Business inspiration for women entrepreneurs and female business owners
As I walked the “Freedom Trail” in Boston last month, I ended up in a museum at the site of the breathtaking USS Constitution stationed in the Charlestown Navy Yard. As my husband and sons admired the war stories and ship lore, I was drawn to the Rosie the Riveter display. Rosie became a cultural icon of the United States representing American women who worked in factories during World War II.
Rosie the Riveter has become a symbol of feminism and women’s economic power. According to the Encyclopedia of American Economic History, Rosie inspired a social movement that increased the number of working American women from 12 million to 20 million from 1940 to 1944. Although her image reflected industrial workers, she in fact represented millions of women who proved to themselves, and to the country, they could do a “man’s job” and do it well.
One of my favorite images of Rosie the Riveter was an adaptation of the image turned into a political cartoon when Joanie Mahoney became the first female Onondaga County Executive. Joanie’s face replaced Rosie’s face in the drawing and appeared in the Post Standard the day after her victory. I had never thrown my support behind a political candidate but felt strongly Onondaga County needed a female leader. The image of Rosie saying “We Can Do It” has always had a special meaning since that day.
In today’s economy it is important for women to keep Rosie the Riveter’s image and sentiment in our minds. I hope she reminds you that as hard working women entrepreneurs, we can do it too! Back in Rosie’s day, the average man working in a wartime plant was paid $54.65 per week while women earned $31.50. Not much has changed today in my mind, since women still do not earn equal pay. That’s why Women TIES exists to help more New York State women promote their companies and connect online and in person to increase their economic ties and opportunities to earn revenue by doing more business with other women.
Today’s blog post is to remind you we still have a way to go to earn what men earn in our salaries and entrepreneurial revenue. It is up to all women to keep the cultural icon of Rosie the Riveter in mind when they need to buy a new product or service. Remember to strengthen the economic future for other women by choosing to do as much business as you can from other women locally, regionally and state-wide.
I hope Rosie’s image will be ingrained in your mind and spirit in all your buying decisions. Let’s work together to help as many women as we can in our generation become more economically successful and lead the way for a brighter and rosier financial future for all women.
Monday Morning Motivation for Entrepreneurs
Business advice for women entrepreneurs and small businesses
As my husband and son faced another start to their work week this Monday morning, they both wished they had one more day to relax at home. For 20 years running my own business, I’ve never felt the “Monday Morning Blues” because I have worked for myself, setting the tone, tasks and plans within my business work week. The only motivation I need on Monday is to think about the customers I will work with this week, the intellect and wisdom I’ll use to conduct business and the new ideas to launch.
It was 20 years exactly on August 8th that I became a woman entrepreneur. I have opened my doors every Monday for 2 decades greeting it with anticipation and enthusiasm. Every Monday has begun the same way and led me to constant success. I thought I’d share my Monday morning traditions today hoping it inspires you to use the tools I have used for your own entrepreneurial achievement.
* Be Organized – Begin every Monday morning with a “To Do List” of weekly activities listed in priority from most urgent to least. Before noon, tackle the five most urgent tasks when your commitment to completing them is high. For some business owners that mean sending out invoices, setting up meetings, starting a new project or even finishing up last week’s projects. Commit to your “Top 5 Tasks” by noon every Monday and you will find more contentment and achievement.
* Be Creative – Everyone has a different internal creative time when writing or thinking happens best for them. I personally love being creative first thing in the morning before my day gets bogged down with details or requests. Monday mornings have become my favorite time to write blog posts, create ask letters for funding, crafting e-newsletters or press releases to market my company and prepare email messages to customers. Many entrepreneurs empty their minds over the weekend making Monday the perfect day to be creative.
* Be Sales Orientated – Every Monday I map out the sales calls I need to make during the week since I do not like making sales calls on Monday. I suggest you prepare call lists and scripts for sales calls within the work week and schedule time in the week to make those calls. Then every morning commit to making sales calls before noon, recording your success or follow-up activities. By starting your work week out money focused, you will feel confident about earning revenue the rest of the week – and that is why we get up every Monday as entrepreneurs isn’t it?
Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: Revising, Refocusing and Reinventing Their Businesses and Selves
Business advice and wisdom for women entrepreneurs and female businesswomen
The demographic of women I have served for twenty years has been ages 30-65 when life is filled with new personal chapters as they land their first professional job, get married, have children, lose parents, become grandparents and enter retirement.
The 30-65 aged women entrepreneurs I have focused on have had their share of chapters as they filed their first DBA paperwork, opened their corporate doors, hired their first employee, said good-bye to clients, struggled through big financial losses and triumphed during revenue swells.
The constant in any woman’s life, whether she is an entrepreneur or not, is the need to revise, recreate and reinvent her future. As I look back on my 20 year entrepreneurial career, I had to revise my business plan every two years, recreate my brand message every five years and reinvent myself as an entrepreneur every ten years by starting a new company.
I’m not the only woman who has their career or business change periodically, many do. After speaking with a few women as I was planning this year’s annual conference for New York State women entrepreneurs, I discovered one woman left her counseling job in a school district to start a blog after she became an empty nester, another one left a successful corporate job to follow her passion to help women train for athletic events, and one was ready to leave her small business to return to the corporate world but changed her mind while interviewing with other companies and instead returned to her business to grow it differently.
I have always felt that thinking about change of any kind is the hardest part. Once you make a decision to make a change, the stress drops away and excitement replaces the feeling. Like every situation in life, we fear what we don’t know. The only way to explore any change is to realize you need it and let the process begin.
I hope today you remember as a woman entrepreneur you will experience change throughout your business lifetime. Right now you might feel the need to revise, recreate or reinvent yourself or your corporation. You could also feel an itch to change your life somehow but you don’t know what to do next. Maybe you have something ready to launch and realize it is time to finally do it. Remember this statement, “Every beginning, is another beginning’s end,” and follow through on what you most want to do to revitalize yourself, life or business.
If you feel like hearing the stories and wisdom of the three women I met, you have a chance on October 1st at our annual conference when the discussion about reinventing, revising and refocusing is center stage. By witnessing their success after their trepidation to change, you will be inspired to do the same in your own life.
Women’s Equality Day from a Woman Entrepreneur’s Perspective
Business advice for women entrepreneurs and small business owners
I love holidays – my son’s birthdays, my wedding anniversary, the anniversary of both my businesses – but today’s holiday I truly love because it is “Women’s Equality Day.” This holiday was created to commemorate the granting of women’s right to vote on August 26, 1920 when the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was certified as law. Every president has delivered their own proclamation for Women’s Equality Day since 1972.
This morning as a multitude of women entrepreneurs were sharing this holiday with me, it made me proud that my business brand is associated with women’s equality – especially women’s pay equality. For 20 years, I have created a platform and path for women across New York State to promote their companies online and in person to increase their opportunities for sales to increase their revenue. Today a woman still earns only 77 cents on a dollar that man earns.
This morning I did not know when I asked to buy a “purse” keychain for my keys today that it was a vital holiday. I said to the woman who handed me the purse keychain, “I promote women entrepreneurship around New York State and a purse represents to me my charge to women to put their money in the purses, hands and bank accounts of other women so we can become more financially successful.” It is my way of making a dent in the inequality that still exists for women.
Today I hope you join me in being mindful of the inequality of women – especially when it comes to pay. I hope you purposely go out today and buy from a woman owned business or a saleswoman. If you don’t know where to find one, check out the Women TIES Directory and hire or buy something from one of our members who are New York State women business owners.
Remember it has been 65 years since “Women’s Equality Day” came into existence. Isn’t it time to put your money in a woman’s future to help even the playing field?
Business Lessons from a College Move-In Day
Business advice for women entrepreneurs and small business owners
Business lessons are gleaned in the most unlikely places and improbable times. If entrepreneurs keep their eye open all the time, they can witness good business practices in unexpected places.
As I dropped my son off at Syracuse University, we experienced outstanding customer service, efficient procedures and helpful instructions that began as soon as we tried parking our car to unload his possessions. We witnessed student volunteers moving his entire belongings on a hot, humid day to his new dorm room so we didn’t have to, we ate a free lunch in a pretty sharp dining hall to give us energy and then we were invited to tour campus before leaving with welcoming tents, directional boards and volunteers ensuring we were enjoying our time. If I had to describe the experience in one word I would say, “Exceptional.”
I’ve been an event planner for 25 years so I understand the attention to detail that goes into moving in 3,200 freshmen at one time while making the transition less overwhelming and more enjoyable than expected for parents. As I sat on the steps of Hendricks Chapel watching student volunteers dressed in orange welcome everyone they saw, golf carts loaded with free water and soda being driven around the quad to refresh parents and heard music playing from impromptu musical groups, I thought to myself, “Every entrepreneur should work harder to please their customers unexpectedly and as often as they can.”
Today I’m sharing some valuable take-aways from this moving-in day experience that might inspire you to stun your customers too:
* Everyone wants to be treated like a VIP no matter who they are. Being recognized, being given unexpected perks and being showered with attention is something easy to do and it doesn’t cost a lot of money. Think of how you could impress your customers by doing something unexpected or special for them at least once a year if not more often. Keep your eyes open and notice what impresses you and then implement it in your company.
* Go beyond typical communication when you can. Go the extra mile in writing letters or picking up the phone if your guests are having issues understanding warranties, procedures or ways to utilize your company. Send out periodic updates on new corporate services or policies to keep clients informed. Make sure you have an open door policy when it comes to taking and handling customer complaints. Portray a helpful and friendly communication style whenever possible.
*Spending a small amount of money to make a customer comfortable, costs little in the end. What would your customers enjoy to make working with you better? Investigate options and invest the money. Shower your clients with one or two items throughout the year (not just at the holidays) to make their lives easier or happier; or just to show you care.
Today I hope you consider what your company needs to do in practices, communications and giveaways to give your trusted and valued clients an exceptional experience.
Creating a Powerful Personal and Business Legacy
Business Advice for Women Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
It was the first day of my son’s clinical rounds as a second year Physician Assistant student. His first round is with a local Oncology and Hematology practice where he met 25 terminal cancer patients. When he walked in our kitchen after work, he unloaded his briefcase, sat down at the table and shared his experience with me. I asked him what the biggest lesson was from the day and he said, “How short life can be for some people.”
His experience reminded me of this year’s Women TIES Retreat keynote speaker, Trisha Torrey, who was diagnosed with a rare, fatal form of lymphoma in 2004 and told she had a few months to live. Instead of accepting the diagnosis, which her intuition told her was not right; she searched for alternatives to the diagnosis. Fortunately her gut feeling was correct and she discovered she did not have a fatal cancer condition.
Based on her belief that everything happens for a reason, Trisha changed careers and devoted herself full time to teaching others to improve their chances for better medical outcomes. Eleven years later Trisha has created a powerful national and international legacy after creating her company Every Patient’s Advocate. She has also authored six books and developed an online directory of private, independent patient advocates called AdvoConnection.com with 600 members in 9 countries around the world.
My son might not be able to be more than a compassionate care taker and adviser for the patients he is seeing in his current rotation but women like Trisha Torrey have taken the lead in creating a lasting legacy for themselves and others by the work they do as entrepreneurs.
Today think about the legacy you are leaving as a business owner. You don’t have to be diagnosed with a fatal illness or create a company that saves lives to have an impact, you need to have a personal and corporate mission you live purposefully with each day. I know my mission for the past 20 years has been motivated by the inequality pay issue there by allowing me to help women entrepreneurs become more financially successful by promoting and connecting them with other women they can do business with. Creating a stronger financial legacy for women is what I have dedicated my life to for two decades. Today write down what you want your legacy to be. Create a mission statement. Set goals. Establish a timeline. Be inspired by others. Do and be more. Make a difference.
As my son witnessed, “Life can be too short for some people” but what we decide to do with our lives can positively impact the world and create our own powerful legacy so when our lives are over whether that is in a couple months or decades away, we have created our own powerful legacy that tells our tale and improves the world for the better.
Business Success Tip: Endearing Your Customers
Business advice for women entrepreneurs and small business owners
As I was enjoying a game of Corn Hole at a Maine resort we have stayed at for the past 9 years, I looked over my shoulder to see others enjoying an outside pool, an inside pool, playground, deck and saunas. Hanging from a brick wall next to the our game areas was a movie screen being lowered and popcorn being prepared for evening movies and smores around a fire pit. The sun was setting over one of the roofs and the sounds of laughter accompanied by the salty breeze warmed the air even more than it already was.
This resort had become home to us ever since losing my father’s home in Maine when he passed away. We thought we would never find a place that felt like home the way my father’s did but somehow this amazing “business” did. Was it because we were looking for it? I don’t think so. I know so because this “company” works hard at making sure their guests feel at home providing everything you find at home….and then more.
Not every woman entrepreneur runs a business that can replicate the comforts of home but we can create a hospitable atmosphere and warm environment for our clients that feel comfortable and welcoming. If you don’t know where to start, here are a few ideas to make your business feel extra special to your customers no matter what industry you are in:
* Greet customers like they are family and you will make them feel that way. Think about the unique things you say, act and do around your loved ones and bring those same actions and sentiments into the workplace. People want to belong and feel comfortable so make them feel that way and you will develop strong client loyalty.
* Get to know your client base well including their likes and dislikes and cater your services or products to those needs or displeasures. You might need a survey to find out the answers or you call them and ask their opinion.
* Add new services or products regularly to please your customer base. If you don’t know where to look, check out your competition and see what they offer. Ask your customers what they wish you offered or had for them to use; and then Implement a couple new offerings each year.
It is never too late to start making customers feel at home endearing them to your company. It takes an interest, time and some money to do it but in the end you will have a much happier customer who shares their love for your business with others.
The Perfect Bucket List Business Day
Business Advice for Women Entrepreneurs and Small Business
Dark green trees adorned the entrance to the iconic Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca, New York. I was excited to meet 4 of my loyal Ithaca members for lunch to thank them for their business and ask their opinion about maintaining my company’s presence in their region. We were unexpectedly joined by a past member who saw my Facebook post about the luncheon date.
The waiter came back numerous times to take our order since we were busy catching up on each other’s business. One woman’s company had grown in size she was managing 44 employees. Another one updated us on her corporate growth since moving her business to a new, more visible location. Another woman talked about her 3 year business success and not needing marketing to attract customers, and the fourth one described her consistent progress after 6 years in business.
It was a warm, open and friendly conversation – the way women entrepreneurs typically react when they are together. It is one of the reasons I love my customers. Mixed within my bucket list experience of eating at this famed vegetarian restaurant was great discussion about maintaining longevity in business, developing innovative ideas, and mentoring younger women business owners. I left as I always do when I visit with Ithaca women entrepreneurs – refreshed, relaxed and inspired to do better for myself, my health and my constituents.
Women entrepreneurs get so busy performing duties they can forget to take their favorite customers to lunch to enjoy their company, ask their opinion and gain wisdom in how to conduct business better for other customers like them. Everyone is busy, but taking time to treat loyal customers to something besides “business” opens the door to inspirational entrepreneurial thoughts.
Today’s blog post is to encourage you to create a list of 10 customers you would like to see the next couple months and make weekly appointments to see them. Take them to their favorite place or your own bucket list restaurant. Invite their opinions on some new services or products you want to launch. Get to know them better. Listen to their needs and determine how you can service those needs at another level.
I found it wasn’t the Moosewood Inn alone that made today a bucket list business day, it was spending time with 5 women I enjoy, respect and hope to serve better in the future.
Business Assessment – What Do You Need To Discard?
Business advice for women entrepreneurs and small businesses
Garage sales, estate auctions, and Ebay all have something in common; they are places where individuals have selected prize possessions to discard. At some point in their lives people assessed their material possessions in order to know what to keep, discard, sell and let go.
I’m not sure women entrepreneurs conduct the same type of assessment within their own enterprises on an annual basis. I’m not referring to looking through and cleaning out file drawers or storage cabinets and de-cluttering space but instead taking a measurement of every corporate product and service offered to see if each is worth the time and effort to keep selling.
I remember several years ago hosting an online store of personalized Women TIES products on my website certain that members would want to purchase business items with our logo on them to use within their companies or identify them as a member of our organization. The store was open for a year not costing any money and only taking up space on my website. I realized after a year of having the online store it was bogging me down because I wasn’t getting the financial results I projected. I had to make the assessment to either keep this part of my business going or discard it and let it go.
Today’s post is to inspire you in the next few weeks to analyze the parts of your business whether they are products, services, or new ideas that haven’t gotten off the ground and make the assessment to either keep holding onto them or discarding them. Did you establish a division of your company that is taking too much time and producing too little income? Have you purchased items to sell that just haven’t sold? Do you have a page on your website that is irrelevant now? If you do, make a decision to let go of what’s not working.
Only in discarding once valuable pieces of our company will we set free the space, time, energy and revenue opportunity so we can fill that space up with something better and more financially productive. I hope you are inspired today to kick those unproductive parts of your business to the curb this month!
The Business View from a 20 Year Woman Entrepreneur
Business Advice for Women Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
I looked out over my back yard at the crack of dawn to find a perfect raspberry colored cloud against a cool grey morning sky just turning from black. As I looked at the date on my kitchen counter flip calendar, I said to myself, “In 3 days, I will officially be a woman entrepreneur for 20 years.”
I have learned, loved, rejoiced and grown every day the past 20 years as the owner of two companies. I have risen every morning excited to face the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship. In the early years, those days included juggling two sons who were 3 years and 3 months old while doing business the “old fashion way” as the Internet was just beginning to be used and communicating with clients was not through social media marketing.
A lot has changed including the way I conduct business through technology and the rise and popularity of women entrepreneurship across the nation. Many things have also remained the same like my dedication to high customer service and my mission to bring women entrepreneurs together so they can make money and promote themselves through events.
Through the window of my eye I have met thousands of intelligent, brave women entrepreneurs and learned more business wisdom than I could have ever imagined. My heart has been in alignment with women as they struggled through failure, embraced success, and moved through the twists and turns of every day business life. My life has been very fulfilled and blessed the past 20 years.
Today’s special blog post is to inspire you to look back over your entrepreneurial career and relish your own journey. Accept the good and bad moments for what they are. Celebrate the people who have been with you on your path. View your life and ask yourself, “Could I have done any better with another career?” I hope your answer is like mine, “No, this has been perfect.”
I hope the glimpse into my business window this morning leaves you with a warm rosy feeling of what it has been like to be a woman entrepreneur for 20 years. I am appreciative for the role you have played in this journey. We have a bright future ahead of us – let’s keep doing it together.
Women TIES 