This video was sent to me by one of our readers, Linda Childs. It's about a fabulous small business success . . . Mommie Helen's Bakery
Watch this short, 1 minute CNN video and find out what her secret to success is.
I read this blog post by Seth Godin over at the American Express Open Forum and thought it would be particularly helpful to you . . . my Accidental Pren-her readers. Seth Godin is a marketing guru and writes the most popular marketing blog in the world.
The Difference Between a Freelancer and an Entrepreneur
Which are you? Are you sure?
A freelancer is someone who gets paid for her work. She charges by the hour or perhaps by the project. Freelancers write, design, consult, advise, do taxes and hang wallpaper. Freelancing is the single easiest way to start a new business.
Entrepreneurs use money (preferably someone else’s money) to build a business bigger than themselves. Entrepreneurs make money when they sleep. Entrepreneurs focus on growth and on scaling the systems that they build. The more, the better.
The goal of a freelancer is to have a steady job with no boss, to do great work, to gradually increase demand so that the hourly wage goes up and the quality of gigs goes up too.
The goal of the entrepreneur is to sell out for a lot of money, or to build a long-term profit machine that is steady, stable and not particularly risky to run.
The trap is simple: Sometime freelancers get entrepreneur envy and start hiring other freelancers to work for them. This doesn’t scale. Managing freelancers is different from being a freelancer. Managing freelancers and saving the best projects for yourself gets you into trouble. The cash flow gets you into trouble. Investors don’t want to invest in you because you can’t sell out if you’re a freelancer at heart.
If you’re an entrepreneur, it is impossible to succeed by using your own labor to fill the gaps. That’s because your labor is finite. It doesn’t scale. That’s because if it’s a job only you can do, you’re not building a system, you’re just hiring yourself (and probably not paying enough either).
The solution is easy. If you’re a freelancer, freelance. Figure out how to do the best work in your field, the best work for the right clients. Don’t fret about turning away work, and don’t fret about occasional down time. You’re a freelance for hire, and you need to focus on your reputation and the flow of business. Find partners if you like but keep the cash flows separate.
If you’re an entrepreneur, don’t hire yourself. Build a business that works, that thrives with or without you. It might not be good for your ego, but it will be good for your bank account.
Whatever you do, don’t mix em up.
What did you think of Seth's blog post? Which are you?
Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success
Do you know what mi viaje es tu viaje means? It means that we are on this journey together.
As Accidental Pren-hers, there are times when it seems as if we walk the journey from Accidental Pren-her to entrepreneurial woman alone. Although it may feel as if we do. We really don't.
This beautiful 5 minute power point presentation shows us that we don't, and reminds us of how much we impact other people's lives. Often, without even knowing.
On the eve of Thanksgiving in the U.S., I give thanks for those who have intersected my life and made a powerful impact on me. How about you?
Enjoy and happy viewing!
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success
Do you know what this week is? It's Global Entrepreneurship Week!
Never heard of it? I didn't either until they interviewed me this past summer for a blog post they were writing on Entrepreneur by Accident?
Since then, I've been following their blog and getting excited by the number of countries and participants that are coming together to unleash ideas.
Perhaps you will, too.
Watch this video to find out about the global entrepreneurship initiative.
This Accidental Pren-her story was sent to me by my wonderful business
manager, Carolyn Freeman. I liked it so much, I just had to post it for
all to read.
This is a Reader's Digest story about Sheri Schmelzer and her crocs.
Read it an let me know what you think of her story. Are you as moved and inspired as Carolyn and I?
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success
Are you an Accidental Entrepreneur? What we call an Accidental Pren-her, starting up a business for the very first time? Help is on its way! Watching this video and find out how.
Business podcast with Karen Eschebach & Jennifer Weaver - subscribe now via iTunes.
I had a great visit with Karen Eschebach & Jennifer Weaver about their fabulous company, for this episode of the Accidental Pren-her podcast. Clever Container is all about organizing, functionality, ideas, and fun! Learn why these women decided to start-up a company together and what's up for their future.
This episode of Accidental Pren-her: Stories of the Unexpected podcast is brought to you by Creative Team Solutions. Bring us a group . . . we'll make you a team.
The Olympics are much more than just a sporting event. They are a time when the whole world comes together to be inspired.
Today's spotlight: Women Entrepreneurs
Ambition is not a dirty word.
No woman handled it better than U.S. Beach volleyball superstars Keri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor (right) when in an interview Keri was criticized as being too competitive. Her response? "What's the problem with being too competitive when it comes to this level of competition?"
I love that response!
The 2008 Olympic women athletes are teaching us that it is perfectly all right to be ambitious, determined, and impressive on a grand-scale—to take what you do onto the world stage and compete with others to be your personal best.
What’s more, these athletes show us that being ambitious and competitive does not make you a bad wife, negligent mother, or bitch. On the contrary, the women Olympic athletes know that it's important to be strong, courageous, and willing to go after your dreams. They show us that honing your talent and making a contribution to the world means that you are honoring yourself as a woman. And that's good news for American women entrepreneurs.
Did you get to see the dynamic duo, Walsh and Treanor advance through to the gold? Weren't they just amazing? What do you think of Walsh's response to being called too competitive?
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success
Is virtual office space right for you?
It very well could be if you are:
Here are five compelling reasons to consider virtual office space for your business:
1. You want to expand your business without increasing your overhead.
Virtual office space is a low-risk alternative to renting a conventional office. Not only that, they come fully equipped with meeting rooms and private office time. You no longer have to worry about missed calls or missed opportunities. Your virtual office becomes a seamless extension of your home business with dedicated administrative support services.2. You want to protect the privacy of your home and personal phone numbers.
Having your home address and telephone number on your business cards when you were just starting up was okay. Now, your business is expanding and your home needs to be safeguarded. Your virtual offices comes with its own contact number and a high-profile business address that protects your personal privacy while making it easy for your clients to do business with you.3. You're tired of being distracted by calls and administrative tasks.
When you were just starting out, you needed to do it all. Now, you can't do it all. It's time to streamline your efficiency and increase productivity by turning over your administrative tasks to someone else.
Virtual offices come equipped with a professional, full-time receptionist, trained to answer calls, screen them, and forward them to you. In addition to phone reception, your virtual office assistant can do data entry, copying, printing, and faxing. He or she can also handle your scheduling, take reservations, order fulfillment, and collect your mail and forward it to you.4. It's important to you to project a professional image to your clients.
Virtual office space is a great option if you are a home-based business owner preferring to work at home while maintaining a business identity at a professional business address. A virtual office is an easy, cost-effective way to enhance your business image and make an impact at a fraction of the cost of renting office space.5. You want the to be able to live and work anywhere in the world, cost effectively.
Most virtual office providers are located in major cities around the world, giving you the maximum amount of freedom and flexibility to do business just about anywhere.
Services vary depending on which plan you choose. Costs range from between $100 and $350 per month for a standard package to $10 per hour for a la cart services. For the home-based business owner needing or wanting to have a global base of operation, look for yearly specials for as low as $350 for the year, in select major cities.
For more information, check out Regus Virtual Offices, Intelligent Office, and Office Suites Plus. Then let me know what you think. Are you ready for a virtual office space?
The original Accidental Pren-her™Award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success
3 Stunningly Simply Ways to Stop Shooting Yourself in the Foot
1. Nip the inadequate, little me voice in the bud.
You know the one: “Who do you think you are starting up a business without a business degree?” Calm that voice by realizing that no one starts up a business, even someone with a business degree, all by him or herself. Skills can be learned, books read, coaches found, and support people hired.
2. Figure out whether you are experiencing fear or resistance.
Fear makes you run. Resistance makes you question. Many confuse fear with resistance, believing that if you feel resistant toward something, that that’s an indicator that you shouldn’t do it. Not so.
Before you conclude that “maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” hold the phone! Take some time to figure out what resistance is telling you. Do you need to do some more research? Take things a little slower? Go in another direction? Answer the questions that resistance asks, instead of collapsing into fear.
3. Ask yourself questions from the future.
Perspective is everything when it comes to making a decision. Decisions made in the heat of the moment, when your heart’s pounding and thoughts racing are usually not the decisions that are in your best interest. So wait until things have cooled down.
Then, project yourself into the future. From the perspective of one year from now, write out your thoughts to these questions: Last year was an amazing year for me. I accomplished so much. What were some of these accomplishments? What am I so glad I did? What do I wish I would have done? This perspective will help you get in touch with what’s important to you.
No matter where you are in the start-up process, chances are you’ve fallen victim to the panic that precedes the fear of making a wrong decision. The good news is that now you have three stunningly simple ways to stop yourself from sabotaging your new business start-up, and insure your business has a shot at success.
Certainly food for thought -- especially that first one. What do you think?
The original Accidental Pren-her™Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success
As a small business start-up coach, I get asked a lot of questions. The most frequent one: Where do I get start-up cash?
Just like Cuba Gooding Jr's character in the wildly successful Tom Cruise film, Jerry McGuire, my Accidental Pren-her clients frequently shout, "show me the money!"
Being the wise entrepreneurial women that they are, they want to know where they can get their hands on some start-up cash. They want to know what options are available to them for start-up funding.
And like Tom Cruise's character, I am happy to do so!
Show you the money? No prob!
Here are the 7 main stashes for start-up cash for small business owners:
Do you have any other big money source tips for start-up business owners?
If so, show us the money!
The original Accidental Pren-herAuthor of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success
July 4 is the day when the whole of the United States gathers for
BBQs, picnics, parades, baseball games, and fireworks to celebrate our Declaration of Independence
from Great Britain. So, too, this is a perfect day for entrepreneurial
women who are transforming their lives and making a difference in the
world to take a moment and reflect upon the declaration of independence
each of us made when deciding to become small business owners.
What were the reasons you became an Accidental Pren-her?
Was it because you wanted more flexibility and freedom in your life? Perhaps you were tired of working for someone else and wanted the independence that comes from working for yourself? Maybe you wanted to be at home with your children.
Whatever your reasons, this evening, when you watch the splendor of the fireworks rain down in the distance, think about how your personal declaration of independence has opened up and changed your life.
Then write and tell us about it.
Happy Independence Day!
The original Accidental Pren-herAuthor of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success
This Accidental Pren-her story was sent to me by my wonderful business manager, Carolyn Freeman. I liked it so much, I just had to post it for all to read.
This is a Reader's Digest story about Sheri Schmelzer and her crocs.
Read it an let me know what you think of her story. Are you as moved and inspired as Carolyn and I?
An Accidental Pren-her is a woman who finds herself starting up a
business, perhaps for the very first time. She probably has had no, or
very little experience starting up a business, though she may have
exhibited early entrepreneurial leanings as a child. It is most likely
that she has a dream — something she has been thinking about for a very
long time — although she has taken no significant action to foster that
dream’s development.
The “accidental” part comes in because most women, when facing starting up a business for the very first time, say that they never anticipated doing so. They may have been happily working in corporate, academic, or other traditional work places for most of their adult lives until something happened. What happened? Some kind of activating event — something big enough that it required them to view life differently from that point on.
For some, they were downsized. For others, they lost their job by getting laid off or fired. Still others decided they wanted more out of life than working for a paycheck, so they quit. Sometimes the activating event was getting married, becoming a mother, or children growing up and leaving home. The loss of a parent or other loved one caused some women to rethink life. Other activating events include divorce, near fatal accidents, recovery from a serious illness, and, as was the case for me, spiritual awakenings.
Whatever the activating event, all Accidental Pren-hers share a common theme. They know that something unexpected has happened to them and that this event is now shaping who they are and what they do.
Are you an Accidental Pren-her? What unexpected event is currently shaping your life?
The original Accidental Pren-her™Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success
Becoming an Accidental Pren-her™ can be a big shock to your system, in
oh-so-many-ways. One of those ways is isolation. The Washington Post
reported in an article their findings, Social Isolation Growing in U.S.
If it hadn't been for the Ah-Ha Sisterhood, I may not have stuck it out, returning, instead, to the comfort of academia. This is my story--my tribute to them and the place they hold in my heart. Though, too, I know that this is a story all of us share.
THE AH-HA SISTERHOOD
The Ah-Ha Sisterhood was the brainchild of my dear friend, Jina Daigle.
Jina is, by nature, one of those people who just have a knack for
connecting people. Jina had become a sole preneur two years before I
did. From my perspective, she was an experienced sole preneur. She had
her act together, knew what she was doing, and was a tremendous wealth
of support and experience. The trouble was, she lived 1,000 miles away.
As the way of all things great, Jina was also friends with two other people who were also in various stages of Accidental Pren-hership. Linda Franklin of Franklin Resource Solutions, had quit her job a year after Jina did and was just deciding what she wanted to do with her life. Karen Rawson knew she would be leaving her corporate job in about six month’s time and was preparing for that transition, and there was me who had just recently resigned from academia. All three of us were bombarding Jina with questions, advice, and support.
One day, Jina had the brilliant idea of getting us all together at her house in Dallas to attend a Small Business start-up workshop being put on by Coach U. So we all three drove and flew in to stay with her and attend the workshop together. It was so much fun, let me tell you! We sat together at the workshop, passing ideas back and forth among each other, brainstorming possibilities, and laughed, laughed, laughed. We ate together, slept together, and talked late into the night. At the end of our time together, we had formed the Ah-Ha Sisterhood.
Partly inspired by the movie, Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood and partly enthused by the "ah-ha" moments that each of us were having in our start-up process, the name stuck. Though were lived in different states, we knew we had something special going on and vowed to find some way to continue our group. Enter the beauty of teleconferencing. Armed with an access number and bridge line, each month, then bi-weekly, then every week, the Ah-Ha Sisterhood met to talk. Together we inspired, supported, brainstormed, and problem-solved for each other. Sometimes we met individually. Though most of the time, we preferred to meet together--to share the social interaction that occurs when like-minded women come together.
Although the Ah-Ha Sisterhood no longer meets, the special bond of friendship that developed because of our collective need for community still stands. Neither time nor space could ever erode the fire we all went through together. Moreover, we continue to be there for each other, whenever the need arises.
Without Jina, Linda, and Karen, it is likely I would have made a very common mistake among new small business owners; I would have bailed too soon--before I had really given this sole preneur thing a fair shot. The Ah-Ha Sisterhood saved me from myself.
Thank you, ladies of Ah-Ha!
Do you have a story to tell of sisterhood and support? Let us hear from you.
The original Accidental Pren-her™Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success
If you are a small business startup, how do you know if you are going to make it financially?
How do you figure out how much money you need to make in order to survive past the first couple of start-up years?
This is one of the hardest things to determine for small business startups.
The thing that makes this so hard for startups is because startups are operating from projections. And the greatest unknown is your income!
You can typically come up with a fairly accurate account of your estimated expenses, including product cost, overhead expenses (office, rent, utilities, vehicle), professional services (accountant, attorney, business coach), etc. However, your income amount is tricky.
Many startups ignore projections. They would rather focus on getting their great product or service out there instead of running the numbers and seeing what their projected profit margin will be. Unless you have a sizable bankroll, this is a mistake.
Why? Because if you know your projected cash profit or loss for the year, then you can make informed financial decisions about how to spend the money you currently have. Knowing now what you are willing to liquidate, where you can tighten your belt, how much debt you are willing to incur, and where your breaking point is, means you will make intelligent (rather than emotional) decisions throughout your startup and for years to come.
Basic formula for anticipated cash profit:
1. Take your projected income for the year.
2. Subtract all anticipated expenses for the business year.
3. This equals your anticipated cash profit
4. Overarching question: Can you survive on that profit and for how long?
So, before you rush to get your product out there, do your homework. Be sure to take the time to do projections for your business so you can determine whether or not you’ll have enough cash to sustain you and your business for your first couple of startup years.
Agree? Disagree? Let me know.
Do you know the book Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, MD?
It’s a short, easy to read allegory about change. It reminds us of our need to find our way in the maze and to succeed in changing times.
In it are four imaginary characters: The mice, Sniff and Scurry, and the little people, Hem and Haw.
Together, they represent the simple and the complex parts of ourselves.
Sniff - sniffs out change early.
Scurry - scurries into action.
Hem - denies and resists change, as he fears it will lead to something worse.
Haw - learns to adapt in time when he sees that changing leads to something better.
Finding cheese meant a great deal more to the little people than just having enough of it to eat every day. Finding cheese was the little people’s way of getting what they thought they needed to be happy.They had their own ideas what cheese meant to them, depending on their taste.
For some, finding cheese was having material things. For others it was enjoying good health, or developing a spiritual sense of well being. For Haw, cheese just meant feeling safe, having a loving family some day, and living in a cozy cottage on Cheddar Lane. To Hem, cheese was becoming a Big Cheese in charge of others and owning a big house on Camembert Hill.
The main activity in Who Moved My Cheese? is looking for and finding cheese. Sniff and Scurry work as a team, as do Hem and Haw. Eventually, they all find a large cheese supply in Cheese Station C and enjoy it for quite some time. Then, one day when they arrive at Cheese Station C, the cheese is gone! Responding quickly to the situation, Sniff and Scurry immediately take off in search of new cheese, while Hem and Haw stay and try to figure out what happened.
Hem wasn't about to go out in search of new cheese. He felt entitled to have the cheese and “wasn’t going to change until they put the cheese back.” Haw, meanwhile, was processing everything that had happened and concluded that he needed to go back out into the maze to search of a new Cheese Station.
Here are the 12 realizations Hem came to while searching through the
maze for new cheese. Each of these gems are valuable to keep in mind
for the Accidental Pren-her™ in the midst of change.
If you want to read more before you buy the book, Scott Watermasysk does a nice job of further sumarizing Haw's big picture conclusions.
Anyone else read the book Who Moved My Cheese?
Which character did you relate to the most? Are you a Hem, who resists change, or a Haw who adapts and changes?
Susan L. Reid, The original Accidental Pren-her™
Business Week's Small Biz Insider has just recently run two very interesting articles on artist and musician entrepreneurship. In Business Advice for Artists from Artists, Stacy Perman says that "while most fine artists will not see Picasso-size deals in their lifetime, they have ways to promote themselves and boost their sales." She has this to say about the business of art:
While most artists would not consider themselves entrepreneurs, art is still a business . . . Visibility has always been crucial for artists to get their work out to buyers. Today, with the Internet, resourceful artists can get their work noticed by creating Web sites or establishing a presence in online communities. These serve as a virtual portfolio.
In Teaching Musicians to be Entrepreneurs, Kerry Miller explains why entrepreneurship training is beginning to strike a chord with faculty and students at top music conservatories:
As an end goal, Manhattan School of Music President, Robert Sirota envisions "a new generation of performing musicians who function more like individual small businesses, who work the hypersegmented musical marketplace in an entirely different way."
As a musician, budding artist, and someone who helps entrepreneurial women, particularly the creative type, start up businesses, I find this new approach to the fine and performing arts refreshing. With entrepreneurship being taught to artists and musicians, we can soon expect to see a flourish in art and music in the United States as the artists and musicians themselves, have the business savvy to get their masterpieces our for all of us to enjoy.
What do you think? Good idea or not? Weigh in and let us know!
Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
An Accidental Pren-her is a woman who finds herself starting up a
business, perhaps for the very first time. She probably has had no, or
very little experience starting up a business, though she may have
exhibited early entrepreneurial leanings as a child. It is most likely
that she has a dream — something she has been thinking about for a very
long time — although she has taken no significant action to foster that
dream’s development.
The “accidental” part comes in because most women, when facing starting up a business for the very first time, say that they never anticipated doing so. They may have been happily working in corporate, academic, or other traditional work places for most of their adult lives until something happened. What happened? Some kind of activating event — something big enough that it required them to view life differently from that point on.
For some, they were downsized. For others, they lost their job by getting laid off or fired. Still others decided they wanted more out of life than working for a paycheck, so they quit. Sometimes the activating event was getting married, becoming a mother, or children growing up and leaving home. The loss of a parent or other loved one caused some women to rethink life. Other activating events include divorce, near fatal accidents, recovery from a serious illness, and, as was the case for me, spiritual awakenings.
Whatever the activating event, all Accidental Pren-hers share a common theme. They know that something unexpected has happened to them and that this event is now shaping who they are and what they do.
Are you an Accidental Pren-her? What has the process of becoming an Accidental Pren-her been like for you? How's the journey from Accidental Pren-her to entrepreneurial woman going so far?
Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
My friend Tawney sent me this 3 minute chronicle of the adventures aboard the yacht Maiken. I've never seen the birthing of an island before. Have you? I think it is something very few of us ever get to see, though every Accidental Pren-her knows, first hand, what an act of creation it takes to start up her own business.
Here's the link to the Maiken site so you can explore more if you want. Here are excerpts from the introduction text that will set up, quite nicely, what you are about to see:
Early afternoon, somewhere east of the Lau Group in Fiji. We are sailing south of the island group to avoid having to pass through it during night. Yesterday we saw the birth of an island, most likely we were the first humans to see the new creation . . . the sea turned to stone. Floating stones none the less. When you pick them up, it is easy to see that they are really just volcanic ash that compressed into pumice stone.
Click this link Download yachtMaiken.pps and tell me if you don't think Accidental Pren-her, too!
What did you think? Amazing, huh?
Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
This month, I turn 50. More specifically, I turn 50 on April 4th.
I can hardly believe 50 years have passed since this picture was taken! Interesting, isn't it, how much presence a baby has? How much of the woman to be is already present. Already there. Like the bud of a flower. All in place, ready to show itself.
Same barely there eyebrows.
Same inner knowing eyes.
The hint of a neck, yet to come.
Fingers made to play piano.
In honor of the child that was and the woman that is, I am celebrating my birth year by doing what I love. I'll be traveling to England, Italy, France and Antarctica this year; I'll be inspiriting and inspiring greatness in others, and; I'll be honoring the Native American and Japanese traditions I have long admired by giving away gifts, all this month for my birthday.
Along the right and left-hand sides of this blog you will find plenty of gifts, specials, and opportunities to sign up for, download, and try out. Each week I'll be adding something new, so come back often and bring your friends.
Celebrate good times, Come on!
From my heart to yours,
Susan L. Reid
We all have a Mike in our lives. You know; the weekly mass-email-sender friend. I actually have two such friends. The difference between them is that Mike sends out meaningful mass emails . . . the kind that get my attention.
Here's his latest:
To all my friends, who in 2007 sent me "best wishes," chain letters, angel card messages, or other promises of good luck when I forwarded something:
NONE OF THEM WORKED!!!!
For 2008, could you please just send money, chocolate, or gasoline vouchers.
Thank you!
I smiled when I read this. Did you? If so, do you know what it is about this message that made you smile? Was it that, truth be told, you, too, would rather receive money, chocolate, or gasoline vouchers in the mail instead of those pesky mass emails? I know I would! Send me chocolate, any time. Good Belgium chocolate!
Could another reason be that you, like me, are tired of receiving bland-blah email? You know the kind: nothing of consequence, easily glossed over, no reply required. Just a spewing forth of bland and boring blah.
As Accidental Pren-hers, this is just the kind of email you want to avoid sending. Thinking like the smart business woman that you are; you know that many of us receive over 100 emails a day. To get your email read, you'll need to be like my friend Mike -- he's a clickable email sender.
Next time you send an email to a client, customer, or even a friend, be like Mike by remembering to send money, chocolate, or gas vouchers. By that I mean, send something of value. To do that, make sure that your email:
What are some other ways you would suggest to make email clickable? What about humor? Could that make an email clickable? Share your thoughts.
Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Easter is about new beginnings, and Accidental Pren-hers know all about new beginnings.
An Accidental Pren-her is a woman who finds herself starting up a business, perhaps for the very first time. She probably has had no, or very little experience starting up a business, though she may have exhibited early entrepreneurial leanings as a child. It is most likely that she has a dream . . . something she has been thinking about for a very long time . . . although she has taken no significant action to foster that dream's development.
The "accidental" part comes in because most women, when facing starting up a business for the very first time, say that they never anticipated doing so. They may have been happily working in corporate, academic, or other traditional work places for most of their adult lives until something happened. What happened? Some kind of activating event . . . something big enough that it required them to view life differently from that point on.
With the start of spring just a couple of days ago and Easter just yesterday, today is the perfect day to wish all my entrepreneurial women friend, clients, and colleagues, Happy Accidental Pren-her Day!
Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-herâ¢
Last month, I had the opportunity to write a guest blog for The Mindset of Success. I wrote about a topic that new Accidental Pren-hers generally overlook when starting up their business - promotion plans.
What the heck's a promotion plan, you ask?
A promotion plan covers all phases of communication between you and your potential customers. Especially useful when you are rolling out a new product, establishing or changing your company image, or when you want to promote special services or events to your customers. A promotion plan can do many things for you, including positioning you as an expert and leader in your industry, cultivating new markets, and enhancing your reputation.
When done right, a promotion plan helps you focus on your market, streamlines your advertising activities, and ensures that a consistent, high quality image is portrayed and maintained.
When done wrong, a promotion plan will keep you awake at night, not net you the results you expect, and drain your human and financial resources.
7 Affordable Things to Jump Start Your Promotion Plan
- In 25 words or less, identify and describe the number one thing you want your prospects to know about what you do and how it will be of benefit to them.
- Come up with a unique sale proposition that is clear, concise and compelling.
- Call or e-mail everyone you know and bring them up to date on what you are doing! Leave no family member, friend, colleague, or customer in the dark.
- A killer inventory of 5-10 well-written articles, reports, or tips sheets, authored by you, that addresses a specific solution to your target market’s challenge. Aim to inform and educate, rather than sell.
- Make your 30-mile sphere of influence list. Record the name, contact person, address, email, phone number, and website of every business, organization, and media that would be beneficial to your promotion plan.
- Join a professional business networking organization, and go.
- My favorite: Have lots of one-on-one breakfasts throughout the year. As Jim McCraigh says, “Breakfast means business.”
If you'd like to read more, check out the entire post, Jump Start Your Promotion Plan, published as a guest post at The Mindset of Success.
Then, weigh in and let us know your thoughts on promotion plans. Have you written a promo plan for your business? Can you see yourself writing one in the new future?
Continue reading "If You are an Accidental Pren-her; You Need a Promotion Plan" »
Last month, we began exploring the Heroine's Journey as
it relates to today's Accidental Pren-her. And we've been using Joseph Campbell's own research into the Hero's Journey as our model, adapting it specifically to a woman's journey as she travels from Accidental Pren-her to entrepreneurial women.
There are three stages to every Heroine's Journey. They are:
So far, we've covered the first two stages.
Today, we'll focus on: RETURN
The last part of the Heroine’s Journey is the return home. Before returning home, however, there is usually some sacrifice required of the heroine—something that she must leave behind. Quite often, it is some aspect of the heroine’s ego that must be sacrificed; other times it is something physical.
Regardless, the sacrifice is always some part of us that needs to be transformed. Some part of us that is holding us back from becoming who we are and from achieving what we most desire.
When I was a teenager, I remember reading Hinds’ Feet on High Places by English author Hannah Hurnard. This beautifully written allegorical book had a great impact on me. It was my first encounter with the feminine version of The Hero’s Journey. It is the story of a young woman named Much Afraid, and her spiritual journey away from her Fearing family and into the High Places of the Shepherd, accompanied by her two companions Sorrow and Suffering.
Together the young heroine and her allies pass through many dangers and fears as they mount to the High Places. One by one, Much Afraid faces and overcomes her doubts, turning her weaknesses into strengths and her fears into faith. At the top, she is required to sacrifice something very dear to her — her heart. And when she does, she is transformed, given a new name, and returned to the valley with truth, new awareness, and a deep knowing. She returns with gladness in her step, a smile on her face, and a new willingness to be of service to humankind.
(Excerpt from Chapter 6 of my book)
This is the kind of transformation that takes place along The Heroine's Journey. What gifts have come your way, once you let go of something? What new awareness did you have as a result? What new opening occurred?
Last Monday, we began exploring the Heroine's Journey as
it relates to today's Accidental Pren-her. We'll be using Joseph Campbell's own research into the Hero's Journey as our model, adapting it specifically to a woman's journey as she travels from Accidental Pren-her to entrepreneurial women.
There are three stages to every Heroine's Journey. They are:
Last week we talked about Departure.
Today, we'll focus on: INITIATION
After the heroine has accepted the call and sets off down the road, she must cross the threshold between the world she is familiar with and the unknown world. This is the heroine’s road of trials. The time when she is tested. Where she is honed and strengthened by the journey.
Sounds rather daunting, doesn’t it? Well, there is good news. We don’t travel this part of the journey alone. Many allies and friends will walk with us. Some known, some unknown. Some will protect us. Others will guide us. Still others will be older and wiser to provide sound counsel and sage advice. Those we meet will provide us with the tools and insights for the adventure ahead. This is the part of the journey where we go it together. Where synchronistic events, seemingly chance encounters, and the most unexpectedly helpful guides come to assist us and walk with us along our way.
Remember the scene in the movie version of The Fellowship of the Ring when Gandalf tells Frodo that he is no longer safe in the Shire, that the ring Bilbo has left him is the One Ring, the ring being sought after by the Dark Lord Sauron? This is the moment of Frodo’s call to action. He and his beloved Shire are threatened if he stays. He accepts the call to take the One Ring to Rivendell, and at that moment, Sam appears, to walk by his side, to accompany him, no matter what.
Together they set off on their great adventure. Everything is going along just fine until Sam suddenly stops at the edge of a cornfield. Frodo keeps walking ahead and hasn’t noticed for a few seconds that Sam is no longer with him. When he does, he turns back and sees Sam looking down at the ground in front of him.
“What is it, Sam?” Frodo asks.
“This is it. If I take one more step, it will be the farthest from home I’ve ever been.”
This is what the experience of crossing the threshold between what you know and what you don’t know is like. This is the place between worlds. Between what is familiar and what is not. No matter how excited you may be on our journey, that place where you cross over can stop you in your tracks. You don’t know what lies ahead. You are in new, uncharted territory.
This is the place where many small business owners get hung up. Where they are foiled. Where they become fearful of moving on. What do you call this place? I’ve heard it called ‘sitting on the fence.’ Others say this is the place where the ‘rubber meets the road.’ What’s the experience like? One client of mine described it as the feeling of straddling two planets with one foot on Earth and the other on Mars. Another client said she felt like she was straddling the Grand Canyon with one foot on the north side and the other on the south. Both felt what Sam felt — a coming to the end of what is known and understood.
(Excerpt from Chapter 6 of my book)
Who's walking beside you? What friends, allies, and guides are with you on your journey from Accidental Pren-her to entrepreneurial woman? To go it alone would be unbearable. Companionship makes it bearable, even enjoyable.
For the next three Mondays, we'll be exploring the Heroine's Journey as it relates to today's Accidental Pren-her. We'll be using Joseph Campbell's own research into the Hero's Journey as our model, adapting it specifically to a woman's journey as she travels from Accidental Pren-her to entrepreneurial women.
There are three stages to every Heroine's Journey. They are:
Today, we'll focus on: DEPARTURE
The adventure begins when the heroine receives a call to action. The call to action, according to Campbell, usually comes when “a blunder — apparently the merest chance — reveals an unsuspected world, and the individual is drawn into a relationship with forces that are not rightly understood.” This activating event is often seen as a threat to the peace of the individual or the community. It is often brought on by another person, an outside event, or a spiritual occurrence.
If you are someone who has been downsized from the corporate world, has lost your job, or has quit simply because you’ve had enough of working for someone else, then this is your activating event. If your children have recently left home or you are newly divorced, this is also an activating event. Mine was a spiritual experience; what was yours? Maybe it was the death of a loved one. Perhaps you’ve come into some money, or maybe you’ve had a near-miss accident. Whatever event it was, it became your heralded call for change: A call to action.
Once the call is received, the heroine has a choice — to accept or decline. There is always that choice. No one is ever forced to go on a Heroine’s Journey. This is one of those times when the decision is a singular decision. It is up to you to decide if you are going to heed the call to action or not. If you say yes, your world will change. If you say no, it will still change, though in a different way. Campbell explains, “Refusal of the summons converts the adventure into its negative. Walled in boredom, hard work, or ‘culture,’ the subject loses the power of significant affirmative action and becomes a victim to be saved.”
For those who are contemplating becoming a small business owner, this is the time when you decide if you will or will not venture forth. If you will or will not take your first steps toward entrepreneurship. Will you heed the call or become a victim to be saved? No matter what your decision, the fact remains, something unexpected has happened in your life that is shaping who you are and what you do today. You can’t go back. You can never go back to the time before the call. Will you go on?
Many of us don’t. However, the few who do are changed forever. The Heroine’s Journey shapes us, transforms us, and spits us out whole with a fire in our bellies and a deeper inner knowing than we’ve never had before — an Inner Samurai knowing.
Are you at the beginning of some great journey? Do you feel called to something yet unknown? Have you been at this spot before? If so, what is or was the departure like for you?
Ever wonder what's wrong with the touchy-feely advice that's so popular now-a-days, telling people to stay positive, say affirmations, and just think good thoughts?
Every wonder why people aren't seeing success by doing these things?
Answer: Because there is no evidence that supports the premise that saying positive affirmations works. However, to give you a balanced viewpoint, The Positive Mindset Website has an article posted espousing the opposite opinion.
Sure, they make you feel good. But do they work?
Positive affirmations are like the chocolate chips in a box of chocolate chip cookies. If I asked you what made your chocolate chips cookies taste so good and you responded, "Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips are the key," well then, I would think it a simple solution and run right out and purchase said chocolate chips, wanting to duplicate your delicious results.
Though, as anyone knows, chocolate chips are but one ingredient in the chocolate chip cookie recipe. If I had not taken the time to quiz you about the other details of the recipe – Do you use butter or margarine or Crisco? Do you sift your flour or not? Do you use parchment paper or non-stick cooking sheets? Do you roll them into balls or drop from a spoon? – then I would not have all the information needed to duplicate your success.
That’s what people are doing wrong with affirmations. They are looking for the one thing that will make the difference. They are looking for the secret. For the key. They want success handed to them, rather than doing what it takes to suss out all the details. In short, they focus on one ingredient, to the exclusion of the all.
Starting up a business is a lot of work. There are some very practical, left-brain things that need to be in place for success to be achieved. Vision statements, business plans, niche identification, and marketing strategies are part-n-parcel of a successful business. So, if all you are doing is thinking positive thoughts and saying affirmations, you could be saying and thinking all you want 'til the cows come home. Without considering all the ingredients for success, it is unlikely your business will ever get off the ground.
So what do you think? Agree? Disagree? What has been your experience with saying affirmations? For me, I can tell you I have had great success when I've incuded them in my recipe for success. However, not as a stand along ingredient.
Continue reading "Affirmations Are Like a Box of Chocolate Chip Cookies" »
Last week, I had the opportunity to write a guest blog for Think Retirement. I wrote about a topic that many Accidental Pren-hers in their 40s and 50s are just beginning to think about . . . retirement.
So, what does retirement mean to an Accidental Pren-her who has become an entrepreneurial women and successfully woven passion into what she does as a small business owner? Does she plan on retiring when she reaches the age of 65? Does she even want to?
If you are passionate about what you doing, happily turning your passion into profit, it's hard to think about stopping what you're doing, isn't it? Oh, sure, you could use some time away, an extended vacation, even a more relaxed pace. But do you want to retire? As in cease what you are doing. Or, would you rather stay involved, continuing to contribute, and following your passion?
Today's Baby Boomers are redefining retirement, and are finding that there are some very compelling reasons to either become or continue being an entrepreneur in midlife.
10 Reasons for Being a Midlife Entrepreneur
- You’re healthier and living longer.
- You want to stay involved and engaged.
- You enjoy generating extra income.
- You get to build a business around something you enjoy and are passionate about.
- You have a full Rolodex and 20-30 years of experience to back you.
- You want the independence and flexibility that comes from working for yourself.
- You have confidence and experience, and know what you’re good at.
- You may already have a pool of money saved to help finance your business.
- You can do business from home, using the Internet as your storefront.
- You aren’t discriminated against because of your age.
If you'd like to read more, check out the entire post, Is Retirement Even Relevant Anymore For Midlife Entrepreneurs, published as a guest post at Think Retirement.
Then, weigh in and let us know your thoughts on retirement. Do you see yourself retiring at 65 or do you see yourself continuing on as a midlife entrepreneur?
Continue reading "10 Reasons to Become a Midlife Entrepreneur" »
Women who have become Accidental Pren-hers have had something happen to them that has rocked their world and changed their lives, forever. Along their journey from Accidental Pren-hers to entrepreneurial women, they discover something about themselves . . . that they can change their world. And how do they do it? By intention. Watch this short (just over a minute) video of Lynne McTaggart as she talks about the power of intention.
Then, let us know what you think. Do you believe you have the power to change your world and, as a by-product, effect change all over the world? Yes? No? Let us know.
An Accidental Pren-her is a woman who finds herself starting up a business, perhaps for the very first time. She probably has had no, or very little experience starting up a business, though she may have exhibited early entrepreneurial leanings as a child. It is most likely that she has a dream — something she has been thinking about for a very long time — although she has taken no significant action to foster that dream’s development.
The “accidental” part comes in because most women, when facing starting up a business for the very first time, say that they never anticipated doing so. They may have been happily working in corporate, academic, or other traditional work places for most of their adult lives until something happened. What happened? Some kind of activating event — something big enough that it required them to view life differently from that point on.
For some, they were downsized. For others, they lost their job by getting laid off or fired. Still others decided they wanted more out of life than working for a paycheck, so they quit. Sometimes the activating event was getting married, becoming a mother, or children growing up and leaving home. The loss of a parent or other loved one caused some women to rethink life. Other activating events include divorce, near fatal accidents, recovery from a serious illness, and, as was the case for me, spiritual awakenings.
Whatever the activating event, all Accidental Pren-hers share a common theme. They know that something unexpected has happened to them and that this event is now shaping who they are and what they do.
Are you an Accidental Pren-her? What unexpected event is currently shaping your life?
Tonight . . . as you are out and about with family and friends, take a moment to pause, in gratitude and appreciation for all that came your way this year.
HAVE A COOL YULE!
This is a true story from one of my clients who has been practicing going within for guidance from her Inner Samurai and staying in the flow. I think it's a perfect Inner Samurai Christmas Story.
After writing the checks for the mortgage, the property tax, and two of the largest bills for my startup . . . I was feeling a bit in a panic again about finances.
But, I remembered from reading your book that panic is a sign of being out of the flow. So I went within and asked the Inner Samurai question, "What is in my highest good and greatest well being to allow, now?" and heard in response, "money flowing toward me." It seemed easy enough to find that answer! And I knew it was right, so I let it all go and went about my day.
Throughout the day, whenever I felt that bubble of fear rise up again about money, all I did was reconnect with the feeling of allowing money to flow to me, then got on with my day.
Last night when I talked with my Mom, she told me there was a loan she had taken out from my grandmother's estate that she was ready to pay back . . . and that my brother and I were going to be the recipient of that loan repayment! I had not mentioned to her that I was strapped for money. In fact, I didn't even recall that she had ever taken out a loan from my grandmother's estate. Instead, what I felt was, "yes" from deep within.
Mom's announcement came at a perfect time -- as it always does -- for my brother because he is closing on a home and needed an extra infusion of cash. And for me. My mom's repayment of that loan will more than meet my remaining start up obligations with plenty left over!
I am so grateful for my Inner Samurai guidance system. My Inner Samurai truly is my inner knowing. It's a place I can go, every time, for guidance. Next time I'm stressed out about anything, I'm going within.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
'Tis the season to be thinking about gifts and gift giving. No, I'm not talking about presents that go under the Christmas tree. I'm talking about the golden gifts that you and only you give each day, in so many ways, to the people around you.
Wherever you have gone this year, whatever you have done, whomever you have met, however you have thought about someone, you gave your golden gift. Each word, each action, each touch was a golden gift from you.
How awesome it is, at this time of the year, to look back over 2007 and think about the trillions of golden gifts you have given to others and the bazillion plus golden gifts they have given to you.
What golden gift do you have yet to give?
What's in a business name? You want it to be everything. Sadly, many business names are nothing. Deciding on a great business name takes time. It takes thought. Moreover, getting it wrong could spell disaster for your business. Getting it right, however, will give customers a reason to hire you, connect you to your niche market, and save you thousands of marketing dollars.
Last week, I blogged about the "Five Top Characteristics of a Great Business Name." Today, I'll tell you what to avoid.
Five Popular Business Naming Trends to Avoid
1. Don’t abbreviate your business name. Though it may make communication and correspondence easier, acronyms are sterile.
2. Avoid anything that ends in “global”, “enterprise”, or “Inc.” They’re passé.
3. Avoid using your own name. Build your brand on your company, not on your name. That way, if you decide to sell your company one day, it will be easier to sell.
4. Don’t hyphenate your business name. It makes remembering and writing it difficult. Plus, a hyphenated web name is hard to read.
5. Avoid geographical names unless you're trying to create a strong local affinity. The name “Willow Oak Center for Arts and Learning at Robertson County” works because this is a business targeted specifically for Robertson County in Tennessee.
There is more to naming your business than just coming up with something that sounds good, is clever, or you just happen to like. Naming your business is a serious matter. Your business name reflects your image, your brand, and your position in the marketplace. Because your business name is crucial to your overall branding success and marketing efforts, make your business name count. Make it great!
What do you think about the five trends to avoid? Can you think of some others that we should know about? If so, do let us know!
Continue reading "Thinking About Names for your Business? Avoid These!" »
Deciding on a name is one of the most exciting parts of starting up a business for the Accidental Pren-her. The only problem with choosing the name of your business is that so much rides on your business name.
What's the key? One of my clients asked me this question, so I did the research and wrote an article on it: "Five Characteristics of Great Business Names and Five Popular Trends to Avoid." Below, I've listed the top five characteristics that make a business name great -- really great. Next Monday, I'll list the trends to avoid.
Top Five Characteristics of a Great Business Name
1. It’s short.
2. It’s specific and reflects a specialized business: Jiffy Lube, Home Depot.
3. It’s unique. Consider using words that are not in the dictionary: Alkamae, Google, Squidoo.
4. It’s creative. Don’t copy, borrow, or modify existing famous brand names. Got Milk? has its own branding. Leave Victoria’s Secret to Victoria.
5. It’s an easy name to say, spell, and remember. Use proper English construction so that when put in a sentence, it will work: “I just purchased a book from Amazon.”
The key to picking a great name for your business is to make it memorable. Make it distinctive. Don’t make it silly or cute. Your name should reflect your market niche and identity and be able to reach your customer base easily. So don’t mess it up!
How about your business name? Is your business name a great business name? How many of the top five characteristics of a great business name does it reflect? Let us know.
Continue reading "Top Five Characteristics of a Great Business Name" »
An Accidental Pren-her is a woman who finds herself starting up a business, perhaps for the very first time. She probably has had no, or very little experience starting up a business, though she may have exhibited early entrepreneurial leanings as a child. It is most likely that she has a dream — something she has been thinking about for a very long time — although she has taken no significant action to foster that dream’s development.
The “accidental” part comes in because most women, when facing starting up a business for the very first time, say that they never anticipated doing so. They may have been happily working in corporate, academic, or other traditional work places for most of their adult lives until something happened. What happened? Some kind of activating event — something big enough that it required them to view life differently from that point on.
For some, they were downsized. For others, they lost their job by getting laid off or fired. Still others decided they wanted more out of life than working for a paycheck, so they quit. Sometimes the activating event was getting married, becoming a mother, or children growing up and leaving home. The loss of a parent or other loved one caused some women to rethink life. Other activating events include divorce, near fatal accidents, recovery from a serious illness, and, as was the case for me, spiritual awakenings.
Whatever the activating event, all Accidental Pren-hers share a common theme. They know that something unexpected has happened to them and that this event is now shaping who they are and what they do.
Are you an Accidental Pren-her? What unexpected event is currently shaping your life?
Have you seen this moving power point presentation? It contains a wonderful message about the journeys our lives take and reminds us that we are all on this journey together -- mi viaje es tu viaje.
As Accidental Pren-hers, there are times when it seems as if we walk the journey from Accidental Pren-her to entrepreneurial woman alone. This beautiful 5 minute power point presentation shows us that we don't. Furthermore, it reminds us that even though our lives might take different paths, we can all leave positive memories with those with whom our paths intersect.
After you watch, let us know what you think about the journey that unites us all.
As Accidental Pren-hers, we often find ourselves asking a lot of questions about who we are, where we are going, and how we are going to get there. It's only natural when making the transition from a more traditional work style to an entrepreneurial lifestyle that the big questions of life pop up.
Here is a question one of my clients recently asked: "What do you do for yourself when you need to find clarity in the big questions of life?"
What a great question! Can't you all relate to that question? I know I sure could!
8 Steps to Clarity
- Assume that you already know the answer.
- Affirm that you already know the answer.
- Cop an attitude of gratitude.
- Ask: is this in my highest good and greatest well being, right now.
- Then listen/feel for the "yes" or "no" pulse of your Inner Samurai.
- Lastly, stay unattached to outcome, knowing that all is well.
- Then follow that all up with the phrase: I will no longer let someone/some thought get in the way of my happiness. I open my fist and let this person/thought go, knowing that all is well in the world and the Universe is conspiring for my greatest good.
- Repeat as many times as necessary to quiet the voice inside your head and let your Inner Samurai come forth.
So what do you think about these 8 steps? Have you tried them out? How did they work for you? Click the comment button below and let us know!
Continue reading "Asking for Clarity about the Big Questions of Life" »
Calling all Accidental Pren-hers, women entrepreneurs, and small business owners.
This 4-minute video is the most inspiring video I've seen all year. Every time I watch it, I get a lump in my throat and a big ole grin on my face. In short, this video touches me, deeply.
This video is about Paul Potts -- Mobile phone salesman from Wales who finally decides it's more important to follow his passion, reach beyond his fear, and pluck up the courage to audition for Britain's Got Talent, then to continue being less of who he knows himself to be.
In this video, you will see Paul take the stage, announce with inner knowing and conviction what he was born to do, and deliver Puccini's famous tenor aria, "Nessun Dorma" with the skill, emotion, and finesse of Pavarotti. Watch how the judges and audience react to this amazing man who has decided that he is no longer willing to let anyone or anything get in the way of his happiness any longer.
Then, leave a comment and tell us what you think. Were you as moved, inspired, and overjoyed as I was?
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success
Ever wonder why there aren’t more women business-owned millionaires in the world?
Lisa Belkin has, and thought enough about it to write an article for the New York Times. My good friend Linda Childs sent me her article, thinking I would be interested in sharing it with my readers, and she was right -- thank you Linda!
A Capital Idea for Women addresses the little talked about statistics about how women-owned businesses are struggling to get past the $50,000 revenue mark and having great difficulty getting to the $1 million revenue mark.
Women are starting businesses in the United States at twice the rate of men. According to the Center for Women’s Business Research, there are 10.4 million women-owned businesses nationwide.
Women-owned businesses aren’t doing all that well. According to the Women President’s Organization:
• About 43% or all women-owned businesses have revenue of $10,000 or less per year.
• Over 70% have revenue of less than $50,000.
• Only 3% have revenue over $1 million.
So what happens?
As a small business start-up coach and consultant, I've identified two things that keeps women from reaching the $50,000 mark.
1. Women throw in the towel too early.
Everyone faces challenges, difficulties, and fears when starting up their business. Everyone hits the proverbial wall of resistance and has to make a decision about whether they should quit and throw in the towel, or persevere and move forward. Not knowing about the heroine's process and journey causes women to throw in the towel pre-maturely.2. Women take business challenges personally.
When faced with a business problem, men tend to look at what is wrong with their business and what they could fix about their business. Women, on the other hand, tend to look at what’s wrong with them and what needs to be fixed about them. Not knowing how to trust their inner knowing and listen to their Inner Samurai "yes" and "no" pulse causes women to flounder in decision making situations.
So what do you think either about Lisa's ideas put forth in her article, or about my ideas about why women-owned businesses are struggling to reach the $1 million dollar mark?
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success
Websters defines accident as: an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in injury, damage, or loss.
Design, on the other hand, is defined as: to plan and fashion artistically or skillfully; to intend for a definite purpose.
As Accidental Pren-hers, we know that there are no accidents. That what may first appear as an undesirable or unfortunate happening is really just the beginning of something else. Something more. Something yet to be discovered.
This is what Susan Nichols found out when she started making yoga bags. It's the way that Louise Fletcher describers her journey to President of Blue Sky Resumes. It's what happened to business partners Lisa Morelli and Carol Satterlee when they co-founded Family on the Edge.
Do you believe that everything that happens in your life happens for a reason? For your higher good and greater well-being? Looking back over your life, with the buffer of time and space, was there something unexpected that happened to you? Some event that is now shaping who you are and what you do?
That's the case with most of us.
Come, share your accident by design story with us all.
Accidental Pren-hers often find themselves in unfamiliar territory when starting up a business. For the most part, they have been traditionally employed and used to doing things a certain way. Then, they are thrust into a new world, unsure of what to do next.
This 42 second video clip, sent in by Tawney Whitecalf, is a perfect example of how important it is for us, as Accidental Pren-hers, to embrace our new life and adapt easily and creatively to our new way of being.
Thanks Tawney!
In what ways have you adapted to your new life as an Accidental Pren-her?
An Accidental Pren-her is a woman who finds herself starting up a business, perhaps for the very first time. She probably has had no, or very little experience starting up a business, though she may have exhibited early entrepreneurial leanings as a child. It is most likely that she has a dream — something she has been thinking about for a very long time — although she has taken no significant action to foster that dream’s development.
The “accidental” part comes in because most women, when facing starting up a business for the very first time, say that they never anticipated doing so. They may have been happily working in corporate, academic, or other traditional work places for most of their adult lives until something happened. What happened? Some kind of activating event — something big enough that it required them to view life differently from that point on.
For some, they were downsized. For others, they lost their job by getting laid off or fired. Still others decided they wanted more out of life than working for a paycheck, so they quit. Sometimes the activating event was getting married, becoming a mother, or children growing up and leaving home. The loss of a parent or other loved one caused some women to rethink life. Other activating events include divorce, near fatal accidents, recovery from a serious illness, and, as was the case for me, spiritual awakenings.
Whatever the activating event, all Accidental Pren-hers share a common theme. They know that something unexpected has happened to them and that this event is now shaping who they are and what they do.
Are you an Accidental Pren-her? What unexpected event is currently shaping your life?
Have you ever thought about the word excellence before?
Think the word "excellence," now. Close your eyes and sit with it for a moment. See what comes up for you?
Notice how it feels. Notice where you feel it in your body.
Do you notice an expansion when you experience this word? Does it fill you from within? Does a smile play at the corners of your mouth? Or, do you feel constricted and a little panicky, as if a great burden is being placed upon you?
Both experiences are possible, depending if you are listening to the voice inside your head or your voice within. The voice inside your head has been called many names -- critical parent, ego, mind. Your voice within is what I call your Inner Samurai --the voice of your inner knower.
The great thing to keep in mind as an Accidental Pren-her, is that excellence is a choice. You can either experience it as an expectation, as in: "we expect excellence from you," or you can experience it as an inner quality, an inner way of being.
In Debbe Kennedy's Excellence Deep Inside You blog post, she cites Japanese businessman and Zen monk Kazuo Inamori as saying:
Whether we settle for "passing grades" or constantly challenge ourselves to be the very best is more than a matter of academics. It is an opportunity to demonstrate our human qualities and select the path we want to follow. ...If you wish to excel in life, you must be willing to encounter many barriers. The biggest of all is your own mind, which seeks comfort and ease. ...we naturally prefer the easy way. ...the greatest skill is the ability to overcome oneself.
I like to think of excellence as a quality to be embraced. A way to live each day. A quality of interaction I enjoy having with others. It's not about an expectation from others or the way I should be. It's a choice. A quality of life choice.
What do you think about excellence? What has been your experience with excellence?
Have you seen the "W" list? No? Well, it's making the blogosphere rounds and showing up in a lot of really cool places. I though I would add a couple of my own wonderful "W" pren-hers to the list and pass it along.
Here's to all the Wondrous Women bloggers - keep it going ladies!
I think the W-List originated at Conversation Agent to compile a database of women bloggers. I found it at Lipsticking where Yvonne was kind enough to add my blog to the list. Today I am adding my favorites, who haven't shown up yet. The goal is for YOU to take the list, add names, and continue sending it around. Oh, and get over to the Wiki and make sure the names get added there.
There you are... now carry on.
The original Accidental Pren-her™
Surroundings by Linda Merrill
ReRevealed-Lani Anglin
MittenMusings - Lisa
San Deigo Home Blog - Kris Berg
Diana Nash Photography - Diana Nash
Georgia on My mind - EHT
45 Things by Anita Bruzzese
A Look at Art & Design: Lisa Mikulski
advergirl Leigh Householder
Affirmagy Blog by Kristen Schuerlein
Alkamae by Susan Reid
Andrea Dickson at Wise Bread
angiemckaig.com: still a great pair of legs Angie McKaig
AnjaMerret.com by Anja Merret
Ask Dr. Kirk
Avedon Carol’s Sideshow by Avedon Carol
Back in Skinny Jeans by Stephanie Quilao
Becoming your StellarSelf by Mary Kearns
Belle at Abundance Journal - Explorations in the Law of Attraction.
Beth’s Blog by Beth Kanter
Biz Growth News by Krishna De
BizInformer by Deborah Chaddock Brown
BlandtoBliss by Dana Weekley
BlogWrite for CEOs Debbie Weil
Boardroom for Women: No Nonsense Business Coaching by Norma Rist
Brain Based Biz by Dr. Robyn McMaster
Brain Based Business by Dr. Ellen Weber
Brand Sizzle by Anne Simons
Branding & Marketing by Chris Brown
Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk
Build a Solo Practice, LLC by Susan Cartier Liebel
Christine Kane by Christine Kane
CK’s Blog CK (Christina Kerley)
Colloquium by JHSEsq
Communication Overtones Kami Huyse
Confident Writing by Joanna Young
Conscious Business by Anne Libby
Conversation Agent Valeria Maltoni
Corporate PR Elizabeth Albrycht
Creative Curio by Lauren Marie
Customers Are Always by Maria Palma
Customers Rock! Becky Carroll
CustServ by Meikah David
Damsel-in-Progress
Debbie Millman by Debbie Millman
Deborah Schultz by Deborah Schultz
Design Your Life Ellen and Julia Lupton, identical twins
Design Your Writing Life by Lisa Gates
Designers Who Blog by Cat Morley
Diana Nash Photography - Diana Nash
Diary of Claudine Hellmuth Claudine Hellmuth
Digby’s Hullabaloo by Digby
Dishn’Dat
Diva Marketing Blog by Toby Bloomberg
Do It Myself Blog by Glenda Watson Hyatt
Donnas Promo Talk by Donna DeClemente
Dooce by Heather B. Armstrong
Edith Yeung from EdithYeung.com
Email Marketing Best Practices Tamara Gielen
Emily Chang - Strategic Designer Emily Chang
eMoms at Home by Wendy Piersall
Enter the Laughter by Marti Lawrence
Escape Blog by Melissa Petri
Escape from Cubicle Nation by Pamela Slim
eSoup by Sharon Sarmiento
Essential Keystrokes by Char
Every Dot Connects by Connie Reece
Exploring the trends driving small business by Anita Campbel
Feministing by Jessica, Vanessa, Samhita, Ann, Celina, Jen and Courtney
First Person PR by Kari Hanson
Fish Creek House by GP
Flooring The Consumer CB Whittemore
Forrester’s Marketing Blog Shar, Charlene, Chloe, Christine Elana, Laura and Lisa
Forward Steps by Thea Westra
Franke James by Franke James
FunnyBusiness by Elana Centor
Garden Variety Family by Karin Marlett-Choi
Georgia on My mind - EHT
Get Fresh Minds by Katie Konrath
Get Shouty by Katie Chatfield
Graphic Design Blog by Tara
Great Presentations Mean Business by Laura Athavale Fitton
Helping Bloggers Make Money by Paula Neal Mooney
Hey Marci by Marci Alboher
Holly’s Corner Blog by Holly Schwendiman
ifelse by Phu Ly
Illustration Friday Penelope Dullaghan
Inspiration Bit by Vivien
Inspired Business Growth by Wendy Piersall
J.T. O’Donnell Career Insights by J.T. O’Donnell
JHSEsq from Colloquium
Joyful Jubliant Learning with Rosa Say
13 Jinxes
Joyful, Jubilant Learning by Rosa Say
Kammie at Passion Meets Purpose
Kara-Leah at Be Conscious Now
KDPaine’s PR Measurement Blog by Katie Paine
Kelly Curtis from Pass the Torch
Kinetic Ideas Wendy Maynard
Kirsten Harrell at Think Positive!
Kora-in-Hell
Laura Young at The Dragon Slayer’s Guide to Life
Learned on Women by Andrea Learned
Learning Optimism by Nataly Kogan
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Lip-Sticking by Yvonne DiVita (with Lena West, and others)
Little Red Suit by Tiffany Monhollon
Live the Power by Karen Lynch
Liz Strauss at Successful Blog by Liz Strauss
Lorelle on WordPress by Lorelle VanFossen
Mad Kane’s Humor Blog (and Mad Kane’s Political Madness) by Madeleine Begun Kane
Making Life Work for You by April Groves
Mama Duck at Lil Duck Duck
Manage to Change by Ann Michael
Management Craft by Lisa Haneberg
Mandarin Design Daily:The MEG Blog Michelle Goodrich
Marketing Roadmaps Susan Getgood
Mary's Blog by Mary Schmidt
Melissa McEwan at Shakesville
MittenMusings - Lisa
Moda di Magno by Lori Magno
Modite by Rebecca Thorman
molly.com Molly E. Holzschlag
My Beautiful Chaos by April Groves
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Netdiver Carole Guevin
Niquimerret.com by Niqui
Nneka from Balanced Life Center
On My Desk Linzie Hunter
Pass the Torch by Kelly Curtis
Peace Love Harmony by Kirsten Harrell
Presto Vivace Blog Alice Marshall
Personal Development Demands Success by Priscilla Palmer
Purple Wren by Sandy Wrenshaw
Purse Lip Square Jaw Anne Galloway
ReputationExchange by Leslie Gaines-Ross
ReRevealed-Lani Anglin
Romance Bandits by Jeanne Adams
RuralEntrepreneurs by Pam Peyron
San Deigo Home Blog - Kris Berg
Shakesville by Melissa McEwan
Sheriar Designs Mani Sheriar
Small Biz Survival by Becky McCray
Small Failures: Sustainability for the Rest of Us Jess Sand
Spare Change Nedra Kline Weinreich
Spirit in Gear by Debbie Call
Strategy Stew by Ivana Taylor
StrengthWithin by Carol Satterlee
swissmiss Tina Roth Eisenberg
Talk It Up Heidi Miller
Tech Kitten by Trisha Miller
Technical Made Easy by Lauri Burkons
Tertia.org/ by Tertia
That’s What She Said by Julie Elgar
The Artsy Asylum by Susan Reynolds
The Blog Angel aka Claire Raikes
The Brand Dame by Lyn Chamberlin
The Copywriting Maven Roberta Rosenberg
The Engaging Brand by Anna Farmery
The Floozy Blog by Kate Coote
The Heavy Chef Project with Nicola Perk
The Kiss Business Too by Karin H.
The Origin of Brands Laura Ries
The Parody by Sasha Manuel
The Podcast Sisters by Krishna De, Anna Farmery and Heather Gorringe
Think Positive by Kirsten Harrell
The Spirited Woman by Nancy Mills
Veerle’s blog 2.0 Veerle
Versa Creations by Vivienne
Water Cooler Wisdom by Alexandra Levit
Wealth Strategy Secrets by Money Gym author and Founder Nicola Cairncross.
What’s Next Blog B L Ochman
Wiggly Wigglers authored by fellow Podcast Sister Heather Gorringe
WomensDISH by Diane K. Danielson and friends
Words People Read by Deborah Chaddock Brown
You Already Know This Stuff by Jodee Bock
As Accidental Pren-hers one of the most challenging things for us to do is to keep the vision of our business success firmly in mind, no matter what others may think.
This video was sent to me by my friend Tawney from Illinois. Perfect for today's blog. It's a little over five minutes long and truly impressive. Notice how caricature artist Dan Dunn approaches his vision from so many different angles.
Great reminder for us all -- thanks Tawney!
Watch the video then weigh in and let us know what you think!
Hi Everyone,
This video was sent to me by my dear friend and e-Zine reader, Mike Beason. He thought this would be a great video to share with you, and I couldn't agree more.
212 Degrees - The Extra Degree by Simple Truths is a little over 3 minutes long. It is packed with some great photography and powerful information that drives home how just one extra degree can make all the difference to our personal and business success.
Penny Pierce talks about it in her blog as, "It really is a simple idea: put one more degree of effort, or originality, or spirit, or passion, into what you're doing."
Enjoy, then let us all know what you thought be clicking on the comment box and leaving your thoughts.
I thought I would take the first blog of this week to announce the latest news about my upcoming book.
Discovering Your Inner Samurai
The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success
Yvonne, my publisher at WME Books is expecting that the book will roll out the first or second week of October.
I am SO EXCITED about this, folks!
Join with me in celebration. Share a success story of your own.
Smiles,
A couple of month's ago, I joined a Collection of Experts on Networking for the purpose of putting together a networking booklet that would be distributed nationally. It was my first foray into such a project, and I really am enjoying seeing how each participant in the booklet is marketing it nationally. I did it through my blog and web site. Sharan Tash, who wrote a an article on where to network, being a professional networker sent out this terrific news release.
I share this will all my readers so they can see how a professional newsrelease is done.
If you are interested in learning more about how you, too, can get in on booklet publishing--one of the hottest ways to build your web presence and become an authority in your field, let me know. This is a great idea to build your small business.
I'm gathering a group of entrepreneurial women together for publication and mutual networking right now!
================
Secrets To Boosting Your Business Success--From Experts That Know
Does the thought of networking send you into a panic? Would you like an easy to read format for strategic networking success? Do you want to learn what other business professionals have already learned and are willing to share? The Professional Networker ®, Inc. and The Booklet Queen have collaborated with several "networked" business people to bring networking tips to everyone in the form of a Tips Booklet.
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) July 26, 2007 -- Sharan Tash, the originator of "Boomerang Networking"™, and Paulette Ensign, founder and chief visionary of Tips Products International , have published a tips booklet on how successful business professionals have made referrals and networking a primary marketing strategy for growing their businesses. Each networking professional provided tips on what has worked for them in their industry and personal life, along with contact information for themselves and their business.
62 Tips are provided in this booklet with 5-6 tips by each of the following professionals:
Sharan Tash - The Professional Networker, Inc - from Wilmette, IL
Paulette Ensign - Tips Products International - from San Diego
Tom Huberty - Huberty Performance Learning, LLC - from Minneapolis
Tripti Kasal - Real Living Infinity - from Chicago
Dean Klassman - Klassman Financial - Arlington Heights, Illinois
Pam Perry - Ministry Marketing Solutions - Farmington, Michigan
Shirley Poll - The Family Care Givers - from West New York, NJ
Susan L. Reid - Alkamae - from Penn Laird, Virginia
Nicki Shuh - Heartfelt Charity Cards - from Libertyville, Illinois
Anna Maria Viti-Welch - Guy Viti Insurance - from Highwood, Illinois
Anne Wayman - Anne Wayman - from San Diego
"There are so few people that truly get the basic concept of giving first in strategic relationship networking. Collaborating on this project was a natural segue not only for my business, but for showcasing some of the true givers in the business networking community. By helping these great connectors become published, I am giving first without asking for anything in return," said Tash.
Ensign adds, "Teaching people to transform their knowledge into booklets and other information products for marketing, motivating, and making money is a great tool for busy professionals that want to share their knowledge."
Copies of the booklet can be purchased right here!
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