She Owns It

Celebrating, Connecting, and Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

4 Pillars of a Civil Society by @SBSLEducSoltns

by Leave a Comment

 

The ‘Holidays’ …

 

… offer entrepreneurs a renewed opportunity to serve, solve, & be civil, especially in hyper competitive industries.

 

With this mindset, we can ask ourselves a key question:

 

How can business owners strengthen the pillars of our civil society?

 

Please think & then brainstorm ways to turn thoughts into energy; consider this post both informative AND actionable.

 

Defining civil society

This topic echoes last month’s post, many definitions exist, leaving us with another question to ponder that’s also well worth our time. Which to pick?

 

Here’s my chosen one.

 

Yet, if you settle on another, there isn’t a ‘wrong’ answer; your choice is likely tied to your unique perspective, lens, and/or life experiences.

 

Civil societies, in the 19th century, often included a ‘sister’ term, a component, [a] mutual aid society …

 

[they] prefigure most functions of the modern state. They’re at least as old as armies, but their mission is life, not death. For millennia, people have banded together to provide each other with health care, pensions, … and livelihoods. They have also leveraged their numbers to elicit some of these same benefits from those other two institutions, business and the government. Mutual aid extends the bonds of kinship and makes individuals into citizens.

― Anya Kamenetz

 

1st pillar :  The Family   

The holidays & families often are rightfully intertwined: so, too, the first pillar of civil society is emblazoned with the word ‘family’ & it’s an earned label.

 

Maybe you’re a family business? Nearby where I live, the Conway Center is a terrific resource for them & the other businesses who seek to serve this demographic. Quite likely, there are ‘like’ organizations elsewhere in America, as family businesses are very common.

 

Perhaps some/all of your clients/customers are families?

 

No matter how we look at it, it’s rather challenging to separate family from civil society, and a civil society from entrepreneurship.

 

2nd pillar : Non Profits ( inc. social enterprise )  

As the 19th century transitioned into the 20th, mutual aid societies began to fade; previously thriving organizations were often overshadowed as America became more centralized, corporatized, & urbanized.

 

We’ve now begun (  this post offers backgrounder ) turning back, with a modern flair, to where we once were as a civil society. Rough edges & burrs on the saddle of the Gig (Sharing/Youpreneur) Economy can, without question, be ‘buffed’ by devolving & delegating societal challenges & thorny problems to non profit institutions, especially social enterprises.

 

What’s a social enterprise? As stated in this annual report, they’re ‘easy to understand’ & more necessary to renewing our nation than many might realize.

 

3rd pillar : Faith institutions 

Faith in the entrepreneurial ‘square’, our common culture, let alone civil society, often stirs up emotions & thorny debates.

 

To avoid needless arguments, I humbly encourage everyone to consider multiple definitions:

Perhaps you’ll pick ‘faith’ as defined by the venerable Napoleon Hill in his masterwork, ‘Think & Grow Rich’ , or maybe you’ll instead lean into a Judeo-Christian foundational definition, as espoused by organizations like Truth At Work.

 

No matter your decision, this pillar’s densely strong, earning its place as one of the key four; it props up each & every business owner at some point(s) in her journey from ideating a business, to launch/startup phase, thru ebb & flood tides, linear or exponential growth,  & further ahead into an as of yet unknown future.

 

How so? Faith oft times can act as the antithesis of fear; it can buttress your failures & keep you anchored to your purpose & mission.

 

4th & final pillar:  Entrepreneurs

And now, the spotlight shines brightly on Y-o-u:  The business founder/owner, the entrepreneur.

 

If by now it wasn’t crystal clear, it now will be: Entrepreneurship, in all its forms/types , is absolutely a pillar.

 

You’ve likely seen/heard statistics about small businesses’ vast importance to our nation’s vitality.

Or, maybe you’ve encouraged someone to start their own business at some point: maybe a family member?; neighbor?; a past co-worker?; or as a mentor for a future graduate or recent alumna from your alma mater?

 

Action(s) as common as keeping your business viable, including delegating task(s) to someone like Karissa , or expanding your product line, are each useful in ensuring that this fourth pillar will always be foundational for generations of Americans in the 2020’s & well beyond.

 

Further context to the first question

The first three pillars have boundless potential: leveraging 1, 2, or all 3 can enable your business(es) to morph from a pure ‘S’ [ self employed ]; to at least a hybrid ‘ S/B’, or even a straight ‘B’.  It’s the latter state where you’ve reached the nirvana of time freedom; you’re definitely working “on” & NOT “in” your venture, thereby freeing the owner to participate more actively in civil society.

 

Profiles Worth Following

NapHill.org

Social Ventures

Truth@Work

DSC

Sivers

YEA USA

Conway Center

 

Please invest further…

… in your thinking.

You’ve read & trustfully sensed the heart, soul, & spirit of this created content; now, will you commit to dig into this curated content from other valuable resources?

 

Civil Society

Mutual Aid Societies & the Gig Economy

Social Capital Primer

Root

B2C v B2B 

Working “ON” & not “IN” a Business

 

In short

  • The holidays offer a chance to reflect
  • Civil society: Quotable quote & definition[s]
  • First two:  Family & Non profits
  • Second 2 : Faith & Entrepreneurs
  • Further context
  • Follow these Social profiles
  • As always, take action: curated content from add’t resources

 

Thank YOU for reading!

____________________________________________

Stages of Success by @SBSLEducSoltns

by Leave a Comment

[ ‘S o S’ ] = Leveraging Stages to Earn Something More: Significance

 

Flying @ 35K ft

 

As entrepreneurs, we’ve often heard how important it is to be successful.

 

And, as so many of us also know, success is defined in so many different ways, through lots of different life experiences & lenses, that there could be a fairly large library filled with content on ..

 

What is success?

How to be successful?

Who is a success & Why?

Where can success be learned?

 

To be clear, the stages that will be discussed below all DO feed into this ‘black box’ known as success, however, in my reasoned view, if each is leveraged unto one another, you’ll earn something far more impactful in the long term:  Significance.

 

Success vs. Significance

It’s left to you, the reader, to decide what you seek to pursue. A quick web search returns oodles of success quotes & related content:

Click HERE , then HERE to dip a toe ever so slightly into the ocean: The video & infographic in the latter are wonderfully displayed, by the by!

 

“Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.”

―Peter F. Drucker

 

Turning the page to significance, one of the best sources to land on?  THIS one.

Our businesses can either drive us, as their owner/founders, to a significant life, or our lives can be the spark on the embers of the business, turning it from just surviving, to a modicum of success, and perhaps significance.

 

So, the road, visualized as two lanes, does have one going in one direction, and the other in its opposite.

 

“The difference between real life and a story is that life has significance, while a story must have meaning. The former is not always apparent, while the latter always has to be, before the end.”

― Vera Nazarian

 

Breaking down the stages  

 

I contend that each stage can be swapped for another, so the order below isn’t as important as the very high level explanation of the stage. And, if you happen to have multiple business ventures, you might even leverage the 5 stages differently, if & when you choose to pursue significance in either, or more.

 

Mental 

There are miles upon miles of created content online that talks up the vast importance of an entrepreneur’s mental mindset – the ‘inner game’ between the ears, so to say.

 

To be successful, you might’ve already noticed how you might ( or already have ) had to tune out cynics, critics, and unhealthy skeptics.

 

How it is often best to replace, 1:1, the mass media’s many arms with podcasts, webinars, audio books, and the like.

 

Yes, that quote about your mind being a garden, and having to pull the weeds?  It’s quite accurate.

 

Cultural  

Your workplace culture, or the culture ( coffee shop/cafe?  Coworking space? ) in which you invest time if not at a physical location of some sort, definitely is a puzzle needing solving.

 

Culture is an amorphous term, just like success; many thought leaders come to varying conclusions.

 

Yet, if you’re the founder or owner of a business with staff on payroll, you know how crucial culture is; your customer service; turnover; &/or engagement/satisfaction are each outward signs of how healthy it is.

 

In this post from a few years ago, I opined that culture feeds into vision, then strategy, & lastly, tactics.

 

Social [ Capital ] 

Your professional network/s are immensely valuable; while it’s best understood that clientele can come from any one of many concentric circles  ( perhaps a connector led to to a center of influence to this individual ), a very important concept is that of social capital.

 

While there are many phenomenal resources out there, one of the most impactful is found in the work of Mr. Robert Putnam — linked below is his ‘primer’ website, which by itself is chock full of goodness and explains well why this is a stage of success.

 

Financial

Whether or not you believe in retaining the services of a financial advisor/planner, or otherwise, you’re definitely encouraged to embrace the vast value in understanding the financial stage.

 

In my own professional journey, which began with one business venture as a side gig/hustle, one of the most impactful stages I ever engaged in?

 

= Moving from a consumerist/W-2 to a producer/entrepreneurial view of dollars & cents.

 

Since the vast majority of conventional classrooms in our nations don’t include much, usually any, content on money/literacy, let alone wisdom on how to invest, spend, and/or save money, it is left to us, as the owner/founder, to tap into the deep rivers of resources.

 

Leader[ship] -> Legacy

This stage alone could comprise a series of volumes, if not another separate library, alongside the success.

 

In this recent post, I unpacked variants of leadership. It wasn’t all encompassing, however, feel welcome to re(read) it and combine this stage with that post, to equal greater impact.

 

An informal mentor of mine teaches that one’s influence ( Excellent podcast HERE ) flows to impact ( which we’ll intentionally define as significance, as you leverage all 5 stages ) , then the entrepreneur reaches what she needs to be a viable business:  Income.

 

Intentionally moving from leading to legacy is a topic that deserves its own post; yet, it’s included above since both seem to be deeply intertwined:

 

leaving a legacy necessitates leading, just as much as the river of influence x impact feeds the ocean of legacy.  

 

Suggested Social Follows 

 

Robert D Putnam

 

Jim Collins

 

John C. Maxwell

 

Robert Kiyosaki

 

Mindset Works

 

As always, you’re encouraged to …

 

… use this monthly post as a jumping off point; take it as the sound of the starter’s pistol in track & field:

 

Ready ( reading this  ).  Set ( click on the links ).  & …  Go!  ( invest in content, set goals, et al. )

 

Social Capital Primer

Success Magazine

Servant Leadership Institute

Great By Choice

Rich Dad Radio Show

 

In short

 

  • A high level overview
  • Comparing 2 ‘S’ words
  • The 5 Stages – one by one
  • Recommended Twitter follows
  • Additional content

 

Thank YOU for reading!

____________________________________________

What We Can Learn from These Innovative Women by @DrRKayGreen

by Leave a Comment

by Dr. R. Kay Green | Featured Contributor

Women in business have a lot to learn from each other. That is why companies like Inc. Magazine compile lists like the Female Founders 100. This list celebrates the female entrepreneurs that have made strides in their respective industries.

And while a lot of what they have learned is specific to their industry, there is always a universal lesson that we can take away. Here are just five:

Lesson 1: Always be expanding.

Polina Veksler, Universal Standard

Veksler started strong with Universal Standard, setting up shop with a friend in 2015 to create one-of-a-kind fashion for plus-sized bodies. But she did not stop there. In fact, she has been able to grow Universal Standard at a rate of 200 percent, all while growing her family and herself.

Her story is one that all business owners can take a lesson from. Your business can always be bigger, and you can always take the “next step” to grow, both professionally and personally. A growth mindset will always be more beneficial than a fixed mindset.

Lesson 2: There is never a perfect time.

Nichole Mustard, Credit Karma

Anyone who wants to start a business but is waiting for the right time should take note of Nichole Mustard’s journey. In the early days of Credit Karma, she spent more than a third of the year on the road. This was despite having a child already. And she did not slow down in her desire to have a family, either—she went on to have three more children.

“We didn’t want to slow down the family and we didn’t want to slow down with the work,” she recalls. “There’s never a perfect time, right?”

As you begin to grow your business, there will be a million reasons to quit. And you should not neglect what is important to you, whether that be your family, your relationship, or something else. But if you work hard, you can have it all. Make sure that you are not using obligations as an excuse to avoid chasing your dreams.

Lesson 3: Do not be afraid to say no.

Brené Brown, Brené Brown Education and Research Group

Sometimes, the lessons that we can take from someone are the lessons that they are still trying to learn.

This is the case in what we can learn from Brené Brown, who is focusing her attention on saying no and being more selective with her time. “When I first started, I didn’t say no to anything, because I wanted to prove I could do it,” she says. Now she is ready to “say no to a lot of things, and get really clear on who I want to be.”

Lesson 4: Stand out.

Jessica O. Matthews, Uncharted Power

From the time she was 22 and founding her own business, Matthews has been dedicated to making a splash. Whether it is her advanced energy-producing technology or her impressive achievements — raising $7 million in financing, for example — she has never been afraid to push the boundary of what it means to be in business, particularly as a black woman business founder.

Women in business can learn a lot from Matthews. So often, we are afraid of taking a risk, or failing, or looking foolish. But if we dare to stand out, we will be remembered.

Lesson 5: Take the first step.

Katonya Breaux, Unsun Cosmetics

Anyone can have an idea. But it takes a real visionary to put it into action. Katonya Breaux is one of those visionaries. Her idea came when she realized that most of the safer sunscreens she came across only came in one color: white. As a black woman, Breaux thought this was not ideal. Most people would have simply left the thought at that, but Breaux took it a step further.

“I learned something by happenstance that affected my beauty and, I learned, that also affected my health,” says Breaux. “So I said, why not me?” So she created the cosmetics line that now caters to people of all skin tones.

“Why not me” is a powerful thought for anyone in business. Every day, business ventures die without ever being verbalized, simply because the person with the initial thought is not bold enough to act on it. If you want to succeed in business, especially as a woman, Breaux’s boldness is something you should strive to emulate.

———————————————————————-

Dr. R. Kay Green – Marketing Expert from RKG Marketing Solutions Inc. from Atlanta, GA.

Dr. KayDr. R. Kay Green is the CEO/President of RKG Marketing Solutions Inc. With over 190,000+ Twitter followers, 35,000+ Facebook Likes, and the Top 1% LinkedIn profile designation, Dr. Kay, a self-motivated trailblazer, is the Quintessential “New-Age” Professional Woman, and PhD Marketing Pro. She earned a Doctorate of Business Administration in Marketing, and has completed PhD coursework in Leadership and Organization Change. She also holds a Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Management, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, and an Associate of Arts in Marketing Management.

She is affiliated with several prestigious universities and has instructed over 350 courses online. A popular speaker on Marketing and Business topics, Dr. Green is currently featured on Huffington Post, Black Enterprise, Black News, The Network Journal, Business Review USA, Digital Journal, College View, Business New Hampshire Magazine, Bay State Banner, Reader’s Circle, North Dallas Gazette, Harlem News, Top News Today, One News Page, NE Informer, Women in Business PR News, Consumer News Today, Women PR News, San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, Chicago Daily Herald, The Miami Herald, and Book News Articles.

Twitter – Facebook – LinkedIn

Mompreneurs Educating Kids by @SBSLEducSoltns

by Leave a Comment

 

So, you’re a mom with a business …  

… & you want them to understand your why . 

 

Aspirations

 

You’re already the CEO, COO, & CFO of your household. Yet, you desire to create a legacy, being remembered as more than just a mom-preneur who provides a product/s, service/s, or specialized knowledge to the marketplace.

So you resume the role of primary educator; you’re on a mission to educate your kids on why you don’t have to go to “work” like their friends’ moms do.

Yet, the school that you’ve entrusted to prepare them for adulthood isn’t cutting it when it comes to discussing business principles & your value system; so, what should you do?

 

Values & principles 

 

How would you answer?

“What values and principles led you to become a mom-preneur?”

 

  • Autonomy ( I like to make my own hours, pick my own clients )

  • Mastery ( my prior experience in “Y” industry is enough to be confident in my abilities )

  • Purpose ( I am driven to be a difference maker on “Z” ; I am ‘called’ to serve “X” )

  • Maximizer ( I’m not paid enough by a 3rd party to do all that my family wants  )

  • Independent ( my personality & social style align with owning a business )

  • Quality time ( I needed to spend more hours w/ family )

 

Family Culture 

As someone who embraces entrepreneurship & leadership/professional development, you might be familiar with the late Peter Drucker’s attributed quote about culture.

Having defined culture, you can better explain your decision to be an entrepreneur as not only best for yourself, but one made in the best interests of the family; including your child(ren) will enable them to buy in 

Congratulations!! You’ve taken a huge step in ensuring that they will better understand if a client calls on you at an inopportune time or if you have to adjust the family’s budget due to ups & downs in your income.

 

Family Vision

Many entrepreneurs choose to start a business based on where they see themselves going after leaving the nest of an employer = a wise step!

While Stephen R. Covey has passed, the shadow left by his legacy is so large, he’ll always be remembered for his 8 habits

 

Of them, Habit 2 [ ‘Begin with the End in Mind’ ] is foundational.

 

“Covey says that all things are created twice: first, the mental conceptualization & visualization and a second physical, actual creation.

Becoming your own creator means to plan & visualize what you’re going to do and what you’re setting out to accomplish & then go out and creating it.”

 

Apply this truth to your household; then answer these Success Law questions …

 

Why are you in business?

Do you have multiple income streams?

What dreams have you put on the shelf due to a previous decision to trade time for money from an employer?

 

Insightful Infographic 

 

How mompreneurs balance …

–  h/t to @99designs for this –

 

Visuals tell more of a story than words alone, so your impressions gleaned after studying this one will further aid in self-educating your kids.

 

School falls Short

I often advise mompreneurs of this fact; it’s a somewhat inconvenient truth:

When you send you kid(s) to a conventional school, private (secular or faith based), or public (default option), the curricula, testing, mindset, & counseling offered for ‘careers’ almost always fails to include entrepreneurship.

 

Fill in the [Swiss Cheese] Holes

Think of a “C.A.R” when it comes to addressing the above …

 

C = Complement

 

Find mentor(s), online curricula, &/or teach your kids from your own experience about business to parallel what schooling doesn’t include.

 

A = Add on

 

If your kids are in their late teens & about to/or have graduated from HS, please discuss all 12 options besides college with them.

Or, if you truly want her to get a degree, ask pointed questions of the university re: if they teach about the “E” pathway

 

Bypass the holes; find or carve a clear path

The final letter in the acronym is a bypass …

 

R = Replace

 

Creating an end-around to conventional school can be done through a co-op w/ other parents ( your own school startup ) , or personalizing your kid(s) education by home schooling.

Both of these offer far more flex to include business concepts rarely, if ever, taught in default classrooms.

 

Dealing with Doubters

 

As Rocky passionately shared, the world [of entrepreneurship] certainly isn’t all ‘sunshine & rainbows’ …

… so for those fellow moms in your neighborhood who still “go to work” for a paycheck, for a spouse who isn’t quite on board with your business, or maybe you haven’t yet ‘closed the deal’ with your kid/s …

What do you do to quell cynics & critics?

There are many answers; I’d first encourage you, as someone who has built thousands of business relationships, to be the best version of yourself.

Simplistic? Yes, however, true leadership isn’t complex; it begins w/self.  Remind yourself of this by reading the inscription on the tomb of the Bishop at Westminster Abbey.

 

Suggested Follows 

 

The MomPreneur

 

majestapatterson

 

Mompreneurs in Heels

 

Mompreneur Show

 

Inspiring Mompreneurs

 

Top 40 Mompreneurs

 

In the pursuit of knowledge 

I encourage you to review the additional resources below. A blog of this length leaves the door slightly ajar; please empower yourself to kick it wide open!

 

10 Mompreneurs Who Are Crushing It

 

Mompreneur Magazine

 

The 25 Best Business Ideas …

 

Mompreneur $

 

10 Inspiring Tips …

 

Mompreneur Media

 

In short

  • Moms with businesses & kids are trailblazers
  • Your values & principles
  • Culture into Vision
  • School needs supplements …
  • … or choose a parallel path
  • Staying the course
  • Add’t resources for you, Mrs. Mom-Preneur

 

Thank YOU for reading!

____________________________________________

How To Fill Your Sales Funnel Over The Summer – 5 Tips To Get Started by @XLConsultingGro

by Leave a Comment

fill your sales funnel over the summer

by Elaine Slatter | Featured Contributor

It’s a great idea to fill your sales funnel over the summer when everyone is more relaxed. Sales are all about making connections with people in your target customer group.  Sales don’t happen the first time you meet someone.  There is a process for sales that takes time.  During the summer people are on vacation, spending time with their families and generally having a good time.  But that doesn’t mean they take the whole summer off!  Well, a few people have that luxury, but for most of us, we are still working.  It’s important to keep that in mind so you can still work on filling your sales funnel over the summer because what you are doing is building relationships for later on down the road, perhaps this fall or winter?

How can you fill your sales funnel over the summer?

  1. Invite your prospects to coffee on a patio or if you don’t have time for a physical meeting, why not schedule a coffee date over Zoom?  Convenient for you and convenient for your contact.Attend networking events where your prospects are hanging out.  If your target audience is golfers, then go to fundraising golf tournaments.  There are plenty of opportunities to spend quality time building relationships when you are spending the whole day with like-minded people
  2. Seek out connectors – connectors are people who meet you and then offer to introduce you to other people who might need your services.  They are usually introverts, really good listeners who want to understand you and your services, so be very clear what you and your services are all about.  They don’t necessarily need your services themselves but are only too happy to introduce you to people who could.
  3. Tee up speaking engagements.  Some conveners are looking for speakers up to a year in advance, so make contacts over the summer when it is less busy to seek out opportunities for later in the year.
  4. Strategically plan your fall and winter by mapping out how you are going to deliver value to the people already on your mailing list.  You can prep for your courses, ebooks and maybe even map out your first book of authority and get started over the summer.  Did you know that writing a book is the best way to give value to prospects?  It is the best business card you can have, it will help you fill your sales funnel over the summer and all year long.
  5. Seek out collaborators – These are people who you know and maybe work in a similar field but your services are complementary to each other.  You can even collaborate with trusted competitors if you decide that you can work together and carve out different sections where you agree not to compete.

How To Find Time To Start a Business While Having a Full-Time Job by @MaryLiu

by 2 Comments

by Mary Liu

“I wish I had the time to do that.”

This is a saying I hear far too often, and an excuse I used to always use. It’s so easy to say, but I realized that it was just an excuse so I could stay in my comfort zone. It wasn’t until last year when I decided to challenge myself and take action on a niche product idea that I discovered I actually had a lot more time in a day than I thought.

When I was in the initial stages of developing my product idea, I had to figure out how to balance this along with a full-time job. Because of this, I learned a lot about how to maximize my time, and as a result turned an idea into a product and launched it on e-commerce in 6 months.

Today, I still use what I learned about time management to balance a full-time job, my e-commerce side business, and still leave time for myself.

So, how did I do it? Below are 3 tips that worked for me in turning an idea into a product in 6 months while working at a full-time job.

Tip #1: Learn during times when you can easily multi-task

Here are some examples of what I mean:

  • Walking or commuting to places (e.g. work)
  • Waiting for an appointment (e.g. doctor’s appointment)
  • Meal prepping for the week (e.g. chopping/prepping food for an hour)
  • At the gym (e.g. running on the treadmill)
  • Shopping (e.g. buying groceries)

These are perfect moments to listen to podcasts, watch videos, or read articles. This was helpful for me in learning the next steps I needed to take on my idea.

In some of these instances, I had anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. However, all of these moments will add up, where finishing one article on my commute to work became 10 articles by the end of the week. And that was enough to help me understand what I needed to do next with my idea.

Tip #2: Find times when you can create instead of consume

We all have some sort of routine we follow. When I tracked what I was doing for a week, I realized that there were instances when I was spending a lot of time consuming.

It’s okay consuming content especially when it comes to learning, but I made sure that I still had time for creating.

For instance, here are some examples I found in my routine where I took some of the time spent on consuming content to work on my idea:

  • TV (e.g. watching Netflix for 2-3 hours after work)
  • Browsing the web (e.g. spending hours on YouTube)
  • Social media (e.g. scrolling through Instagram or Facebook)

Don’t get me wrong, I still do the above from time to time, but it’s all about moderation. Instead of spending hours watching shows, I would take a few of those hours to work on my idea instead.

Tip #3: Create a to-do list for the week with very specific tasks

What I found helpful in saving time during the week was creating a to-do list on Sundays. I would lay out everything I wanted to accomplish for that week in order of priorities and make the tasks very specific.

For instance, when I was developing my product, I wouldn’t put “build a product” as my to-do for that week. Instead, I would write “reach out to manufacturers” or “find a graphic designer.”

That way, I knew what steps I needed to take going into each week and I didn’t have to spend time feeling overwhelmed on what to do the day of. This was helpful for me to remain focused on the specific tasks I needed to accomplish just for that week.

Once I reflected on what I was doing each week and where I was spending my time, I was able to find opportunities using these tips to find time in my schedule and make progress on my idea. All of these small moments added up, and by the end of 6 months I had a business.

Now I can say, “I had the time to do that.”

And I want you to be able to say it too.

———————————————————————————-

Mary Liu is a marketer and business coach who has experience working on million-dollar brands and launching new-to-market products. She is passionate about using her experience to help female entrepreneurs understand how they can turn their product idea into a business. Learn more about Mary here and get her free guide on the 2 most important steps to take after you’ve landed on a business idea.

Education … School(ing) … & Degree Signaling by @SBSLEducSoltns

by Leave a Comment

Dissecting the Differences

 

 

Remember ‘synonyms’ & ‘antonyms’?

 

Let’s revisit 2 words from our common past in a primary (‘K’-’5’) classroom.

Our teachers very likely taught us that a synonym’s definition = this ; whereas, an antonym’s = this.

Many graduates would admit, being authentic & unguarded, that much of what they learned while seated in a neat row of desks rarely, or maybe occasionally, applies to their professional lives post graduation.

This post’ll put these 2 terms in an entrepreneurial context; be advised that your assumptions, mindset, or experiences could be challenged head on, or perhaps, be confirmed.

 

Whichever it is for you, I appreciate your open mind all the same.

 

What might ‘education’ , ‘school(ing)’ & ‘degree signaling’ have in common?

Before dissecting the differences, we’ll talk a bit about what binds these three unlike concepts together.

 

  • They’re all often lumped together by companies who hire using conventional ‘HR’ practices
  • Over time, each one split off from the other two, in theory & in practice
  • Each have a purpose in the eyes of [a] stakeholder group/s

 

Let’s take each at face value individually. As you read, ask yourself: How might I envision, strategize, & apply each to my business?

 

Education = ‘educare’

 

Becoming deeply educated can absolutely result w/o hard evidence in the form of ‘POC’ (proof/s of credential/s).

 

Great education defies structure because it is always (always!) individualized, personalized, interactive, nimble, responsive and inspired.

– O. DeMille

 

Does this quote sum up your own experience inside of a school’s classroom?  If not, why? Ask big, open ended questions to net the very best long term value.

A self directed, customized path exists for most any citizen who looks for it.  Have you?  Do you encourage your staff to be lifelong learners?

 

Some education options to thoughtfully consider as a new startup, an existing business seeking to scale up, or if you’re looking to further diverse your income streams with a 2nd ( or 4th 🙂 ) venture:

 

  • 1:1 mentorship
  • Digital badging ( a form of ‘hot unbundling’ )
  • Apprenticeships
  • Extern/intern -ships
  • Digital nomadic / Gig economy

 

School(ing) = ‘skhole’

Going to school does not automatically imply that one is educated, nor should anyone jump to conclusions & suggest that all schools fail to educate. It’s not that clear cut, nor is it a ‘public v. private’ dichotomy, either:  There are above average, even great public, the same as exemplary private ones, from border to border, & sea to sea.

 

In this powerful essay, the late John Taylor Gatto opined:

 

Schools were designed by Horace Mann and Barnas Sears & W.R. Harper of the University of Chicago and Edward Thorndike of Columbia Teachers College and others to be instruments for the scientific management of a mass population.

 

Think this over:  As a business professional in the late 2010’s, does this sound anything like being educated?

Keeping squarely in mind that ‘skhole’ ‘s etymology clearly shows a word that no longer equates to educare, the root of education.

 

Huh? What’s ‘degree signaling” ?  

As America transitioned from a wartime footing ( mid 1940’s ), the economy morphed from one focused heavily on blue collar industry to one where white collars were the in demand choices.

 

As …

Factories = Products = blue collar industrial age

 

So … ( oft times )

Offices = Services = white collar industrial age

 

The ‘Organization Man’  was in the driver’s seat; it was a supremely influential read.

And the GI Bill offered taxpayer monies to returning vets to encourage careers in a service industry, often in a large office managed by a large corporation.

 

Year by year, decade by decade, by the late 80’s- early 90’s, a ‘college for all’ mentality sunk into many facets of our society, discouraging entrepreneurship (‘E’ pathway), the trades ( CTE/Career & Technical Education, primarily available thru community colleges ) , & other viable options

 

Thus, degree signaling was birthed …

If you had ‘POP’ ( proof of paper ) in hand, plus a resume / cover letter, you were more likely to be hired by a company, given a title, salary, & cubicle, & asked to play your often invisible role in the delivery of a service to the marketplace.

Yet, creative disruptors such as Praxis put forth for rational discussion that there IS a different way.

 

It’s up to you, with your open entrepreneurial mind, to decide if you’re willing to hire/promote, &/or make choices that are, ahem, ‘educated’, or driven solely by nostalgia.

 

Suggested Podcasts

 

How to Start a Startup

School Sucks Project

Modern Learners

 

Keep on learning, dear readers

 

As always, it’s a pleasure to provide additional resources to move you further along the journey.

 

School vs. Education. Where are we now?

Why the College Degree Is a Signal …

 

Mindvalley U

Stop Stealing Dreams

This is the sequel to ‘Stop Stealing Dreams’

 

30 Best Education Podcasts

Series: School is Optional

 

In short

 

  • Revisiting definitions: synonym & antonym
  • What these 3 terms share in common
  • Defining education more sharply
  • Schooling is its own concept.
  • Degree signaling?!
  • Podcast suggestions
  • Add’t resources

 

Thank YOU for reading!

______________________________

Confidence, Clarity and Taking Action Steps by @XLConsultingGro

by Leave a Comment

Confidence, Clarity and Taking Action Steps

by Elaine Slatter | Featured Contributor

Entrepreneurs who spend a lot of time working in isolation can easily lose their confidence, clarity and then taking action steps is more difficult.  Why is that?  Often that voice in our head becomes very negative and convinces us not to be bold, not to take risks, not to put ourselves out there.  So what do we have to do to change our mindset to have confidence, clarity and taking action steps every day?

Confidence

Confidence is a muscle that must be exercised frequently or it gradually withers away.

During your life, every success you have ever had leads to confidence in your own abilities.  This could be a success as a child in academics or athletics.  Perhaps it was the great summer job you aced as a teen or work success you have had.

You can even gain confidence from things that haven’t gone so well.  That promotion you deserved but didn’t get, the salary increase you expected but didn’t happen.  Everything we do in life adds layers of confidence. We learn from both events that went well and those that didn’t.

Keep A Journal

One great way to get over the confidence hurdle is to write all the events that have added to your confidence in a journal.  When you are having a bad day and need to get your brave on, read your journal so all your successes are again manifested in your sub-conscience.

Assess your skill set and Build Up Your Weaknesses

Networking

If networking isn’t your strength, check out our previous article. If you are an introvert you might think that networking isn’t for you because you just don’t like being the centre of attention.  But honestly, introverts are the best at networking because they love to listen to others talk and be the focus of a group.  While you are listening you can decide if you can add value to the conversation and if the people you are meeting are the right fit for your tribe.

LinkedIn

If you are having trouble finding events where you can physically network, then think of LinkedIn as your virtual networking community.  It isn’t just a resume and job-hunting site.  It’s much more than that.  Have you thought of how you are connecting with people on LinkedIn?  Do your research before you connect with people on LinkedIn and use the personal note section to let people know why you would like to connect with them.   (Remember, it’s all about the why…..why someone should connect with YOU.)  Don’t use this note space to sell yourself!

Once you have connected on LinkedIn you can invite people for a virtual coffee date over Skype or Zoom to find out more about them and

Public Speaking

If public speaking is not your forte, consider joining your local Toastmaster chapter to gain the speaking confidence you need.  One business professional I know uses the local toastmaster chapter to test out blog post ideas.  The feedback from the toastmaster speech shows whether the topic resonates with an audience or not.

What else should be in your confidence toolbox?  In today’s world, some kind of social media presence can help you gain traction for your startup.  Either train yourself up to have that confidence online or if you have a budget, hire professionals to learn about your branding voice and have them be your social media spokespeople.

Clarity

If you have confidence in your abilities, next on the list is clarity.  Clarity about your business objectives, and your personal objectives.  Write two lists, one for your business objectives and one for your personal objectives.

Are your objectives CLEAR?

These are maybe’s, they aren’t just dreams, they are actual objectives that you are going to SLAY! Once you have everything written down, then prioritize your objectives by importance to you and your business.

Some of your objectives might be huge and seem overwhelming, so don’t tackle those right away, we will cover these in the section on Action.  For now, just look at your list and knock off a few of the items that are easy to conquer.  Because conquering some objectives will help give you confidence that you can tackle some of the more difficult tasks.

If you have big, clear objectives that are hard to accomplish, then break them down into smaller bite-size pieces and follow this tactical plan and take ACTION.

Action

Once you have the confidence and clarity, take action.  Yes, take action steps right now!  If you use the SMART goal formula you will not waste your time going around in circles.  You will have achieved success.

S specific (from your clarity list)

M measurable (what is the measurement you are going to use)

A actionable/achievable (Is the item on your list achievable?)

R realistic (It just can’t be impossible!)

T time sensitive (Putting a time frame around your goal makes you take ACTION)

This applies to your personal life as well as your business life.  Step out of your comfort zone. Are you in the mindset to find confidence, clarity and taking action steps to change your life?  We hope so because every day is too valuable to waste.

Why female olderpreneurs are valuable for tech startups by Megan McLatchie of @WeAreNovaUK

by 1 Comment

by Megan McLatchie

Very often it’s too easily assumed that the only successful tech startups are only created by teenage boys living by laptop light in their bedrooms. What doesn’t help is that the idea has been reinforced by the likes of Mark Zuckerburg, who launched the first version of Facebook from his Harvard dorm room in his early 20s. Arguably, young founders have some advantages. Their generation has lead them to be early adopters of technology and have no big commitments such as marriage, mortgages or children.

Sure, students are in a good position to start something of their own after graduation and before the reality of life kicks in. But does this determine a successful founder? Various research studies have shown the average age of a UK entrepreneur to be in their forties, and ‘olderpreneurs’ are more likely to achieve top growth. So really, do good things come to those who wait?

Respect your elders
An obvious reason age is a benefiting factor for startups is experience. Startups are notorious for being risky, and the frequent unexpected surprise and challenge doesn’t go amiss. It could be argued that young people may have the edge by being in the know of fad trends, but older entrepreneurs will be bringing years of valuable insight and experience from work and everyday life, valuable experience that can be drawn on to solve a problem worth solving (precious knowledge that you can’t learn from a quick google online!).

Passionate for Problem Solving
You’ve identified a widespread need, and have an idea that is commercially viable. Good ideas are good ideas irrespective of what age you are! What matters is that you’re passionate about the solution needed to drive the idea forward. Years of experience also means you have a greater understanding of who your audience is and the passion to find the solution when you identify what would/would not work. Believe in yourself and your idea, Sheownsit.com suggests five ways to overcome doubt and start your own business.

Are you really Middle-aged?
You’re only as old as you feel. People are now living longer and healthier lives than ever before, so there is no rush to begin your tech startup in your younger years. The average life expectancy for women in the UK is 82.9 years and according to an article from Forbes, a 50-year-old founder is about twice as likely to achieve success compared to a 30-year-old. If we associate youth with a more carefree approach to life, it could be argued that with age we take greater care to think things through. Startups are risky business, so maybe caution could help. Nova’s lean approach means we’re constantly testing a startup’s success in order to foresee potential pitfalls and make appropriate changes to MVP.

Multi-tasking Queens
Broadly speaking, when we get older we tend to have more responsibilities: family, mortgage, secure day job, and marriage being the biggies! We women are known for our multi-tasking. “Women bring a different life experience to business,” says Lynne Cadenhead, chairman of Women’s Enterprise Scotland.“[They] always have multiple roles in society: they’ll be wives, carers, mothers. They’re much more used to [juggling things] and more comfortable doing it.” Alongside this, technology has really broken down the barriers to starting a business alongside your day job, one of the reasons why ‘side-hustles’ are increasingly popular. Nova’s own process for starting a startup requires just one day a week from founders and actively encourages founders to stay in their full-time jobs.

Golden oldies
Let’s finish with some famous examples of female entrepreneurs that started later in life.

  • Vera Wang, (goes without saying) is well known for her global fashion brand but she didn’t open her high-end label until the age of 40. A long career working for Vogue meant she had the skills and life experience needed for her business to grow (and still continues to do so!).
  • Martha Stewart is now a familiar household name, beginning a successful career as a chef and writer of cookbooks. At the age of 56, she created the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia media conglomerate. Branching out into TV, radio and even wine, it has continued to go from strength to strength.
  • Robin Chase, the founder of car-sharing service Zipcar (the transportation service which allows customers to rent cars by the hour), only made the decision to set up her own company at 41. In 2013 it was sold for $500 million, making Chase one of the richest women in the world overnight!

So, maybe good things come to those who wait?

 

————————————————————————-

Megan McLatchie is a Marketing Executive for Nova, a tech startup co-foundry based in Liverpool. Nova provides free mentorship, support and guidance team, and resource investment to turn a good idea into a great startup. They have cofounded over 40 tech startups in the last 5 years, with a success rate far above the industry average.

The Energy of Entrepreneurship by @SBSLEducSoltns

by Leave a Comment

( A flyover of all the glorious forms of creating your own asset )

Just as a strong case can be made that entrepreneurship & education are intertwined, so the same can be said for energy & entrepreneurship. How many business owners do you know who live day to day with boundless determination?  Joy? A skip in their steps?

 

We have a B-i-G opportunity! We should encourage entrepreneurship’s many forms so the energy in our society is always flowing, & many new assets are created to better ourselves, families, communities, nations, & beyond!

 

Describing Our Economy

 

Thought leaders have been using various labels:

 

Conceptual Age

 

Gig economy

 

Youpreneur

 

Multisided platforms ( ‘Matchmaker Economics’ )

 

You might wonder; how do these inform, inspire, & instigate citizens to leave mediocrity behind to embrace these energetic forms of entrepreneurship?

Inform(ation)

 

With conventional classrooms in all 3 tracks very slow to adapt to the modern era, as entrepreneurs, we can share stories, teachable moments, & connections with those in our own, as well as younger, generations.

Welcome any opportunities to be someone’s mentor, advisor, or coach. Focus on paying forward crucial knowledge to others. Serve 1st always!

 

Inspire (-ation)

 

Often, entrepreneurship is not a soft fluffy bed; it’s part of the charm of the day to day journey to struggle at times! Anything that comes ‘easy’ often has more downside than engaging in smart x hard work building a business.

Don’t hide this from those whom you talk with, yet don’t muddy the clear lens of a passionate individual who wants to be a difference maker. Inspire her by adding value, w/ no stated expectation of reward or return.

 

Instigate ( lighting sparks )

 

Those who deeply understand principles such as the ‘Five Laws …’ & ‘Law of Attraction’  should be beacons of inspired instigation in her circles of influence.

The sparks lit in the fire pits of today will lead to the solutions of tomorrow.

So many of our most pressing societal challenges can be solved with entrepreneurial energy; if you flip back through the pages of history, you’ll see this jump off the pages.

 

7 Forms

 

Now, we transition from the most valuable question, why?, to what? +

 

( + we’ll leave out ‘how’; JFK’s 1962 Rice Univ Speech is the model for why not to focus on this Q )

 

Franchisor/franchisee

 

  • Franchise consultants set up shop to help someone who has the liquid capital to purchase a brand & its intellectual property, turnkey system/s, & in many cases, a ‘bricks & mortar’ location. Franchisees are far from cutting edge concept; although if you were talking with your grandparent(s), they would tell you that at 1 point, it was new & barely understood!

 

Solo-preneurial / proprietor

 

  • This is the simplest form. How do you monetize? Choices inc. hour for dollar billing ( ‘self employed’, creating your own job ); using a retainer; or working on a project basis. As with any form, there are pluses & the opposite; yet, if you’re very new to entrepreneurship, keeping things uncomplicated may be your wisest choice.

 

Gig / freelancer / contractor

 

  • Gig based businesses abound in our modern age; do depth based research to find options best for you.  Freelancing is very common in right brained, creative pursuits like social media, content/digital marketing, & writing.  Finally, being a contractor for a larger enterprise where you are offered more flexibility than an old school W-2 employee could very well be a win:win arrangement.

 

Broker / Agent

 

  • Insurance & real estate:  Both have high name recognizance, even by those who have never been entrepreneurial. Many of the agencies & companies operating in these very mature industries are always looking for someone who is servant minded & willing to tailor a solution to the consumer/prospective policyholder or buyer/seller ‘s unique needs.

 

Direct Sales

 

  • This form is newer on the block than its sister ( see below ).  How is it different than Ntwk Mkt/MLM?  It often generates income for the owner through the promotion of events versus growing a team.  For instance, you set up a cooking demo, offer products to those that attend at a % off, & build a relationship with them that goes beyond 1 transaction. Often, social media is used most often by these consultants, hosts, & associates.

 

Network Marketing ( MLM )

 

  • A mature form, when compared to its brother ( scroll up ), they’ve been options for upwards of a century! Yet, there is still much mis-understanding, inaccurate representation of its legality/lawfulness, etc.  This form is absolutely viable, esp. for those with people skills; those who are patient & don’t expect income overnight; or someone who is able to lead another by serving her first, a fundamental for building a team that replaces you.

 

Licensor / licensee

 

  • The licensee model is essentially ‘franchisee lite‘.  It has many elements of the latter, yet it doesn’t necessitate a bricks & mortar storefront;  often, you can be a mobile-preneur ( easily able to work at a coffee shop, coworking facility, or at home ). Licensors offer intellectual capital ( logos, brand awareness, a systems based approach to building revenue & cash flow ) in exchange for a 1 time, or recurring payment(s).

 

Lots of – ‘Preneurs!  Which are you?!

 

Profiles Worth Following

 

Sidepreneur

 

Mompreneurs

 

Teenpreneur Inc

 

Self directed Educational links

 

Employee vs Entrepreneur – Which is Riskier?

Actually, Starting Your Own Company …

Becoming an Entrepreneur …

 

In short …

 

  • Describing today’s economy
  • Inform, inspire, & instigate
  • 7 forms of energy: entrepreneurial options
  • Types of -preneurs
  • Three Twitter handles
  • For further learning …

 

Thank YOU for reading!