Reinventing yourself

Reinventing yourself Who will you be post COVID-19?

By Kimberlee Davis

There is no shortage of lessons to be learned from COVID-19. In addition to the economic and health adjustments, we are all scrambling to make a deluge of new challenges that have yet to be considered still looms around the corner.

As we navigate our way through these rough waters of financial hardships, stress and anxiety, let’s make sure to maintain our sense of control and handle the problems that we are empowered to solve. The best way to do this is by reevaluating our finances, focusing on our long-term goals, and reflecting inward on our own identity.

From a corporate securities lawyer and an investment banker, to an entrepreneur and stay-at-home mom, I have reinvented myself many times over. Some changes were for the better, others not so much. I have found that the key to making solid transitions is to start them in a quiet place like the unique setting of the quarantine.

With mouths to feed, bills to pay and immune systems to protect, taking stock on the bigger picture might seem like a low priority at the moment, but it really shouldn’t be. Ultimately, who we choose to be—either in business, in wealth, in family or just plain spiritually—will determine our paths forward out of this crisis.

Amid the chaos and loss of control, our own sense of self is one of the few things we can control. Plus, sheltering in place gives us a unique opportunity to do some personal observation, self-reflection, introspection and evaluation because we are not losing time in the dash to in-person meetings and child soccer practices.

The first question that a lot of us get stuck on is: Where do we start? Having gone through several personal and

professional reinventions myself, I have found great value in beginning with a deep exploration into my hierarchy of values. This consists of the following important questions: › What is important to my emotional development as a person? › What is important to my economic goals? › What is important to my interpersonal relations and social/ethical perspective?

All three are equally important and must be looked at holistically and practically. We can stand back and reflect on our lives as they were pre-coronavirus, and examine if we were happy and if our finances survived. In our society, we seem to be perpetually busy. For many of us, this outbreak has been a hard stop, forcing us to spend time with our loved ones, get comfortable being alone and taking a moment to think about the things that really matter.

Using this time to think about how your financial situation held up, ask yourself what areas can be improved upon. Did you have enough in your savings to cover a couple months of bills if you were to get furloughed from your job? Did you notice how much less money you were spending on frivolous things like your morning coffee?

Taking this time to reflect and thoroughly comb through your spending habits and fiscal well-being will help you plan for the future, and give you the knowledge and tools you need to make better choices after this is all over.

Having more idle time also allows us to enjoy ordinary activities such as reading, yoga, exercise, painting, listening to music, cooking and reconnecting with our interests. Instead of succumbing to the pressure and uncertainty, embrace the stillness and relearn how to be thoughtful.

Just because the pandemic is tragic—and, of course, it certainly is— does not mean it is not also a great chance to spend more time together, talk without rushing and determine how we can continue this in a post-coronavirus environment. There may be a wonderful recalibration to consider, which never would have been possible during the rat race of the so-called “normal” life we used to know.

We should all examine the strengths of our relationships and family to gauge how we are surviving as a wife, mother, friend and/or businesswoman. In this state of quiet, what do we value and how do we prioritize it among all the other noise?

While contemplating that answer, it is important not to undervalue your career goals. Often, women will assume financial freedom and professional ambition are lower priorities because of societal pressures. But we are free to choose other values as higher priorities that does not mean that we have to.

To adjust your career path, take this opportunity to learn new skills and pursue interests that have been on the back burner. The internet is full of how-to videos and video-networking/coaching platforms that are just a click or swipe away. Use it as a tool for reinvention – not just a vehicle for killing time as we wait for the economy to reopen. Set specific and achievable financial goals taking one step at a time so as not to get overwhelmed and give up on your strategy in frustration.

Personally, I am rethinking my daily schedule from pre-coronavirus times. I have been taking a four- to five-mile walk at least four times a week, something I am committed to continuing after we resume our new-normal lives. I am going to make exercise a non-negotiable priority. It clears my mind and gives me a positive attitude.

It is important you have good nutrition, get regular sleep, have regular physical exercise, have some down time, nurture your spirit and have some fun with the positive people in your life. Intentional self-care will reap many benefits. It will increase your energy and sharpen your financial focus.

We should all look at our lives as a whole and reflect on what changes we can make to provide for a better tomorrow. In all our busy-ness, it is too easy to lose track of what is really important. The excuse, “I don’t have time,” is no longer an option. For me it is health, free time to pursue my interests and family. What is important to you?

Kimberlee Davis is host of The Fiscal Feminist, a podcast and platform about women and their relationship with money and finances. Her mission is to help women of all ages and wealth levels embrace their responsibility to themselves, and to achieve solid financial footing in both calm and turbulent times. Kimberlee Davis has more than 25 years of finance, legal and corporate experience. Her career has included being a corporate securities lawyer, investment banker and CFO. Currently, she is managing director and partner at The Bahnsen Group, a private wealth management firm.

Tessa Horovitz, Co-founder, AMETTI

The future of travel is female Meet two founders changing the world of business travel for women

Being safe and healthy, both mentally and physically, is something everyone strives for today. That is why Jessie Minikes and Tessa Horovitz started Ametti—a luxury travel brand geared toward today’s executive fashion-forward women. The Los Angeles-based company not only offers a line of luxury travel accessories (luggage, small leather goods to packing essentials), but also serves as a travel community for likeminded peers. Minikes and Horovitz like to think of it as a one-stop shop for all things travel for the modern female executive and entrepreneur. Lead Up sat down with them to get their thoughts on how the brand is faring in today’s changing landscape.

Give us a snapshot of your brand?

Ametti is the first direct-to-community fashion lifestyle brand that brings curated content, a valuable relationship community, and travel accessories to today’s businesswomen. It is a one-stop-shop for their work, travel, and at home needs.

Tell us what makes Ametti so unique?

We believe that curating and creating a better lifestyle for women while traveling for work, being on-the-go, or working from home should be effortless and essential. We are the first brand to think about women business travelers.

We uniquely put together the best for our customers by offering: › Essential travel accessories to facilitate their travel life. › Durable quality and uniquely designed products. › Content to help women travel better. › Events and gatherings to escape and learn from other women. › Curators and experts to ensure all content is highly valuable. › Actionable advice and tips as well as true resources.

Jessie Minikes, Co-founder, AMETTI

› A friend to turn to when they need something while on the go, ensuring that their time matters, and everything is available and easy to access in a couple of minutes. › Valuable real connections.

What type of women are you targeting?

We are dedicated to the women of the world who travel for work, and aspire to learn and meet others while on the go. She is knowledgeable, yet wants to learn more every day. She is connected, yet wants to make more valuable connections with women like her. She is at a senior level aspiring to become a C-level, or already a C-level or founder wanting to inspire and meet other women they can inspire and guide. She is busy and needs a friend like Ametti to make her life easier every day.

Why do you do what you do?

Tessa: Jessie and I were both heavy work travelers before starting Ametti. We deeply felt there was a need for a brand to finally help women travel better and come together.

For the past seven years, I have been experiencing the life impact of regularly traveling for business as a woman. I wished for better products and a place to learn how to travel better. This idea came from hearing other women talk about struggles, and my own experiences trying to find balance, practicality in fashion and community while traveling.

I felt very unbalanced, lonely, sometimes unsafe, with nobody to turn to, and no place to get advice and support to make travel life a little easier. That is how Ametti was born—truly believing there are better ways for women to travel for business. We want to support them before, during and after their journey. We are the first to care about women who travel for work.

What hurdles have you overcome being a woman in business?

Tessa: I became a board member and C-level when I was 28. Back then, I sat at the table with 45 year old men and older. They were dressed in suits, and actively felt they had to become my mentors and leaders.

At the time, I felt the weight of being a woman—being young every single day. I found the psychological exercise to train myself to move forward without offending anyone was a real challenge. It was a lot of pressure. I not only needed to be the best, but I also had to be nice and humble. I had to be decisive, but not too much, in case someone else felt they needed to decide over me.

Raising funds and getting money is still mostly controlled by men. It is very hard for women to get in business. As a co-founder of a startup, I can say that getting investments has been tough, even though the world has seen improvements with female founders. We still have a long way to go.

Jessie: Right now, my biggest hurdle is incorporating work with raising of my threemonth-old baby girl. It is a daily challenge and learning process to fit work in while I pivot myself around her schedule.

How do you give back?

Jessie: Right now, I am mentoring two different girls in fashion college. I meet

with them virtually, separately, every Saturday to work on their fashion portfolio. There is something so rewarding about mentoring young designers at the peak of their careers.

Tessa: For me, it is ethics to drive sustainability. At Ametti, we produce durable products with some local suppliers in partnership with sustainable farming. It was not an easy task. Achieving prices like ours takes a lot of work and research. We are always weary about our product’s destiny, so we are working to launch a membership solution that will allow people to return their old bag for a new one. This enables us to give our products a second or even third life.

We also try to hire 100% women, and coach and mentor them. Our goal is to give them opportunities within Ametti and develop them as leaders. I created a small leadership class that provides tips and advice on how to empower your team to become leaders.

What do you see as some of your biggest opportunities moving ahead?

We still have a lot of room to grow, but we believe there are two big opportunities ahead. We have launched Ametti Society—a one-stop shop community catering to a highly curated lifestyle and trustworthy sources for business women.

Since the beginning, we knew that to truly help women during their work travels, being on the go or just working from home, we had to push further. We always aim to offer a real solution. Ametti Society is the curated solution to help women travel better. To give you a hint, one of the perks is Ametti dinners—the opportunity to meet other women in an intimate setting. For now it is online, but soon it will be available in NYC and LA.

The other opportunity is how travel is going to change post COVID-19. The trends and the way women travel tomorrow are going to be reshaped. Tomorrow, a one-day trip to Chicago is going to seem like an unnecessary risk for two meetings. Teams will still need to work and meet in person, and business travel should take a turn for longer trips— one to two weeks. Women will need us more than ever to help settle a balanced life for themselves after being away from home so long.

We are preparing this for them so they have a reliable source that is ready to tell them how they can create a great lifestyle for themselves while traveling for business.

How are you staying connected with other women in business?

At Ametti, we actively make efforts to connect and network, right now mostly online. We look for women’s groups and companies founded by women. We follow women opinion leaders. That was one of the main reasons for our weekly guest meet-up with the team. Tessa or the team invites someone to chat with us informally about anything they want. It helps open discussions and synergies.

We also have partnerships, where we try to create long-term relationships with other female-lead businesses. Women are stronger together and we actively try to make this happen.

What mentors, sponsors, coaches have played an important role in your success?

Tessa: For me, it was my parents. I had the chance to have incredible mentors at home. My mother has always been such an inspiration. She was full of creativity and energy, and really knew how to make a room listen to her. She used to be an interior designer, where she worked with

95% men on building sites. She knew how to lead and direct the situation.

Without my father, I would not be where I am today. He was a great service strategy consultant, leadership expert, and entrepreneur of talent and heart. He leads with his brain and his heart and, hopefully I am successfully succeeding. I think of him every day when I see challenges ahead or great things happening in Ametti.

I recently came across someone I have a true connection with, Karen Sugar. She is the founder of the WGE fund. I believe she is already playing a big role in who I will become tomorrow.

Jessie: I would say there are two people who really impacted my success. The first was my father. We have had different moments in our relationship. He has by far not only been my greatest teacher, but has also one of my biggest fans. Second, I would have to say my old boss at Ralph Lauren. He helped push all of my boundaries while being a designer.

How do you stay current with today’s trends?

Jessie: One of the most relaxing moments of the day is watching fashion shows. It not only helps me relax, but also helps me identify and spot trends to come.

Tessa: Mostly reading a lot of the news and understanding the challenges people are facing. Through empathy, if you are capable of truly putting yourself in the shoes of your customers, you can understand what trends are going to change their world (and yours at the same time).

Finally, actively listening to feedback and your team is crucial. I am a sponge. I thrive on other people’s perspectives and analysis. All the great new ideas will come from team meetings and brainstorming.

What is your growth plan?

We aim to become the destination, the reference and the best friend for women business travelers who want to curate a better lifestyle for themselves. This starts with perfectly curated content and guides, as well as products with durable quality and unique design.

For now, we are focusing on growing the full Ametti experience so that we can become that best-friend business women want to take everywhere. We want to ensure that every aspect of it is elevated and high quality to fit what our customers need and grow organically through referrals.

What is the biggest item on your to-do list right now?

Tessa: Ensuring that the vision we built with the team has a structure to grow with the support it needs and the resources necessary to its longevity. In short—vision, people and funds.

Jessie: Right now, the biggest item on my to-do list is taking the Ametti product range and expanding the offering into Asia.

What is the most rewarding part of your career?

Jessie: Designing is by far the most rewarding. Without it, I am lost.

Tessa: Definitely having the courage to dive in and create Ametti. I think the biggest challenge of entrepreneurship is turning adversities into opportunities, and this happens every day.

Mentoring and growing a team of incredible women who are behind Ametti and help us get this dream to become real. Helping women travelers feel better, something I hope will make a difference in their careers and lives to become even better leaders.

Describe a typical day. Jessie:

7 a.m.: Wake up, feed the baby. 8 a.m.: Play with the baby 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.: Baby takes a nap. Then I go into lightning speed, opening and answering emails. 10:30 a.m.: Feed the baby 11 a.m.: The baby plays in her jungle gym and I get on the computer to research whatever I am working on. Noon-2:30 p.m.: My baby takes a two-hour nap. This is by far the most productive part of my day. It is when and where I turn into a robot. Here, I typically take my work phone calls. If the weather is nice, I pop the baby in her stroller and take phone calls outside. 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m.: She is awake and ready to play, so my teacher hat is on. We practice whatever milestone a threemonth-old baby must focus on. 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: The baby sleeps and I take more meetings or phone calls. 5:30 p.m.-6 p.m.: My partner typically takes the baby around this time, allowing me to wrap up any loose ends or plan tomorrow’s to-do list. 7 p.m.: Bath time. 8 p.m.: My baby goes to “sleep.” 9 p.m.: Dinner and computer research while Netflix streams in the background.

Tessa: I spend most of my days trying to inspire the team. We have a lot of cross-functional meetings where everyone

learns from each other. At the stage we are in right now, it is about getting everyone on board and making sure they learn from one another. I instill a lot of moments of communication and sharing. I also believe that having clear goals and objectives are important.

When you are a startup, the important thing is to be able to prioritize. There is so much to do, but not all of it can be done in a day. Your team is running the marathon with you, and you need to preserve them, too. The other thing I do is help the team with whatever they need. I will fill in and support them. Every day, I push our incredible team to take the lead and grow.

Finally, I need to keep my energy high. I do this by meeting other people who can inspire me. When you are a CEO, you must listen to people a lot and get the best out of their experiences. I feel I learn so many new things from all the people around me. That helps create my vision.

What is your secret to success?

Jessie: My daughter and my partner. Without the support of my partner, I am not sure I would make it. And in regards to my daughter, from the moment she was born, I felt transformed. I have never felt more motivated, more productive, more honest with myself and more confident with who I am as a person. She helps me wake up every morning and be proud to be a boss.

Tessa: In our business, the way I measure success is through great customer feedback. Only customers in time will tell if we are on the right track or not. As for me personally, it is perseverance and resilience. That does not mean I do not have doubts or down moments, but it is the ability to get out of them and keep on going. I did this my whole career. It always showed me you need to be your biggest fan, and trust in yourself enough to listen and let others help you and guide you to achieve great things.

One-on-One with...

Tessa Horovitz and Jessie Minikes

Tell us about your family?

Tessa: I was born in Paris, France to a very down-to-earth family. My parents had a very free approach to raising my siblings and me. We were free to live the lives we wanted— experiment and learn, and try anything we wanted. Both my parents were self-made people, which taught me the importance of perseverance.

I had a great childhood, first in France, and then in Switzerland, where we moved when I was nine. We used to move every two years, so I do not necessarily feel like I belong somewhere in particular, just to the world, in general. I was taught the value of achieving things and working hard to get them at a young age. Entrepreneurship was so important to my family. They believed in taking risks for the things you believe in.

How do you prioritize your health, family and career?

Jessie: Right now, I prioritize everything according to my daughter’s needs and schedule. I know that I need “me” time in order to get through the next day, so I try to make sure everything is packed and organized into each day.

Tessa: I define moments that are completely off. My phone stays away, I do not open my emails or answer calls so I can focus and be with my family. I also need alone time. I resource myself mentally in the morning. I try to exercise, get out in the sun, read for a bit or just think for 30 minutes. I am a better person when I am rejuvenated, and I can be there for my family and friends.

What motivates you every day?

Tessa: The trust that people put in me and their faith in what we are doing. I also need a good exercise to energize myself in the morning if I want to leave my stress out the door.

Jessie: My family.

How do you tap into the power of YOU that makes you unique? And how has that pushed you forward?

Jessie: My creativity. Since childhood, my creativity has always been my armor. It has always forced me to think outside of the box and make me stand out in my profession.

Tessa: I am what you could call an empathic feminine leader. Allowing myself to feel the importance and responsibility of being such helps me channel my best qualities and unite people. I let people I work with know me and trust me, and feel they can share things with me.

Who inspires you?

Tessa: My team—the young entrepreneurs of today. My fiancé is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met, someone who has dedicated his life to finding the secrets of the universe. Yes, you guessed it, he is in astrophysics.

Jessie: Right now I am obsessed with the Altschool.

What inspires you?

Jessie: My daughter.

Tessa: The world changing around us. People taking risk and have courage to stand for real change.

What is the best thing a client ever said to you?

Tessa: “Without what you are doing, my life would be much harder.”

What are your strongest traits as a leader? What traits of other leaders inspire you?

Jessie: I love to hire experts. I feel the best way to lead is to let people do what they are best at. I have always loved the idea that I could ask a question to someone on my team and know that their answer was not only going to help me shift my thinking, but their experience was going to compensate for a part of the puzzle that was not meant for me to answer. Elie Tahari, my first boss, once said to me, “You can never lead if you’re not willing to learn.”

Tessa: I am a good listener. I want to know what my team and customers think, how they are feeling and what are their biggest challenges. My strength is putting everyone around the table and creating something together that we all believe in with vision and strategy. I believe in emotional leading—leading with the heart. Women have it inside of them, and I love seeing a woman channeling that to grow and lead.

What book are you reading now?

Tessa: When I read, I want to travel into another world and another time. I love historical novels that teach you about the culture of a particular time and other civilizations. I am always reading several books at once. Right now on my side table I have: “The Falcon of Siam” by Axel Aylwen, “Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari, and “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng. We have a book club with our team so I am reading it for the second time.

What are your favorite hobbies?

Jessie: Before the birth of my daughter. I started to build a love with European antique furniture. I went almost every weekend just to look and rdo some esearch. It became a great way to disconnect and learn at the same time.

Tessa: Oh, have so many! I love drawing and painting. Having a background in visual art back when I did my IB I still love taking my pencils and drawing fashion illustrations or other things.

Cooking is the most relaxing activity for me, I never follow a recipe I create from an idea and love taking risks.

How are you mentoring/sponsoring others?

Tessa: With our team at Ametti. I am all about being an available leader. Showing them I am their biggest supporter and that I care to help when they need it. I always try to take time to have one-on-one meetings with each of our management team to help them grow.

To the outside world of Ametti, I offer women two weeks or more of shadowing, where they can discover what we do and how I lead as well. These are one-to-one moments where they can ask any questions they would like to discuss further with me.

Finally at Ametti, a project that is very dear to my heart, is a partnership we are doing with Karen Sugar and the WGE fund. It is a charity that helps women in Uganda create their own company through micro-lending and education.

Jessie: The mentoring I do with the girls in fashion college.

How do you like to spend your down time?

Jessie: With a glass of wine.

Tessa: Traveling more than anything. It is about getting on a plane to discover a new country, culture, hidden gems that you have to experience in person to understand. I am so passionate about travel. I am a little travel guide to most of my friends and family.

What was the best advice you ever received?

Tessa: All of your failures will ultimately become your success, if you can understand them and learn from them.

Jessie: Follow your intuition.

What does “Lead Up” mean to you?

Jessie: Lead Up means opportunity—the opportunity to share and empower women through the stories of others.

Tessa: An event point in your life, when you decide to lead by example and grow yourself by growing others.

Let’s start to travel better together!

› You can find Ametti's products and society on www.ametti.us › Follow @ametti.official on social media to know all their latest news. › A secret offer special for Lead up readers: 20% off your order use code at check out: LEADUPXAMETTI › Plus with every purchase get our safety kit to stay safe on your journey

Be a price leader

COVID-19 has affected people like nothing we have ever experienced in our lifetime. For most people, it will be one of the most significant events in their business history. As leaders, business owners and managers, it has impacted our lives and changed them forever.

While some businesses are struggling, other are thriving. People are trying new strategies and winning new clients. Others are trying to decide whether to keep their business going or close-up shop. These are heart-wrenching decisions. There is no time like the present to review your financial soundness and figure out your next steps.

One of the most impactful things your business can do is not only to pivot and try new things, but price your services and products correctly. Why now? Because if your price is not right, your business will not make a profit. If you do not make a profit, you will not have positive cash flow. If you do not have cash in the bank, you will have a tough time recovering from this crisis or any other.

This will not be the first or last time we face economic challenges as a nation. Are you ready to meet the next challenge? What lessons have you learned? Did you

have enough money set aside? Did you have a good working relationship with your banker? Could you produce monthly financial statements? Did your income tax returns show a profit?

Our businesses produce cash and profits based on the price we set for our products and services. If they are too low, we will never produce the cash and profits. Without the right amount of cash and profits, we will not have a sustainable business. We will not be able to bring value to our clients, because we will not be able to afford to do anything but produce the next sale.

Setting a price for your products is not just about cost and profit. It is your mindset about price, value and money. It is your mindset about your value—the value of your employees, the value you bring to your clients.

Typically, when businesses start, they price themselves too low because

By Debi Corrie

they are afraid to ask for the price they deserve. This is rooted in the things we were taught growing up. Many of us were taught that money and the rich are unscrupulous. That simply is not true. When you make money, you can help more people in your community, church or the world if you choose. You can become a leader. It is okay to make money and a profit. It is okay to support your causes, employees and draw a salary from your business. It is okay to be successful. Be a price leader.

So how do you determine if your price is correct?

First, as a business owner, you must know your business’ break-even point. That is where the profit for your business is zero. It tells you how much product or services you need to sell to cover your annual business costs. Annual business costs include the costs to make your product or services, wages and other monthly business costs, such as rent and utilities. The break-even point can quickly point out if the business must cover high fixed costs or product costs to make a profit. Every sale after the break-even point contributes to the profitability of the business.

Once you know your break-even point, you can take that information and determine price. Does the amount of sales you need to make a profit make sense, based on what your business has sold in the past? Will the amount of sales you need make a profit for the business? Do the business sales goals make sense? If not, it may be time to have a strategic price increase.

Let’s cover some concerns that most business owners have when they initiate a price increase.

No. 1 — I will lose customers

This typically only occurs when you have a major price adjustment to cover all the

years you did not initiate a price increase. A customer receiving a 3% to 4% price increase a year is less likely to leave if you are delivering value. When a major price increase is necessary, say 15% to 20%, your customers may shop elsewhere.

No. 2 — My competition is not raising their price

Talk to your customers about why the price increase is being initiated. Explain where the money is going. Maybe you are paying 20% more for our product because of tariffs. One of your major suppliers initiated a 5% increase. You are helping your customers with your account 20% more than your other customers. Take the time to call and explain that you value their business and explain the increase.

No. 3 — My business has always run on low price

It is time to get out of the low price game. What do you offer that no one else does? Do you cut product to order? Do you sell in unusual quantities? Do you take returns with no questions asked? These are all valuable services. Small businesses are profitable when they do not try to compete with big box stores. Sell your value not your price.

For companies that have multiple SKUs, big box customers or high selling products, you should develop a pricing strategy. Look at your high-selling, high-profit margin products and initiate a price increase. Customers are less likely to complain. They want and need the product. We have seen several businesses increase their prices during this pandemic. Meat prices have risen due to plant closures and restaurants are charging surcharges for COVID-19. Now is a great time to get your price right.

You may also want to consider lowering the price on low selling items to move the inventory and make room for more profitable items. Look at your sales and margins to determine what items should be increased.

Do not let fear keep you from doing the things that will make your business profitable. Imagine what a well thought out price strategy could do for your business. What could you do with the money from your business to make the world a better place?

Here are some other things I would recommend for a successful business:

› Get a bookkeeper. Your bookkeeper will help you produce monthly financial statements. Make sure you review your results every month. Sticking your head in the sand will not help you, your business or your employees. Know what is going on in your business financially and make corrections.

› Start working with a local banker that likes your type of

business. Not all bankers are created equal. Banks like different types of businesses and loans. Just because you received a rejection from one bank does not mean you will not be approved by another one. The bank may simply not like to finance your type of business. Find a banker that likes your business model. Bankers are like doctors. Find one that believes in you and will support your business.

› Start showing a profit on your tax returns and get a CPA to

prepare your taxes. A good CPA will help you with a tax strategy and help you save taxes. For many sole entrepreneurs, their tax return is the only document used by banks for determining credit worthiness for loans. A tax return without profit will not be financed by a bank. › Stop beating yourself up. Learn your lessons and move on. We are all only human. We learn best when we fail. Dust yourself off and Lead Up.

Want to learn more about setting prices and how they influence your cash, visit my website at www.debicorriecfo.com.