Vol I, Issue 5
March/April 2012
All About Business How Does Your Blogging Grow
All About Success Spotlight on Suzanne Evans
All About You Time Out: New Trends in Lifestyle Apparel
www.TodaysInnovativeWoman.com TodaysInnovativeWoman.com
2 Today’s Innovative Woman
March/April 2012
TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 3
From The Publisher A
re you in the driver's seat? Do you have control of the accelerator? Are you driving with your foot hovering over the brake all the time - and not stepping on the gas to merge into traffic? When my daughter was first learning to drive, we ended up in a forked intersection and she wasn't sure which way to go - and SHE STOPPED! (Yes, in the middle of the intersection - and yes, I freaked out!) While sometimes we need to be cautious, we still need to keep moving. And that goes for your business too!
Fear can stop us dead in our tracks - and fear comes from not knowing the answers, the outcomes and the responses. But we will never get where we want to go if we don't keep moving! I certainly have had my share of fear in growing a successful business. Questioning am I making the right decisions for growth, am I investing too much, who do I think I am? But without stepping up and being willing to “walk on fire”, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Yes, I’ve made mistakes. Some of them have been costly too! But risk comes with rewards. What is holding you back? What fear do you need to face to keep moving? What do you need to do to take your foot off the brake and hit the accelerator? What you think it is, is probably not really the issue. Once you have identified what has you stopped in the middle of the fork in the road, take a deeper look. Is it fear of going the wrong direction? You can turn around. Is it fear of an accident? Accidents happen and many times we do not have much control...that’s why it’s called an accident. Or is it the fear of total failure? You just can’t do it and you’ll never drive again. Ladies—and any gentlemen reading this—failure is a part of life! We are not going to be 100% failure free in everything that we do! And only you and your mindset have the power to see it as failure—OR a fork in the road! As some of you know, I began the National Association of Entrepreneur Moms a few years back. I ran the association for over 2 years—meeting loads of wonderful women, connecting with experts—and in the beginning of last year I realized it just wasn’t where I wanted—and needed—it to be! With one question from my coach, my answer revealed to me I was holding on because of the “failure” aspect. But it wasn’t a failure. Sure, it wasn’t making a lot of money and it was draining my time and energy, but I wouldn't have all the connections for writers and readers of this magazine if I hadn’t gone through that process—or down the wrong fork in the road. Get out of your own way, take your foot off the break, be willing to make a U turn if you must, but start driving—it’s the only way to get where you want to go! Here’s to your SUCCESS!
P.S. By the way—my daughter is a GREAT driver now! That fork in the road was a learning experience—but she kept on practicing and moving forward!
4 Today’s Innovative Woman
March/April 2012
Contents All About Business 10 12
How Does Your Blogging Grow
Stop the Marketing Madness, Part 3
7 Essentials for Complete Marketing Success
17
Why Are You In Business
18 Smart Women Avoid the Perils of Being Queen of Their Castle
24
Symptom 6 That Your Business Could Face Big Legal Trouble
26 Speaking Advice You Should Ignore 27
Multi-Tasking: (Wo)man or Machine
All About Fashion 22
Time Out窶年ew Trends in Lifestyle Apparel
All About Food 8
Red Lentil Soup
All About Success 14
Success Spotlight: Suzanne Evans 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 www.PublishMyWhatsUpForKids 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.
March/April 2012
TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 7
All About Food
Red Lentil Soup By Nancy Newcomer
I love to make food that looks pretty. As of late, I've fallen in love with red lentils & turmeric. Who can resist the orange hue of the lentils and the deep golden color of turmeric? Simply Gorgeous... yet, not just another pretty face. Packed with protein and antioxidants, my Red Lentil Soup is both nutritious and hearty. An extra plus: it's gluten free and vegan when made with veggie broth. Red lentils don't need to be soaked overnight so you'll save a lot of prep time, too. Try this. Make a double batch--it always gets snapped up quickly. Enjoy! PS It's always twice as good the second day after the spices and flavors blend together.
Red Lentil Soup Serves 6-8 1 1/2 TB olive oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped 2 carrots, finely chopped 3 stalks celery, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely minced 1/2 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp red chili flakes 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 cup chopped tomatoes -use canned if not in season 1 cup lentils, rinsed and picked through for stones 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (you may sub Italian parsley if you’re not a cilantro fan) 6 cups veggie or chicken stock 1 cup fresh spinach chopped
8 Today’s Innovative Woman
March/April 2012
Directions: Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onion and leek and cook until softened. Add carrots, celery, garlic, chili flakes, cumin, turmeric, paprika salt, and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes and continue to stir. Add tomatoes, lentils, cilantro and vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until lentils are soft, about 30 minutes. Add chopped spinach and let it wilt -about 1-2 minutes. Feel free to sprinkle a little more paprika to make it pretty Serve. 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.
TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 9
All About Business How Does Your Blogging Grow By Jennifer Bourn One of the easiest ways to keep your web presence fresh and focused is through blogging. Blogging helps keep your search engine rankings high and draws traffic to your website. In a way, a blog is like a garden. It nourishes your customers and your business. And it most definitely grows. But, like a garden, if it’s going to grow well and bear fruit, it also needs your care. Over time, bloggers end up with A LOT of content on their hands. It’s because blogs grow, sometimes with new articles a few times a week, that they need tending. You might be ready to write a new blog post one day when you suddenly ask yourself, “Have I already written about this topic? Used this title? Wait. Which links have I already included—and in which posts?” Trying to remember or find what you’ve written about in the past can be incredibly time consuming. Trying to remember what pages and what other blog posts you’ve linked to is almost impossible. What it all boils down to is that you have to tend to your blog with some extra care in the background. You have to keep an organized record of what you blogged and when, what titles you’ve used, and what links you included. But being organized about your blogging shouldn’t be a drag. It has tons of benefits. It helps you find creative ways to develop fresh content, keep track of your growing knowledge base (and organize chapters for that future book!) and deliver the answers your customers are looking for. So let’s find out how to do it right. The best way to organize and track your posts and links is to use a spreadsheet, such as Excel, to organize your blog content with the following columns:
•
Category: The blog posts on your spreadsheet should be grouped by article or post category, such as Web Design, Email Marketing, Graphic Design, etc. Organizing your spreadsheet by category will allow you to see how many articles or posts you’ve written on each subject, what areas you haven’t covered yet, and what areas you could elaborate on. If you see a category with just one or two posts, voilà! You have a topic for your next article.
•
Title: Unique and compelling headlines are the difference between a user’s clicking your link and reading your post or skipping over it. Tracking your titles in your spreadsheet will make it easy to see what headlines you have used in the past to avoid duplication, and challenge you to improve your title writing skills and to be creative with your titles, too. (Continued on page 20)
10 Today’s Innovative Woman
March/April 2012
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! Reach 1000‘s Of Your Ideal Clients For As Little As $52.50 per month!
www.TodaysInnovativeWoman.com Online and In Print!
TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 11
All About Marketing STOP THE MARKETING MADNESS! 7 Essentials for Complete Marketing Success! Part 3 By Cathy Alessandra Last issue we covered essential #3, print advertising; and essential #4, social media. It’s time to move on to essentials 5 and 6, video and PR. The 5th essential is video. Do you already use this tool? Or do you ask yourself who am I to create a video? What do I have to say? Who would watch me? I get all those excuses – I have said the same things..until I learned this. According to Alexa rankings, YouTube is now the 3rd ranking search engine, behind #1 Google and #2 Facebook and before #4 Yahoo. Video engages people in a way that static text and images cannot. There are dozens of studies that show the power of video to boost customer interaction, drive sales and build brand awareness. Now that you know that, are you willing to give it a try? My first videos highlighted the exhibitors at my kids’ expo. We had a Flip camera and I “interviewed” the camp directors. They were very informal videos, the sound wasn’t great, but I just asked “tell me about your camp” – and away we went! And do you know some of those videos received over 800 views! A parent would do a search for camp, or that specific camp, and the video would come up in the search. They then got to hear the camp director talk about his or her program! Depending upon your business, you could do the same sort of thing – a roving reporter. In fact Tara Powers of Mamapreneur did that at an event I was attending – she had her Flip camera and just informally asked people a couple questions, ideas from experts. I could have done it with these 7 essentials. Your videos can then be posted to your YouTube, which can automatically be fed to your Facebook and other social media. You can use video for an introduction on your website. There are so many of ways to use video – but with videos coming up high in search rankings, you need to get your videos out there. And with easy to use cameras like the Flip and even your smart phone, it’s time to just give it a try! The 6th essential is PR. Public Relations is defined as creating, promoting and maintaining a favorable relationship between your company and the public. It can include a variety of ways to get free positive exposure. HARO and Reporter Connection (HelpAReporter.com and Reporter Connection.com) are sites where you can subscribe to their daily emails – and they send out requests for all kinds of stories from newspaper, magazine and even TV. They are a clearing house of sorts, where reporters and writers can ask for “expert” help when covering a story. All you need to do is respond to the request and it’s easy great free exposure. I replied to an article request about work/life balance and I (Continued on page 31)
12 Today’s Innovative Woman
March/April 2012
TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 13
All About SUCCESS Suzanne Evans— Give Me a “Hell Yeah”!
I
t’s 2007. I was working a day job on Broadway. One night I was looking over my credit card statements and decided to fill out a budget sheet to see how long it would take to pay off my debts. I almost cried when I saw it would take 21 years! Right there I had to make a choice: I could “live smaller” and be afraid of money and wealth, or I could find a way to double my income. I wanted to make a mark, I wanted to leave a legacy, and though I didn’t know what to do, what I did know was that I had to do something, and quick. I started by looking at my gifts, and what I like to call, “my mess.” I knew that I was always great at helping people. So I decided to become a life coach. I went to school and got trained, all while working a 60-hour a week day job. Armed with my certification, I gleefully opened my doors for business, only to find no one waiting to come in. So I decided to hold a speaking gig, and 4 people showed up. I remember crying in the bathroom, ready to give up. I remember telling myself this was “too hard.” In that moment I DECIDED to get over myself and start focusing on who I wanted to help. And in that moment it became clear that TENACITY is the most important trait you can have in business. I knew that if I was going to succeed I’d have to do things differently. While stopping at Whole Foods I looked around at all the little “tasting booths” and thought, “Why not have a booth for life coaching?” I asked the manager if he’d let me sell to his customers. The next thing I knew I was sitting in the produce section between the bananas and tomatoes offering advice. The best part? I got clients from it. Turning my “mess into my message” helped me quickly build a multiSeven-figure business. I had a very simple goal: to help women entrepreneurs get rid of their shame around money, marketing and sales, so that they can build businesses that leave a legacy while making a fortune. I do this through my annual Be The Change Event as well as offering programs and private coaching packages all designed to help entrepreneurs create the life they want. (Continued on page 15)
14 Today’s Innovative Woman
March/April 2012
Beyond making money for both myself and my clients, is giving back those in need. As I’ve grown I’ve become committed to helping women see the connection between wealth and the difference it can make in changing the world. It’s why I launched a not-for-profit, The Help More People Foundation, to turn wealth into opportunities for women in education, entrepreneurship, and equality. So if you feel you have to make a change in the world, start with your world, and you do that by DECIDEING to make a difference. It all starts with a decision.
Have you claimed your FREE subscription? Have it mailed to your home or office! Sign up at www.TodaysInnovativeWoman.com
TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 15
Are All Your Eggs In One Basket?
Successful Marketing REQUIRES Multiple Baskets!! 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
March/April 2012
All About Business Why Are You In Business? By Lisa Manyon Women start businesses for a variety of reasons. For example: I started my business because I want to work on my own terms, I value freedom and I want to truly be of service. My motivation isn’t monetary (although profit is necessary in business). I’m going to state the obvious – you should be in business to make money and it’s entirely possible to do this and be of service. In fact, the desire to make money alone isn’t enough to succeed. You must have a clear mission, operate with integrity and provide a tangible solution to help people regardless of the nature of your business. In order to truly be of service you must let people know how you can best serve them (often disguised as marketing). When you share your gifts with the world, regardless of platform (radio, TV, website, brochure, direct mail and well, you get the picture) you must be very clear about who your ideal client is, what they want and how you can help. You must also understand their frustrations and challenges and focus on solutions. What do you want prospective clients to do? Purchase your products? Sign up for your ezine or newsletter? Invest in your services? Send referrals your way? Then by all means, TELL them (or gently “ask” them and “invite” them to take the next step by including your clear call to action). To recap, beyond being of service, you must include a call to action in all of your marketing messages. This can be a challenge for women entrepreneurs and at the same time it’s a vital piece of the success equation. While cute and clever ads with sophisticated wordplay and subtle innuendos may win advertising awards, clearly communicated offers and direct response is what delivers increased sales (and it can be done in a tasteful way that truly resonates with your ideal clients). Are you guiding your customers to take action? When was the last time you reviewed all of your marketing materials? (I suggest you do it today even if you hired a fancy ad agency to create them). Lisa Manyon is an Award Winning Author, Marketing and Copywriting Strategist. She is a co-author of the #1 Best Selling book Success Rituals 2.O –Winning Habits of High-Achieving Women: How she does it and you can too, the recipient of the Charles Schwab Financial Literacy Award in The Hot Mommas 2011 Competition she’s featured in the world’s largest women’s digital library of role models & mentors and the Write On Creative Blog received a 2011 APEX award for publication excellence. Manyon is the co-creator of the 24-7 Web Sales Success Course with Ali Brown, a founding member of the Evolutionary Business Council and expert faculty member for Business Brilliance University. She offers a complimentary Copywriting Action Plan and publishes Manyon’s Musings a free monthly ezine. For more information visit www.WriteOnCreative.com.
TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 17
All About Business Smart Women Avoid The Perils of Being Queen of Their Castle By Joy Chudacoff
O
ne of the most exciting parts about being a woman entrepreneur is you become “queen of your own castle.” You sit on the throne in your tower (sometimes referred to as the corner of the dining room table) making decisions for your domain (your solo-business) and over time, this can become a lonely existence. It’s not easy making all the decisions by yourself and it’s possible that your decisions are not as creative or innovative as they might be if you had a supportive group of people around who care about your success. In my work, I’ve discovered that women find asking for help risky as they see it as a sign of weakness. They create a belief that they are the only ones having a struggle and this could not be further from the truth. Everyone is questioning some aspect of their business. Whether it’s to attract more clients, increase their income or expand their programs and services – women entrepreneurs have many of the same challenges. If you want to remain queen of your domain, it’s essential that you surround yourself with supportive people who can guide you and brainstorm with you about new possibilities that will pave a path to success in your business. Here are some fast and easy ways to reach out for support: 1. Make a PB&A – Put together your own “Personal Board of Advisors.” Reach out and connect to people you know who are positive and looking to achieve success. Gather at least once a month by phone or in-person to exchange ideas and be accountable. I have a consistent group of people I speak with regularly to bounce ideas and support their growth as well. 2. Pack your bags – Yes, you read that right. Commit to a live event or retreat that takes you away from your domain for a few days. This is one of the most rejuvenating activities you can commit to for your business. It provides a new, fresh look – a new perspective. In my work with women, I sometimes refer to this as “reframing.” If you sit on your throne day after day looking at the same landscape, it dulls your creative process and keeps you stuck. 3. Commit to a “Thinking Partner” – It may be time to hire a coach. Working pri-
18 Today’s Innovative Woman
March/April 2012
vately with a coach who has expertise in the areas where you feel stuck can be a good investment for your business. It can collapse your time frame and get you focused on where the momentum is to accelerate your success. Being “queen of my castle” is a wonderful feeling –one that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. I’ve set my domain up to have plenty of support around me at all times so that it feels empowering, safe and secure. It allows me the freedom to think big and make grand plans for my domain. You can have this too. Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.
Joy Chudacoff is Heralded as “The Coach for Women” in the millennium, Joy Chudacoff has x-ray vision when it comes to helping women discover their Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals! Joy draws on both her personal life and entrepreneurial experiences to support women in achieving better ways of living. It’s her passion, her purpose and her business. She is a Professional Certified Coach, highly skilled group leader, motivational speaker and a gifted communicator. Visit Joy’s website, SmartWomenSolutions.com, where you’ll find more articles plus information about her Women’s Success Circles, Smart Women Smart Solutions Coach Certification Programs, Speaking engagements, teleclasses and upcoming events for women. Joy can be reached at 310-454-2005 or by email, Joy@SmartWomenSolutions.com.
TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 19
(Continued from page 10 All About Business—How Does Your Blogging Grow)
•
Post Date: Knowing when you last blogged on a given topic is important when trying to decide what to blog about next. You can look at your post dates within each category and see what you haven’t written about lately. Delivering a new post in a category you haven’t written about in a while, complete with links to the old posts, will help your content remain relevant and build a through-line for your readers, adding to their knowledge as your own knowledge grows.
•
URL: This makes things so much easier! If you track the URL of each blog post, it will be so much easier to find, and copy and paste, into a new post.
•
Linked To/Linked From: Keeping track of what your posts are linked to and linked from is important for many reasons. For one thing, if you delete or rename an old post or web page, those blog posts will now contain broken links, which are bad for the user, bad for you, and bad for your search engine optimization results. But also, linking your blog posts to other pages on your site is a great way for your readers to get more of the content they are looking for. And linking new posts to old blog posts is a key strategy to keep all of your content relevant and help your readers easily find more on the subject you are writing about. Blogging can be great for business. But you have to work smart. Good bloggers work like good gardeners. They know what’s in their blogs now and what was in them last season. They weed out the dead links. And they know what to write about next for the best harvest. So whether you decide to do it yourself, or hire your virtual assistant to do it for you, dedicate time now to get your blog organized — before it turns into a jungle!
Jennifer Bourn is the brand strategist, WordPress website designer, and graphic designer behind the awardwinning branding and web design firm Bourn Creative, LLC near Sacramento, California. Bourn Creative helps successful entrepreneurs who are frustrated with their brand and website transform their marketing materials and their business into an extraordinary and lucrative brand through a combination of speaking, consulting, and done-for-you services. Learn more at www.bourncreative.com.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” Aristotle
20 Today’s Innovative Woman
March/April 2012
Meet Our Writers
Lindsay Wilson
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 TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 21
All About Fashion Time Out! Spa and Lounge Diva... New Trends in Lifestyle Apparel By Lisa Cole Spring is just around the corner. It’s time to peel off the layers, plan a much needed getaway for a little rest and relaxation. The spa has become a favorite destination for most professional women. It’s a perfect oasis to let go of the daily grind. In addition, it’s the perfect environment to bring friends or even business associates for a bonding experience beyond the norm. Taking care of Y-O-U has never been more important. Juggling family, work, and numerous tasks takes a toll. Today’s Innovative Woman CEO and Founder Cathy Alessandra and many in the TIW community have embraced the “spa diva lifestyle” as well. Work hard, play harder and look stylish in the process. Don’t pack the usual suspects sweat pants and a t-shirt. Take a look at some exciting new options to pack for your spa experience: Get Physical – Fitness Apparel Look sensational in an instant with yoga apparel. You can wear for a workout and meet a friend for conversation in the restaurant without feeling embarrassed. Many companies have built shapewear into the garments to give you confidence not only in the bra fit area, but in places where you have challenges such as thighs and midsection. Ladies Who Lounge Looking good at the pool has never been more glamorous. You can swim and be in style. Gone are the days when basic black is an option. If you’re modest then the cover-up is your solution for being totally comfortable and a fashionista. The tank dress has become popular Stylish Shapely Comfort Arrive in style. White is sizzling hot this season. Try a shaping Capri and v-neck combination that is sure to make a girl smile. It’s all about wearing what makes you feel good from the inside out…literally. A little control in all the right places is a diva’s best friend. Enjoy the spa life in style. (Continued on page 23)
22 Today’s Innovative Woman
March/April 2012
Photos courtesy of Bare Necessities.Com. All products and links can be found on Lisa’s site— www.StyleFitSolutions.com. The purpose and passion behind Lisa Cole’s signature message is to inspire women to see the possibilities as it pertains to fashion and body image. Her events, media appearances and seminars have inspired thousands of women. Lisa embraced her own “challenges” with solutions that not only made her feel empowered but equipped her to reach women in a new and innovative way. Her programs are endorsed by leading women’s apparel companies and red carpet stylists. She devotes a percentage of her annual revenues to women’s causes. More information about Lisa can be found at www.StyleFitSolutions.com.
Get Your C opy of this Amazon.co m Bestseller! Hit #1 in Hot New R eleases For Women in Business in 2011!
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 The Law Symptom 6 that Your Small Business Could Face Big Legal Trouble and Quick and Easy Cures You Can Apply Immediately by Jessica Eaves Mathews For the past several months, we have been walking through the 7 symptoms that indicate that your business is facing legal problems. We’ve also been walking through how to fix those problems ASAP. I hope you have been following the series, because taking care of these issues is one of the most critical things you can do to protect your business and your hard work. This time we are on to the sixth symptom: You don’t use a Non-Disclosure Agreement with employees or independent contractors A Non-Disclosure Agreement, or an NDA, is critical to protecting your ideas, as well as protecting your confidential, proprietary information AND your trade secrets. What is an NDA? An NDA is a Non-Disclosure Agreement, also known as a Confidentiality Agreement. It is a contract between individuals and/or companies who are considering doing business together and need to share information about each other’s businesses in order to work together. The NDA creates a protective shield of confidentiality around the relationship, preventing one or both parties from disclosing non-public, proprietary information about the business and trade secrets. It can even prevent the other party from disclosing information about your private life and loved ones (many celebrities have this in the agreements they have their staff sign, but it can be equally important for normal folks like you and me.). I know what you are thinking: You aren’t the inventor of the tablet computer or the founder of Pinterest (oh, don’t you wish you were?), so why do you need an NDA? My short answer is that if you have a business or product idea that you think can make money, or a new twist on any kind of business/product/service, you need an NDA to protect your ideas and business processes. If you are trying to patent an idea, an NDA will allow you to protect and yet share information before your patent application has been filed and approved (patent applications must be filed within one year of the first public disclosure). Also, if you work with vendors, contractors or employees, you need one to protect your proprietary information, financial information and any other non-public information specific to your business. Let’s just get down to it. If you run a business, an NDA is a very prudent thing to use with anyone who helps you run your business. (Continued on page 28)
24 Today’s Innovative Woman
March/April 2012
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
TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 25
All About Speaking Speaking Advice You Should Ignore By Deborah A. Genovesi, APR Like anything else, there is a lot of harmful misinformation floating around about what you do and do not need to become a sought-after professional who speaks in public. I heard a real doozy the other day on a teleclass that I unfortunately paid $55 to attend and which brought me zero value. A word of advice: be VERY careful about what “experts” you listen to and remember much of what passes for expertise out there is simply opinion, and often it is not factual. Case in point, this class was billed as helping entrepreneurs learn to get more paid speaking gigs. It not only did not deliver on that, one of the suggestions was particularly troubling to me as a professional who has successfully helped businesses build their brands and trained numerous executives on how to speak in media and during public presentations. This expert’s advice was that you do not need any training at all—he suggested you try Toastmasters and speak in Church and said all you really need is passion for your topic. Um, excuse me, WHAT? Enthusiasm for your topic is surely important, even vital, but that alone does not a great speaker make and to think so is naïve. Would you go to a surgeon who didn’t actually have any formal training but just thought he’d really like to carve up some people? I mean, REALLY. Granted, lives are rarely at stake during a speaking engagement but your BRAND is, and if you are trying to establish yourself as an expert and differentiate from your competitors you can’t afford to just get up on stage and wing it. No offense, but reading during Church services will not come close to preparing you. Churchgoers are generally kind and very forgiving to those who are brave enough to get up to read—kindness is a big part of the whole Church thing! What horrible person would go to Church and heckle the readers? They aren’t going to tell you if you are off message, or boring. (Continued on page 30)
Have you connected with us on Facebook or Twitter? Get the latest updates, blog posts, special offers and more! Facebook.com/TodaysInnovativeWoman Twitter: @InnovatveWmnMag 26 Today’s Innovative Woman
March/April 2012
All About The Office Multi-Tasking: (Wo)Man or Machine By Bibi Goldstein Did you know that the original intention of the word multitasking was in the mode of computer operation? The first definition for the word is; The concurrent operation by one central processing unit of two or more processes. The transition of this “skill” from machines to people came through the work environment that believed if you could multitask you were essentially doing more work for the same pay. Those seeking employment began to use the word in their resumes and employers during interviews asked more often if you had the “ability” to multitask. Ever heard that women are better multitaskers than men? Does that make women more like machines because we may be better at juggling the multiple areas of our lives? Multitasking studies show that we actually lose efficiency and time at the rate of about 20% in the switching time between tasks. Most of us speak at the rate of about 125-150 words per minute although we have the capacity to understand someone speaking at about 400 words per minute. So since we’re only using about 30% of our brain capacity naturally we have the need to fill the other 70%. Mental clutter. It takes real effort to focus on one thing at a time, which is probably why most of us avoid that. We all know that we need to reduce the mental clutter for our businesses to be more efficient and our relationships to be healthier. Start with 30 minutes a day of focusing on one thing at a time and add another 30 minutes every 2 weeks or every 2 months, whatever works for you. Bibi started Buying Time with a friend to give everyone the opportunity to have access to support and assistance with any task. With over 22 years in the transportation/logistics industry Bibi has specific experience in space and time efficiencies through Six Sigma training for warehouses from 1,000 to 30,000+ square feet. This provided her the ability to visualize the final outcome even when the client cannot. Bibi recently co-authored “Get Organized Today” with other organizing experts hoping to reach out and help more people. Bibi can be reached at www.buyingtimellc.com.
TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 27
(Continued from page 24 - Symptom 6 That Your Small Business Could Face Big Legal Trouble)
These agreements can come in many forms and can be as simple or complex as your business warrants, but they all have certain characteristics in common, which I will outline briefly. Before I do, please remember that this is not intended as legal advice and you should always consult with an attorney before taking action that affects your legal rights. A few things to know: First, NDAs can be mutual (both parties are restricted from disclosing protected information – also known as a two-way NDA) or unilateral (only one party to the agreement is restricted from disclosures – also known as a one-way NDA). One common form of an NDA is one between an employer and future employee, which is usually a one-way agreement that prevents the employee from using or disclosing company information, especially for her own benefit or the benefit of a competitor or other third-party. A similar agreement would work for a business that is about to hire independent contractors or vendors. Second, NDAs typically have provisions for some or all of the following topics: Who are the parties? (make sure you are putting into the agreement the correct, legal name of the person you want bound by the agreement) A clear description of what kind of information is confidential (be comprehensive, and include items such as customer lists, financial information, intellectual property, etc…). What is the purpose of the disclosure and what use is permitted? The information should not be used for any other than the stated purpose. When does the NDA expire and how long do the obligations exist even after expiration or termination (if at all)? Make sure that you consult with an attorney in your jurisdiction about this, because in some states, an indefinite time period in an NDA might render the agreement unenforceable. (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
March/April 2012
(Continued from page 28)
What are the legal remedies in the event of breach (usually, you would want the ability to get a temporary restraining order or injunction, as well as money damages)? Here, you would include language to say that both parties agree that a disclosure would cause immediate and irreparable harm to the non-breaching party, and that injunctive relief is the appropriate, immediate remedy to mitigate further damage. What are the obligations of the recipient of the confidential information? This typically requires the recipient to only use the information for stated purposes and to use reasonable efforts to keep the information confidential and secure. “Reasonable efforts” means taking the same care as the recipient would use to keep its own confidential/proprietary information secure. For the record, I personally wouldn’t begin developing a business idea or share details about my budding idea or my current businesses without an NDA. Ever. Under any circumstances. Period. The good news is that most people are more than understanding about signing these types of agreements. The only exception might be in the Venture Capital world, which goes beyond the scope of this article. If someone balks at signing one but is going to have access to confidential or proprietary information, don’t hire them. You cannot compromise on this. Whatever business you are in, you need an NDA. This is true no matter how big you want to go with your business: if you are trying to grow your business and make a solid living or if you are an empire builder – either way, you need this agreement in place. These are some of the basics about NDAs. But of course, always consult with your friendly, local business attorney to determine which choices to make to best protect your idea or business. It really can differ from one business to the next and between states, so hiring an experienced attorney is always a solid and wise investment in your future. If we can assist you with getting an NDA in place for your business, just let us know! http://www.leverage-a-lawyer.com Jessica Eaves Mathews is America's Advocate for Women in Business™, business lawyer and leading authority on helping women entrepreneurs step into their power and create brilliant business without fear and without undue risk to their assets or hard work. She is also a multipassionate entrepreneur herself, having launched a number of successful ventures of her own throughout the past 16 years. Jessica has now taken her legal expertise and has created the ultimate legal services solution for entrepreneurs. Through Leverage-A-Lawyer™, women entrepreneurs can get their legal foundation in place in 90 days, so that they can get on with the work they love without facing unnecessary risks or exposure as they operate their businesses. http://www.leveragealawyer.com.
TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 29
(Continued from page 26 - Speaking Advice You Should Ignore)
Foregoing proper training is possibly the worst advice I have heard. Why would a seemingly intelligent “expert” advocate this approach? Because he, like many others, is simply telling potential clients what they want to hear, in an effort to build rapport and sell his services to them. None of us want to hear that effort is required. We all want to hear that we can be superstars with no training and no monetary investment. Unfortunately, that’s grossly incorrect and here’s why. 1. You need professional guidance. Have you ever pitied the poor guy flailing away on the machines at the gym? Without a professional trainer to show him proper technique, correct his form and guide him safely, he is not getting anything close to an effective work-out and he will probably injure himself as well. 2. No man (or woman) is an island. You need an objective, outside opinion. Yes, you can ask friends and family if your presentation is captivating but guess what? Unless you have especially mean friends and family, they are going to tell you it’s great. And they are probably not your target audience so their opinions will not help you hone a great presentation. You need to know how to instantly connect with your target and engage them. A professional trainer teaches you to do that. 3. You are too close to your own message. Again, a pro that can help you formulate and learn to deliver key message points will ensure your time with the audience (or on TV or radio) is well spent. It’s a learned skill to be able to bridge what you want to say with what your prospects want to hear, and do it ethically and authentically. 4. You need confidence and supervised practice. Working with a person who is qualified to help you and who has trained many other speakers can help bolster your confidence by providing actionable, constructive feedback and will tell you what you are doing right as well as what they can help you improve. 5. You must stay in alignment with your brand in all speaking appearances. It’s easy to get caught up and go off message, or to say something embarrassing. Working with a trainer will minimize that chance and help you keep sight of the brand you are building so your business stays strong and you attract your ideal clients. Do you speak in public or in the media as part of promoting your business? What tips can you share that helped you excel? Where do you think people need the most help? We’d love to hear from you! Deborah A. Genovesi, APR “Your Communications Copilot” is an accredited PR veteran and former TV reporter who helps business owners attract ideal clients and increase income. She nails down your marketing messages and trains you to deliver them via media and public speaking with confidence, poise and style. Reach her at www.CommsCopilot.com.
30 Today’s Innovative Woman
March/April 2012
(Continued from page 12 - Stop the Marketing Madness)
ended up on career-intelligence.com. Press releases are free publicity if a paper picks up your story. Find an angle, a newsworthy exciting angle, and write about it. Keep in short preferably 1 page, with a juicy title and a key newsworthy element to grab the editor’s attention right at the beginning. I always send out press release about my live events and add them to the online calendars. That is how I have gotten TV coverage at my kids’ events. My event was listed in the calendar, they were looking for something to cover and they chose my event – great free publicity! I sent out a press release when my Millionaire Moms in the Making book became available on Amazon.com and a release about the babble.com award. There are sites that help distribute your release too, but those do cost money. For now, I’ve taken the no cost approach. So, that takes us up to the final essential #7—Events—and a special BONUS essential I’ll share next issue! Remember, these 7 essentials are critical to your complete marketing success—but it doesn’t mean you need to try and tackle all of them at once. Just pick one! Make a DECISION to implement it. Whether it’s writing some articles, or shooting your first video, make a commitment to integrate one of these new marketing ideas before the next issue and the final part in this series. I’m holding you accountable! 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….. As a champion of women and your success, I celebrate those who support women with their heart and soul. Margaret Thatcher said it best…. “There is a special place in hell for women who do not support other women”. Sometimes we need support— sometimes a little shove— But it should ALWAYS be done with
love in your heart! TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 31
Learn from top experts Joy Chudacoff, Jennifer Bourn, Michele DeKinder-Smith, Lisa Kanarek and Cathy Alessandra cover topics critical to your success including: ~ Secrets to Double your Business Growth ~ ~ Your Entrepreneurial Type ~ ~ How to Create a Website That Works When You Aren’t ~ ~ Organize Your Office for Less Stress ~ ~ Quick and Easy Marketing Strategies ~
Network with like-minded successful
women entrepreneurs!
Leave ready to implement your SUCCESS strategies to
grow your business!
Join Us in Dallas and Los Angeles! May 18 & 19—Dallas
~
October 5 & 6—Los Angeles
Claim Your Seat and Bonuses NOW! Sponsored By:
www.SuccessSummitandExpo.com 32 Today’s Innovative Woman
March/April 2012