entrepreneurs (99)

I'm on this never-ending quest to simplify my life as much as possible--so hooking up the Facebook/Twitter connection brought me one step closer to that goal.

To do this, just visit http://apps.facebook.com/twitter/ , log in if needed, and click on your profile and any other Pages you have when it asks you to allow Twitter to post updates to them.  Easy-breezy!  

facebook-twitter.jpg

Now, if there was only an app to allow Facebook to do my laundry... (app-masters, get on that stat!)

 

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About the Blogger:

Vonetta Booker-Brown is the creator of SuccessTales.com, a resource/membership site for savvy female small business owners--and the author of the e-book Success Tales: Female Entrepreneurs' Stories of Challenges, Inspiration & Success--featuring BBWO's own LaShanda Henry!

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zen.jpgI love this tidbit of wisdom that one of my good friends shared with me (which was passed on, in turn, from a friend of hers.)  I found it invaluable when it comes to the ups and downs of starting and running a business–and I’ve quickly gotten into the habit of doing the following:

 

Basically, instead of focusing on the negatives in your life and business (i.e., not enough leads or clients as you’d like, a mailing list that isn’t quite the size you want just yet, etc.)–think of all the POSITIVES that abound around you.  For example–your health, for starters.  The mental capacity that God gave you to even juggle all those things on your to-do list, lol.  You may not have reached your total goal yet–but look back at how far you’ve come!  I like to keep what I call my Gratitude Journal–just jotting down whatever comes to mind in terms of things I’m grateful for, no matter how small.  Trust me–they add up!  And it really helps to boost my spirits when I’m feeling funky and self-pitying.

 

So, overall, there are three steps to take at the beginning of each day, in order to get yourself moving:

  1. Think of all the things you’re thankful for, including the victories that haven’t yet materialized (because you know they eventually will!)
  2. Visualize your reached goals (more clients, better business visibility, more balance, etc.–fill in the blanks!)
  3. Focus on accomplishing at least one thing today that will propel you towards that goal–a phone call, an email, attending a networking event, even revising a press release, web page or product.

I firmly believe that if you consistently stay with this mindset, you will eventually see results–often sooner than later.  Know why?  Because you simply get back what you give out into the Universe–including positive, productive energy.

So, keep your head up and get going.  It’s gonna be a great day!

 

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About the Blogger:

Vonetta Booker-Brown is the creator of SuccessTales.com, a resource/membership site for savvy female small business owners--and the author of the e-book Success Tales: Female Entrepreneurs' Stories of Challenges, Inspiration & Success--featuring BBWO's own LaShanda Henry!

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Early this morning I was watching TV One’s “Living With Soul,” which featured the home of author and OperationHope.org founder John Bryant and his wife Sheila.  Their Los Angeles home is a beautiful, contemporary showcase of art by Zimbabwe’s Shona tribe–but I was even more impressed by what he does outside the home.

 

Homeless for six months when he was 18, Bryant refused to mentally accept his predicament, noting the difference between broke (an economic condition), and poor (a state of mind that can keep one locked into that position).  He gradually climbed out of his situation, to become the founder, chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE, America’s first non-profit social investment banking organization–now operating in 68 U.S. communities and South Africa, having raised more than $500 million from the private sector to empower the poor.

 

effak.png?width=144One of their best resources is the free Emergency Financial Aid Kit, created to help families and individuals in maintaining financial stability in the event of an emergency.  It helps you identify and organize key financial records, providing a quick reference file for your important financial documents.  Why do I think this is just TheBomb.com?  Simply because money is a BIG issue, especially for small business owners who may or may not have a steady income and are figuring out how to budget everything.  And if you have a family, the pressure is compounded.  With many one-income families, the stay-at-home spouse may not know all the details about the household financials–which can be disastrous in a crisis situation.

 

Check it out, it’s a great resource.

 

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About the Blogger:

Vonetta Booker-Brown is the creator of SuccessTales.com, a resource/membership site for savvy female small business owners--and the author of the e-book Success Tales: Female Entrepreneurs' Stories of Challenges, Inspiration & Success--featuring BBWO's own LaShanda Henry!

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Can I be real with you for a sec?  Sometimes, I feel like a machine, with all of the stuff on my to-do list.  Trust me--I'm not trying to complain, but I just have to put it out there for a minute.  Make new business cards.  Write a couple of new blog entries.  Transcribe podcast recordings.  Tweak my Wordpress pages.  Create a new banner.  Research new markets...and that's just to name a few, lol.  We're not even talking about the things that need to be done re. my existing clients!  (And I know what you're thinking--"why not delegate?"  Oh, that would be so wonderful--in due time!  Right now, when the budget is still small, I've gotta utilize my one-woman know-how as much as possible!)

 

Sometimes, when I look at my hefty to-do list, yes--I sometimes feel overwhelmed in a "How the heck am I ever going to get this done?" kind of way!  But then I realize that I have to look at things in a different light.  Promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship is still what I love to do; it's my passion.  So, why not make it fun?  I'm going to strive to see my tasks not as doldrum work--but as learning experiences along the small business journey.  I know a lot, but I'm still learning a lot--hell, aren't we all?  And this is a great way to learn as I go.

 

And one last thing that I need to remind myself of & am getting better at: Learn to turn it off already! That can be a challenge when you work from home & everything's in one place--but seriously.  Turn the laptop off, go play with your kids (who are probably clamoring for your attention anyway), read a book--whatever you do to relax.  There's something about being on a laptop all day that fries your brain, isn't it?  Don't forget to replenish those cells!

 

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About the Blogger:

Vonetta Booker-Brown is the creator of SuccessTales.com, a resource/membership site for savvy female small business owners--and the author of the e-book Success Tales: Female Entrepreneurs' Stories of Challenges, Inspiration & Success--featuring BBWO's own LaShanda Henry!

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There was a time that you could put up your offer for a free Newsletter and you could be guaranteed nice opt in rate. Now a days it takes a little more than a post that reads “Sign up for my free newsletter.”

 

It makes you wonder if E-mail marketing is dead?

 

A related aspect of online marketing that can be as annoying as it can be effective is targeted e-mail campaigns. Improper use of this avenue has lead to the use of so-called “junk” e-mail filters and huge campaigns against vendors and sites that knowingly send out millions of e-mails to any e-mail address they can harvest.

Junk e-mail is typically sent without regard to whether or not the person in question is a potential customer or not. Returns of less then 1% on these campaigns are common, and still considered a “success” because the costs are so low that any return seems worthwhile.

So is it worth my while to consider this strategy? While e-mail is one of the most abused forms of advertising on the Internet, it can be a great way to start a marketing campaign. Use it carefully and correctly, especially with customer acceptance and true manned “removal” systems.

 

So what is the key to successful e-mail campaigns?

The key to successful e-mail campaigns is to target people who would actually want to hear from you about your product, and then to personalize your e-mails in such a way that it isn’t apparent you are mass-marketing. One thing you will need to get started is an autoresponder. This will help you automate the process of capturing the prospects name, email and building rapport by sending follow up emails with value added content and hopefully converting them to a client/customer. This is of course after you build trust and demonstrate your expertise. You’re working on the know, like and trust factor throughout this process. Just be sure you act responsibly, or you may find your e-mails going into junk e-mail bins and all your marketing dollars wasted!

 

If you’re looking for a great autoresponder I recommend Aweber. It’s great to use while getting started. You can click here to learn more and get a 21 day free trial.

 

Consider adding e-mail marketing to your marketing plan. If you feel a little shakey and want additional support in this area and Online Marketing as a whole, I invite you to join other dynamic entrepreneurs and I for The Online Marketing Breakthrough Boot Camp.


Click here to learn more and secure your enrollment.

 

Empowering you!

 

Robin aka The Empowerment Diva

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A vehicle needs a tune up every two years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first. The key to keeping a vehicle in good working condition is scheduling regular maintenance.  Right?  Well, just as your car needs scheduled care, so does your business.  According to Browder, founder of National Association Women on the Rise, it is vital that entrepreneurs get in the habit of looking “under the hood” regularly.  That means reviewing your operations, marketing and financial processes.  So, are you performing regularly scheduled maintenance for your business?  Here are 3 tips to tune-up your business.

 

Change the oil

Regularly changing your car's engine oil and filter is one of the most important things you can do to keep your car running well.  Consistent maintenance to your business each year is equally important.  Take some time to look at your business processes.  Think about your accomplishments.  Is there room for improvement?  Here are two ideas.

  • Reflect on the successes and failures of your professional and personal life.  Have you considered what changes you would like to implement this year?  As women entrepreneurs, it is important to look for ways to improve work-life balance.  Take some time to reflect on your business' progress and make plans on how you want your business to grow.
  • Reorganize to get rid of clutter.  What have you accumulated this past year that is hindering you from functioning at your optimal best?  Write down all the things that are cluttering your mind, distorting your life’s vision.  Take each of the things on your list and ask yourself the following questions:
  1. Why am I holding on to this clutter?
  2. What purpose does it serve?
  3. How do I rid myself of it?

Clutter can be distracting while adding to the chaos in our lives.    

 

Check engine light

The "check engine" light is part of your vehicle's onboard diagnostics (OBD) system. If a problem in the electronic-control system doesn’t ‘fix’ itself, the computer that controls the OBD turns on a yellow warning indicator that's labeled "check engine.  Ignore the warning and you could damage expensive components. 

 

Just as your engine is vital to your vehicle, your clients are the engine that drives the success in your business.  Do you know who your clients are?  Have you refined your target market (clients) to increase your bottom line?  We all know that the success of your business depends on making sales.  To identify your target client, ask yourself the following questions:

  1. Do you know who your customers will be? 
  2. Do you understand their needs?
  3. Do you know where they are located?
  4. Will you offer the kind of products or services that they will buy?
  5. Will your prices be competitive?
  6. Do you understand how your business compares with your competitors?
  7. Will your business be conveniently located?

By refining your target market, you are ensuring the success of your business! 

 

Balance the tires

Balanced tires are imperative to safe driving. When the tires are out of balance, they place pressure on the bearings, shocks and other parts of the wheel assembly. When your business is out of balance, you can lose current and potential clients which can cause the loss of revenue or worse, your business!

Is your business running smoothly? Re-examine contracts with your suppliers such as telephone service, business and life insurance policies.  Look for ways to cut costs.  Check out your current memberships; local chambers and business and civic associations to make sure you are getting the most for your money.  In addition:

  • Create new revenue streams. 
  • Find innovative ways to promote your business and attract potential clients.

In conclusion, by taking control of your business and keeping it running at peak performance, will increase your chances for success and profitability!

 

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it Sylvia Browder is founder of National Association Women on the Rise, a virtual community for aspiring and established women entrepreneurs. The association’s mission is to provide professional and personal resources while uplifting and empowering women entrepreneurs through collaboration, education, mentoring, spiritual and peer support, leadership and networking. 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@nawomenrise.com.

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“There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women.” Madeleine K. Albright

 

We all want to believe that women are all busy connecting, supporting and empowering one another, but reality is that some are not doing their part.  What is causing women to lack compassion or become envious of other women?  Why would you not want to share your knowledge or resources?   

 

In a recent MSNBC interview, Elura Nanos, an attorney and a managing partner of Morange, an educational firm for law students, has seen tons of women, including herself, not helping other women but doesn’t think it’s about being “bitchy.”  Nanos said, “Many women are too busy to help each other. I own a business, work full time, I have two small children, and does charity work hobbies. I have a wonderful husband, but he doesn’t do half the amount of things I do.”

 

Yes, we are all busy wearing many hats, but is it really a good reason not to help others?  Think how you would feel if you needed help and nobody wanted to help you.  By putting yourself in their shoes, allows you to be more apt to find time to help them overcome challenges so that ultimately, everyone can achieve their goals and aspirations. 

 

Last week, two women from my virtual community, felt compelled to call me for advice.  Both gave me permission to share a little of their stories:     

 

·         Lisa (not her real name) works full time at a non-profit agency that provides career training to several rural communities.  In her spare time, she offers coaching services in a virtual setting. In a recent meeting with her immediate supervisor, who is also a business owner, she was surprised to be given an ultimatum; either stop her coaching business or resign from the company!  Mind you, her business model is very different from that of her employer.  So, she contacted me for a listening ear and advice. 

 

·         Diane (not her real name) recently started a human resource firm but struggling with deep personal issues which has caused her to doubt her abilities as a business owner.  She feels unworthy and was recently told by her mentor, a prominent business woman, that she should just give it up until she gets help with her issues and find a real job!  Can you imagine how devastated Diane felt as she shared her story with me?  After talking to her, I found her to be extremely experienced and capable of running a successful business! 

 

I could have easily used my jam packed calendar as a reason not to talk to these ladies, as I am as busy as Nanos is, i.e., employed as a full time director of a non-profit agency; run two virtual businesses, “National Association Women on the Rise” and “Browder Consulting Group;” have a very active family; hold two board positions, an avid motorcyclist and attend church regularly.  But, I didn’t think twice about my schedule when Lisa and Diane contacted me.  In fact, it was my pleasure to schedule an appointment to talk to both.  So, why are some women reluctant to help others? 

 

 

To help, here are 3 ways every woman can make a difference.   

 

Mentor

Successful business women understand the importance of having a mentor.  In fact, developing a portfolio of mentors to meet different aspects of your life, both personally and professionally, is paramount!  By becoming a mentor allows you to visualize someone in your image who you’ve helped to become as successful as you someday!  After talking to Diane, I volunteered to mentor her monthly with weekly emails that includes action steps and affirmations.  In addition, I connected her with one of NAWR’s expert spiritual advisors.  

 

Network

Many of us know the value of networking.  It is less about handing out your business cards and more about paying it forward.  When you are talking to people, think about who would be a good connection for them.  For example, at a recent chamber event I attended, I met a woman who was a writer for a newspaper and currently freelancing technical and ghost writing services.  Immediately, I thought about another business owner who wanted to start a blog but didn’t have time to write articles.  I was able to later connect them.

 

Peer-to-Peer Support

Why not form a peer advisory group?  This group of entrepreneurs could be from diverse industries and get together on a regular basis to share best practices, solve problems and be a source of support for the group.  

I have a dynamic group of peers who serve as expert advisors for NAWR’s members.  We are all supportive of each other.  Having a strong and solid relationship with this group of women makes it easy to give and receive business referrals.

In conclusion, we must strive to make it a part of our personal mission to support and be great role models to others.  When one of us succeeds, we all do!

 

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Sylvia Browder is founder of National Association Women on the Rise, a virtual community for aspiring and established women entrepreneurs. The association’s mission is to provide professional and personal resources while uplifting and empowering women entrepreneurs through collaboration, education, mentoring, spiritual and peer support, leadership and networking. 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@nawomenrise.com.

·         Become a fan of ‘National Association Women on the Rise:’ http://bit.ly/9qqvWW

·         Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/sylviabrowder 

·         Are you LinkedIn? http://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviabrowder 

·         Join ‘National Association Women on the Rise’ on LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/dsd5E0 

·         Join our community on NING, www.nawomenrise.com

 

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Regularly, I travel to several rural counties in southern Alabama providing business counseling and training to local business owners. In discussing the importance of incorporating social media into their marketing plan, some clients are not sure if it is relevant for their businesses. In fact, a few give me that ‘deer in the headlights’ look when I introduce Twitter as a viable way to increase their client base. By educating them, I help them understand the benefits.

As I explain, Twitter is used by millions of people each day who share, connect, promote and brand their business image. If you, like them are still not convinced, here are 3 reasons why Twitter is important for your business.

Connect
Imagine having a captive audience waiting for your information every minute of the day. By positioning yourself as an industry expert, you can grow a small community of followers who will have a direct connection to you and who recognize your name and business brand! You can also barter, search for independent contractors or find employees. Twitter provides a great platform to connect with the right people to fit your business needs.

In addition, this is great way for existing customers to provide feedback.

By connecting with similar companies will enable the sharing of idea, best practices and opportunity to gain insight on improving your business.

Market
Most small businesses have a very small marketing budget which results in continuously looking for low cost and innovative ways to leverage their products or services. Twitter is a free social network that can be a rewarding marketing tool for your business. A few examples:
  • Your message will appear across the Twitter board over and over by your followers who will retweet your message to their followers. Can we say ‘viral?’
  • Stay abreast of industry trends to market effectively to potential customers.
  • Publish your Twitter handle on all email newsletters, direct mailings, on your Web site and all other marketing channels.
  • Promote your latest blog posts and newsletters
Still having doubts? Well, let’s say you manage an online specialty athletic shop. You can:
Sales
Increasing your sales and profit margins are imperative for success and a matter of survival. By using twitter to announce upcoming sales or events, you will drive potential customers to your website or physical location. For example, I assisted a client who owns a Mexican Restaurant, with setting up her Twitter and Face book Fan page. Every day, she posts daily lunch specials. Last year, she reported a 9% increase in sales from travelers who used social media to find a local restaurant.

The point is, with little effort and signing up for Twitter’s free social network, you can drive prospects to you by sharing relevant information about your business.

Handy Tools to Manage Your Social Media
Every day, 365 days per year at 6:00 am Central Standard Time, my followers from Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Blog and Community, receive a daily inspirational quote. Do you really think that I get up every morning, log on to my computer and tweet? Absolutely not! Though I get a chuckle from people that think otherwise! To help manage my various social networks, I use a tool called Hootsuite, which enable me to schedule each message into the future to one or all of my social networks. That’s reaching thousands of my followers in a single message!

As Twitter surges toward an estimated 190 million visitors each month who generate over 65 million tweets per day, there are many tools available to help you manage your time and productivity. Here are a few of my favorites:

Desktop Managers
  • Hoot suite: a web-based tool that allows you to set up a number of social media profiles to manage. The free application offers basic analytics and five social media profiles including LinkedIn, Face book and Twitter. www.hootsuite.com
  • Market Me Suite: allows thousands of small businesses to manage their social media. It allows each of your individual tweets to say, www.yourwebsite.com or via your name. http://marketmesuite.com/
  • Seesmic: a powerful collection of social management tools that provide businesses and individuals with everything they need to build their brand online. With applications on every platform, Seesmic is the most comprehensive solution on the market. http://seesmic.com/
  • Tweet Deck: your personal browser for staying in touch with what’s happening now, connecting you with your contacts across Twitter, Face book, LinkedIn and more. www.tweetdeck.com
List Management
  • MyTweeple: a great way to manage your Twitter people in one place. You can easily see who you are following and who's following you. With a simple click, you can follow, unfollow, or block people, and these changes instantly update Twitter. http://mytweeple.com
  • Tweeter Karma: a flash application that fetches your friends and followers from Twitter when you click the “Whack!” button, then displays them for you, letting you quickly paginate through them. http://dossy.org/twitter/karma/
  • Twit Cleaner: Analyses the profiles & tweets of your followers, looking for certain patterns of behavior, such as overly repetitive, common spam tactics, and posting the same links repeatedly, thus, allowing you to decide who to save & who to unfollow. www.twitcleaner.com
  • Twibs: Give twitter users a place to find businesses on twitter. www.twibs.com
Hash Tags
  • Hash Tags: You can find information pertaining to tags, users, trends and whatever else is available or site if you are lucky.http://hashtags.org/
  • Twitter Search: Twitter Search helps you filter all the real-time information coursing through our service. http://search.twitter.com/
  • We Follow: view popular tags, the most popular people on Twitter by tag usage. http://wefollow.com/
Analytics and Tracking
Applications or ‘Aps’
  • Social Oomph: a service that provides free and paid productivity enhancement services for social media users. A focus on productivity solutions for users of Twitter.com. http://www.socialoomph.com/
  • Twitter Feed: tweet blog posts. http://twitterfeed.com/
  • Twit Dom: The Twitter Applications Directory with over 2000 apps. http://twitdom.com/
  • Klout: A tool used for an individual to measure and leverage their influence on twitter. www.klout.com/
In conclusion, by now you should see the value of using Twitter to help you market your business. Right? So what are you waiting for? Go register for Twitter now! By the way, feel free to follow me @sylviabrowder and retweet this post to your Twitter followers, Facebook Fans and fellow bloggers!

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Sylvia Browder is founder of National Association Women on the Rise, a virtual community for aspiring and established women entrepreneurs. The association’s mission is to provide professional and personal resources while uplifting and empowering women entrepreneurs through collaboration, education, mentoring, spiritual and peer support, leadership and networking. 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@nawomenrise.com.
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I was talking to a friend and avid blogger recently about how much time and effort goes into starting and growing a blog.  She talked about a client who recently started a blog but frustrated from lack of followers.  So typical!  Natalie MacNeil, Media Producer and award winning blogger for “She Takes on the World, says, “Remember, it's not about you. When I ask most new bloggers what they want out of blogging they usually want to grow their business, sell more products, and maybe make money directly from blogging. Once they finish telling me everything they want out of blogging I say, "Now what does your audience want?" That answer doesn't come as quickly and that's the most important question bloggers need to ask themselves. At the end of the day, the success of your blog will depend on how focused you are on the needs and wants of the people who read your blog. It's all about them.

 

Nearly two years has passed since I first launched my blog.  I remember having a few followers and posts.  I was determined to create a quality and informative blog so that my target market, aspiring and established women entrepreneurs, could find good content relevant to their business needs.    

 

If you are a business owner, should you be blogging?
To blog or not to blog, is the question? The answer is that as an entrepreneur, this is a great opportunity to establish yourself as an expert in your industry. If executed effectively, this can be a smart online marketing strategy and an affordable way to grow your business. Blogging is ‘big business’ among entrepreneurs, writers and those who just want to express themselves thru electronic communication. More and more businesses are blogging as they realize the benefits. If you have yet to start a blog, here are FOUR reasons you want to start blogging, today:

Reason 1: Build a loyal following
As you post relevant content regularly, you build a loyal group of followers. Be patient as it takes time. As your followers get to know you, they will feel comfortable in passing on leads and referring you to potential clients. Remember the old saying, people buy and refer people that they know and trust.

I recently listened to the Tom Joyner Morning Show, and Jacque Reed, was interviewing blogger Necole Bitchy who just three short years ago, was unemployed and decided to start a blog out of necessity. Today, NecoleBitchie.com is considered one of the fastest growing celebrity urban blog sites on the internet, with over 3 million hits per month. So, be persistent and consistent with your efforts.

Reason 2: Get paid for blogging
If you write good content, build your following, as you can get paid by advertisers. Many bloggers publish their blogs mainly to earn revenue. For example, you can be compensated for a paid review, writing articles, a ghostwriting gig or simply posting ads on your blog site. Many advertisers look for bloggers with a large following.

A few sites that can help you:
  • Google Ad Sense. This is a free program that enables website publishers of all sizes to display relevant Google ads and earn. http://tinyurl.com/ygt6y2h
  • Link Share. A leading provider of full-service online marketing solutions specializing in the areas of Search (SEM), Lead Generation and Affiliate Marketing. Link Share pays for affiliate marketing. http://www.linkshare.com/
  • PayPerPost. This site allows you to make money blogging! You can pick your advertisers, name your own price and negotiate your own deals. https://payperpost.com/
  • Sponsored Review. Bloggers write articles for advertisers after reviewing their products and services. Blogs are posted for review on your blog. Each advertiser has his or her own requirements. Bloggers can earn anything from $10 to $500+ for each review. www.sponsoredreviews.com
Reason 3: Publish your blog articles
There are several online sites where you can submit your articles for publication. Here are a few:
  • www.ezinearticles.com. Expert Authors & Writers are able to post their articles to be featured within the site. The searchable database of hundreds of thousands of quality original articles allows email newsletter publishers hungry for fresh content to find articles that they can use for inclusion within their next newsletter.
  • www.associatedcontent.com. Associated Content enables anyone to participate in the new content economy by publishing content on any topic, in any format (text, video, audio and images), and connects that content to consumers, partners and advertisers.
  • www.articlesbase.com. Articles Base is a free article directory where you can submit and find articles. You can publish your articles for free or find content for your website, ezine, or newsletter.
Reason 4: Post your blog on Social Media Sites
For entrepreneurs using social media as a marketing strategy is a great way to build your business, with minimal to no investment except your time and effort.
  • Facebook - Create a Facebook profile and add the "My Blog Application." Again, join groups and pages that pertain to your blog topic and interact with other members. Share your link with pages and groups and participate in discussion topics.
  • Twitter - Twitter allows you to post updates (called Tweets) as often as you want (and limited to 140 characters). When people follow you, they see your tweets. So, by posting the link to your blog, your followers can follow the link back to your blog. If they like the content, they will retweet it.
  • LinkedIn - LinkedIn's edge is the fact that it's tailored for businesspeople, unlike other social networking sites that also attract a great number of general users. You can use LinkedIn to network with people or groups, or answer questions that other members ask, thus, providing a link to your blog as a reference.
  • Digg – The ultimate social media site; it’s become notorious for producing traffic waves so massive that they can have a DOS-style impact on smaller hosts.
  • Stumble Upon – Helps members discover and share great websites. As you click Stumble, the site delivers high-quality pages matched to your personal preferences. These pages have been explicitly recommended by your friends or one of 8 million+ other web surfers with interests similar to you.
  • del.icio.us – A social bookmarking website; users can mark their favorites with del.icio.us and share them with each other; making it onto the front page of the “recently popular” section on del.icio.us will send a decent amount of traffic so long as the category you’re tagged into is popular.
There are many ways that you can get the most out of promoting and marketing your blog. By incorporating blogging as part of your internet marketing strategy positions your business to be found in the search engines by those that are interested in your product or service.
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5 Important Do Not’s for Entrepreneurs 2011 Success.

By ShaChena Gibbs

 

Do not start a business for the wrong reason.

Most people start a business just because it sounds good or because the potential financial benefits look good. Start a business that you love. Something you are passionate about. Your business should be your baby, a talent or skill you already process.

Do not form a business without your Tribe.

Begin to let your friends and family know about your new business. Attend networking events and speak up. Give away your product for testimonies. You must build a following before you begin to profit.

Do not skip out on your legal provider.

Starting a business consist of a lot of paper work like forms and documents. The documents need to be reviewed by a lawyer. Even your products and services. Consumers can really be rude and sue you for various reasons. Having your legal team can help you to avoid these problems before they become reality.

Do not do it all by yourself.

At the beginning it can be a bit tough getting friends and family to understand what you are doing and have them believe in your passion. However, we suggest you find at least 2 friends to assist you, even if it’s just with making phone calls, running errands, checking emails, and/or packing and shipping. Entrepreneurs tend to get burnt out during the first 5 years of building on their dream.

Do not forget about ‘CUSTOMER SERVICE’

Your customers are the core of your business growth. Without them, you will not make no money. You might as well close your doors. Poor customer service can ruin you. Word of mouth marketing spreads faster than any email you can send out and it’s most effective. One poor comment about your company service can spread like cancer. Train your staff paid and /or volunteer to treat your customers like royalty. And remember to practice what you preach.

Keep Rising,

ShaChena Gibbs

Small Business Educator

Real Sisters Rising, LLC

http://www.realsistersrising.com

 

ShaChena Gibbs

 

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:

For over 10 years, Real Sisters Rising, LLC founder and CEO ShaChena Gibbs has owned or managed small businesses. Expert in her field, Ms. Gibbs personally and professionally guide her clients/members to reach higher heights to achieve major success in their business endeavors. ShaChena Gibbs is passionate about helping women globally become outstanding role models now for our youth later. Ms. Gibbs is definitely “Helping Women find the Diamond in their Destiny". She has been featured in the Daily News and many other publications. http://www.realsistersrising.com

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Brand Makers News The small business resource for urban entrepreneurs named25 urban entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. I was named 1 of 25 otherentrepreneurs. It was a pleasant surprise and I was in good company.

When I started on Twitter I didn’t get it. People were talking about what they had for breakfast, lunch and dinner and some of the tweetswere a little embarrassing. I couldn’t get with the 140 characterlimit. So, I just set it aside for a few. I soon noticed a trend ofFriday Follow mentions and one of the common denominators of most wasthat it was those who had a great following so I vowed to get morefollowers so I could be included in a Follow Friday mention. I soonacquired a taste for quality over quantity and started tweetingoriginal and other empowering quotes. I soon watched as othersretweeted my posts and soon followed. I watched and learned more andmore about Twitter. I started off as @RobinTramble and soon added @empowermentdivawhich I stuck with. Well, my following is a little over 100 followers,I like to call them friends I now have over 8000 friends/followers andit was au naturale’ no gimmicks.


Here’s a little bit from the article announcing the 25 urban entrepreneurs to follow
on Twitter.


Just in time for “follow” Friday, BrandMakerNews presents The 25 Urban Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter.
Without question– The best part about working here at BrandMakerNews is theopportunity we have to connect with incredible urban entrepreneurs allover the world. Even though we may all work from different sides of thecountry (or the world for that matter) we’re able to easily swapresources, inspiring thoughts and valuable content with each otherthrough our Twitter streams.

This week, our team here at BrandMakerNews came across a lot of powerful tweets, that we wanted to share with you, but instead wedecided to take you straight to the source. That way, you’ll continueto catch all the encouraging messages, great advice and helpfulinformation that these entrepreneurs have to share.


The 25 individuals on this list are not only building successful businesses,but they are also dedicated to sharing their trade secrets, tips, andresources to help others along the way. We encourage aspiringentrepreneurs and existing business owners to add these names to yourTwitter stream. These entrepreneurs’ powerful words are bound to giveyou the pep talk you need to go out and conquer the world.


View The 25 urban entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter here.

Congratulations to all of the individuals named as 1 of 25 urban entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. And a special thank you to BrandMaker News. “I appreciate you!”


Are you using Twitter? Has it been effective?


Share your experience


Read additional empowering blog posts here

http://www.Authenticlifeempowerment.com/blog

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10744052082?profile=originalRunning a company when you have children at home is more of an art than a science and it calls for a different approach from the norm. So if you feel that you are swimming against the flow in your day, here are a few tips for work-at-home moms to stay productive and profitable during summer breaks (or anytime).

  1. Summer Homework. Depending on the age of your child, the school they attend may have them to complete assignments in preparation for the upcoming school year. This is also a great way to refresh and reinforce concepts that they have already learned. Some children are eager to get assignments as soon as summer vacation begins but a better option is to give them one assignment to do each day.
  2. Supplement Assignments. You can add to homework by giving them fun lessons to do on their own. Have them create art, science, reading, or math projects to augment learning. Provide a reward for going the extra mile.
  3. Chores. Children complain less when they have something to keep them occupied. If your child is old enough to help out around the house then a few light assignments each day will keep their boredom blahs to a minimum. This also buys you some time during the day to get your business projects done.
  4. Office Help. In lieu of chores, older children can also assist you with running your home office. You could also use this time to help them develop their natural talents by assigning them to work that enhance their skill set.
  5. Swap childcare. Talk with a neighbor to see if they would like to exchange a few days with you. This especially comes in handy when you have projects that need to be done on time.
  6. Summer Reading. Many children love to read and most would not pass up an opportunity to hang out with their peers while doing it. Check your calendar and try to coordinate meetings or time sensitive projects when during the hours when children are away at camp.
  7. Alternative Summer Office Locations. When all is said and done you may simply find it is impossible to get anything done when the children are at home. In those cases a backup plan is the answer. Some places where you can pack up your lap top and plug away include the library, coffee shop, a business incubator, friend or relative’s home that works during the day, in a park, or by the lake.

A home office can be the best of both worlds for mompreneurs. By putting these easy to execute short-cuts in place you will create the lifestyle you love and have more time to create the profits you desire!

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Why are women better leaders? According to some scholars, women tend to surpass men in consensus-building and certain other skills associated with leadership. Women leaders are more likely to mentor and coach others to create a strong team atmosphere. They encourage genuine collaboration and embrace the empowerment of others. They are passionate about building trust and lasting relationships. Women leaders believe in the power of helping other women.

"There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women." Madeleine Albright

So, what makes them better leaders? Here are 3 obvious reasons why women make better leaders:

Women are persuasive

“Women leaders are more assertive and persuasive, have a stronger need to get things done and are more willing to take risks than male leaders,” according to a recent study conducted by Caliper, a Princeton-based management consulting firm.

Women possess strong people skills, enabling them to analyze information more accurately, thus, enhancing their persuasive abilities. Unfair advantages of male to female entrepreneurs in the marketplace, force women to work twice as hard to be competitive and so they are natural risk takers.

Women are risk takers

Women leaders are resistant to a lot of heavy and unnecessary red tape and will engage in risk taking to come up with innovative solutions to get the job done, efficiently!

A survey by the Simmons School of Management in Boston stated that “women business leaders don't shy from taking risks, but partake in opportunities considered to be "high-risk" on a regular basis.” In addition, the survey revealed that “though businesswomen embrace risk, they are largely viewed by the business world and mass media as being risk-averse.”

Women are problem solvers

When faced with an issue, women prefer to hear the facts, to lay it all on the table; this allows them to analyze the issues to make the most informed decision. Here are 4 quick tips to better problem solving:

1. Define the problem: ask who, what, when, where and why?

2. Analyze the cause: once identified, solicit help from people who are directly affected and those who can assist you in resolving the problem(s).

3. Identify and assess alternatives: Ask for suggestions from everyone and then investigate your alternative(s).

4. Implement the solution: after the alternatives are identified and the best possible solutions have been decided, start moving toward implementation. Choose key people to play a role in working towards carrying out the action steps and goals that are in place. Make sure there is a plan to handle any unforeseen problems that may arise.

In closing, what makes a woman a good leader may vary by person? I see a leader as one who empowers, embraces and motivates others to achieve success on their own terms. She is unselfish and always thinking of ways to uplift and help others and ultimately, not wanting anything in return. How do you define a good leader?

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:Sylvia Browder is CEO of Browder Consulting Group, a virtual small business consulting firm. In her role, she helps Women in Business grow and succeed. She is employed as Project Director and business consultant for the Women's Business Center Inc, a non-profit economic development organization with a mission of empowering women to start and grow successful businesses. She has served as an online volunteer SCORE counselor since 2004. She also serves as a Technical Assistant Provider for SBA’s Community Express Loan Program. For FREE weekly articles go to Sylvia Browder’s Blog for Women Entrepreneurs, www.sylviabrowder.com. She can be contacted at info@browderconsultinggroup.com.

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To all the Business Owners and Entrepreneurs I want to share this live audio with you.
Listen to Author, Speaker and Business Success Coach Ron Mueller-Home Business Tax Expert on "Why Everyone needs a Home Business as a back up plan". Why having your own Home Business provides the most TAX SAVINGS and PROTECTION "Bar-None"-It's a "No Brainer" the call will begin shortly after the introducing of everyone coming on the line.

http://www.byoaudio.com/play/WcWJzKms
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Where can Christian Women Entrepreneurs go to receive support, training, education, engaging affiliation, empowerment and connection to a vast resource bank of expertise and networking opportunities with women of like mind? The ACWE.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE– Jan 18, 2010 – The Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs a solution for Christian women seeking personal, business and spiritual life empowerment, training, resources,networking and more from like-minded women!"Robin Tramble announces prelaunch of The Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs.There has been a great concern from Christian women to receive training, support and toglean from the expertise of Christian women who share the same principles and valuesas they do." Says Robin Tramble President of The ACWE.The Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs seeks to be the solution.Where can Christian Women Entrepreneurs go to receive support, training, education,engaging affiliation, empowerment and connection to a vast resource bank of expertiseand networking opportunities with women of like mind?ACWE is an organization created for the purpose of supporting, equipping, connecting,training and educatingChristian women entrepreneurs. Providing an affiliation with experts from various fields who share thesame principles and values.According to the Center for Women’s Business Research (CWBR) in the United States alone, “there are 6.2 millionwomen owned firms employing 9.2 million people, generating sales of $1.15 trillion” (WE, Inc.).It is obvious that women are making their mark in the business world and this is a growing trend.ACWE's mission is to provide a venue that provides a resource bank of tools, training, expertise, mentoring,networking, accountability and more within a body of women that share the same values and principles.The ACWE group serves as a gathering place for those interested in learning more about the ACWE to receive information, updates, tips and value added content via the discussions and wall posts.Membership can be requested here http://www.acwentrepreneurs.ning.com which is where the Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs is housed temporarily. The ACWE is also seeking expert contributors who have extensive experience and success in their area of expertise. There is also an opportunity for peer expert contributors. Candidates do need to have experience and some level of success in their area of expertise. To inquire candidates need to submit their information to rtintlinfo@gmail.comThere are plans for annual conferences and local chapters moving forward. The ACWE is the place to be for ChristianWomen Entrepreneurs.# # #About Robin G. TrambleRobin Tramble is founder and CEO of Robin Tramble International Life Empowerment. A company created to support savvy women and woman entrepreneurs across the world that want to attract prosperity "Spirit, Soul and Body" by presenting your gifts from an authentic self projection of empowerment, purpose and passion. "No hype... simply the real deal" This is accomplished via Teleseminars, live events, mentoring, coaching, her transformational programs, products and services.Robin is also known as The Dynamite "Authentic Life" Empowerment Mentor, Coach,Trainer and Public speaker.She passionately empowers savvy women and woman entrepreneurs to discover their authentic self, get unstuck and live their best empowered life." She also hasa background in Education, ministry,business and music. Robin is a great resource for empowerment as she has accomplished sustained success and empowerment including 29 years of marriage and raising four successful children.Find out more at: http://www.RobinTramble.com
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Successful Woman Radio Show Today 2/1 @ 12 Noon!

Successful Woman Radio Show - Every MondayMonday February 1st at 12 Noon (EST)!Dial In: 347-637-2589Online: Click here to listen online!Featured Guest: Nicola Jackson - Entrepreneur & Motivational SpeakerJoin us for inspiration and motivation to achieve your dreams on the Successful Woman Radio Show, Monday February 1st t 12 Noon (EST) with host Trina Newby, Success Coach.Our featured guest will be Nicola Jackson, Platinum President with Ardyss International. Nicola will share how she has developed a powerful sales force of more than 50,000 associates in a one year time period, the mindset women need to have to tap into their true potential and what's holding women back from success in the 21st Century.Know A Successful Woman That's Needs to be on the Show?If you would like to suggest successful women that you know of to be on the show, please feel free to connect with us through Women About Biz or call us at 770-934-2109.Here's to Your SuccessTrina NewbyFounder, Women About Biz
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Finally a resource designed with you in mind.Access the power of a network of like-minded women!The time has come for a platform that will support Christianwomen entrepreneurs in their endeavor for building thrivingbusinesses based on Kingdom principles.Women have expressed a desire to learn from women of like mindand The Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs has beencreated as a solution to this desire.The Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs is foundedby Robin G. Tramble, Life Empowerment Coach,Mentor,Trainer,public speaker, recording artist and CEO of Robin Tramble International.ACWE will serve as a platform to equip, support, train,coachand mentor women in various areas of personal, businessand spiritual growth. There will be opportunities for networkingas the goal of ACWE is to draw a diverse group of women with abroad range of expertise allowing members to benefit fromthe resources available in this community.During prelaunch members will be able to join at a reduced ratefor 4 months as the foundation is laid. Founding members will beable to speak into the development of the Association.(Free during December and 3 months reduced after special promo )There will also be expert contributors that will contributethe articles and other resources such as the monthly expert callsBenefits of joining1. Member access onlyYou will have access to the member site with vast resources.Audios, articles (blog posts), tips, discussions and more!2. Synergy Energy from NetworkRealize the synergy energy from being surrounded by like-mindedwomen who are all routing for your success. Glean from thevast resource bank of expertise and years of experience inpersonal, business and spiritual success from women whoshare the same values and principles as you do.3. *Monthly expert callsYou'll receive monthly calls from the expertise of the womenin this dynamic association. Robin G. Tramble will lead theway, however, experts from the membership and others will joinRobin on occasion to share their wisdom on subjects such as, onlineand offline business success, internet marketing, marketing,attractingclients, leveraging your time and money,blogging,social media, the power of teleseminars, the dynamics of conducting your own telesummits, life balance,essential keys to life,business and spiritual empowerment, health and fitness,public speaking, writing, traffic secrets,Direct selling,developing your own newsletter and more!4. Listing in the ACWE member business directoryYou won't have to go far to discover necessary resourcesfor your growing business or personal growth. As a foundingmember your listing will be free for the first year.5. Prayer coverageEvery Monday Morning there will be intentional prayer coverageover the members of ACWE. That sets us apart from manyorganizations such as this.As the association is developed there will be additional benefitsaligned with your membership. This is only the beginning.Learn more hereThank you and we look foward to welcoming you into this great associationfor such a time as this.
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Robin Tramble aka Empowerment Diva Launches Dream LaunchMentoring and Coaching Program for Savvy Woman Entrepreneursand those that aspire to be.Where can women find reliable resources to assist in therealization of their dreams? Robin Tramble aka The EmpowermentDiva launches a 5 plus week mentoring and coaching program DreamLaunch Mentoring and Coaching!Women are becoming overwhelmed as a result of the economic downturn and someare finding themselves stuck, unable to grasp hold of the energy and persistence to moveforward. Although it has been stated that we may see relief from therecession this year, women are still needing and wanting programs andsystems that will assist them in their endeavor to live their bestempowered life, allowing them to thrive in the midst of any financialcrisis. They are in need of support, systems, advice and accountabilitymeasures that will super-charge their empowering business and personaldevelopment endeavors. According to Robin Tramble, founder/ownerof Robin Tramble International.“It is apparent that there is an echo, a sound of fear, confusion,discouragement and possible defeat. You can choose to survive or takeaction and thrive in 2009! Empowerment is a choice and women must becomedecisive action taking women if they're going to manifest their God givendreams.” Having experienced some of the same things and now living a lifeof empowerment through learned systems and experience I can passionatelyshare strategies and keys to discover your authentic self, get unstuck,overcome overwhelm, fear and how to stay focused in crisis. I have also hadthe experience of watching empowering success in my own life and the lives of the many women I influence across the world.”The Empowerment Diva mentors, trains and coaches savvy entrepreneurialwomen ( and those aspiring to be) as they strive to realize theirpersonal, spiritual and professional goals. Robin offers weeklyezines, a community/networkwhere members can participate in forums, blogging andnetworking. Robin Tramble The Empowerment Diva is currently launchinga 5 plus week God inspired mentoring and coaching program for exponentialpersonal, spiritual and business growth.The three components are Personal/Business Foundation, Success systems andDream builder.The Dream launch Mentoring and Coaching program is an excellent resourcefor women who desire to be equipped with keys and strategies to empowerthem to move to another level in their lives manifesting maximum empowermentand build a sound foundation for their Dream Launch.“It’s the place to be for breakthrough results and to join with like-mindedwomen from across the world in one place striving for their best empowered extraordinary life” Says Robin Tramble“The Dream Launch Mentoring and Coaching program is scheduled to begin theweek of November 2. Women can register now by going to http://www.robintramble.com/Dreamlaunch.htmlBe sure to read some of my client testamonials on the page.###
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Who are you? Do your clients, customers recognize who you are? Would prospects recognize who you are and become immediately attracted to you? Or would theyturn away because there's nothing for them to identify with.If you answered no or I don't know to the above it's time that you learnedmore about personal branding.Think about Johnson and Johnson, Pepsi,Joyce Meyer, Kelloggs they are all branded and all you have to do is say the word and people know exactly what you are talking about. Some more than others, however, there is branding involved.So you may be asking how do I begin building my personal brand?Personal branding is the process whereby people and their careers aremarked as brands. It has been noted that while previous self-helpmanagement techniques were about self-improvement, the personal brandingconcept suggests instead that success comes from self packaging. The termis thought to have been first used and discussed in an 1997 articleby Tom Peters,Your brand is how people think about you. Learning more about you,self discovery and assessment is key in beginning the process ofpersonal branding. This process also involves developing your vision,what makes you unique and how you can help others.Your vision is like a compass a guiding light. It helps us to stay focusedon our goals and plans in life.When taking on the endeavor to build your brand keep the following in mind....It's important to consider how you communicate visually, verbally andin writing. If you don't know you're actually branding yourself in yourblogging.You also make it easier to develop your marketing plan when you build yourpersonal brand.What makes you different or unique?How would you say people describe you or better yet how do you describe yourself?Do you know who your target market or audience is?Some may consider this your niche. So very important and no it doesn'tcut off your reach in essence it expands it because instead of grasping for strawsyou know where to put your focus.It's also key to discover your why. Why do you do what you do?What motivates you?What sets you apart?Do you have a creative angle to what you do?If you want to accelerate the process towards your empowering successit's important to start developing your personal brand.Who are you? Start taking notes and write down your values, what you'dlike to do in life, how you'd like to be seen, what sets you apart and thenuse some of this to develop your vision statement andyou'll be on your way to a definite brand of YOU inc.If you'd like more information on discovering your authentic self andgetting started on your personal branding contact me or get connectedwith my Inner Circle.

Read more empowering posts on my Women's Life Empowerment Blog.

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I have been a believer of the power of positive thinking and living.No we cannot just participate in positive thinking and believe thatis the solution and everything will manifest magically, however, thiscoupled with other life skill sets will greatly enhace the results youreceive from any endeavor to live your best empowered life, anextraordinary life.I'm sharing an article that provides proof of the power ofpositive thinking.Scientists have come up with proof of the power of positive thinking.They have found people who have a sunny, optimistic outlook on growing older live longer than those who are constantly worrying.Positive self-perceptions can prolong life expectancyYale University researchersThe research suggests that people who feel bad about getting old accelerate the ageing process.In contrast a positive attitude will add more years to your life than not smoking or taking regular exercise.A team of American psychologists found that people who were positive about ageing lived an average of 7.5 years longer than those who regretted the passing years.They believe that negative thoughts about the ageing process have a direct impact on the will to live.Better than low blood pressureThe researchers, led by Dr Becca Levy, from Yale University, in Connecticut, said the effect of a positive attitude towards ageing was greater than physiological measures such as low blood pressure and cholesterol - each of which is thought to add a maximum of four years to life.The effect was even more pronounced than factors such as keeping weight down, not smoking and taking exercise - each thought to add between one and three years to life.The researchers studied information from 660 volunteers aged fifty plus.Death rates among the participants were compared with their responses to a survey conducted 23 years earlier.The volunteers were asked if they agreed or disagreed to statements such as "as you get older, you are less useful".Dr Levy's team believe the sheer will to live partly explains the link between positive thinking and longevity. However, they don't think it is the only reason.StressThey believe another factor is the effect of stress on the heart.Previous research has shown that the hearts and arteries of elderly people exposed to negative ageing stereotypes do not respond well to stress.People could have negative thoughts about aging picked up from society without even being aware of them, said the researchers."Our study carries two messages," they wrote."The discouraging one is that negative self-perceptions can diminish life expectancy."The encouraging one is that positive self-perceptions can prolong life expectancy."The researchers warn that a poor attitude towards the elderly in Western societies may exacerbate the problems. It is time to stop knocking the old, they say, and make them feel good.The research is published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2158336.stmWhat are you thinking?Coming up "How your subconscious thoughts are tricking you into to sabotagedempowering success and what you can do to stop them"Learn more about positive thinking, mindset breakthroughs, confidence,self esteem, empowering successand more. Visit here and be sure to request my empowering ezine and receive 2 additional gifts.Empowering you,Robin aka Empowerment Diva
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