PREmIERE ISSUE
Summer 2012
BEHIND EVERY SUCCESSFUL WOMAN IS A DREAM... LIVE YOURS.
V O L U M E 1 | NO 1
America’s #1 Small Business Lender Businesses have always had a big impact on our country’s
growth. Wells Fargo believes in the potential that can come from one person’s dream. As America’s #1 small business lender1 and the largest SBA lender2, we’re providing financial resources to help you pursue your passion. Because at Wells Fargo, we mean business. For over 159 years, we’ve been dedicated to helping businesses succeed. Stop by your local Wells Fargo store or call 1-800-35-WELLS to find out how we can help. Or for free financial information, visit our Business Insight Resource Center at wellsfargobusinessinsights.com.
2009 Community Reinvestment Act government data. 2010 Small Business Administration federal fiscal year-end data, in dollar volume. © 2012 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. (705394_04044) 1
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TABLE OF cONTENTS
06
editor's letter
market PageS
09 10 11
market Page [Fashion]
15 16 17 18 19
market Page [Office]
08
meet the ltd team
12 13
market Page [Beauty]
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TABLE OF cONTENTS
20
Dream CatCHer tamara Honey
32
eXPert aDVICe
54
reSOUrCeS
60
SeemIngly ranDOm rosalind Oliver
62 42 48
Dream CatCHer Carley knobloch
4
SOCIal entrePreneUrSHIP girls who give a damn
SeemIngly ranDOm nada Jones
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BIZlIt Heather allard
products and resources to share and advice to educate you as you create your own visions of what could be.
Thirteen years ago, I sat in my Brooklyn loft dreaming of the day I would publish my own magazine. I remember staring silently at the 20-foot white column that stood in my living room, imagining what could be. As with many things in life, the journey took a little bit (well, a lot) longer and the route was much more circuitous than I anticipated in those moments so long ago. Today, I find myself writing my very first Editor’s Letter from my home in Pasadena, California. I’ve traded the giant white column for a mahogany and w h i t e s t a i r c a s e w h e r e t h e h a r m o n y, a n d sometimes cacophony, of three children travels down each step and wanders into my office. What began as a dream has been realized through the hard work and dedication of so many; I am filled with gratitude for each staff member who has made it their own labor of love. Bit by bit over the past few months, we gathered stories to inspire,
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The mission of ltdMAG is to connect women to the best entrepreneurial resources, experts and tools so they can launch and grow their businesses, and to inspire them along the way. With each new issue of ltdMAG we will help you navigate the starting-up and managing of your venture and your life. In addition to the advice from vetted experts and business tips, we have peppered our pages with fabulous products specifically designed for the entrepreneurial lifestyle. From what to wear to your next meeting to the best tech-tools and apps for keeping your busy life running efficiently--we’ve got you covered. We are fortunate to be living in a time where content can translate into solutions and an Editor’s curated selections can become one-click shopping. Because of this, and so much more, ltdMAG has fully embraced the online platform. Look, we know you’re busy tending to a list of 101 things to do (and that’s all before your noon conference call), so we’ve created ltdMAG in an easy-to-read format that you can enjoy cover to cover in less than 15 minutes. It is with a joyful heart that I offer you the premier issue of ltdMAG. I am immensely thankful for each person who has shared their expertise, stories and success so that you, the reader, can begin to imagine and realize your own dreams. To your dreams!
www.ltd365.com
TEAM NADA JONES Founder & Editor in Chief
editorial
sales & marketing
KRISTEN GARA
KARIE REYNOLDS
Senior Art Director
Executive Director of Marketing
SARAH LUERY Market Editor
NOELLE HALE JILL NIEPORTE Copy Editors ......................................
contributors HEATHER ALLARD ROSALIND OLIVER ......................................
web
JANE REGISTER Marketing Coordinator ......................................
photographers Taylor Peden & Jen Munkvold Cover Image
Teri Lyn Fisher Kim Grisco Laura Grier Trever Hoehne Ally & David Garvin
AMELIE WALKER Web Designer
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www.ltd365.com
bag
market [ f a s h i o n ]
it
1. Jimmy choo 'Tyler' leather ipad case $294.90, nordstrom.com 2. rebecca Minkoff M.a.c. ipad case $198.00, neimanmarcus.com 3. Marc by Marc Jacobs dreamy logo Tablet/ipad Book $98.00, shopbop.com 4. Kate spade live colorfully ipad sleeve $50.00, katespade.com 5. Juicy couture sequin ipad case $69.99, juicycouture.com 6. proenza schouler ipad case $685.00, barneys.com 7. rebecca Minkoff pyramid studd ipad case $68.00, nordstrom.com
Laptop covers come in a variety of personalities; one for every passionate ‘preneur out there!
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market [ f a s h i o n ]
S RU
T I c Splash
alice + olivia $395
swell caroline $58
swell caroline
GRAPEFRUIT
$25
Kate spade $128
J. crew l'agence
$125
$260
Ben-amun $170
TANGERINE
Michael Kors $348
cutler and gross $500
aubin & Wills Ĺ 145
LEMON Ben-amun $270
LIME dara ettinger $120
Kate spade $195
Zara
$49.90
storm of london $140.00
r&em $95
market [ b e a u t y ]
HUES Of SUmmER 1
2
5
4
8
6 7
HUes oF sUMMer: {Top roW} 1. nars nail polish, schiap-Vibrant pink, $18, sephora 2. Bare escentuals bareMinerals Hello sunshine, $36, amazon 3. lipfusion Micro Injected collagen™ lip plump, Boca Babe, $38, Beauty collection 4. essie nail enamel, capri, $8, Beauty collection 5. nars lipstick, schiap-semi Matte shocking pink, $24, sephora BeaUTY on THe go: {BoTToM roW} 10. comodynes self Tanning Wipes singles, 8 pack, $17, Beauty collection 9. sephora Mini clear Brush set, $6.00, amazon 8. Klorane oatmilk gentle dry shampoo (non aerosol), $18, Beauty collection 7. somme Institute Mobile Travel Kit, $85, amazon 6. Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up stick, $23, Bobbi Brown cosmetics
6
7 8
b e a u t y 5
o n
t h e
g o 1
4 2
HUes oF sUMMer: {Top roW} 6. Joe Fresh cream Blush, Melon, $8, Joe Fresh 7. nars soft Touch shadow pencil, goddess-glistening pink champagne, $24, sephora 8. laura Mercier second skin cheek colour, lotus pink-Warm neutral pink $24, sephora 9. stila convertible lip & cheek color, $25, Beauty collection 10. Joe Fresh lip Tint, Mango, $6, Joe Fresh BeaUTY on THe go: {BoTToM roW} 5. duo Bronzer Highlighter, $29, Become Beauty 4. Moroccanoil Treatment, Beauty collection 3. sephora collection Matte Blotting papers, lavender $8, sephora 2. rubis no.7 colani slanted Tweezer, Yellow, $42, Beauty collection 1. Vitamin e Face Mist, $16, The Body shop
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market [o f f i c e ]
plan
on it Inspire, $38
Be Bold, $38
Zig Zag, $38
Kaleidoscope, $38
Trellis, $38
Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “Plans are nothing; planning is everything.� It has been my experience that the day-to-day planning, the constant movement towards something, seems to ultimately build the thing we plan and not the other way around. Designs by erincondren.com
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market [ o f f i c e ]
Louis Ghost Armchair by Philippe Starck $410, Design Within Reach
+ Crane Fog Desk Lamp $39.95, CB2
+ Grey Damascus Inlay Mirror $545, Serena & Lily
+ Ikat Links Rug
$129 - $349, West Elm
+ Parsons Metal Desk $499, West Elm
=
M ODERN E THNIC
Halo Chandelier $298, Anthropologie
+ Safavieh Natural Fiber Area Rug $1,264, Sears
+ Industrial Iron Swivel Stool $179, Wisteria
+ Hendrix Desk
$1,499, Crate&Barrel
+ Collapsible Iron Organizer $49, Wisteria
=
I NDUSTRIAL E CO
Tubular Burst Objet $373, Dwell Studio
+ Essence No. 17 By Richard Buckley $4,900, Koo De Monde
+ Cowhide Natural XL Rug $599, Room&Board
+ Boutique Black Faux Shagreen Desk $432.91, Lamps Plus
+ Frilly
$310, Hive Modern
=
S TARK G LAM
Black and Bone Side Chair
$1,250, The Well Appointed House
+ Clementine Mayan Cotton Dhurrie
$195 - $795, Serena & Lily
+ Baby Bamileke Feather Juju Hat $399, Table Tonic
+ Phoenix Work Table $1,499, Crate&Barrel
+ Egyptian Arabesque Lamp $495, L'aviva Home
=
T RIBAL C OLOR
Business Cards • Letterhead • Logos • Programs I’m Living The Dream by doing what I’ve loved ever since I was in knee socks—being creative. As a graphic designer, my favorite thing to do is work hand in hand with my clients, helping to bring their unique visions to life.
It’s not a job, it’s a joy. threeknocksdesign.com
market [ o f f i c e ]
CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH gold desk accessories 3
1 2 4
5
6
7
1. Angen채m, $24.99, IKEA 2. Signed Curtis Jere Brass Pedestal Column, $750, 1stdibs 3. Gold Incipio iPhone 4 & 4S Feather Ultralight Hard Shell Case, $24.99, Incipio 4. Gold Wishbone, $49, Zhush 5. Golden Skull, $98, Apartment48 6. Waylande Gregory Blue and Gold Greek Key Tray, $150, Zhush 7. Colored Pencils and Brass Holder Set, $72, Zhush 8. RabLabs Agate Trinket Box, $168,Zhush
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Tamara
honey
T
amara Kaye-Honey left her native Canada
Contemporary Furniture Fair in NYC. She was
for New York City in 1996 to attend the Fashion
recently named one of L.A.'s hottest interior
Institute of Technology. After graduating, she
designers by Angeleno Magazine and her projects
was hired as a clothing buyer for Bergdorf
have been featured in California Home + Design
Goodman. In 2003, she moved to Los Angeles
Magazine, the L.A. Times, Traditional Home
with her husband and one-year-old daughter,
Magazine, Rue, Canadian House & Home and
and so began her foray into interior design.
Chatelaine Magazine. House of Honey now sells vintage and reinvented furniture through the world-
We were lucky enough to have worked with Mrs.
renowned marketplace 1stdibs.com. Additionally,
Kaye-Honey when she agreed to design our stage
she will be selling one-of-a-kind decorative pieces
for ltdLIVE, our LA conference for entrepreneurial
on One Kings Lane marketplace. Tamara has
women. Tamara brought her A- game and the
just been named one of TRADhome's top 10
stage alone inspired our attendees. As with all
new interior designers for 2012 and she will
that Tamara touches, she seems to have a knack
be participating in this summer’s Hampton
for fusing the past with the present and doing so
Designer Showhouse.
with her distinct flair. It is clear from seeing her work that this artist is inspired by architecture from every era and isn’t afraid to re-work and reinvent pieces to create a space that is fresh and playful while retaining a timeless quality. In 2010 she opened House of Honey, a home decor shop and design studio, as an ode to her signature style: "The New Vintage". Her artful mix of old and new has been attracting international media attention and last year she designed a line of nursery furniture for Nurseryworks that was a huge success at the 2011 International
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www.ltd365.com
23
A
24
nd I found that when I built my own place and just shut the door, the creativity was endless. ~ Billy Sherwood
25
hat are
things everyone can do to update their workspace?
Taking advantage of our time with this celebrated designer, we asked Tamara a few questions we thought you might want to know. What are
the 3 things everyone can do to update their workspace?
1) Paint always! It's an easy way to change the
feel of a space completely; pick a feature wall for less of a commitment. Go dark and dramatic -it’s soothing and more conducive to office work.
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2) Buy a cool piece of art. Its not about the budget,
its about how it makes a person feel. Starting an art collection is both a good investment and great for the soul!
) Groovy music and a scented candle. Pandora
and an iPod are perfect for setting a mood and invites everyone that comes into your space to feel happy. And a nice scent does wonders for office morale!
www.ltd365.com
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Give us the scoop. Where do you go for thrifty office furnishings?
My 7- and 10-year-old love to merchandise House of Honey and shop with me. It makes them feel more involved in my life and empowers them.
Both a home of fice and commercial space
Teaching confidence at a young age is very
should be an extension of the business owner’s
important to me. I want my children to have the
style and showcase that intimacy and personality.
determination to try and achieve their goals .
Without unique touches and layers the space will be uninspiring and uninviting; certainly not productive for any work.
2) It sounds silly but sitting and having meals with your kids. Whether it’s in the morning, at night or just on weekends. That family time is crucial to me.
I shop for office furniture and accessories in the same places I shop for any residential projects.
) Striking the balance, of course, and
trying to
Flea markets, antique shops and estate sales are
be present; I try to make the important meetings
great places to pick up one-of-a-kind treasures.
and events and decide what has to give. We
Don’t be afraid to reinvent and update with a
CANNOT do it all!
coat of paint or a new fabric.
When a fellow mom asks you “how DO you do it?” what’s your advice?
Why did you become an entrepreneur? There is nothing better than being my own boss. It allows me to oversee my vision and gives me
1) Involve your kids in your business.
the freedom to work my own schedule and see my kids when I want. It is very freeing, especially when you are able to make a living at what you love. Generally speaking, if you are passionate about something, you will succeed at it.
What does living the dream mean to you? Waking up every day excited about what lies ahead. I like to set the bar pretty high and give myself some pretty eager challenges and goals but ones that are attainable. It allows me to keep creating and growing and to push my own limits.
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e were lucky enough to have TAMARA design our stage for ltdLIVE, our LA conference for entrepreneurial women.
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{ tips from the experts }
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www.ltd365.com
Marley
Make your time count.
holly
Create your work space.
elizabeth
Hire a Virtual Assistant.
britT
Thrive in business & life.
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EXPERT ADVICE
10 TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR TIME COUNT Determine what's important in the first place. Spending time with your kids? Husband? Work goals? Next - write it down. You won't hit a target you can't see. This goes for time management and life. Create a time estimate. If one of your goals is to make 50 sales calls per week, estimate how many hours that will take. Put a time estimate next to each goal so you can determine how to allocate best. Rank your goals by A's, B's and C's. A's would be your top priorities. Next to each of your goals (which now have time estimates), list a letter. That way if you get down to the wire, you know you're accomplishing the most important things before you do the less important stuff that only scored a C. Plan ahead. It is very difficult to manage your time once you're already in the vortex. Plan for the week ahead before you're sitting in your first Monday morning meeting and already feeling behind the 8 ball. Nail your top 6. Do nothing on your to do list or respond to anything until you've managed those 6 most important tasks. If the day totally gets away from you, you've at least dealt with the most vital. Tame the email octopus. Vow to check your email 2 or 3 times a day, MAX, and only when you have time to stop and respond. Which brings us to the next point... Only touch it once. We've heard that one before, but it's so true. Sort the mail in front of the trash can and respond to an email, file it or delete it. Going back and forth is what kills you. Batch your tasks. Things improve greatly when you do similar things at the same time. For example, take two hours to devote to business development vs. making one sales call, then stopping to answer a few emails, then making another sales call. You'll never be able to take advantage of getting into a groove wasting time re-ramping up. Track your time, and not in your head. You must write down how you spend your time for a minimum of one week. There are some great apps, or you can just use Excel or good old paper and pencil. Regardless, write it down. You need to have that macro perspective in order to course correct.
marley majcher { BIo} Marley Majcher is the CEO of The Party Goddess!, a nationally acclaimed full-service event planning and catering company, and author of But Are You Making Any Money?, a witty and lauded business guide for entrepreneurs. Heralded as a must-read for any entrepreneur, But Are You Making Any Money?, simplifies the complicated aspects of running a lucrative business. Majcher’s profit technique and conversational style is what Forbes Magazine says “makes you want to keep reading more.” Majcher’s keen eye for chic trends and clever business techniques has made her a coveted speaker across the globe, on subjects from small business and entrepreneurship to all aspects of entertaining.
MARLEY 1. My office would not be complete without . . . "My peel and stick chalkboards where I write all of my goals."
2. I always outsource . . . "Bookkeeping. YUCK!"
3. Living the dream means . . . "Having a life free of "have-to's."
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EXPERT ADVICE
10 TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR WORK SPACE CREATE A PLAN. Resist the urge to wander store aisles filling your cart with anything that looks pretty or promises to organize. Take notes and pictures then reflect on things like available space, daily routine, the natural light in your workspace and storage needs. INVEST IN A DESK. You must have a good desk, shelving and a chair. CONSIDER YOUR HABITS. Are you a stacker, a sorter or visually-minded? Stackers should use letter trays, the visually-minded should use cork or message boards and sorters can use file boxes with hanging files. Once you figure out what will work best for you then invest in these basic items. DECIDE ON A COLOR SCHEME. Scientific studies now prove what Feng-Shui experts have known for hundreds of years; color affects your mood and your mood affects your work. Decide on your main color scheme. Your biggest purchases should fit this scheme. TAKE A CUE FROM YOUR KITCHEN PANTRY. Decide where to store items by the frequency with which you access them. Supplies used daily should be on or near your desk; those used weekly or monthly can be on a bookshelf or in a closet. Anything being kept for archive purposes should be in permanent storage far away from your work area. GROUP LIKE ITEMS. Whether you have a storage cabinet or use open shelving, you should invest in storage boxes or bins. Grouping like items together makes it easier to find what you are looking for and eliminates visual clutter. KEEP MEMENTOS AND KNICK-KNACKS TO A MINIMUM. With the exception of fresh flowers and a few pictures of family, if it doesn’t serve a purpose, remove it from your desk. ELIMINATE CORD CLUTTER. Go wireless whenever possible. Consider the location of outlets and jacks when planning your office layout. If you can afford it, reroute electrical outlets or network jacks to accommodate your plan. If you’re on a budget, simple cable ties can make a big impact. Just make sure you label the cords before wrapping them. TIDY-UP TUESDAY. It doesn’t have to be Tuesday, but you should take 20 minutes each week to straighten up your office. If everything has a place, it shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes to put everything back in its place. DON'T OVERDO IT ON OFFICE SUPPLIES. There’s a good chance you will never need 2000 push pins – if you won’t use them in your lifetime it’s not a savings. Buy what you’ll use and your office will be easier to keep clean.
holly bohn { BIo}
Holly Bohn is a recognized entrepreneur and expert in trends for work space
organization and supplies. Bohn launched See Jane Work after she became discouraged by the challenge of finding great-looking office supplies and desk accessories for the offices of her consulting business. Seejanework.com offers women an assortment of stylish and functional office products, while providing tips on how to get and stay organized. Bohn and See Jane Work have received widespread media attention from over 300 major publications including The Wall Street Journal, O Magazine, The New York Times, Real Simple, InStyle, People and many more. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with her husband and her three boys.
holly 1. My office would not be complete without . . . "A Project Organizer"
2. I always outsource . . . "Running Errands"
3. Living the dream means . . . "Laughing often. If I’m not laughing loudly and frequently I need to make some changes in my life."
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EXPERT ADVICE
10 TIPS FOR HIRING A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT Scheduling: You have no idea how much of a time suck scheduling is until you stop doing it yourself. You are the founder and CEO of your company. Act like it. It is time to have someone else answer your phone and schedule your lunch dates. Email Support: You need someone to handle all those inquiries sent to info@yourcompany.com. Emails about a broken link on your website and the PDF that just won’t open should not be your concern anymore. Email Newsletter Distribution: Although there are programs like Constant Contact that make it easy for business owners to send out their own newsletter, you still shouldn’t be doing it. Hire someone to make a professional and sophisticated newsletter template and have your virtual assistant drop in the content each week and send it out. Your only task is to write! Managing Email Autoresponder Campaigns: Chances are you have an opt-in form on your website to collect contact information from potential clients that visit your website (if you do not, you need to). How are you staying in touch with them after they sign up? Your virtual assistant can help you implement an autoresponder strategy that makes sense for your business. Article Marketing/Submission: If you have ever done this on your own, you know exactly why you shouldn’t be doing it yourself. Although simple to do, article submission is extremely tedious and timeconsuming. A monkey could do it, and if a monkey can do it, you should not be. Posting To Your Blog: If you have a user-friendly platform like WordPress, you have probably posted an article or two to your blog on your own. Now let’s be honest. How many of you have spent over 30 minutes searching for the perfect image, only to spend 30 more minutes trying to get it to align to the right? This is 60 minutes of wasted time. Social Media Updates: This one requires a little teamwork. As the face of your brand you should be personally tweeting and posting to Facebook; however, there is room for delegation. Your favorite quote, a hilarious YouTube video and the mobile upload of the three-pound burger you are about to consume need to come directly from you. Tweets and Facebook posts promoting your next teleseminar and blog post can easily come from your virtual assistant. Research: Do you want to speak at more events this year? Fantastic. Have your virtual assistant research speaking opportunities in your area. Teleseminar & Webinar Management: This is a big one! Hiring a virtual assistant to set-up your teleseminar/webinar account, test the service, email your list, promote on Facebook, listen-in live to make sure you are not just talking to your cat, is a must. Product Launches: Virtual assistants are great for formatting, proofing and selecting images used in the materials for your product. They can also serve as a customer service representative (with a company email address) to answer any questions or inquires about the product, so you don’t have to.
ELIZABETH HARDIG { BIo}
Elizabeth Hardig, founder of Virtual Visibility Inc., is a WordPress website developer and a Certified eCommerce Virtual Assistant Specialist. She supports small business owners in growing their online presence to help them reach a higher level of success. Her clients have been known to call her "an online business manager, tech wizardess, marketing maven and team collaborator all rolled into one." Elizabeth currently resides in Chicago where she spends her spare time participating in Bikram yoga classes and planning her upcoming southern wedding. To find out more information on Elizabeth Hardig and Virtual Visibility Inc.’s services, please visit www.virtualvisibilityinc.com
ELIZABETH 1. My office would not be complete without . . . "A clean and organized desk, an additional computer monitor, and, of course, a Voluspa candle."
2. I always outsource . . . "The time consuming tasks that will stunt the growth of business if not delegated. I also make sure I outsource the projects someone else can do better."
3. Living the dream means . . . "Truly loving the work that you do and maintaining a healthy, present life outside of it."
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EXPERT ADVICE
10 TIPS FOR A THRIVING BUSINESS & LIFE Make sure that your business involves something you are passionate about. If it doesn’t, either shift your business model or add another revenue stream that involves something you are passionate about. Consider how you can build passive income into your revenue stream. Generating revenue while you sleep is an important key to success. Build a healthy support network. If you don’t have at least 3 to 5 people who you can turn to for advice, guidance or emotional support in business and in life, you will most likely end up feeling overwhelmed, discontent and alone. Build making contact with these supporters into your regular schedule. Design tailored systems to help manage business and family with maximum efficiency and intention. Create organized daily, weekly and monthly routines and you will feel more confident and less stressed. Social media is one of a business owner’s greatest tools when used strategically. Create a cohesive, results-based social media plan by starting with a list of your top 5-10 core values. This values list will help you craft an editorial calendar and these values will be the foundation of your brand message. Clearly outline your ultimate goal for your social media efforts and make sure that any social media platform – Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc. - that you participate in is moving you towards your end goal. If your goal is to increase sales, your social media efforts should drive traffic to some sort of call to action, such as setting up a complimentary consultation. Create a social media calendar to help you stay on track. Start by listing topics or themes for 12 months that are common concerns or pain points of your core audience. Once you have these themes, break them down into 4-5 sub-themes. Enter your monthly and weekly themes into a calendar application, then create a daily action plan utilizing your themes. Daily activities might include sending out 3-5 tips on Twitter, posting conversations on your Facebook page, pinning images to a board on Pinterest with the name of your monthly theme and posting a video on YouTube that addresses a common concern of your audience. Consistency is important in Social Media. Utilize an app like Hoot Suite to schedule tips and quotes. If you find yourself stressed or falling behind on obligations, take a step back and assess your goal for social networking. Success in social networking follows the same principles as offline networking: Be Helpful, Be Curious, Be Consistently Available, Be Respectful, Be Generous, Be Humble, Have Fun! “How to Win Friends & Influence People” by Dale Carnegie is an excellent manual for evaluating the effectiveness of the time you’re spending on networking.
BRITT Michaelian { BIo}
Britt Michaelian is a Social Media Community Producer, Radio Host, Entrepreneur
and Mom who loves to help you succeed in business & life. Founder of Work Smart Lifestyle, CoFounder of Social Media Girlfriends and Social Media Producer for Friends of Ricki Lake, the first social television community, and part of the new Ricki Lake Show.
BRITT 1. My office would not be complete without . . . "My husband! We work directly across from one another and he provides excellent inspiration and advice when I need a pep talk!"
2. I always outsource . . . "My website design and graphics. Even though I am an artist, I just love giving ideas to designers and seeing the magic that they create."
3. Living the dream means . . . "Being able to pursue passions but most importantly having enough time to spend with my family."
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SOCIal EntrePreneUrSHIP
GIRLS WHO
GIVE A
DAmN 42
31 Bits is a socially minded business that uses fashion and design to empower women to rise above poverty. They believe that business is one of the most powerful and sustainable
approaches to turning scarcity into abundance, and eventually, alleviating poverty completely, and we happen to think they 're right.
"WE BELIEVE BUSINESS IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL AND SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES TO ALLEVIATING POVERTY." - JESSIE SIMONSEN
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How it all started . . . In the summer of 2007, Kallie Dovel traveled to
actions to take place that will counter poverty,
Africa, getting a first-hand look at life in Gulu,
offer hope, and establish sustainability.� She came
Northern Uganda. While she was there, she met
back to the U.S. armed with a box of jewelry,
women making incredible jewelry from recycled
and spent the next year finishing her degree and
paper. After spending time with the women and
dreaming about the possibilities of a development
hearing their stories, Kallie knew there had to be a
organization. She brought a few friends on
way to give her new friends opportunities for a better
board and her ideas quickly evolved into 31 Bits.
life. Jessie Simonsen, Director of Sales, says, “Gulu
The girls (Kallie, Jessie, Alli, Anna and Brooke)
is filled with astounding high spirits and energy,
traveled back to Uganda in August 2008,
but the lack of opportunity has diminished many
selecting six women to begin buying jewelry from
people’s hope for prosperity. As their deprivation
monthly. Kallie stayed in Uganda, while the rest
of sustenance, oppor tunity, and optimism
of the girls headed back to the U.S. and began
continues, there is a growing need for effective
sharing stories and developing the business.
The model of development they adopted relies on a holistic approach, caring for every part of a person’s life: education, health, faith, financial independence, and the capacity to dream. “All play a part in an individual’s journey to rise above poverty,” says Jessie Simonsen.
MONTHLY INCOME YOU YOUR PURCHASE
UGANDAN BENEFICIARY PROGRAMS
Each woman at 31 Bits makes a sustainable monthly income, enabling her to provide for her family; but this program goes far beyond a paycheck. Bits provides financial training that teaches women how to set financial goals, save money, use • a31bank account, and take out and pay back a loan. They are also given a bike loan so they can put their lessons into practice and have efficient means of transportation. lessons are provided for every woman in the program, giving each of them the opportunity • toEnglish further her education. Each woman is part of a community group, has access to an on-site counselor, and attends monthly • fellowship meetings, ensuring she is cared for on a personal and spiritual level. Health education courses educate each woman on how to take care of herself and her children, • with a specific emphasis on care for those who are HIV positive. 31 Bits has partnered with TASO to provide each woman with HIV/AIDS testing and medicine. There is also a business training program that equips each woman with the necessary tools for • starting a business: identifying skills and assets, writing a business plan, saving money for a future business endeavor, and meeting with a business mentor. After four to five years in the 31 Bits program, a woman will graduate with confidence, a voice, a career, and a future.
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Simonsen says, "Our business is centered on two main components, the consumer and the creator." The main focus of 31 Bits is to give consumers the opportunity to support these amazing creators (the women in Uganda) by offering quality, fashion-forward beaded accessories. Each bead that is used to construct the jewelry is made out of recycled paper that comes primarily from old posters, fliers and textbooks. The beads are then sealed with non-toxic, water-based varnish. As is not always the case with social ventures, the dedication to great design and targeted marketing is a refreshing twist on bringing together meaningful work and creating a quality product. Each month, jewelr y is purchased from the individual women in Uganda providing them with an immediate, consistent and fair income.
By selling these products in the international market, they are able to generate revenue allowing them to fund both the U.S. operations as well as the development programming in Uganda. This revenue is used to continue purchasing jewelry from the artisans, as well as provide them with holistic development programs, equipping them to develop individual careers and attain social equity. 31 Bits is committed to working with each woman until she has graduated from our program and attained a sustainable means of income within her own community. So what’s with the name? The “31” comes from Proverbs 31. The passage describes a diligent woman providing and caring for her family. The "bits" comes from what the beads are made out of…bits of paper!
Currently 31 Bits is working with 108 women in Gulu, Uganda.
Good work! Wouldn’t you say?
Dream CatCHer
CARLEY KNOBLOCH carley Knobloch has spent the past five years helping women leverage technology to get organized and feel more in control of their busy lives...
www.ltd365.com
WHO SHE IS Carley Knobloch has spent the past five years helping
us. "Finding space, to me, means hitting a Friday
women leverage technology to get organized
night yoga class, or taking an hour to go to the
and feel more in control of their busy lives; first
farmer’s market on Sunday morning. Anything
as a life coach working with moms and now as the
that gets me out of my own head and inspires
founder and host of Digitwirl. A self-described
me is so restorative. I also have pretty much cut
tech geek, Carley has always relied on technology
out any breakfast or lunch meetings… I find they
to bring calm to her chaotic life. In January 2011,
take two hours no matter how you slice it, and
she launched her weekly web show, Digitwirl, to
I’m so much more focused and productive with-
arm women with the tech tools they need to lead
out them." Carley shared that she eat more raw
simpler, more organized lives. Each “twirl” aims
foods and less sugar and processed junk, it helps
to make tech easy to understand and includes
her spring out of bed, think more clearly, and
instructions to help women get started. Carley
have more energy for her kids at the end of the
resides in Los Angeles with her husband, two
day. "Wish that one was easier for me — I tend to
children and dog, Jenny.
favor pizza over kale" says Knobloch.
WHAT SHE DOES
We asked Mrs. Knobloch about other projects on
Prior to having children and founding her coaching
her horizon and she let us in on a little secret. She
business, Mothercraft, Carley worked in digital
is about to embark on a large-scale project, outside
Hollywood building some of the first-ever film
of Digitwirl, and shared her thoughts on taking on
and television websites for clients like Sony Pictures,
this new endeavor. "I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t
Warner Bros., and Fox. Digitwirl is the culmination
terrified about how I’ll take it on, or be a good mom
of all of Carley’s expertise and enthusiasms,
and wife, keep the groceries in the fridge and still
bringing together her love of all things tech, her
find time for myself. I don’t think you can do all
passion for problem-solving, and her knack for
that without some serious support, either at work
curating the best resources for her audience.
or home (or both), and I think too many women
Through Digitwirl, Carley leverages her experience
put too much pressure on themselves to 'handle it
to bring women the information they need presented
all,' as if anyone can." Carley says she has always
in a way that resonates.
evangelized the importance of getting support,
HOW SHE DOES IT
whether from a co-worker, housekeeper, or an app that can help you deposit checks from your dining
We asked Carley how she creates space to manage
room table. "Technology can be just like a personal
work and life. Here's what the tech expert told
assistant… no paycheck required."
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Q: WHAT DID YOU GIVE UP TO PURSUE YOUR DREAM ? A: orderliness. Q: WHAT IS ONE THING YOU HOPE TO PASS ALONG TO YOUR cHILDREN? A: The drive to build something from nothing and the confidence to know that it’s possible. Q: WHAT DOES LIVING THE DREAM MEAN TO YOU? A: Every day is creative, challenging and exhausting.. and I want to do it all again tomorrow! Q: WHAT'S ON YOUR DESK RIGHT NOW? A: 1. Bobbi Brown Lip balm SPF 15 • 2. White iPhone 4S (AKA “my frontal lobe”) 3. Green Iced Tea • 4. Madewell Catalog • 5. A Samsung tablet I’m testing
5 1 2
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4
Click here for more Carley
Check out a few of Carley's recommended tech tools to help you get tasks accomplished while creating space for the good stuff in life.
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Thanks for the tips, Carley ! Check out a few of Carley's recommended tech tools to help you get tasks accomplished while creating space for all the good stuf f in life. 1) Alice.com: a grocery delivery service that buys straight from the manufacturer and automatically applies any discount coupons to your order, then delivers everything from shampoo to cereal right to your door for free! Oh, and Alice is like a personal shopper that will even send you a reminder when it's time to reorder your groceries. 2) Milo.com: a website that makes it easy to shop local. Simply go to Milo.com and search for the product you need in a store near you. While online shopping is the domain of bargain hunters and planners, Milo is the perfect solution for anyone willing to trade all that for convenience and instant gratification. 3) TaskRabbit: an affordable way to delegate all the tasks you'd rather not do. Post a job on their website and eager contenders will try to outbid each other for the job so you can get that Swedish furniture assembled or your work shirts ironed weekly for the absolute lowest price. Set up a recurring task, and a kindly neighbor looking to make a little extra cash might step up to help
you out for less than a few lattes. You can breathe easy knowing everyone has been pre-screened and thoroughly background-checked. And if you're looking to make a little extra cash yourself, becoming a rabbit is an easy way to find jobs that you'll enjoy doing. 4) Fast Customer: a brilliant app (available for iOS and Android) that lets you choose from a list of over 3,000 customer service numbers. Find the company you need to speak to, and request a callback with one button- then put your phone down and get on with your day. Fast Customer calls you back with a real live human on the line. 5) Karma: an app that lets you send gifts instantaneously via text message, email or Facebook. To get started, create an account that keeps your credit card on file, then start browsing. Items are organized by brand and occasion (Mother's Day, graduation, get well soon, etc.). If your recipient is on Facebook, Karma will recommend gifts based on their interests and upcoming events. After selecting a gift, Karma sends your recipient a notification via email or text. The giftee responds with their shipping address, which is never shared, and the present is mailed to them in a beautifullywrapped package that day.
53
ReSOUrCe
FAVORITE TEcH RESOURcES! We asked our staff to pick a few of their favorite apps and tech tools. Here's what the ladies said... App : Square for accepting credit cards. In this economy, I love getting paid when I deliver a product instead of waiting for a check in the mail. Tech Tool : otterbox iphone case. I've dropped it a dozen times. not a single scratch.
App: Facebook for the iPhone helps me keep up with loved ones while I’m sitting at a baseball game or waiting in line and it’s the only way my family gets to see pictures of my kids. Tech Tool : office 365. outlook has been a lifesaver. My email and calendar automatically sync from my laptop to my phone.
App: Pepperplate can import recipes from various websites, or enter your own, then select recipes and send all ingredients to a shopping list. It will also calculate half or double recipes, etc. you can plan menus and add meals to calendar.
App: Instagram instantly makes us the amazing photographers. It also allows me to catch a glimpse into the lives of my friends around the world and vice versa. Tech Tool: My love for Mint, is simply that it is easy and makes budgeting almost mindless. It does the work for me that I typically am too lazy or busy to do myself!
App: I've been doodling since I was a kid, so I loved Draw Something as soon as I found it. Tech Tool: There is not a day that goes by when I don't use Indesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. In fact, this magazine you're reading is hard proof.
App: CamScanner (For Android) Genius Scan (for iPhone). Scan documents with your phone to save and send as PDFs. Tech Tool: Drop Box. It's easy and free file sharing -- good for large files.
Tech Tool: I like iStyles to add personality to my cell phone, tablet and laptop.
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www.ltd365.com
Mother, daughter, wife, sister … friend. As a woman, you play many roles for the people who are most important to you and, by choice or circumstance, wealth manager may be in your repertoire. In fact, in one out of four U.S. households with a net worth of $1 million or more, a woman is calling the shots when it comes to investing and spending money.1 Since your wealth touches many lives in many ways, it’s vital to get advice from a reliable source. At Laura Norris, CFP Financial Planning Associate Associate Vice President Financial Advisor 301 N. Lake Avenue Pasadena, CA 91101 626-304-2457 laura.m.norris@mssb.com The Lake Avenue Group
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, you can expect to work with a Financial Advisor who invests time in understanding your specific situation and has the experience and resources needed to help you prepare for the future.
Phoenix High Net Worth Market Insights, August 2010 © 2012 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.
1
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RESOURCE
BIZLIT
By Heather Allard
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www.ltd365.com
Double Double This book is by Cameron Herold and the title comes from the book's mission - to help you double your business's size and profits in three years or less. Cameron lays out the simple (yes, simple) steps (planning, building and leadership) that'll help you achieve this but stresses that you will need one major thing for it to happen: focus. I really enjoyed this book because Cameron gives wonderful, entertaining examples of the many companies he's helped "double double" that made my head swirl with ideas. He also stresses the importance of creating a business that will help you live the kind of life YOU want to live. I especially loved his tips on work-life balance - he's a dad and he places a big emphasis on family time, walking his kids to school every day and being fully present when he's with them instead of checking email.
Hit the Deck Hit the Deck was written by David Ronick and takes a unique approach to writing a business plan. In this book, David walks you step-by-step through the process of creating a business plan "deck" instead of a "doc" by using presentation software like Powerpoint or Keynote to do it. This book is especially helpful for business owners who plan to pitch investors and advisors and it's loaded with sample business plans and pitches from successful entrepreneurs like Dany Levy and Liz Lange. David's book helped me create a killer business plan but admittedly, I had to get some tech support from my eleven-year-old daughter on the Powerpoint part of it.
The Fire Starter Sessions Written by Danielle LaPorte, The Fire Starter Sessions is rightfully called a "soulful and practical guide to creating success on your own terms".
Part workbook, part motivational magic, part permission slip to go after your dreams, this book really did light my fire. Though I have nearly ever y other page of this book dog-eared, I especially love the "Money Purpose" (where you figure out what your true purpose for money is) and the "Perfect Twelve" (where you dream about or envision what your ideal 12 hours would look like) sections because they helped me get a clear vision on why I'm in business for myself and a guide for money management and dream attainment.
The $100 Startup This book is written by Chris Guillebeau, a man I've been a fan of since my early days as an entrepreneur. I had the great fortune of meeting Chris back in 2009 and the even greater fortune of being included in this book. The $100 Startup aims to help readers do what they love and create a new future by reinventing the way they make a living. The book contains fifty case studies (including mine) from entrepreneurs who've built businesses that earn $50,000+ per year with a shoestring ($100 or less) budget - proof that it really can be done. In The $100 Startup, Chris states that "the money you have is all you need, the skills you already possess can be put to use helping others and earning a good income for yourself". I know that to be true because that's exactly how I built The Mogul Mom over the past five years. Heather Allard is the founder of The Mogul Mom and mom to Hope, Grace & Brendan and The Dude, her beloved dog. She’s on a mission to help mom entrepreneurs run a business, raise a family and rock both. Follow her on Twitter for bite-sized blips of daily life as a mogul mom.
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seemingly random
Every night around two a.m., Jasper nervously click-clacks into our room
and puffs his dog food breath in my face until he’s certain I’m awake.
I
have a neurotic dog named Jasper. Every night around two a.m., Jasper nervously click-clacks into our room and puffs his dog food breath in my face until he’s certain I’m awake. I dutifully scratch him behind the ear in an “everything’s gonna be okay” sort of way which usually does the trick. He then curls himself up into a ball and passes out in a blissful heap on the bedroom floor. Sometimes, as an aspiring writer, the pursuit of a creative life makes me feel like Jasper. Is my writing really okay? Who are these strange characters talking to me in my dreams and in the shower? Is it normal to be transcribing all this information sent to me from strange cracks in the universe? It would be so comforting for a voice to tell me I’m on the right path, scratch that itch and send me back to sleep. Before I start sounding too whiny, I should point out that I have an incredibly supportive husband, great kids and writing buddies who cheer me on and all the while supplying jokes, snacks and ideas for the journey; but anyone who travels the solitary road of creative endeavors will tell you there are many moments of failure, questioning and navel-gazing along the way. Unlike many other pursuits, with writing there’s not a lot of scaffolding to rely upon. If I wanted to run a 5K, I’d get a great pair of running shoes, some new shorts, maybe even a watch with a cool GPS function. I’d then go online and find a good training schedule - one that told me how far to run and on which days in order to reach my goal. But when you set out to write, to create, there’s no formula. It’s just you and the white page or, more accurately, the glowing empty screen.
Anna Quindlen says, “Books are the plane, the train and the road. They are the destination and the journey. They are home.” As a reader, every cell in my body knows this to be true, but as a writer, how can I be sure that I’m building something real, something substantial, something worth traveling for? Without feedback that can be measured in publishing deals and big advances, how can I be certain that I’m thriving as a writer? Looking to pioneers who have blazed the trail ahead of me helps. One of my favorite writers is Annie Lamott. Her students often ask her, “So why does writing matter, again?” To this she answers, “Because of the spirit. Because of the heart. Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul. When writers make us shake our heads with the exactness of their prose and their truths, and even make us laugh about ourselves or life, our buoyancy is restored. We are given a shot at dancing with, or at least clapping with, the absurdity of life, instead of being squashed by it over and over again.” Thanks Annie, that scratched my itch, I can curl up and go back to sleep now, reassured and ready to thrive tomorrow.
Rosalind Oliver, aspiring writer, attorney and mom to three busy, wonderful boys, Will, Bo and Finn and a dog called Jasper. Her purse is filled with granola bar wrappers and Vons receipts covered in bits of story, memory and an occasional regret. And at the very bottom, under a dirty sock, is her ongoing effort to remember to give thanks.
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seemingly random
Thank you to the extraordinary individuals who have poured themselves into this magazine. I am eternally grateful for your commitment to creativity and your impeccable work-you are remarkable! Thank you to the advertisers who have invested in this vision of ltdMAG. I appreciate your trust in the unknown. It's because of your support that we are here today. And to each of our readers, thank you for choosing to spend some time with us. We are thrilled to know you are investing in your own dreams and look forward to being there for you every step of the way. xo-Nada
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Thanks for coming. See you in September! Until then, let's keep in touch...
Photo Credit: Reasonstobreathe.tumblr.com