woman entrepreneur | Page 8 of 8

Confessions of a Recovering Overachiever by @mcdermott_chime

January 19, 2014 by Cortney McDermott 6 Comments

by Cortney McDermott | Featured Contributor

A few years ago, I was busy packing for a business trip to Brussels. My then 2-year-old daughter was jumping in and out of my suitcase. When that didn’t get mamma’s attention, she grabbed my Blackberry. Somehow, within less than a minute, she managed to lock it. I freaked out. Here I was racing behind schedule and I couldn’t access my phone. I frantically thought of my options. It was a public holiday in Italy, where I live, so the IT department was not available. (Crazy, right? Most Italians are actually “off” when they’re off.) Many frantic and failed attempts at access later, I arrived at the airport. In honesty, even if I am ashamed to admit it, it wasn’t until I’d boarded a corporate jet a half hour later that I realized how ridiculous the whole situation was: Here I was leaving for 4 days and I was worried about my emails, not about how much I would miss my daughter.

Watching the majestic islands of Venice roll out and disappear behind me, pampered in a thick leather chair with fresh fruit, a warm croissant, and a newspaper by my side,

I decided it was time for a change.

Now don’t get me wrong – all those perks were wonderful. But at that rate nothing was ever going to be enough. I’d just keep chasing the next best thing. And chasing wasn’t making me happy. I needed to kick the habit. I needed to find a better way – a way that mirrored my core desires, like pampered travel, AND my core values, like playing with my daughter in the snow. It was time to take a step back and reconnect with what I really wanted and needed to lead a happy and fulfilling personal and professional life. And that’s what this series is about. How one gal continues to redefine success by kicking some perfectionist habits and reconnecting to what’s important.

Each month I will confess a good old overachiever habit and introduce a new, more sustainable life and business practice. Welcome to the first ever Recovering Overachievers Society! Please chime in below with your own confessions and let’s support each other in our recovery!

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Cortney McDermott – Co-founder & Owner, Chime Chime co-founder

Cortney McDermott is an internationally sought after sustainability and communications expert. After nearly a decade in the Fortune 500 world, Cortney decided to turn her passions into her profession. “The real crisis humanity faces is not planetary. It’s personal. At the heart of every poor decision, flawed system, or unhappy person is wrong thinking. We may not realize it, but we shape our world. It’s up to us whether we do so intentionally or not.”

An award-winning author and official blogger for The Huffington Post, Cortney helps others understand how to shape their reality with intention. Her 7-Step process to personal and professional transformation starts with what she calls simplicating: cutting away the unnecessary so we can hone in on the strategies and actions that spark success, enhance value, and create a better world. “It’s amazing the opportunities that open up when you build a discipline around doing the right thing.” Cortney has advised global corporate leaders on sustainability, corporate communications, and business strategy. She has also served as an executive at Vanity Fair Corporation, Vice President at Sustainability Partners, professor of graduate studies for Top Ten universities, and chair of multiple global business organizations.

She’s done all this without sacrificing her life as a wife, mother, marathon runner and yogi in a small mountain village in the North of Italy. Join her and thousands around the world chiming in to Work Life Harmony. Follow Worldwide Who’s Who honoree Cortney on Instagram and Twitter.

Cortney McDermott

getsomesas.com/

Creating BIG Incomes Requires Taking BIG Actions

November 30, 2013 by Melissa Stewart 1 Comment

by Ali Brown

From kitchen table startups to multimillionaire mom-preneurs, more women are taking control of their lives and shaping their own destinies today than ever before.

And the statistics are showing it…

We ladies are launching startups at nearly three times the national average rate in the U.S. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that leads to the fact that MORE than half the new small business jobs expected to be created by 2018 will be from women-owned firms.

It makes complete sense that entrepreneurship is so attractive to women right now. The traditional work model has never been a good fit for women, especially for those raising families, so for us, being able to custom-design a business that fits the lifestyle we want is the ultimate dream.

But, being an entrepreneur requires one KEY quality: the willingness to take risks. And this is where I see many promising entrepreneurs and new business owners struggle.

You see, when I mentor a client, they always start out saying they are finally ready to play big and build a wildly profitable business.

Then, we get to the place where they are required to take risks. Opportunity x lands right in their lap. And what often happens is — while they find x exciting — they get uncomfortable and start to shrink back. “I can’t spend that kind of money on x,” they say. Or, “I’m not ready for x yet.” Or “x is too big for little old me! Why don’t we start with y or z first?” Or, “x sound great, but let’s save it for next year.”

When we are born, we first crawl, then walk. In school, we go to grade one, grade two, grade three, and so forth. In college, we become freshmen, sophomores, juniors then seniors. In the working world, we start out as assistants and then we move up to managerial roles.

The problem is, this “grade school” way of thinking stays with us for life. And those of us who muster up the nerve to start a business don’t realize that when it comes to accumulating huge profits, this ladder-type thinking will defeat you. It feels safer, but in the end, it will get you nowhere.

What you need to do instead is leap. Leap over previous boundaries. Leap over your competition. Leap over everything! Big gains come from leaping — not ladder climbing. This will take some adjustment to your thinking.

To help my clients start thinking bigger, I recommend they read autobiographies and biographies of big-thinking entrepreneurs like my friend Sir Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey, Madonna, and Bill Gates. One of my favorite stories is in Richard’s humorous autobiography, Losing My Virginity, in which he shares how he started Virgin Airlines. He sold seats without knowing how he was going to get a plane. If that doesn’t inspire you, what will?

You’ll find that when these people came across big opportunities, they were in line with their mission, and they didn’t shy away. They jumped in all the way — even when the resources they needed to do so weren’t apparent yet.

Did you get that last part? They said yes even when they weren’t sure how they’d do it, where they’d get the money, or who could help them. And they found — sure enough as you will too — that when a big opportunity presents itself and you step up and say “yes”, and if you truly believe in your heart that this goal is yours, suddenly the universe seems to rearrange itself to help you.

And here’s the good news… You typically don’t have to go looking for these opportunities. They are usually right in front of you, or will soon drop in your lap. Once you declare you are ready, your awareness is heightened, a shift occurs, and you will suddenly see the path to all that you and your business can be.

So, are you ready to be an entrepreneur? If your heart is right now is shouting, “Yes!” make note now of the opportunities that are right in front of you.

For example:

Do you know of a big new client you could land if you really pursued them?
Are you aware of an accomplished mentor whom you could hire or whose program you could join?
Do you need to dramatically raise your rates?
Do you want to create a new income stream to increase your cash flow?
Are you aware of a powerful event you could attend that could help fast-forward your success?

Listen up… make the call, register for the spot, place the ad, invest in training, book the trip, list out potential income streams—whatever that step is—and make that big move. All your rewards are waiting… if you’re ready to make the leap!

QUESTION: What BOLD action step have you been putting off that could help you move forward in your life or business? Could you take that step this week? Please share in the comment section below!

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“Entrepreneur mentor Ali Brown teaches women around the world how to start and grow a profitable business that make a positive impact. Get her FREE CD “Top 10 Success Secrets for Entrepreneurial Women” at www.AliBrown.com“

Melissa Stewart

Melissa Stewart is the founder of SheOwnsIt.com. She is a Purveyor of Possibility, Entrepreneur Advocate and Coffee Addict. She believes that behind every successful woman is her story. What’s your story?

sheownsit.com/

What You Can Learn From The Most Successful Women Entrepreneurs by @AndyRatolo

October 18, 2013 by Guest Post 1 Comment

by Andy Ratolojanahary

Forbes Magazine recently posted a list of the most powerful female entrepreneurs in the world. Through passion, determination, and hard work, these women were able to achieve milestones in their career. Some have enjoyed success for a longer period of time than the others. However, all of their experiences have valuable life and career lessons that we all can learn from.

Oprah Winfrey
Know who you are and leverage your strength.

Oprah was born in Mississippi. Earlier in her childhood; she lived with her grandmother who taught her how to read. At age six, she moved in with her mother and was inflicted emotional and physical abuse from many of her male relatives. Later in her teens, she moved to Nashville to live with her father who has taught her discipline and required her to make book reports. At that time Oprah was already skilled in oratory speech and was given a broadcasting job at a radio in Nashville at age 16. She then worked as a TV anchor in Baltimore and found more success. She has mentioned in one of her interviews that for her being on television was like breathing and was “like the most natural thing” on earth. Because of her skills and interesting personality, people started talking about her, and soon were offered a talk show in Chicago which later became the Oprah Winfrey Show.

J. K. Rowling
If you hit rock bottom, you will have an opportunity to rebuild your life

J. K. Rowlings is best known for being the author of the Harry Potter saga. She is one of the wealthiest people in the UK. Fun fact: Believe it or not, she is even is richer than the queen. However, she has not always been this fortunate. Joanne Rowling had struggle with personal as well as financial problems while she went through a divorce and became a single mom. She worked as bilingual secretary at Amnesty International. The idea of the Harry Potter series came to her on a train ride from Manchester to London which has changed her life forever. Even though she had a job then, she was still struggling financially and did not feel happy. Without giving up, she started her journey of becoming a writer and making her dream a reality.

Arianna Huffington
Take time to have productive leisure and relaxation

Arianna is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post website. While born in Greece, she went to Grinton College in the UK and eventually moved to the United States after the end of a romantic relationship. Arianna had long been interested in politics and wrote few books and articles about this matter. She started The Huffington Post in 2005 with other co founders to create a community where people can talk freely about politics, news and other subjects. The Huffington post is now part of the AOL Company and is visited by millions of people every day. Although there is no doubt that Arianna has had hectic schedule to make her blog this successful. She is actually an advocate of taking time to have a break, to disconnect and be at peace with your own self. In fact, Arianna thinks that sleep along with moments of relaxation will bring more productivity in a day than just focusing on crunching the hours.

Tory Burch
Get thick skinned

Tory Burch is probably the most successful entrepreneur to make it in such a short amount of time. Tory launched her luxury brand supporting her birth name in 2004 and is now a billionaire. Tory drew her inspiration from her parents. When she started designing, she received more negative than positive feedback. However, she did not give in to all the critics and continued pursuing her passion. Because of her drive and passion the Brand Tory Burch can be found in most of the well-known specialty stores like Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman, and is a favorite for many women worldwide.

I hope you can take away key points from each of these incredible women, as you plan your road to success in your career. What life lessons from other successful women entrepreneurs would you like to share?

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Andy Ratolojanahary is a SEO and Community Engagement Intern with The Marketing Zen Group, an online digital marketing firm. She has a passion for the digital marketing industry and is eager to continue to work within that field for many years to come. She is also currently an MBA student at George Mason University just outside Washington, D.C. When she is not working or studying, she likes to spend long hours at coffee shops writing about the topics of women in business and enjoys meeting new people from different culture backgrounds. Follow her @AndyRatolo

Guest Post

She Owns It accepts guest post submissions at https://sheownsit.com/guest-post-submissions/. If you have an article that would be of value to our community, please submit for approval.

All posts will be screened, links checked (limited to 3 and must be relevant), and author must be verifiable through a website and social media accounts.

Female Entrepreneurs Reveal Their Business Success (Sponsored Post from Alibaba)

June 27, 2013 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

Meet Chelsea Abingdon Welch

Chelsea Abingdon Welch makes luxury designer watches for adventurous, high-flying women. At the age of just 19 she went about setting up her own business, challenging stereotypes to create a range of high quality aviation watches. She also runs a group that supports and celebrates female stunt pilots.

After initially learning to fly she noticed how all the guy pilots had amazing watches, which had all kinds of different functionalities. But she also noticed they only made them for men, so what did she do? She went out and produced a range for women, proving that there’s no point waiting for somebody else to do it when you can do it yourself.

Meet Kate Castle

Kate Castle’s story shows how you can create a business from the simplest idea and you don’t need a huge infrastructure to make it work. Being a mother of two children she noticed how, when out camping, going to the toilet in the middle of the night could be a problem. So she created Boginabag, a portable, lightweight toilet to meet these needs.

Even though she had no previous experience in how to turn something from an idea into a product, she got a product sketched out and then used Alibaba to find manufacturers and make her dream a reality. Now her business is growing into an international company — her story shows its possible to achieve whatever you set your mind to. She’s even inspired her kids to want to set up their own businesses too.

Meet Li Su Ling

Li Su Ling runs a successful clothing company that she started back in 2003. With the simple goal of wanting to produce quality outdoor clothing she’s seen her business grow and grow. She puts her success down to hard work, striving for excellence and maintaining high production values so that her team have respect for the product and take pride in the work they do.

With this solid relationship with her employees, it ensures customer satisfaction, as they know they can trust the product and the people behind it. Li Su Ling’s story teaches us a valuable lesson about creating the right work environment to encourage the best from those around you.

Find out more and submit your own story

Alibaba wants to hear your inspirational stories too. If  you’re a female entrepreneur they want you to submit your story and  you could be in with the chance to win a mentorship from one of five successful businesswomen.

It’s a unique opportunity to learn from experienced entrepreneurs who  have turned their ideas into business acumen. You’ll learn from some  of the best so you can expand your business and make it even greater, achieving more than you thought possible.

Find out more and submit your own story -> HERE

Guest Post

She Owns It accepts guest post submissions at https://sheownsit.com/guest-post-submissions/. If you have an article that would be of value to our community, please submit for approval.

All posts will be screened, links checked (limited to 3 and must be relevant), and author must be verifiable through a website and social media accounts.

50 Women You Should Be Following On Twitter

June 19, 2013 by Melissa Stewart 50 Comments

by Melissa Stewart

In a perfect world, this post would have gone out in May. In my mind, the post included short bios with additional links and photos. Alas, it was not to be. But, the list still rocks!

Since 2011, we’ve compiled a list of “Women To Follow On Twitter” – our lists come from a combination of suggestions from our readers and 365 days of Twitter interaction.

You can find all the ladies from our first two lists here -> https://twitter.com/MelissaOnline/she-owns-it-women2follow and the list will be updated with this year’s ladies soon!

See our 2011 list here -> https://sheownsit.com/women-should-be-following-on-twitter-2/

See our 2012 list here -> https://sheownsit.com/women/

I admire and am inspired by so many on Twitter every day. In the end, we chose 50 women who tweet valuable information and inspiration on a regular basis. Ladies who will respond to your questions, share a smile, raise their coffee mugs in *cheers* and are most definitely retweetable!

And with that, here they are 50 Women You Should be Following on Twitter!

Amy Neumann @CharityIdeas

Angela Maiers @AngelaMaiers

Anne Deeter Gallaher @AnneDGallaher

Annetta Powell @AnnettaPowell

Bek Davis @bekdavis

Beverly Davis @Beverly_Davis

Blessing Oyeleye @ThinkFeminist

Chelsea Krost @ChelseaKrost

Christine Korda @Christinekorda

Cindy W Morrison @CindyWMorrison

Crissy Herron @indiebizchicks

Debra Cincioni @MomsofAmerica

Debra Russell @artistsedge

Denise Wakeman @DeniseWakeman

Donna Maria Coles Johnson, Esq. @INDIEbusiness

Ekaterina Walter @Ekaterina

Elianne Ramos @ergeekgoddess

Erika Lyremark @dailywhip

Erin Blaskie @ErinBlaskie

Frederique Murphy @IrishSmiley

Georgia Cross @crossga

Heather Schuck @glamajama

Hillary Rubin @HillaryRubin

Ingrid Vanderveldt @ontheroadwithiv

Jenneil Peters @ModWorkingWoman

Jennifer Bourn @jenniferbourn

Jennifer Donogh @jenniferdonogh

Jessika Hepburn @ohmyhandmade

Julia Rosien @JuliaRosien

Karlena Wallace @StilettoWoman

Kim Garst @kimgarst

Laura Click @lauraclick

Liberty Madison @libertymadison

Lilach Bullock @lilachbullock

Lisa Cash Hanson @Mompreneurmogul

Liz Dennery Sanders @SheBrandLiz

Lori Gama @LoriGama

Lori Taylor @lorirtaylor

Marcy McKenna @marcymckenna

Marjorie Clayman @MargieClayman

Melinda Emerson @SmallBizLady

Melonie Dodaro @MelonieDodaro

Miki Strong @MikiStrong

Misty B. McPadden @mistygirlph

Nancy F Clark @NancyFClark

Natalie Sisson @suitcasepreneur

Shama Kabani @Shama

Suzanna Keith @skconcepts

Terri Nakamura @terrinakamura

Tonya Hall @TonyaHallRadio

Melissa Stewart is an entrepreneur advocate who has had a “home office” since age 5. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, addicted to coffee and eternally optimistic. Her latest project She Owns It is a site committed to empowering women entrepreneurs by offering resources, support and inspiration.

Melissa Stewart

sheownsit.com/

The 5 Worst Mistakes I See Women Entrepreneurs Make by @NatalieMacNeil

May 8, 2013 by Guest Post 10 Comments

by Natalie MacNeil

For anyone who knows me, they know the thing I’m most passionate about is helping women entrepreneurs do amazing things in the world. That’s why it pains me to know that while women entrepreneurs are starting far more businesses than men, our male counterparts are outperforming us again and again. I want to see those statistics change over the next few years and I’m on a mission to make that happen. I hate to make generalizations but the more I travel the world working with women entrepreneurs, the more similarities I see holding us back.

The choices you make…

I usually find that people in an unhappy position are usually there because of a decision they made, not someone else. Sometimes it is hard for people to recognize their errors and take responsibility. We get comfortable with pain and just ignore it or blame it on someone else.

The reality is that while someone can indeed cause you pain, most of the time it is you allowing them to do it! Have a partner that is driving you nuts? Feel overwhelmed? Quickly losing steam? Read below for some tips on what might have happened and what to do about it now. And don’t feel bad. I can only offer this advice now because I have made some of these mistakes myself!

Business partners are not for moral support.

What I mean to say is that going into business with your: husband, mother, brother, aunt, cousin or even your best friend will lead to disaster most of the time. Why? Because pre-existing feelings of trust and companionship are not how to choose a business partner.

Having said this, I do encourage you to work with a partner and I dedicate many pages in my book to describing what to look for.

Don’t give the milk away for free!

There is an art to promoting a business, product or even yourself with free things. “Free” is a great attention grabber and when deliberately applied it can be a powerful motivator.

However, women seem to want to give away much more than they can afford. It’s in our nature. Sure, it makes us feel great at that moment but what about a week from now when you’re drowning in responsibilities and pulling out your hair? What about when you pull your earnings sheet and find you have been making a whopping $7.50 per hour for all your hard work?

Learn to rein it in. Don’t be too quick to give big discounts or offer free service. Learn to do this and you might suffer a bit in the moment but be greatly rewarded in the end. Besides, if you hit your goals you can have all the money and free time to spend on people that you wish!

Too many women are working IN their businesses, not ON their businesses.

You have not tasted the sweetness of business until you can step back, delegate and grow. If you are spending all your time with your head down in the work, where are you being the boss? How are you expanding your business?

This is a hard lesson for most and it will burn you out quickly. If you can’t figure out how to get out from inside your business you need ideas, perspective and a bit of consulting probably wouldn’t hurt.

No matter how much you hate numbers, you can’t ignore them in your business.

What was your revenue last quarter compared to this quarter? What are your current, monthly operating expenses? What was your net profit last month?

If you can’t quickly look up these answers, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. Intelligent, informed decisions beat educated guesses every time. Take control of your business by getting a clear understanding of your finances. If it overwhelms you, hire a bookkeeper or look for a solution quickly. Hobby shops guess, businesses know.

Don’t settle for less than your fullest potential.

Many women need to be dared to dream big. You may not think it but you could be selling yourself short in the dream arena! I have to ask too many women, repeat¬edly, “But what does your business look like in your wildest dreams?” Would you believe getting an honest answer is like pulling teeth?

The reason to dream big is motivation and passion. Have your end goal be something that truly excites you and then stop at nothing to achieve it!
If you want to get all fired up about your business, I invite you to check out my free video training series for entrepreneurs, available until May 14th, 2013. Check it out here.

Photo Credit: HASLOO via Compfight cc

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Natalie MacNeil is an Emmy Award-winning media entrepreneur, Amazon bestselling author, and the Founder of SheTakesOnTheWorld.com.

Guest Post

She Owns It accepts guest post submissions at https://sheownsit.com/guest-post-submissions/. If you have an article that would be of value to our community, please submit for approval.

All posts will be screened, links checked (limited to 3 and must be relevant), and author must be verifiable through a website and social media accounts.

Spotlight on our She Owns It February Sponsors!

February 26, 2013 by Melissa Stewart Leave a Comment

by Melissa Stewart

It’s that time again! One of my FAVORITE posts each month!! It’s time to shine the spotlight on our amazing She Owns It sponsors!

We LOVE and SUPPORT them and hope you will do the same. We encourage you to follow them on twitter, like them on Facebook, and support their businesses!

We’re here to celebrate, support, and connect women entrepreneurs. If you’re interested in being a She Owns It sponsor, contact us!

Got 15 minutes? Help empty nest mom Pamela Agard with her Capella University empty nest survey! Be part of a real doctoral study – make a contribution to research about women – your voice will go a long way. Read more about her story and the survey HERE.

Take her QUICK 15 minute survey and you could win $300! Click here to take the survey now!

Dariela is an established graphic designer and blogger based in San Diego, California. She worked as a Junior Designer, Senior Designer and Art Director in the corporate world in Venezuela, Mexico City and Los Angeles for 15 years. After that she co-founded Folklore Eye -A paper arts company- with her sister Dariana in 2006 and then rebranded to Dari Design Studio in 2010 which now provides more ample services for the graphic design industry.

Since 2007 Dariela keeps a personal bilingual (Spanish-English) blog: Mami Talks, where she captures the family life, culture, and inspirations with an original and unique touch.

It’s time to off your blindfold and start living with your eyes wide open. LIFT Your Business to the Next Level with Enlightened / Empowered Legal, Insurance, Financial & Tax Decisions Made Without Worry, Doubt or Fear. No one teaches about vital (and far too often overlooked) legal, insurance, financial + tax systems like Alexis Neely. Get the business knowledge you need delivered in a way you can understand.

From her site “Life isn’t perfect, but what fun would that be?!? Growth comes as we allow ourselves to stretch into the discomfort and hit our edges. That’s where I love to live. On the edge. The razor’s edge. Because that’s where I find truth.”

Twitter | Facebook

DPK Graphic Design is run by Dawn Papandrea-Khan a multiple business owner and mother of 4 small children. She is a “Jack of all Trades” and a woman of many talents. She has a great passion for research and creative design. She enjoys finding ways to improve the business of others through her creative expression.

Twitter: @paintermommy | Facebook: /DPKGraphicDesign

As soon as investment crowdfunding is legal (early in the new year), CrowdCheck will make due diligence checks on entrepreneurs seeking crowdfunding. This will give entrepreneurs a way to show that they are legitimate, and help crowdfunding investors make an informed investment decision and avoid fraud. Crowdcheck will walk entrepreneurs through the disclosure and verification process so that they can be sure they meet all the regulatory requirements. CrowdCheck is owned by two women who met while working for the Congressional Oversight Panel headed by Elizabeth Warren.

www.crowdcheck.biz

Twitter: @crowdcheckbiz | Facebook: /CrowdCheck-Inc

Meet Bek from Nashville, Tennessee! Bek has taken the idea of working from home and turned it into art form – literally!

As a trained chef, Bek was able to indulge her need to be creative while assembling unique and tempting new dishes for her clients. But, when her first child was born in 2000, she and her husband decided that it would be best for Bek to become a stay-at-home mom.

While she loved being home with her daughter, Bek quickly realized that she missed having that creative outlet. She also wanted a way to continue to contribute to her family’s income. The solution? Build a business! While her daughter slept, Bek taught herself website design. What began as a new adventure in creativity, grew into a leading stay-at-home mom based website design company. Today, Bek Davis Designs has grown to include many other experts in website design as well as business branding.

Twitter: @BekDavis | Facebook: /bekdavisdesign

Marlee Ward (@marleeward) provides business and marketing training to entrepreneurs who are tired of solving the same “old problems” the same old ways (using cookie-cutter systems, tactics, & tips). An attorney turned entrepreneur, Marlee has made it her mission to help others use their God-given gifts for good and for profit – just as she has. If you’re ready to find out what happens when faith, business, and fun intersect, be sure to sign up for her free weekly e-mail business training that you can get by clicking here or sign up to attend one of her free spark sessions by clicking here.

Twitter: @marleeward | Facebook: /Marlee-Ward

The team at Ovaleye produces and hosts live stream shows, videos, and blog content that inspires and motivates small business owners in growing their brands online and off. We currently have four weekly live shows: Home Office Lifestyle, Small Businesses Do it Better, Young Female Entrepreneurs, and The Cloud Maven. Show up to a live stream to meet other business owners in the chat and ask our guests questions. Catch the replay, jump on the Virtual Road Trip, or get in on the ACTION calendar at any time. Check us out at ovaleye.tv.

Twitter @Ovaleye | Facebook: /ovaleyetv

Wendie Pett, a nationally recognized name in the fitness industry, is passionate about motivating and encouraging people to make fitness and nutrition part of their daily routine. She enthusiastically teaches the care of mind, body and spirit, assisting others to learn the importance of reaching their full God-given potential through her Visibly Fit™ program.

Wendie has a national television program that airs weekly on the NRB network. She’s the Midwest Regional Director for Christian Women in Media Association and she speaks often to large groups about her Visibly Fit™ health and wellness philosophies. She has a Doctrine of Naturopathy and works as a fitness/wellness coach and consultant with individuals around the world. Wendie is an author and has developed numerous fitness DVDs. To learn more click here!

Twitter: @wendiepett | Facebook: /visiblyfit

“Take the necessary steps to protect your brand now. Changing your business name after significant investment is costly and could be detrimental to your business.”

TradeMarks The Spot^TM was started by Laurie Marshall in an effort to help entrepreneurs and small business owners protect their intellectual properties, specifically their trademarks. Laurie has been a trademark attorney for over 15 years and has worked for several well-known Intellectual Property firms in New York City.

From Laurie’s site “Trademarks are everywhere in life and I love seeing the trademarks I clear and protect on television, in the movies, on products in stores and on signs in the city. But one of the most fulfilling parts of my job is sitting down with entrepreneurs and listening to their ideas and hearing the excitement in their voices about new business ventures.”

You can find Laurie at TMtheSpot or on Linkedin

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Melissa Stewart is a serial entrepreneur who has had a “home office” since age 5. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, addicted to coffee and eternally optimistic. Her latest project https://sheownsit.com/ is a site committed to empowering women entrepreneurs by offering resources, support and inspiration. @melissaonline

Melissa Stewart

sheownsit.com/

Four Women Entrepreneurs Who Are Keeping It “Made in America”

July 4, 2012 by Melissa Stewart 3 Comments

by Melissa Stewart

I thought this would make a perfect 4th of July post! I want to honor some of the amazing women entrepreneurs who are living their American dream and keeping their products MADE IN THE USA!

Do you know of a company that is supporting our economy by keeping their products “Made in America” and providing much needed jobs? PLEASE share a link in the comments below

Hugrz™

http://www.hugrz.com

The story is simple. Like most ideas, Hugrz™ started with a need and a want. The need? Warm feet. The want? A great looking pair of boots.

I had such a bad case of cold feet that I could not walk out of the hockey rink. I knew that I needed to buy a really warm pair of winter boots, but I could not decide which ones. I loved the boots with fur… I loved the ones with fringe… I loved the ones with sweater knit… but did not want to commit all that money to just one look. And, I did not want to wear the same boots every darn winter day.

I couldn’t choose, and now you don’t have to either!

Buy one pair of great boots and change the look with Hugrz™ boot wraps. Wear them scrunched down on short boots, pulled up on tall boots, or pulled up on your legs to make your short boots look tall! Make them even more your own by switching out the accessories. I designed them for the various shearling boots, but they look great on many styles, including heels and even cowboy boots!

Hugrz™ boot wraps are proudly made in the U.S.A. and all of the fur is 100% acrylic.

On Twitter: @hugrz or founder @huggrzdeb

In the press: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/holiday-gifts-made-america-create-jobs-15216520

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School House

http://www.shopschoolhouse.com

The School House mantra, “American Collegiate Craftsmanship,” represents the company’s vision for elevating ethical production and reviving U.S. apparel manufacturing on the East coast. For the past three years, School House has designed fashion-forward college clothing and accessories that are socially responsible and crafted with care and quality. Our exclusive collections of men’s and women’s licensed apparel and accessories are Made in the USA and are available at over 50 college bookstores nationwide.

On Twitter: @schoolhouseinc or founder @rachelrweeks

In the press: http://www.inc.com/30under30/donna-fenn/rhttp://www.shopschoolhouse.com/achel-weeks-founder-of-school-house.html

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Fairway Fox

http://www.fairwayfox.com/

At Fairway Fox, we set out to design a line that would elevate and modernize golf apparel. Quality, style and superior tailoring are our priorities. Combining athletic performance fabrics, high end hardware and fashion trends seen on the runway, we believe that attention to detail is what sets Fairway Fox apart. In addition, our products are easy to care for and machine washable – a must for a successful, athletic and busy woman on the go. We are proud to stand behind every single piece we make here in the USA.

In the news: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/48042805/ns/today-style/#.T_SrfvURaSp

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DeVine Lip Shimmers

http://www.devineshimmers.com/

We have taken all the benefits of wine and put them into beautiful lip shimmers. What’s really special is on the inside. For wonderful anti-aging benefits we have added Grapeseed Oil, Resveratrol and Red Wine antioxidants.

Devine is manufactured in the USA in an award winning facility that exceeds federal quality standards and operates under the strict guidelines of the FDA. This facility is regularly audited by the FDA and also carries the USDA’s Organic certification, and has been in operation since 1994.

On Twitter: @1DeVineGal

In the press: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUs4TOu-eD0

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Melissa Stewart

sheownsit.com/