Blogs

Happy new year!  Want more money in your bank account?  Click here to read about how to change scarcity into abundance. 

Plus click here for info on how to use EFT for financial success. 

Here's to your success!

The interview by Denise Turney of Off the Shelf was delightful because Denise is so warm and so knowledgeable.  Click here to hear it. 

I recently had the honour of being interviewed on the Tycoon Women Moments radio show.  I have listed the seven moments I focused on for my healing journey, and put the videos for the great songs I chose to  accompany them - click here to check them out or click here to listen to the show. 

I was recently interviewed by a lovely sister, Taylor from the All Black Woman blog.  Click here to read the interview. 

I was delighted and humbled to have been interviewed on Morgen Bailey's author blog recently.  Click here to read the interview. This one focuses specifically on my writing, and on me as an author. 

Like several people who have interviewed me lately, Morgen asked me for my views about the future for writers and the publishing industry.  Click here for my interview with Adrianne George of Black Women in Europe, who also asked me about this. 

Click here for another interview about my new ebook, Secrets of the Black Bloggers, by Veronica Young of Veronica Inspires. 

Click here for another recent interview, on Interviews with Black Entrepreneurs. 

Click here for more interviews.

I trust you will enjoy them and find them useful.  Any questions, please post below.

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What's Happening On Black Business Women Online Today

1. My Heart Speaks... (Business Profile)
2. Clutch Magazine (Business Profile)
3. Raising Chefs (Business Profile)
4. G.I.F.T.S. from Kim Coles (Video)
5. Web Conferencing Click of the Week | Instant Presenter (Video)
6. DIY Screen Printing + Natural Hairstyle T-Shirts (Video)
7. Woman Wins $72 Million But Still Wants To Work. Would you still work? (Discussion)
8. Support for Entrepreneurs (Discussion)
9. Researching Direct Sales Companies (Discussion)
10. 100 Web Tools and Small Business Resources for Web Women Entrepreneurs (Discussion)
    
11. Relax.Relate.Release Networking (event)
12. Black In Entrepreneurship (event)
13. Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit (event)

     

14. Business Profiles Directory (new feature)
15. BBWO Radio (new feature)

Black Business Women Online is our space to motivate, inform, inspire and connect. Add your upcoming events, business profiles, blogs, videos, promotional photos and more.

(this is what I entered on Black Bloggers Connect (BBC) as a BHM blog entry.  If you like it here, please like it on the blog site.

Normally during this month, we concentrate on the same deserving African Americans in history. When I saw this contest, I knew I had to honor a little known very important African American woman to history.

Norma Ross (1934-2010) from Dayton Ohio was the only African American female owner of a Mercedes-Benz franchise in the world and the only African American woman owner of a Buick and GMC franchise in Ohio.

Mrs. Ross (nee Henderson) met Robert P (Bob) Ross when they both were in high school in Richmond, Ind. They married and Norma received a degree in elementary education from Earlham College, Robert operated a Buick dealership. They came to Dayton in 1979 where Robert sold Buick and Mercedes Benz models and Norma worked as a classroom teacher and a curriculum consultant in the Dayton Public School system. She helped established the first all day kindergarten program in Dayton, Ohio.

The Bob Ross Organization consists of three franchises: Buick, GMC and Mercedes-Benz. Bob Ross died in 1997 and Norma assumed command of the Bob Ross Dealerships. Their two children, Robert Jr. and Jenell, became vice presidents. Jenell Ross continues as president of Ross Motor Cars.

In 2000 the Bob Ross Organization was featured in the Black Enterprise Magazine as “Auto Dealership of the Year”.

In 2007 Norma received the “25 Year Award” as a GMC Dealer. In 2009 a “30 Year Award” as a Mercedes-Benz Dealer and Bob Ross Buick also celebrated 35 years as a Buick Dealer. The dealership has been one of the “Top 100 Companies” in Dayton, Ohio from 1999 to present. In the State of Ohio, Bob Ross Buick franchise was ranked #1 for eight consecutive years and currently ranks #2 in Buick sales. Currently, Bob Ross Buick is among the Top 50 largest Buick Dealers in the country.

After her death in 2010, the family established “The Norma J. Ross Youth Foundation” to benefit deserving youth in the community in her honor.

Her other awards and accolades were too numerous to mention but more information can be found at:

http://www.bobrossauto.com/j/i/38780/NormaRoss.html

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/bob-ross-buick-ceo-dies-668691.html

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dayton/obituary.aspx?n=norma-jean-ross&pid=142283886

Dear friend,

We can all follow our dreams. It may seem impossible or extremely difficult at times, but it’s doable. We may fall several times before we figure out how not to though. I know you are working at that 9-5 job/building your business and hating every minute of it, wishing you could just bust out and live the life you want. You may know a few people who’re already on their dream path and say, “That will be me one day!”

You know that saying “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”, don’t you know there’s someone who thinks your grass is greener than theirs. It’s the nature of the beast – competition and constant comparing your situation to others. When will it all end? Or better yet – when will we stop beating ourselves up and be grateful for what we do have?

Today’s job market and economy is different than what it was 5 years ago and it will continue to change. Gone are the days of having guarantee security. Not only do we need a plan A but plan B, C and maybe even D. Why? When one fail or doesn’t go the way we envision it, then we must stop figure out what didn’t work and did, then duplicate the right stuff. [Read entire post]

Featured this week on News One: Marcia Adams of College Park, Ga., and her boyfriend went to a convenience store to buy a chocolate candy bar and decided to purchase two Quik Pik lottery tickets. The tickets were bought less than an hour before the drawing, and two days later, she was $72 million richer.

Adams, a corporate account doesn't plan on leaving her job. She said:

I love what I do.  I have a purpose.

Apart from the fact that she won $72 million dollars I think its great that she wants to keep working. I don't think most people love what they do and find it gives them purpose. Do you? Do you think she's got the right idea or would you quit everything and take a break?

If I personally were to win that kind of money while I would probably take a mini-break, I think I would really take a chunk of that money and invest into a TON of business ideas and special projects I've always dreamed of getting off the ground. Really do things the right way.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and to read the full article on NewsOne click here.

And for those ambitious entrepreneurs who are working towards that $72 million, on a mission to Keep that Income Steady and Ever Growing I've created this click here.

Greetings Divas!

We at Divas in the City (www.divasinthecity.com) are currently gearing up for our "Sweet & Sassy Shopping Soiree" a Pre-Valentines day shopping party and girls night out on February 11th from 6pm - 10pm in NYC.  Divas in the City is an all women lifestyle organization that focuses on planning & hosting entertaining, educational and empowering events for todays do it all woman...the Diva!

We are still in need of additional vendors for the Feb 11th event.  If you or someone you know sells any of the items listed below, and are interested at vending at this upcoming event please email us ASAP as we are trying to finalize our vendors by February 3rd.  This is a great opportunity for those looking to expand their business and connect with fabulous women in NYC.

Vendors Needed

Handbags

Shoes

Clothing (Straight/Plus)

Candles

Gift baskets (valentines day theme)

Fashionable home decor

Please email events@divasinthecity.com for more info. 

GPS is looking for People Who Prosper OR anyone that is successful, considers themselves successful, or on their way to success!

We are looking to feature and introduce people who are up and coming in their business or already there! PeopleWhoProsper.com is a place that features business owners and shares their stories with someone who just might be able to relate. Believe it or not, sometimes it helps to stay motivated when you hear other people's stories, and this is our goal: Not only to feature successful prosperous people, but to help keep others MOTIVATED.

The other part of this, is that we want you to tell US about YOU. It's easy for anyone to be a fan of your website, blog, Facebook page, or twitter. But PeopleWhoProsper.com is a place for you to challenge yourself and put yourself out there. We give you a chance to brag about yourself! Because let's face it, if you can't talk about you, then who else will? Tell us about your business and services and how long you've been in business. We want to hear your story. Why did you decide to go into business for yourself?

I am challenging you today to step out and tell others about you! Here's all you have to do: Email with subject line PeopleWhoProsper to tamara@garrisonprosperitysolutions.com Include your business name, website and a synopsis of "your story". After getting in touch with you, you will be sent a series of questions about yourself, your business and/or services. After you return the answered questions, you will then be featured on GarrisonProsperitySolutions.com, PeopleWhoProsperTV, and over 16,000 people on youtube!

So, take the first step today and tell us about yourself! You never know who will need to hear your story OR need your services! Deuteronomy 8:18: But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

Carlie: I like your idea of weaves and flowers in your hair but I have to say I am disappointed in the execution. This is a modeling competition who takes the best photos and you say this: 
Unfortunately, because of the darkness of my hair, the flower does not show in the pictures.
That doesn’t make sense to me.

I don’t see the creativity of the style in your photos but your steps are clear. The overall style does not do it for me.  Although your lightening is better, the rest of the criticism is the same as last week. Your photos aren’t sharp. In your first photo I can see that your complexion, your skin and your teeth are beautiful and your pose is nice but it’s just not a good enough photo. You have to raise your level. Find either a better camera or a better photographer because it’s not you. I see a beautiful woman in average facebook-like photos. These photos are not representative of a model.

For your next challenge, keep the frames tight but keep the camera still. Look at the Iman photo and try to take a clear shot that show your makeup.

Jalita: Your makeup looks great, your hairstyle certainly shows creativity, your steps are clear and I even like your poses and your overall style but unfortunately there is no good shot where I can see your hairstyle. The goal of the challenge was clearly “a creative hair”.

I think you are very versatile, you show range as a model with your beautiful short hair what not many models can pull off but your shots could be a lot better. Your hair blends in the darkness of your background and you need to put in a little more effort.

The leafs are distracting and miss some good tight headshots where we can just see your face and your hair. Cropped your photos look better and you should be able to take that tight shot. So there is much room for improvement.

For your next challenge, please give us that tight shot with just your face up to your neck and a bit of shoulder but that is all we will need for a makeup shot.

Desyray Your style is certainly creative, your steps are ok but I don’t really get a sense of your overall style. Your are photos are good but and the background is too dark to make your beautiful creative hairstyle pop out. You look beautiful, your makeup is well done, your poses are attractive but the execution is not there yet. You need to crick up your photographer or photographic skills so that you can shine.

For the next challenge, a black dark background may not be a bad choice but you really need to make sure that the light falls perfectly on your face. Also make sure that the photos don’t show the borders of where your makeup starts.

Kala: I like your hairstyle. Very nice, very nice! I like the colors as well. Here I get a clear sense of your overall style and your steps are clear.

Your photos are again an improvement compared to last week. The tree in the background is not bad but you can see you much better with the white background. Some of your shots are too much of a closeup and I like your accessories but I wish there was a photo without the flower so I could clearly see the full style.

For the next challenge, keep improving. Try to be a bit more expressive when you take a shot. Relax your face mussels and make your eyes smile or show more emotion.

Chassity woman: You are clearly in it to win it and I love that! Your steps aren’t really clear, I have no idea how you created that style so that is a minus but your style is creative and I get a good sense of your overall style.

For the rest of the ladies, this is how you take a photo if you have a busy background full of leafs or trees. You make sure it’s blurred. It takes a skilled photographer to take shots like these I know but you have to realize that every bit of distraction in the background, moves the attention away from you the model. And that is not what you want.

Your series is very good because you kept to the instructions. You show your hairstyle and you also pose to show the overall style. I love the shot where you can see your reflexion in the water. Very creative shot and you look lovely.

My only criticism is that I wish there was a shot without the flower so I could get a good view of the hairstyle. Well done though. You show your skills as a model and my compliments to your photographer. You are a good team.

Reshonda - Reshonda! You listened carefully and let the camera capture your beauty, completely. Love your shots! Just beautiful.

I love the fullness of your style. Your close ups make African hair look desirable, your instructions are very clear and you clearly show an overall style.

All I can say is not just keep it up, make us proud and take it to the next level.

Natasha
I like your style. Very creative and I love your approach to the idea that short hair is not as versatile. Your makeup is also very creative and I love how colorful your shots are but the photos are too busy.

In your first two photos you get lost in the leafs. That is a pity, you should be the center, miss model. I do love your 3rd shot though. It’s very creative as if you are one with nature. Somehow it makes me think of Avatar. Your 4th and 5th shots are also good. I can see your creative hairstyle and I get a sense of your overall style but still feel that the leafs take away from you being the total center.

For the next challenge, keep doing your close-ups. You pose well. Your camera feel is very good. Just make sure there is nothing distracting in the back.

Justyce - I do get a good sense of your overall tropical natural style and your steps that include your clarification of your simple style are good. I am sorry about your finger. I hope the food was good.

I have to say that I am not convinced by your shoot though. Your first shot is just ok and I don’t know what to make of your expression in your next 2 shots. As a model you have to find a way to look more "modelequesk." Your poses are not bad but your facial expressions don’t say model to me yet.

Please practice for the next challenge, learn to relax your eyes or smile with them. Then take the camera and shoot.

Nefertiti - Love your creative French Roll with a Twist but I miss your instructions on how to do it. I do get an overall sense of your style but my criticism is the same as the other models: the background is distracting and I miss one good clear shot of your hairstyle. 

I think photo 4 is your best shot. I like how the light falls on your face. Shot 2 is nice because of your expression. It shows your skills as a model but you are lost in the picture. You should be center.

So for the next challenge, take your modeling skills to the next level, try to choose a single color background that compliments you and your makeup so that you can be the center of every shot.
This week I have to choose between Reshonda and Chassity. Your shots top the rest but it’s not easy. Overall I like Reshonda’s shoot better because it looks more natural and the two last headshots that clearly show your style are absolutely gorgeous. So congrats, I know you worked hard for it, you are my winner this week. Chassity you are really not far behind. 

The two with the least attractive shoots for me are Justyce and Carlie. When I compare the shoots picture by picture I have to say that Carlie has better shots then you Justyce so I am sorry to say, you are the one I choose to let go.

THE GODDESS WITHIN 

L.O.V.E (Leaning On Various Experiences)

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Did you catch the last two BBWO Broadcasts (one and two)? There are some BIG changes happening on our network and I want to fill you in on the latest developments.

• INTRODUCING BBWO RADIO
  Now you can add music and audio files to your personal profile page AND enjoy an on going series of Radio Shows, Motivational Sessions, and Updates via our new Radio Player conveniently located in the right sidebar. And if you are a blogtalkradio host, artist, or entrepreneur with audio sessions to share submit your audios/shows to be featured in our new audio player. This weekend submissions are 25$ (regular 45$).
  
  
• BBWO PROFILES 25$ THIS WEEKEND
  Now is the right time to submit your business details to the NEW BBWO business profiles directory. This weekend submissions are 25$ (regular 45$).
  
  
• BBWO VIDEO CHANNEL
  Have you watched the latest videos on BBWO? Be sure to add your videos too! Current Featured Videos include:
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  - Add your videos now. Featured videos are tweeted an added to our Facebook page.
  
  
• 20+ FREE BUSINESS TIPS FOR WEB ENTREPRENEURS
  Be sure to download and listen to your 20+ audio sessions this weekend (details here).
  
  
• UPCOMING EVENTS
  North Carolina Women Entrepreneurs Join Our Local Group
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  View More Events + Add Your Own
  
  

More to come! Have a great weekend.

LaShanda Henry
p.s. Be sure to grab your free copy of the Blogs,Brands, Better Business- SistaSense InPrint Magazine issue #6. This issue will no longer be available as a free download after this weekend.

Over the past few years, I have taken the liberty to research several direct sales (home party planning) businesses…from companies who were start-up to companies in business for years. I must say it was fun trying new products and testing the market’s wants and needs. Most importantly, it was fun learning about myself and what I want in my business and any company that I represent.

Since The Body Shop At Home closed in 2009, I felt very lost. You see, that was the very first company and experience that I had with direct sales. I loved everything from the products, parties, people I met, and everything the company stood for. I loved the women I had became really great friends with and the joy of conference each year. I was with TBSAH for a little over 3 years and there was nothing I would have changed about my experience.

Their closing the US Division came as a sudden shock to me and I found myself at a lost on what company I would devote my time to. And let’s not forget the income I had grown to enjoy and need to support my family. For more than 3 years, I had built a prosperous business and team!

Unsure of what to do, I jumped on the first opportunity that came my way.   It was a chance to experience and grow in the Romance Industry. I did a little research about the specific industry and learned that it was lucrative to be a romance specialist, but quickly learned the late night parties and “fun” entertainment was not going to work for my family. Although I was in the top 10 (in the company) for sales and recruiting, I had begun the search for another direct sales company that was more suitable for my family’s lifestyle and needs.

So I began my search again. I thought if I embarked on the journey of a newly launched direct sales company, I would have longevity and guaranteed success with the company and in the industry of direct sales. I had received a call from my previous director at TBSAH and she had fell upon a skincare and baked mineral makeup (of italian artistry) company that was ground floor. I became consultant #45.  Although I said to myself after TBSAH, that I would never go back into skincare and cosmetics, I found myself on the same road. And it was rough. I tried building a business for about a year before I called it quits. I called it quits because I realized that I wasn’t a makeup person and I found myself trying to be something that I truly was not. I hardly wear makeup and don’t have a clue as to what colors blend with what or how to even apply professional makeup.

So here I thought the best way to go was with newly launched companies…it was just that I picked one that I had no expertise or interest in.

I was approached by a friend about Vault Denim – a designer jean home party planning company. I remember the conversation very well…”Kat, did you ever hear about this new jean company? OMG! Our friends will go crazy over designer jeans for less!”. I looked in to the company and it was only $99 to join, so we really had nothing to lose or did we. The thing about this company is that you carry no inventory and it was totally new to our area. The closest regional coordinator (who checked the jeans in and out between the local reps) was about an hour away. And she had just gotten the inventory a day or two after we signed up. So at that time, we had not seen the actual product we would be selling. Boy, was that a bad choice. When we did get a chance to see the inventory for my very first party, it was not what we had imagined. The brands that we thought and were told by our recruiter would be included, were not a part of the inventory or company stock.

Newly launched company sign up gone bad.

I stayed low and decided to do some soul searching about what I really wanted and desired in a company and business venture. I knew that I enjoyed helping women build businesses, incomes, themselves and their lives. So direct sales was something that I couldn’t stay away from. As I was still in search for the RIGHT company, I was approached by AnyArt – a newly launched direct sales company who desired to build a nationwide salesforce. They wanted to sign me up to help them grow a nationwide team. I had to check out their products first and make sure it was something I could attach my name to. Of course, I’ve learned from the past that it was important tosee the product first. So I ordered a custom oil painting and fell in love! The products are superb and a quality of no other. I loved the fact that I now owned a custom painting and could offer the same choice to someone just like me.

So why did I call it quits with AnyArt? I learned that when you are with a newly launched company, it costs a lot to brand the company name and get people to trust you and the products/company. They are also in what I call the “discovery” phase. They are trying to figure out what hostess programs work and whether they should focus on sales or recruiting. You’re also more by yourself than on a team. And it was a struggle for me. I knew what I finally wanted and was missing from my direct sales business!

I was looking for the same “team” network, values, and structure that I missed from TBSAH.

I’m approached by people almost every day about their business opportunity. They always want me to join their team and of course, they tell you all the great benefits of their company. And trust me, every company is great, but the most important question is, is it great for you!

How did I get with Thirty-One Gifts? Well, whenever I did a craft show or vending event, I would always find myself near the Thirty-One table. I began to notice that everyone was carrying a Thirty-One product. I, myself, LOVE the tote bags and started to tally up and mark the catalog on what products I wanted. I told myself, if the total was over the price of the starter kit, I would just join for the discount. Well, my total was WAY OVER the kit price of $99 and I decided to join. I would have never deeply looked at the business opportunity if it wasn’t for who I would call mysister. She just so happened to call me when I was about to sign up and told me what an amazing culture Thirty-One had. I switched gears and started to look at Thirty-One as a business opportunity.

Thirty-One reminds me so much of what I had with TBSAH. It is all about celebrating, encouraging, and rewarding women. It fosters a culture of a team whose helpful and dedicated to see you succeed. It was the values of helping the community and others (Thirty-One Gives Foundation) and all the systems, policies, and procedures in place that attracted me. Thirty-One is about 8 years old, so it’s not a new company, but it can very much be new to your area. What I love most is that it is a faith based company named after Proverbs 31 – verse on the virtuous woman.

My search has ended and I have found a new home…a more stable, encouraging, and more me.

Has this ever happened to you (because it has to me)? You come up with a great business idea, research it online and find either someone is already doing it or you start to think of ways to be "different". This extends your launch date and eventually the idea just fades away. Here's another scenario, You subscribe to the blogs and publications of business persons you admire and every time they send an email blast you change your direction, operation, or business idea completely, putting you back in a stagnant position, unable to get any business idea off the ground. Not you? Well, good for you. But for those that this applies to, I feel your pain. We've all been there before, in a place of bewilderment about what you should do and how to actually begin. Furthermore, the problem with the scenarios above is that you never get around to building a brand, hence why your business hasn't gotten off the ground yet. Once you F.O.C.U.S. things will start to fall in place:

 Figure it out- What do you want to actually do? Why are you going into business? Why would someone want to work with you as opposed to a competitor? Answer those questions first. They will help you develop a foundation.

Omit distractions -As demonstrated in the scenarios above; it is easy to become distracted. Stop reading every email blast and changing your business direction, stop google-ing people to see what they are doing and changing your website format, stop youtube-ing people to see what they're up to and changing your programming. GET RID OF THE DISTRACTIONS.

Create your Motivation Board- This concept is explained further in The Motivator, but you should have a board with a visual representation of your dreams and goals for your life and for your business. If you don't know where you are going, how will you get there?

Understand your competition- But don't follow their every move. Of course you should know what your competition is doing and make sure you're staying ahead of them. But you cannot be consumed with every aspect of THEIR business and expect every aspect of YOUR business to run smoothly. Learn to balance and have faith in your brand.

Set deadlines- If you have been sitting on an idea for too long because of fear of what others will say or whether people with work with you, STOP! You will never know until you actually launch it. So set deadlines for everything and tell someone you trust so they can hold you accountable. Set a deadline for your website to be done, for your next program, for your next book, for your next business launch! Just do it!

F.O.C.U.S. on what you need to do so you will actually do it. Without F.O.C.U.S.ing on your business needs you will undoubtedly have the same results in 2012 as you did in 2011, nothing. Make it a year for…GREATER! Need help staying focused and motivated in your business?

Get your copy of The Motivator for FREE for a limited time! Tamara Garrison-Thomas http://www.garrisonprosperitysolutions.com