Mastering (& LOVING) Delegation

When I say “delegation” do you shudder?  Do you think of all the times that you gave someone a task and ended up doing it yourself or re-doing it?  Have you mastered delegation and the word brings peace of mind?  Do you think of an amazing assistant or employee that you trust implicitly?

I’ve delegated a lot of responsibilities and have have felt all of the above.  Peace and trust to panic and stress.  I sat in a church meeting a couple of weeks ago and the topic was “Delegation”.  It was so fantastic I wanted to share with you some of the tips that were shared and how I use them running my businesses.

These tips were shared by my friend Greg Danklef who quoted them from Lee Perry, a professor of Organizational Leadership & Strategy at BYU.  He shares 7 tips for mastering delegation (with my two cents [and then some] sprinkled in):

1. Decide what you want to delegate – Simple, right?  For some of us we don’t even know where to start.  I always use the philosophy that every task in your business needs to be done by the lowest possible position something I learned from the book the One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey.  I used to do everything because I was a one-woman show (I still am but have one assistant + use contractors on a regular basis).  Now, I delegate and outsource sorting my catalogs (get about 15 a week on average), mailing out catalogs, and other admin tasks.  What can you delegate, even on a short-term basis that would open the doors to more creative time that you CAN’T outsource?

2. Decide whom to delegate to – We had an interesting discussion around this.  We talked about balancing people’s talents and also their needs to grow.  If you run a company with a handful of employees growth is an important part of your business.  Though it takes more time to teach something new, employees who are given the opportunity to grow and succeed feel greater satisfaction with their work and try to work harder for advancement, etc.  But sometimes you also have to give jobs where the talent lies.  It’s a delicate balance.  When I’m delegating cataloging tasks, I can often give those jobs to neighborhood kids earning money for who knows what.  Other tasks like helping me find press contacts and following up on quotes take more time, training and talent and go to my assistant.

3. Make assignments clearly and specifically – This is where you answer WHO is doing WHAT by WHEN.  Take as much time as you need to ensure that the task is understood and answer any questions.  To this I would add, get buy-off from the delegated party that they can commit to the task, understand what needs to be done and that they also commit to the deadline.  This will give them structure and give you peace.  I also tell my assistants and contractors that I’m open if they have any questions during the process.  I don’t expect people to answer their own questions if they get stuck in the middle.

4. Assign an objective and not a procedure – This is where I start to shudder and certainly the place where I need to do a little work.  I often assign a procedure taking the “It’s my company” philosophy and hope that my assistants and contractors will understand.  Most do, and I do it with a great deal of charisma, but still. (Insert smiley face)  I have found that when I do share the task, but also share the vision of the project as a whole they buy-off a little better and their work is above average.  If I assign a task, I get just that.  No passion or opportunity for having it better than I asked for, either.   But that leads us to:

5. Allow autonomy – Give them space, don’t sit over their shoulder while they do it.  Trust them to feel the vision of the task and give them the opportunity to work their way and knock your socks off.  Besides, if you have to sit with them, why are you delegating it in the first place?  The idea is to free up your time!  And, they may get from A-Z a little differently, but as long as they get there, it’s okay! (Now, I know there are some tasks that require a specific process, but if the project allows, give them

6. Monitor performance and require reporting - I have also found as I have implemented these things over the past few weeks, I’ve started to give more autonomy, but I’m also giving more direction and saying things like, “After you’ve done X, lets look at it together and see what needs to happen next.”  This makes it clear to them that they need to check back in the middle of projects and also that I’m going to review and provide feedback on ways to improve mid-stream instead of being angry at the end when a lot of time has been spent.  They’re more open to my comments when I warn them before they start that I’m going to have them report in the middle of the project or at certain checkpoints.  And I think it gives them an opportunity to ask questions at a set time in the middle, instead of feeling too scared to ask, if that’s an issue for them.  This tip has been really helpful!

7. Give credit not blame – Praise the successes and the victories but don’t throw them under the bus if it doesn’t go as you would have liked.  Be the coach, be the person who trains them and works with them through the process that wants them to succeed!  And give them another chance on another task that may fit their talents and provide a benefit for you, if that one didn’t work out.

In just a few short weeks, I’ve seen how following this process has really helped in getting back quality work from those I delegate to and I’m loving the extra time it gives me and that it makes me feel like I can delegate more!  Do you have any other tips for delegation that you’d like to share?  We’d love to hear them!

Michelle McCullough is the business development director for Startup Princess and handles Startup Princess partnerships and events.  Michelle is an author, speaker and entrepreneur.  Before Startup Princess, Michelle has spent the last 12 years working in marketing and advertising. She’s worked in all aspects of the industry from production to creative and sales to management. On top of her full-time jobs, Michelle has cultivated her love for entrepreneurship by running a successful business, Doodads, a promotional products company.  Michelle and her husband are the parents of two children ages 3 and 1, and live in Utah.

Design Your Business to Run Itself

I am so excited to share this training with you!

If you have an established business and want to learn how to systematize and structure your work load so you can explode your
business (and be the rock star mama you were born to be), this training is for you!

Kim Flynn is a friend of mine, a Startup Princess Fairy Godmother and is a business consultant/coach extraordinaire for women. 

She is doing a content-intense phone training for women next week.  I have been on her calls, and she offers SERIOUS content about  structuring & organizing your business so you can get out of the office & spend more time with your kids. You will not be disappointed.

Register Here

You will learn:

• How you can run your current business without working more than 20 hours a week
• 3 quick ways to know if your business is broken
• 1 simple business upgrade that will transform your business
• and more!

Here is that link again

She only does these trainings three times a year–this won’t be available again until September so get on now! If you can’t be live on the call, a recording will be sent to you.

**If you purchase one of Kim’s programs we’ll likely get a commission, but don’t worry, we only recommend products, trainings and services that we feel are a great fit for our members.  So listen into the free training call.  She’ll offer incredible insights for your business on that free call.  Then you can decide for yourself if Kim’s program is right for you.

American Mothers National Convention – Be Our Guest At the Social Media Panel for Free!

You’re Invited!

We realize that many moms are looking for ways to find support for their busy family life as well as engage in other worthwhile pursuits. American Mothers Inc. believes, “Strong Moms Strengthen Families.” Which is why we are excited to announce an upcoming event for moms who wish to connect with this inspiring non-profit organization, April 28-30, 2011 in Salt Lake City at AMI’s national convention, “Motherhood Elevated.”

American Mothers is inviting you, free-of-charge, to one of their convention’s premier events: “Look Who’s Talking!”—AMI’s Social Media and Technology panel, featuring inspiring and engaging women who use technology in their daily lives and their businesses. The panel will include our own founder, Kelly King Anderson, as well as the 2010 National Young Mother of the Year and popular blogger, Sheri Carlstrom of Indiana, along with blogging sensation, Courtney Kendrick and technology and social media entrepreneur, Sandy Sponaugle of West Virginia.

Once at the panel event, you are invited to stick around, ask questions, meet other moms with interests like your own and engage women who are developing their own enterprising ideas using technology and social media.  Additionally, a ticket to attend all breakout sessions of the convention for the same day, Saturday, April 30, can be purchased at the special invitation price of $35 dollars and includes a one-year nation membership in American Mothers membership!  Register @ www.americanmothers.org All events held at Little America, Salt Lake City.

American Mothers is an inter-faith, non-political, non-profit organization that continues to recognize the invaluable contribution mothers make to the future success and happiness of children and society. Its purpose is exclusively charitable. It is also the organization responsible for annually selecting the National Mother of the Year® and Young Mother from candidates across the United States, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  Many outstanding individuals throughout America have served as officers, leaders, members and supporters of this organization such as Sarah Delano Roosevelt, J.C. Penny, Mamie Eisenhower, Phyllis Marriott and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

We’re supportive of what American Mothers Inc. is doing for women across the nation and in its local chapters. We encourage you to take a look at the organization (http://www.americanmothers.org)  and claim a seat at this panel event, Saturday, April 30, at 2:00pm at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City. There you will connect with other fabulous, inspiring and engaging moms and supporters.  Bring this letter to the panel presentation to be entered into a give-away at the end of the panel event.  You may copy or forward this offer to your personal friends who might also wish to attend.

Event location:  Little America Hotel, 500 South Main Street, Salt Lake City.

Interview & Giveaway: Meet Jill Blashack Strahan – Founder Tastefully Simple and Author of the Book Simply Shine

It was very exciting to get to know Jill a little bit better and have her take some time to answer some questions for a Startup Princess interview.  She has an inspiring startup story and offers some bits of wisdom for businesses at every stage of development.  And, we’re giving away a copy of her book!  Details are at the end of this post!

How did you come up with the idea for Tastefully Simple?

The idea actually came to me back in 1994. When I decided to close my gift shop called Care with Flair Gifts & Gift Baskets, I was invited to be part of a local Holiday Crafter’s Tour – what some would call a parade of homes. At the last minute, I asked the craft tour organizers if I could offer samples of the food in the gift baskets. They agreed. In one and a half days, I sold $200 in gift baskets and over $2,000 in food.

I went to that event two years in a row, and then I had my “ding-ding moment.” At 3:00 am after reading an article in Entrepreneur magazine about two women who had started a home party company with home décor, I realized, “Ding-ding!” People are not looking for gift baskets. They want quick and easy, high-quality foods … and they want to taste-test. 

When I had my gift basket business, I had actually thought about doing home parties. Then after the Holiday Crafter’s Tour, I suddenly connected back to that idea. I was apathetic about home parties in the past, but this would be a party I would dig attending. Fabulous food, fun and talking with friends? Now I’d go to THAT party!”

Did you bootstrap or seek for investors?

I often say that Tastefully Simple was founded on a dream and a shoestring. And I am NOT exaggerating.

I bootstrapped the business with $6,000 in savings, a $10,000 investment from a silent partner (Joani Nielson, who would later take on an active role as our COO) and a $20,000 SBA loan. And the rest is history!

Back in June 1995, our headquarters was a 1,200-square-foot shed with no running water, and we used a pool table as our packing station. Today Tastefully Simple has grown to become a $100 million-plus company with more than 25,000 direct sales consultants across the country. (And yes, sometimes I STILL need to pinch myself!)

What 2 or 3 things do you feel really helped your business to grow over the past 16 years?

Primarily, it was alignment in three things. First, dreaming it and having clarity about what I wanted this company and its products to be. Second, having the faith and belief that it was going to work. Third, having the willingness to work at it. If any one of those three things would have been out of alignment, it wouldn’t have worked.  Beyond these three things, I strongly encourage participation in a professional support and accountability group. I will be eternally grateful for my participation in Vistage, which I consider the best investment you can make in yourself and your company.

What have you learned along the way?

How much time do you have? One of our favorite phrases at Tastefully Simple is “we reserve the right to get smarter.” There’s a gentle humor about it that puts people at ease, but more importantly, it lets us be authentic and frees us from trying to be perfect.

Mistakes are as much a part of the process of our growth as doing things “right.”  One of the great things about being real is that we give ourselves permission to stumble. As long as we can be honest, not get bogged down, and learn how to move on, there’s always an opportunity to grow. Over the years, I relied heavily on our consultants, our clients and our own intuition to help us figure things out as we went along.

Here are a few of the other key lessons I’ve learned along the way:

Fall in love with change.  Over the last 15 years, I’ve learned that change is a rule, not the exception. From 1999-2003 alone, Tastefully Simple leaped from $4.4 million to $113 million in sales. You can’t experience change at that magnitude without being flexible.

1. Take time to renew. I always think of Stephen Covey’s line: “Ahhh…too busy driving to stop and get gas?” We all need to refuel sometimes. Back in 1995, 1996 and 1997, I was invited to Creative Memories’ conference, but I was always “too busy” to go. I finally attended in 1997, and I can’t even begin to express how it changed my attitude and therefore the success of Tastefully Simple. During our start-up years, Creative Memories was our greatest mentor. They were abundant beyond words.
2. Choose to be different. Try to find that sweet spot. Don’t re-invent the wheel, but don’t be a sheep that will follow the flock wherever it goes. Be true to who you are, even if it means being unconventional sometimes.
3. Be patient with yourself.  We build our business one by one by one. One decision at a time, one sale at a time, one relationship at a time. Jack Canfield said, “Think of the headlights on a car at night only lighting up 200 feet. But the car can make it across the entire country, just 200 feet at a time.” That’s how we achieve success. 200 feet at a time.

What advice do you have for other women in the beginning and development stages of building their business dreams?

Dream it, believe it, work it. Be very clear about what you want, have faith in that vision, and be willing to do the work that’s necessary because the harder you work, the luckier you get! Financing a new business is usually an issue, so I encourage you to check out all the local and regional resources available to help you get started. The loan I received from the Small Business Administration was critical in my ability to transform Tastefully Simple from a dream to a reality.

Tell us more about Simply Shine.  What inspired you to write it?

So often, we settle in life – we don’t dare to set the bar too high.

Back in 1994, I hired a personal coach named Mike Haynie who changed my life. He helped me realize that I did not feel WORTHY of having a life I loved. He was the catalyst that helped me change my thoughts – and most importantly, my actions.

Through an intense journey, I came to believe that I was worthy of my dreams and that I COULD have whatever I wanted. Like Peter McWilliams said, “You can have anything you want in life. You just can’t have everything.”

Today my purpose is to inspire others to go for their dreams, and that’s really what Simply Shine is all about. I believe it’s impossible to shine without self-confidence, and we build that confidence in two ways – through our skills and our will. Simply Shine is about building people’s will. It’s about creating a spark and helping them gain confidence … so they shine and achieve a life they love.

How have you built your business on the abundance mentality?

I’ve come to the firm conclusion that there’s no extracting our personal life from our business life. When we’re happy and fulfilled in our personal life, it flows into our work. When we’re miserable and unhappy in our work, it spews into our personal life. In the same vein, the culture of any company is driven by our personal life, our personal beliefs and our personal values. And for me, these philosophies developed and evolved over time.

Back in 1997, I sat down with our three employees and we brainstormed about what we did – and did NOT – want to be known for as a company. We developed our company’s seven core values. That was crucial because it created clarity in our own hearts and minds – and as our company grew, it ensured there would be no confusion about what our expectations and values are for anyone who comes on board.

We eventually boiled these values down to three principles. The first is the law of abundancy – fostering peace of mind through win-win attitudes. The second one is the law of magic, which is creating positive energy through celebration and excellence. The third principle is the law of realness, which is building trust through humbleness.

These principles are more than words on wall at Tastefully Simple – they are truly the heart and soul of our company and drive every decision we make. They reflect who we are – and who we want to be.

MY REVIEW OF SIMPLY SHINE – by Michelle McCullough

I was initially surprised by how autobiographical this book is.  Though at first I thought it would be hard to read, every page oozes with positive energy, and I couldn’t help but feel inspired as I read it.  Jill’s writing style and story telling makes it easy to get involved in her life, and also made it easy to apply to my own.

I especially love what Jill says about abundance.  I’ve been working some abundance principles into my life and work over the past two years and have really seen a difference in the way I view what I do, what my goals are and also how I view competition in the marketplace.  There truly is enough business for all of us, and the more we connect with abundance in our life and business, the more we’ll attract.  On a surface level as we believe that there is enough for everyone, we all have enough.  Jill goes one step deeper and talks about abundance and defines the Law of Abundance (as she talks about above) as “Fostering peace of mind through win-win attitudes.”  How powerful!  Can you see your life being full without the involvement, love and support of others?  Jill shows us so powerfully that we we are not alone and our lives can be enriched by involving others in our journey and being involved and helping others achieve their dreams as well.

Finally, the last takeaway I want to share with you: Jill’s story illustrates that the pathway to business success is not easy and you’ll have speed bumps and set backs along the way (we cause some ourselves, don’t we?).  However, as we pick ourselves back up, we open doors only commitment, stamina and perseverance have in store for us.

BOOK GIVEAWAY

Now, we have a copy to giveaway to a lucky Startup Princess.  Just answer this question: What principle of success has helped shape your personal or professional life?  Your answers are not judged, but they are your entry into the giveaway.  Winner will be selected by random.org.  Additional giveaway details and conditions are available by contacting us.

Michelle McCullough is the business development director for Startup Princess and handles Startup Princess partnerships and events.  Before Startup Princess, Michelle has spent the last 12 years working in marketing and advertising. She’s worked in all aspects of the industry from production to creative and sales to management. On top of her full-time jobs, Michelle has cultivated her love for entrepreneurship by running a successful side business, Doodads, a promotional products company.  Michelle and her husband are the parents of two children ages 3 and 1, and live in Utah.

Introducing Amber Soletti Co-Founder of On Speed Dating

One of the best parts of working with Startup Princesses is finding talent from all over the United States whose businesses run the gamut from photography to health and wellness companies and from crafters to founders of speed dating companies!  I also love stories of from employee to entrepreneur, just like Amber Soletti…Read on:

Education: B.B.A. in Business Marketing from The University of Texas at San Antonio

Professional Background: Over a decade of doing beauty marketing and product development for Fortune 500 companies like Esteé Lauder owned Aveda and Avon.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: I was and still am a big animal lover, thought I wanted to be a veterinarian until I came to the realization I would have to put animals down.

What you are: An entrepreneur

Brief Summary of your Start Up: Unlike traditional dating events based on age range, we offer speed dating events and singles parties themed around peoples dating “deal-breakers”.  Think similar interests, backgrounds and physical preferences.  Our service offers NYC singles themed events like “Hot for Teacher”, “Date a Democrat”, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”, “Inked” for tattooed singles, “Non-Practicing Jew” night, and “Size Matters” for guys and gals with a hankering for height.  We also offer free on-line dating, matchmaking and are getting ready to launch a site that will offer “dating deals” along with a social element that sites like Groupon and LivingSocial are currently lacking.

Company Websites? http://www.OnSpeedDating.Com http://www.SingleAndTheCity.Com

http://www.Kissburg.Com

What inspired you? Being single in NYC for the past 10 years and totally unimpressed with the dating scene where the majority of events were based on age range and rampant with socially awkward, unattractive men.  Figured I could host events where I’d be “into” the men and subsidize my income at the same time.

How long have you been in business? September 2008

How did you fund it? Fortunately not a lot of overhead to get it started.  My business partner who was also single at the time and I went in on it together.

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? I wish.  Fortunately my experience in the corporate world really helped prepare me for becoming an entrepreneur.

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? I don’t currently belong to any organizations, however I do make a point of networking with other entrepreneurs I meet, especially people I’ve come across in my same industry.

Current Business Challenge? Growing the business while not sacrificing the quality of our events.

What are you doing about it? Enlisting the talents of a Columbia Business grad student to assist us in putting together a strong business plan that will hopefully be compelling enough to attract outside investors to help us find the financing we’ll need to take our business to the next level.

Favorite motivational quote: “If you can imagine it you can achieve it, if you dream it you believe it”.

Family? All are successful entrepreneurs living in Austin, TX.  My parents own a real estate company, Eanes Properties and my sister and her husband started an on-line property locating business called SmartLocating.Com.

If so, how do you balance family and business? Don’t have a significant other or any children at this point and can’t even fathom having time for that given how busy I am.  Have a great respect for women out there that are trying to balance a business and family.

Favorite book? I’m of the belief that the book totally ruins the movie.  That aside I definitely think a lot of single women out there could benefit from reading “He’s Just Not That Into You”.

What do you do to relax? I wish.  Unfortunately getting a business off the ground and working for yourself does not leave much time for relaxation.  You’re constantly putting out fires and trying to figure out how to take your business to the next level.

What do you want to change most about your world? I’d like to continue to raise the bar on the singles scene to the point where it eventually loses the connotation of being for the socially awkward and desperate.  Also on the “to-do” list, hooking myself up with a man in the process.

What are you most proud of? Maintaining integrity in everything I do.  In business in general and this industry in particular I’ve definitely come across a lot of shady people who cut corners and screw people over when trying to get ahead. My dad was a big proponent of “The Golden Rule” and I definitely took that to heart and try to do right by the people I come in contact with.

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? Make sure you have a point-of-difference.  I see “me too” companies launching every day that aren’t doing anything different or better than their competitors.  To really stand out and take market share you need to have a compelling point-of-difference that will help you stand out from the masses.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? Social media and the press.  A start-up’s best friends.

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Amber of course.

Real Entrepreneurs. Real Strategies. Real Results.

What do David Neelman (Founder of JetBlue), Kate Maloney (Founder of Costume Craze) and Amilya Antonetti (bestselling author) have in common?  They are all featured entrepreneurs at MyNewEnterprise.com

Here’s a little about My New Enterprise:

Our initial “Keys to Success” training suite is based on hundreds of interviews we have conducted with successful entrepreneurs over the past 20 years.  The practices taught in these modules are the common behaviors that appear over and over again in our research.  When these keys are applied in starting and growing new ventures, the probability of success goes up dramatically; when these factors are absent, the probability of staying a small sole proprietorship or failing altogether is high.  All of our training programs are taught by successful entrepreneurs who own and operate regional, national and international businesses in a variety of industries.

Kelly King Anderson, Founder of Startup Princess, went through the system and was highly impressed.  Here’s what she said:

“I’ve been looking for years for a program like My New Enterprise to recommend to startups, I’m completely impressed! My New Enterprise was developed by top level, internationally recognized and celebrated entrepreneurs who fully understand the stages of business growth and want to empower those entering this space in an affordable, accessible manner. The value of the product offerings is tremendous-  engaging videos, well-developed assessments and exercises, and even access to mentoring by industry experts at a reduced rate. I have no doubt that those who embrace this program will create significant results in business.”

Because of the partnership we’ve formed with My New Enterprise, Startup Princess readers and friends receive a $25 discount off the regular price.  Use code: SUPWEB. To learn more about My New Enterprise or to purchase a year of unlimited access go here.

One of my main responsibilities for Startup Princess is building partnerships with other organizations. We get multiple requests each week to be part of affiliate programs, promote other company’s products and promote other events. Some are a good fit, and others are not. When My New Enterprise reached out to us, we did our research to see if this was a product we wanted to promote and a company we wanted to partner with. We’ve been very impressed with their product offering, quality and their staff. They have interviewed some of America’s top entrepreneurs and formulated training programs using the principles of success shared by these experienced business owners.  They’ve gone to great lengths to produce high quality videos and training programs.  Those are just some reasons why we’re excited to partner with them.  If you purchase My New Enterprise, we’ll get an affiliate commission, but rest assured, we’re not recommending this product based on revenue generated.  We only promote products we feel are a great match for our readers.  If you ever have any concerns about products or services we recommend, you’re welcome to email me at michelle (at) startupprincess (dot) com.

Hey Utah! Online Advertising Seminar by Orange Soda

Join the experts of OrangeSoda to learn all about essentials of online marketing and 

get $200 in free advertising while you’re at it.

It's the time of year when green grass flourishes and fresh flowers blossom. So why not let 

your business grow with them? Join OrangeSoda's experts to learn about online marketing 

essentials, from Mobile and Search optimization to social media and everything in between.

Just like any other garden, space is limited, so register your

business today and get going (and growing).

Date: Tuesday, April 19 

Price: FREE using discount code “FIZZ”

Location: Horizon Financial Event Center 9890 S 300 W Sandy, UT 84070

Sessions: 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. (pick your favorite)

Register at: http://orangesoda.eventbrite.com/ 

Introducing Michelle Cousins, Wedding Designer at Utah Events By Design

I (Michelle McCullough) met our interviewee (Michelle Cousins) through a coworker (Gillian Rawcliffe) that I knew while working at Verite.  I love it when I get emails from old friends that say, “Hey Michelle, I know someone you need to meet for your princess-thing.”  Michelle and I have had a number of conversations since then and its been a lot of fun watching her grow her own startup over the last year.  And it doesn’t help that we share the same name and passions for events! Meet Michelle (Cousins, that is):

Education: BA in Communication from Westminster College, Master of Professional Communication with emphasis in marketing, Westminster College

Professional Background: For the last nine years, I’ve worked as a marketing professional focusing on campaign planning and execution. In addition to my event design business, I continue to do marketing work on a contract basis.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: As a young child, I aspired to be an artist. I’d gather my crayons and finger paints and watch Bob Ross on a daily basis, completely infatuated with his ability to make painting look so easy. Unfortunately, I abandoned this dream, as I can barely draw stick figures.

What you are: I’m a military wife, a feisty Italian who enjoys cooking, a creative visionary, dog lover, and fan of traveling.

Brief Summary of your Start Up: I started Utah Events by Design in the spring of 2010 and specialize in the design, planning and execution of weddings, social parties and corporate events.

Company Website? www.UtahEventsbyDesign.com

What inspired you? I love designing fun, creative, and well-put-together events. As a marketing professional, I’ve executed events in European, Asian-Pacific, Canadian and local markets. In 2006, I designed and planned my own wedding which is when I realized I was in my element planning events.

How long have you been in business? Nearly one year.

How did you fund it? I have invested a lot of my own money into this endeavor. I’m also extremely lucky to have a silent business partner, located in Arizona, whom I’ve known and been friends with for 15 years. One day I shared my desires and fears with him about starting my own company and he said to me, “Michelle, this is your dream. Quit talking about it and just go for it. I’m willing to back you financially because that’s how much I believe in you and your talents.”  I’m so lucky to have his friendship and support.

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? I have many! I have such a supportive network of friends, family and professional colleagues. Each provides me with unique inspiration, helpful direction and wise advice. I couldn’t do this without them!

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? Not currently but I’m open to suggestions!

Current Business Challenge? With my company in its infancy, I’m striving to create awareness about my services. Additionally, I’d love to tackle designing and planning a destination wedding. I think that would be a fun and exciting challenge.

What are you doing about it? I’m participating in several different trade shows in the upcoming months to help increase my visibility. I’m also in search of a bride interested in having an out-of-state wedding. If you know of one, send her my way!

Favorite motivational quote: “Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.” –Pamela Vaull Starr

Family? I’ve been married to my wonderful husband, Michael for three-and-a-half years. We have two adorable Shih Tzu puppies named KeeLee and Khloe.

How do you balance family and business? I believe that one has to make time for the most important things in life. It’s a must that I spend quality time with friends and family to relax and recharge. Otherwise, I end up running on empty and that’s simply not an option.

Favorite book? My mother is an early childhood educator and I’ve inherited her love of children’s books. My favorite is “The Rainbow Goblins” by Ul de Rico.

What do you do to relax? I grab an ice cold Dr. Pepper, turn up my music, and sing at the top of my lungs. At other times, I write.

What do you want to change most about your world? I wish I could convince brides that although I have the ability to pull off a beautiful wedding in “just under three months,” a longer engagement can be a wonderful thing for a wedding designer!

What are you most proud of? I’m most proud of the strong relationships I have in my life. I’m surrounded by life-long friends, an incredibly supportive husband and a family that has taught me to believe in the beauty of my dreams.

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? Find what you love and love what you do. If you can master that, then you’re well on your way to life-long success and happiness.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? The Internet! Whenever I need inspiration for a design, I simply “google” my thoughts and then immerse myself in the pages upon pages of inspiring results.

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? I’d use green amethysts with black pearls and diamonds for the delicate embellishments.

 

 

Touchpoint Call For Speakers * Orange County & SLC

CALL FOR SPEAKERS – Application We are looking for speakers to fill limited openings (mostly just panelists) at Touchpoint in Orange County, CA on June 3rd and we have openings for speakers and panelists for our Salt Lake City 2 day Annual Conference for Women Entrepreneurs September 15-16.       Speakers will receive the following: – Full event conference ticket – Discounted tickets for team members – A table in the speakers area to promote your product or service – Pictures and bios posted on our event pages promoting the events with link backs to your site. – Opportunities to participate in the affiliate program for the event, if you wish. – Speakers who are coming from out of town will have hotel provided for the event in September. If you have any questions about your submission please contact michelle (at) StartupPrincess (dot) com. First Name * Last Name Job Title Website Email * Phone City * State * Tell us your top 2 or 3 topics for which you would like to be considered. What is your primary area of expertise (preferred topic)? What is your secondary level of expertise? I would like to be considered for Touchpoint in Orange County, CA on June 3rd, 2011. I would like to be considered for Touchpoint in Salt Lake City on Septebmer 15th and 16th, 2011. If you would like to be considered for both locations, please check both boxes. I am interested in being considered to speak on a panel instead of presenting my own session. I am interested in speaking on a panel only if I’m not selected to present my own session.

Touchpoint Takeaways – Mesa, AZ

We made our first stop on the Touchpoint Tour in Mesa, AZ and it was a fantastic event!  I won’t rehash the whole day, but I wanted to share with you my takeaways from the event.

1. Kelly talked about coming to an event ready to GIVE instead of take.  I thought this was an enlightening way to start the day.  I know I started the day with what I wanted to accomplish and changing my mindset for what I wanted to give made me more open to the connections I made and the relationships I formed.   I was also more open and receptive to what I noticed others were giving and sharing from the event and that was really powerful to me.

2. Heather Madder always impresses me.  I try not to geek out when she’s around and I don’t think I do a very good job at it.   She has such a calming and motivating energy and I want to soak up all I can get.  Anyway, (geek out over), Heather’s keynotes are always great and this one was no exception.  She talked about overcoming the blocks we have about being successful women.  Favorite quotes include: “You will earn what you value YOURSELF to be worth.”  We charge what we think we’re worth, but we often give discounts and diminish our value because we’re scared people won’t pay it.  We need to value what we do, and be willing to charge for it.  ”You cannot put a price on who I am, beause I am priceless.”  On a similar note, when people ask us for discounts or for us to give trade secrets for them to do it themselves we need to stand confidently in our space and calmly say, “That’s not something we’re offering right now, thank you.”  They key is confidence.   She also shared the 5 steps to making more money in your business.  Great session!

3.  Lanika Johnson-Colbert talked about organization in life and in business.  One of the things she talked about was waking up and doing your morning routine before your kids wake up.  I work at home and my kids wake up early.  The week before this event in an effort to get more accomplished in my day, I got up an hour before my kids usually wake up.  I exercised, showered and got ready for the day.   It made everything go so much smoother.  I loved that she talked about it at the event.  It made me feel cool that I had already been doing that and it gave me the umph I needed to keep going (it’s HARD!).  What I found is that if I wake up when my kids do, I feel a step behind them all day long!

4. Amy O’Hara and Molly Ingham from Allison & Partners PR firm talked about engaging with the media using traditional and emerging PR tactics.  They talked about approaching the media using twitter and Linked in and also talked about how to build a relationship with reporters and journalists so you can even pitch online.  I’ve tried to build relationships with media professionals through twitter but I’ve never pitched online.  I’m going to work on building a few new relationships and then try the “twitpitch”.  They also introduced us to muckrack.com a place where journalists gather online and their tweets are in one place.  GREAT resource.  As always they and I recommend that you are really building relationships before you pitch whether you’re doing it via twitter, phone or email.  Do your research, craft individual pitches for each journalist and be patient.  All relationships take time.

5. I love that Kelly & I can be worried in the days and weeks leading up to every event that we do, even though we’ve done them lots of times!  Will it work out?  Will the women who come have a good time?  Will connections be made?  Will the speakers that we’ve never met do a good job?  Will the attendees be glad they came?  Even though every event is so different, there’s a magic at Startup Princess events that always makes me happy and we’re always glad that we did them.  Women connect, principles are learned and there’s a great, powerful, dynamic, and changing force in the room.  New relationships are formed, networks are created and people leave with a renewed sense of self and a renewed focus on their businesses.  My favorite part of the day was adding up everyone’s network and realizing that we had an influences of over a half  million people and that was just with 40 women!  How powerful is that?  How amazing that with our combined audiences we can reach, motivate and share our message with thousands of people.

I’m going through my notes from all the speakers (they were ALL fabulous!), we’re combing through pictures from the event (you can check out all the pictures on our facebook page), closing out the books and getting excited for our next stop in Portland!   If you’re in the Pacific Northwest you should join us!

Ultimately, my favorite part of Startup Princess events is that other people had a good time and felt it was worth their while.  Here are some of the tweets and facebook status’ from our attendees:

Shawna Blankenhorn –  ”A very special thank you to Startup Princess for allowing us to be part of their amazing Touchpoint conference yesterday!! You are truly fabulous and inspiring ladies! Please follow them everyone and make sure to attend one of their conferences, you will walk away in INSPIRED and ENERGIZED!! Thank you Kelly & Michelle!”

Heather Madder – “I’m @startupprincess I’m loving your conference, great JOB, on gathering such wonderful people!”

Tandy Vincent – “Thanks to Startup Princess for an AMAZING event yesterday! Lots of creative women networking and learning from each other — loved seeing Heather Madder & Best Life by Design, CRAVE Phoenix- celebrating stylish women entrepreneurs and Entreprenista.

Julie Thorn - I can’t say enough great things about the Startup Princess Touchpoint event in Chandler. So inspiring to hear from such incredible and talented women entrepreneurs….

If you’re ready to activate your dreams both personally and professionally, join us at an upcoming Touchpoint event!  If you’ve been, share with us some of your takeaways!

Michelle McCullough is the business development director for Startup Princess and handles Startup Princess partnerships and events.  Before Startup Princess, Michelle has spent the last 12 years working in marketing and advertising. She’s worked in all aspects of the industry from production to creative and sales to management. On top of her full-time jobs, Michelle has cultivated her love for entrepreneurship by running a successful side business, Doodads, a promotional products company.  Michelle and her husband are the parents of two children ages 3 and 1, and live in Utah.

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