Providing women with the tools and resources they need to be successful entrepreneurs...

Women In Gear: School of Makeup Artistry
We are here to see you succeed!


Saturday, January 30, 2010

Entrepreneurship

What is it and what does it mean? The dictionary defines this simply as “A person who organizes and manages any enterprise, esp. a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk or an employer of productive labor.”

WOW…That doesn’t even begin to fill the realm of entrepreneurs; I see us as self-motivated hard working individuals, willing to risk our own personal assets and incomes to provide products and services to the public with little personal gain but hopefully with great personal satisfaction. More often than not failing to attain the desired outcome we had envisioned. We are the do anything group of people. If you are a small business owner I know you can relate, if you are not then today I’m going to give you the hard and astonishing facts of being an entrepreneur.

FACTS:*

• America's small businesses - some 20 million strong - are the strength of our nation's economy. They account for 39 percent of the country's gross national product, create two out of every three new jobs and produce two and one half times as many innovations per employee as do large firms.

• Estimates for businesses with employees indicate there were 580,900 new firms and 576,200 closures (both about 10 percent of the total) per year.

• Two-thirds of new employer establishments survive at least two years, and 44 percent survive at least four years.

• Women owned 6.5 million businesses that generated $950.6 billion in revenues, employed 7.2 million workers, and had $179.6 billion in payroll in 2002.

• Commercial banks are the most important suppliers of debt capital to small firms, supplying more than 80 percent of lending in the credit line market and more than 50 percent in other markets, such as commercial mortgages and vehicle, equipment, and other loans.

These facts are real and sometimes frightening, but for those of us who are entrepreneurs at heart we have little time for facts and figures. We do however have a strong belief in great ideas and seeing them come to fruition. This is the soul of an entrepreneur…

If being an entrepreneur is so tough then why do so many people attempt it? Why do we put ourselves and our finances on the line? Why do we attempt what seems like the impossible after watching so many small businesses fail? Well because we are the idealists, who are optimistic and who often times romanticize our ideas into viable and enterprising business ventures.

If we are going to jump into business what are the avenues to make our ideas work? How do we find them and what do we do to utilize the information that is available to us? Where do we go to find out if our business ideas are sound and if they will sustain a living for us and our future employees? I suggest doing lots of research, starting with your local SBDC (small business development center) or state SBA (small Business Administration). These organizations are your best asset to begin the small business process. Investigate your competitors, why reinvent the wheel, they have begun and are successful, take their model and just add your own personal touches. You will then need to start with a simple business plan, which is crucial, to any idea you feel is viable. You will then be asked to provide financials to back up your projections and help you establish projections. This process may seem daunting but if you take your time and focus it can and will get done. Focus is the key word here and it will be a significant element to your success.

For today I will just leave you with a few great websites and the resources they provide to begin the process for taking your business idea and researching to see if it can be a viable and profitable success.

Good Luck…

A
http://www.sba.gov/
http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbdc/index.html
http://www.score.org/index.html
*http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/

Monday, January 25, 2010

Enthuse-Empower-Encourage

Enthuse, Women of all ages to take action in their own lives Empower, them with the best tools and resources Encourage, them to become leaders who inspire others.

This is my mission: I would like to share it with you…

After 44 years I have learned a thing or two about my own personal success and my many failures. What brought me to the place I am today and why do I have such a strong passion to inspire other women to live the finest and most fruitful lives?

I have spent a lot of time seeking out wisdom from others around me, in fact I would go so far as to say I have spent a lifetime seeking wisdom, so often finding myself tagging along with those I presumed would have a plethora of information in many different arenas. I would pick the brain of those I recognized had good knowledge of topics where I was lacking, I found I could move in circles where I may not have been socially accepted(because I was young)just on the foundation of my inquisitive mind. I accommodated the golden rule in life “ask anyone questions on topics they love or have great awareness of and they will share and share and share” this is how you begin to acquire your tools and resources. Let others around you guide you down the road of inspiration. Take what you need and use it to give yourself the confidence you require to take action in your own life.

What I didn’t realize when I was younger was I had great enthusiasm, I was enthused about my own life, and in my own personal growth I had created a process of taking action to give myself a better understanding of how to make my life an economic success. Giving myself tools and finding the resources I needed to empower my life.

The best way to find your inspiration is to seek out those around you who are successful. Successful as you see success and then slowly through your inquisitiveness bring out in them their ability to be your mentor. I chose many people in my lifetime to be my mentors. Most of them were unaware of their mentorship of me and more than happy to provide the knowledge I was seeking. If you need resources ask for them and if you are lacking in certain tools to be successful then make every effort of acquire them.

When you have found that perfect point in your life remember to give back what you have received and let others acquire your knowledge. Be giving when someone comes to you with an inquisitive mind and applies the golden rule.
Here is your chance to Enthuse-Empower-Encourage.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Personal Motivation

Recently, I have been contemplating what motivates me? What makes me rise from bed each morning and put my feet on the floor, grab that cup of coffee and begin my day? What gets me inspired to jump into each day with a sense of purpose and conscious living? These thoughts may have been swirling around for months in my head or maybe it was the New Year ringing in that prompted these thoughts about what inspires me. It could have been the realization that what motivated me a few years ago is not really what motivates me today.

Up until last year my motivation was prompted by my children, for the past 24 years I have lived a full and busy life raising my family. I think as a mother this was part of my reality. I got up each morning and put my feet on the floor with a sense of real purpose and I lived my productive life because I had others counting on me. I was encouraged by others to live the best life I could live and to be as dynamic and purposeful as I could be.

Now let’s look at my current situation! My oldest son left 6 years ago for the Air Force and has announced this past week he is engaged. He lives 3000 miles across the country. My Daughter left for college this past year and has moved out of the house, we are still very close and have lots of contact but she does not live in my house. My youngest son is close to graduating from High School, has a part time job and is rarely around even to visit 1 hour per week. You know the drill we text more than we talk…So where does this leave me, where do I now assess what motivates me.

I have decided to evaluate this topic in the coming months, discover the purpose and principle of my life and how that purpose is an ever evolving theme based on my life and its atmosphere and situations. I don’t really believe as others do that once I find my purpose that I shall spend my life seeking to satisfy this passion, I do believe that my purpose or motivation will be an ever evolving component. I hope to share with you the reader my discoveries of what really does motivate me. I hope you enjoy following along and maybe doing some self exploration along the way.

What about you?

• What's currently in your life that you feel is changing?

• What's not in your life that you would like to have?

• How much do you want your life to change, or not change?

• Do you want to determine what is your purpose and motivation?

Stay tuned as we explore how to understand and realize our own personal motivation and where we find it. I’m sure it is inside all of us.

A

Monday, January 11, 2010

Everything you Need to Know to Succeed in Job Interviews

In my profession I get asked almost weekly."How do I make it through another interview" or " I look good on paper but when I get to my interview I just can't seem to present myself well". Often times I try to let folks know that personal confidence can take you above and beyond in presenting the best face you have. True belief in you is the key to personal confidence. How do you find personal confidence? Research and preparation is the place to start. Today I have sought out and found a great site that will help prepare for those upcoming job interviews.http://www.best-job-interview.com/


Having a great resource site means providing all you can that is available online and locally to share with your readers. Here is a great interview website that really does have everything you ever need to know about job interviews.

A

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Resume Writing 101

With all of the buzz today on the struggles we all face in this sagging economy I want to address an issue I find crucial to todays workforce.
Resume writing...

Below is an article I picked up on Yahoo! hotjobs

Resume Writing 101
Simply put, a resume is an advertisement that makes the reader act and if your resume is well-written, the reader should want to interview you.
Keep It Simple
Recruiters want resumes that are simple to understand, especially when it comes to the skills needed to perform the job and employment history.
Be sure your resume clearly communicates that you possess the knowledge and experience needed to perform the job in question. Use the job description to tailor your resume to the position. Try to avoid industry jargon and geek words such as "facilitated" or "value-added" when describing your skills and experiences.
Your resume should also include your dates of employment. The absence of dates makes recruiters scrutinize your employment history even more closely.
Features Versus Benefits
Your resume should show how you can benefit an employer -- not just list your features and skills.
Past performance is often an indicator of future performance.
Think about instances where you went above and beyond the call of duty. Look at past performance reviews to refresh your memory. Employers want the best employees, and your resume should reflect your value.
Truth in Advertising
You have to have done what you claim on your resume.
Many employers today take steps to ensure that you have the background you claim. They have a wide variety of background checking tools at their disposal.
Background checks can include:
• reference checks,
• credit checks,
• criminal background checks,
• past employment verification,
• education verification and
• social security number traces to verify identity.
If you're dishonest in the hiring process, odds are that you'll be caught. Rather than waste the emplyers time -- and your time -- be truthful on your resume. It's not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing.
It Takes Two
You can't create a strong resume alone. Everyone needs help.
Don't rely on automatic spelling and grammar checking programs. You need to find an editor you trust. If no one in your immediate circle of family or friends can help, try other resources. Yahoo! HotJobs offers valuable resume tips and advice. Monster has many great tools and your local workforce development center or employment center can help you with mountains of tools to get your resume looking simple and spectacular.
Staff at your state's employment development office may be available to review your resume. Staffing agency recruiters may also volunteer to help you. Writing an effective resume requires practice and feedback. But once you get the basics down, interviews are sure to follow.
Every word on your resume counts in today's competitive job market. But some words count more than others -- especially those that refer to soft skills.
Soft skills are increasingly important in the workplace. In fact, 86 percent of employers considered soft skills to be among their most important hiring criteria in a recent survey by two University of Massachusetts economists
'Teamwork'
Teamwork is more important than ever in the workplace.
The ability to work well with others to accomplish a common goal is vital for a harmonious workplace.
'Flexibility'
Employers value workers who are flexible and able to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously. In other words, it's sometimes just as important to be a jack-of-all-trades as a master of one.
'Detail-Oriented'
Employers want to know that they can trust workers to handle a project down to the last detail.
Being "detail-oriented" means being organized and meticulous about your work. It also implies that you can work without constant supervision and act
'Self-Motivated'
Employers value employees who are self-starters. These workers can generate their own ideas and follow them through to fruition.
A self-motivated worker goes the extra mile. She regularly takes on tasks that may not be part of her job description. She's inspired to work hard not just to reap rewards but also for personal satisfaction.

Enjoy the thrill and satisfaction of putting your professional life on paper.
A

Women Get In Gear it is the Dawn of a New Year

The new year brings a sense of renewal and freedom for most of us. We think in fresh thoughts and aspire to have a renewed sense of self along with a vigorous approach to life. Im here to support you and provide the tools and resources you need to be successful at this time of year, and the coming months ahead. Lets bring to the fore-front not just your resolutions but your actions. If you struggle to accomplish your goals then begin by talking to others who can help you accomplish the goals you have mapped out for yourself. The coming 12 months can provide the road map for you to set out your ideas on paper and cross them off as you pass over the bridge of success.
So join me in a journey, a journey of personal and professional development.

A