Blogs

It happened.

Your heart is pounding,

Your palms are sweating

You’re stuttering and fumbling over your words

Your stomach starts to turn flips and you secretly wish the sky would fall so you have a valid excuse to end this situation – IMMEDIATELY.

No matter the level of your business – whether you are new or seasoned, it’s inevitable, you will experience challenges. They may all appear different but they all have similar underlying emotions.

they create fear, anxiety, frustration and even in some cases horrible procrastination (I’m looking at you Dream list that’s collecting dust).

I’ve had my own share of challenges since starting my journey in entrepreneurship over 5 years ago – even in the midst of tremendous success and recognition  I still struggled with work-life “balance”, learning the fine art form of attracting the RIGHT customers (I’ve never had issues in attracting but in attracting the right customers consistently, I learned a while ago is a fine art) The beauty of challenges however that many entrepreneurs often overlook is that they also create tremendous opportunities when you’ve learned to master the art of “CALL & RESPONSE” instead of “REACTION”

READ THE REST HERE

I’ve come to believe that legacy projects do a lot to fulfill you. They hold tremendous value. This is the kind of work that not only gives you a sense of satisfaction, but it’s valuable to others and it’ll outlast you once you’re gone. Legacy projects produce legacy work. Legacy work is great work. The kind of work that will push you out of bed 3 hours in advance of having to do it. Great work keeps you motivated because it’s revolutionary and it leads to awe-inspiring innovation. It has synergy all it’s own because you’re depositing your best self into it. I love that type of work. Don’t you?

Unfortunately, so many of us don’t get an opportunity to create legacy projects because we’re doing good work. Don’t get me wrong, good work is useful. It’s productive and there’s nothing wrong with it.  It’s even comforting; when you leave out of your house in the morning you know what you’re going to do, how you’re going to do it and how long you’re going to do it for that day. Actually, it doesn’t take a lot of thought to do good work. You may even break from that good work and reward yourself with an hour of free time – let’s call it lunch. But, you know you have to hurry back from your 1 hour of free time to do your good work for the remainder of the day. Usually doing good work spans over a 20- 30 year period and before you know it, it’s time to go. You feel proud that you’ve accomplished all of that “good work” but was it really for you or for someone else who got all the glory for it? You even hope that all of that good work that you’ve done is remembered, but unfortunately, once you get that plaque and luncheon, the reality is – no one wlll.

Legacy projects = legacy work = great work = SATISFACTION = PURPOSE.

Do you see yourself here? Are you the person who outputs good work on a daily basis? Do you want more for your life – something that will give you purpose and provide a legacy beyond yourself? If so, think about making a strategic shift. NCCA offers a 12-week Professional Life Coach or Health and Wellness Coach Program.  If you have what it takes to be your own boss, there are no limitations to stepping out and doing it. You can have new tools to start your own coaching practice in as little as 12 weeks. Make time for something new in your life. Classes are starting in January 2013.

There has been a incredible shift in the world around us.  From the Northeast hurricane, to many people stepping out on pure faith and starting new businesses, ending unhealthy relationships to even finally taking health seriously. We’re all being charged with “purging” something. In the midst of this though…doesn’t mean there are challenges or days when you simply want to “quit”.

YOU KNOW
::The client money isn’t coming in on time

::The husband just “ain’t acting right”

::The kids are a mess at school

::Your stress level is out of wack

::Your business is good…but it’s not “great”

::You seem to be working harder for the same result.

::You feel enslaved to your purpose.

As women we come as a package deal and with that means that often overwhelming feeling of wishing and wanting to just “quit” – to let it all go. To throw in the towel and just let the sh!% it the fan!

I know that feeling and I have to have a “come to Jesus”  meeting with myself. And get real.

It’s time someone offered you a dose of truth…and that is

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Truth be told, women of color tiptoe around our issues in our lives and ultimately our businesses. We don’t invest in ourselves however we expect others to invest in us.

Do you? Do  you invest in yourself or do you quit at the thought of doing the work

QUIT at the thought of truly asking for assistance and support in growing your business or how women like Cameka Smith (founder of Forbes.com listed BOSS Network) has done by fostering a community of women entrepreneurs who network for good?

QUIT feeling like you can’t really work with other women because “they always want to take what’s mines”. And the hard work of learning to trust your own “GET IT GIRL!” so you can work with other women without the “crabs-in-the-barrel mentality” like LaShanda Henry (founder of Black Business Women Online) did with her girlfriends

QUIT at the thought of truly (and I mean truly) investing in quality mentorship and guidance and humbling yourself to end the thinking that you must do everything on your own or that perhaps Women of Color can’t produce high quality events and workshops that are impactful and profitable like thePOWER CIRCLE Conference & Expo happening Jan 2013.

What’s my point? I’ve been in a “Inner BITCH” release pilgrimage for some time involving releasing all the GUNK that was stuck in my belief system for too long.  My sister on this journey of complete liberation and I have been charged with not only calling ourselves out…but other women. Particularly women of color and Black women more specifically on how our emotional wellness is the TRUE source of abundance.

If you’re still reading I offer that I realize this post is making tons of assumptions about you – the reader – but perhaps it’s not. Perhaps somewhere inside of you, a-lot of this rings true. If not to this extreme, perhaps in your own self-sabotaging efforts to define “success” merely as the sum of your bank account or based on the number of episodes of  Donald Trump’s
The Apprentice” you’ve been able to copy-cat in your own business journey.

Whatever it is…there is a time to call it quits, but not on yourself…but on the nonsense that is causing many of us to live beneath the truth of our possibilities. The truth is that there is another more authentic way of living and creating and this video offers a bit of that truth.

Join me Friday November 9, 2012 here.

ATLANTA, GA — Katrina M. Harrell and Akilah S. Richards have a collective abundance of life and business anecdotes from their personal and professional experiences.  One common thread among their stories is the lack of harmony between sound business strategies and real emotional wellness.  

Frustrated with the trial-and-error approach to success among their own, Harrell and Richards now lead the movement that challenges black women business owners to face the harsh truths about promoting their brands versus building their businesses.  Their solution is 5-step “escape plan” from what they've dubbed "The inner B.I.T.C.H.".

On Thursday, November 9 at 9PM (EST) the two will host a free, live dialogue on Google+ Hangouts based around the focal points of their debut joint venture, How She Got Free: A Spiritual Business Manual for Women Who Lead Through Entrepreneurship.

The dialogue, which will also be live-streamed on YouTube, offers women a platform to discuss their biggest hurdles in business and life planning and income generating models.  Using the 5-Step Escape Plan, black women entrepreneurs can recognize their ineffective patterns, and align themselves with higher standards, sound structures, and effective systems in their professional and personal lives.

During the November 9th dialogue, the duo will tackle frequently dodged topics such as:

• Offering “bargain bin” pricing instead of charging what we’re worth

• How black women look to their white counterparts for marketing models that do not work with own potential markets

• The lack of application of basic business principles and the consequences therein

About the authors

Harrell and Richards are uniquely qualified Business and Life Strategies whose unique approaches to business building and lifestyle design have garnered them the unique approach to lifestyle management has garnered the attention of Black Enterprise Magazine, Essence Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, MSNBC’s Today Moms blog,  and various local and web-based publications.

Register for the live dialogue at http://bit.ly/shegotfree

For more information about How She Got Free, visit www.howshegotfree.com

###

Some email campaigns can be a lot more successful than others. While this is typical, the more emails that are opened, the more qualified they are to becoming successful. This is because when readers are interested enough to actually read the email, the chances of taking action are much higher. It's not rocket science but the truth is, readers must be convinced if you want them to click on your link.

In a previous post, I discussed the importance of having a catchy subject line or headline. This is the first thing a reader notices. The bottom line is, it has to be right or it can be the cause of the downfall in your email campaign.

Writing compelling words will do wonders for your business. Now, let's factor in everything else.

1) Make sure your email is targeted. Personalize the subject line. Motivate your reader just enough so they will want to open your email right away. Be creative.

2) Some people think branding is stupid. Well, you have to make your mark in the industry somehow. Giving people what they are looking for and fulfilling a need will keep your recipients wanting more of your emails. Keeping them interested is what you always need to do. If they know your brand, they know what to expect.

3) Pay close attention to what you are putting in the content of the email or newsletter. Writing a compelling copy may take practice but originality is what counts. Make it valuable. If you have subscribed to blogs or websites and you receive emails, save the ones you found interesting enough to open and go over them to see why they were compelling.

4) Take advantage of holidays for sending out emails with discounts or free offers. People love opening these types of emails because they can save money on your products or services. Some people actually wait until the holidays to see what will be on sale.

Another factor which forces the reader to open the email is his relationship with the company. Email readers fall into different categories. They can be irregular purchasers, potential clients, information hungry subscribers or existing clients. The method by which they decided to subscribe and the reason also tells a lot about the customer’s interest.

Did they find the website through a search engine or did they sign up when buying products? The subscribers who have sought for information and then signed up for the emails are more likely to open the email, when compared to subscribers who signed up while buying a product because of a pre-checked box meant for signing up which they forget to uncheck.

The email list should be of high quality and should be well-maintained always. Also, efforts must be made in expanding the email list with targeted audiences which are more likely to open the email and take the desired action. Most of the times, long-time list members become inactive. So the list must be segmented based on list age and the inactive customers must be offered interesting incentive to bring them out of the hibernation.

The mailing frequency is also a very critical issue. Too frequently send mails will hamper the growth of email open rates as the recipients will get irritated, so does scarcely send mails as the recipients will not remember who you are.

The time of sending also is important. Test different time and days for finding out which time works best for every type of audience.

What Causes Spam?

Who likes SPAM? I know I don't. But that doesn't stop me from getting legitimate emails caught in the spam trap. If this happens to your emails, then your recipients may not even get a chance to see them. Spam filtration is caused by words known as spam triggers. Spam filters are used by most ISPs which analyze whether or not an email is considered spam. Using capital letters, quotation marks, or larger than normal fonts in your subject line, can trigger spam filters. Being cautious of the words you use could prevent this from happening. Do a test first to see if your email was actually delivered.

If you want your emails to have high open rates, make sure you are viewing the process of your email campaign from every angle. Take everything you've read here into consideration and you will be well on your way to email success rates!

Live for purpose, prosper, and have fun doing it!

Get more tips and info on the blog at http://www.selfmadesavvy.com/info

Broken #3

DJs Unique Sound Charities

Sometimes it's impossible
To leave the past in the past

Sometimes it's impossible

To reach your deepest inner feelings

Sometimes it's impossible

To separate what is real and what is ingrained in you

Because of your past

We had a saying ..."I Love you Like the White Light."  By saying this we expressed how our love was pure and beyond anything of this world.  it was from Christ...

W both had a near death experience in our past.  Mine was from a former partner when he tried to kill me, by strangling me.  The white light was so beautiful and peaceful.  The feeling is beyond anything that can be explained in words.  I remember asking God to take me, I was ready to go.  I wanted to go and experience the peace that the white light was offering me.  He didn't take me, however he did give me something that I didn't realize at the time.  He gave me strength to know that I was not afraid of dying.  The peaceful feeling I had at that moment would give me strength to face what lie ahead.

The fairytale was fast becoming a nightmare....the white light was fast fading into a black hole that I couldn't escape.

I opened my heart to my "fairytale husband".  Before we got married he had asked me to tell him of every relationship I had been in.  I told him if our marriage depended on me telling him, we should not marry.  I told him I was afraid of him using this against me.   I knew...why didn't  I believe in my own instincts.

After we got married, he made me feel like I could tell him everything.  He made me believe that in order to be one, we had to be totally honest and open with each other.  I told him how all my life I had been told how ugly I am.  I told him about my previous abuse.  I told him about my being raped on more than one occasion.  I told him about all the mean and hateful things that were said to me.  I told him specifics and in great detail.  I told him because he made me believe in him.. I believed I could be me and he would still love me.  I let out my heart to him.  It felt so good to be able to express myself to someone in such detail.  I could let out all those repressed feelings that I have carried all my life... those feelings that eat away at you little by little.   The feelings that you don't dare speak out loud because if you do, they will become real to someone else and you will be found out.  The feelings that you hold in a secret part of your heart; because to speak them out loud would be to acknowledge their truth.  I told him how everything made me feel...I told him everything because I finally felt like I had someone I could trust  that would understand me and that loved me enough to care.  In telling him my inner most feelings were somehow released... I could be happy...I didn't have to be ashamed of who I was.

I had no idea he would use everything I told him against me.  I had no idea he was addicted to crack.  I had no idea of what lay ahead.

He used to say something on a daily basis

"signs and symbols for the conscience mind...if you cannot see, you are truly blind"

I didn't see the signs...He said these words to me on a daily basis, why did I not see the signs before it was too late.

It started with mental and verbal abuse.  The things he said to break me down.  I should have seen the signs.  These types of things were said to me before.  He would tell me I was lying when I  knew I was not...he would tell me of the things he had done in his past to keep me scared and aware of his capabilities.  It was so subtle and he did it in such a loving way that I didn't notice him using my insecurities against me.  He would accuse me of cheating on him and when I tried to explain that I have not cheated on him he would bring up my past.  I couldn't believe this was happening because it was exactly as I predicted before we even got married ... something he promised would not ever happen.

The accusations became more and more frequent, the tone of his voice changed from loving to hateful.  He would hang on to my every word and if I said something incorrectly he yelled with such a harsh voice that I was afraid to speak for fear of saying the wrong thing.  I began to feel like there was something wrong with me as he made sure I knew that he acted the way he did, because of me.  If I questioned this he would say something like..."you don't even see the things you do" or "don't you even hear yourself".  I tried so hard to stay calm because if I dared to cry, he would say something like, " I don't want to hear that fake ass sh**."  I began to feel that I could not do or say anything right.  It didn't help that I had started menopause and my emotions were totally out of control.  When or if I tried to explain to him that I was changing ...my body was changing, he would get mad and tell me that has known plenty of women and they did not act the way I did.  He said my body smelled and insisted it smelled of sex and that I had been cheating on him.  I was so embarrassed and I couldn't fix the problem because what he accused me of was not true.  What was wrong with me?  Why couldn't I be the person he wanted?

It started...I was 'walking on eggshells.'  I always felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest, my nerves were gone and I felt like my insides were always shaking and ready to shut down.  I felt like I couldn't think straight; I couldn't ever say the right things; I couldn't express my feelings or emotions; I couldn't be me...because no matter what I did or said, it always seemed to be the wrong thing.  I must be a bad person...there must be something wrong with me since he is not the first person who has said these things...I have heard such things throughout my life.  How could this be happening when he was the person  that made me feel so special and now I felt worse than I had ever felt in my life.  I couldn't face my family or friends because to express what I was going through would be to admit I was a failure. 

I was alone.......My spirit was broken

I am who I am

Because of my past

I am who I am

Because of my beliefs

I am who I am

Because I can only be me

If God be for me

What man can be against me?

Happy Friday Ladies,

I have a few wonderful things to share with you today.

• Bittersweet is up first... today is the last day of the Boost Your Business and Holiday Sales Teleconference. Click here to get call in details our 7pm session tonight and/or listen to the replays.
• Wells Fargo Approves $1.24 billion in SBA loans. Click here to read more.
• 72 Hours Only - Early register for the SistaSense 2013 Conference and get access to the Rock the Web - Webinar series.
• Not sure what smart phone to choose? Watch this video - 50 Reasons Why Galaxy S3 Is Better Than iPhone 5
• We all need to be inspired. This video is definitely worth watching and sharing: The UGLY Truth About Me...
• Great video posted by Ola Jackson: Women Talking Business on OWN: Onyx Woman Network

More to come! I hope to talk with some of you on tonight's call and see quite a few of you at the Conference in January!

LaShanda Henry | www.mybbwo.com | http://www.facebook.com/black.business.women.online

The Savane Group has teamed with the National Business Women Enterprise Network (NBWEN) to provide valuable entrepreneurial training for our members. Below are courses scheduled for November. NBWEN has its own ticket type so be sure to use it!  These events are being hosted via EVENTBRITE and are now LIVE.

You Have Made the Decision to Live Life on Purpose, Now What?
http://ihavedecidednowwhat.eventbrite.com 

Stepping Into Your Purpose with the Right Foundation
http://purposewithfoundation.eventbrite.com 

Due Diligence – Research and Evaluate Your Business
http://duediligenceinbiz.eventbrite.com 

Networking – There IS a Method to the Madness
http://methodtothemadness112012.eventbrite.com 

Establishing and Operating a Successful Non-Profit Organization
http://startingyournonprofitorg.eventbrite.com 

Funding Your Non-Profit Organization
http://fundingyournonprofit112012.eventbrite.com 

Blessings and Happy Networking!
Shellye L Lyons

Hello Community, Juniques Multi Cultural Connections  www.jusmcc.net suggest this ebook for a good read.

We definitely want our children to be confident!!!!

CONFIDENT KIDS
Although nobody gets a parenting manual or bible in the delivery room, it is our duty as parents

to try to make our kids as well rounded, happy and confident as possible. This book will give you

the parenting skills necessary to raise confident kids


Click here to get your copy of Developing Confident Children




 

Juniques Multi Cultural Connection www.jusmcc.net  is pleased to share this ebook with you.

We are what we think. We are remember by what we do. may this book be of benefit to you!

Affirmations are a powerful ingredient in positive thinking. They are not statements that you wish

to be true; they are statements that you must believe are true. They are positive statements

describing a desired condition in your life. That condition may not yet exist, but the affirmation

is spoken as though it does.

This book deals with using affirmations to reprogram the subconscious mind to produce outstanding

success in your life.

Click here to get Affirmation Ebook

Learn 48 different lessons for accomplishing any goal that you desire and to help create your future life. Juniques Multi Cultural Connections www.jusmcc.net endorse this video

click here to view video thank you

Hello Juniques Multi Cultural Community members.(http://www.jusmcc.net)
I found this interview with Willie Crawford,
foremost Affiliate Marketer, to be extremely interesting.
He shares an answer to a common everyday problem,
earning income on the internet even if you never have before.
How to get started with other people help.
How to generate income today!
http://www.loyaltepays.com/juniques/

http://www.loyaltepays.com/juniques/

Willie's Story,

In my 16 years online, I've interacted with tens of
thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs... and coached
hundreds of them directly.

Many of these people started an online business  because
they had VERY limited budgets, and never would have been
able start brick-and-mortar businesses.

In fact, some insisted that they didn't even have enough
spare change to afford web hosting or an autoresponder.

When they approached me asking, what to do, I often
told them that they were better off taking a part-time
offline job, and using that money to bootstrap a business.

Back then, I didn't see any easy way to do it without
at least getting your own domain name,  some reputable
hosting, and a good autoresponder.  Yes, there were
companies that offered free hosting, etc., but that
didn't instill any confidence in potential customers...
and only branded the other company.

However, things change fast on the internet, and with
the advent to things like social media, it IS now
fairly easy to start an online business without spending
a penny... and if you HATE selling, you can earn a
decent income without even selling anything directly.

The biggest change, and the secret, actually is in
what makes social media "social."


Social media is all about sharing.

You can now generate a decent living just by SHARING
things.

What you share are branded videos, ebooks, graphics,
webinar recordings, etc.  These are branded with YOUR
affiliate links.  You share them on Facebook, Pinterest,
Twitter, a blog or discussion forum, etc., and when
someone checks them out, they are also checking out your
affiliate links.

The things is, you share interesting content, and never
really need to ask them to buy anything.

Since people LOVE to share content on social media
sites, your "friends" or followers will often repost
your shared content, and when they do, they pass along
YOUR affiliate link.

Pretty simple isn't it?

My favorite site for getting brandable content, that you
get paid for sharing, is at:
http://www.loyaltepays.com/juniques/

http://www.loyaltepays.com/juniques/
Check it out.

Membership is free, but there are upgrades available
too, and if you are a prolific content creator, or run
your own affiliate program, you can even upload YOUR
content, and allow site members to join YOUR affiliate
program.

The way you earn by sharing something as simple as say...
an inspiring/moving image though, is that when someone
visits the main site and joins... you get paid.

So you see, you can literally have no website, no
autoresponder... and even no cash, and start your
own online business.

Go ahead and check it out now.  I'm a member... here's
my link:  http://www.loyaltepays.com/juniques/

http://www.loyaltepays.com/juniques/

Let me know if you have any questions.
Rickey Johnson
POB 6121
GLENDALE, AZ. 85312
623-455-6364

I read something powerful this morning on Facebook, "Ask yourself if what you are doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow." Sometimes we feel like outside forces control the things that happen in our lives, but really it is how we react to obstacles that dictate whether we fail or succeed.

This week I have decided to host a 5 day, free to the public, TeleConference series "How to Boost Your Business & Holiday Sales." For the first call I am going to tell you how I got on the news + got new customer interest in a matter of hours.

Calls will be Monday through Friday this week starting today 10/22 and all calls will be at 7pm est. No sign ups, just call in and participate.

Conference Dial-in Number: (712) 432-0600 | Participant Access Code: 1061931#

Also to regularly get updates from me on upcoming calls and webinars, click here and subscribe. Plus you can download my most recent Rock the Web Workshop here.

Sponsored post brought to you by Lina Williams, Independent Consultant

SheWear Hair Care
"A Better Way to Shop and Buy Hair"
Lina Williams, Independent Consultant
www.shewearhair.net/Lifestylist

October 2012 SPECIAL: Save $10% off all month on any order of Clip-in hair Extensions!
Discount code at checkout: 10oofci

http://BusinessCreditAmerica.com Why Banks Don't Lend to Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs?
In this video, I'm giving you a Brief illustration of Why Banks Don't Lend Money to Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs? As Small Business Owner make profits, they make the deposits in their personal checking account instead of their business checking account.

Banks want small business owners to open up business bank accounts to deposits their profits to show proof the business is profitable. Small business owners need to understand they need to have strong business credit file with up to date financials and ucc financial statements on the file.

In These Free Video's You Will Learn
• How to get a Visa Business Credit Card
• How to get a Master Card Business Credit Card
• How to get an American Express Business Credit Card
• How to get a CapitalOne Business Credit Card
• How to get a Secured Business Credit Card
• How to get a Visa Business Credit Card
• How to Read your Business Credit Report reviewed
• How to Find Out Who did a Business Credit Check on You
• How to file a Ucc Finance Statement
• What is a Ucc-1 Agreement
• How to setup a Dun and Bradstreet File
• How to get a Dun and Bradstreet Number for Free
• How to get a Completed Dun and Bradstreet File
• How to Add Trade references on Dun and Bradstreet
• How to dispute a Dun and Bradstreet File
• How to establish your Personal Credit
• How to Rebuild your Business Credit
• How to rebuild your Personal Credit
• How to get a Citi Bank Business credit Card
• How to get a Bank of America Business credit card
• How to get a Discover Credit Card
• How to get a Staples Business Credit Card
• How to get a Office Depot Business Credit Card
• How to Find New Net 30 Accounts
• How to get a Sears Business Credit Card
• How to build Business Credit in 7 Easy steps

http://BusinessCreditAmerica.com Call 1-888-821-6408x2

This week's feature entrepreneur is Shaneisha Dodson. She is the founder of Mahogney Ink Publications L.L.C. and Black Girlz Productions L.L.C. Currently residing in Virginia, Shaneisha holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Grambling State University, a master's degree in counseling from Dallas Baptist University, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in education. Shaneisha was the first person in her family to graduate from college. In showing  how important education is to her, every year she gives a $500 scholarship to a deserving student. After college, Shaneisha wrote her first novel. It was like so much by friends and family she was encouraged to continue writing. That eventually led to the start of her publishing and production company. Being an accomplished author herself, today Shaneisha publishes 4 authors,  2 poets and has produced one stage play.  Her story is truly one of accomplishment. Find out how Shaneisha started her companies and where her inspiration came from. Enjoy!

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

I am a country girl born and raised in Arkansas.  I was raised in a matriarchal household.  I developed a passion for writing at a young age.  I started writing my first book after I graduated from college. Prior to starting my business, my life consisted of school, school, and school. I have been a student my whole life.  I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Grambling State University and a master’s degree in counseling from Dallas Baptist University. Currently, I am pursuing a doctorate degree in education.

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

I have always had a passion for writing.  After graduating from college, I penned my first novel.  My family and friends loved it so much they encouraged me to continue writing.  Therefore, I decided to take it a step further and started my own publishing company in 2009, Mahogney Ink Publications, LLC. My works have been featured in online magazines, selected as book of the month by numerous organizations, selected as top 25 fiction books of 2009 by Conversations, and earned a spot on an African-American bookstore best sellers list. My first teen book was selected as best book 2011 in literary excellence in the teen self-help category.  In addition, I was nominated for a 2011 African-American literary award.  My publishing company is home to four authors and two poets.  In 2012, I took my love of the writing to the next level and started Black Girlz Productions, LLC.   My company’s motto is “Dream BIG or go Home!”  My first play recently debuted: Cheating on my Mistress “When One Woman is not Enough”.  My mission is to entertain by any means necessary.

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

Life inspires me. I am passionate about my work. Each day I strive to do better. I believe in taking my time to make sure everything is as close to perfect as possible.  Each year, I can clearly see my companies’ growth. We are moving at a steady pace. I am very satisfied because I believe in quality not quantity.

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

I used to have a mentor, but we went our separate ways.  However, I believe it is important to have a mentor because no one has gotten where they are without the help of someone else.  When you choose a mentor, make sure you choose wisely.  Mentors are people who are doing what you want to do in life. They should be full of wisdom and knowledge.

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

Research. Research. Research. If you want to start a business, learn as much as possible about the business. Don’t depend on other people to give you all the answers.  The biggest issue I have with the publishing company is finding a good editor. You will come across a lot of people who will make numerous false promises in this type of business. They will offer you an opportunity to be a part of a national tour, claim to be the best editor in the business, and will guarantee that their marketing campaigns will take you to the number one spot on the best sellers list. Be leery. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is…

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

My advice is to follow your dreams. Don’t be scared to succeed. When you hit a hard spot in the road, keep pushing. Believe in yourself and believe in your abilities.

If you are an up-and-coming author looking to be published, visit Shaniesha's website at Mahogney Ink Publications. For information on her stage play show times and Black Girlz Talk visit Black Girlz Productions. Also follow her on twitter at @blkgirlz I want to thank Shaneisha for sharing her story with us. I hope you have been inspired by her accomplishments.

________________________________________________________________

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

A revolutionary NEW source of funding to sweep across the internet in droves is crowdfunding! According to Growthink.com, $100 million USD was pledged in 2011 on the site www.Kickstarter.comalone, launching over 27,000 projects at a 46% success rate. Now that’s impressive!

When you are starting or growing a small business, it typically comes down to lack of resources to raise that much needed capital! Funding is a very important element to the success of any business remaining relevant in a competitive marketplace. If you’ve applied for a traditional loan; SBA Micro Loan; Unsecured Line of Credit; or even a Credit Card to no avail, then consider the HOT new trend in financing…CROWDFUNDING!

What is Crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is a cutting edge way of raising the much needed money required by businesses to sustain. A group of investors share their resources to support endeavors initiated by individuals or organizations. Many industries can take advantage of crowdfunding; from political campaigns; service or product based businesses; artist; scientific researchers to software development.

3 Business Preparation Tips for Crowdfunding

• Select the Best Platform: There are many crowdfunding platforms available with new ones forming daily. It is important to choose the one that can best fit your project funding needs.

• Create a ‘WIFM’ Reward Program: Remember that old WIFM (what’s in it for me)? Well, if you want to have a successful campaign, you’d better come up with some juicy reward for prospective investors. The reward you create should be based on the type of campaign you are running. For example, the Crescent Theater was forced to upgrade its equipment and as a part of their reward program, the lowest reward offer is a free movie pass.

• Design a Stellar Marketing Strategy: Consider multiple ways to connect with potential investors. The key is creating a diverse marketing campaign. A favorite by many and Google as well are videos! You can also add a slide presentation, a podcast and a simple written message.

3 ways that Crowdfunding can help you:

Independence from Banking Institutions

Banks are sitting on their cash and aren’t lending to start up or small businesses that need capital. At a recent lecture at George Washington University, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke innocuously remarked that lately “small businesses have … found it difficult to get credit.” Most banks have high unreachable expectations along with a daunting process. Indeed crowdfunding offers a more realistic approach to funding.

Free Publicity

An opportunity to publicly raise funds for your business idea or existing company to a gazillions of potential investors by way of the internet is astounding! Many entrepreneurs yearn for a chance to receive the type of publicity crowdfunding offers. If well handled, the publicity can greatly catapult your business to immense success.

Validation

Validation of your business idea is important. To know that there are people globally who believe in your concept is empowering. People will generally invest in opportunities that are viable. So every contribution you receive from people simply means that they believe in the validity of it!

3 Top Crowdfunding

• Kickstarter: funding platform for creative projects such as films, games, and music to art, design, and technology. Kickstarter is full of ambitious, innovative, and imaginative projects that are brought to life through the direct support of others.

• Indiegogo: an international crowdfunding site where anyone can raise money for film, music, art, charity, small businesses, gaming, theater, and more

• RocketHub: Fundraising platform raises funds and awareness for projects primarily in fashion, music, theatre, writing, and photography.

In conclusion, businesses can gain a lot by embracing the benefits of crowdfunding. It is a very unique way of raising funds for businesses and can greatly impact positively on the success of a startup making them more vibrant and competitive.

About Author: Sylvia Browder is a small business consultant, trainer and author. She is founder of National Association Women on the Rise, a virtual community for aspiring and established women entrepreneurs. For the past 6 years, she has worked as Project Director of the Women's Business Center; and served as an online volunteer SCORE counselor since 2004. For FREE weekly articles go to Sylvia Browder's Blog for Women Entrepreneurs, http://www.sylviabrowder.com.

Have you ever thought about how much money you make for the company you work for? Have you ever considered how much less you are making than your boss who is no better qualified than you? Have you realized that you are working to make someone else wealthy? Every day you spend countless hours generating income for someone you probably don't know and for a business you definitely do not own. Unfortunately, in this economy no job is secure. So, where do you find the security? What does your future look like?

If you see more prosperity in your future, then you need to take control of your life now. And that means, working for yourself! You need to put yourself in a position to FIRE YOUR BOSS! Set your own hours and reap the benefits of your hard work.

My mom had an “Embrace the Entrepreneur Within” luncheon, to empower women in their lives and in business. We had 12 to 15 women there that all had positive comments about the illustrious speaker, Melissa Taft. She spoke about the steps needed to be taken to make a change in our lives for the better. She talked about asking yourself questions like: Are you going through life, KNOWING it's not how you envisioned it yet doing NOTHING about it? and Are you aware of your displeasure and doing all you can in your power to change your life??? She described how there are different stages to our development in life and wherever our competency level is, is how our life is developing now. So when are you going to take control of it? When are you going to get smarter about your situation and change it? When are you going to stop making excuses about your life and start making progress? 

So, today the question goes to you too! Are you living your life in complete denial, ignoring all the failures around you, saying, “Oh well, it’s life!”, OR are you stepping out on faith, and taking actions to change your life? The bible says "...faith without deeds is dead" James 2:26. If you're wanting a change in your life, you should be praying for a change. You should be taking action and doing things like:

• Giving up habits you know aren't good for you.
• Following through with personal goals
• Doing all you can to get a financial promotion
• Or even better, creating an exit strategy and taking steps to FIRE YOUR BOSS!

Do something for yourself and your family. Make a move to impact your life. Embrace the entrepreneur within and see how your life will change. 

____________________________________________________________________________________

Make a disposable income, blogging and become famous online too! Find out how here => BeFamousOnlineToo!

Happy Monday,  I am finishing up the seven (7) day challenge and I am focused and ignited to walk this thing out.  I am propped up in my bed foot in a boot with 3 pillows under and working to get through this transition more effectively and effciently..

Mrs Henry...has been significant force in helping me when everything is aching, motivating me when I think Im Tooo OLD or Tooo Tired, She sets the standard that lets us all know that if you get enough information and combine a focused work-ethic, you can obtain goal of success via the internet... 

Good Morning BBWO,

I will be hosting a week long "Boost Your Holiday Sales" series that you all can call into, but before I share the details I will share this profound quote I found on Facebook this morning, "Ask yourself if what you are doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow."

Sometimes we feel like outside forces control the things that happen in our lives, but really it is how we react to obstacles that dictate whether we fail or succeed. 

Today I have 3 activities to add value to your business this week:

(1) 9am (est) Today, call in and join me on the Black Business Works Power Talk hosted by Hanif Russell. Today we are going to talk about "Why never trying can be your biggest failure in business" Blog Talk Radio link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/blackbusinessworks

(2) Did you know that you can not only learn from, but meet myself, Pam Perry, Richelle Shaw, Deborah Owens, Dawn Fitch, Carol Sankar and a few more powerful BBWO members at the upcoming SistaSense Power Circle Conference + Expo? Register this week. Click the link below to find out why: http://powercircle.sistasense.com.

(3) All week you can join my "Boost Your Holiday Sales" Calls. For the first call I am going to tell you how I got on the news + got new customer interest in a matter of hours. Calls will be Monday through Friday this week starting today 10/22 and all calls will be at 7pm est. No sign ups, just call in and participate. Conference Dial-in Number: (712) 432-0600 | Participant Access Code: 1061931#
Here's to having a GREAT WEEK! Talk to you soon,

LaShanda Henry

p.s. If you have this feeling you really want to be at the Power Circle Conference, register now and don't put it off for later because I have a feeling this one is going to sell out.