Blogs

It is so very hard to articulate something so special and intangible. I am still trying to wrap my head around what took place. The whole preparation process for The Courageous Woman Retreat was a journey of lessons even up until moments before we began.  So I knew that God was up to something and it was going to be GOOD.  While I didn't know any of the ladies who were attending, God knew them and wanted them to know how much they were loved. I was just a vessel and I am so grateful for the privilege.

The day started off at the spa where the ladies had breakfast and a spa treatment. For some, it was their first spa experience, so it was pretty cool. Afterwards, we convened in the meeting space to begin the workshops.  I opened with prayer and LuJuana led us in song. First up, Workshop #1, The Courage to Be Me. The ladies explored several questions related to being totally free to be themselves. And one special Sistah from each session was chosen to sit in the hot seat, share her answers and receive a mini coaching session. It was an amazing experience for everyone involved.

Workshop #2 was The Fearless Life. We talked about releasing the brakes, walking on water and launching out into the deep. Great revelations came forth and then it was lunch time. We enjoyed lunch, but we also had fun taking photos with the Pink Guitar, Feather Boa & Funky Shades. It was a great opportunity for the ladies to take a walk on the "Fearless Side" by releasing their inhibitions & just going with it.

After lunch, we started Workshop #3, Forever Free, and that was a pivotal point for a lot of the ladies. Their Aha Moments were being crystallized as they realized that they were free to laugh, free to love & free to live. LuJuana then sang a stirring rendition of "I Am Changing" and we were all in tears. That primed us to close out with a covenant agreements to our sisters. We pledged to honor the bond of sisterhood and hold each other accountable to our dreams.

The big "Take Away" was that being a Courageous Woman is, indeed, a journey with many starts and stops. But with God's direction and the support of our sisters, NOTHING is impossible for us!

Stay tuned. There WILL be another Inspired Sistah retreat next year!

Live Courageously,
Tangie

Special Thanks To:

My husband, Jessie Henry of FlavaChordz.com for always loving, supporting and cheering me on.

Asabi Ifaramomi of Sacred Grove Designs for providing the amazing Courageous Woman Retreat logos.

Ada Johnson with Fear4lyMade Body Oils for creating the signature Courageous Woman body butter, Fearlessly Me.

Sha-Rhonda Davis of Empowered2Change, LLC, for loving, supporting & believing in the vision.

Dan & Chris Smith for always quietly supporting, encouraging & loving.

Renee Frisby Jones for believing in the vision enough to share of her resources.

Elisha Akram of Kustom Kreations for capturing beautiful images and having a beautiful spirit to match.

Sherilynn Marilyn of ImStylynn for making me look beautiful & courageous.

Tammie, Kenyatta, Seante, Brigitte with Team IS for your tireless prayers, contributions, love, support & work to demonstrate to the world that Inspired Sistahs really do rock REAL HARD!

All of the beautiful, bold, courageous women who attended the retreat. Thank you for obeying the call. Keep soaring, Sistahs!

We are invited! I just received an email that not only are BBWO members invited to Oprah's Next Big Event, we get a 50% off discount too!

O You! is a yearly event that will bring 5,500 loyal Oprah readers and guests to LA during the weekend of October 20th. Taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center, guests will have the opportunity to join all of their O Magazine favorites including Gayle King, Suze Orman, Martha Beck, Peter Walsh and Oprah herself for a truly memorable day of learning, inspiration and fun! In addition to speaker sessions, all attendees will have the opportunity to participate in interactive sponsor areas offering free giveaways, book signings with their favorite speakers and all attendees will receive an exclusive O You! gift bag packed with fun goodies!

Each year the O You! team offers a special discount to select organizations, and this year the Black Business Women Online network was selected. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.oprah.com/oyou, and enter promo code OMAG50 to receive your 50% off discount!

Also note that the BBWO Community is invited to the SistaSense 2013 Conference + Expo in North Carolina - January 18 - 20. Expect to see some of your favorite BBWO members speaking and also vending at this event. Early registration has started and there are a few more super saver passes left. For more details and current listing of speakers go to powercircle.sistasense.com.

Related Post: The Richest People in America: Oprah On the Cover of Forbes

Hello BBWO,

Now that I'm back from speaking at Blogalicious 2012 I have a wealth of new information and resources to share. For starters click here and find out how to get investment capital for your business. Also note that you can click here to add your own videos to BBWO.

Did you know October is Women's Small Business Month? I believe that your business success depends on the company you keep, which is why I will be hosting the SistaSense Power Circle as a LIVE 2013 Conference + expo here in Chapel Hill NC this January. Want to be the first to get all the details plus speaker list, click here.

Sharing / browsing events on BBWO is a great way to stay in the loop. As a matter of fact I will also be co-hosting the Good Life Girlfriends Women's Day event here in Raleigh NC very soon. GLG early bird tickets were gone in the first 24 hours! Women entrepreneurs right now are getting serious about being informed, motivated and successful, I hope you are too.

Expect to see more videos, event updates, and how-tos from BBWO in the next few weeks. Let's make sure you close out the final quarter of 2012 in a big way! More to come. -lh

p.s. If you want to send me a direct email the address is lhenry@sistasense.com.

"The goal isn't to be like White or Asian women; the goal is to be healthier Black women."

Urgent Message: Bargain deal on “Soul” Yoga Paradise retreat to the Bahamas Strictly For BBWO Members! Limited Time Offer.

Researchers have suggested that health disparities in African American women, including adverse birth outcomes, lupus, obesity, and untreated depression, can be explained by stress and coping. The Strong Black Woman/Superwoman role has been highlighted as a phenomenon influencing African American women’s experiences and reports of stress. Superwoman Schema: African American Women’s Views on Stress, Strength, and Health

Compared to other females, Black women have a shorter life expectancy and carry the highest mortality rate for many killer diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, infant mortality, HIV/AIDS and more. Compared to women of other races, Black women are also least likely to get married; and for decades, Black women's natural physical attributes have been criticized, but when purchased by others, those same attributes are deemed desirable, sexy and alluring. Go figure. Living Well, Despite Catchin' Hell: The Black Woman's Guide to Health, Sex and Happiness.

If you agree with the research, then you know you can’t play games with your health. Too much stress is dramatically impacting you. You need a retreat, by us for us!

In exactly 26 days Master Teacher Yirser Ra Hotep and Neter Aunkh Aakhu the two certifiers of Kemetic Yoga in America are teaming up with a few other teachers to present a one of a kind Soul Yoga Paradise Intensive Weekend Retreat.

This retreat is perfect if you are looking to de-stress, improve your health, and have major fun.
With just 28 days to go a few spots remain open but rather than just cancel, they decided to make a one-time special offer to BVSGA to see if we can fill those extra spots.

The great thing about it the deal is a 40% or 200 dollar savings off of an already reasonably priced retreat. Why? Because they realize even 28 days is very short notice so if you can make a decision quickly you can benefit tremendously.

For details go to:
Soulyogaparadise.splashthat.com

Four days in Paradise with these top practitioners will benefit you tremendously.
You’ll:

• Loose a few extra pounds
• Look years younger
• Gain more energy
• Make new friends on the health journey you are on.
• Discover healthier eating options
• Get tons of useful practices and techniques to master stress, quickly prevent disease or eliminate sickness from the body.
• Learn self-healing techniques and save on medical costs.
• Experience the ultimate getaway in the presence of experienced, top level African American practitioners
• Learn how to stay forever young in body mind and soul
• Learn ancient techniques for rapid life transformation, more fun, more joy, more peace.
• Learn how to enhance yourself spirituality in practical ways by focusing on techniques that build your internal resolve, will and character.
• Discover the role of Black people in the history of Yoga and the role they play today and on into the future.

Here are the basics:

• The retreat includes 3 nights 4 days in one of the top hotels on the island of Nassau: The Wyndahm Ambassador Hotel
• It includes over 20 hours of yoga workshops on everything from self-mastery to prosperity meditations.
• It includes a Vegan meal a day.
• Nov 2-4 2012 is the actual conference
• Normal Cost$595 BBWO $395(can be made in two payments)
• Here are the requirements to qualify for the discount
• You must be able to come in Thurs Nov 1 and leave Sunday afternoon /evening Nov 4.
• The deal is based on number of respondents once you sign for more info in 24 hours we will know if it’s a go.
• You must be ready to pay in full or make a payment in 48 hours otherwise the deal is off.
• This price is based on triple occupancy, if you prefer double add $100 to the total
• Your budget should be a minimum of $1000+ fun money. Flights from major cities average around 475 if you come in Thursday and leave Sunday.

If you can meet these requirements please sign up @ Soulyogaparadise.splashthat.com or call Neter Aunkh (305)651-4020

You know how you always hear "give something away to attract new clients"?  Well, everybody seems to give the same old stuff - articles, audio, etc.  Don't get me wrong.  A lot of giveaways have great value.  Sometimes businesses give away too much, but usually it's designed with the end users best interest in mind.

Giving things away for free is a fantastic way to get contact information, build subscribers, run contests or make product sales. But what kind of goodies might be creative, interesting, innovative? Here I'll share just a few ideas.

#1: USB Drives

Buying a USB drive on eBay only costs a few dollars. If you're buying them in bulk, you can get them even cheaper.

Take a bunch of USB drives and load them up with videos, audios or text content. Then give the USB drives away. That can have a much higher perceived value than having people download the files themselves.

#2: Pens

I love pens.  Pens are one of my passions.  (Check out my all time favorite pen hereon my Pinterest board, the Cross Year of the Dragon - ok, I digress).  As a giveaway, you can brand both high quality pens and low quality pens. While some people won't go out of their way for a pen, it could be a great item to include in a product. And a reminder of where to find you if you add your website or company name.

#3: Cups and Mugs

What if you came up with a cup design that people would actually want on their counters?  Instead of just putting your logo on it, think of creative designs, sayings, images you can include.

If you can come up with a unique design that people love, they'll definitely go out of their way to get that cup.

#4: DVDs and Videos

Another creative giveway - free DVDs or videos. While the up-front cost in creating videos may vary, once a video is created it becomes a very affordable item you can give away forever.

Printing a new DVD only costs a few dollars. Giving away an online video is completely free. And videos have a very high perceived value, making it an ideal giveaway item.

#5: T-Shirts

Much like mugs, you want your shirt to be unique. Don't think in terms of just adding your logo.  After all, people may not be inclined to be your walking billboard...

BUT

What if you try to have something funny, conscience-boosting, or shocking on the shirt? For instance, consider including an infographic or a quote with an image. Make it a shirt that people will want to wear...then add a small logo on it.

#6: Old Stuff

If you have old items sitting around that probably won't ever sell, you may be better off just using it as a free giveaway.

Do you have a batch of CDs sitting around?  Instead of hoping someone will buy them (which they probably won't), you can make good use of them as free bonuses.

#7: Quirky Objects

Quirky objects can include stretchy plastic toys, odd electronics and other small, portable objects that do strange things. These objects may not be particularly useful, but can be fun giveaways. If you can find some way to tie it back to your brand or product, even better.

I bet you can come up with other items you can giveaway in your business. Feel free to mix and match what I've suggested, or simply use these ideas as inspiration to come up with your own.

If you’re a serious minded Black Business Woman, I’m sure that when you saw the term Business-Savvy Barrier in the title of this post, you raised your eyebrows and thought, “What the what?” But the numbers representing our success and progress compared to women in other races are startling. Black women business owners have come a long way in the past 20 years, but we still have a way to go.

Despite the growth of Black women entrepreneurs, there are multiple challenges, specifically regarding the income disparity experienced in the entrepreneurial sector. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, although Black female business ownership is up 59% since 2002, we only generate a little more than 3% of the gross sales receipts of the $1.2 billion dollars of all women-owned small business firms.

These are the demographics of the top three women-owned small business firms by race: White (72%); black (12%); and Asian (7%). While there are approximately 388,759 more Black women business owners than Asian women, they generate $51 million dollars more in annual gross sales receipts. Conversely, Black men with small businesses earn an average of $103,310 annually, compared to Black women business owners who earn an annual average of $43,000. This is disturbing and ladies, we must do better!

This suggests that Black men are somehow more successful in charting their ascent up the business ladder, being their own bosses, and spearheading their own economic futures. This may also indicate that Black female entrepreneurs have significant hurdles to overcome outside the corporate setting without access to capital, economic resources, angel investors, and eminent business advisors with “real-world” experience to help navigate the rough business terrain.

This should be an eye-opener for Black women business owners collectively. If, as the data indicates, we are struggling with disparity in gross sales receipts, what will it take to change the numbers? How can we enhance our Earning Power? I’ve already pointed out several barriers that we must overcome, but there are also other major obstacles such as lack of market expansion. Studies have also shown that Black women tend to network and sell to “our own people”, because we perceive that they are most interested in our products and services. But by far, the most substantial hurdle has to do with being Business-Savvy.

Is the research pointing to a legitimate short-coming? Is there a Business-Savvy Barrier for Black women entrepreneurs? Strong Business Acumen (the term I prefer) involves having solid business management skills such as, financial acumen, driving strategy and innovation, critical thinking, and the ability to build strategic relationships. This goes beyond technical skill and the depth of knowledge that you may have regarding your industry. So, for Black women, the missing element of the success and financial profitability equation is Business Acumen.

Black women have brilliant business ideas, but we have to shift our focus to learning how to become “Masters in Business Acumen”. Our businesses have the potential to get us a much bigger piece of the revenue pie. So how can Black women bridge the financial gap and greatly enhance our gross receipts over the next several years? Here are four steps that I suggest:

1. Become More Business-Savvy: This means cultivate a deeper understanding of the business behind your business. From a business portfolio perspective, you must be cognizant of the primary functions that impact the bottom-line of your small business: Cash Flow (i.e. days of cash on hand and speed of cash generation), Customers (acquiring, serving and retaining them), Growth (achieved through new or enhanced products or services, reaching new customers, or moving into new markets), and Return (as a function of margin and velocity).
2. Develop Financial Acumen: Don’t relegate this to a bookkeeper and then glance at the numbers when you get your reports. You must learn how to interpret the story that the numbers tell and take the appropriate action (strategic and/or tactical) in response to that story. This means knowing exactly what your company's financial numbers mean and their implications.
3. Constantly Focus on Business Strategy: The business arena is all about change, all the time, no matter what industry you’re in—and that's more evident now than ever before. Your business strategy must do three things effectively: gain customer preference, create a sustainable competitive advantage, and leave money in the bank. To avoid the red zone of failure or to move from just breaking even, you must operate more strategically.
4. Understand the Power of Positioning: Whether you are a new business owner or seasoned, you wear the mantle of a business leader. Innovation and strategy within your business will be driven by your great ideas and your ability to execute and implement those ideas. Understand your current position in the marketplace, see where your industry is heading and then take a LEAD position – get in the front of the line and deliver!

To know how closely you fit in the statistics, ask yourself this question: Based upon your tax return from 2011, would your accountant say that you have a “business” or a “hobby”? I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

I have a new virtual service coming on October 16, 2012 that can help you enhance your Business Acumen.  Take a look at this e-Brochure to learn more.  If you are serious about becoming a Business-Savvy Black Woman and want to increase your earning potential, the MBA Center for Women can help you! If you would like more information or want to sign-up for the MBACW mailing list, please visit http://www.moniquestoner.com/the-mba-center-for-women/. The MBACW website and virtual training services can be previewed live on October 9, 2012 at www.mbacenterforwomen.com.

Internet and network marketer must understand the basics of SEO to ensure that content and website promotion reaches search engines like Google and Yahoo. When you have a better understanding of how search engines work, you'll know what you have to do to get your articles, blog posts, videos, etc., to rank high on Google.


The first thing you should know and be concerned about are keywords. Google will rank a website based on what they scan when the site is visited. For instance, if they see a site that has the keyword "lose weight for good" throughout the content on the site, Google will then put that website on the search engines for that specific keyword.  This way, people who are searching for information on that topic will be able to find what they need. Remember, Google operates for visitors to find what they need.


Now if you have keywords all throughout your site, you will still need off-page optimization with backlinks to get the high rankings. Backlinks will get your site noticed and bring in lots of traffic which is what you want. The popularity of your site is crucial to the internet and your business. Having other websites linking back to your site is a huge plus. Websites that are robust with authority will have Google going crazy. In order for you to gain this popularity that Google loves so much, you have to have links on other sites to link back to your site. If you publish an article or guest post on another blog, leave your URL in your bio. You can even do this when you make comments in places like

Yahoo Answers, forums, blog posts, videos, etc. There are many ways you can do this on different networks. Also, making sure your page is optimized for search engines is a great idea. You absolutely do not want to leave this on-page optimization out.   This is when you include your web page title, meta description, and meta keywords. Make sure these are targeted keywords or key phrases.   


Since you have an idea of how SEO workds, you can now start to improve your website to work toward high rankings on search engines. Be consisent in learning how to use SEO in your marketing efforts.

More info on the blog at http://www.selfmadesavvy.com/info

My daughters, are excited & satisfied fans of the bath and body products from Smell Goods 98™.  They use various products from the Stay Sweet Collection such as the Power Scents, Spritzers, and the Sugar Whips.  Just recently, Smell Goods 98™ launched the "Stay Sweet Self LOVE Soaps."  They come in aromatic scents like, Strawberry Splash, Raspberry Razpataz, Cotton Candy Craze, Chocolate Drizzle, and Bammin' Banana!  Each Self LOVE soap also has it's own positive affirmation, for example, Chocolate Drizzle's, (which happens to be the fragrance my daughter's have), is "I have a POSITIVE PURPOSE in life!"

From now until October 18th at 9 P.M. (est), Smell Goods 98™ is offering "Cupcake-on-a-Rope-Gift" when you purchase 3 Stay Sweet Self LOVE Soaps.  Before taking a bath with the Chocolate Drizzle Cupcake-on-a-Rope, my youngest daughter asked me if she would smell like chocolate when she's done.  So after the bath I asked her about it and she said, "I smell like the good chocolate like your cookies!"

As a parent, I want what's best for my children in all areas and that's why I choose bath and body products from Smell Goods 98™.  Everything is handmade with an abundance of love and creativity from natural ingredients; it's wholesome goodness.  My husband and I use many of their products as well.  It would torture me to have to say what my favorite is because I adore each one that I use so I will just tell you what I used this morning:  Palm Oil Soap, (which I need to order more A.S.A.P. because we're almost out), Essentials Deodorant, Pure Body Balm, and Essentials Balm Stick, (for my lips).

I hope you will try Smell Goods 98™ natural bath and body products for you and your children as we are a very satisfied "smelling good" family!

Every speaker and author is told they must have a    “PLATFORM.”

What exactly does that mean????

A platform is just your key message. It is the position and influence you have on a subject that is informative, interesting, inspiring and thought-provoking.

Your platform is the message that you STAND ON that reaches your core audience. It is your calling, your charge.

Your platform is the message you STAND FOR that gets people to move, take action, rally behind and/or solve a problem. It’s BIGGER than YOU!

A platform is like a “movement.” It is like a mission – and you feel you’ve been assigned to promote it.

What does an established platform look like?
1. You generate excitement/energy to an audience

2. You have attracted national media attention, have star
power or the “celebrity factor”  – ready for the Red Carpet.

3.  You are often quoted and looked upon as an expert by peers

4. You are sought-out to deliver keynote presentations or workshops or consult with “A” list clients / corporations

5.  You have created a fan-base that promotes your message to others that gives you referrals

6.  You have a large database, social media following and strong brand presence in the marketplace
WHEW!

Now that we know what a “Platform” is and what a successful platform looks like, let’s look at how to build your platform for your book or your speaking career.
Here’s how to establish a platform:

1. Brand. Look like where you want to go.  Have the look of “celebrity.” Have a professional photo shoot. Hire an image consultant. Let’s be real: lose weight if you have to – image is everything.
2. Have a spectacular biography. List your awards, activities, media hits, add testimonials and your photo to the bio sheet. This is called a “one sheet.” (see Candace’s above) I have launched many speakers careers by writing bios that became their “ticket” to where they needed to go – even before their book was published.  I crafted their “speaking topics” and secured  “A -list” endorsements. This was the foundation of their careers and they still use it to this day.
3. Speak, give workshops, seminars. Volunteer your times at churches, schools or hospitals. No one is calling to PAY you to speak YET, so speak for free! Just get shots of you in action and video.
4. Write. Yes, you hear that you need a platform to publish a book – but in reality a book can establish your platform. It’s easy to self-publish these days. Go to www.essence-publishing.com and get a free publishing kit. And if you need help, hire a ghost writer or a book coach.
5. Pitch yourself to the media as an expert. Contact radio, TV, newspapers or magazines and offer your expertise. A quick way to get exposure is to regularly call-in to talk shows and join the conversation.  You can get to know the producers of the shows that way.  If you are afraid to “sell” yourself  – get a PR coach to help bolster your confidence and tell you what to say.
6. Write Op/Ed (opinion editorials) or columns for your local newspaper or regional magazine. Make sure your byline includes your “spectacular bio,” links and contact information.
7. Host your own conference, community outreach event or mini-seminar series.  Invite other expert speakers that will help “validate” your platform.  Make the event FREE so you pack in as many people as possible to showcase your skill. Make sure you alert the media. Because the event is free, pitch a public service announcement (PSA) to broadcast stations. Get listings in the daily newspapers.
8. Secure a leadership position in a non-profit. Offer your expertise to the organization pro-bono and ask for letters of reference, testimonials and referrals.
9. Blog! Grow your social media following. Become a thought-leader by sharing your thoughts online. Dive into Facebook (set up a ‘fan’ page) and Twitter and connect them to your blog. Make sure you are delivering value and offering solutions to problems. Search out other blogs to guest blog too.
10. People have to hear you and see you. Set up a Youtube channel and post up videos of yourself in action. Post up videos of those who have heard your presentations too. Promote your videos via your social media channels such as Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin.
11. Podcast. Become a radio show host on Blogtalkradio. Interview other experts in your field and promote the podcast on your blog and syndicate it for free iTunes. Get an account at Cincast deliver messages anytime, anywhere across the internet.
12. Build a database. This is hub of your platform. Make sure you build an email database and regularly communicate with them via an email newsletter. Drive traffic to your website/blogsite from your social media sites and capture their email addresses by offering a “free” gift that is representative of your brand. This should be a free gift that is so convincing of your expertise that they will stay connected to you over time and eventually become a “raving fan.”
13. Joint venture and partner with others. Do teleseminars or webinars with other speakers/authors that compliment your platform. This is a good way to get exposure to a new audience. You promote them to your audience and they promote you to theirs.  Win-win synergy

Bottom line: in order to have an established platform – you need numbers and influence. The more exposure you have, the greater opportunity for others to really know, like and trust you.  Once  you have their trust, they will spread the message of your platform to others.  And word of mouth is still the best form of advertising.

It’s all about people and how you are positioned to make difference to make an impact in people’s lives. It’s ministry really. See www.LaunchLikeaSuperstar.com

See www.PamPerryPRCoach.com too for free MP3 and www.ChocolatePagesNetwork.com! (FREE social network for  authors)

Pam Perry, is a PR coach, social media strategist, co-founder Perry + Williams and chief visionary at Ministry Marketing Solutions Inc. in Farmington, Mich.

Visit her at www.MinistryMarketingSolutions.com and get her podcasts on Blogtalkradio too!

In this 20 minute interview, I'm speaking with Attorney Aurelia Mitchell-Durant of AMD Law Group (http://amdlawgroup.com) about Pinterest and the key issues service providers need to be aware of when using this social tool. Aurelia is an expert in international branding for businesses, as well as brand protection. Some good stuff here.

Catch the interview audio here

Here's a few of the tips shared during the interview:

1. Keep the images you use intact in their original format (i.e. don't make the mistake of claiming something is yours when it's not)
2. Look for signs on the site where you're pulling images from that it's acceptable for you to post the image (i.e. is there a "pin it" button?)
3. Remember you can always  ...

Check it out and let me know what you think. Anything else to add to the list?

PeopleWhoProsper is excited to introduce you to another successful business woman.  Gwen Frempong Boadu is the owner and designer of Gwyneth Shoes. After working for over 20 years in the designer shoe industry and wanting to start a family, Gwen took matters into her own hands and created her own line. Gwyneth Shoes was designed for women of all shapes and sizes, expanding to shoe size 14. Every Fall season, Gwyneth Shoes introduces a wide leg boot and has recently started a bridal line called, Blue by Gwyneth. Gwen's line is in boutiques around the country and also on Endless.com. I'm excited to share her story of perseverance and success. Enjoy!

1. Tell me your story. What were you doing before you started your own business?

Before Gwyneth was a vision, I worked as a design assistant for Sam & Libby (Sam Edelman), where I was eventually promoted to Sr. Designer before moving on to work with other powerhouse shoe companies like Kenneth Cole and Steve Madden.

2. What made you want to start a business and what is your mission?

After working for nearly 20 years and getting to see the world, my life was only about my career. I have always wanted kids, but it was impossible with my demanding schedule, so mainly out of a need for flexibility to start a family, Gwyneth was born. During my years in the industry, I always noticed especially in foreign countries, the awful shoes that tall women wore and the few choices they had to change it. So part of Gwyneth's mission was to create beautiful affordable and comfortable footwear for all women, including those that wear size 10 or more!

3. What inspires you? What keeps you motivated daily to keep growing your business?

My inspiration comes from many sources be it nature, art or life itself. I’m also inspired by the diverse culture and personal style of women from around the world. To keep Gwyneth evolving, I constantly challenge myself on how I can improve or create something new based on voids in my own closet and how they may relate to other women.

4. Do you have a mentor? Who is it and why? Do you believe it's important to have one?

I learned a lot from my first mentor in the industry Sam Edelman. He is one of the most creative people I've ever worked with.  I’m still in contact with him today. I think it's extremely important to have someone teach you all the ins and outs that you may not normally be exposed to, it's a great way to expedite your professional growth. Often I approach new collections thinking, what will Sam's take on this be or asking myself, what would Steve (Steve Madden) do?

5. What would you tell someone who wants to get involved in your line of business but doesn't know how to get started?

The best place to get started is with the proper education or having a related background. Most companies require a bachelor's degree in fashion and or business. Of course it's a plus to have the necessary talent and experience as well.

6. What advice would you give to someone with an entrepreneurial spirit?

Anyone looking to start their own business must be extremely passionate about their craft. They should also be prepared to make sacrifices........

I would like to thank Gwen for sharing her story with us. I hope you have been inspired especially if you are an aspiring fashion designer. You can see the Gwyneth Shoes collection and visit the online store at www.gwynethshoes.com.

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Be someone’s motivation and tell us your story! To be featured on PeopleWhoProsper.com email Tamara@garrisonprosperitysolutions.com. Put PEOPLEWHOPROSPER in the subject line and share a little about yourself.

Some of our members (including myself), have some motivation, information, and inspiration to share with you this morning.

First note that today I am hosting the Rock The Web Webinar Workshop. If you are getting started, starting over, or simply trying to get clear on your web vision be sure to join us. Plus the Blogging for Business and Customer Attraction webinars are also available for registration. To participate or get details go to www.sherockstheweb.com.

Emails Driving You Crazy?
Tanya Smith shares a great web app for managing subscriptions in your Gmail inbox. Tremendous time saver. (watch video here)

Black Women Inventors
Denise B has recently shared the story of Dr. Shirley Jackson. She invented touch tone phones, the portable fax machine and fiber optic cables used to make overseas calls clearer. Jackson also used her skills in science to make call waiting and caller ID possible. (continue reading)

What is Killing Your Vision by Regina Coley
When you begin to plan your vision there will seem to be things that hinder you from pushing forward. (continue reading)

How do you deal with that “icky” feeling of rejection? + 3 steps to healthy acceptance
Rejection feels “icky” doesn’t it? It hits that space in us that we are uncomfortable with. That space that reminds us that we perhaps aren’t good enough or worthy enough. It reminds us of those childhood memories we would much rather forget. It just doesn’t feel good to be rejected by others. (continue reading)

Upcoming Events
As I prepare to speak at Blogalicious 2012 this I have a few things to tell you.

One: be sure to let me know if you will be in Vegas too!
Two: remember you can add or browse upcoming events here.
Three: I will be hosting a Fall SistaSense Power Circle Next Month! Look out of details and contact me here if you would like like to submit a panel proposal.

More to come!

LaShanda Henry
Founder of Black Business Women Online
www.mybbwo.com

If you've been hearing a lot about Pinterest, it's because it has caught on like a really catchy phrase...it almost seems as though it just came out of nowhere and now it's breaking record speed for popularity, length of time on site (average? 90 mins+!), and more.

If you are a business owner, chances are you have not yet figured out how Pinterest could be used in your marketing strategy. Sure, you have established goals for each of your individual marketing tactics, like your content marketing. You have even created a step by step plan to achieve those goals, possibly with the incorporation of social media (why not, everyone else is). But I bet you didn't think that posting pictures could be much of a marketing boost, right?

Pinterest is boasting faster growth numbers than some of the more popular social networks when they first started out - i.e. Twitter, Facebook, etc. At my last reading, they had nearly 12 million monthly unique visitors and it hasn't even in existence very long. Creating a Pinterest profile could very well help you be exposed to new leads, drive traffic and boost your business growth.

Pinterest is actually catching on so fast, I suspect, because it's heralding the next social media phase - visual imagery. Remember when it was all about written content? Then we heard video? Pictures and visual imagery are hot right now because they speak to people emotionally. Visual aspects of how you market are becoming more and more important. And it would be very smart to develop an image sharing strategy to tell your story, to convey your branding, to make faster connections.

Here are a few ideas to help you get started using Pinterest in your marketing approach:

#1 Blog PlugIns

#2 Content Marketing

#3 Social Networking

Remember to test and track your efforts. Add Pinterest to your analytics. Pay attention to who is pinning your content and repinning your pins. Track your Pinterest traffic and integrate your efforts with other traffic generation strategies you're using.

By the way, you have to be invited in order to set up an account. If you need an invite, simply visit me on Facebook and let me know you need an invitation. You'll be able to view my Pinterest tab there also (remember? integration :) ).

WANT TO RE-POST THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR BLOG OR USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

About the Author: Tanya Smith is a creative business strategist and coach specializing in showing independent service providers how to simplify, save time & stand out with simple strategies that engage more quality leads and clients.  Her company Be Promotable provides fresh actionable strategies and virtual resources to promote business owners as power players in their market.  For instant access to your free 7 secrets to online time management report, visit us at: www.tanyasmithonline.com.

In a recent conversation with a friend who is CEO of a construction company, I explained how doing business with the government could potentially take her business to the next level. She shared her frustration at responding to RFP (request for proposal). She had bid on many over the years and each time, they were awarded to the same male owned businesses! She then blurted, “If only I could think like a man… I could have won some of those contracts!”

Hmmm, is she right? Do women need to imitate men to be more competitive in business? Should a woman ‘think like a man’ to be more successful in business? Maybe OR maybe not!

Can an Assertive Woman Get What She Wants?

While it is acceptable for men to be assertive; on the other hand, women who go after what they want without apologizing along the way are viewed as aggressive or worse, a witch (drop the ‘w’ and add ‘b’). So, how can women use this to their advantage?

Women can:

• Be Firm: whether it’s a handshake or the price of your services! We’ve all done it before; lowered the price of our products or services for the sake of closing the deal or meeting the needs of a potential client. Avoid this behavior! By doing so compromise your expertise and integrity.

• Speak up: let your voice be heard. ‘Say what you mean… and mean what you say!’ Stand firm in your beliefs! When engaged in a discussion, ensure that others understand your message and are able to communicate any questions or concerns as appropriate.

• Play the Part. It is imperative that you look the part of a successful and self-assured entrepreneur. Whether meeting with a potential client or business partner, attending networking event or giving a speech, IMAGE is EVERYTHING! Give a firm handshake, establish eye contact and engage others.
  

Afraid to Take a ‘Chance?’ Odds of Winning… 50/50!

Men are encouraged to take chances. The unknowndoesn’t scare them as it’s a part of doing business. Most women shy away from situations that are uncomfortable or daring.

To take advantage of this strength, it is crucial for women to evaluate, manage and take risk in business. Say you are faced with a challenge and pondering if it is worth taking a chance. Ask yourself:

1. What is the worst thing that could happen if things went amiss?
2. If it happened, how would you handle it?
3. What positive things could you learn from this situation, regardless of the conclusion?

Life is full of chances! By embracing challenges and obstacles head on, lessons learned from them is well worth it!

Men vs Women in Networking… Which Gender is More Effective?

Men are very skilled at networking. They take full advantage on the golf course, during happy hours and at other informal settings. They cut to the chase and go from introduction to deal.

Women believe in the importance of ‘know, like and trust’which eventually cultivate into business. They develop great relationships but don’t take advantage of their interpersonal or social strengths.

Statistics show that 70% of new business is generated from referrals from networking events. In a recent article, Nicole Williams, author of "Girl on Top: Your Guide to Turning Dating Rules into Career Success,” says, “Women tend to equate networking with "schmoozing" or handing out business cards. In reality, networking is about building relationships before you actually need them."

While women have different strengths and communication styles than men, there are a few simple tips to help in getting the most BANGout of a networking event.

• Create a Mini Action Plan for Every Event. When attending an event, it behooves you to know who will be there. Take time to research the purpose of the event, attendees, presenters, vendors and businesses. Then you can decide who you want to connect with. Imagine meeting a potential client and acknowledge a recent award they received.

• Practice your Pitch. You will meet a lot of people and have the opportunity of introducing yourself and business. Make sure your message is clear and concise. Fine tune your elevator pitch to make the most of your conversation.
  

• Follow Up. Within the next week, make sure you follow up with e-mails, phone calls or a simple letter. The key is to connect with potential people that can be beneficial to your company. For most women, this is the easy part as they tend to be thorough with follow-up, delivery of promised information, or promptly scheduling of meetings.

In conclusion, it’s apparent that women and men speak different languages. Neither gender is all right or all wrong. So, it is not necessary for them to ‘Think like a man,’ rather; learn from what they are doing right!

About Author: Sylvia Browder is a small business consultant, trainer and author. She is founder of National Association Women on the Rise, a virtual community for aspiring and established women entrepreneurs. She has served as an online volunteer SCORE counselor since 2004. For FREE weekly articles go to Sylvia Browder’s Blog for Women Entrepreneurs, www.sylviabrowder.com. She can be contacted at info@sylviabrowder.com.

According to Merriam-Webster.com, one definition of “victorious” is:

• having won a victory
• of, relating to, or characteristic of victory

This led me to look up the definition of “victory,” which is achievement of mastery or success in a struggle or endeavor against odds or difficulties.

Here are a few characteristics I believe all victorious women possess:

1. She knows how to let go of the past and other things that may hold her back so she can step into a brighter future. A victorious woman knows it does no good to hold on to grudges or allow what happened in the past to hold her hostage. She understands that to move into the successful life she deserves and desires, she must forgive and let go.
2. She finds a way to make her dreams come true. A victorious woman realizes that she has her dreams for a reason and that God didn’t give her her desires without a way to make them happen. She knows that the road may be long and have bumps and curves, but she also knows that she can and will find a way to bring her dreams and desires to fruition.
3. A victorious woman isn’t defined by other people’s opinions of her. She knows that people will have their thoughts about her and what she does, but she knows that, at the end of the day, the only opinion that truly matters is her own and God’s. She understands that what is really important is walking in her calling and doing what she’s been purposed to do.
4. She lets go of the idea of being perfect or “Superwoman.” A victorious woman realizes there’s no such thing as being perfect (i.e., flawless); she knows that she can and should be the best she can be. And she continuously strives for excellence and works on being the best version of herself.
5. She stays away from negative situations and people. Although she may have to deal with them at times, a victorious woman does not constantly stay in situations that are negative and energy-draining, nor does she hang around individuals who continuously complain, gossip or who never have anything positive to say or contribute. She knows that she must surround herself with positivity.
6. A victorious woman never lets defeat have the last word. She knows that her journey in life won’t always be easy or lined with gold. She knows that she will fall down, fail and have disappointments. But, a victorious woman always picks herself up, dusts herself off and keeps it moving until she reaches her destination!

Are there any other characteristics you would add? Please share below! 

Dreamer. Lover of life. Goal getter. These are just a few words to describe Jamie Fleming-Dixon, inspirational writer, blogger, editor and F.A.B. Life Strategist. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of For Colored Gurls, a personal development blog with the mission of inspiring and empowering women to live their most Fabulous lives. Additionally, she is owner of Mocha Writer, a boutique copy editing and proofreading service.

Jamie is also the author of How to Change Your Mindset + Live Your Most Fabulous Life, a motivational book, providing practical tips for creating a more positive mindset and living the life of one's dream. She has been featured in several websites, blogs, magazines and Blog Talk Radio Shows, including TheCEOMamma.com, AfroElle Magazine and Prominence Magazine and was recently named one of the 2012 50 Fabulous Women Entrepreneurs on BBWO (Black Business Women Online). Visit her online at jamieflemingdixon.com. 

For Staying Focus! May not be your thing….I know its now mine.

But there is Great News!

There is information on how to…READ On!

Okay so I love the idea that I can run my own home business, it is fantastic! I have the flexibility to set my own hours, freedom to make my own schedule and getting to be MY OWN BOSS. Unfortunately, sometimes staying focused isn’t my thing.

My mind wanders, tasks fall by the wayside, the kids are calling, procrastination sets in and suddenly, I’m “working” 12-hour days.

After reading around on the big ole internet I was able to find some tips for staying focused while running your own home business that I thought would be interesting to share.

1) Wake up earlier. Some of our best work is done in the morning, without the distractions of daily tasks. If you have children then getting up even just an hour before them can produce amazing results when you have a big task to tackle.

2) Turn off distractions, the radio, TV, including not checking your email. Set aside an hour of uninterrupted work time where you will only stay focused on the work at hand. Force yourself to not checking emails or social sites and concentrate on that one task even for just one hour. The results can be very rewarding.

3) Sometimes getting out of the house is good for focusing. Go for a walk or take your laptop down the street to a local coffee shop. Sometimes, getting out of your space is not only good for you mentally and physically, but it can also help re energize you and give you new ideas. Next time when you’re struggling over a problem or facing a creative block, try a change of scenery.

4) Plan your day. Get an agenda and set aside blocks of time for each task or project. Not only will this help you stay focused, it will also help you track exactly how much time you really are spending on each task.

5) Set boundaries. Let your family know that the office is out-of-bounds and let yourself know that the work day is done at 5pm. By setting rules and boundaries for yourself, you’re adding valuable structure into your business and preserving your separation of home and work.

For more tips on success in your business click here!

See you on the other side!

Rejection feels “icky” doesn’t it? It hits that space in us that we are uncomfortable with. That space that reminds us that we perhaps aren’t good enough or worthy enough. It reminds us of those childhood memories we would much rather forget. It just doesn’t feel good to be rejected by others.

We’ve all experienced it at some point in our lives, perhaps regularly. That feeling of wanting to retreat and hide in our “caves” after someone has rejected us or made us feel as if we weren’t “in the in crowd”. Or perhaps that family member who spoke to you in a manner that contradicts the symbol and role they are supposed to play in your life, confirming that “people are selfish or out to get you” It could also be the lost client contract or the new connection you made with someone on line who’s positive energy wasn’t favorably returned. It happens to us all at one time as we all have this undercurrent desire to be accepted and connected to each other. It’s normal for us to want to bond with others and co-exist with others. It’s part of our human DNA – but when rejection begins to take over our human existence, the feeling of wanting to be accepted begins to appear in an unhealthy way.

You know…

::Seeking approval over and over from others and feeling “empty” when not reciprocated

::Not knowing when it’s time to let go of a relationship or connection

::Making personal decisions based on what others think of you…

::The ironic disconnect from others (i.e. isolation or indifference because the world isn’t giving you “your way”)

or the most common for most people…

Living your entire life against the flow of your LIFE PURPOSE.

IS THAT HOW WE REALLY SHOULD LIVE OUR LIVES?

Click here to read more

Everywhere you turn you see a blog and yes it seems like everybody and their grandmother has a blog and so you may be wondering, “Why blogging?” Is blogging really going to help my business and my bottom line?  The simple answer is yes and yes. But, it is much deeper than simply having a blog.

For starters, the fact that it is very smart, from both a financial standpoint and authority standpoint by no means does this mean that blogging should be your exclusive activity. You will definitely want to intertwine blogging with other marketing strategies.  Having multiple marketing strategies increases your income just as having multiple income streams does and you never want to place all of your eggs into one basket!

Let’s now take a look at how having a blog can be the stepping stone to taking your business to greater levels.

1. Having a Blog Boosts Your Internet Prescence You need to be found! A blog is extremely simple to set up now a days (much simpler than a website) because of the many drag and drop blog platforms that exist today.  Additionally, Google loves high-quality content.  Assuming you are posting value adding, quality content, with some easy to integrate SEO techniques, you can get the search engines to skyrocket your rankings which will give traffic to your blog!

2. Having a Blog Establishes and Boosts Your Credibility A professional looking blog can make you look like a celebrity!  When set up correctly, your blog can enable you to come across as an expert, a true leader that other people will want to follow – even when you are just starting out!

3. Having a Blog Can Get You Business Leads on Autopilot Once your blog is up, you will have multiple different options to allow people to ‘opt-in’ and subscribe to your newsletter, blog postings, article postings, etc. This is one of the most effective ways to generate high quality leads into your business while you sleep and enjoy life! These are the most qualified leads because these are people that found you and chose to ‘opt-in’ to you!

4. Having a Blog is FREE Having a blog is one of the most important marketing tools because it doesn’t have to cost money to post information and collect other peoples information (leads) in the process.  Will it take time, yes!  But it can be free!  Every other marketing method takes money.  Whether you do Facebook Ads, Google Ads, Solo Ads – all of these things take money, time, trial, error and more money and they don’t guarantee a darn thing!

5. You Can Monetize Your Blog As you post content that is of quality you can let your blog followers know!  This could include links to other quality products and services that may cost money.  As you earn the right to sell to and ad value to your list of subscribers, this becomes an opportunity to sell on the backend forever – monetize. With the click of a button you can sell to a willing list of people over and over and over again, as long as you are adding value.

6. You Can Integrate Your Blog with Other Social Media Sites There are simple FREE plug ins that you can integrate into your blog that will link your blog to your Facebook Page, Twitter Page, LinkedIn Page and whatever other social media sites that you belong to.  This gives you even more credibility and more opportunity to be found, cross referenced and generate more traffic and leads.

These are just a few of the reasons why you need a blog and why everybody and their mother seems to be blogging now-a-days.

Want to have a customized, fully optimized for search engine optimization blog that gives you hours of free video training whenever you need it, up and running today?  Check out Free Blog Factory and be positioned as an authority today!

I can’t express the importance of not having to spend countless hours of “figuring things out” and instead being able to be up and running with a unique blog that looks great, is representative of you and allows you to focus on growing your business rather than dealing with the headache of making sure that your blog was set up correctly. Check out Free Blog Factory today!

To Your Success,

Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net

P.S. – I use a system that anyone can use with any company and pretty much for any industry!! It is a great way for you to start learning how to generate leads and traffic plus earn additional income by referring the system even if no one joins your primary MLM or Home Based Business. Get your FREE presentation by Clicking here now!

Getting too caught up in the details of your business can easily throw you off track. Say what? How can focusing on too much detail get you off track? Let me explain with my own experience that I’ve noticed and how it applies to your business goals.

Have you ever tried to do Yoga, Pilates or an exercise that required you to hold your balance?

When I was experimenting with different exercises on DVD, I find one that was challenging, and it stretched me beyond what I thought were my limits. I was challenged to hold a certain stance for what seemed like forever. I thought I was in pretty good shape ― I regularly work out 3-4 times a week.  Surprisingly, I couldn't get more than a couple of steps before I'd lose my balance and either trip over my feet or tip over. I got frustrated! I thought, there’s no way I can do this.

What I learned from the instructor is, I had a better chance of keeping in balance by finding a point in the room to focus on.  After taking that piece of advice, and focusing on a goal; I successfully balanced my weight by looking at a picture down the hallway in my dining room. It was only when I focused on “every little thing” in the room that I’d lose my balance.

It can happen the same way in business, too. When you focus on “every little thing” in the details of the short-term, you “fall off track” in where you wanted to go.  I coach my clients to have a vision for their lives/business, so I believe in having the details of building the kind of business you want. You can’t get anywhere without a step-by-step process to reach your goal.  And consequently, if your eyes are everywhere except on the goal, you are bound to lose your footing.

My point is to focus on the needs of your target market. What solutions do you have to ease their pain? It can be too distracting when you try to implement all the bells and whistles, get trapped in the new shinning thing that’s out, and find yourself not getting anywhere in your business.  That keeps you stuck and off track.  The only way to stay on track is by looking toward your ultimate goal: you are helping people solve some problem in return for them repaying you fairly for the time and effort you put into it. Now, there’s the true essence of business, not the details of your business.  All you need to do is take the steps to the point, in the distance. And the more you take that to heart, the more easily you'll stay on track toward your goal.

Have you gotten off track in your business? Have you lost your clarity and focus? I am offering “The F.A.S.T. Track to Grow Your Business: Focus, Action, Strategy and Time” that is starting this fall. See details, and register today!

Cherri Walston is known as The Big Picture Catalyst.She helps women solo-entrepreneurs and small-business owners stay focused and productuve, so they can generate more clients and sky-rocket their income. Pick up her FREE report on, "Six Clues You Are Getting In the Way of Living Your Vision".