PUBLISHER’S NOTE Shine the Spotlight on Innovation in Your Business! I share with my audiences of women entrepreneurs an important guiding principle, which is that your business always needs something new and exciting going on to be loud and proud about. Sometimes it is something unexpected, like when you win an award or are asked to speak at a prestigious conference. Most of the time, it is strategic and planned. What I call new and exciting, others would call innovation. Whatever you call it, your business needs it on a regular basis. Innovation is finding a way to do something differently. That is what our cover woman, Rheena Mae, has done. Innovation is transforming something, making it easier, making it more accessible, or having something take fewer resources. This is all innovative. When you create a system or a simpler process, or use a new app or technology that eliminates several steps to get something done, that’s innovation. As you read this issue, think about your business with an eye to innovation. Sometimes the best thing you can do to cultivate more innovation is to ask yourself over and over where you can use some innovation. If the idea of innovating seems unattainable, let me make the concept a lot easier to embrace. Another key guiding principle I employ and teach is to always be upgrading. When you are always looking to do things faster, more effectively, with fewer resources, all while serving your clients better, that is innovation. In your pursuit of innovation, be sure to take a look at the events, other articles and podcasts on our site at www.twibc.com. Sometimes one idea you hear or one tip you read can change everything.
To Your Thriving Success! Caterina Rando 2
Subscribe for FREE at www.twibc.com
Visit www.twibc.com for our Thriving Woman of the Week
3
Innovation You Can Wear Every Day by Caterina Rando
Rheena Mae calls herself the Creative Genius and Chief Believer in Your Dreams. She is the founder of MaeMae Jewelry. We put Rheena on the cover of our TWIB Innovation issue because she took something ordinary that women have been doing for thousands of years—making jewelry—and made it extraordinary and empowering. Here is how: every one of the pieces she designs has an empowering name or transformative message: the Dream Maker bracelet, the Let it Go necklace, the I Am Priceless bracelet. This is not affirmation art. There are no words scribbled on these pieces; instead there is a color, a gem or a charm that represents the powerful statement. The idea is that when you wear your Pearls of Wisdom necklace, you remember and affirm that you are a wise woman. You put on your Just Breathe necklace on a day you anticipate will be challenging. Rheena’s mission is: I give hope. I grant wishes. I help people believe. I dream people fall in love. I have faith that life gets better. Rheena says, “Through my jewelry, I translate a universal energy that resides in all of us. We all have good days and bad days, happy times and sad times. I created MaeMae as an affirmation and inspiration to remember that no matter what you’re going through, you are perfect exactly the way you are.” Every time you put on a piece of jewelry, it has a specific meaning. You pick the piece to support you in what you are going through right now. Rheena has been in business for five years. The MaeMae collection is affordablenothing over $60, it is hypo-allergenic and lead free, and it is all made in Rheena’s studio in Southern California. Rheena’s advice for women in business who want to be innovative and more successful is to do what feels good. Use your inner voice, your intuition, as your guiding force. “Trust it, it will not fail you,” she says. Take a look at MaeMae Jewelry at www.maemaejewelry.com. Use coupon code: thrivingwomen for a 25% discount on your purchase. Rheena would love to connect with you. Email her at info@maemaejewelry.com or find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/maemaejewelry on Twitter @maemaejewelry. 4
Visit www.twibc.com for events, business directory, radio and more
Visit www.twibc.com/radio for expert interviews
5
IN THIS ISSUE
INNOVATION ISSUE
8) Is Writing Your Own Book on Your Bucket List? By Robbin Simons
22) Is Your Life Ordinary or Extraordinary? By Andrea Woolf
34) Get Your Innovative Juices Flowing to Your Success By Laurie Zerga
10) QuickBooks Online Shortcuts By Candy Messer
24) Share What You Really Sell for an Innovative Marketing Approach By Linda Basso
36) 5 Secrets to a Flourishing Garden of Life By Susan Tolles
12) The Daily Habit for Success By Jenenne Macklin 14) To Trademark or Not to TrademarkThat Is the Question By Nancy Lewellen, Esq. 16) Innovate and Extend Your Brand with Information Products By Tammy Tribble 18) Loving Productivity By Bibi Goldstein 20) Super Tips to Easily Innovate Your Business By Caterina Rando 6
26) Year of the Monkey – A Year of Innovation! By Linda Lenore 28) Style and a Smart Phone Go Hand in Hand By Marion Gellatly 30) Is Texting an Appropriate Way to Communicate With Customers? By Debbie Mrazek 32) You Are in Charge of Your Mindset By Lee Richter
Visit www.twibc.com for our Thriving Woman of the Week
38) My Favorite Strategy for Growth By Laura Gisborne 40) What Is an Internet Marketing Campaign? By Diana Concoff Morgan 42) Ready to Plant Your Seeds of Possibilities? By Tobey Allen
48) Is This Problem Stopping You from Building a Profitable Business? By Minette Riordan 50)Mindfulness Techniques to Create a Happy, Healthy and Productive Business By Kenya Moses
Make sure you're subscribing to our publication. We’re looking forward to bringing you our Collaboration Issue in May / June 2016!
44) Will You Outlive Your Money? By Lu Casillas 46) “Love the one you are with!” By Wendy L. Harvey
Visit www.twibc.com/radio for awesome interviews
7
INNOVATION ISSUE IS WRITING YOUR OWN BOOK on Your Bucket List?
Don’t let writing your own book become one of those things on your bucket list that never gets completed. If you’d like some help with getting your own book written faster and more easily, check out our 30-Day Writer’s Program at www.crescendopublishing.com/30dwriteyourbookworkshop.
By Robbin Simons Action is what creates success, not the consumption of information. Think about that for a minute. It is pretty simple, and it’s true. You have a story and want to share it with people around the world you know can benefit from it. You want to help them. After speaking with many aspiring authors, there were only three things holding them back from realizing their book dreams: 1. They don’t know what to write about 2. They don’t know where to start 3. They don’t have thousands of dollars to invest in getting it done
Robbin Simons, founder and CEO of Crescendo Publishing, is the leading expert on lead-generation book publishing and platform growth. Through her exclusive publishing programs, she takes aspiring author-preneurs from idea to published author in 90 days and to-date, has a 100 percent success rate in creating Amazon® best-sellers. In addition to being the best-selling author of multiple books herself, Robbin’s work has been featured in many online and offline media outlets, and her authors have been featured in major television and print media outlets including Forbes®, NBC’s Today Show, Huffington Post, The Dr. Oz Show, USA Network and many more. Connect with Robbin at robbin@crescendopublishing.com or at www.crescendopublishing.com.
Some people effortlessly write with great flow and creativity. Sadly, for most aspiring authors, this simply is not the case. The majority of people begin with the greatest intentions and then this happens: • Writer’s block • Lack of focus • Confusion about what to write And then it gets worse. Fear sets in. Will anyone even care what I have to say? How do you get started? How can you deal with writer’s block, focus challenges and fear? Here are a few helpful strategies: • Create a solid outline of your book first. Structuring your chapters and listing their key points and ideas helps you clearly visualize your book and provides you with a solid base to stay focused • Look for material you can re-purpose, such as blog posts, articles or transcribed audios. • Set aside time daily during your most creative time of the day. • Write! Let your words come from your heart rather than your head. This helps you more easily connect with your reader. 8
Visit www.twibc.com/teleclasses for free monthly business building tele-classes
For more from Robbin, visit www.twibc/expert/robbinsimons
9
INNOVATION ISSUE QUICKBOOKS Online Shortcuts By Candy Messer Do you do your own bookkeeping using QuickBooks® Online? Need some shortcuts to make that data entry go a bit faster? Please note that for the purposes of using QuickBooks online, Chrome® or Firefox® are the recommended browsers. Here is a list of keyboard shortcuts for PC using Chrome or Firefox. • Ctrl+Alt+S = Save and New • Ctrl+Alt+I = Invoice • Ctrl+Alt+W = Write Checks • Ctrl+Alt+R = Receive Payment • Ctrl+Alt+E = Estimate • Ctrl+Alt+L = Lists • Ctrl+Alt+A = Accounts • Ctrl+Alt+C = Customers • Ctrl+Alt+V = Vendors • Calculations — if you are in an amount or quantity box, type in the calculation (i.e., 3+12) and hit tab (the result of 15 will be calculated and entered in the field).
Zoom Display (make it larger or smaller): Ctrl + or Ctrl - (or hold Control and scroll up or down with your mouse to zoom in or out) Hopefully these shortcuts will help make your data entry process smoother. But keep in mind when you’re ready to offload this work, we are here to help you! Candy Messer is President of Affordable Bookkeeping and Payroll Services and energizes business owners by removing the burden of the bookkeeping and payroll processing from their shoulders. With 15 years of experience, Candy understands the stresses business owners face and offers customized services to meet their varying needs, including bookkeeping, payroll, Quickbooks consulting, and bill pay services. Candy works with service-based business owners who are overwhelmed with the paperwork required to stay in compliance for filings and frees them to focus on what they love to grow their businesses. Visit her website at www.abandp.com for more information.
Date Shortcuts: • T = Today • Y = beginning of year • R = end of year • M = beginning of month • H = end of month • W = beginning of week • K = end of week • +/ – = day before/day after 10
Subscribe for FREE at www.twibc.com
For more from Candy, visit www.twibc.com/expert/candymesser
11
INNOVATION ISSUE THE DAILY HABIT for Success By Jenenne Macklin Are you ready to experience a greater sense of confidence, intentional action, a stronger mindset, increased focus and creativity, greater selfacceptance and solve challenges more effectively? Here’s a daily habit that is the secret sauce to success for the top successful entrepreneurs such as Sandra Yancey, Lisa Nichols and Arianna Huffington, to name a few. This habit is based on more than 3,000 studies that indicate the benefits are innumerable. You’ll know it once I say it. The only thing that will stop you is your inner chatter that says I don’t have time; I have too much to do.
Tip 3. Start by focusing on your breathing. Make it simple and easy. Focus on your inhale and exhale. If you feel your mind wander, simply re-focusbring it back to your breathing. Simply commit to showing up for 10 minutes for your success. Jenenne Macklin is passionate about partnering with successful, heart-centered women in business to know their value, create wealth and leverage their feminine power to create fulfillment, a sustainable business and luxurious lifestyle. She has a gift for intuitively guiding women to uncover their purpose, passion and power. As a transformational speaker, coach and author, Jenenne is a powerhouse of empowerment, inspiration and a catalyst for women to have clarity, confidence and courage to live their dreams. Jenenne would love to hear from you at: 310-978-7133 or jenenne@jenennemacklin.com.
It will require 10 minutes from you each day. About the time it takes for the habit of brushing your teethwhich you do at least twice a day. 10 minutes for confidence, clarity and creativity. Ten minutes to reduce aging and stress. It’s a morning practice that I’ve used for 25+ years to set my goals, align my intentions, and visualize my day to take fearless action. Of course, you can’t sit all day. Meditation. - Here are three tips for getting started: Tip 1. Let everyone in your family know meditation is your sacred time. Get their buy-in to take care of themselves for ten minutes. Set a powerful example of self-care. Tip 2. Set a daily meditation time for 10 minutes. Start easy with 10 minutes in the morning. Yes, you may have to get up earlierI do, which is how I make time. The bonus is that the house is still quiet! 12
Special community offers at www.twibc.com/offers
For more from Jenenne, visit www.twibc.com/expert/jenennemacklin
13
INNOVATION ISSUE TO TRADEMARK OR NOT TO TRADEMARK
That Is the Question By Nancy Lewellen, Esq. A trademark is commonly known as a brand name, and identifies the product source. A brand name is always a trademark, but the reverse is not always true. Trademarks can be: a design (7-up’s red dot), a slogan like “Don’t leave home without it,” a number (4711 cologne), a sound or a smell (Chanel No. 5). Its main purpose is to distinguish one company’s product from another’s.
or may ask you to answer specific questions relating to your product or service and the anticipated use of the mark. If your attorney’s response to the questions is satisfactory, the trademark will issue, and you will be able to start using it in your business. This generally takes several months. The cost will vary depending on the number of marks you want, and the attorney’s fees for her services. Nancy Lewellen, MBA/JD is a real estate, business, and international law attorney, a California licensed real estate and mortgage broker, and managing partner of the Palladian Law Group. She practices arbitration, mediation and transactional work, has International Law and Public Interest Law certificates from Santa Clara University School Of Law, and interned with the UN in Geneva, Switzerland. Nancy previously held lending and credit policy positions with three major banks for 19 years, and had her own commercial mortgage and residential mortgage brokerage firms for 10 years prior to law school. You may contact Nancy at 415-399-0993 or at nyl@palladianlawgroup.com.
If you have a unique name or product, you may want to trademark it so that no other company can use a similar product or name. Successfully getting a trademark approved can give you the name in perpetuity. But beware, you must use it in commerce or you may lose it. To obtain a trademark, you must first ensure that the name or design, slogan, etc. are not already in use through an online search at the USPTO (US Patent and Trademark Office) website. If a mark has been abandoned, it may be used by a new person. After ascertaining that the name you want is available, an online application by an experienced attorney is the first step toward securing the mark. A USPTO examiner will be assigned to review your application and determine if there are marks out there that might be confused with the one you wish to use. If so, the examiner may reject your application outright,
14
Assemble your list of vendor partners at www.twibc.com/directory
For more from Nancy, visit www.twibc.com/expert/nancylewellen
15
INNOVATION ISSUE INNOVATE AND EXTEND YOUR BRAND with Information Products By Tammy Tribble In this time of innovation, it has never been easier to create, promote and sell information products. An information product is just what it sounds like! Your awesome expertise recorded for the benefit of others in a format that can be downloaded or emailed. Benefits: • Brand extension – your product extends your brand and adds credibility. • Expert Status – Clients are impressed with products. • More speaking engagements – Those with products get booked first. • Gives a taste of your expertise – may convert potential clients. • Passive income – You create the product once and sell it many times. • Excellent bonus for new clients or those signing up for your programs Formats: • Audio program – Can be a recorded teleclass, series or summit. You could record your event and include handouts as a pdf download. • Video series – This could be a one-time downloadable video or a subscription to weekly or monthly videos. • Ebook – Can be as short as 12 pages or as long as you want. It can be downloaded as a pdf, kindle or epub. Kindle can be sold on Amazon.com and they have services to help you convert the file. Epub is the file format for Apple® ibooks. • PDF – This could be anything! Special reports, booklets, workbooks, ebooks, collection of articles or even a journal. • Webinar – Usually includes audio and visual, and sometimes a pdf workbook. If you do a webinar, record it. They make great info products. 16
Visit www.twibc.com/givingcircle and learn how you can make a difference
Content • Ask yourself, ‘What are my clients asking over and over?” • What do you already have that could be repurposed like speeches, books or workshops that you already do? • Think about collections: Articles or blog posts make a great ebooks. Now is the time to commit to creating your first or next information product, and when you do, be sure and tell everyone! If you want help, call me at 510-881-8446 or email tammyt@mimeticsystems.com. Tammy Tribble is the founder of Mimetic Design Systems, Inc., where she works with entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and business owners who are ready to stand out from the crowd and make a difference within their target markets. She is a branding specialist, providing businesses with communication and marketing materials designed to tell everyone about their amazing business. She helps her clients fulfill their dreams and make their vision a reality! Contact Tammy at 510-881-8446 or tammyt@mimeticsystems.com.
For more from Tammy, visit www.twibc.com/expert/tammytribble
17
LOVING PRODUCTIVITY By Bibi Goldstein Everyone wants to be productive; they want to get things done and feel good that they accomplished something – right? Creating opportunities to be productive are all around us, and yet we don’t take advantage of them most of the time. Productivity is a very achievable goal EVERY DAY, if you truly desire it. Over the last few years, I’ve discovered something about many of us including myself – we all LOVE that feeling when we’ve been productive. The challenge that we all face is that we do the same thing we do in so many other areas of our lives, and that is we compare ourselves to someone else. Productivity and what motivates us to be productive is unique to each individual. Comparing ourselves to someone else’s completion of their to-do list only creates unrealistic expectations, because our environments and circumstances are different. Here are some simple steps you can take to stop beating yourself up for not getting anything done and to be in love with your productivity every day. 1. Make a list of only three things daily that you must get done that day. Many of you will say, “But I have ten things I have to get done today!” This step is about being realistic, so list the three most important ones and if you get more done, then great – BONUS productivity is always a good thing. 2. Time block your calendar! This is the most critical step, because then you have dedicated time to spend being productive. 3. Evaluate mid-day how many of those three you’ve accomplished. If you haven’t accomplished any, then focus your next two to three hours on getting at least two of them done. Be ready. Falling in love with productivity has some amazing fringe benefits. Bibi Goldstein is the founder and CEO of Buying Time LLC, a virtual assistant service, serving small businesses and entrepreneurs around the globe. Bibi is a speaker, author and time management guru. Connect with Bibi on her website www.buyingtimellc.com.
18
For more from Bibi, visit www.twibc.com/expert/bibigoldstein
SUPER TIPS to Easily Innovate Your Business By Caterina Rando
Embrace these proven ideas now to cultivate more innovation in your business to create more ease, interest and excitement in everything you do. Review everything regularly. Oftentimes, businesses use the same technology, or the same vendors, or the same checklists year after year. Set aside a time each year to review all aspects of sales, marketing, operations and finance, and see what is not currently working ideally. Find a better solution. Frequently learn something new that has nothing to do with your business. Take an art class, a screenwriting class, a guitar lesson. When you do things that are different than what you usually do, you create new neuro-pathways in the brain and this can cultivate some new ideas and a new perspective. Read biographies of successful people. Biographies are great to read because they often include stories about problem solving, personal philosophies and stories of overcoming struggle. Use your subconscious. Give your subconscious something to work on for you while you sleep. Tell yourself what you want it to work on. Say: “Okay, subconscious, get busy on the article on stress management I am writing tomorrow.� Use your bath or shower. Studies have shown that the shower is a great place to generate great ideas. Prompt your mind to think about something while you are in the shower. You could walk out with several brilliant ideas. The more you focus on innovation, the more you will be innovating. Follow these ideas and you will be filled with innovating ideas to catapult your business every day. Caterina Rando is a master business coach for women, a sought-after speaker and the publisher of this magazine. See all that Caterina has to offer women entrepreneurs at www.caterinarando.com. 20
Subscribe for FREE at www.twibc.com
Visit www.twibc.com for more great resources
21
INNOVATION ISSUE IS YOUR LIFE Ordinary or Extraordinary? By Andrea Woolf As a Woman of Impact, you are up to stuff. You are all about sharing your brilliance, serving your community, and making a difference in people’s lives. However, it can be all too easy to put everything and everyone first, and then forget to prioritize yourself. In fact, in order to be that amazing contribution to the world, it is essential that you start with yourself. What Does Extraordinary Mean to You? Think about what you want to change: • What are you yearning for? • What do you dream of being, doing or having? • What will take your life from ordinary to extraordinary? Give yourself permission to dream, to think bigger, to reach higher. Let your imagination spread its wings – to bring extraordinary into every nook and cranny of your business and your life. Remember that this is only about you, so no comparing. Perhaps what is extraordinary for you is to be a more loving spouse, a wonderful parent or an amazing leader. Or perhaps extraordinary for you is about transforming the planet and healing millions of people. You get to say! Bring Extraordinary to Life You can indeed live an extraordinary life. It simply starts by believing in yourself and choosing to create it. Take these three steps to bring extraordinary to Life: 22
Check out our live and virtual events, visit www.twibc.com/events
1. Imagine that your business and your life are now extraordinary. 2. Write down a short list of what that looks like. What has changed in your business? In your life? 3. Pick your top most extraordinary bullet point, and then create three action steps you can take to activate it. Take them! This is the perfect time to be the powerful Woman of Impact you are, and live your extraordinary life. Let’s connect to make it happen NOW! Call me at: 949-713-7734, or email andrea@andreawoolf.com. Andrea Woolf is the founder and coach extraordinaire for Women of Impact, a vibrant community of women coming together to change their business and life, and transform the world. She is the author of Ignite Your Life – How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, and helps women achieve amazing results and truly connect to the difference they make. Find out more about Andrea and all her exciting upcoming programs and events at www.andreawoolf.com. Andrea would love to hear from you at 949-713-7734 or via email at andrea@andreawoolf.com.
Release Your Inner Champion What Is Holding You Back? • Do you know you could be, do and have more, and you’re getting in your own way? • Are you your biggest critic? • Are you being called to play a bigger game in business and in life? If you answered yes to any of the above, come to www.andreawoolf.com/innerchampion to find out how to Release Your Inner Champion!
Andrea Woolf Founder of Women of Impact
andrea@andreawoolf.com • (949) 713-7734
For more from Andrea, visit www.twibc.com/expert/andreawoolf
23
INNOVATION ISSUE SHARE WHAT YOU REALLY SELL for an Innovative Marketing Approach
on you a little more comfortably than the rest. Knowing and articulating your essence makes all the difference. It’s the first step to growing—yourself and your business.
By Linda Basso
Read more about marketing innovation at twibc.com/expert/lindabasso
All doctors sell health care. But one doctor may really sell relief, while another sells strength. Get clear on what you sell by truly understanding what your clients gain from working with you. When you voice what you really sell and marry that with what the market longs for, you create truly powerful products and services.
Linda Basso is a marketing coach with a spiritual attitude that supports entrepreneurs in growing their businesses, their impact and their revenue. Her four pillars of spiritual marketing can help you get the results you want, be real and have fun while you do it. For 22 years, she has created brands and campaigns for Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants, Jamba Juice®, Disney®, and many small businesses. She has helped her clients win many awards, along with placements in publications such as The Wall Street Journal®, TIME® Magazine, and the front cover of WIRED® magazine. Reach her at 510-381-3094 or lindabasso.com.
The trick is to get down to the essence of what you provide for your clients. It’s most powerful when it’s one word, but two words or a short phrase will do. You want to drill down to an essence of your work that is strongly connected to your why. For example, on the surface, I sell marketing. Like other marketers, I offer knowledge and experience about how to market—what to say and where to say it to get interest in your business—but there’s something deeper. At this deeper level, I sell growth. My clients come to me in order to grow their businesses via their marketing. But when you hire me, you get more. In our work together, my clients also grow their professional selves, and ultimately their personal selves. The essence of what I sell is transformation, and it’s connected to my why of improving the world through people-healing. If you don’t know the essence of what you offer, then look! Talk to your clients, friends and colleagues. They see what you give more easily than you do. Or, hire someone to help you. Once you have some insights, try on the words or phrases. Dabble, experiment and be open until the right description settles 24
Check out our live and virtual events, visit www.twibc.com/events
For more from Linda, visit www.twibc.com/expert/lindabasso
25
INNOVATION ISSUE YEAR OF THE MONKEY A Year of Innovation! By Linda Lenore True innovation requires a multitude of ideas, events and circumstances to come together at the right time when all components align, creating the perfect stage for invention and origination. Sometimes everything bad happens, pushing tolerance levels to the max. There is no way the perfect storm can be averted. It’s total chaos! According to Chaos Theory and The Butterfly Effect, this is where something seemingly unrelated creates a small change to a nonlinear state, causing a ripple effect of change. Out of chaos, innovation occurs.
• Connect with nature • Dare to be different • Take calculated risks • Be courageous • Run with your ideas Now is the time! Embrace an inventive attitude! Solve problems you see in the world! Go forth and INNOVATE! Linda Lenore is a Feng Shui Master, Certified Green Building Professional and vital office/home consultant whose clients include Adobe®, Bank of the West®, Ritz-Carlton® and international personalities. Quoted as an “expert” in the Wall Street Journal®, Christian Science Monitor®, San Jose Mercury News® (front page), Better Homes & Gardens® publications, and European documentaries, she’s known for creating corporate and home environments that stimulate success and soothe the soul. A bestselling and award-winning author, international columnist and former University of California faculty member, her amazing Hallmark® Channel segment, Lifetime Media appearances, and presentations have inspired audiences through design, ancient wisdoms and stories. Linda is known as “The Healing Designer.” Linda can be reached at linda@lindalenore.com.
Monkey See, Monkey Do – Not So for Innovation On February 8, we started the Chinese Year of the Monkey. Monkey Years are known to be years of innovation. It was a Monkey Year when the new democracy of the United States was started in 1776. The world of social mediaand the world itselfwas changed forever when Facebook was birthed in the previous Monkey Year, in 2004. Think about the conditions under which these two inconceivable-at-the-time and lifealtering innovations occurred. Both of these were started by one person thinking outside the box to find unconventional solutions to old problems. Huge risks were involved and taken after careful calculations were made. All these are Monkey Year qualities. Your Tasks for Breakthrough Innovation The energy of innovation is supported during Monkey Years. The time is right to achieve amazing, innovative results by changing things in your home and office environments. These improve communication, humor and wit to get you through this stressful year. • Create a clean slate for work • De-clutter your physical environment and your negative or limiting beliefs • Exercise regularly 26
Get more great content from our experts, visit www.twibc.com/experts
For more from Linda, visit www.twibc.com/expert/lindalenore
27
All About Business
STYLE AND A SMART PHONE Go Hand in Hand By Marion Gellatly, AICI CIM Today’s phones are truly a smart way to save time. Here are seven innovative ways they also help keep you stylish. 1. Take pictures with your phone of the number or formula of your makeup essentials. Refer to the photos and pick up the exact shade of lipstick, foundation or nail polish you need. 2. Did you forget to bring that gift card again? Take a photo of the gift card SKU number right when you receive it. Most retailers will punch those numbers into the register if you lose the card, or will reissue it if you have the SKU number.
INNOVATION ISSUE 7. If you aren’t ready to make final decisions, take photos of the items before going home. Photograph the hangtag with the SKU information. Use the next 24 hours to look in your closet and reflect on your needs. Call the store in the morning and have them hold or send it. Staying stylish using your smartphone is a wise strategy. Marion Gellatly has made it her job to help women gain confidence in dressing to support their professional goals and personal brand. She is passionate about educating women so they can confidently master the nuances of their visual communication, a big part of which is professional appearance. Marion is an engaging speaker, author, and recognized leader in the field of image management and has been supporting women for over 20 years. Marion can be reached at mlgellatly@powerfulpresence.com.
3. Do you see the same client frequently? Use the calendar feature on your phone to jot down your outfit. Next time you plan to see that client, do a quick search and view your outfit notes. No embarrassment. 4. Before you purchase that coat, use your phone to do a quick search to see if it might be on sale at a retailer close by. Check out apps like ShopSavvy or Barcode Scanner to save time in your hunt for the best price. 5. Do you need to shop for someone special? Find their name in your contact list, go to “edit,” and add a note with their sizes or measurements. The information is right at your fingertips. 6. When you go through your closet and say, “I really need to buy a ______ to go with my _______”, write it in notes on your phone. Check your shopping list to stay focused on filling your needs first and control impulse shopping. 28
Visit www.twibc.com/givingcircle and learn how you can make a difference
For more from Marion, visit www.twibc.com/expert/mariongellatly
29
INNOVATION ISSUE IS TEXTING AN APPROPRIATE WAY to Communicate With Customers? By Debbie Mrazek It’s hard not to notice how texting has become the method of communication among virtually everyone with a cell phone. We used to send messages to our spouses, children and friends, but is it an effective way to speak to your customers? This is something that we are going to have to address as it becomes a more common method of communication. Many people feel that texting is a more convenient and time-saving way to communicate. While it may be faster, there is still value in actually speaking with someone. Sometimes, those few minutes saved can lead to a client feeling unvalued and not worth the time that it would take to make a call.
Phone Call = Communication Texting = Communication Phone Call + Texting = Better Communication
It is also common for meanings and tone to get lost in a text message. It can be extremely difficult to distinguish the tone or the actual meaning unless you know that person extremely well. It is far too easy for text messages to be misunderstood or taken in the wrong tone. If you want your message to be understood clearly, and without any misunderstanding, speak to a person. This ensures that the true meaning of your message is understood and not lost in translation.
Texting may also come across as cold and unfriendly, which is not an effective way to establish a connection with a client. Speaking to someone over the phone allows them to connect, hear the type of person you are and build a level of trust with you. When someone can hear your personality over the phone, they are more likely to trust you and feel that you are someone who is capable of ensuring their needs are met. Texting used in conjunction with other communication like the phone can be very powerful! And be sure and watch your spelling! Debbie Mrazek is president of The Sales Company, a Texasbased firm that is helping hundreds of entrepreneurs, individuals and corporations better assess, understand and engage in practical, purposeful selling. With “Mrazek Energy”believed to be from another world, since it is a constant flow of happiness and enthusiasmDebbie teaches the tools and techniques and how to transform them into S-A-L-E-S for YOU. www.the-sales-company.com.
The Sales Company puts a little caffeine in your sales. T H E
Subscribe for FREE at www.twibc.com
C O M P A N Y
Be the competition. Contact Debbie Mrazek
30
S A L E S
www.The-Sales-Company.com
972 618 1880
For more from Debbie, visit www.twibc.com/expert/debbiemrazek
31
INNOVATION ISSUE YOU ARE IN CHARGE of Your Mindset By Lee Richter Each day, we make hundreds of choices. How will I spend my time today? What clothes will I wear? Who will join me for lunch? What am I going to focus on next? It can be overwhelming to make so many choices. Or, it can be magnificent to make so many choices. It depends on our mindset. And that is the keywe have CHOICES. We actually get to make choices. There are people around the world who would be ecstatic to have the kind of choices in life we have.
Some people complain about packing for a trip. I used to be one of those people. Now, I look at it as preparing for an adventure and being excited about the exotic things to enjoy. Now, the journey is centered on what to discover. A positive mindset creates a much happier experience.
Lee Richter is an innovator and for more than 30 years, she has built successful and dynamic community-driven businesses. Her unique vision and system generate massive results, proven by her highly successful companies, which produce millions of dollars, hundreds of jobs, support communities and educate thousands of people all over the world. Lee has been working with happiness experts for many years and www.sharehappinessnow.com is her passion project she shares with the world.
The key to integrating happiness into your day starts with your mindset. When you look at all of the things you want to accomplish today, your mindset dictates how easy or how difficult it will be. It starts with your thoughts. Ugh, it is raining outside, and driving in the rain is hard feels different than when you think, It is raining outside, and Mother Nature is doing her best to keep the plants watered, so driving to work slowly is preferred. Perspective is the main ingredient in keeping your mindset focused on the good stuff. Looking for the good in everything helps you enjoy life. If you “get” to go to the gym and work out, it feels much better than “having” to go to the gym and working out. Either way, it is best to go, so why not enjoy the experience? 32
Visit www.twibc.com/radio for expert interviews
For more from Lee, visit www.twibc.com/expert/leerichter
33
INNOVATION ISSUE GET YOUR INNOVATIVE JUICES Flowing to Your Success By Laurie Zerga As entrepreneurs we must innovate to bring about success to our business. What does that mean? “We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein, German physicist Considering this quote, I discovered that repurposing tools and ideas from financial services could solve problems and create new strategies for clients in other industries. Each industry develops its own stories and patterns. It’s the cross-pollination of concepts that creates successful, innovative ideas. Consider ways to develop your innovative process.
has common values and similar goals. Use the first meeting to uncover your purpose, schedule and goals for yourselves. Develop Your Personal Innovative Process - This is a beginning to develop an innovative process that works for you. Get to know yourself and what gets you into a creative mindset. From there, innovate new products, services and strategies for your business. If you are encountering a challenge, use this same process to find solutions. Find more ideas at my expert page. www.twibc.com/expert/lauriezerga Laurie Zerga, founder of Feminine Power Flow, combines passion for relationships, community and business to support women entrepreneurs. She successfully navigates many roles society mandates of women. While raising two daughters, she climbed to an officer position at a Fortune 500 company. Since 911, she transitioned from consultant to entrepreneur, launching Chef-K® nationally. Now she helps women reclaim their true self and feminine power to lead their dream business life through coaching programs, speaking and workshops.
Here are some tips to get you started. Change Your Thinking - Three areas support changing your thinking. First, look for ways to get into a creative mindset. Often it’s moving your body that will shift you from logical to inspired thinking. Perhaps dancing, walking or exercise will help. Next, change your routine. Use your non-dominant hand for simple tasks, drive to work travelling an alternative route, or park in a different spot. The last method is to talk to someone from another industry. Find others through networking, taking a class or attending conferences. Create a Mastermind - Once you have met people, you might decide to create a mastermind. A mastermind is when two or more people come together for a purpose on a regular basis. It’s important to determine that each member
34
Subscribe for FREE at www.twibc.com
For more from Laurie, visit www.twibc.com/expert/lauriezerga
35
INNOVATION ISSUE 5 SECRETS to a Flourishing Garden of Life By Susan Tolles Spring brings a time for renewal after a dormant winter. My butterfly garden reminds me of my own life when I prepare it for the warmer months ahead. How do you cultivate the garden of your life? Think of it this way: You have a freshly tilled plot of soil in front of you—your future. It’s time to create your annual plan to ensure it flourishes and your flowers, vegetables and herbs do not wither away. Taking the right steps ensures abundance, even in a drought.
• Practice “pest control.” A lush and productive garden attracts pests that want to eat away the new growth. Create boundaries to keep away anything that sucks the life out of you, and replace it with beneficial relationships that guard against destruction. If you need help cultivating a flourishing garden of life, let’s talk! Click here to request a complimentary Clarity Session. Susan Tolles is The Reinvention Strategist for Professional Christian Women, whose clients surround the globe. As a Certified Life Purpose Coach, she inspires and equips women to successfully integrate faith, family, relationships and career to honor God in everything they do. Susan’s expert guidance leads them to embrace their unique value, follow their divinely designed purpose and lead with influence and authenticity, creating a strategic plan for success on their terms, not the world’s.
• Visualize your ideal life. Get clear on where you want to go and where you don’t want to go. Create a detailed plan. Commit to creating a beautiful “garden” that represents your gifts, skills, values and heart’s desires. • Dig up nutrient-draining weeds. Pull distractions out of your life. Perhaps you need to get rid of fear, procrastination, self-doubt or guilt. If negative self-talk is overtaking your life, dig it up! • Prune dead branches. Where are you wasting time? What activities are unfulfilling busy work? What can you delegate or get rid of? Trimming away the unproductive branches of your life promotes growth in other areas. • Fertilize to support strong roots and vigorous growth. What will enhance your future? Do you need to learn new skills, invest in coaching or improve time management? Pour in the “fertilizer” that makes you stronger so your new garden prospers. 36
Visit www.twibc.com/teleclasses for free monthly business building tele-classes
For more from Susan, visit www.twibc.com/expert/susantolles
37
INNOVATION ISSUE MY FAVORITE Strategy for Growth By Laura Gisborne I have heard it said before, “Change is the only constant.” Businesses that embrace change and continually grow and move with the market not only stay relevant, but they thrive. I love working with successful women because one of their key assets is creative thinking. Successfully leading your own company requires not only holding a higher vision than most of the people around you can see, but also asking deeper questions that lead your team to creative problem solving.
• Gathering your team and clients together to build a local Habitat for Humanity house • Creating funds where team members all donate a small amount into a pool that is available to take care of other team members when they fall on hard times We all love to be a part of something bigger. Build your culture and your community around causes that inspire you and watch your business begin to blossom. Laura Gisborne is a highly successful business expert. She has owned nine companies, ranging from small boutique businesses to a multi-million dollar wine and real estate empire. The innovative business model of her current company, Legacy Leaders Global, exemplifies that businesses can be both profitable and purposeful. Through her initiatives, thousands of people are receiving regular contributions in multiple countries across five continents. Receive a free copy of her book, Stop the Spinning at www.laurafreebook.com.
One of the ways to grow the business you created with an authentic desire to serve is to look at all of the ways you can give back. Your business not only generates revenue, it also creates jobs and opportunities. It has a big impact in your immediate community, the lives of the clients you serve, and potentially the world. In the same way that you and I may have given back as a personal value, a business is an incredible vehicle to utilize for philanthropists to reach masses of people and incorporate giving and supporting change as a part of its culture. Schedule regular strategy meetings with your team (or your trusted advisors if you are a solopreneur) and look at where you can incorporate new thinking and practices around philanthropy. A few of my favorite practices for businesses include: • Holding simple canned food drives 38
Check out our live and virtual events, visit www.twibc.com/events
For more from Laura, visit www.twibc.com/expert/lauragisborne
39
INNOVATION ISSUE WHAT IS AN Internet Marketing Campaign? By Diana Concoff Morgan An efficient Internet marketing campaign doesn’t take place by accident. Specific elements make it a success. The Internet is pervasive and covers nearly every facet of society. This means that any business, small or large, needs a sturdy online presence. Why do you need an Internet Marketing Campaign? Internet marketing is vital because it determines how customers make purchasing decisions. It also helps grow your business many ways: Reach - Internet Marketing conquers distance barriers. You can advertise from anywhere, which broadens your target market. Relationships - The Internet helps you form relationships with consumers and retain more of them. After someone makes an online purchase, you can start the relationship with a follow-up email. Social - Internet marketing allows you to benefit from the growing significance of social media.
inexpensive and luxury accommodation. Make certain your advertising approach is accurate. How to Find Potential Customers via Social Media - Use your email contacts. Use Twitter’s, LinkedIn’s and Facebook’s features to upload your email contacts and invite them to your pages. This makes growing client relationships easy! Search for conversations. With the much-loved hashtag, you can perform keyword searches to find new customers to reach out to. Diana Concoff Morgan, business and marketing coach, author and speaker, is passionate about teaching, inspiring and empowering entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. She specializes in online and offline strategies; showing you how to apply them to your business to get results. Diana has over 20 years of successful business and marketing experience, building 2 of her own businesses using the strategies she offers her clients. She understands the struggles and challenges of building an effective, authentic online presence and has the patience and know-how to help you. She offers live and virtual trainings, and "done for you" internet marketing services. www.wholeheartmarketing.com
Get Started Today! Describe Your Product or Service - Describe your offer in writing as if your clients are the readers. Note the exact groups of consumers you serve, outcomes and advantages, and where readers should go next if they are want to make a purchase. Describe the benefits to your customers; not how you benefit. Include cost, convenience and value. Determining Your Target Audience - Recognize your customer base in order to promote your campaign to the correct audience. For If you’re an inexpensive luxury hotel, your clients will be individuals searching for both 40
Assemble your list of vendor partners at www.twibc.com/directory
For more from Diana, visit www.twibc.com/expert/dianaconcoffmorgan
41
INNOVATION ISSUE READY TO PLANT Your Seeds of Possibilities? By Tobey Allen It’s spring time! Here are four ways to spring forward with new ideas: 1. Make Your Collage Move! - Are there any adjustments to your new year’s collage you may have made at the beginning of the year? Create your vision board as a moving slide in PowerPoint. On each slide, create various images of what you would like to be, do, or have as your goals for this year using clip art, photos and words (as affirmations). Add a soundtrack for added dimension by embedding a sound file, and you’re ready to go! For best results, use images that create a feeling rather than just a mental image. It is the positive feeling that attracts possibilities. 2. Get Outside and Thrive - Can’t seem to get new ideas for your business? Get outside and your ideas come alive. Go barefoot on fresh, green grass. Get out of your shoes and remember how freeing it can be to roam and reconnect with your playful side. Feel free to take a nap, and then jot down the new insights that emerge as you refresh and rejuvenate your mind. 3. Create New Ideas Using Cross-Pollination - Need a new concept for a product or service? Combine two ideas that are unrelated to create a new one. This also works well to create puns. For example, take the company Back to the Fuchsia, a flower delivery company. What ideas can you combine?
42
Check out our live and virtual events, visit www.twibc.com/events
4. Have a Possibilities Party! - Try using flying wish paper to create a magical spring evening of wish making and possibilities. Write your wish on the special paper, light it, and watch it fly! For more information, go to flyingwishpaper.com. May you transform your vision into seeds of possibilities! Tobey Allen, co-author of Catch Your Star, is an art therapist and seeds of possibilities coach™. She specializes in connecting people with their creative gifts and life purpose. She has incredible insight in coming up with ideas and finding creative solutions for businesses. For further details, please visit www.seedsofpossibilitiescoaching.com.
Learn how to think creatively and infuse into profitability I help you brainstorm and find innovative solutions and go from possibility to profitability!
Create your seeds of possibilities now!
Contact Tobey www.seedsofpossibilitiescoaching.com 925 289 9204
For more from Tobey, visit www.twibc.com/expert/tobeyallen
43
INNOVATION ISSUE WILL YOU OUTLIVE Your Money?
I specialize in this area and believe it is important that we as women take care of ourselves first, so we can give 100 percent for our families and businesses. Having a plan in place that can change one’s life for the better is key.
By Lu Casillas
Think about this: There’s no need to avoid the conversation anymore. It can be as simple as an adjustment to what you are already doing for your future. Let’s have that conversation.
Today, outliving your money is a key concern for Baby Boomers and Generation X. Boomers speak of this problem more than any other generation. Our country has nearly 80 million Boomers and 46 million Gen-Xers. People are living longer and healthier than in past generations. This strains resources and raises questions about Social Security. Health insurance costs are increasing, and experts predict they will make up 40 percent of our income in the near future.
Lu Casillas, is the educator and creator of Blend2Day, supporting women to find Balance in Life, Educating one another through Networking, and making their Dreams become reality. As a specialist at FCA, it is her goal to help women create a wealth preservation strategy that allows access to funds while also building a lifetime income stream.
For example, a nest egg of $300,000 seems substantial. However, what if an illness or injury arose? That money could be gone in one to three years. The cost of a care facility is over $100,000 a year ($8,400 monthly). The question then becomes; if all of your money is in a volatile position, how much are you willing to lose? Of course your answer is none of it! Yet, as a majority we allow all of our money to be tied up in programs full of fees, taxes, volatility and worselack of liquidity! There is a form of financial protection that can provide you liquidity, living benefits and a tax-free growth option. I can show you a way to increase your net worth and create a tax-free bucket with living benefits.
44
Subscribe for FREE at www.twibc.com
For more from Lu, visit www.twibc.com/expert/lucasillas
45
INNOVATION ISSUE LOVE THE ONE You’re With! By Wendy L. Harvey
physical attributes and focus on the gifts that God has given you with His love. Lastly, figure out ways you can start to love yourself a little more. Journal your love process so you can always use it as a reference guide for yourself to see your progress in your life.
Most of us are familiar with the song Love the One You’re with. It probably never occurred to you to start with loving you. Yes, you are the one you’re with!
Wendy L. Harvey has become an inventor with guts/determination to survive in the corporate games to gain momentum to become a savvy CEO of 7 Faith Productions, LLC. She was bounded to the “principles of accounting” but her heart was beating fast for the world of “media.”
Women tend to forget about self-love because we were programmed to be nurturers, and to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of love for others. We care for the men in our lives, our children, our friends, our families, and our aging parents. We become high achievers in love and become grossly profound illustrators of love for others until we perfect what we come to know as self-love.
She marches to the forefront for domestic violence victims, for single parenting and for self–love. Wendy has created programs developed for raw and realistic dialogue through seminars, teleseminars, webinars and conferences to set an evolution from “stuck” to “success” for your inner spirit to “think” and “proceed” in life. www.wendylharvey.com.
The process of love takes hours of developing procedures, rules and regulations, trial and error, morals and values. If you start with self-love, then you can experiment on others. “Practice makes perfect” applies here. If you practice self-love, you can determine your level of ability to love. Self-love allows you to build a sound structure of the do’s and don’ts, and the joy and pain of what love can bring to your life. Learn the necessary lessons of selflove before you attempt to love others; if you can’t love the one you’re with, you will be unable to love others. When you dive into the manifestation of self-love, you can give the greatest gift of love to others. Today, begin with self-love. It’s not too late; no matter your age or past. Look in the mirror; really look at what you love about yourself. Now go past the 46
Subscribe for FREE at www.twibc.com
For more from Wendy, visit www.twibc.com/expert/wendylharvey
47
INNOVATION ISSUE IS THIS PROBLEM STOPPING YOU from Building a Profitable Business? By Minette Riordan Creative entrepreneurs tend to be full of fantastic ideas that are constantly flowing through their minds and often interrupting the current focus of their business day. This flow of ideas is so natural to them that they fail to see how much disruption it causes or how it impacts their bottom line.
her or what she would offer. And she certainly did not know how to charge for her services or how to market them. The secret to Sarah’s success was to stop thinking about HOW she could help her clients and start focusing on WHAT they need from her. All of her Bright, Shiny Ideas were stopping her from focusing on what is most important: what her clients want most. Dr. Minette Riordan started her entrepreneurial career in high school. Her moneymaking enterprises ranged from babysitting jobs to creating a stained-glass window for a local restaurant. She is an award-winning entrepreneur and business coach with 15 years of experience in the fields of marketing and sales. She is the best-selling author of The Artful Marketer: The Fundamental Business Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs. Her next book on time management for creative entrepreneurs is coming soon. She lives in sunny Santa Barbara, California with her husband of 19 years and two teens. Learn more about her at www.minetteriordan.com.
The number one biggest challenge stopping creative women entrepreneurs from building a profitable business is Bright, Shiny Idea Syndrome! These ideas all have value if you understand how to monetize and prioritize them. Let me share a quick story with you about one of my clients. Sarah came to me wanting to start her own business as a coach helping women deal with the stress of daily life. She is a bright, talented woman with several academic degrees and training in a variety of areas. Some of the tools she uses in her work with women include intuitive painting, yoga therapy, journaling, and coaching. Sarah had no idea how to take all of these different practices and methodologies, all of which she loves, and integrate them into a coherent business that would attract her ideal client. She didn’t even know who would want to work with 48
Assemble your list of vendor partners at www.twibc.com/directory
For more from Minette, visit www.twibc.com/expert/minetteriordan
49
INNOVATION ISSUE MINDFULNESS TECHNIQUES to Create a Happy, Healthy and Productive Business By Kenya Moses
We’ve all seen business owners who are overworked, under-joyed and frustrated. This is not ideal if you strive to profit, grow and reach beyond your local market. Something is missing in the quest for well-being for many female business owners. It is more than just the small business culture that we have created. We are neglecting to incorporate something that costs very little to achieve: Mindfulness.
Mindful Communication – As a business owner, your mission statement says much about your work and personality. Consider including mindfulness in your statement. Establishing a workspace that encourages and thrives on open communication, gratitude and respect can increase creativity, effective work-flow and overall happiness and well-being. Make a point to bring awareness about your business’ desire for a more mindful environment. Revamp your mission statement and practice communicating more effectively with colleagues and employees. Kenya Moses is a well-being, career and business coach, dedicated to supporting women in creating vibrant, healthy and successful lives. She is the founder and president of Be A Fit Mama, Inc. Her work has been seen in publications including Essence® Magazine, San Francisco Examiner®, Livestrong, Ehow and more. In addition, Kenya is a professional vocalist, dancer and single mother of two boys. Visit www.inspiredwell-being.com and www.beafitmama.com.
Creating an atmosphere that promotes mindfulness in your workspace can transform a lack-luster environment into one that thrives on creativity, intuition and collaboration. Mindfulness in business has many benefits as researched by institutions like the University of California, Los Angeles and Stanford University. Here are some easy ways to incorporate mindfulness techniques into business: Mindfulness Meditation – Using meditation throughout the day helps relieve tension and awakens the body and mind. You can easily do simple meditations in a short period of time, including breath, affirmation and visualization. Set aside 5-10 minutes daily to sit and breathe. Let go of anything that keeps you from having clarity and enthusiasm for your business. Mindful Stretch – Stretching the body throughout the day can increase the flow of blood, refresh the mind and enhance focus. Set aside a 15- to 20-minute stretch break every day to jump-start your energy and clear the mind. Whenever you start to feel cloudy or anxious, move your body and experience the benefits. 50
Visit www.twibc.com for events, business directory, radio and more
For more from Kenya, visit www.twibc.com/expert/kenyamoses
51