Vol I, Issue 6
May/June 2012
All About Business 3 Secrets to Succeeding Online
All About Success Spotlight on Jennifer Bourn
All About You How to Look Fabulous In Your Photos
www.TodaysInnovativeWoman.com TodaysInnovativeWoman.com
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From The Publisher Another whole school year comes to an end! And it’s another big year for us! My middle child graduates from high school! For those of you with kids, you know how the end of the school year always gets crazy, right? Graduation parties, last minute school projects… but it also leaves me asking the question…”where did it go?”. With Lyn graduating from high school, I’ve had to dig out some old photos for her various banquet slide shows. And I came across a couple that made me want to cry! Back then I thought it was so hard— all the homework and the carpools and driving and friends over between working and meetings. And in an instant, the house is quiet and you have 1 or no children left. It’s going to be an interesting adjustment for me the next few months. Not only is one going to college, the other is already in college and heading to study abroad in the Fall! I’m not sure my son is ready to be the only one left in the house either! Some of you may have little ones and you’re thinking, “yeah right Cathy, you don’t have a clue!” . Night feedings, naps, preschool drama, juggling it all while juggling a business. But I do—I remember it well. It only seems like yesterday—and yet it’s not. So during your next total complete mommy meltdown (yes, I remember having those as well. In fact, I still have them from time to time!), just remember it goes too quickly and soon enough you’ll be helping to make the college decision and packing up the car! One plus in all this….. As they have grown and watched me grow my business, I hope I have instilled in them not only the work ethic, but following your passions and doing what you love. And, doing whatever it takes to get there! Here’s to your SUCCESS!
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Contents All About Business 10 3 Secrets to Succeeding Online With Your Business
12
Stop the Marketing Madness, Final/Part 4
7 Essentials for Complete Marketing Success
17
Sometime You’ve Got To Pay to Play
24
Expect Success to Achieve Your Goals
26 The Basics of Beneficiary Designations 27
How to Overcome Your Home-Based Business Fears
All About Fashion & Fitness 22 28
How to Look Fabulous in Your Photos
Sexual Fitness
All About Food & Family 8
Walnut Pesto
18 Unplugged Time Together
All About Success 14
Success Spotlight: Jennifer Bourn TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 5
Would you like to …. Start a Business Around Your Family? Work from home? Set your own hours? Earn Extra CA$H? What’s Up For Kids is now offering YOU the opportunity to become an Independent Publisher of your very own online magazine in your city! Exclusive Territory, Full Training & Support Get started for only $147! Explore the Possibilities! Call Today! Go to PublishMyWhatsUpForKids.com or Call (888) 544-1042, ext 701
All About Business. All About Success. All About YOU!
Founder/President/Publisher Cathy Alessandra P.O. Box 3893 Palos Verdes, CA 90274 (888) 544-1042 Web Design: Jennifer Bourn, BournCreative.com
www.TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 6 Today’s Innovative Woman
Disclaimer: Today’s Innovative Woman and What’s Up For Kids LLC expressly disclaims all warranties as to the contents of this publication and assumes no liability for the contents, including but not limited to any credentials stated or claims made by persons or establishments included in this publication. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Copyright 2012.
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All About Food Walnut Pesto By Nancy Newcomer You may have heard me talk about my sister’s walnut ranch in Chico, California? Every time I see her, I come home with boxes of walnuts, so I am always trying to think of new ways to use them in my cooking. She makes a wonderful walnut pesto, so I decided to have at it and make up my own recipe. By the way, this recipe is FAR superior with fresh walnuts–take the time to crack your own.
Ingredients: 2 cloves garlic 2 cups basil 1/2 cup walnut halves 3 TB grated Pecorino cheese 1 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice 1/3 cup high quality olive oil 1/2 to 1 tsp sea salt Place garlic cloves in food processor and pulse until garlic is chopped finely, about 30 seconds. Add basil, walnuts and Pecorino cheese and pulse until chopped. Add lemon juice, then with the food processor running on low, slowly pour olive oil in. Add salt to taste. Fabulous over roasted veggies, pasta, or wonderful for dipping. Makes a great spread for Panini as well. You may prefer to toast your walnut before making them into pesto. If so, please spread halves over a baking sheet and pop in the oven at 300 for about 5 minutes– watch ‘em so they don’t burn. Longtime Santa Barbara radio personality, Nancy Newcomer is a food blogger and an accomplished cook & creator of simple, healthy meals made from fresh, organic ingredients. With an emphasis on gluten free fare and local farmer’s market bounty, her Facebook food blog, “Back to the Kitchen: Healthy Living with Real Food” is followed by people in over 22 countries. Check out Nancy’s new website, www.NancyNewcomer.com where she shares recipes & shopping tips and continues to advocate cooking “real food “ recipes and having sit down family dinners.
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All About Business 3 Secrets to Succeeding Online with your Business! By Michele Pariza Wacek Succeeding online is easy, right? Just throw up a sales page, drop in some “buy now” links, and sit back and watch your bank account grow! Well, if you’ve been in business any length of time, you already know it doesn’t work like that. It’s never that easy. But there’s no question it IS possible. So how DO you succeed online? Let me share 3 secrets to get you started. 1. Know what you're highest payoff activities are. The successful entrepreneurs I've worked with know exactly what they should be focusing on each day, what their strengths are, and what's going to bring in the most money. So how do you figure out what your highest pay-off activities are? Start by making a list of your strengths and weaknesses. Now look at your strengths. Out of those skills, what brings you the most money in the shortest amount of time possible? Evaluate how much money you make versus time spent on each activity. 2. Focus on your highest pay-off activities. Ah, yes. It's not enough to know them; you need to actually DO them. And, better yet, you should organize your day around these activities, so you know you're spending as much time as possible on your highest pay-off activities. 3. Delegate out or delete your weaknesses. Without a doubt, the successful entrepreneurs I know spend little to no time trying to "strengthen weaknesses." What they typically spend their time doing is strengthening their strengths and outsourcing (or just plain dumping) their weaknesses. Why do they do that? Because they make more money when they spend most of their time doing their highest pay-off activities. We all only have 24 hours a day, so you need to know how best to use that time to become the biggest success possible! Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a premiere direct response copywriting and marketing company that helps entrepreneurs attract more clients, sell more products and services and boost their business. To grab your FREE "Ka-Ching! Business Kit" with a FREE CD visit http://www.MichelePW.com/freecd
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Is your ideal client a successful women business owner ready to invest in herself and her business? If the answer is YES, then you need to invest in your marketing!
For 1.5 of your favorite lattes a week, you can reach 1000’s of your ideal clients! Skip today’s latte (and the calories) and call me to discuss how Today’s Innovative Woman can fit into your your marketing strategy!
www.TodaysInnovativeWoman.com Online and In Print! (888) 544-1042 ext. 701
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All About Marketing STOP THE MARKETING MADNESS! 7 Essentials for Complete Marketing Success! Final—Part 4 By Cathy Alessandra Last issue we covered essentials # 5 and 6, video and PR. We are now on to the final essential and the wrap up! The 7th business essential – live events. This includes attending live events, speaking at live events and producing live events. Live events give you the opportunity to get in front of your target market and interact directly in person, creating that relationship. In your marketing plan, you need to schedule time to attend them – things like our SUCCESS Summit events (www.SuccessSummitandExpo.com) or something as simple as a local business women’s group chapter meeting. Keep in mind though, I don’t advocate showing up and shoving business cards into everyone’s hands! Attend the event as an opportunity to network with other like-minded women business owners – talking to them about their needs, how you can connect with them and what you can do to support them. Commit to how many you are going to attend each month and do it. Speaking at events depends upon what your business is but there is almost always a “speaker’s angle”. For example, I am not a marketing company or a pr agency – I won’t plan or implement your whole marketing strategy – yet all these things I’m sharing here, I do for my clients – incorporated into their advertising package with me. I offer them print advertising, an online presence, I’ll post and tweet about them, I’ve created videos with them, I will post their blog article on my website and I produce live events for them to participate in. I know these are the multiple ways my clients need to get exposure and I’ve packaged that together with my magazine. With my years of experience doing this for myself and my 100’s of clients over the years, it made perfect sense for me to take these to the “stage” and share my knowledge and expertise. Speaking provides great exposure in your marketing plan. If you aren’t already speaking, commit to creating your signature talk in the area of your expertise and get booked for the next quarter. Think about how something you do every day in your business can be shared with others who have that problem. The last item in live events is producing one –and that is not something I recommend running out and doing right away. It takes a lot of time, usually a hefty investment and it really depends upon what your end goal is as to whether producing your own event is for you. And I’m happy to discuss that with you personally. (Continued on page 29)
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All About SUCCESS Jennifer Bourn— Freelancer to CEO In 2005 I was pregnant with my second child and working a corporate job that was running me ragged, and due to an hour-long commute, I hardly ever saw my family and friends. I wanted and needed a change – for myself and my family. At the time I knew a few freelancers in my industry, and I desperately wanted their freedom (and their income) for myself. One month later, I quit my job and started my adventure as a freelance designer with my childhood desk, a 6-foot plastic table from Costco, and a laptop with software I pirated from friends in college. Once I was out on my own, I envisioned a life where I was in control of my time and where I would have more time to pursue my hobbies and spend time with my family and friends. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. It turns out that freelancing wasn't exactly what I expected it to be. I didn't love my clients, I wasn't making the income I wanted, and I was working all the time. I was on an out-of-control income rollercoaster and I didn't know how to get off! It was then that I decided I needed to take action. I didn't want to be a freelancer, I wanted to be a business owner. I knew I had to start doing things differently, or I would keep getting the same results. I began to research and learn everything I could about owning and growing a business, about marketing and getting the kind of clients I wanted, and I started networking with other successful business owners. As I learned, I implemented. I quickly realized that design had to be more than just pretty, it had to WORK. When I shifted Bourn Creative's focus to be on results-driven design that incorporates key sales and marketing principles, everything changed. Soon I was working with better clients, I was working on projects that I en(Continued on page 15)
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joyed, and new clients were knocking down my door! Within one year my business over doubled and I had more business than I could handle. I was making a ton of money and on the outside I was the perfect picture of success. But on the inside, I was quietly drowning in quicksand that I couldn't seem to escape. I was working 16 hour days, 7 days a week. My business owned me and I had absolutely no freedom. It was then that I began making the key changes that have brought Bourn Creative to where it is today – and international, award-winning design com(Continued on page 20)
Thursdays, 11amPT Innovative Women In Business Blogtalkradio.com/ todaysinnovativewoman
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Are You Missing The Boat?
Successful Marketing REQUIRES You to GET ONBOARD!! Website, Blog and Online Presence Submit a story for our blog Email & Direct Mail Place an online ad in our weekly e-magazine Print Advertising Bi-monthly print magazine reaching 1000’s Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) We share your ad on our social media pages Video—We will share your videos PR—Submit your press releases to us Events—We present live events for attending, networking, speaking and sponsoring! Today’s Innovative Woman offers you multiple ways to reach your ideal client ~ All at one low price!
Affordable, Cost-Effective Marketing Solutions! Call Us Today to Discuss Your Strategy! (888) 544-1042 16 Today’s Innovative Woman
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All About Business Sometimes You’ve Got To Pay to Play! By Katrina Sawa Have you ever had one of those days where a really important opportunity comes across your desk or smacks you right in the face? What do you do? Take action on it immediately, turn it down or think about it? If you want to design the business and life of your dreams and be more successful and profitable, you want to try to go with your intuition more plus possibly pay-toplay. If you think you’ll squeak by without investing much in your business, you may be sorely disappointed. Profitable entrepreneurs say similar things: 1. You've got to recognize a great opportunity when it smacks you in the face (or even if it gently nudges you too) 2. You've got to have complete faith that there is an abundance and you do deserve it (whatever that 'it' is for you) 3. You've got to have complete faith that it will all work out in the end 4. You've got to TAKE consistent ACTION and make swift decisions to move towards what your vision is without hesitation or fear (we all have fear, but you must figure out how to step through it) To pay-to-play could look like any or all of the following: Working with a business, marketing and/or life coach to help you lay out a plan and to keep you on track Investing in effective marketing materials and website to bring you an abundance of prospects and referrals Investing in workshops, conferences or trainings to continue learning Spending your time reaching out and meeting new people, more referral partners or network, volunteer and speak Hiring assistants to delegate much of the non-money-generating tasks to Don’t try to recreate the wheel or do it all yourself…ask for help, invest in resources and build yourself a successful, profitable business you love! Katrina Sawa is an Award-Winning, International JumpStart Your Biz Coach, Author of the book Love Yourself Successful, and a Dynamic Speaker who’s helped thousands of small business owners take dramatic steps in their businesses to get them to the next level in business, revenues and their personal life. She offers one-on-one coaching, group coaching programs, live events and do-it-yourself business-building products. She’s been featured on various news talk shows and radio shows including Oprah and Friends XM Radio and she has her own radio show on Blog Talk entitled, JumpStart Your Business NOW. Go online now and get started by grabbing her Free Entrepreneur’s Success Kit plus two other free gifts now at http:// www.JumpStartYourMarketing.com/gifts!
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All About Family Unplugged Time Together By Nicole Beurkens, PhD In a culture where our lives have become inundated with electronics, it is important for parents to teach children the value of spending “unplugged” time together. Whether your children are toddler or teens, here are some simple electronics-free ideas you can implement to encourage the development of relationships, communication, and thinking skills: 1. Play a game – Good old-fashioned board and card games provide excellent opportunities for building relationships, social skills, and problem solving abilities. Dust off the checkers, deck of cards, or whatever other games you have at home, and have a blast playing together! 2. Go for a walk – Taking a family walk together is a great way to reconnect with each other, and get some physical exercise at the same time. It’s a low-key way to explore nature, engage in stimulating conversation, or simply enjoy some quiet time with each other. 3. Sit down to eat together – Family mealtimes are often the first thing to go in a busy family’s schedule. Research has shown that sitting down together to enjoy a meal supports child development and family health. Turn off the television, leave the video games in the other room, and come together to eat, talk, and enjoy each other’s company. 4. Reading ritual – Create a daily reading routine for your family. Choose a book to read silently in the same room, read a book out loud for everyone to enjoy, read and discuss a quote for the day, or any other reading-related activity. Sharing this activity together on a consistent basis will enhance your child’s development and sense of family connectedness. There are so many things families can do together without electronics. Be intentional about making “unplugged” time together part of your regular family routine. You, your children, and your family will be better for it! Nicole is the founder and director of the Horizons Developmental Resource Center in Caledonia, Michigan, is a licensed clinical psychologist with a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and a master’s degree in special education. She holds a professional teaching certificate and has been certified in many specialized therapies for Autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Beurkens has authored numerous articles and books, and writes a popular newsletter for thousands of subscribers each week.You can find more of her strategies for parents and professionals, and sign up to receive her newsletter at www.HorizonsDRC.com.
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Join us LIVE Thursdays at 11amPT for Innovative Women in Business presented by Today’s Innovative Woman! We’ll be interviewing successful women business owners who will share their secrets with you! Listen and Chat LIVE at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/TodaysInnovativeWoman Or call into the show at (718) 508-9260
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(Continued from page 15 All About SUCCESS—Jennifer Bourn)
pany with new clients clamoring to get a chance to work with us! So what changed? I know you want all the details – so here's an overview: 1.
I stopped doing everything that I don't love. I had to relinquish control and let others support me and my business in the areas where they shine and I don't.
2.
I sought out help. During my transition from sole proprietor to LLC, I hired my husband (Bourn Creative CEO, Brian Bourn) to manage my business, my team, my workflow, and our growth … and "I" become "we."
3.
We increased prices (multiple times). Each time we felt "too busy," we raised our prices. This change allows us to work with fewer clients at the same (or higher) income level.
4.
We defined our brand. We got completely clear on exactly who we are, what we do, what results we can create, how we're different, and who we serve. We nailed down a clear marketing message and we made sure our brand was presented consistently across the board in all types of media.
5.
We streamlined our systems and processes. By examining how we do what we do and looking at how we can do it better in less time, we were able to cut our time per project in half and better manage new inquiries.
6.
We added value. With each price increase, it became more important to communicate how we are different and why we are the best choice, one of the ways we chose to do that was to add more value and unique experiences to our packages.
7.
We sought out event our ideal clients attend. Conferences and events have been and continue to be a huge lead generation source for us. You've got to get out from behind your computer and meet people. Also, don't be afraid to travel! The most lucrative events I have ever attended all required a plane ride and a hotel stay!
Needless to say, it's been a bumpy road, but today Bourn Creative is an internationally-recognized success story! By offering a combination of WordPress website design, private design services, consulting, and training, we now work less than ever before, we have more freedom than ever before, our income is higher than ever before, and every day we wake up excited and energized to do what we love. With clients spread out across the globe, Brian and I work with the best and the brightest entrepreneurs and business owners to transform businesses into extraordinary brands with websites that work when you're not working and brands that propel you to the forefront of your industry.
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Meet Our Writers
Michele
Linda Cotter
Deborah Genovesi
Erin Kurt
Joy Chudacoff Jessica Eaves Mathews
Marla Dennis
Kirin Christianson
Lisa Manyon
Lisa Cole
Elizabeth Bernay & Kara None
Jennifer Bourn
Katrina Sawa
Nancy Newcomer
Bibi Goldstein
Caterina Rando
Lisa Kanarek
Nancy Drew
JJ Flizanes
Get more details and read about each one of our Featured Writers’ area of expertise! Connect with them at www.TodaysInnovativeWoman.com Michelle Scism
Nicole Beurkens
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All About Fashion
How to Look Fabulous in Your Photos! By Kirin Christianson Do you dream of having your photo look amazing? Do you wish you could take a really fantastic shot - especially in a photo everyone is going to see (think about your profile picture or your photo on your business cards)? If so, here are a few quick and easy tip on how you can look amazing in EVERY photo! 1. Hire a professional photographer. Seriously, make sure they are great! How do you find a great photographer? You can do a couple of things. Modeling agencies, tend to have the best of the best photographers since they make money off how beautiful their models look. Going straight to an agency (usually, you can search their website to find links of photographers they like to work with) - will save you tons of time on researching who you'd like to work with. Another place to look is wedding photographers. Go to one of the big bridal shows in your community to find the best one for your photos. Or you can visit wedding websites and find links of photographers in your area. Then check out their online portfolios and see which photographer really resonates with you. See who has the best look based upon what you want to look like and then hire them. Don't be afraid to go with a photographer that is more glamorous than you feel you are. If they are good, then they can make you still look like you, but at your best. 2. Hire a professional makeup artist. A professional makeup artist will make a world of difference in your photos. Don't go for the cheapest. Go for the best! (And the best can still be affordable). The easiest way to find one is to ask your new photographer who they like to work with. They will always suggest someone who makes their work look good....which makes YOU look good. Ask to see their portfolio. You can even check out some makeup artists work on one of the social media sites and see what their clients are saying about them. It's a smart way for you to view real-time testimonials. 3. Pose like a pro. It's easier than you think. For headshots, start by sitting sideways then twist the upper half of your body towards the camera. Roll your shoulders back and down. And that's it! Practice makes perfect. Spending just 5 minutes in front of the mirror practicing your smile, head tilts, and posture will make a world of difference in how your photos look. There are only three things that you need to make a really successful photo shoot; the model (that's you!), the makeup artist and the photographer. Remember, the makeup artist and the photographer are professionals. They make a living on help(Continued on page 23)
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ing you look your best. Trust them! And the last thing to remember is that you're going to shoot hundreds of photos, but you only need one; just that one beautiful photo of you. Because a photo captures one second, one moment of your life; that one moment will provide a lifetime memories for you....and represent you and your business for years to come. Good luck! Red Haute Mama, Kirin Christianson, lifts women from the doldrums of everyday and back into the ‘va va va voom.’ She helps them uncover their discover their inner bombshell. From toes to tresses, no nook goes uncovered without examination. Providing expertise in all things glam, she steers women toward the holy grail of glamour. Advice, workshops, tutorials and haute deals, taking them straight to the best glam tips. FEEL amorous, glamorous, and flat out fabulous - www.RedHauteMama.com
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Read the stories of Cathy Alessandra, Gina Bell, Jennifer Bourn, Joy Chudacoff, Lesley Bohm, Michele DeKinderSmith, Tina Forsythe, Cindy Greenway and more! 14 inspirational stories of struggle to success! Buy your copy at Amazon.com TODAY! TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 23
All About Business Expect Success to Achieve Your Goals By Caterina Rando, MA, MCC
To get what you want, your attitude is key. Enjoy every call you place, every trip you take, every accomplishment you make. Revel in the process of being a success today— do not wait till you get to your ultimate goal. To easily expect more success follow these steps:
Acknowledge all the small victories. Count your “wins” daily. Wins are all those things that go your way in a given day—the letter you wrote, the VIP you finally got hold of, the parking ticket you eluded, the compliment you received.
Smile. Both psychologically and physiologically this simple, easy action improves our well-being, which improves our outlook, which prepares us for all the great things we are expecting to happen to us. To become fit and healthy from a success standpoint, give your smile muscles a workout just like the rest of your body.
Hold your success attitude in your body. Stand up straight, raise your chin up, keep your shoulders back and feet firmly planted. Feel the power of personal success in every cell in your body.
Create a compelling success image in your mind. Once you expect your success, see it. Imagine it vividly and in color—what are you doing, where are you, what are you wearing, how does it feel like in your body? Make your success as real as possible in your mind, so your expectancy is even stronger and, as a result, your actions even bigger.
Be bold. Do all those things today that you know you will do when you are more successful. That is how you will create the success you strive for in your business and life.
You will never be more successful than you expect you can be. Greet every day with the belief that good things are going to happen to you. Caterina Rando’s shows women entrepreneurs how to be loud and proud about who they are and the value they bring through speaking, publishing and building their expert platform. Find out about all she offers at www.caterinarando.com
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Learn how to leverage a print or online, newsletter or magazine, and add $1000's more a month to your bottom line! The Publish My Magazine System! A Step By Step Blueprint & Toolkit Designed and Taught by the Publisher of Today’s Innovative Woman And What’s Up For Kids Magazines!
www.PublishMyMagazine.com
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All About Finance The Basics of Beneficiary Designations By Elizabeth Bernay and Kara Noone When you first set up a retirement account, whether it is an IRA or held under a company-sponsored plan, you are usually requested to name beneficiaries who will receive the assets in your account when you die. The primary beneficiary is first in line. You should also name a contingent beneficiary, who would receive the assets only if the primary beneficiary is not living at the time of your death. Saving for retirement is, by definition, a long-term endeavor, so it’s easy to lose track of who your beneficiaries are. You may, for example, have named your husband or wife a decade or two ago. If you have since remarried, it’s time to change your beneficiary — unless you want the assets to potentially go to your former spouse. It’s hard to overstate the importance of a regular review of your beneficiary information. If no beneficiary is properly designated — or your primary beneficiary dies before you with no contingent beneficiary named — your assets will be distributed in accordance with the default provisions of the plan. You would have no direct control over what goes to whom. Here are some practical suggestions to keep your designations current. To start with, it’s a good idea to have a master list of all your accounts. Retirement-related holdings may include the following: • Employer-sponsored plans (e.g., 401(k), profit-sharing, defined benefit) • Individual retirement accounts • Annuities • Life insurance policies You can add to your list the beneficiaries for each account — as well as their relationship to you, contact information and Social Security numbers. By reviewing the list every year or two, you can help to ensure that your beneficiary (Continued on page 30)
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All About The Office How To Overcome Your Home-Based Business Fears By Lisa Kanarek Working from home is hard work, but at the same time it’s scary. When you first start working from home and you’re spending time growing your business, it’s normal to face a few worries along with fear. Aside from figuring out how you’re going to grow your business, you have to worry about how to pay the bills, where your next client will come from and how to keep your family from turning on you because of your crazy hours. For some people, fear is a motivator. For others it’s the first step to feeling discouraged. While being motivated is a good thing, being paralyzed with fear and weighted with worry can dampen your spirits and possibly keep you from growing your business. You can’t get rid of all of your fears but there are a few ways to tame them. • Don’t quit your day job. Lately I’ve been reading about business owners I thought were doing well but it turns out that they work full time during the day and work on their business at night. When they make enough money, they’re going to quit their job and focus on their business full time. Take the pressure off yourself and work on your new business when you’re not at your corporate job. You’ll be able to focus more clearly and get your ducks in a row before you quit your job. • Go for the low-hanging fruit. If you left a corporate job to work from home, turn to your old employer as your first client. Your old employer won’t have to train you, pay your health insurance, or give you two weeks off each year. They’re already familiar with the way you work and the quality of work you can produce, so they should they continue to use your services. If you left your last job on bad terms, skip to the next tip. • Use skills not related to your business to make money. If you’re handy with a hammer, have an eye for design, or can landscape like nobody’s business, get to work. There’s nothing wrong with taking odd jobs to supplement your income or in some cases to serve as income until your business takes off. Fear is part of everyday life, whether or not you own your own business. When you take the time to recognize and face those fears, you can enjoy being your own boss even more.
Lisa Kanarek is one of the nation’s leading home office experts and the author of five books. Lisa is also the founder of HomeOfficeLife, a consulting firm that advises home-based business owners on all aspects of working from home and is founder of WorkingNaked.com. TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 27
All About Fitness Sexual Fitness “One is not born a woman, one becomes one.” Simone de Beauvoir One of the biggest road blocks I see in career women when it comes to their relationships or finding the right man is how they use their sexual essence. There are four areas of sexual fitness outlined in Fit 2 Love, but I wanted to feature the one I thought was most important for the modern working woman. Your Sexual Essence Being sexually fit also means activating ecstasy, passion, and sensuality on a regular basis. This kind of energy is a magnet, not only for men, but for everyone around you. Every person is some part masculine and some part feminine. I have fallen into the trap of activating my masculine energy more often because my career requires me to be productive, efficient, and goal oriented. These are masculine traits. This became a problem when I was dating and looking for my man. I would treat it as a job, so I would go out on the town with focus and determination! Since I was activating my masculine energy, I would attract more feminine men, and that was not what I wanted. It became really clear to me how my use of masculine energy was not inviting men to me, but repelling them. In order for me to attract a masculine man, I needed to live in my feminine more often. This takes some practice in today’s fast-paced, work-driven world, and it is not talked about openly. Women have strived to be like men for so long in the work environment that we don’t recognize the damage it has done to our relationships. Unfor(Continued on page 29)
Join Our Team Today’s Innovative Woman is coming to a city near you – and we are looking for dedicated entrepreneurs to become the Independent Area Director in YOUR community! As an Independent Area Director for Today’s Innovative Woman, you earn commission and bonuses by selling advertising space within our bi-monthly national magazine and booth space at our live events. Plus, you have the opportunity to send your own Today’s Innovative Woman ezine in your community and build your list!! Get all the details at www.TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 28 Today’s Innovative Woman
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tunately too often, we blame it on the men, when in reality, we have made the shift. Visit fit2love.info for the free Fit 2 Love 4 Week Plan that will help you adjust your energy in your business and personal life. JJ Flizanes, Director of Invisible Fitness, was named best personal trainer in Los Angeles for 2007 by Elite Traveler Magazine and was also one of the six featured trainers in Shape Magazine in 2003. She is the Author of the Amazon.com Best Seller Fit 2 Love: How to Get Physically, Emotionally, and Spiritually Fit to Attract the Love of Your Life and Knack Absolute Abs: Routines for a Fit and Firm Core. She has appeared on NBC, KTLA, CBS and Fox 11 as well as numerous local and national magazines. JJ’s mission is to help women feel gorgeous and confident without starving or killing themselves in the gym
(Continued from page 12 - 7 Marketing Essentials)
Those are the 7 essentials for complete marketing success! Now you may be thinking she’s given me more to do! Ugh! I have given you a few free ideas too – social media, video, press releases and stories, attending events – but there are two major elements to consider that will lessen any headaches. First, create a marking plan on a BIG wall calendar. Know when you plan to roll out a project, launch a book or program, sell an event. Calendar out when it’s time to announce open enrollment, when is the crunch time and what you must do! Are you going to offer specials around different holidays or is spring your big marketing time. Calendar it! Then, back into these marketing essentials we’ve just covered. Some of the essentials are daily, like social media; some are weekly like an ezine or email communication; and some are less frequent like updating your website or sending out a direct mail piece a few times per year. But I know I am going post on Facebook every morning, that Wednesday mornings is my time to proof and approve my ezines and write any articles, that my live event is 3 months away and scheduling my email, my videos, etc ahead keep me on track – so that I know what must be done and that I’m not forgetting anything until it’s too late! Some of this will take a little extra effort on your part right now, but the end goal is to have it all automated and systematized for the future. Second is you need to delegate. I do a lot myself, but if I didn’t have systems in place for automating some of this, I’d been crazed all the time. If I didn’t’ have team members in place to delegate some of this to, and know it would be done, I’d go crazy. There are many resources now available to help you with the delegation. I use Buy(Continued on page 31)
TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 29
(Continued from page 26 - The Basics of Beneficiary Designation)
designations are still correct for your current circumstances and that the contact information is up-to-date. In addition to regular reviews, you should look over your list when you change jobs, marry or divorce. Designations also might need to be changed when you have or adopt a child, or when your child becomes financially independent. You will generally need to have a designation form for each account you hold, even if you have more than one account with the same provider. Note that if you are married and want to designate someone other than your spouse as your primary beneficiary, federal and/or state law may require signed and notarized consent from your spouse. Elizabeth Bernay and Kara Noone are Financial Advisors with the Global Wealth Management Division of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Irvine, CA. The information contained in this article is not a solicitation to purchase or sell investments. Any information presented is general in nature and not intended to provide individually tailored investment advice. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors as the appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives. Investing involves risks and there is always the potential of losing money when you invest. The views expressed herein are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Member SIPC, or its affiliates. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC
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30 Today’s Innovative Woman
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(Continued from page 29 - Stop the Marketing Madness)
ing Time LLC, a company that handles my virtual work (computer work they can do and then email me) and is also locally available to do any errands or work at my events. You can even have a company like this help you automate systems once, so that it’s done and ready to use over and over again! Here is the bottom line: Marketing needs to be a continuous flow of “touches” to a prospect and existing clients. An email marketing piece will be read by someone who will never read a social media post. A video is going to “talk” to someone who wouldn’t even open an email. And my website might not interest someone who will read my Facebook posts. Social media is free, video is free, email marketing has minimal costs, and attending events can be free. I recently conducted a survey of some of my readers and it confirmed my theory! I found that some who read my print magazine and ezine blast, don’t visit my website. And that there are many who read the electronic email but don’t ever use Facebook or other social media. This just confirms that we need to be in multiple places (print, email, mail, video, social media, events, etc) and only putting one marketing technique into use will reach a very small portion of our potential clients! Finally, you need to have the right mindset. Marketing isn’t all about Whats in if for me. It’s about what’s in it for them – your potential clients. It’s about how we can serve our clients – and letting them know how we can support them and fix their pain - that is how you are going to attract the clients that are right for you. Cathy is the CEO of What’s Up For Kids and Today’s Innovative Woman. Cathy became an entrepreneur mom in 1995 when she launched What’s Up For Kids, a magazine and event company serving local families in Los Angeles. In working with entrepreneur moms through the National Association of Entrepreneur Moms, she realized a need for a publication serving smart, savvy entrepreneur women. In 2011, Cathy published the first issue of Today’s Innovative Woman filled with articles from business tips and resources to food, fashion, and fun! Cathy was awarded the 2011 Top 50 Mompreneur of the Year award by Babble.com and has been featured on cbs.com and KFWB news radio in Los Angeles.
A Final Thought….. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with them. “unknown” TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 31
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