3 Ways to Make Your Marketing Go Viral and MORE from The Contagious Theory

Startup Princess Managing Director, Michelle McCullough, was invited to speak at TEDxBountiful on January 18th. Here is her TEDx talk. Lots of great juicy nuggets for business and life.

Growing Your Business Without Sacrificing Your Relationships

“Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden. Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and growing.” – Jim Rohn

Every entrepreneur has various relationships in their life.  They could be a daughter, sister, mother, aunt, niece, cousin, girlfriend, wife, partner, neighbor or a friend.  So how do you manage all of those roles in addition to being a businesswoman?  That was the topic of January 25th’s #startupchat, Growing Your Business Without Sacrificing Your Relationships, hosted by @startupprincess‘ managing director, @speakmichelle and business/marriage expert panelists, @DinoandShannon.

 

Q1. What struggles do you have running a business and preserving your relationships?

@DinoandShannon I struggle sometimes with disconnecting with work at night so I can engage w/family. Constantly working on that. With my clients, and even in our own marriage it can be stressful to not have a “steady income” if both are entrepreneurs.

@speakmichelle I know that one struggle I have running a biz and keeping my marriage going is time. I feel pulled in 100 directions.

@JHNannies I have found a common daily theme is an expectancy to do more and have results daily

@MCGustafson It’s about putting tasks in compartments of time. Working by a weekly plan sheet keep it all organized. Then sharing with hubby so it makes us feel like a team managing “our” calendars not just mine.

@WhatDoWomenThi1 My husband is so loud on the phone when we both work from home, I write a note that says ‘shsssh’!

TIP: @MarriageCheckup Have you tried to share your calenders with your husband? I use Google calenders and it works great!

 

Q2: Is your spouse/loved ones supportive of your entrepreneurial ventures? How do they show it? 

@DinoandShannon Yes- until we started working together & it created some new struggles to work on. I love that we do personal development together and are teaching it to our kids. So different then how I grew up!

@CKPFineArt My husband is wonderfully supportive. He asks how things are going, and he recognizes that what I do is important to me. Re: housework, I’m lucky enough to be at home, but it’s still tough. I budget an hour a day for domestic tasks and catch-up.

@radiantcosmetic Our loved ones are super supportive. They show it by lending a hand at our events and in lots of areas.

@BenitaWizeHouse Yes, very supportive in pitching in w/ un-done household chores so that things are done as a team.

@JHNannies Something I’ve started doing with my significant other is using Do.com it’s a fantastic way to organize time.

 

Q3: What other things can WE do as entrepreneurs to make it easier for our spouses/loved ones to support us in business?

@DinoandShannon Share our bigger vision and WHY for what we are doing & enroll them. Plus, set rewards when meet goals. Balance out “partnership” with time to be just boyfriend/girlfriend. Keep the romance alive=key to making more $ in biz. Make requests of what you need. Don’t expect spouse mind reading or assume they know. Define what is a date night, and what’s a “night out” for you. Date nights are pre-planned and more special. I also am a fan of making double batches of soups or casseroles and freezing 1/2 for later.

@speakmichelle I’m really working on ENROLLMENT this year. Not just what I’m working on, but WHY that task, project, event is important! I also think it’s a good idea to give them how they can support you. Help with kids, dinner, dishes, etc.

@MCGustafson Make them feel part of our business team not another thing/task to be managed.

@littlelambweb Set boundaries so your partner feels your just as important as your business. Even if your not a biz owner, don’t forgot to have your date nights!

@redheadJami Definitely ask and be specific. “I need help with this so that I can do this later or with you.” We choose several easy meals and several more detailed meals in our meail plan so that we can work those into our schedules.

TIP: @DinoandShannon Prioritize your to do list into A-B-C categories. Make sure the A’s get done everyday!

 

Q4: Do you carve out time each week to spend with family and friends? Date nights, etc? Are they regular times each week?

@DinoandShannon We likely do do a weekly night out (movie/dinner) and then once every month or so we go on a real “date” that’s pre-planned. For us, a date night is little “extra”. Concert-play-something diff than ordinary. Keep the spark alive

@BenitaWizeHouse Friday’s are our ‘Family Fun’ night where we do movies, games, crafts, etc. It’s great & we’ve been doing this for yrs.

@startupprincess I also schedule time with my kids. They don’t know that, but when that appt pops up its a reminder to focus on them.

@littlelambweb Tues and Weds are mine to spend as I want. Sundays are also off limits. Thats when i get my crochet on, lol.

@carlymelissa_x I do activities with friends, like regular games of soccer etc. It combines my fitness time with social!

 

Q5: Anyone have”relationship evaluation time”with loved ones? I ask, “rate me on a scale from 1-10″ “What can I do to improve?”

@DinoandShannon Dino and I evaluate on lil’ things nightly during pillow talk. Big things we do at weekly marriage mastermind. We also have weekly family council and let the kids give feedback/have a say @ family life.

@BenitaWizeHouse Great idea!!; don’t have one now, but I’m inspired to implement such an evaluation.

@FronteSentre I regularly ask my kids if they have anything on their mind or if they feel like they got enough “mommy time” this week.

@CarterMarissa We agreed that we wouldn’t discuss business in bed. Might sound silly but it helps keep business & pleasure separate, haha!

 

In the month of February, #startupchat will be talking about money, finances and profits. Mark your calendars for every Wednesday at 2pm EST, 12pm MNT!

 

Startup Princess guest blogger Kim Celano is the founder of KC Bakes, an online cake pop stand business.  Dedicated to her social media outlets, she has transformed KC Bakes’ reach from a small group of local bakers into an international audience of cake pop makers, bakeries and recently supplied stands for a new restaurant in California.  Kim is an avid baker and enjoys sharing her knowledge through tutorials on her blog, aptly named KC Bakes. She lives in Maple Shade, NJ with her husband.

3 Ways to Preserve Your Marriage While Growing Your Business

If this message resonates with you, there are 3 upcoming resources for you:

1. Making Love and Money Work Event – Salt Lake City, UT – February 2nd or 3rd. Register here: http://mlmw.eventbrite.com/ Startup Princess is a sponsor of the event, so we’ll be there! Come and say hi! Use code “princess” for 50% off

2. I’m speaking at a Marriage Round-up in St. George, UT on February 11th. I’ll be talking about The 5 Love Languages. The event starts at 4:00 PM. For tickets or for more information, call the USU Extension office at (435) 634-5706.

3. Tara McCausland, one of the former Startup Princess Fairy Godmothers, is hosting a 4 part teleseminar series in February, that begins on the 8th and ends on the 29th.  Register for call details here: http://www.taramccausland.com/happily-ever-after-tele-seminar-series/

Interesting that just as I started doing more work in this area, other experts are stepping up to the plate to provide resources to preserve the marriage of entrepreneurs. I hope this video and these upcoming events serve you!

Share your tips, how have you preserved your marriage while running a business at the same time?

Make a Wish, Make it Happen!

Michelle McCullough is the Managing Director for Startup Princess. Michelle became a partner in Startup Princess in 2008. She is responsible for event planning, marketing, affiliates, sponsorships and partnerships. Over the past 3 years she has coached women entrepreneurs and helped them grow their businesses from “dream in development” to established thriving businesses. Michelle is a speaker, strategist, success expert and a serial entrepreneur. She started Doodads Promotional Products when she was 19. And has also 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 Doodads as a successful side business. In 2008 when Michelle quit her full-time job to be home more with her newborn son, she moved Doodads to the front burner and doubled the income in 2008 and doubled it again in 2009. Today it continues to thrive. This year Michelle launched a coaching program called “The Life Balance Myth” to help busy entrepreneurs build thriving businesses AND meaningful personal lives. She believes that life balance is a myth, but she provides practical tools to achieve personal and professional success. You can learn more about Michelle at SpeakMichelle.com and sign up for her free video e-course on “The Life Balance Myth” coming later this month. Michelle has 2 children under 4 and lives in Utah.

The #2 Question I’ve Been Asked While Working With Women Entrepreneurs

The number 1 question I get asked all the time is, “Michelle, How do I find more clients?”  We’ll talk about that another time in an upcoming marketing series.

What I really want to talk about is the second question I get asked the most:

“How do I have a thriving business without sacrificing my personal life?”

I used to answer ,”If you find out, let me know!” and I was supposed to be the expert!?

Do you ever feel overwhelmed?  Unfulfilled?  Out of balance?  At the end of your day do you wonder where all that time went?  Have a list of to-dos that seems to get longer instead of shorter?  Have you tried to “balance” your life, but easily slip back into old routines?

You aren’t alone! I’ve been coaching small business owners through Startup Princess for the last 3 years.  I discovered that when there is a problem at the office, there’s usually a personal problem as well.  Especially for women.  They’re trying to balance growing a business and raising a family or have a satisfying personal life and wondering, “What’s the secret?  Other people seem to have it all, why can’t I?”

Then it happened to me.  In January of 2010 I was running 3 businesses, heavily involved in my church service, and I had just had my second child.  I was trying to balance having a toddler and a newborn, maintain a happy marriage, keep my businesses afloat and still have time for service and myself.  I kept looking around at other successful women entrepreneurs who seemed to have it all together and I went in search of what they had.   Frankly, things got worse.  Then through trial and error and honestly trying every life balance and time management program on the planet, I still felt like something was missing.  I realized life balance is a MYTH (gasp!) and I decided I needed to create a program that did a better job of focusing on my most important roles and responsibilities.

After tears and inspiration, I created the Life Priority System.  When I share this with clients and friends they love me for it and I’m dying to share it with you, my Startup Princess friends.  I’ve created an event to help you manage your life’s work.  You’ll also learn how to get your loved ones on board with your dreams!  Whether you’re a full-time parent, a full-time entrepreneur, a full-time employee or some mix of the above, my system is designed to help you to bring greater meaning to the things most important to you.

I share these secrets with my coaching and business clients for hundreds of dollars, but in this introductory workshop, I’m sharing my best stuff for $25.  It’s NOT introductory in content.  It’s introductory in price and offering to you.   And really, what is your life worth?  How much would you spend to learn tools that can bring you happiness and fulfillment?

In addition to rich content, you’ll receive the Life Balance Myth Workshop workbook, and additional conference materials.  I want you to have the tools you need to be successful when you leave so I’m pulling out all the stops and putting my best stuff in the materials.

BONUS #1 – I’m hosting a “pre-party” with Stand Up Speed Networking.  It’s been a while since we’ve had an event in Utah County, so I thought it would be fun for all of us to catch up!  Register for the event and get the Networking add on for FREE!

BONUS #2 – The first 30 people who register by Monday, October 17th will receive a 10 page Joy Journal starter kit (both in print and in digital format).

FINALLY, if you enter code: startup you’ll get 20% off.  Since all of this was inspired by Startup Princesses across the country, I want you to get a deal!

AND, if you’re not completely satisfied with the content and tools I share, I’ll give you your money back, no questions asked.  Simply see me or one of my event staff members at the end of the event and we’ll refund your money.

Reserve your spot and register today!

Event Details: Thursday, October 20th, 2011 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM (Will be available for out of towners the coming weeks.)

Tahitian Noni Visitors Center – Provo, UT – Outrigger Conference Room (No, there will not be a network marketing presentation.  They offer affordable meeting space available for community events and I like their location!)

Michelle McCullough is the Managing Director for Startup Princess.  Michelle is speaker, strategist, success coach, and serial 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.  Follow Michelle success tips in her personal site speakmichelle.com

Sitting Down With Startup Princess – An Interview With Michelle McCullough

I was interviewed about Startup Princess by 367addisonavenue.com, HP’s blog geared towards small businesses.  We wanted to share the interview with you.  While you’re there, leave a comment.  We’d like to start a little discussion there about work/life balance.  How do you achieve work/life balance?  Are you surrounded by people that support you in your business efforts or is it a constant struggle?  How do you involve your family in helping you reach your business goals?

Other posts I liked that you can check out at 367addisonavenue.com:

The Three Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read – All books I’ve never read.  One is by Rieva Lesonsky, one of our speakers for the Touchpoint tour in Orange County (In my comment there I put in September, but I have since been corrected – oops!).  I’m excited to read her book before the event!

Brand Messaging For Your Business – A quick beginners look at branding for startups.

So far, I’ve found 367addisonavenue.com to cover the basics for startups and do a great job of helping people along who are just getting started in business.  They talk about the basics of marketing, business, social media and sprinkle in articles about HP’s product offerings that pertain to small business (mostly pretty professional and expected and not at all shameless).  If you’re just starting out, it’s not a bad one to add to the blog roll or RSS feed (and not just because they interviewed me .

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.

Big Changes in Life, Business, My Waistline & My Wardrobe

At this time last year, I had a 3 month old baby and was just getting back into the groove of work and life.  I’d lost almost all of my baby weight, but let’s be honest, I was heavy to begin with pre-pregnancy.  I remember one day complaining to my husband about my weight and he laughed as he reminded me about all the cupcakes I had eaten during the month of February.  The new cupcake shop and I had become close friends and the employees knew me by name (they’d even call me when my favorites were the Surprise Flavor of the Day)!

I started to think about my weight a little more, but it was May before I got serious, joined a gym and went to work.  Turns out, exercise works!  I didn’t do any specific diet or program, just watched what I ate and exercised 4-6 times per week.

I’ve lost 35 pounds to date, and though I have more to lose, even 35 pounds has made the biggest difference in my life and my business.

Now I’m excited to get dressed to go to business meetings and I take a little extra time to put something nice together.  I’ve carefully added new pieces to my wardrobe because I care a little more now about how those pieces go together.  Finding flattering and professional (and keeping in line with my personal style) business attire has always been a frustration for me.  And it’s even harder now that I have nothing to work from and need everything: new slacks, jackets, shirts, shoes and accessories.

An image consultant has helped me pick some things from TJ Maxx, Ross and Macy’s to get me started.  Since I have another 20 pounds to lose to hit my goal weight, I can’t afford to spend a ton of money now since I’ll need new clothes, again, in a couple of months.

I’ve got my eye on the White House Black Market 2011 Work Kit.  Have you seen it?  The kit includes tops, jackets, skirts, pants and accessories that allow the “fashion-concious career woman to create and extensive chic wardrobe without breaking the bank”.   Maybe someday I’ll look as chic as her*:

If nothing else, it gives me something to work for, right?

I have a quote hanging in my bathroom that says “I can do hard things.”  Five words have helped me lose 35 pounds and run a 5k, but they’ve also helped me reach out to fortune 500 companies, get speaking engagements and give me overall confidence in my day-to-day business to do’s.

It’s changed the way I live and more importantly it’s changed the way I feel about myself, and that self-confidence oozes into all aspects of my life and my business.  As women and exceptional muti-taskers we think that we can juggle all the balls in the air independently from each other.  In reality, each compartment of our life can ooze into the next – especially when it comes to physical and emotional health.  I didn’t realize this until I started to work on my physical self.  I always thought that what I weigh has no bearing on my professional life, and what I weigh DOESN’T.  How I FEEL about myself and my weight DOES.   I’m more confident in the decisions that I make for my business and I see the role I play in my business differently.  Kelly has always talked about being “Fit and Fabulous and ready for media at any moment.”  Before I lost this weight, being ready for the media wasn’t a concern because I didn’t want to be seen this way.  Now I say, bring it on!

Michelle McCullough: Michelle is the Startup Princess Business Development Director.  She 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 Promotional Products, and raising two kids ages 3 and 1.

* Photo courtesy of White House Black Market, though White House Black Market, or any other mentioned companies did not pay for mention in this post.

Joy Formula – Keys to Living an Authentically Happy Life

Fairy Godmother Tara McCausland of My Joy Quest writes: Joy isn’t a word we hear very often nor is it something we feel as often as I believe we’re intended to. Joy is more than satisfaction or pleasure which are often dictated by circumstances out of our control. Joy is a conscience, daily choice to see the good in ourselves and the world around us meaning that we and we alone are ultimately responsible for whether or not we have joy now. Read more

Life Balance: Making T.I.M.E. Work For You

Time is precious and as women – with all we have to do and seemingly so little time to do it – it is important that we learn how to make T.I.M.E. work for us, not against us. These four tips will help you achieve better life balance, bolster your energy and self-confidence, and allow you to accomplish those things which are most important to you. Read more

The Benefits of Working with a Holistic Health Coach

My vision board this year includes optimal wellness in body, mind, and spirit. To work on this goal, I’m preparing for a sprint-triathlon in May to raise funds for One Heart Bulgaria and have a higher purpose for working out at the gym. Besides doing a 5k in 2007 and training for the Mrs. Utah pageant last year, I haven’t ever done anything remotely this athletic so I decided it would be wise to schedule an appointment with my dear friend and Holistic Health Coach, Natalie Goddard before I officially started my training schedule. Read more

More Thoughts on Faith & Entrepreneurship

The best mentors don’t have the right answers, they have the right questions. I want to be that kind of mentor who guides entrepreneurs to dig deep in their souls and ask themselves what’s my true purpose and what will be different in the world because I exist? or what will be different in the world because what I create exists? Read more