It has been brought to my attention that the pornographic ads posted with the Baby Boomer Diva's press release were actually by ETOLOGY.COM and NOT Google. I apologize sincerely to Google for my earlier post.
Thank you Free Press Release.Com for taking action and removing the pornographic ads from our Baby Boomer Diva’s press release.
Thank you Beverly Mahone, founder of the Baby Boomer Web of Fame, for notifying us and taking action to save our reputable names. I’m honored to be a part of this group.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Google Ads Treat Us With Disrepect!
You all know how thrilled and honored I was to be asked to be a member of the Baby Boomer Diva Web of Fame. I was so proud to be included with such a dynamic group of women - Virtual Assistants, Jewelry Designers, Published Authors, Radio and TV hosts, Actors and Singers and Ordained Ministers - well, I'm still trying to figure out why I was included!
These are wonderful women. They work hard at their chosen professions. They take care of their families. They are active in their communities and churches. They support each other - through good times and bad. They are my friends and colleagues.
Recently, Beverly Mahone, the founder and Chairperson of the Web of Fame issued a press release. She went through free-press-release.com. When the press release went "live" it was connected to some DISGUSTING ADS from Google.
I am appalled that such a thing has been allowed to happen. I was always told that Google carefully selected its ads based on keywords associated with the content of the article. So how was pure porn linked with such a highly respectable group of women? I have heard some disturbing things about Google lately but always considered it nonsense. Perhaps it is time to take a second look. Have they gotten so big that they feel they no longer need concern themselves with what is right?
Beverly has repeatedly written to Google, asking that the disgusting ads be removed. So far, her pleas have gone unheeded.
Google, wake up! Your users will not stand for this. Perhaps you should remember who helped make you the giant you are today.
These are wonderful women. They work hard at their chosen professions. They take care of their families. They are active in their communities and churches. They support each other - through good times and bad. They are my friends and colleagues.
Recently, Beverly Mahone, the founder and Chairperson of the Web of Fame issued a press release. She went through free-press-release.com. When the press release went "live" it was connected to some DISGUSTING ADS from Google.
I am appalled that such a thing has been allowed to happen. I was always told that Google carefully selected its ads based on keywords associated with the content of the article. So how was pure porn linked with such a highly respectable group of women? I have heard some disturbing things about Google lately but always considered it nonsense. Perhaps it is time to take a second look. Have they gotten so big that they feel they no longer need concern themselves with what is right?
Beverly has repeatedly written to Google, asking that the disgusting ads be removed. So far, her pleas have gone unheeded.
Google, wake up! Your users will not stand for this. Perhaps you should remember who helped make you the giant you are today.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Make Your Choice!
So here we are, sitting at our tables, looking at our list of New Year's resolutions. At the top of the list - build our business bigger. Or perhaps it's "start a home business." Or maybe "be more successful." We're staring at that statement wondering where to start. And we're looking at all the people we know or have read about and wondering what it is that makes them different from us. Do you really want to know? Good - because I'm going to tell you. They aren't sitting at the table wondering how to get started. They've already done it.
I've spent a lot of time studying successful people and I've found they all have a few things in common. They take action, they make decisions quickly, and they hang around with people like themselves. Successful people have been doing the same things for hundreds of years because it works! Someone - Theodore Roosevelt, I think - once said that the best thing you can do is make the right decision. The second best thing you can do is make the wrong decision. The worst thing you can do is make no decision at all. Think about it. If you decide on your first step to reach your goal and it's right - SUCCESS! If it's wrong, at least you may learn something from the mistake that will help you move forward. But if you never make a decision, you never get started - and you'll be sitting at your table again next year wondering how to change your life and what do all those successful people know that you don't.
Determine never to be idle. Do at least one thing every day to advance you toward your goal. It may be the wrong thing sometimes, but it's still better than doing nothing. Thomas Jefferson said, "It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing" Think how much you can accomplish towards your business and financial goals if you do one thing every day. Make a DECISION! Take ACTION! Take the action necessary to reach your goals.
Let's make this year your year to SHINE!
I've spent a lot of time studying successful people and I've found they all have a few things in common. They take action, they make decisions quickly, and they hang around with people like themselves. Successful people have been doing the same things for hundreds of years because it works! Someone - Theodore Roosevelt, I think - once said that the best thing you can do is make the right decision. The second best thing you can do is make the wrong decision. The worst thing you can do is make no decision at all. Think about it. If you decide on your first step to reach your goal and it's right - SUCCESS! If it's wrong, at least you may learn something from the mistake that will help you move forward. But if you never make a decision, you never get started - and you'll be sitting at your table again next year wondering how to change your life and what do all those successful people know that you don't.
Determine never to be idle. Do at least one thing every day to advance you toward your goal. It may be the wrong thing sometimes, but it's still better than doing nothing. Thomas Jefferson said, "It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing" Think how much you can accomplish towards your business and financial goals if you do one thing every day. Make a DECISION! Take ACTION! Take the action necessary to reach your goals.
Let's make this year your year to SHINE!
Friday, December 28, 2007
The Basics of Affiliate Marketing
I've been looking at affiliate programs again. I have been making money with most of the affiliate programs I belong to and decided I'd like to add a couple more this year. How to choose which ones though? I want to be sure I work with products that complement what I am already doing. If anyone is currently working with a program that has been successful, I'd love to hear about it.
What exactly is an "affiliate program"? Affiliate marketing is a web-based marketing practice in which a business rewards one or more affiliates (that's you) for each visitor or customer brought about by the affiliate's marketing efforts. The details of each affiliate program vary from program to program. Generally, you are provided a referral link to a website which you use to promote the affiliate progam. If you work hard and SMART, you can make a lot of money through affiliate programs.
As in any business there are good and bad affiliate programs. I have had much success with SBI! ( http://buildit.sitesell.com/wealthtogether.html). Not only do they have a terrific website for you to use, but they actually provide you with tools and training on how to make the most of their affiliate program. Another favorite is Iris Silks (http://www.irissilks.com//index.asp?REFCODE=SUPERCHA81640). I love silk lingerie - and the affiliate program is great too! But my favorite have got to be Affiliate Showcase (http://www.affiliateshowcase.com/?46035). Not only can you join just about every decent affiliate program through this site, you can also be an affiliate for Affiliate Showcase itself. My friend, Ken McArthur, who designed Affiliate Showcase, also provides lots of promotional tools, training, forums, and support. This is probably where I'll wind up looking for some additional affiliates for my own business.
Have a great New Year!
What exactly is an "affiliate program"? Affiliate marketing is a web-based marketing practice in which a business rewards one or more affiliates (that's you) for each visitor or customer brought about by the affiliate's marketing efforts. The details of each affiliate program vary from program to program. Generally, you are provided a referral link to a website which you use to promote the affiliate progam. If you work hard and SMART, you can make a lot of money through affiliate programs.
As in any business there are good and bad affiliate programs. I have had much success with SBI! ( http://buildit.sitesell.com/wealthtogether.html). Not only do they have a terrific website for you to use, but they actually provide you with tools and training on how to make the most of their affiliate program. Another favorite is Iris Silks (http://www.irissilks.com//index.asp?REFCODE=SUPERCHA81640). I love silk lingerie - and the affiliate program is great too! But my favorite have got to be Affiliate Showcase (http://www.affiliateshowcase.com/?46035). Not only can you join just about every decent affiliate program through this site, you can also be an affiliate for Affiliate Showcase itself. My friend, Ken McArthur, who designed Affiliate Showcase, also provides lots of promotional tools, training, forums, and support. This is probably where I'll wind up looking for some additional affiliates for my own business.
Have a great New Year!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Holiday craziness = $100 for you
Last week in our newsletter, I told you that Derek Gehl was offering slightlydamaged of his best-selling course "Insider Secrets to Marketing Your Business on the Internet" for just $97...
... That's $100 off the regular price!
http://www.marketingtips.com/justlikenew/t/649426
Well, get this: Derek sold out of all his slightly damaged copies in just a couple of days (no surprise, since they were going so cheap!)
But because SO many people mailed him to claim their discount copy AFTER all the damaged copies were all sold out, Derek decided to do something crazy (just because it's Christmas)
...... He decided to release a few hundred NEW copies of his course and sell them at the same heavily discounted price the slightly damaged copies were going for!
That means you can get a BRAND SPANKING NEW copy of the 'Net's best-selling Internet marketing course for only $97!
BUT: Derek is going to END this offer on December 20th, 2007!
So if you want to take advantage of his holiday generosity, I suggest you claim your copy immediately at:
http://www.marketingtips.com/justlikenew/t/649426
The chance to get something so VALUABLE -- at such a massive discount! -- doesn't come around very often, so don't let this opportunity pass you by.
P.S. By the way, Derek is also going to throw in $1,000's worth of free bonuses and "extra resources" that he doesn't normally give away with this course, even though you're already getting a ridiculous discount.
Why? Because he wants to make sure you have everything you need to apply the SAME strategies his other students are using to make $100,000 to $2.5 million per year with THEIR Internet businesses.
You can read their personal stories at:
http://www.marketingtips.com/justlikenew/t/649426
... That's $100 off the regular price!
http://www.marketingtips.com/justlikenew/t/649426
Well, get this: Derek sold out of all his slightly damaged copies in just a couple of days (no surprise, since they were going so cheap!)
But because SO many people mailed him to claim their discount copy AFTER all the damaged copies were all sold out, Derek decided to do something crazy (just because it's Christmas)
...... He decided to release a few hundred NEW copies of his course and sell them at the same heavily discounted price the slightly damaged copies were going for!
That means you can get a BRAND SPANKING NEW copy of the 'Net's best-selling Internet marketing course for only $97!
BUT: Derek is going to END this offer on December 20th, 2007!
So if you want to take advantage of his holiday generosity, I suggest you claim your copy immediately at:
http://www.marketingtips.com/justlikenew/t/649426
The chance to get something so VALUABLE -- at such a massive discount! -- doesn't come around very often, so don't let this opportunity pass you by.
P.S. By the way, Derek is also going to throw in $1,000's worth of free bonuses and "extra resources" that he doesn't normally give away with this course, even though you're already getting a ridiculous discount.
Why? Because he wants to make sure you have everything you need to apply the SAME strategies his other students are using to make $100,000 to $2.5 million per year with THEIR Internet businesses.
You can read their personal stories at:
http://www.marketingtips.com/justlikenew/t/649426
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Let's Make Next Year Your Year to Shine!
I know it's been a while. A loooonnngg while! Too long! I apologize. I can only say I've been very busy. Running business. Rethinking strategies. Planning for next year. How about you? Are you ready for next year? If not, now is a great time to start thinking about 2008. If you have a business, start looking at ways to grow. New products. New delivery options. New promotional strategies. Perhaps even a whole new business venture.
If you don't have a business yet, there has never been a better time to start one. Thanks to the internet it is now cheaper and easier to get up and running than ever before. And thanks to all of those who have gone before you, there is more help than ever before. People like Ken McArthur, Derek Gehl, Yanik Silver, Mike Filsame, Mark Joyner, and Joe Vitale. Some of them will even let you be affiliates of their products and resell them a commission. We discussed making money with affiliate programs in an earlier post if you aren't familiar with the concept.
So what's holding you back? I'm issuing a challenge to all of you right now. Let's make 2008 your year. Each one of us has a choice to make. 2008 is right around the corner and it's calling to you to change your life. Are you coming or not? Will you make the choice to join us?
I know many of you will be afraid of leaving what if familiar and venturing into something that is totally unknown. Others of you will be excited and challenged at the thought. All of you will be asked to do things you never thought you could do - contact people, write a business plan, promote yourself and your business.
What if you decide to make the choice? What happens next? Contrary to many of the "gurus", there is no foolproof formula. What works for me may not work for you. I can't do what my friend Ken McArthur does. I use many of his ideas but I adapt them to my situation. But there are some steps you can take to increase your chances of being successful.
1. BREATHE! Change brings stress. Even positive change can be stressful. So make sure you take time each day to relax and just breathe. Do yoga, meditate, go for a walk - whatever it takes. Just don't let yourself tighten up and be afraid.
2. Take control of the change. Each day remind yourself of your vision, your plans, your goals. Stand in front of a mirror and state to yourself your intentions to build a better life. Or even go a step further as recommended by my life coach and sing it. She claims music brings the message deeper.
3. Never stop learning. Read everything you can about your chosen business. Find out who the experts really are and study them. I've listed many of them in this blog but there are so many others. Buy their books or get them from the library. Join their forums, subscribe to their newsletters, read their blogs. Go to seminars when you can afford them. If you have questions about which ones to attend or which products to purchase, ask me. If I am not familiar with it, I'll find someone who is.
4. Don't lose touch with yourself. I've seen online entrepreneurs who thought they had to pretend to be something or somebody different from what they were to be successful. They only thing they were was phoney. And people can spot phoney right away. If you aren't credible, you won't go anywhere in this business.
5. Make sure you keep your priorities in order. Success is great, but not at the cost of your family, your spirituality, your faith, your health, or your fun. Set aside time for the things that make your success meaningful.
6. Make Nature your best friend. NATURE HAS A LOT OF WISDOM FOR US. It’s as simple as that. Don’t ignore this truth, live it.
7. Don't be stingy! Give back to the community that gave to you. Help others get where you are. You get back what you give. I have a friend who sells cars very successfully. Every day he makes it a point to do something for one of his customers. He calls it "feeding the lot." You know what? His customers love him and are very loyal. And if they have a friend or family member who needs a car, guess who gets the referral? That's how I met him. He sold me my car based on a referral from someone else. Besides, there is nothing like "free" to gain long-term, loyal customers. You can even use this concept to market. It's called "viral marketing" and we'll talk about it another day.
So - are you in? Make the choice.
By the way, speaking of free stuff - I wanted to let you know about this fabulous promotion I'm taking part in that ANYONE can join to market your business for FREE!!! It's called 30 days of Christmas and this is the third year running. When you visit the site you can become a member for free and then have access to hundreds of ebooks, ecourses, and special reports all designed to help you in your business efforts. What's cool about this site is many people give away valuable stuff so they can get their name out there and be seen by the thousands of visitors to the site each day. I'm giving away a free offer-- go now and see what it's all about: http://www.30daysofchristmas.com/index.php?id=M2183. You can also become a contributor yourself-- it's just a few simple clicks and then your giveaway can be seen by thousands, too!I hope you'll get in on the action! This is cool stuff!
If you don't have a business yet, there has never been a better time to start one. Thanks to the internet it is now cheaper and easier to get up and running than ever before. And thanks to all of those who have gone before you, there is more help than ever before. People like Ken McArthur, Derek Gehl, Yanik Silver, Mike Filsame, Mark Joyner, and Joe Vitale. Some of them will even let you be affiliates of their products and resell them a commission. We discussed making money with affiliate programs in an earlier post if you aren't familiar with the concept.
So what's holding you back? I'm issuing a challenge to all of you right now. Let's make 2008 your year. Each one of us has a choice to make. 2008 is right around the corner and it's calling to you to change your life. Are you coming or not? Will you make the choice to join us?
I know many of you will be afraid of leaving what if familiar and venturing into something that is totally unknown. Others of you will be excited and challenged at the thought. All of you will be asked to do things you never thought you could do - contact people, write a business plan, promote yourself and your business.
What if you decide to make the choice? What happens next? Contrary to many of the "gurus", there is no foolproof formula. What works for me may not work for you. I can't do what my friend Ken McArthur does. I use many of his ideas but I adapt them to my situation. But there are some steps you can take to increase your chances of being successful.
1. BREATHE! Change brings stress. Even positive change can be stressful. So make sure you take time each day to relax and just breathe. Do yoga, meditate, go for a walk - whatever it takes. Just don't let yourself tighten up and be afraid.
2. Take control of the change. Each day remind yourself of your vision, your plans, your goals. Stand in front of a mirror and state to yourself your intentions to build a better life. Or even go a step further as recommended by my life coach and sing it. She claims music brings the message deeper.
3. Never stop learning. Read everything you can about your chosen business. Find out who the experts really are and study them. I've listed many of them in this blog but there are so many others. Buy their books or get them from the library. Join their forums, subscribe to their newsletters, read their blogs. Go to seminars when you can afford them. If you have questions about which ones to attend or which products to purchase, ask me. If I am not familiar with it, I'll find someone who is.
4. Don't lose touch with yourself. I've seen online entrepreneurs who thought they had to pretend to be something or somebody different from what they were to be successful. They only thing they were was phoney. And people can spot phoney right away. If you aren't credible, you won't go anywhere in this business.
5. Make sure you keep your priorities in order. Success is great, but not at the cost of your family, your spirituality, your faith, your health, or your fun. Set aside time for the things that make your success meaningful.
6. Make Nature your best friend. NATURE HAS A LOT OF WISDOM FOR US. It’s as simple as that. Don’t ignore this truth, live it.
7. Don't be stingy! Give back to the community that gave to you. Help others get where you are. You get back what you give. I have a friend who sells cars very successfully. Every day he makes it a point to do something for one of his customers. He calls it "feeding the lot." You know what? His customers love him and are very loyal. And if they have a friend or family member who needs a car, guess who gets the referral? That's how I met him. He sold me my car based on a referral from someone else. Besides, there is nothing like "free" to gain long-term, loyal customers. You can even use this concept to market. It's called "viral marketing" and we'll talk about it another day.
So - are you in? Make the choice.
By the way, speaking of free stuff - I wanted to let you know about this fabulous promotion I'm taking part in that ANYONE can join to market your business for FREE!!! It's called 30 days of Christmas and this is the third year running. When you visit the site you can become a member for free and then have access to hundreds of ebooks, ecourses, and special reports all designed to help you in your business efforts. What's cool about this site is many people give away valuable stuff so they can get their name out there and be seen by the thousands of visitors to the site each day. I'm giving away a free offer-- go now and see what it's all about: http://www.30daysofchristmas.com/index.php?id=M2183. You can also become a contributor yourself-- it's just a few simple clicks and then your giveaway can be seen by thousands, too!I hope you'll get in on the action! This is cool stuff!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
I Asked Some Women Business Owner Friends of Mine
I can give you all the tools in the world and some of you will still not be as successful as you like. Why? What will make the difference between you and another reader of this blog? I recently participated in a program for Girl Scouts that taught girls business skills and how to become an entrepreneur. During that program we looked at being a business owner from many different aspects.
What does it take to be a successful business owner? What skills and personality traits are necessary? I asked some friends of mine who are all women business owners this question, so I could share them with the girls in the Girl Scout program. Their answers were very enlightening. Valuable enough, in fact, that I thought I'd also share them with you.
My friend Anna Campbell founded and runs Women Business Owners, http://www.womenbizowners.org, a non-profit that works with you to make your business work. She says you need to be confident, understanding, responsible, willing to learn, willing to fail, willing to learn again. You need to understand that you spend money to make money. You need to know how to communicate with others and how to delegate. Confidence, understanding, responsibility - these were mentioned by several of the women. I've heard "fake it till you make it" repeatedly. That phrase always bothered me until I understood that what they meant was to exhibit confidence when dealing with customers and clients. How can you expect them to have faith in your abilities if you don't have faith in yourself?
Caryn Isaacs expresses this need for confidence another way. Caryn is a patient advocate at Resource Evaluation Leaders, Inc. http://reli.com/. She says that belief in your dream is key. You can be afraid that you don't have what it takes, but the dream should be bigger than you. Once you take the first step, the business develops a life of its own. You just need to jump on for the ride. She states that she has never known anyone who succeded, if the goal was just to make money. The driving force is finding your passion, learning everything you can about the history of that field and then just get up and do at least one thing everyday, make a call, read an article or just think about your next move. Finally, reward yourself for a job well done.
Gazelle Simmons, Virtual Assistant/Owner of Admin Services, http://www.admnsrvcs.com, also lists belief as a key factor. Persistence, determination, ambition, honesty, courage and belief in yourself as well as your abilities - these are all part of Gazelle's list of necessary traits.
According to Ingrid Gonzalez, you need to have an entrepreneurial spirit. Now what exactly is that? How about all of the factors we already listed! According to Ingrid, you must be willing to take risks, be organized, be a leader, learn how to handle rejections as it's part of the package, work well under pressure, be a decision-maker, be up to date with technology. She should know. She successfully runs two business: Alco Consultants, LLC http://www.alcoconsultants.com and Dainty Beads http://www.daintybeads.com.
Kristine Sheehan, The Merry Bird, http://www.themerrybird.com, listed many of the same traits - sanity, patience, kindness, perserverance, and desire to succeed.
I really like the way my friend Dawna Jones put it. Dawna calls herself an Evolutionary Provocateur and her company is InSight Out Consulting, Inc. http://www.frominsighttoaction.com/. As you can see, Dawna looks at things in a more unique and creative fashion. When asked what personality traits were needed for business success, she stated "heart of a wolf; strength of a bear; self-discipline (is what horses have that keeps them from betting on people); see like a spider...the interconnections and relationship between everything you do and its impact on others: suppliers, customers, key relations. Wolves are family; Bear is introspection and goals ..the capacity to focus...oh and a great sense of humor helps. There is no such thing as failure. "
Do you see a common theme here? It's not just about the money. If that's all you're focusing on, you're doomed to be less successful than you could be. In order to really succeed you have to have passion for your work. Then be willing to learn all you can about your chosen business. If you stumble (notice I did not say fail. As Dawna said, there is no such thing as failure), learn from the mistake and keep going. Have courage! Take a risk and be prepared to spend a little money to make money. Anyone who tells you that you can start a business for free is dreaming or a scam artist. You make not have to spend $1000s but you will have to spend some. Be responsible. Remember, everything you do will impact your business either positively or negatively. Be disciplined. You can't work two hours a week and expect to have a prosperous business. Just because many of these women work from their homes does not mean they do not work as many hours or more than you do. If you can, set aside some space that is solely dedicated to your business. If you have a room you can turn into an office, that's great. But even a corner of the kitchen will work. Then every morning, get up, get dressed, and go to work. While you are at work, don't let anything else interfere. Dishes can wait. Tape your favorite soap. Don't answer the door. You are at work. Set a goal for what you want to accomplish that day before you can "go home." I was taught to use a point system. I must earn 4 points each day before I can stop working. Each of the activities I do that are business related have been assigned a point value. When I have 4 points, I can stop. Of course, once I've earned my 4 points for the day, I'm usually so excited about my work that I stay a little longer.
I think I'll end by sharing what my friend Marilyn Jenet, founder of Feel Free to Prosper, http://www.FeelFreetoProsper.com, said when she responded to the question.
"These great minds said it best (these are from my memoir, "Feel Free to Prosper: an Entrepreneurial Memoir of Synchronicity and Guidance")
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
~ Henry David Thoreau
Haven’t you heard of the "entrepreneur’s creed?" It was drafted by Patrick Henry in 1775…
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
~ Patrick Henry
Okay, I know he wasn’t referring to entrepreneurship, but it’s still the same idea to those of us who listen to our own drummer. So maybe Thoreau was a bit closer to the truth."
~ Marilyn
What does it take to be a successful business owner? What skills and personality traits are necessary? I asked some friends of mine who are all women business owners this question, so I could share them with the girls in the Girl Scout program. Their answers were very enlightening. Valuable enough, in fact, that I thought I'd also share them with you.
My friend Anna Campbell founded and runs Women Business Owners, http://www.womenbizowners.org, a non-profit that works with you to make your business work. She says you need to be confident, understanding, responsible, willing to learn, willing to fail, willing to learn again. You need to understand that you spend money to make money. You need to know how to communicate with others and how to delegate. Confidence, understanding, responsibility - these were mentioned by several of the women. I've heard "fake it till you make it" repeatedly. That phrase always bothered me until I understood that what they meant was to exhibit confidence when dealing with customers and clients. How can you expect them to have faith in your abilities if you don't have faith in yourself?
Caryn Isaacs expresses this need for confidence another way. Caryn is a patient advocate at Resource Evaluation Leaders, Inc. http://reli.com/. She says that belief in your dream is key. You can be afraid that you don't have what it takes, but the dream should be bigger than you. Once you take the first step, the business develops a life of its own. You just need to jump on for the ride. She states that she has never known anyone who succeded, if the goal was just to make money. The driving force is finding your passion, learning everything you can about the history of that field and then just get up and do at least one thing everyday, make a call, read an article or just think about your next move. Finally, reward yourself for a job well done.
Gazelle Simmons, Virtual Assistant/Owner of Admin Services, http://www.admnsrvcs.com, also lists belief as a key factor. Persistence, determination, ambition, honesty, courage and belief in yourself as well as your abilities - these are all part of Gazelle's list of necessary traits.
According to Ingrid Gonzalez, you need to have an entrepreneurial spirit. Now what exactly is that? How about all of the factors we already listed! According to Ingrid, you must be willing to take risks, be organized, be a leader, learn how to handle rejections as it's part of the package, work well under pressure, be a decision-maker, be up to date with technology. She should know. She successfully runs two business: Alco Consultants, LLC http://www.alcoconsultants.com and Dainty Beads http://www.daintybeads.com.
Kristine Sheehan, The Merry Bird, http://www.themerrybird.com, listed many of the same traits - sanity, patience, kindness, perserverance, and desire to succeed.
I really like the way my friend Dawna Jones put it. Dawna calls herself an Evolutionary Provocateur and her company is InSight Out Consulting, Inc. http://www.frominsighttoaction.com/. As you can see, Dawna looks at things in a more unique and creative fashion. When asked what personality traits were needed for business success, she stated "heart of a wolf; strength of a bear; self-discipline (is what horses have that keeps them from betting on people); see like a spider...the interconnections and relationship between everything you do and its impact on others: suppliers, customers, key relations. Wolves are family; Bear is introspection and goals ..the capacity to focus...oh and a great sense of humor helps. There is no such thing as failure. "
Do you see a common theme here? It's not just about the money. If that's all you're focusing on, you're doomed to be less successful than you could be. In order to really succeed you have to have passion for your work. Then be willing to learn all you can about your chosen business. If you stumble (notice I did not say fail. As Dawna said, there is no such thing as failure), learn from the mistake and keep going. Have courage! Take a risk and be prepared to spend a little money to make money. Anyone who tells you that you can start a business for free is dreaming or a scam artist. You make not have to spend $1000s but you will have to spend some. Be responsible. Remember, everything you do will impact your business either positively or negatively. Be disciplined. You can't work two hours a week and expect to have a prosperous business. Just because many of these women work from their homes does not mean they do not work as many hours or more than you do. If you can, set aside some space that is solely dedicated to your business. If you have a room you can turn into an office, that's great. But even a corner of the kitchen will work. Then every morning, get up, get dressed, and go to work. While you are at work, don't let anything else interfere. Dishes can wait. Tape your favorite soap. Don't answer the door. You are at work. Set a goal for what you want to accomplish that day before you can "go home." I was taught to use a point system. I must earn 4 points each day before I can stop working. Each of the activities I do that are business related have been assigned a point value. When I have 4 points, I can stop. Of course, once I've earned my 4 points for the day, I'm usually so excited about my work that I stay a little longer.
I think I'll end by sharing what my friend Marilyn Jenet, founder of Feel Free to Prosper, http://www.FeelFreetoProsper.com, said when she responded to the question.
"These great minds said it best (these are from my memoir, "Feel Free to Prosper: an Entrepreneurial Memoir of Synchronicity and Guidance")
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
~ Henry David Thoreau
Haven’t you heard of the "entrepreneur’s creed?" It was drafted by Patrick Henry in 1775…
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
~ Patrick Henry
Okay, I know he wasn’t referring to entrepreneurship, but it’s still the same idea to those of us who listen to our own drummer. So maybe Thoreau was a bit closer to the truth."
~ Marilyn
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