Introducing Trish Nolen, owner of Becoming products. In 2009, Trish was laid off and found herself searching for her calling and purpose in life. In doing so, she began to live a healthy and organic life, also wearing her hair naturally (no chemicals or dyes). When using products for her hair she discovered she did not like the results and began creating her own products using ingredients from her kitchen. She began sharing the hair products with friends and family, eventually realizing she had created her own hair product line. Trish has already began to get orders for her products, offering hair yogurt and conditioner. Trish shares more about her story, hair care products and what motivates her in her interview. Enjoy!
1. Tell me your story. What were you doing before you started your own business?
I hail from the tiny town of Hanford, Ca. I am a single mom of two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. I have struggled to provide for them over the years working jobs here and there, but never really having enough. I have had to collect money from welfare at times, been on unemployment, and so on and so forth. I believe it was in the summer of 2009, after being laid off, that I realized that I needed a major change. I begin to search for God, which led me to seek out my purpose. I realized that I was very interested in natural health, organic living, and things of this nature. It was now the summer of 2010, and I decided to no longer relax my hair and go natural. I dove into the natural communities, loving my sistas who were paving the way. I learned that I could create my own products in my own kitchen that worked better for my hair than a lot of products in the local beauty stores, and the best part was that my products didn’t have harsh chemicals. I was amazed, and I became illuminated. I had found a passion and soon realized that others were searching for natural affordable products as well. This is how my business was birthed.
2. What made you want to start a business and what is your mission?
My mission now is to educate others. First, to embrace our God-given hair, and also to honor our temples with a healthy and whole lifestyle. I love creating a product that is natural, that will enhance hair and skin, without jeopardizing our health with harsh chemicals.
3. What inspires you? What keeps you motivated daily to keep growing your business?
My children have been my inspiration. They depend on me, and I know that I must keep going, even when it gets tough. I want to make sure that I provide for them a life of prosperity, not a life of poverty.
4. Do you have a mentor? Who is it and why? Do you believe it's important to have one?
God placed an amazing man in my life in 2008. He has mentored me. He freely gives me business advice, corrects me, encourages me, and challenges me to be better daily. His name is Antranik, and I am very blessed to have him on my team. I honor him. It is very important to have a mentor. This person has already made the mistakes and if you embrace them, they add much value and insight to your dreams.
5. What would you tell someone who wants to get involved in your line of business but doesn't know how to get started?
My advice for anyone who wants to pursue a business in the natural hair product line would be to always put God first, obtain information, study people's wants and needs, and ask plenty of questions.
6. What advice would you give to someone with an entrepreneurial spirit?
Is to first know that your desires are heaven-sent, embrace your passion, and step out on faith and go for it. If you do your best, God always does the rest. Mistakes will be made, but never give up. Create a dream team with talented people, humble yourself, and always honor those who have gone before you and paved the way.
I want to thank Trish for sharing her story and business with us. She is a fine example of how believing in yourself can help achieve anything. For more info on "Becoming" visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/Intensions. You can also visit Trish’s website at http://www.becomingnatural.weebly.com.
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.
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Posted by Tanya Smith on November 6, 2012 at 3:10am
This past week, so many people suffered from a superstorm that was born out of water, sand and wind. Sandy's latest stats spoke of killing an overall 161 people, including 92 in the United States (source: CNN, Nov. 2, 2012).
The aftermath of this storm has left literally hundreds of thousands of people without fuel, food, electricity, and prized possessions.
This storm was a heartbreak and one of the biggest ever in the loss of lives and finance.
And many of us felt the pain and the wrath of it even from many miles away.
Maybe you have felt loss and pain because of storms in your business - one day you're riding high, enjoying the fruits of your labor and out of nowhere it seems, you're left scraping the bottom of your budget, feeling desperation about your business model, facing naysayers who tell you to give up, unable to attract paying clients. These personal storms can take a heavy toll on you.
But there are lessons we can learn from the recovery following this devastating storm called Sandy. Lessons we can apply to life and our businesses, especially in times of loss.
Lesson 1 - You Are Not Alone
In the aftermath of a huge storm like this, it's easy to feel separated from the rest of the world. People feel isolated, like no one but their small community knows what's going on. Survivors of Hurricane Katrina and the Joplin, Missouri tornado spoke of the anger and sadness, and how alone they felt.
Victim Eileen Romero spoke of this to CNN, "I didn't even realize that we were being covered 24 hours a day," she said. "It was only months later that I comprehended that New Orleans was on TV all the time, that people cared so much about it."
When you are facing devastation in your business and in your life, you may be surprised that people care. They want you to be successful. They want you to get back on your feet. Reach out through mediums like networking communities, social media, friends and family. You don't have to share all the specifics; say what you're comfortable saying and let others help and encourage you.
Lesson 2 - Focus On What's Important
In times of tragedy, remember what's important. I was listening to an interview with a family who talked about how they lost so much. But they weren't looking for their laptops or jewelry in the wreckage; they were trying to find other loved ones, making sure they all had food, that they could be transported to safe lodging.
In business, you may find yourself falling back on familiar things like putting time and money into a website, when you could be making sure you have groceries for the month. Take inventory of what's happening and where to focus your time and money when going through a business crisis. Focus on the priorities for survival until you can get back on your feet.
Lesson 3 - Recovery Won't Happen Overnight
Even after the worst of the storm itself was over, many Sandy victims still await rescue. Although some electricity was restored, backup batteries and generators for cellphone towers have been running out of juice. It's going to take some time to get back to stability.
When you have suffered a loss in your business, it won't "fix" itself overnight. Remember there is a process to recovery and just because you don't see things turning around after making two or three efforts, it doesn't mean it's time to give up. A colleague of mine talks about how it took her 3 years to get back on her feet after her small business went bankrupt. It was not easy, but her perseverance paid off.
Hold onto your vision - keep it steady, and know that it may not be time to give up on your dream just yet. Even if you have to find temporary employment in a different field, even if you feel your previous business model has failed, it doesn't mean you should give up your idea completely.
Do what you need to survive first, surround yourself with encouragement and support, and dust yourself off to plan for the next life adventure.
“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” - Khalil Gibran, Artist, Poet, Writer (1883-1931)
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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. Get free tools to simplify and stand out online at:www.tanyasmithonline.com
Some email campaigns can be a lot more successful than others. While this is typical, the more emails that are opened, the more qualified they are to becoming successful. This is because when readers are interested enough to actually read the email, the chances of taking action are much higher. It's not rocket science but the truth is, readers must be convinced if you want them to click on your link.
In a previous post, I discussed the importance of having a catchy subject line or headline. This is the first thing a reader notices. The bottom line is, it has to be right or it can be the cause of the downfall in your email campaign.
Writing compelling words will do wonders for your business. Now, let's factor in everything else.
1) Make sure your email is targeted. Personalize the subject line. Motivate your reader just enough so they will want to open your email right away. Be creative.
2) Some people think branding is stupid. Well, you have to make your mark in the industry somehow. Giving people what they are looking for and fulfilling a need will keep your recipients wanting more of your emails. Keeping them interested is what you always need to do. If they know your brand, they know what to expect.
3) Pay close attention to what you are putting in the content of the email or newsletter. Writing a compelling copy may take practice but originality is what counts. Make it valuable. If you have subscribed to blogs or websites and you receive emails, save the ones you found interesting enough to open and go over them to see why they were compelling.
4) Take advantage of holidays for sending out emails with discounts or free offers. People love opening these types of emails because they can save money on your products or services. Some people actually wait until the holidays to see what will be on sale.
Another factor which forces the reader to open the email is his relationship with the company. Email readers fall into different categories. They can be irregular purchasers, potential clients, information hungry subscribers or existing clients. The method by which they decided to subscribe and the reason also tells a lot about the customer’s interest.
Did they find the website through a search engine or did they sign up when buying products? The subscribers who have sought for information and then signed up for the emails are more likely to open the email, when compared to subscribers who signed up while buying a product because of a pre-checked box meant for signing up which they forget to uncheck.
The email list should be of high quality and should be well-maintained always. Also, efforts must be made in expanding the email list with targeted audiences which are more likely to open the email and take the desired action. Most of the times, long-time list members become inactive. So the list must be segmented based on list age and the inactive customers must be offered interesting incentive to bring them out of the hibernation.
The mailing frequency is also a very critical issue. Too frequently send mails will hamper the growth of email open rates as the recipients will get irritated, so does scarcely send mails as the recipients will not remember who you are.
The time of sending also is important. Test different time and days for finding out which time works best for every type of audience.
What Causes Spam?
Who likes SPAM? I know I don't. But that doesn't stop me from getting legitimate emails caught in the spam trap. If this happens to your emails, then your recipients may not even get a chance to see them. Spam filtration is caused by words known as spam triggers. Spam filters are used by most ISPs which analyze whether or not an email is considered spam. Using capital letters, quotation marks, or larger than normal fonts in your subject line, can trigger spam filters. Being cautious of the words you use could prevent this from happening. Do a test first to see if your email was actually delivered.
If you want your emails to have high open rates, make sure you are viewing the process of your email campaign from every angle. Take everything you've read here into consideration and you will be well on your way to email success rates!
I have a few wonderful things to share with you today.
Bittersweet is up first... today is the last day of the Boost Your Business and Holiday Sales Teleconference. Click here to get call in details our 7pm session tonight and/or listen to the replays.
Wells Fargo Approves $1.24 billion in SBA loans. Click here to read more.
72 Hours Only - Early register for the SistaSense 2013 Conference and get access to the Rock the Web - Webinar series.
This week's feature entrepreneur is Shaneisha Dodson. She is the founder of Mahogney Ink Publications L.L.C. and Black Girlz Productions L.L.C. Currently residing in Virginia, Shaneisha holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Grambling State University, a master's degree in counseling from Dallas Baptist University, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in education. Shaneisha was the first person in her family to graduate from college. In showing how important education is to her, every year she gives a $500 scholarship to a deserving student. After college, Shaneisha wrote her first novel. It was like so much by friends and family she was encouraged to continue writing. That eventually led to the start of her publishing and production company. Being an accomplished author herself, today Shaneisha publishes 4 authors, 2 poets and has produced one stage play. Her story is truly one of accomplishment. Find out how Shaneisha started her companies and where her inspiration came from. Enjoy!
1. Tell me your story. What were you doing before you started your own business?
I am a country girl born and raised in Arkansas. I was raised in a matriarchal household. I developed a passion for writing at a young age. I started writing my first book after I graduated from college. Prior to starting my business, my life consisted of school, school, and school. I have been a student my whole life. I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Grambling State University and a master’s degree in counseling from Dallas Baptist University. Currently, I am pursuing a doctorate degree in education.
2. What made you want to start a business and what is your mission?
I have always had a passion for writing. After graduating from college, I penned my first novel. My family and friends loved it so much they encouraged me to continue writing. Therefore, I decided to take it a step further and started my own publishing company in 2009, Mahogney Ink Publications, LLC. My works have been featured in online magazines, selected as book of the month by numerous organizations, selected as top 25 fiction books of 2009 by Conversations, and earned a spot on an African-American bookstore best sellers list. My first teen book was selected as best book 2011 in literary excellence in the teen self-help category. In addition, I was nominated for a 2011 African-American literary award. My publishing company is home to four authors and two poets. In 2012, I took my love of the writing to the next level and started Black Girlz Productions, LLC. My company’s motto is “Dream BIG or go Home!” My first play recently debuted: Cheating on my Mistress “When One Woman is not Enough”. My mission is to entertain by any means necessary.
3. What inspires you? What keeps you motivated daily to keep growing your business?
Life inspires me. I am passionate about my work. Each day I strive to do better. I believe in taking my time to make sure everything is as close to perfect as possible. Each year, I can clearly see my companies’ growth. We are moving at a steady pace. I am very satisfied because I believe in quality not quantity.
4. Do you have a mentor? Who is it and why? Do you believe it's important to have one?
I used to have a mentor, but we went our separate ways. However, I believe it is important to have a mentor because no one has gotten where they are without the help of someone else. When you choose a mentor, make sure you choose wisely. Mentors are people who are doing what you want to do in life. They should be full of wisdom and knowledge.
5. What would you tell someone who wants to get involved in your line of business but doesn't know how to get started?
Research. Research. Research. If you want to start a business, learn as much as possible about the business. Don’t depend on other people to give you all the answers. The biggest issue I have with the publishing company is finding a good editor. You will come across a lot of people who will make numerous false promises in this type of business. They will offer you an opportunity to be a part of a national tour, claim to be the best editor in the business, and will guarantee that their marketing campaigns will take you to the number one spot on the best sellers list. Be leery. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is…
6. What advice would you give to someone with an entrepreneurial spirit?
My advice is to follow your dreams. Don’t be scared to succeed. When you hit a hard spot in the road, keep pushing. Believe in yourself and believe in your abilities.
If you are an up-and-coming author looking to be published, visit Shaniesha's website at Mahogney Ink Publications. For information on her stage play show times and Black Girlz Talk visit Black Girlz Productions. Also follow her on twitter at @blkgirlz I want to thank Shaneisha for sharing her story with us. I hope you have been inspired by her accomplishments.
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.
Becoming a Power Player in the Coaching Business isn't easy, but it's possible.
Ladies – are you:
A woman with a defined area of expertise or a unique skill to offer the world who is trying to determine if coaching is the right pathway?
An ambitious female entrepreneur who started your own coaching business and is trying to figure out how to get your business out of first gear?
A woman who ealized that the corporate world was not for her and left to use your expertise as a coach in your field?
A professional coach with an established coaching business who isn't earning what you deserve?
If you fit into any of these categories, keep reading.
The Coaching Business is like a game of chess and every woman entrepreneur must play to win. Regardless of your current position in the industry, all women share one common drive – to become the Queen of our respective domain. However, in order to become a Power Player, you must have more than desire and determination; you need to have a Framework for Success.
Let me start by setting the table:
In my twenty-four years in business, I’ve had the opportunity to sit in the C-Suite of two National Healthcare Corporations, work as a Division Chief for three State Government Agencies, serve as a Commissioner for Women in 2 states, and direct a National Women’s Association. In these roles, I hired a variety of coaches to help with skill development, provide training and speak at conferences. Today, as a National Business Consultant and Trainer, I have the pleasure of coaching hundreds of women (and men) in corporate leadership roles, as well as small business entrepreneurs.
Coaching is an industry that’s ripe, if you pick from the right tree! I want to see women entrepreneurs rock the coaching industry like never before; and now is the ideal time. But the only way this can be done is if more women learn how to become “Power Players”. A Power Player is a women that, no matter where she began her coaching journey – be it in the “Hood” or at “Harvard” – knows how to play the game exceptionally well, stand out, and even change the game altogether.
What Does It Take to be a Power Player?
The business arena is the ultimate proving ground for one’s skills and abilities, especially as a coach. It’s the ultimate self-development and growth experience. The business world provides you with the opportunity to stretch your mind and broaden your expertise in the process of producing results for your clients. Coaching is a matter of expanding the capacity of one person or many to win in the Super Bowl of their own life or career, but your coaching skills have to be a proficient enough to show them how to do that.
The structures, models and methodologies of the coaching business are numerous, but most are designed to facilitate learning new behavior for personal growth or professional advancement. Coaching is the process of helping to identify the skills and capabilities that are within a person, and enabling them to use them to the best of their ability. As a coach, you must possess the skill, ability and ingenuity to help people envision and create the better future for themselves or their organizations.
Becoming a Power Player in the coaching industry encompasses four things:
Learning the Game – This involves knowing the rules of the industry, understanding your niche in the field, and figuring out what it takes to be one of the top contenders.
Playing the Game – This involves knowing how to connect with the right networks, figuring out where to focus your efforts to build your clientele, and what products and services you should offer.
Mastering the Game – This involves figuring out how to build eminence in the market and how to position yourself to continuously move through a series of destinations to avoid complacency.
Redefining the Game – This involves leaving your mark in the field, becoming a revolutionary coach, and creating a legacy that will impacting others for years to come.
Now that you know what it takes, let’s outline the Power Player Manifesto. To be a powerful coach in today’s business environment, you must be serious about putting your coaching services on the national map and this requires a specific vision, mindset and method. The infographic below provides a framework to show you the four most critical areas for coaches to establish themselves and/or improve in order to step-up their game during the last quarter of 2012 and in 2013.
The Framework:
Business Strategy – How You Compete:
This helps establish your “position” in the field and guides how you compete. Coaches aren’t and shouldn’t try to be experts in every area. What is your established area of expertise? What type of coach are you – life, business, career, health, fitness, spiritual, executive, dating, financial, etc. Find and establish your niche. Trying to be a jack-of-all-trades makes you a master of none. Likewise, if you were a mailroom supervisor making $38,000 a year at the height of your professional career, you shouldn’t jump into the coaching business claiming to be able to show people how to make a million dollars as entrepreneurs – unless you’ve already made your first million.
Compete based upon what you know, do well, and can demonstrate past results! Your clients will know if your expertise is being recited from a blog or a book or if it came from your own experience and knowledge. Your business strategy should always flow from the position you’re establishing in the market. For example, Life Coaches offer very different services & products, and address a completely different set of issues than Executive Coaches and you don’t want to send a mixed message to clients or potential clients.
Branding Strategy – How You Build a Name, Reputation and Loyal Clients:
Once you know your business, then you can build a powerful brand. Your brand as a Coach is the platform upon which you stand and the promise of what you plan to offer to clients. Therefore, your brand messaging has to be consistent with the business area in which you’ve positioned yourself. If you’re a Business Coach, why would you market your latest “healthy living” product or "organic soap"? However, if health & wellness is a part of your business coaching platform, how have you integrated the two areas? Do your clients understand the correlation between all of your products and services? You don’t want potential clients to think that you’ve changed focus areas based upon your brand messaging, particularly if you cater to corporate clients.
Financial Strategy – How You Profit:
This is where the rubber meets the road. If you’ve started or plan to launch a coaching business for lifestyle economy reasons (i.e. to augment your 9-5 paycheck) and you’re not looking to build wealth as an entrepreneur, then none of this information is really pertinent. But, if you are in the coaching business to build an enterprise economy, then you must have the right financial strategy and revise it as the needs or trends in the market change. Do you know what are other coaches charging? Are your products comparable? Upon what did you base your pricing model? Did you know that pricing is related to and can actually dictate your target market? Pricing too low or too high can also make it difficult for you to move up or down at a later date.
Keep in mind that Ken Blanchard can bill a million+ dollars for his teams coaching services. Your products and methods may be just as good, if not better, but you have to prove that you are worth the higher bill rate. Posting YouTube videos of yourself sitting on your bed giving a coaching lesson in business management strategies won't get you to the million dollar club! Proven business experience comes from results and outcomes. What results can you show with current clients to substantiate your pricing model or bill rate?
Leadership Strategy – How You Build Eminence and Grow Your Business:
Okay – now for some real talk. If you don’t consistently play this game like you’re a “true” WNBA player, then you’ll end up on the bench or in early retirement. You must focus on optimizing what you offer and maximizing the results for your clients. Every day hundreds of men and women are stepping into the coaching field, including CEO’s from billion dollar corporations with “proven business experience” and the competition is fierce. Whatever got you to where you are today, won’t keep you there tomorrow.
If you want to be a leader in the field, you must be innovative and focus on solutions. Leaders don’t follow the same tactics as others, they figure out how to do things better and how to add more value than their competitors. Ask yourself this question, if you had to pitch a proposal for coaching services in "Change Management" to a group of CEO's from 3 Fortune 500 Companies, what innovative service or product could you bring to them that would make you a top contender against Ken Blanchard Companies, Anthony Robbins, or even another small business coach? This question illustrates why your leadership strategy must focus on where you want to go as a coach, and not just on where you are today!
Was this article helpful? I'd love to hear your comments!
If you are serious about becoming a Business-Savvy Entrepreneur and a Successful Coach and you want to increase your earning potential, Monique Stoner can help!
Visit her website at www.moniquestoner.com. Monique has upcoming webinars focused on helping women in the Coaching and Consulting Businesses. LIKE her on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/MoniqueStonerFanPage to get immediate notices about her webinars.
Monique is also launching the MBA Center for Women website and virtual training services on Oct. 16, 2012 at www.mbacenterforwomen.com.
There is something enticing about a woman who walks in authentic style. You know her when you see her, she captures everyone’s attention and the world obeys her command. There is no fraud in her eyes just the ease of confidence and optimism, happiness and light stream from her smile. It’s almost as if the sun rests on her face…Now wait a minute you mean to tell me that being authentic can do all that!!! Yes, it can! Maybe not to the degree of the sun resting on her face but you can feel good, look good and generate life and love just by being your authentic self.
Authentic style is just what it says, your very own way of interacting in this world. Authenticity is not false or copied; it’s genuine and original as opposed to being a fake and a reproduction in-other-words an imposter. It’s not evil, mean and green with envy, full of attitude and sarcasm. Authentic style sets precedence and bears legal validity…Do you know it is law!
Walking in truth about who you are, where you are heading, making an accurate assessment about what you want from life and putting a strategy in place to accomplish the task. Even when the journey shifts you still make a deliberate effort to dispel fear and failure because it is as natural as breathing. Events are part of the human experience understanding life’s process. Wisdom shouts that the blessing door swings both ways and our efforts must be proven. Authentic style demonstrates reliability in all your promised commitments and required responsibility. Authentic style is not represented in what bag you got on your arm, the kind of car you drive or even if your shoes have a fire-engine red bottom. Balance is the foundation in an authentic life, Spirit-Soul-Body-and Style. Style bears a more creative distinction and identifiable form and can be articulated in the way you move, your style of hair or your indescribable flair. It’s the intricate expression of your presentation. Clothing that makes you feel as good as you look. Reflecting on a scene from the movie “Act like a lady, Think like a man” one of the actresses put on granny-panties, so she wouldn’t feel as sexy and was able to keep herself one more time.
This is the power of clothing!
Authentic style is you at your highest level of confidence, widest range of creativity and best fitting-figure-flattering clothing style that is your brand. Every authentic woman bears a signature; it’s innately inside of her ready to introduce itself to her and the world. Some dangle jewelry; offer bravura clothing, a splash color, a sensuous voice, a hardy laugh and a lingering scent. Authentic style is intoxicating. Take a deep breath...let the aroma seep deep into your self’s-soul now let’s get in your closet! First let’s make a pit stop in the lingerie department I’m talking foundations of proper dressing yes I’m saying it, it’s the underwear. What you wear UNDER what you wear is just as important… if not more so. What in the world is going on with thongs in church that everyone can see, bras, which too small causing your back to be rolled up like a pack of hotdogs.
Women I know we fought for freedom and equal rights but what we are displaying is far from freedom and cannot be equaled. Authentic styles come in all shapes, ages and sizes and what sets them apart from being average is that they are COMPLETE when they WALK OUT THE DOOR. Totally groomed from head to toe, wearing pressed well-cut clothing; tap heels on the bottom of their fly shoes, the right foundation, appropriate make-up and colors. Accessories coordinate or contrast their well-put together outfit. Authentic style doesn’t have to follow all the latest trends or spend top dollar on an item because their worth is not in what they have on but in who they are that makes what they wear vivacious.
Authentic women wear clothing that fit. It’s as simple as that. Nothing is too low or too high, too tight or sheer, she rests in appropriate boundaries. Remember the golden rule “if you have to ask don’t wear it.” Authentic style from the inside out is balanced by character, presentation, and happiness and exuding genuine adoration for everyone along with a fierce pair of shoes!
Style-Key: Next time you are in the lingerie section take the time to get properly measured for foundational garments and yes if you require figure-control or body enhancement in your garments buy them!
Posted by Tiffany Jones on October 17, 2012 at 12:34pm
Remember when you were a kid and you had big dreams and an imagination to create the person you wanted to be when you grew up. Some of us wanted to be actors, dancers, teachers, doctors, inventors, the list is endless. Whatever happened to those dreams, did you pursue them and become the person God created you to be or did your life steer you towards a much different path.At this very moment in your life are you the person you want to be? Are you happy and content with the direction your life is headed? Are you satisfied with your career, your health, your finances, your relationships? What about your happiness, your joy, your overall life? If you answered yes to all these questions, your life is blessed. But for the rest of us, there may be a little life adjustment that needs to take place. At any given moment, your have the power to control and direct your life to whatever outcome you desire. You can accomplish this by changing the way you think. Switch your thoughts from focusing on the negative around you to all that is positive within yourself and that which surrounds you. Start to fill your mind with the person you want to become.Here's what I would like you to do:Grab your favorite journal and if you're like me, you have a favorite pen too!At the top of the page write, I Am...Now, begin to list the awesomeness that is already you and the fantastic person you desire to be.I Am...I Am a beautiful personI Am generousI Am lovedI Am a faithful servantI Am a healthy womanI Am happyI Am so blessedI Am inspiredCelebrate the woman that you are with the I Am's that are currently you and the I Am's that you desire to become. Read and focus on your list everyday, say them aloud and believe that you are every beautiful element you have listed and watch a powerful increase take place in your life.With Love and Gratitude,The Black Woman's Rule Book
Read more…
Posted by Tanya Smith on October 19, 2012 at 12:19pm
One of the biggest challenges to competing in an online marketplace is to know confidently what sets you apart from the rest of the pack. This value you add for customers, compared to others out there doing what you do, is referred to as your unique value proposition (UVP), also referred to in some circles as your unique selling proposition.
Why should someone invest their time, money, and effort with you instead of someone else? What extra value can you bring to the table? Look closely at what you would like to offer to people as part of your business model. Then, you’ll need to answer the following questions for your online business.
1. What is your offer?
Lay out the details of the product or service you plan to sell. Outline the features in detail. What does your service or product do and what does the package look like? For example, is it a 7 day ecourse on how to set up a blog in Wordpress? Is it a 90 day coaching program that gives people direct access to you personally via telephone? Be very specific.
2. How does your offer solve customers' problems?
How does your product or service offering solve your client’s problems? State the problems your target customer is facing, which you should know from having done your market research. Then describe how each feature of your product or service solves those problems. Think about how your customer would see your solution, not knowing you at all. If you can answer the question “What’s in it for me?” from the customer’s viewpoint, you’re already halfway there.
3. What is different about your service or product offer?
You have to look at ways to create a product or service that are distinct from your industry competitors. Sure you can try the "yeah, me too" site, but it will be much more difficult in the long run to distinguish between your offer and the person next door. How is your solution different from other providers? Are you offering something extra, such as live training or additional done-for-you services? Do you offer your product in multiple formats, such as audio or video? Do you provide extra resources or tools to make your solution easier to use? If you can’t figure out any features that are different about your product, now is a good time to get creative.
4. Why should a customer buy from you vs. your competitors?
This is probably the toughest part of creating your UVP. It will also be one of the most important parts of your sales and marketing copy. So here's what you do --- tie together the problems your potential clients are facing, the features of your product, and how your product can solve the prospects’ problems. Then pull in your extra “proof” of why people should buy from you. You could gather social proof through testimonials of how well your solution works. You might have started to establish a track record of experience in your industry, and if not, spend time asking for feedback as you go about delivering your services now. You could also have great "case studies" or examples of your solution in action. Which of these examples would be most relevant to your market? Highlight one or use them all depending on what you think your prospective clients need to hear.
If you have already done the essential market research, you know what problems your customers are facing. Make sure you thoroughly understand what your target customers want and what your competitors are already offering. Then you will be able to identify exactly what you can do differently or where you can add something more. Put all of that together and you have your Unique Value Proposition.
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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. Get free tools to simplify and stand out online at:www.tanyasmithonline.com
Happy Monday, I am finishing up the seven (7) day challenge and I am focused and ignited to walk this thing out. I am propped up in my bed foot in a boot with 3 pillows under and working to get through this transition more effectively and effciently..
Mrs Henry...has been significant force in helping me when everything is aching, motivating me when I think Im Tooo OLD or Tooo Tired, She sets the standard that lets us all know that if you get enough information and combine a focused work-ethic, you can obtain goal of success via the internet...
I will be hosting a week long "Boost Your Holiday Sales" series that you all can call into, but before I share the details I will share this profound quote I found on Facebook this morning, "Ask yourself if what you are doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow."
Sometimes we feel like outside forces control the things that happen in our lives, but really it is how we react to obstacles that dictate whether we fail or succeed.
Today I have 3 activities to add value to your business this week:
(1) 9am (est) Today, call in and join me on the Black Business Works Power Talk hosted by Hanif Russell. Today we are going to talk about "Why never trying can be your biggest failure in business" Blog Talk Radio link:http://www.blogtalkradio.com/blackbusinessworks
(2) Did you know that you can not only learn from, but meet myself, Pam Perry, Richelle Shaw, Deborah Owens, Dawn Fitch, Carol Sankar and a few more powerful BBWO members at the upcoming SistaSense Power Circle Conference + Expo? Register this week. Click the link below to find out why: http://powercircle.sistasense.com.
(3) All week you can join my "Boost Your Holiday Sales" Calls. For the first call I am going to tell you how I got on the news + got new customer interest in a matter of hours. Calls will be Monday through Friday this week starting today 10/22 and all calls will be at 7pm est. No sign ups, just call in and participate. Conference Dial-in Number: (712) 432-0600 | Participant Access Code: 1061931# Here's to having a GREAT WEEK! Talk to you soon,
LaShanda Henry
p.s. If you have this feeling you really want to be at the Power Circle Conference, register now and don't put it off for later because I have a feeling this one is going to sell out.
I know right? Only 90 days until 2013. And if you haven't thought about it yet, ask yourself... what have you done in 2012? If you own a business, have you met your financial goals for 2012 so far? Have you met your customer service goals for the year? Did you even start the business you wanted to or are you still thinking and talking about it? What about if you have started a movement, does the world know about your cause? Did you get the job or start the career you wanted?
Well, if you haven't met your goals, I'm here to tell you that you still (or ONLY) have 90 days to reach your goals for 2012. You should start a countdown now to push yourself to meet your most important goals. If you are looking to get started in 2013, this is a great time to begin your planning process. You should be planning how you are going to be successful in 2013. You should be writing your business plan, looking for investors, or figuring out how you are going to finance your business.
For some of you, the answer will be positive. For those of you that have met your goals so far, I applaud you for working so hard! For those of you that do not have a positive answer, this is not to make you feel like a failure but it is a friendly reminder to wake up and ask yourself, WHAT HAVE I DONE IN 2012??
Let's get to work and make the last 90 days prosperous!
We would love to hear from those that have had a good 2012, how did you do it? What advice do you have for those still trying to meet goals in the next 90 days?
If you are looking for a business model where you can gain FAME, FINANCIAL FREEDOM, and FUN, I have an option that can make you a famous blogger within the next 90 days! Just think of me as your agent :). Find out more information here => BeFamousOnline2 Info. OR you can join my Be Famous Online 2 Team and start working with me here => BeFamousOnline2 toward your journey to Be Famous Online Too!
If you would like to meet and communicate with other internet users, especially ones that share the same views and beliefs as you do, then you may want to think about joining a social networking website, such as Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin, and setting up your social profile if you haven’t already done so. When it comes to easily finding and communicating online with other internet users, social networking is the best way to go.
If you are interested in joining a social network the first thing that you will need to do is find a network to join. You can easily find a number of networks by searching the internet. For the best search results, you may want to search with the words "social networking" or "social networking websites". In your search, you will most likely come up with a large number of different networking sites. Popular sites that may be included in your search results may include, but will not be limited to, MySpace, Orkut, Yahoo! 360, FriendFinder, FriendWise, Facebook, and Classmates, just to name a few.
Once you have made the decision to join a particular social networking website, whether or not it is one of the ones mentioned above, you will need to need to register with the site. Even free networking communities require that you go through the registration process. Once you are registered, you should be able to start communicating with other community members. Before you start communicating, you may need to develop your online social profile or profile page, depending on the networking site in question. Although it may seem easy enough to create a profile, there are many internet users who are unsure exactly what they should and should not include.
When you are inclined in the profession of hair styling, perhaps one of your greatest dreams is to be part of the few yet very good top hair dressers in your country or even in the world. It’s a very difficult journey but not an impossible one. It is not even impossible for those who have no knowledge and zero training at all, for the most important factor to be successful in this field is your determination, commitment, and your very own unique eyes. If it’s possible to be the industry’s leader, where should you start?
1. Start by acquainting yourself with the numerous hair cutting and styling methods and techniques. This would eventually consume bulk of your time. Even when you already consider yourself as a professional, there are still some items to consider and lessons to learn. An aspiring top hair stylist will not progress when there are gaps and omissions in his or her learning curve. Neither can he or she keep up with competition if he or she is unaware of cuts and styles others are offering.
2. Start with a few yet loyal clienteles. Though you would want to be recognized by as many people as possible to be the best hair stylist, it still pays to be patient and let the laws of nature and economics take their course. Concentrate on giving your best shot even with a few clients that you currently have, for the good news (your very good work) will eventually spread out. Instead of allotting your time massively promoting your services elsewhere, just prepare for the load of referrals that your current customers may provide when you get your job done exceptionally.
3. The industry leaders have keen pair of eyes capable of identifying hair styles whether they look good or exceptionally good. They are concentrated on providing the latter. Getting a haircut and hair styling done good means that your work is merely acceptable and is common. Creating an exceptional look suggests that your work is hailed above the average and an exception to what is acceptable, that it is somewhat unique and can only be tagged as your own creation.
4. Bring your imaginations to life. Most of the time, the best hair stylist can already imagine the perfect cut, twists, and curls at the mere instant of seeing the client’s hair. It’s a very good sign of an artistic and skillful mind. Implement all your planned creations however odd-looking they may be. The top hair stylists of today made their mark with the help of their crazy ideas.
5. Search for a good mentor. Aside from the lessons which may be imparted to you, explore more for other ideas. Join seminars and conventions on hair styling. When given an opportunity, seek employment under one of the best hair and fashion stylist in your country or area, even just as an assistant. You will eventually learn some tips and tricks by mere watching and listening.
6. Establish communication or a strong relationship with each of your client. If possible, get to know their personalities and lifestyles. It’s not only a form of excellent customer service but also a chance for you to learn even more.
About Author:
Charlotte Howard is a Celebrity Radio Host, Salon Business Expert, Lifestyle Coach, Hair Artist, Author and Founder of The Hair Artist Association teaching about the power of Beauty!
There is a BIG shift happening in America today. Attention is being paid to the true wealth of our inner cities. Hospitals, universities, community colleges and other "anchor" institutions in our U.S. cities are looking to "local" markets for their services and supplies.
It's all part of that "go local" movement and it is also about building up our domestic economy.
Fresh Urban Marketing is a service organization specifically for small businesses in urban centers and regional towns. We know that our cities are filled with big “potential” from major institutional community anchors like universities and hospitals, to revitalized manufacturing sectors and retail centers that all contribute to diverse and sustainable communities for YOUR business.
It’s important for small businesses to know what’s possible and changing in our cities today. That knowledge can translate into increased sales and sustainability.
We help small businesses by providing:
Timely news and marketing information to keep small urban and suburban businesses informed and prepared.
Expert media relations and promotional services to get your story and business in front of your target market.
Copywriting and website creation services to help market small businesses to local and distant customers in the most cost effective and profitable way possible today.
Are you ready to make a positive change in your business? Contact me today at sharon@freshurbanmarketing.com to learn more or visit our Services page to learn how we can get working for you today.
Do you have a product or service you can sell to Walmart?
Walmart has just survived a class action lawsuit by the skin of their teeth. To get ahead of potential smaller lawsuits they are announcing the above initiative. So jump in and take advantage of this golden opportunity. Use guilt to your advantage.
Contact your regional manager of Walmart to offer your goods and services to take advantage of this window of opportunity.
