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Every Woman Entrepreneur Should Have…
Posted by: | CommentsPamela Redmond Satran’s poem, “Every Woman Should Have…” (widely miscredited to May Angelou), has been circulating on the internet for nearly a decade. Though most of us have seen it at least a few times, the original poem is still great- inspirational, practical, and empowering, providing everyday wisdom for women of all ages. With the highest respect to Ms. Redmond Satran, here’s my take on her classic:
Every Woman Entrepreneur Should Have…
A job working for someone else she can imagine going back to…and one to remind her why she became an entrepreneur…
Enough money within her control to quit her “day job” when she decides to become her own full-time boss…
Something perfect to wear if business partner, vendor, or client of her dreams wants to see her in an hour…
A start-up stage she is content to leave behind…
…But bootstrapping stories outrageous enough that she is looking forward to sharing them (with Entrepreneur Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, her shareholders and employees…) in the future…
The realization that she might not ever retire because she loves what she’s doing so much…
A reliable accountant, a competent attorney, favorable merchant account terms, and a talented web designer…
Every Woman Entrepreneur Should Know…
How to work hard without compromising her ideals…
How to hire someone, review a contract, and sign a client…
How to fire someone, ask for client payment, and turn down a contract…
How to at least try to achieve “work-life balance”…
How to negotiate with vendors, clients, and anyone else she needs to…
How to talk about software, VoIP service, or other tech purchases with a salesperson in a way that makes it clear she’s done her research…
That she can’t change how many hours she’s given in a day, when clients choose to call her back, or whether her daughter will have a ballet recital the same morning as a huge, already-scheduled meeting…
That even though she can’t change these things, she’s still in charge of the way she deals with them…
That for some people, business is just business…
Where to go for a lunch meeting, an after-office cocktail, or advice on management issues she’s not sure of…
That she can truly accomplish anything she wants- once she makes up her mind to do it.
Go back and read the original for an extra dose of inspiration!
Ready, Set, Revenue
Posted by: | CommentsWhat would it take for you to lead your business to $1m in earnings? According to one program for women entrepreneurs, a little healthy competition goes a long way. Nonprofit organization Count Me In provides everything a new business would need- from mentorship to microloans- as part of the Make Mine a Million $ Business M3 Race. Read More→
Wait a Minute Mr. Postman…
Posted by: | CommentsPostage is one of those necessary expenses that most of us don’t think deserves a second thought. The cost of postage is fixed, and it’s really not that inconvenient to have to run to the Post Office or UPS store to get a package out the door on time, right? Well, not exactly. Most business owners would be surprised to find out how much money they waste “rounding up” by placing to many stamps on outgoing mail- many waste thousands of dollars a year by not calculating postage exactly. Using a postage meter not only helps you save big on costs, it can also help you become more efficient- you’ll be able to get packages out the door without the added trips to shipment centers. A postage meter, or a digital mail system, is a great tool for businesses that rely on mailed correspondences, or that ship products to customers directly. Here’s a quick guide to choosing and using a postage meter: Read More→
Should you consider a POS system?
Posted by: | CommentsMost people are probably familiar with retail POS systems- you know, those touch-screens servers use at restaurants to input order information, or the scanning system used by the checker at the grocery store. Using a POS system is a great way to track sales and manage resources. For example, gyms can use POS to schedule training appointments and classes, allowing customers to pay in advance or online. Should you consider a POS system? Here’s a quick outline of the benefits, costs, and offerings available: Read More→
What do you really need to start a business? Most top 3 lists look something like this:
1. A business loan
2. A business plan
3. A detailed business model or structure
According to Jazzercise founder and current CEO Judi Sheppard Missett, her incredibly successful business didn’t require any of these to get off the ground. I recently had the chance to talk with Missett as she prepared for the annual conference of the Women Presidents’ Organization conference here in San Diego, and learned quite a bit about what you really do need to start a successful business. Read More→
Spring Business Contests
Posted by: | CommentsBusiness contests are a great way to get needed visibility for a new start up, gain recognition for your hard work, or even win cash and prizes. Business contests target companies and entrepreneurs in all shapes and forms- there are contests for large businesses, start-up ideas, and women entrepreneurs.
Spring is the prime contest season- most applications are due by the beginning of the summer for 2009 awards. Here are some of the best upcoming contests- act quick, deadlines are approaching fast! Read More→
