From in the red to RED HOT! Business tips from successful businesswomen

Bella asked some of the area’s leading businesswomen for their best advice for professional women. Whether growing an entrepreneurial venture or climbing the corporate ladder, every woman can benefit from the wisdom and experience of other successful women. Here are some tips for taking your career or business from “in the red” to “RED HOT!”

By Magi Thomley Williams

“Trust yourself. If your passion aligns with your profession, you won’t fail.”

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“Always build and maintain relationships! They will help you through the ups and downs of your career or business venture.”

— Kara Luckett, graphic designer and owner, BCreative Designs

“Keep good relationships. Be encouraging to other small business owners. Help them when you can.”

— Jennifer Lowry, owner, Conchitas Personal Chef and Catering

“Be willing to lose money in order to make money, but never take your eyes off your cash flow. Keep up with your books on a monthly basis, which will give you the ability to track income and expenses as well as develop the forecasting strategies your business needs in order to be profitable and successful.”

— DJ Boulangger, financial controller, Sigma Accounting & Consulting

“Always have your ‘why’ in front of you and that will help push you through the red into your red-hot breakthrough. Keeping in mind your ‘why’ has to be bigger than money because when the money is not there you have to have a reason to keep going and be consistent. My ‘why’ for helping women live to their fullest potential helped me go through the red-to-red-hot. And now I’m leading a very successful women’s empowerment company!”

“The secret to small business success is to plan everyone’s succession, including your own. Your entry level employees should see a clear path to the leadership level. Employees should be able to write a manual of their job description with illustrations and checklists to teach their replacement before promoting to the next level. Cross training is so important. Hire professionals to help you with your business. My expertise is title, so I have hired a great CPA, a great lawyer and a great janitorial service. They do what they know, which allows me to spend more time doing what I know.”

— Mia Bolden,

empowerment business coach

— Vicki Haynes Campbell, Florida production manager at First National Title Insurance Company, and District 1 board member at Emerald Coast Utilities Authority