.
- Women should be careful using pink, as it may come across as too girly.
Color can: Evoke memories, tell a story, reveal personality, affect your emotions, change your mood, evoke sounds, and effect all or our senses.
Ultimately, style is about confidence and feeling good about who you are. Once achieved, you will be blessed with the freedom to relax more and enjoy life, secure in the assurance that you can strive for, and reach any goals you set.
And to go deeper with how etiquette and a polished image can increase your net worth check out “The Grace and Charm Success System.”
Please feel free to use this article in your newsletter, on your blog, or website. However, the following byline must be included in its entirety and the article must not be edited in any form and must be presented exactly as it appears here.
About the author:
Want to become more charming, persuasive and memorable? Increase your income, power and influence. Walethia Aquil is a certified image and etiquette consultant, with over 25 years experience, has helped thousands boost their confidence, improve their bottom line and business and personal relationships via television, radio, seminars and personal coaching. To receive your Fr*ee Business Etiquette e-Course go to:
Grace and Charm
How Soccer Relates to Business–Author Linda J Lord “The Pitch”–Virtual Book Tour Starting May 3, 2010
During the month of May, Linda will be interviewed on May 19th at The Business Women – Official Blog.
Linda will be discussing her recently published novel that reaches out to business owners, entrepreneurs, and working women who are looking for practical business strategies.
Her book “The Pitch” explains how soccer has very similar strategies that can be used to be successful in business.
This book provides sound business concepts in a fable format. This engaging story traces the journey of a single mother, whose business is floundering, from the brink of personal and professional disaster through the tumultuous learning curve of self-awareness to a place of success and self-acceptance.
One dollar from the sale of each book goes to the Hemophilia Society of Ontario, South Western Ontario Region.
Leave a comment, Linda will be available to answer questions.
Go to http://virtualbooktour-theyppublishing.blogspot.com/ website to follow Linda’s full tour schedule or visit her website http://www.lindajlord.com/.
There will be an Amazon contest at many of her virtual book tour stops. Visit participating sites to find out more about contests and giveaways!
11 Friends You Haven’t Met; but Need to Know
We all talk about collaborating to expand our business and generate more leads. How often do you actually do it? We all talk about connecting and cultivating relationships. How often do you take the time to have dialogue?
I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some friends who could truly make a difference in your business. These women are professional, insightful and inspiring.
Collectively, they can provide you with a wide variety of assistance and resources for your business including: creating and perfecting your elevator pitch, human resources, cultural diversity, sales and marketing, lifestyle, branding, non-profit/community engagement, networking, social media, beauty and lifestyle.
- Barbara Lopez with Brightfarm Introductions – Barbara masterfully helps you create an introduction to your business that reflects your specialty and your personality. Her capacity to ensure that your introductions are fresh and memorable is exceptional.
- Deena Pierott with Mosaic Blueprint – Deena has a connection for whatever ails your business. Although she is a cultural diversity expert, her vast and dynamic social network of women, urban entrepreneurs and corporations is built on collaboration.
- Ayesha Mathews-Wadhwa with PixInk – You are your brand and Ayesha’s brand development ensures that your brand identity and personal values are not only in sync but clear and well defined. Her brand cultivation genius helps discover what makes you unique.
- Natalie MacNeil with She Takes On the World – Home of all things “women entrepreneur.” Natalie features successful women entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship articles, valuable resources, and a free directory for women-owned businesses. She has received numerous awards and mentions for her work and blog content and is a constant source of fresh ideas and encouragement.
- Sylvia Browder with Browder Consulting – Sylvia empowers women to achieve success through entrepreneurship. In addition to running her own consulting practice, she volunteers as a SCORE counselor and provides women entrepreneurs with the resources and tools they need for continued success. Her support for women entrepreneurs is personal and heartfelt.
- Adrienne Graham with Empower Me! and Fearless Networking. This power broker provides a variety of platforms that enable women to maximize the value in their networks and connections. Adrienne is all about the power and empowerment of women entrepreneurs and the author of “Go Ahead Talk to Strangers: A Modern Day Guide to Fearless Networking.”
- Yolanda Webb with E’Lon Beauty – Yolanda publishes an amazing and unique online beauty magazine. Her magazine not only presents all that is beautiful on the outside, but her publication also nurtures the inside beauty of all women.
- Patricia Weber with Professional Strategies – Pat is the consummate sales coach for introverts. She understands the anxiety and apprehension introverts have in operating their business and skillfully coaches them through practical communication, sales and networking techniques.
- Jacintha Perrera with Island Getaways – This is not a “fly by night” travel service. Jacintha is a travel expert specializing in South Pacific getaways and special interest retreats. Her customized travel expeditions are once in a lifetime experiences. Be sure to check out her travel blog and virtual tours. When you need to getaway, you need to contact Jacintha.
- Crystal Martin with Crystalwashington.com – Crystal is a social media and social networking guru. Her simple tips and tools will get you up to speed with effective and efficient marketing strategies that will enhance your capacity to meet and acquire appropriate clients.
Please take some time to explore their sites and introduce yourself. I’m sure each of them will welcome you into their fold with a warm smile and kind word.
WANT TO RE-POST THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR BLOG OR USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
A.Michelle Blakeley is the Founder and CEO of Simplicity, Inc.; a progressive small business development firm. She manages her clients’ business expectations and prevents information overload via Micro Business Therapy™ and Micro Business Action Plans. She is featured in Forbes.com and the Financial Post as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter and the host of Simple Truths for Women Entrepreneurs on BlogTalkRadio.com.
5 Ways to Erase Daily Procrastination in Your Business
According to Real Simple magazine’s survey of 10,000 readers, the average daily to-do list has 5 to 9 tasks on it. Only 5% of the readers are productive for 3 hours during a 9-to-5 workday as a result of web-related distractions. According to the Procrastination Research Group, based on some figures, it is estimated that as much as 95% of the people are prone to procrastination. Amongst them, 20% of them are chronic 
procrastinators.
Procrastination is generally defined as avoided tasks or activities that need to be accomplished. Poor time management and procrastination can be a direct result of having unreachable goals, having to meet others’ standards, disorganization or the inability to handle the task. Below are ways to erase daily procrastination in your business.
- Use the first hour or two of your day to work on things that require your attention or have deadlines. Accomplishing necessary tasks will invigorate you to do more.
- Inspire yourself with insightful reading. Read at least one business article daily and take action. Try implementing a new idea. Don’t just read about it, but do.
- Afternoon organization can make the next day easier. Take 15 minutes at the end of each day to think about tomorrow’s priorities. Knowing what needs to be done at the beginning of each day gives you focus and direction.
- Break large projects or tasks into smaller activities and schedule them on your calendar as appointments. Do them in 30-minutes, 1-hour or 3-hour time blocks. You wouldn’t interrupt a scheduled appointment, so don’t allow unnecessary interruptions when working on your projects.
- Don’t make lofty goals. Be reasonable in your expectations of yourself, your time and your commitments. Overextending yourself can cause you shut down. Be practical and realistic.
It’s always helpful to identify the source of your procrastination. Take some time to think about why you are putting things off and then try one of the above techniques. Procrastination can really be a struggle and challenge for small business owners, especially when they are simply overwhelmed and unsure of their next move. Take it one step at a time and be conscious of your actions AND inaction.
WANT TO RE-POST THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR BLOG OR USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
A.Michelle Blakeley is the Founder and CEO of Simplicity, Inc.; a progressive small business development firm. She manages her clients’ business expectations and prevents information overload via Micro Business Therapy™ and Micro Business Action Plans. She is featured in Forbes.com and the Financial Post as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter and the host of Simple Truths for Women Entrepreneurs on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Women’s Views On News
I am the founder and co-editor of a daily online women’s news service called Women’s Views On News, set up to counter the bias against women in the news. Research shows that women feature in only about a fifth of the world’s news headlines and just ten percent of all news stories.
Literally thousands of stories about, by and for women are therefore never told. Our mission is to give a voice to the women whose stories and experiences of the world are all too often ignored.
As a collective of volunteers, we work on a rota basis, making sure that we post news stories about women onto the site every day of the week from Monday to Friday (with the long-term aim of extending that to seven days a week).
We post on average between five and ten news stories per day. At present, we source our stories from an extensive list (which volunteers are given) of online national and international daily press sources, press agencies, voluntary organisations and blogs.
We are always looking for more volunteers to help us out and in return we promise to give you:
- The chance to learn about news writing
- The chance to learn how to write in a “journalistic” style
- The chance to learn about sub editing and writing to house style
- The chance to have their features/opinion pieces edited, critiqued and posted onto the site
- The chance to improve their IT and research skills
- The chance to learn about marketing and the use of social media
Has Nothing Changed in the Workplace for Women?
A new study from Catalyst came out last month that basically says women with MBAs are still being treated as inferior than their male 
counterparts. In The Promise of Future Leadership: A Research Program on Highly Talented Employees in the Pipeline, Catalyst found that among high-potential graduates from elite MBA programs—those graduates companies count on for future leadership—women lagged men in advancement and compensation starting from their first job and over time, they were less satisfied with their careers.
I am not surprised, are you? In my experience teaching leadership courses around the world, I have found that many leaders have fallen back into old fear-based tactics instead of inspiring change. Unfortunately, I’ve seen this relapse of negative behavior in the United States even more intensely than in many European and Latin American countries. So I’m not surprised to hear that male leaders haven’t changed their attitudes about the value of women.
However, I have also coached many women who are not putting up with this behavior, recession or not. I believe the rise in women-owned businesses demonstrates that the high-achievers are looking at corporations as training ground rather than long-term careers. So they put up with inequities long enough to get the experience they need to move on to creating a business scenario that provides greater recognition for their contributions.
With women making up more than half of the workforce, and research indicating that companies with women in the boardroom did better during the recession than those that lacked the feminine touch, I believe women will be moving into more powerful positions in the next decade regardless of Catalyst’s stats.
In his book, Born to Be Good, Dachel Keltner, director of Social Interaction Laboratories at UC Berkeley, claims that true survival of humanity is not “survival of the fittest” (or strongest) but is actually due to our remarkable tendencies toward playfulness, cooperation, generosity, respect and a deep moral sense. It is our need for belonging, our need to have people care about us and our need to build communities for safety and connection that sustains our existence.
If this is true, then it makes sense that women will strongly rise out of the chaos no matter what is holding them back at the moment. As conventional systems break down and the progressive systems are based on open-source creation, work communities (one step beyond teams), and cultures based on respect instead of fear, I believe the companies that have women leaders at the core will survive and thrive where others may die. I believe the board rooms and workplaces will look totally different a decade from now.
This could be the truth about the Pipeline, or it could be a Pipedream. What do you think?
Marcia Reynolds, PsyD is author of the upcoming book, Wander Woman: How High-Achieving Women Find Contentment and Direction. You can read more at www.WanderWomanBook.com. She also blogs for the Huffington Post. Read her latest entry on a new model of relationships.
D5 Creation