Introducing Kara Herron, Author of “Incredible Women” Blog

We are pleased to introduce Kara Herron for this week’s interview. She is an individual who knows that life’s greatest joys are called family and good friends, especially during hard times.  Being an “Incredible Woman” herself as a breast cancer survivor, Kara is sharing other women’s stories on her new blog, Incredible Women. We hope you enjoy getting to know this fabulous lady!

Current Residence: Highland, Utah

Professional Background:  I’ve worked for some great companies – Dream Dinners, Cherish Bound, and others, that are smaller companies, started by the most amazing women.  It’s been fun helping grow those companies, and it’s given me the desire to have my own business.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: Hmmm… well, for the most part, I just pictured myself married, with kids.  I wanted to be a stay at home mom.  But, the desire to be the owner of a business was buried deep within me – my parents both owned several businesses, and I love being a part of those.  So, I really wanted to stay home with my kids, AND own a business.  That’s a hard thing to do, right?

What you are: I’m a happy wife and mom, who wants to make a difference in the world.  I want people to watch me and know that I have great kids, passions that I’m willing to work for, and that I spend time helping others, if I can.

Brief Summary of your Start Up: Well, I’ve got two things I’m working on at the moment.  One of them is fueling the other.  My first passion is my Cherish Bound business.  I am a national leader in this company that helps people find their stories, and share them with others.  I love helping people gather their memories and photos and make beautiful, heirloom-quality books for their families.  And I’m very good at making those books, too!!!  This business is helping me to pull in money, so that I can take the time to build my other passion…  Incredible Women!  After going through a horrible year and a half of battling breast cancer, I wanted to show my gratitude to the amazing women who helped me so much.  I started a blog called Incredible Women, where I feature a different woman each week.  I’d love to be able to not only heap praise on wonderful women, but help my family out financially with this blog.

Company Website? My Cherish Bound business blog is www.boundtobecherished.blogspot.com and my Incredible Women blog is www.reallyincrediblewomen.blogspot.com.

What inspires you? Helping others to be happy, and to realize that they are special is what inspires me.  Both my Cherish Bound business, and my Incredible Woman blog help me do that.  Also, the people I surrounded myself with inspire me tremendously!

How long have you been in business? I worked for the corporate office of Cherish Bound for about a year and a half before my cancer diagnosis.  I took time off to take care of myself, and then decided to work from home.  So, I became a consultant, and I’ve been doing that for about 7 months.  My Incredible Women blog was started about the same time – 6 months ago.  I’ve featured 27 women so far.  It’s been a wonderful highlight of my life.

How did you fund it? When I decided to become a Cherish Bound consultant, I actually took $500 from our savings and put it into my own business account.  I decided that I’d use that money to set everything up.  I bought business cards, office supplies, and made a few sample books with that.  Before long, it was gone, gone, gone.  Luckily, my time and effort paid off, and it wasn’t long before my account filled back up.  I used some of that money to pay for a special blog design for Incredible Women.  That’s the only thing I’ve had to pay for with the blog, but I think it was a BIG thing.  I wanted it to look professional and to catch peoples’ attention, and I think my designer did a great job.

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? Oh, wow.  I’ve got a few, I think.  Carol Rice, the owner of Cherish Bound, has been a mentor for awhile.  She believes I can do anything.  My sister, Kris, has also been someone who I can bounce ideas off of anytime.  She supports me in whatever I desire to do.  Kelly Anderson, Founder of Startup Princess has been a great help in pushing me towards understanding that Incredible Women can really become a business someday.

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? Not currently, but I’ve got a whole list of groups I’d love to associate with.  One of my goals this year is to find the groups that will be most helpful to me, and make the effort to join and participate.  I believe that groups of people can make a huge difference in the world.

Current Business Challenge? With the Cherish Bound business, my constant challenge (it never goes away) is to find customers.  Owning your own business, especially a sales business, means you have to generate your own income.  If I don’t make money one month, it’s my own darn fault.  I do love it when customers come to me.  That’s happened with about 4 people this week – these are people that I know I can help, because they found me!  With Incredible Women, my biggest challenge is finding women to feature.  I’ve got a long list of my own, but I really want to feature other women, too – those who I don’t know.  So, my challenge is to get my readers to nominate women they know.

What are you doing about it? Well, with a business like Cherish Bound, I have to constantly be contacting people.  I email, send cards through the mail, talk to people wherever I go, etc.  I also think that following up with current customers is a must.  I’m always contacting customers who have already made books – I talk to them about their experience, make sure they are happy with the process and their book, and then make suggestions for new projects.  I also have a business blog, where I offer ideas for books.  As far as Incredible Women, I’m a little stumped on ways to get people to nominate women.  I’ve got a place on my blog that makes it easy to nominate someone.  I mention it every once in a while on the blog.  And I talk to people about it.  It’s slowly starting to work.  I also follow up in this area, too.  I emailed people who have nominated women, and try to keep in touch through the whole process.

Favorite motivational quote: I’ve got a few.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery said: “If you want to build a ship, don’t herd people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”   I believe this can be applied to our businesses, and also our families – I don’t force my kids to do anything, and I don’t just give them a list.  I show them, by example, what a good life is – what happens when you are a good person – and they want that.

I love Winnie-the-Pooh, and I’ve got a card hanging in my office that says, “I’ll never not remember you… ever.”  This is an important quote, because it helps me remember why I’m trying to help people share their memories and photos.  No one ever wants to be forgotten.  It is also a quote that helps me remember why I started the Incredible Women blog – I want those important women in my life to know what an impact they have on my life, and that I’ll never forget the things they do for me.

Family? Yes, I’ve got a wonderful husband, Rick, who works very hard to give our family the things we need and want – and just happens to really love his job!  I have 4 sons…

Grant, who is 22, is a student at the University of Utah.  He is studying Architecture and Business and Japanese.  He served an LDS mission for two years in Fukuoka, Japan – something I admire him greatly for.

Michael, who is 19, finished up his first year of college at Utah State University, and has been living at home for the last 8 months, working full time to save money for his LDS mission.  He will find out where he’s going to serve in 2-3 months. I’m really excited for him – leaving your family to serve other people for two years is an incredibly hard thing to do.

Alex, who is 15, is in high school, and is working hard to get good grades (he has some very hard classes), and in his “off” time, he is trying to get his drivers’ license.  Yikes!  He is also close to getting his Eagle Scout.  He plays a mean guitar. He’s a great kid – one of the funniest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Matthew, who is almost 13, is my youngest.  He is in Jr. High.  He plays the saxophone.  With 3 older brothers, you can imagine how he’s had to stick up for himself!  He works hard at school (hardly ever needs help), and scouts.  He is a great kid.

If so, how do you balance family and business? It’s a little easier for me to do this, now that I’m a stay-at-home mom again.  I worked outside of the home for about 6 years, and it was tough.  My husband helped out a lot.  He still does.  The last year or so, while I was so sick with chemo treatments, and had so many surgeries, my kids have helped out so much.  I don’t think any mom can do it all by herself.  That’s why we teach our children to help out, and cope without us a little bit. All of my kids know how to cook, and do their own laundry. Which is good – someday their wives will thank me!

Favorite book? Oh, why did you ask me this question?!  There is NO WAY I can give you just one.  I’m a big reader.  If I could, I would read all day! Ok, I’ll just tell you my most recent favorite… A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens. Unbelievably good book!  If you want a list of good books (I don’t read bad books), go to my personal blog…www.mystorymoments.blogspot.com.  You can find a link to my favorite books on the left sidebar.

What do you do to relax? Not much. I’m happier if I’m busy.  But, when I do relax, I mostly sit under a fluffy, down comforter, and read, read, read.  I also love to sit and listen to my little family of comedians – they are all so funny, and laughing is very relaxing!

What do you want to change most about your world? I definitely what to be an advocate of early detection in breast cancer.  I want to help women who can’t afford mammograms to get them.  I would love to be a public speaker – to share my story, and help women understand the importance of staying current on tests, and knowing their bodies.  And also help them understand how important it is to focus on taking care of yourself, not just your family.  That’s my focus right now.  I have a breast cancer blog, where I’ve recorded my story – I want it to be a place where others can go to understand what is happening to them and to get information.  So, that’s something that I’m working on right now.www.foobbabe.blogspot.com

I’m also on the board of a foundation – The Four of Hearts.  This foundation was started by 4 of my nephews, to give back to the people of Guatemala – the country where their baby sister is from.  We do lots of different fundraisers.  We are trying to get the funding necessary right now, to take a group of teenagers to Guatemala this summer, to help at an orphanage. It’s a wonderful opportunity that I’ve been given – working with these teenagers, who would rather go door, to door raising money, than play video games!  Our website, if anyone is interested, is:  http://www.four-of-hearts.com/

What are you most proud of? Hands down…. My children.

What advice would you like to offer other Startup Princesses? Be persistent.  If you have a dream – make it come true.  Work hard.  Don’t let others tell you it can’t be done.  And, when you’ve become a success – help others.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? My laptop and the internet – it’s my key to the world.

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Diamonds, of course.  Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.  No really – they are! (I’ve been trying to convince my husband of this for… forever!)

Startup Princess, Sponsors, and Best-Selling Author Seth Godin Raise More than $6500 for ‘The Red Cross for Haiti Relief Fund’

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Michelle McCullough

Business Development Director, Startup Princess

801-856-4765

Startup Princess, Sponsors, and Best-Selling Author Seth Godin Raise More than $6500 for ‘The Red Cross for Haiti Relief Fund’

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 24 – More than $6500 was generated for Haiti Earthquake Relief February 12th when best-selling author, speaker and marketer Seth Godin spoke at a fundraising luncheon in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

The money will go the American Red Cross’s vital efforts in the earthquake-battered Caribbean country.

The event was put together by StartupPrincess.com, whose many members nationwide were powerfully affected by the many images of devastation in Haiti and wanted to help those in need.

“We are very grateful for the generosity of corporate sponsors and contributions raised through our event that made this donation to The Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund possible.,” said Kelly King Anderson, Startup Princess Founder.

Event sponsors included: Mindshare Technologies, Mozy, Zenprint, familylink, The Rail Event Center, FundingUniverse, Persnickity Graphic Design, TwitJump, Gold’s Gym, doodads Promotional Products, SEO.com, LAVA7, doba, Bank of American Fork, XMission Internet, Reagan Outdoor Advertising, OnlinePRBook.com and John Evans Company

About StartupPrincess.com. StartupPrincess.com is an international network committed to Empowering Women Entrepreneurs by offering resources for women in business to support, mentor, collaborate, and inspire one another.

Arrangements for the appearance of Seth Godin made through Greater Talent Network, Inc, New York, NY.

How to Grow Your Business With a Media List

How would you like to get more exposure for your business in newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and even websites that reach your target market?

You can achieve this by finding key journalists who are interested in your business. One of your most important tools for engaging with them is a media list.

What is a media list?

A media list is simply a database of journalists and their contact information. More detailed media lists also include details, such as the journalists’ birthdays, communication preferences, and previously published work.

Your media list should consist of journalists who have shown interest in your business, industry or product, based on their previous reports.

They should also include journalists who are assigned to specific “beats” or topics related to your business.

Why do you need a media list?

A media list makes your PR work easier and more effective. For one thing, you’ll know whom to approach when you have a press release or media pitch.

Moreover, by having a well-targeted media list, you won’t  waste time and energy because you’ll only be contacting media who are interested in your story to begin with. Imagine the wasted effort when you try to reach everybody, but most of them trash your press releases because they’re just not relevant.

A media list also helps you build relationships with media professionals. After you’ve been using your media list for a while, you’ll find yourself talking to the same set of people. You’ll become familiar with each other and find yourself in a mutually beneficial relationship: journalists need stories, and you need exposure.

Soon you’ll be on their list of people to call when they need information or story leads in your expertise/industry.

Where do you get a media list?

There are two ways to get a media list:

You can buy one for hundreds of dollars. As you can imagine, it takes hours to compile a list of journalists from different media channels, which now even includes the Internet. Media lists also need constant updating, which adds to the cost.

The other alternative is to compile a media list yourself. You or your virtual assistant can set aside a few minutes each week to build up your own targeted database of journalists.

It may take some time, but it’s not that hard. Start with the newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and websites you already consume. Then move on to the media your target market consumes.

However, if you’re in the Mommy-related market, you won’t have to spend hundreds of dollars or take weeks and weeks to get your customized media list. Until February 28th, my Mom’s Media Lists are on sale at 50% off. I’m having this special sale because I will be retiring these lists next month.

So if you have a Mom-related business, product or expertise, go here now to grab a Mom’s Media List while you still can:

http://www.prinyourpajamas.com/mom-media-list

Buy or build your media list starting today and — most importantly — use it! If you’re consistent, even small efforts in engaging the media will pay off in promoting your business.

Elena Verlee is the creator of PRinYourPajamas.com where she shares tips for entrepreneurs and small businesses who want to do their own PR.

Three Steps to Cutting the Umbilical Cord on your Business

Fairy Godmother, Heather Ledeboer writes: I have given birth four times.  Without fail, the umbilical cord has always been cut.  This severing act ends one part of our mother/child journey and begins another.  While we are no longer connected physically, we are indeed bonded to each other.  Over time, my children grow more independent. It is my job to see that process through in the best way I can and with as much love and wisdom possible.

In many ways, being a business owner has proven to be very similar to that process.  Learning when and how to let Mom 4 Life grow and in what ways to step back and let others step in to help has taken time.  However, cutting the umbilical cord of my business has been much different than it was with my children–It has been more of a process rather than an event.  This year I committed to do all that I could to “cut the cord” and run my business rather than allowing it to run me.

Operation “Don’t work all day” had a soft launch last fall when I first carved out an office space for myself in our home.  Given the fact that I have been a business owner since 2003, I figured it was really about time that I took control of my time and set some boundaries so that I had more time for myself and my family.  The formal implementation of my plan took shape about a month ago and I am determined to see it through.

This plan has taken much longer for me to act on than it should.  Because I enjoy what I do and have a tendency to be a perfectionist, I try to stay on top of work around the clock.   However, I have discovered that no matter how much I work, there is ALWAYS more to be done.  I have come to accept that I will never be fully “caught up”.  Every time I hit send/receive I am “behind” again.  In fact, in the area of emails, the more work I do, the more work I create for myself because most emails elicit a reply which in turn requires a reply from me and so on.  I have decided that even if I can’t be entirely caught up, I can certainly be on top of my priorities and structure my day in a way that will encourage professional progress.  Here are the three steps I have taken to “cut the cord”:

Step #1:  Set office hours

• I have a home office (that is also part of my laundry room:).  It isn’t glamorous but it has gotten my lap top off of my kitchen table which is a key part of cutting the umbilical cord to my work.
• I have worked out a schedule with my husband that allows me to work in the morning for 45 minutes while he takes my son to school and again in the afternoon for about an hour while he picks my son up from school (taking our two other children with him each time).  This has become my work time.

Step #2:  Take control of my inbox

• I have set my emails to only send (but not receive) unless I specifically hit the “send/receive” button (which I only do at the start of each work period).  This allows my responses to get out in a timely manner but prevents me from even seeing the emails that are consistently coming in.  This allows me to have an “end in sight” that I can work toward in catching up for the time being.
• I have set up an email automatic reply alerting others of my work schedule.  It says,

“Thank you for your email!  In order to spend the most time with my family (and not answering emails), I only answer emails 1-2 times a day M-F.  You can typically expect to get a reply from me in 24-48 hours.

If your need is urgent and related to Mom 4 Life you can call our toll free number 800-928-4905 and Angela (our customer service assistant) can help you.  Otherwise you can try me on my home number 208-683-3076.

Thank you for your understanding!”

This gives me peace of mind that those contacting me are not only aware of my schedule but expecting me to abide by it.  I also know that if something is urgent I have provided a way to be contacted.

• I set up a separate “personal” email account and gave it to my close friends and family members letting them know it is to be used for non-work emails.  Knowing that I won’t find work related content in these emails allows me to check this email account as desired without worrying that I will get sucked into working during non hours.  This is also the only email account that I have access to via my phone.

Step #3:  Create a system for my to-do list

• If something comes to mind during my off hours that I need to remember to do I email myself a reminder from my non work email and then breathe easy knowing that I will see the reminder the next time I sit down to work.  Another service that can be used for the purpose of sending an email to your inbox via a voice message is Jott.
• I have a spiral binder on my desk that has my to-do list.  There is an urgent and non urgent column.  Each day I check my list and make sure that the urgent list is caught up.  If I finish my emails early then I will tackle a non urgent item on my list.

Perhaps you have a cord that needs to be cut or have successfully installed your own “don’t work all day” plan.  I would love to hear what you have done or plan to do to reach your business goals this year.  Let’s run our businesses (not the other way around) together!

Heather Ledeboer, Mom4Life, Heather Ledeboer is passionate about helping other moms succeed in business. Her passion is directed at finding fantastically fresh mom invented products and offering them on her website, http://www.mom4life.com with free shipping to all US locations. She also enjoys writing on the topic of business and has a particular pet peeve about providing excellent customer service. Twitter @mom4lifecom

Introducing Dana Zaloom, Privacy and Safety Director at Facechipz.com

We are pleased to introduce Dana Zaloom, who is making the world of social networking safer for pre-teens, and along the way giving their parents some peace of mind. We hope you enjoy connecting on twitter and facebook with Dana and getting to know her (we certainly have). Thanks Dana!  

Hometown: Piedmont, CA

Current Residence: Pacific Palisades, CA

Education: BA from Georgetown University, Masters of Psychology from Pepperdine University

Professional Background: Project manager for MCI Telecommunications from 1985-1988. Married 1987, had 4 children and earned my Masters in Psychology.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: I always knew I wanted to be a mother, but I was also very interested in psychology.

What you are: Privacy and Safety Director at Facechipz.com and a mother to 4 wonderful girls.

Brief Summary of your Start Up: Facechipz.com is an online social network for tweens who are too grown-up for Webkinz and Club Penguin and not grown-up enough for Facebook or MySpace.  Realizing that social networking was here to stay, we tried to create a “prep” school for it.  Teaching kids how to use this type of network in safe and appropriate ways became our major goal.  To ensure our users safety, kids can only connect with other kids they have exchanged a facechipz token with.  The “giver” enters the code on the back of the chip and gives it to a friend they want to be connected to.  That friend enters the same code and the 2 friends are linked.  The facechipz token cannot be used again, except for collecting purposes.  There are no fringe friends, no search engines or advertising. The only link is between the 2 users.  It’s the social networking site that kids can collect but that doesn’t collect them! Safety is also ensured by the requirement of parents actually signing their kids up to use Facechipz.  Parental involvement and awareness are still the best tools out there to keep kids safe.  The site is fun and cool too.  Kids can talk to each other, send messages, choose their own background, upload photos, list their top 11 favorite things and write a secret message. Soon, Facechipz will offer a virtual gift store, games and it’s own version of i-chat.

Company Website? www.facechipz.com

What inspired you? We have four daughters of our own. We found that there really weren’t any online social networks that had enough safety features that allowed us to feel comfortable with the girls communicating with friends online.  We were also hyper-sensitive to the dangers of “fringe friends”.  We started thinking about how a 10 year old could be connected to a friend but not to that friend’s sister, brother and all of their friends. It did not seem appropriate that a 10 year old could view pictures of high school and college kids, let alone talk to them or vice versa.

How long have you been in business? Facechipz.com launched in the fall of 2009.

How did you fund it? Out of our hard earned savings.

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? You know, I look around and see so many women who are doing such amazing things and their strength and determination gave me courage to step out and take a chance on this project!!

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? I’m very active with my family and children in their school groups.

Current Business Challenge? The biggest challenge with Facechipz is getting the chips in the kids hands, and getting parents to understand that a dollar registration fee ensures their child’s safety.   We are trying to educate parents; to let them know that we have created a safer alternative to social networking as they know it. Convincing this group is our biggest challenge, especially with those parents who have been adamantly opposed to social networking in any form.  Once they are convinced however, these same people have become our best evangelists. Facechipz teaches kids how to be safe and appropriate on-line. We have parent and child versions of a safety resource and how-to guide.  The site also features a swear-word filter and a safety notification system which allows kids to easily report potentially offensive, or inappropriate content as well as cyber-bullying.

What are you doing about it? We are trying to bring parents to that ah-ha moment where they realize that Facechipz is different!  Facechipz is a smart, and safer altenative to traditional social networking.  It also helps teach the kids about acceptable forms of on-line social behavior.

Favorite motivational quote: “You must do the thing you think you cannot do” Eleanor Roosevelt.  She was brilliant!

Family? Yes, my husband who is my partner here at Facechipz, and our four amazing girls.

If so, how do you balance family and business? I am a mother first, then a business partner. When the kids are in school, I put on my Facechipz hat and go to work.  When they come home though, I am all theirs.  I love to cook so we eat dinner most nights together as a family and discuss the events of the day.  It’s after the dishes are done however that we go upstairs and look at new concepts, talk about ideas or answer FAQ’s for Facechipz.  We definitely ask for the girl’s opinions and input.  They have been a constant source of imagination, advice and inspiration.  They have been involved in the design and usability of the site since the very beginning. The whole venture is one, big collaboration!

Favorite book? This changes frequently, but at the moment I would say, Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson.  It is an inspiring story about Greg, the author, bringing hope and help to the children, especially the young girls, of impoverished Pakistan.  His heartfelt promise to come to their aid, and his subsequent journey made this book both awe-inspiring and adventurous.

What do you do to relax? I love cooking, taking walks with our dogs Leo and Lily, and I love to read.  I also enjoy making wreaths and mirrors from shells I collect while summering in Nantucket.

What do you want to change most about your world? Right now my world is the internet.  What I hope to change is to make it a safer place for kids!

What are you most proud of? My family. The girls are evolving into their fantastic selves in front of my eyes at warp speed.  I want to savor all the moments I have with them now, both good and bad!  I know they are learning from me but they have no idea how much I am learning from them!  They are the air in my lungs. My husband George is a saint, pure and simple.  He completes our family circle with his enthusiasm, kindness, love and amazing work ethic.  He has more energy than all of us put together and a positive attitude which is contagious. His confidence in doing the right thing has always led us down the best paths in life.  Individually, we are all just fine but as a family we are really something else!

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? As Winston Churchill once said “Never, Never, Never give up”. When we first started talking about the idea for Facechipz almost 2 years ago we knew nothing about manufacturing or building a website/social network, let alone marketing and selling it. When the whole concept became overwhelming, we broke it down into small, doable segments.  First we got the chip into our hands just the way we wanted it to look and feel.  Then we found the right people to build the site etc…  It is a process that you take one step at a time.  You can’t let fear of failing stop you.  You must forge ahead and always try your best. How can you succeed if you don’t try? So, here I sit, writing about something that was a darn good idea which became a reality through hard work, perserverance and great people.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? I would have to say my iphone. It keeps me organized!

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Well this one is easy: Diamonds!! It is my birthstone and it is one of the best stones out there! (But I also love blue sapphires!)

Please Respond to Expressions of Gratitude with “My Pleasure” Instead of “No Problem”

How often do you hear the phrase, “No problem” in response to an expression of gratitude?  Lately I’ve noticed that “No problem” is winning in popularity over “My pleasure” or “You’re welcome” and I feel impressed to make a mention here and to eradicate it from my vocabulary as well. I’ll tell you why…

When we respond with “No problem” to someone thanking us it may appear that we aren’t fully accepting their gratitude.  In fact, when I was sincerely thanking someone last week and he said “No problem” I had to say, “No, really…I really appreciate it. I want you to understand how much your kindness meant to me.”  When he repeated “No problem” for the second time it felt like I had to keep saying thank you because he didn’t allow me to fully express my appreciation.  Plus, on some level the “No problem” response subconsciously makes us wonder…”was it really a problem to help me out? will it be a problem next time?” if I have to wonder perhaps I’ll think twice about asking for a favor in the future.

Am I the only one who believes we should go back to traditional phrases such as “You’re welcome” or “My pleasure”?  I think “My pleasure” expresses the most joy and enthusiasm for serving. What are your thoughts?

Kelly King Anderson is the Founder of Startup Princess. She can be reached by commenting on this post or on twitter @startupprincess

6 Ways to Make More Money While Changing Lives In A Bigger Way

As a passionate entrepreneur, I know you want to get your work out into the world in a bigger way. You also want to make great money so you can reinvest and keep growing your business to reach more people and, of course, to support a life and family you love.

To move into “growth mode” in your business, it’s important to start looking at what you will do differently. If you want to make more money – you can’t just work more hours and do more of the same. There’s a limit to how many hours in the day your energy will support.

Even when your intention is to make more money, it’s not just about the money. (I keep getting reminded of Cuba Gooding Jr.’s line in Jerry Maguire – “Show me the money!”) It’s also about your passion. Of course, you don’t want to work hour after hour just for the money. You want your work to be an expression of your deepest self; you want to inspire others and change their lives while adding to your own full joy – which includes making great money to support your life!

By shifting from hourly services to creating packages and programs for your clients, you will be able to serve them in a bigger way by including experiences, products, knowledge and inspiration in whole new ways – that they will be willing to pay for!

Here are six ways to shift from hourly services to leveraging your time, knowledge, and expertise into bigger money making programs – which, by the way, will change your clients’ lives in an even bigger way than when they came to you for a few hours at a time.

1. Create Packages of Your Time – This is the first step in moving from an hourly consulting or coaching business model. You create package options that bundle your time into bigger commitments. Of course, you know that you’ll get better results when you have the opportunity to work with a client over time. It takes time to apply new strategies, concepts or advice. If you’re a coach, imagine moving from charging $400 a month to offering 6-month and 12-month packages. You’ll attract clients who are more committed and, therefore, will experience even greater results in working with you. They’re playing bigger, which means their results are bigger. It’s truly a win-win for all.

2. VIP Day – Some potential clients want to get it all done at one time. They don’t want to learn what you have to share with them over time – they want a more intense or immersive experience. A VIP Day is an opportunity to work with a client for an entire day. This builds up momentum and focus. You will be amazed at how much they will accomplish when you have a big chunk of time dedicated to their success. Depending on your industry and experience, you can add VIP Days from $1,000 to $25,000 a day. Just one VIP Day experience each month can substantially add to your revenue for the year.

3. Virtual Retreat – This is a great program for those who prefer not to travel, either because of the effort or the expense, or maybe they have family responsibilities, which would make taking time away to travel more of a burden. You can offer a 3-to-5-hour intensive meeting over the phone where you focus exclusively on them. You’ll take breaks along the way and send them off to do work and come back and check in. This is an easy way to pump up your revenue, and to offer a powerful and impactful program with very little expense on your part. You can also add a webinar, or webcam to make this even more robust. I have a Platinum client who is an image consultant, and she uses the web cam to have clients scan pictures in their virtual consultation.

4. Strategy Sessions – Often when you start your service-type businesses, you offer free consultations. As you get experience, you can then offer hour-long strategy sessions on a specific topic. These are highly leveraged, hour-focused sessions where you give tremendous value, and your clients get to experience what it’s like to work with you. As an example, I offer a $597 Intuitive Business Consultation. It’s fast-paced, intensely concentrated time on a particular marketing strategy or business issue. I even record it, which is helpful since we focus and get on a brainstorm roll. They can always come back to the audio.

The idea behind the strategy session is that clients will then see their ideas come to life, get an experience of working with you, and will feel ready to commit to a bigger package with you. This session isn’t a sales session though – it’s very valuable on its own. It’s ver y compelling and they are sure to want more!

5. Group Platinum Program – “Platinum” has a distinction of meaning high quality, premium, and special. With a Platinum Program, you put together a menu of products, experiences, coaching, and training to create a valuable supportive and transformative experience. Platinum clients may get individual time with you, along with valuable masterminding from the highly select members of the group. A group program like this is leveraged on your time – meaning you can serve more people in less time.

You don’t have to deliver all the information or coaching in this type of program. You just happen to be the one who pulls together all the support they need: products from other experts, additional audios or training programs you’ve created on specific topics, retreat time away from their office to focus on their life or business, and even providing time with other experts. As an example, one of my platinum group programs includes time with an image consultant because my clients are stepping into bigger visibility and credibility, which requires more confidence inside and out. They love that I have found an expert in this area whom they can automatically trust and who understands their businesses. They trust me to recommend the best, and it saves them time and frustration.

6. Private Platinum Program – A certain number of your clients want a premium experience with you. Creating a Platinum Program for individuals is powerful for the client because you put together the ultimate experience for what they need to be successful in their businesses or lives.

This can include private time with you where your client flies in for a custom-created retreat, or you may meet at a spa, golf location or my favorite – an oceanfront resort hotel.

These programs can easily add tens of thousands or even six-figures to your business. They also attract higher quality and more committed clients. This means they get better results, and so do you!

And don’t forget… you’re helping your clients step into their bigger selves, at the same time as are you. You’re helping them bring their full gifts to the world, which is what your passionate business is all about.

Which program strategy will you choose to step into first? What do you need to know or do? Who do you need to be to put this program out to your list of fans? What support do you need to make this transition of stepping into “growth mode” in your business easier?

What will you do differently next year?

Laura West is an award-winning online entrepreneur and president of The Center for Joyful Business. If you are ready to shift your marketing and mindset for more success with joy and ease, get your free report: Business Attraction Success Kit

Introducing Deepika Bajaj, Founder and President of Invincibelle

We are pleased to introduce Deepika Bajaj, a woman of exceptional character and drive. She has the mind and the heart to dream big and help women who live and work in a multicultural world to accelerate their professional growth. Deepika is also the author of, Diversity/Tweet: Embracing the Growing Diversity in our World. I’m sure you’ll love connecting with Deepika on Twitter and reading her interview here. Enjoy!

Hometown: New Delhi, India

Current Residence: San Jose, CA

Education: Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics & Communication) and Masters of Business Administration (Marketing)

Professional Background: Engineering, Marketing, Business Development, Sales, Entrepreneurship, Author, Blogger, Social Media, Speaker, Diversity Expert and Consultant.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: When I was little, I always wanted to be an air-pilot or movie producer. Funny, I still haven’t given up on becoming both.

What you are: I am founder and president of Invincibelle, a company empowering diverse, multi generational workforce and women to thrive in a multicultural world.

Brief Summary of your Start Up: Invincibelle brings trusted and relevant content to accelerate personal and professional growth of women worldwide. We provide service like Workshops, consulting, Event programming, Research to help clients enable women in their companies, institutions and communities to succeed in their specific professional domains. I also do many speaking engagements. Currently, I am building Personalized Leadership Optimization Programs to help women in mid-management roles optimize their leadership effectiveness.

Company Website? www.invincibelle.com

What inspired you?  As far as I remember, I always wanted to start my own company. Growing up, I was in awe of my grandfather who ran three successful businesses. His father (my great grandfather) died when he was six and his mother raised him along with his elder brother. Early in his life, responsibility of taking care of his family fell on his shoulders. With very little formal education, he built businesses and was able to raise his children, take care of his family and employees.

When I was little, my father was always busy running the business and so I got to spend a lot of time with my dada ji (my grandfather). He always kept me in conversations of how planning, autonomous employees and trust with customers were critical for the success of any business.

Secondly, I always wanted to make a difference in the world. A career on the fast track was very lucrative but I always had an inner calling to do something that solved a significant pain in people’s lives. The drive to do something bigger than myself and meaningful helped me take the plunge to start my own company.

Finally, I was always passionate about helping ambitious and aspiring women. When I came to the U.S. ten years ago, I realized how hard it was to find role models, trusted resources for information, experts on different domains who could help propel your career. There was a need for a platform to learn from crème de la crème, find trusted and relevant information, get training and showcase your talent to prosper in your career. In hindsight, all of this was motivation for me to start my company, Invincibelle.

How long have you been in business?

We have been in business since Feb, 2007. So, it is three years since we have been in business.

How did you fund it?

The two things that come to my mind are:

Firstly, way before I started my company, I started saving money to start one. I believe that one has to put money in one’s own venture. It brings in a different level of commitment.

Secondly, I invested heavily in my education and continue to do so even today. I was hungry for knowledge. I was fortunate to learn from the best teachers.

Initially, I bootstrapped the company along with some strategic investments. I built the company by developing partnerships. This helped me keep the monthly burn rate low and brought in help from partners for the execution of the initial concept.

With the release of Invincibelle Personalized Leadership Optimized programs in 2010, we are now in a high growth mode and gearing for raising more funds in the next three-six months.

In the dot-com era, fundraising was considered the normal route for building a company. An entrepreneur needed an in-house development team, servers and marketing campaigns to start a company.

Today, I believe that a first-time entrepreneur needs to prove a concept to a level before he can reach out to potential investors. The costs associated with starting an Internet company have significantly reduced. An entrepreneur needs to consider tools like skype for communication, google analytics for tracking web traffic and blogs, squidoos, wikis, email campaigns for marketing.

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? YES!!! I have Fairy Godmothers and Godfathers who are my mentors.

Self- belief is a priceless asset. Without self-belief nothing can be accomplished. With it, nothing is impossible.

With that said, mentors enable you to execute on an idea. Their belief and confidence in you keeps you focused on getting results and developing yourself. The fact that you have access to them and their mindshare is priceless. Sometimes, you cannot comprehend what their vision is for your company and you. It is miraculous to have them in this committed and passionate endeavor of your life. In ups and downs, they are constantly championing you and you find yourself creating opportunities you had not imagined.

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? Yes!!! I am formal and informal member to many business organization and networking groups.Women 2.0, Working Mother Media, LinkedIn, Twitter, Active Garage to name a few.

Current Business Challenge? Cash flow and Revenue. Cash is a serious matter. Its management is utterly vital in any venture. Facing up to cash-flow demands is paramount concern in any start-up. Monitoring and forecasting cash flow is a huge responsibility. You can delegate any task but this is YOURS.

What are you doing about it? Creating offers that are relevant to the marketplace. Diversify! You need to be focused to get your idea off the ground and to start making money. You can expand maybe grow internationally. But, in reality, it is still in the same industry. To protect your investment, you need to create new offers and leverage.

Favorite motivational quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world” – Mahatma Gandhi.

Family? A BIG, FAT Indian family, many relatives and relatives of relatives. My husband and immediate family are my biggest support which includes my mom, my father in law and mother in law and great cousins and sisters. And friends who are like my family. Since I stay away from home, India, my friends have become my family. And mentors, who are now part of my extended family.

If so, how do you balance family and business? I have never tried to reach work-life balance. Quite frankly, I don’t believe in it.  I don’t see work and life as two separate pieces of my life. I see them as ONE. I believe in work-life integration. Some things I do to be able to live a full life is:

1. Prioritize – Prioritize AND PRIORITIZE
2. AVOID Interruptions – To stay focused on what I am working on.
3. Make time for myself – I love to work out and spend time with friends, travel and indulge in my hobbies. So, I ask for a lot of help from my family, friends and even hire help.
4. Goal Setting – I focus on what I can accomplish in a DAY.
5. Committed AND Not Attached – I remind myself everyday that I am playing a GAME bigger than myself. I am committed to making a difference in the world and other people’s lives. And if this is a game I designed, I am going to play it all out. I am committed to creating a change and I surround myself with people who give me energy to overcome obstacles.

Favorite book? This is a tough question since I have more than one book which is my favorite book.

Here are a few:

1. Leader’s Legacy – Kouzes & Posner
2. Outliers – Malcolm Gladwell
3. Monk who sold his Ferrari – Robin Sharma
4. The speed of TRUST – Stephen M. R. Covey
5. The Art of the start – Guy Kawasaki
6. Screw it, let’s do it – Richard Branson
7. The brand you 50 – Tom Peters
8. The Dip – Seth Godin
9. On Becoming Fearless – Arianna Huffington
10. The E Myth – Michael E. Gerber

The list goes ON…but I will STOP here.

What do you do to relax? I love to work-out and it allows me to rejuvenate myself. I truly believe there is some truth to the “Endorphin RUSH”. I love painting, reading, watching movies, traveling and spending time with friends and family. I am BIG on listening to music and reading books. Most importantly, I really love meeting people who are DREAMERS – who dream to make a difference AND then DO it.

What do you want to change most about your world? I can’t wait to see a world where people are empowered and enabled to make a difference in the world. I dream of a world without passports.

I believe in the concept of “Global citizenship”. I believe Global citizens draw from their home culture but they also absorb experiences from many cultures and backgrounds. They are not cultural tourists who just travel the world and go shopping. They embrace discomfort and immerse themselves in different cultures. The journey to become a global citizen often includes personal sacrifice and pain. They look beyond stereotypes, and they don’t talk about diversity. Instead, they manifest the change they want to appear within the world. They take responsibility of communities beyond people who they grew up with and are change catalyst.

How do you explain to people are concerned about Tsunami or Haiti disaster who have never traveled there or encountered a similar situation?

What are you most proud of? When I told my dad I was quitting my job and using all of my savings for this company he was less than pleased. He wanted to protect me. He said that it was too risky and that I shouldn’t do it. But I knew I was ready for it, so I did it anyway. Later on, I was a guest on a radio talk show, speaking about startups and entrepreneurs. Four days before he died he called me and said, “I heard your radio show, and I’m very proud of you. I finally get what you’re doing.” That was the proudest moment of my life.

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? Take bold risks and never look back.  I believe, “When you get off an island, burn the boats”, meaning that when you make a decision, stick to it and never look back.

“Luck is a dividend of sweat” – Ray Kroc, McDonald’s Founder.

Fortune fovors not just the brave but the bold. It is possible that boldness can result in complete failure – that is what the conventional wisdom proves. But if it succeeds, then success will be yours.

Chances come to everyone in life often they will be risky and have potential humiliation. Be prepared to take a calculated risk and tolerate potential humiliation and to act with passion – you will see luck favor YOU.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? I believe Stamina is crucial. This is important as it is the capacity to work so hard that your friends make fun of you, your family wonders what is wrong with you, your lover despises your commitment and everyone wonders if you are on drugs, half in wonder and half in despair. This is the recipe to seek LUCK.

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Diamonds – They are girl’s best friend.

Your Personal Trainer for Financing Fitness

Guest writer, Lynette Hilgenberg, Vice President and Advertising Manager of Bank of American Fork shares her expertise on getting a loan: Every year hundreds of thousands of people turn to a personal trainer to help them get in shape. Some of them are already in good shape, some not so much. It is the trainer’s job regardless of the person’s condition to provide motivation and support in order to help clients improve their exercise techniques. A personal trainer is familiar with the way the body works. In fact, most fitness workers need to be certified. When a person hires a trainer she knows the trainer will do everything she can to make sure her body is in tip top shape. Similar things could be said of loan officers.

A loan officer will help guide you through the process of applying for a loan and when you are ready he or she will stand before the loan committee and present your case. The loan officer who is familiar with the way lending works will be more than willing to help you get things in order. There are many factors that banks must consider in approving a loan. These range from recent changes in lending regulations and market conditions, to the character of the loan applicant and the condition of the application itself and the financials included. Let your loan officer be your personal financing trainer.

The first and most important thing your loan officer will look at is your character. It’s important that you help him get to know you. One way that you can present yourself in a positive manner is to be prepared.

So what do you need to show the officer? She’ll want to see your capacity to repay the loan. The lender will look at the cash flow from your business and the probability of successfully paying the loan back on time. You’ll want to have very good accounting records that go back at least a few years. Have your financials supervised by an accountant if possible. Can you show that your currents assets outweigh your current liabilities? A current ratio of assets to liabilities of 1.5 to 1 is good, but it can depend on the industry you work in. Can you show that your business has a history of profitability? Are your records reliable and consistent?

To give the loan officer a complete picture of your financial condition be sure to bring a balance sheet, an income statement (less than a year old), statement of cash flows, statement of net worth or retained earnings and footnotes.

The loan officer will want to know how much of your money you have invested in the business, an indication of how much you have at risk if the business fails. She wants to know what’s at stake for you.  The lender also needs to know that you can provide additional forms of security if you’re unable to repay the loan. Be prepared to tell the officer what you plan to do with the money. Is it for equipment, inventory, or working capital? In addition the lender will be taking the economic temperature of your industry and the industries that could affect your business.

After looking over all of your information the lender will then do some research. She will confirm balances with banks and creditors, trace transactions, and count inventories. She will make sure your financial statements fairly represent your financial condition. If everything is in order and she thinks you are ready she will make your case to the loan committee.

When everything is said and done it, whether your loan is approved or not, do not take the result as a personal validation or rejection. It is important to remember that there are many factors that a bank’s loan committee must consider that go beyond the application. Economic and market conditions are important factors. And State and Federal regulators play a strong role in managing the parameters of a bank’s loan portfolio—how much the bank can lend in each area, such as commercial or real estate lending. All of these additional factors combined with the fact that business financing will continue to be an important element of your business strategy throughout the years support the need for developing a long term relationship with a community banker. Your personal financial fitness trainer can be a valuable partner for the long-term success and strength of your business.

Lynette Hilgenberg has had 29 years of experience in the banking industry and is the  current Vice President and Advertising Manager at Bank of American Fork in Provo, Utah. When Lynette isn’t working she likes to spend time with her family, sew, read and go horseback riding.

Thank you Lynette!

You’re Invited! Startup Princess Orange County, CA Chapter – March 2, 2010

We’re thrilled to announce our first event in 2010 for the Startup Princess Orange County, CA Chapter! Please join us  March 2nd from 7pm-9pm at Covenant Hills Clubhouse (1 Covenant Hills Dr. Ladera Ranch, CA 92694), for an evening of inspiration, networking, and fun!  This exciting event will feature networking extraordinaire, Dave Phillipson of Global CEO Space.  With his help, by the end of the night we will all become “Queens of Networking.”

The cost of the event is $15 for pre-paid attendees (by March 1st) or $20 at the door.  First time guests are free!  To pre-pay please use the Paypal button below. Thank you!

Many Thanks to our Location Sponsor, Covenant Hills Clubhouse

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