Social Media, Dave Matthews Band and Business Connections
My blog readers know me for my expertise and passion in helping women entrepreneurs and small businesses but those closest to me also know I am dedicated to community service work, my sons, and listening to the Dave Matthews Band every day. All of my passions are converging today in this one blog post which asks for social media support from my followers.
I know these truths: people love being inspired, people love helping others, and people are moved by great causes all because the world is truly full of wonderful human beings. So when my friend Susan Bertrand of Maureen’s Hope Foundation created a 501 C3 organization in the memory of her sister Maureen, who died of ovarian cancer 10 years ago, I became an advocate and board member of her cause. One of the special groups Susan’s organization helps is children with cancer and their parents in Syracuse, New York.
Inspired by a Dave Matthews Band song, Susan’s uplifting organization launched the “You and Me” bear program five years ago to benefit children with cancer at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. When dreaming up a title of the project, her sons were playing Dave Matthews Band music in her house. The music sparked the inspiration for the project’s name which provides childhood cancer patients and their loved one with matching teddy bears. The bears are given to children in the hospital to share with a parent or sibling during times they may have to be apart. The bears are a simple reminder of the love they share. Now her organization is trying to reach Dave Matthews to let him know of this special program.
The other truth I believe in is the theory of the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” a concept that two people on Earth are six or fewer acquaintance links apart. I am hoping this post is seen by someone who follows me that has a connection to Dave Matthews or someone in his band so we can share this story with him. Susan Bertrand said she isn’t looking for anything in particular from Matthews, but simply hopes to reach him with news of what the project has accomplished. There will be a contingent of us at the July 3rd and 4th Saratoga Performing Arts Center DMB Concerts and we’d love to connect with Dave there.
Today’s blog post is about the power of connections, social media and hope to see if anyone can connect us or share this story with the Dave Matthews Band. The link to an informative article on the program can be found and shared at this link: http://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/05/local_charity_seeks_dave_matthews_help.html#incart_river_mobile
One of the iconic sentences in Dave Matthews Band “You and Me” song is, “together we can do anything.” I hope with your help we can accomplish this goal and that you also consider using social media marketing connections for other great organizations and causes.
Business Advice for Women Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners
How important is personality in running a successful business? You might not think about that question often but the way you simply greet someone when you first meet them and communicate messages in public can set an instant and lasting impression of your business and alter its sales.
Last week my family flew out of Syracuse on a 5:45 a.m. flight to Florida. Thinking we had plenty of time to check in at 5 a.m. we approached the ticket counter. Without saying anything the woman we approached barked, “You are late and the gate has probably given your seats away. I’m not sure I can even process your ticket now. You better not plan on flying with us today.” Panic of a horrible kind overcame me as I saw my first vacation in over a year “fly” out the window. After running like a stampede of buffalo through the airport to get to the gate, the person there told our family we had “plenty of time to board and our seats were safe.” My sons said, “Why in the world would that lady treat us that way?” I had no answer.
Having no faith in this airline on our return trip, we arrived 2 hours early to be safe. At the boarding gate, the most wonderful employee thanked every single person by name as he swiped their airline ticket, “Thank you for flying with us today Tracy. We are so glad you are with us.” I looked at him and said, “Thank you for making this a much more enjoyable experience than the last time we flew.” He said, “Of course, that’s the only way I would want it.” Calm settled over me as I boarded the plane.
Today’s lesson is pretty apparent. One truly miserable employee negatively affected the beginning of an important vacation and one joyful employee positively affected the ending. The truth is the behavior of the first employee was so unprofessional we will never fly that airline again. One horrendous service interaction on the part of one woman lost business for an entire company over decades to come.
Today’s post is to remind you that you, your employees, or anyone else associated with your business is under scrutiny at all times when it comes to customers and coveted repeat business. If it has been awhile since you noticed, make sure your staff or associates are trained properly and communicate the mission, tone and personality of your company the right way every day in every single customer interaction.
Take time today to remind yourself and your staff the importance of your customers and communication style to ensure a positive, long lasting relationship for everyone involved with your company. Make sure all your staff have the right personalities for the job. Don’t lose a valued customer on one poor interaction.
Business Success: Know Your Why
Business advice for women entrepreneurs and small businesses
The room was full of positive energy, hugs and joy. The women who gathered at this special luncheon were not there just to network or learn something new; they were there to celebrate one of their own. The keynote speaker was a familiar local entrepreneur with bountiful spirit, a joyful laugh and an award winning take on business.
Entrepreneurship can be lonely at times especially for the thousands of solo business owners who work all hours of the day, night and weekend to accomplish their dream. Their families do not always understand their drive, their decision to work for themselves or their satisfaction of a lower salary to follow their passion. Only other solo entrepreneurs understand.
During the Women TIES luncheon presentation the inspirational speaker told the audience one of her business success strategies. She said, “I believe your why should make you cry.” Women who run businesses often can lose track of their purpose after a hardship, troublesome period or economic turmoil. In the words of Ronnie McCluskey of RM Irish Jewels, they must remember “why” they are in business. By focusing on the why, you rediscover your purpose, vision and mission.
Today’s post is to remind you to think about “why” you are in business. It might be for the creativity, flexibility, unlimited income potential; but it might also be for the way you make your customers feel, how they need you or how valuable your services or products are in their lives. Don’t ever lose track of the ‘why.’ Focus on it today.
When I drove home from the luncheon presentation I remembered my “why” because of a statement by a member as she left, “I have never seen a business event with so much affection in the room or the large number of women who have truly created strong positive relationships because of your organization. Thank you.” I am so grateful to all the women who have come through my company’s doors the past 20 years. I definitely know my why.
How 4.2% Can Motivate Women Entrepreneurs Today
Business advice for women entrepreneurs, businesswomen and small businesses
Statistics matter. Facts matter. Life can be seen with clarity or cloudiness. It is up to us to decide. Whenever it comes time to make a hard decision, I always look at “my numbers” when making a decision. Numbers tell the hard cold facts. No emotional comes with numbers only the truth.
One day five years ago I was invited to a meeting with three other women entrepreneurs I did not know. The leader of the meeting said, “We are going to go around the table and announce our company’s gross sales.” I know I was not the only person around the table that squirmed in her seat. I have never been asked to share my sales figures publically just like I never discussed my professional salary when I was employed. I don’t know how much my sisters make or my best friends. I don’t ask. We don’t talk about it.
The revenue figures around the table ranged from $250,000 to $22,000. It was a very revealing exercise. Do you happen to know the average revenue and net income for small businesses based on an industry? I found an intriguing link to a November 2010 article that gives the information. I was really surprised at the figures. I knew only 4.2% of women entrepreneurs earned a million in sales per year but I did not realize how low most small business revenues were across the nation.
Annually Parade Magazine publishes a “What People Earn” issue. I am always curious to see other people’s salaries to benchmark my earnings. I find it interesting that women entrepreneurs get into business to make money but we don’t talk about what we make with others. We should be able to compare, converse and challenge each other to higher levels of financial success.
Today’s blog post is to motivate you to think about whether or not you are content with your average revenue and net income. Have they been increasing, decreasing or remaining flat? What could motivate you to a higher level of financial success – more education, a commitment to sales, hiring someone to help you bring in more money or sharing success strategies with other women? Ask yourself, “Would I be happy telling everyone my sales figures if I was asked?” If your answer is yes, what are the reasons; and if the answer is no, why not?
Every May I host a “Movement to Millions Program” featuring a Central New York woman who has hit the million dollar mark so she can enlighten other women. I hope you think about money matters today and join me at this program to see what you might need to do to earn more money.
Entrepreneurial Advice: The Business Box Project
Business advice for women entrepreneurs and small business owners
A dozen boxes of folders and binders from two decades of being an entrepreneur were yearning to be organized. The boxes filled with folders stuffed full of event timelines, client contracts, thank you notes, press release clippings and photographs were destined to be thrown out if I did not spend a day reviewing them. The “box project” as I called it did not turn out to be a daunting task but rather an unexpected treasure.
In the pursuit of new business, entrepreneurs busily focus on the future networking, selling and making new connections. The victories of the past – satisfied clients, well done business projects, financially successful deals and significant press pieces – get forgotten over time like sunken treasure at the bottom of the ocean. When we are done with a customer’s work or a major project we tend to move on leaving behind folders and boxes of success and lessons.
I felt like I opened a treasure chest of gold when I went through these boxes. I found communication from favored clients and community leaders – like the hand written thank you note from Karen DeCrow, the Syracuse attorney and once President of N.O.W., who passed away earlier this year, who thanked me for speaking at a personal gathering at her house when I started Women TIES. I discovered nine years of business contracts from 5 major loyal event planning clients in the 1990s. I came across decades of business articles I wrote in the Syracuse Newspapers, Empire Monthly Magazine and CNY Woman Magazine to help small businesses and women entrepreneurs. I viewed photographs from satisfied customer events and happy clients.
I had an epiphany after going through these golden boxes of business. I realized I have accomplished more than I give myself credit for. I have helped more people than I ever thought I would when I started my first company 20 years ago. I made more money than I thought I would. It is funny how time can erase success from our minds until we return to recapture it.
Today’s blog post is to inspire you to open up your own treasure chest of old client folders, press clippings, customer thank you notes and photographs. If you are lucky enough, pull out your first business plan and see how similar your mission statement is today although the financial numbers have changed. Take notes on your successes, your failures, the events and customers who have formed you into the business person you are today. I think you will find like I did that you did more business than you remembered, helped more people than you anticipated and made more money than you imagined.
Give yourself the gift of “the box project” to reclaim some joy and confidence and remind yourself that you are a successful entrepreneur with a treasure chest to prove it.
Fixing Shortsightedness in Business Decisions
Business advice for women entrepreneurs and small business owners
In 1977 I lost my long distance vision. It did not affect my youthful spirit because I ended up wearing contacts and utilizing my planner’s vision to have a long term perspective and planning strategy in my personal life and career. It was not until this past January that I became short sighted and not with my vision but with my entrepreneurial mindset.
Short shortsightedness means something is determined without taking the future into account. Maturity, two decades in business and education have always kept my short shortsightedness at bay until recently. I am sure I am not the first or last business owner to react to a situation – like losing a client, alternating corporate policies or making emotional decisions – when I should have used a long term perspective in its place.
If you find yourself on the short side of some recent decisions, don’t worry there is always time to fix your sights back on the larger picture, a loftier goal or to get re-rooted in your core principles and return to doing business the “right” way. The strongest people I know are people who admit their errors to themselves and others and then make the necessary changes to get back on track.
If you are feeling like you have lost sight of the some corporate priorities, here are some quick tips to help you regain your perspective and position:
* Participate in an activity that quiets your mind and re-energizes your spirit. It might mean taking a short retreat, running, praying, meditating, being counseled or learning. If you are feeling scattered, give yourself permission and time to do something physical or mental to restart your engine.
*Go back to the basics, your core mission, principles and beliefs. If you have lost your way, ask your closest friends for help in reminding you of your mission in life and business. In any failed race, there is another race you can sign up for and run. It is the same in entrepreneurial life. You can have a “do-over” if you need one. Just commit to starting again.
* Remember this quote, “If you don’t try, you can’t fail. If you fail, get right back up and try again.” Failure never needs to be a permanent end to a decision or action. It can be used as a signal that you made a wrong decision. Any poor choice can be uprooted, tossed aside and tested again with a different approach and outcome. Have faith that only in trying do we fail; and only in trying again do we truly succeed.
The Question of the Day: “What’s Your Brand”
Business advice for women entrepreneurs and small business owners
The morning television show announcer asked a panel of women “What one word in the dictionary would your closest friends, significant other or family say describes you best?” The answers ranged from fun to intense and sporty to savvy. I know for sure what my one word would be and I’m pretty sure my family of men knows too.
A few minutes later, I looked at the inspirational calendar on my desk to find this quote, “When you lose sight of who you are and what you most value, you end up chasing more of everything else.” As I prepared today’s wisdom message, I found parallel themes between the show’s question and my calendar. Both speak to the idea that each woman has a personal brand that everyone around her sees; and every female entrepreneur has a corporate brand that uniquely identifies her.
If I asked you to list one word that described your personality best, what would it be? If I asked you to answer that question as a woman entrepreneur, from the perspective of your customers, community and associates, what would it be? It might be similar but it might be different. The point of these questions is to help you see your “brand” better. You have a personal brand and as the owner of your company you should have an identifiable corporate brand.
If you have a strong corporate brand others can share, it will be easier for customers to describe who you are and what your business offers to others they meet. In essence, by developing, possessing and living a strong brand message you help others market your company to their own extensive network.
Today’s blog post should inspire you to think about your personal and corporate brand and answer the two questions posed above, “What one word in the dictionary would your close friends and family say describes you best?” and “What would customers say is your unique brand?” If you don’t know the answers, ask the question. As a business woman, the second question is important since your brand sells you and your company at all times. Work on your brand image today if you feel you need help in this area.
When my son was in second grade he had to describe me in 3 words to his class. He told me he said I was “loving, caring and a feminist.” I love that my 8 year old son identified my personal and corporate brand so long ago. In his exact words, “You are a feminist because you believe women rule the world.” Twelve years later my entrepreneurial brand is close to that meaning, “I believe women could rule the world if we were equal in all areas of life and business especially the amount of money we make.” Go rock the world today with your own strong personal and corporate brand.
Women Entrepreneurs: Practice Grace in Business
Business inspiration and wisdom for women entrepreneurs
Many years ago I was asked to say a few words at my grandmother’s funeral. She was one of those silently strong women whose actions spoke larger than her words. She had a quiet sense of strength that did not need to be accompanied by sharing her emotions. Although she was a quiet woman when it came to voicing her opinion, she was also joyful with an infectious laugh and radiant spirit.
I once heard a priest say at a funeral, the best way to carry on the spirit of someone who dies is to take the best quality they displayed and intertwine it into your own life. As I wrote my grandmother’s speech, the word “grace” was the word I chose for this beloved woman. She had suffered the loss of both of her brothers early in her life, the death of her first son when he was only one and death of her husband when he was 64 and yet you would never know of her personal pain by looking at or listening to her. She never let the despair alter her life. She always lived in a graceful place.
Many times in my entrepreneurial career I have needed to instill a similar graceful attitude in my business life when the despair of a competitor taking a major client away, being shunned from a major event I helped to create, or when I had clients leave unexpectedly Grace is difficult to hold onto in the midst of painful occasions but with my wise grandmother’s spirit within me I have learned and benefited from taking business pain in stride.
Today’s post is to remind you that you have the ability to instill grace in your entrepreneurial life and outlook whenever things go wrong, when you feel injustice, or when you are dealt a difficult situation. By infusing poise, calm and refinement into your spirit, you will triumph over any hardships. Strength can be found in people who share their opinions loudly and honestly as well as displayed in people who do not. What kind of business feeling will you display today? I know I’m choosing quiet strength and grace.
What Business Ideas Are Bubbling Inside You Today?
Business Advice for Small Business and Women Entrepreneurs
As the sun rose over the eastern horizon into my kitchen, as I made chicken soup for my son who is sick at college, I felt a bubble of excitement about my day. Not only was I creating a pot of love and recovery for him, I was also preparing a speech for a group of brilliant SUNY Oswego students being inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society at noon. The fifteen minute inspirational speech I will deliver to these students was simmering inside of me like the water in the soup pan. Sometimes it is hard to calm a positive emotional spirit.
This weekend had major headlines that excited the spirits of many people including golf enthusiasts who marveled over the remarkable 21 year old Jordan Spieth win the Masters and the women who rejoiced after hearing Hillary Clinton would run for President. Sometimes the positive actions of others cause our own soul to stir and simmer with excitement. We are moved every day by small and big events that touch us personally.
Yesterday I was in the midst of twenty members of my company who came to learn how they could use the thirty two public relations and marketing tools we offer to promote themselves throughout the year. Being in the company of loyal customers who were sharing tips with each other, providing feedback to me and asking questions provided that same kind of effervescent feeling as this morning. The warmth, trust, and relationships in that room catapulted my spirit. What a blessing we have as women entrepreneurs when we are in the midst of our clients.
Today’s blog post (complete with the smell of chicken soup in the air) is to inspire you to evoke your spirit, heart and senses to create some new energy in your day, life or business. If you feel out of sync in your business, consider putting yourself in the midst of your devoted customers. If you have ideas bubbling inside you that feel like they need to be implemented, start them today. If you feel excitement because of someone else’s actions, let it inspire you to action.
I hope today is the beginning of a new exhilarating time in your business that brims with hope, joy and accomplishment. We have to start somewhere to make change and to create new dreams for ourselves and others. Why not begin today?
Business Lessons Inspired by Jordan Spieth and The Masters
Business advice for small business owners and women entrepreneurs
It was the end of my work hours so I jumped on my treadmill to run and turned on ESPN as I usually do to watch “Around the Horn” to shut off my entrepreneurial head for the day. Due to the 2015 Masters, my show was replaced by a screen of beautiful green grass, brilliant flowers, peaceful ponds and stone bridges. After a harsh winter in the Northeast, I rejoiced running to the visuals of Augusta National Golf Club’s stunning spring view.
Little did I know then that I would be captivated by the Masters, Jordan Spieth and the other golfers for all 4 days. I have always loved sports but never watched an entire golf tournament especially a full 4 day tournament. I became fixated by the competition and cheering on the 21 year old who is the same age as my sons.
Yesterday night after Jordan Spieth had the green jacket on his back; I went outside for a run and contemplated why I was so mesmerized by this young man. Like everything in my life, I look at everyday experiences from an entrepreneurial mindset. Today’s blog post hightllights the “business lessons” I gained from this talented winner:
* Jordan took more time than anyone else preparing to hit his shots – many times backing away from the tee if he didn’t feel his stroke was right. He didn’t rush through his decisions because he knew it was essential to make the right ones every time. Every stroke counted. Every decision he made counted. He had time on his side and he used it well. As entrepreneurs we must remember to take more time in making key decisions too. We must slow down and be smart with big and small “strokes” in our corporate lives.
* Jordan asked for advice and embraced knowledge from past players. By asking for support and directions, he gained a distinct advantage in this tournament. Spieth hired a former school teacher as his caddy, asked retiring Masters Champion Ben Crenshaw for advice and gleaned tips from Tiger Woods on a practice round. As women entrepreneurs we must remember education and advice from others who have been successful in business can be a key to our success too.
* When Jordan made mistakes on certain holes, he didn’t get too flustered by the errors which could have ruined his mindset and prevented him from being the champion. He let the mistakes go and advanced to the next hole with more determination to improve. As small business owners, we should do the same. Nothing in business will be perfect and setbacks are always on the horizon; but when faced with them we should do what Jordan did and pick up the ball, don’t let the setback affect us and move forward.
I hope your business day is filled with moments of calm decisions, advice from elders and releasing mistakes so you can move forward to your own entrepreneurial victories today. If you need more inspiration, put on a green jacket.
Women TIES 