BBWO Experts Wanted + Exposure for Your Business …

Posted by LaShanda Henry on January 25, 2013 at 3:00pm

Good morning Sunshine,

I am building the first official BBWO Team of experts and I want you to be apart of it (details below).

First let’s give a warm welcome to the new BBWO Content Manager, Artiatesia Deal! Ms. Deal will now be working with me on fresh material for our growing network along with overseeing the new BBWO Experts team.

Inside the Power Circle Conference last weekend Artiatesia, Richelle, Pam and all the lovely ladies who came out shared information, made sales, created partnerships and got a HUGE BOOST of GET IT TOGETHER KNOW HOW for 2013 (pre-order replays here).

What You Need to Do This Weekend:

Keep in mind that February is days away. I know this year is going to zoom by, so with BBWO on your team let's make it count!

Productivity Tip for Today:
List 5 things you wanted to do this year and then check off what you accomplished this month. If don't have enough checks yet it's time to stop playing!

DO NOT let distractions deter your destiny! So stop playing (watch that video here), join the BBWO Expert Team and make sure you make use of all that was given inside the SistaSense Power Circle last weekend.

No more delays and set backs. I don't know about you, but this year I am waving bye bye to all the talkers and strictly working with those ladies who are ready to work. If you get it, go it.

To your Success,

LaShanda Henry – BBWO Founder

p.s. As soon as you pre-order the conference replays you get to watch the 1st video session I did - When Your Passion Becomes a Pain: How to Fall Back In Love with Your Business.

url - http://powercircle.sistasense.com

Why I Love BBWO!

Posted by Ashani Mfuko on July 9, 2010 at 5:30pm

Have you ever felt alone, discouraged, down, drained, helpless, or lost? I would assume that we would all answer yes to that question.

As an entrepreneur, have you ever wished that there was someplace where you could go and connect with like-minded women of color, who are going through your same struggles, and at the same time, can share advice and wisdom with you about how they overcame those same struggles?

Have you ever needed a step-by-step toolkit for starting and growing your business online, reaching your target customers, and building a successful and profitable business?

Well, BBWO meets all your needs as a black business women online!! It's not just a place to connect, build fruitful relationships, get inspired, encouraged, and motivated, but, it's also a place that will teach you how to build and grow a successful business online! What else could I, a black business woman and entrepreneur ask for? The only thing that's missing is some free food! lol

And hold on a moment, let me express my feelings towards LaShanda Henry, whom I've never even met.....You are fabulous, you are elegant, you are classy, you are a wonderful Mom and wife, you are blessed, you are a blessing, you are knowledgeable, you are unselfish, you are savvy, you are a gift to all of us on BBWO.

Okay, I could go on, but, that's basically why I love BBWO. I couldn't leave all that as a comment, so I decided to write a blog post instead.

Be blessed lovely BBWO ladies! Be encouraged, stay focused, and put God first!

5 eMail Marketing Tips for Newbies

Posted by LaShanda Henry on September 10, 2009 at 3:30pm

Did you know that email marketing is a powerful tool for online entrepreneurs IF you know how to use it correctly. Here are a few tips for newbies...

email-marketing

The term newsletter is too boring! When most folks think about creating an email marketing campaign they create a newsletter, but you can call it, create it, and turn it into something WAY more interesting than that. You can create a tip list, challenge, ecourse, guide, ezine ... the skies the limit. Realize that most online viewers today go to thousands of websites and see thousands of newsletter forms. Make sure that when they come to your website, your newsletter stands out.
The term newsletter is too broad! When I see the term newsletter I have no clue what you are gonna give me and then I don't want to signup. However if you say something like, 'My List of 100 Ways to Teach Your Toddler Manners', that's better. Let your potential subscribers know what they will be getting in their inbox when they signup to your newsletter. I do that all the time. For example, I let people know that when they subscribe to Sistasense.com they will get weekly web business tips and tools for beginners.
Make your newsletter full of personality! My favorite newsletters have their own distinct personality, which helps me remember them and spot them instantly. Some folks always have their logo in the same place, while others love to use a special picture of themselves. Remember to put a piece of you in your newsletter as a way of building that connection (relationship) that us marketing experts are always talking about.
When you hate to write, an auto responder is the right way to go! I've got more newsletter than I care to mention in various industries. How do I keep it all together? Truth be told, most of them are auto-responders, with a select hand few that I write weekly. My favorite auto-responders I write in a set of 48 (1 for each week of the year). That way once it's done I never have to write it again. What do you think about that? Can you devote one week to writing your auto-responder and saving you a WHOLE Years worth of work.
Give a little to get a little! When you are trying to build your list faster than normal, giving something away is always a great way to get folks on your list. Common giveaway incentives are reports and/or audio files sharing great information. Quick tip: If you are trying this now with no results you've got to keep a few things in mind. Could be you have low traffic to the page your newsletter is on. It could be your giveaway title isn't interesting enough. It could be folks who come to your website don't really want that freebie. The trick is to research, figure out what words and freebies make your audience tick! Do that and you'll get more new readers than you know what to do with.

Are you Official?

Posted by Christine on June 9, 2008 at 7:21pm

First of all, I would like to thank all of you for reading and for those who gave feedback on my posts. It is truly encouraging for a writer of any genre to receive feedback and to know that someone out there is actually reading about what we have on our minds!That being said, careful about this blog post, ladies, some of you might be a bit taken aback! However, understand that these are some of the hard questions that I went through myself.Are you official? Are you running a business "under the table"? Are you asking clients to pay in cash or to address the checks to you personally because you don't have a business bank account? If any of these questions apply to you, then ask yourself - are you really a small business owner?I made my little lotions and potions for family and friends, but before I went 'big time' with a little 25 dollar table at a preschool Christmas bazaar I had insurance. God forbid someone took my little lotion bar, rubbed their hands, then rubbed their eyes, then tried to sue me because they happened to be allergic to the beeswax, the cocoa butter, the fragrance oil, the shea butter, or the metal from the tin. Whatever. We all know that people will sue for just about anything.Right after that bazaar, I sat myself down and asked myself what I wanted to do with this little venture. I made the decision to go ahead and make it official. I registered with the state of New Jersey as a limited liability company, got a tax id number and got a business checking account with that tax id number. Fortunately for me, New Jersey has a great online services that walks you through the process. I paid with my credit card online and the papers arrived in the mail a few days later. I also got a tax-exempt certificate which exempts me from paying taxes when I purchase in bulk.So are you official? Are you ready to BE official? Ladies, don't half-step when it comes to this. If you want your business to be successful and to flourish, don't go into it half-baked: "Oh, if I make some money, then I'll open a business checking account....if I make at least X amount of dollars, then I'll register as a corporation or as an llc." BELIEVE in yourself, know that you make your own destiny by the amount of effort and work you put into yourself and your endeavors.Take the time NOW to make it official!

CeeCee
neosoulessentials.com
naturally you!

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Posted by LaShanda Henry on April 3, 2014 at 12:00am

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Can I Borrow $5

Posted by LaShanda Henry on March 16, 2010 at 2:51am

Can I Borrow $5? A woman came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find her 5-year old son waiting for her at the door. SON: 'Mummy, may I ask you a question?' MUM: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the woman. SON: 'Mummy, how much do you make an hour?' MUM: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the woman said angrily. SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?' MUM: 'If you must know, I make $20 an hour.' SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down. SON: "Mummy, may I please borrow $5?" The mother was furious, 'Ifd the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don't work hard every day for such childish frivolities.' The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.. The woman sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After about an hour or so, the woman had calmed down, and started to think: Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $5 and he really didn't ask for money very often. The woman went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door. 'Are you asleep, son?' She asked. 'No Mummy, I'm awake,' replied the boy. 'I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the woman. 'It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $5 you asked for.' The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you Mummy!' he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.. The woman saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his mother. 'Why do you want more money if you already have some?' the mother grumbled. 'Because I didn't have enough, but now I do,' the little boy replied. 'Mummy, I have $20 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.' The mother was crushed. She put her arms around her little son, and she begged for his forgiveness. It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life.. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $20 worth of your time with someone you love. If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of hours. But the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. Please don't break this even if you only send it to one person. Thanks

Starting A Business That You Are Passionate About

Posted by Audrey Bell-Kearney on July 5, 2008 at 7:50pm

I've been a full-time business owner now for almost ten years. One things that I found over the past nine and half years is that if you are not doing a business that you love, you will not be successful at it. Let me repeat that. If you are not doing a business that you love you will not be successful at it. When people come to me about starting their own business I always ask them what kind of business will they be starting and why did that choose that business. 95% of the time they tell me that they need to make some money and that they feel that this business would help them make that money that they need. Money should not be your main reason for starting a business. The reason I decided to start my business is because I wanted to be free to move around. Does that statement sound familiar? Well it should because it is from a commercial that I've heard or seen, but I don't remember which one. Anyway I started my business because I needed that freedom and I am glad that the money came with it. But let me just say this it didn't happen all at once. It took a long time for me to stop chasing the money and figure out what I really wanted to do. The funny thing here is that I was doing what I loved to do all along and did not even know it or I did not recognize it as a business.I love being an entrepreneur and I love talking about business and marketing and all that stuff. Once I realized that I could turn this into a business, I had to then figure out how to do it. So I decided to host a radio show which I loved, but the producer would not let me expand the way that I know I could have, so I resigned. Then I went on to host a television show spotlighting women in business and this was good, but I wasn't making any money. I also published a magazine spotlighting women in business, but this is a very expensive venture. I loved all of these things, but I had to figure out a way to do them all with a clear goal in mind which became to get noticed and perfect my craft instead of making money being my main goal and that's when things started to turn around.The Internet has made all of these things possible and really inexpensive to produce. Now I can be an Internet TV show host a radio show host and a publisher and still reach my goals of perfecting my craft and getting noticed.So if you are thinking about starting business make sure that you have a crystal clear goal in mind pick a business that you are passionate about, create an action plan and take action.Until Next TimeMuch SuccessAudreyAudrey Bell-Kearney is the author of The Sister Inc Blueprint For Starting And Running A Successful Business. She can be reached at Audrey@sisterinc.com

GRAND OPENING...!! Purple Passion Boutique Is Open..

Posted by Denise Bethune on July 27, 2012 at 9:17pm

Carolyn Washington CEO-Visionary- aka "The Purple Lady"

Founder/CEO Sisters4Sisters, Inc. Wife, Mother, Advocate, Mentor, who inspires women and girls thru her dedication and commitment by implementing proactive life options thru community based programs near and beyond, along with her dedicated team of phenomenal women who understand the vision in bringing forth the mission.

There’s more..along with taking Sisters4Sisters, Inc. mission to the mountains, Carolyn also takes time to honor women (Wednesdays) in the community who provide services and resources in their perspective fields..NOT finished yet there’s more…GRAND OPENING.. if you love rocking purple,the Purple Passion Boutique is the place to be, visit www.purplepassionboutique.net

When your finish shopping stop in and visit Sisters4Sisters, Inc. www.sisters4sisters.com

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Back To Business Free 5-Day Challenge for Women Entrepreneurs

Posted by LaShanda Henry on August 6, 2016 at 1:39pm

Are you looking for free online courses or training videos designed with women entrepreneurs in mind? Well, today I get to tell you all about my free Back to Business 5-Day Challenge, which includes 5 amazing webinars for women entrepreneurs in need of motivation combined with smart online business building solutions.

These training videos are presented by myself LaShanda Henry and my fabulous power circle experts Kim Coles, Rosetta Thurman, Lucinda Cross and Tiffany Aliche. My goal is to help you with your success goals, online business strategies, and marketing techniques.

Each day, for 5 days I will send you a webinar that challenges you to get focused and fired up in your web business right now.

Back to Business Challenge Day #1
On the first day, I LaShanda Henry aka SistaSense, challenge you to Find Customers Online. Inside this webinar training, I will share 5 quick and not-so-dirty ways to promote your business online, especially for those entrepreneurs who hate to promote themselves.

And as an added treat on the first day, tv personality, and motivational speaker, Kim Coles challenges you to Follow Your Own Personal GPS System. Get focused and fired up as Kim shares 5 Ways to Follow Your Own Personal GPS System Towards a Life (and Biz) Filled with Gratitude, Passion, and Success.

Back to Business Challenge Day #2
Power circle expert Rosetta Thurman challenges you to build a location-independent startup by sharing 5 Steps to a Profitable Online Business where you can Travel and Work from Anywhere in the World.

Back to Business Challenge Day #3
Power circle expert Lucinda Cross challenges you to Activate Your Vision and discover the right steps to really actualize your success.

Back to Business Challenge Day #4
Power circle expert Tiffany Aliche aka the Budgetnista challenges you to Live Richer by implementing a few really simple, super helpful ways to boost your financial fitness and get your bank account back on track.

Back to Business Challenge Day #5
For our last day, I LaShanda Henry aka SistaSense, challenge you to Fire Up Your Social Media Marketing Campaigns. Discover 5 smart ways to use social media to boost traffic and sales on your website.

Plus there are a few bonus surprises that you will get too! But I won't spoil it for you. Follow this link and start the free Back to Business Challenge for today's woman in business.

If you have started the challenge, leave a comment below and let me know what you think about it and what you learned! Also feel free to share this online learning series with your fellow entrepreneur friends. My big goal is to help 100,000 women entrepreneurs get focused and fired up this year.

5 Ways to Promote Your Business on BBWO

Posted by LaShanda Henry on October 23, 2014 at 1:30pm

The BBWO Network is here to help you become a better business woman online. Here are 5 ways you can share your business on the network. Click here to watch the Build Your Buzz video that compliments the 5 tips below:

(1) RePost Your Blog Content: Business Updates + How Tos
(2) Share Your Videos + Events + Photos
(3) Engage Members: Answer Questions & Respond to Comments
(4) Review Our Featured Ad Options
(5) Get Your Articles and Events Featured on the official BBWO Blog

Extra Help: Ready to make your next #PowerMove and take your web business to a higher level. SistaSense.com - the BBWO sister site offers online training and resources for women entrepreneurs.

Step inside the SistaSense Power Circle Web Business Training Series: Register or get access to the replays for the latest SistaSense Back to Business Webinar Conference (details here). 8 Virtual Seats Left for Sat, 10/25/14 Webinar Event.

Let YOUR 6-Figure Freedom Ring, Girl-Next Thursday!

Posted by LaShanda Henry on July 2, 2013 at 2:00pm

Dear BBWO:

Are you sick of slavin'—in your business or at your job—making other people rich?

As an educated expert we have been taught to self-sacrifice, give way too much or to earn it/prove it/make it happen leaving us with the short end of the stick.

Well, not any more.

As a staggeringly effective Business Mentor for Black Women, I am in the business of teaching purpose-driven high achieving sisters (who’ve walked through life’s fire) how to create or grow a 6 or 7 figure business that is rooted in their worth. Because I too have walked through life’s fire—and turned it into a proven business model that generates millions for my clients—I know how to break free of barriers that limit performance. It is time, my sisters in success, to set our own selves free!

(Heard enough? Register for this free event here!)

Whether you are a high-powered exec who wants to leave the 'golden ghetto' of Corporate America, but don't know how,

or an enterprising expert who is in the game—but not making nearly as much money as you would like,

or a purpose-driven entrepreneur who doesn't know how to stand out and leverage your worth in a crowded marketplace,

or a round-the-way sister who is up to having a new stream of income to fund her shoe or weave fetish—boy do I have a gift you!

Here is a revolutionary event that was specifically designed for YOU, that is right around the corner.

At this free 90 minute event your will learn:

The difference between ‘Self-Esteem’ Money vs. ‘Self-Worth’ Money and how the residue of oppression and slavery shapes your current self-image and your financial future
How a good education can be bad for business (Crazy, right? Hey, don’t shoot the messenger!)
How to FINALLY give yourself the internal permission to prosper and make real money on your own terms, and …
The #1 secret to making 6 figures, multiple 6 figures and fast tracking your income to 7 figures.

We’ll be meeting from 8:30-10:00pm EST on Thursday, July 11th. That’s next Thursday! We unfortunately have limited seating, so be sure to RSVP soon by clicking the link below.

RSVP today for this free virtual training event that will teach you what you need to know to begin your financial emancipation.

Can’t wait to see you on Thursday!

Dr. Venus Opal Reese

Ps: I encourage you to be there live because of some great SURPRISES—you can only get live—will be offered.

PPs: Also, pleases forward to other sisters who would benefit from this training. It could be the EXACT boost they need to soar.

PPPs: Even if you can’t make the training live, register anyway and we will email you the record! (You would be nuts to miss this training! RSVP here now.)

Get free girl!

This BBWO Broadcast to brought to you by:
Dr. Venus Opal Reese, Inspirational Speaker & "Defy Impossible" Expert
http://defyimpossible.com

(video) First Steps to Convert Browsers to Buyers

Posted by LaShanda Henry on July 28, 2015 at 11:30am

For my fellow web women entrepreneurs out there today's video is all about the First Two Steps to Convert Browsers to Buyers.

I know the Struggle is Real... Most folks are struggling to get a few sales, let a lone steady sales. Are you in the same boat? I hope not, but if so I am literally chomping at the bit to show you how this works.

Watch the video above.... Start with the first two customer conversion steps and then I'll fill you in on the rest as soon as you press play.

The struggle doesn't haven't to be REAL forever!

Click here to get access to the complete Browsers to Buyers Boot Camp series. Leave me a comment if you have questions or just want to share some of your A Hah! Moments from today's video.

How to Manage your Business from Creating Content to Building Relationships

Posted by Artiatesia Deal on February 1, 2013 at 10:00pm

We are already in the second month of the New Year. If you look back on the last 31 days and you don’t see any progress, please don’t let that deter you from your business goals. We have some fabulous members of our BBWO family sharing some great content to help get those productive juices flowing again.

Are you making powerful connections to help you in your business?

Latifah is sharing tips on removed the stress from finding and to hiring vendors to help with your next project or event. (Continue reading)

Stop wasting precious time on Social Media

Using the various social media platform can be good for business. However most of us aren’t being as productive as we so are while we are there. Tanya’s shares 5 ways on how to make sure you are get a great RIO (return on investment) when you are posting away. (Watch Video Here)

Experiencing writer’s block?

It happens to all us at some point or other. Kenya have created and shared a here weekly content creation challenge. The key is to follow through, so make sure you visit her profile and watch the entire series. (Watch Video Here)

More to come!

Artiatesia Deal
BBWO Content Manager
www.mybbwo.com

America's Most Famous Rags-to-Riches Story

Posted by Kemi Fadojutimi on January 29, 2009 at 1:48pm

Chapter TwoAmerica's Most Famous Rags-to-Riches StoryOne hundred and fifty years ago, when a 13-year-old boy stepped ashore in New York with his parents and younger brother, he had no idea that he would one day become the richest man in the world.This is the story of Andrew Carnegie.He was born in 1835 in Scotland. During the Depression of 1848 in Britain, his father, a weaver, decided it was best to immigrate to America and brought his family to Allegheny, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh.Being poor, young Andrew had to give up any hope of schooling when he arrived, and he quickly got a job in a cotton factory for $1.20 a week.He studied bookkeeping at night and soon took a job in the office as a clerk. He prepared himself for advancement by doing each job to the best of his ability and seizing every opportunity to take on new responsibilities.Through trial and error, he developed a personal philosophy that led to a simple formula for success that he followed faithfully.Quite by accident, he had stumbled onto the same formula for success that had been used by all great achievers throughout history.Guided by this formula, he accelerated rapidly at everything he did.At 15, he took a job as a messenger boy in the telegraph office in Pittsburgh, and two years later, he was working full-time as a telegraph operator for the railroad.When he was 20, his father passed away, leaving him with the responsibility of providing for his mother and 12-year-old brother.He worked even harder. The division superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad was so impressed with Carnegie that he hired him as his personal clerk and telegraph operator. When Carnegie was 24, he became the superintendent of the Pittsburgh division.To supplement his salary, he borrowed $500 to buy stocks in businesses that he understood. First the railroad and later in steel production. He became quite successful at it.At 33, he had an annual income of $50,000 ($1,040,000 in today's dollars) and was toying with the idea of retiring to a scholarly life. But since he was now one of the largest shareholders of the Pullman Company, and a director of the Union Pacific Railroad, he couldn't.He saw a growing demand for steel and much room for improvement in the way steel was produced. So he started his own steel company, the Carnegie Steel Co. Using innovative methods, he improved the quality of the steel, made production more efficient, reduced costs, and watched his business expand quickly.Because of his efforts, the United States took the lead away from Great Britain as the foremost steel producer in the world in 1890.He was now the richest man in America, and in a few years, he would be the richest in the world.Then, in 1901, at the age of 66, Carnegie shocked everyone when he announced that he was going to sell his holdings and devote the rest of his life to giving away every penny he had for benevolent purposes.He sold Carnegie Steel to J. P. Morgan, who used it as the nucleus for U. S. Steel.Then, with the same enthusiasm and determination that built his fortune, he spent the next 18 years systematically giving it all away.Had he lost his mind? Not at all.In 1911 he wrote: "My chief happiness lies in the thought that even after I pass away, the wealth that came to me to administer as a sacred trust for the good of my fellow men, is to continue to benefit humanity for generations untold."It may sound cliche, but Carnegie sincerely wanted to leave the world a better place. One of his first acts was to create a pension fund for his employees. This quote from his workers expresses the common sentiment toward him:"The interest which you have always shown in your workmen has won for you an appreciation which cannot be expressed by mere words."Inspired by the heroic but futile rescue effort in which a former Pittsburgh mine superintendent and others lost their lives in the Harwick Mine Disaster in 1904, he set up the Hero Fund to honor and financially reward acts of non-military heroism.He gave a lot of money to causes: to establish the first great medical research laboratory in the U.S.A. at Bellevue Hospital in New York, to the Institute for the Blind, and to Madame Curie for her radium research. He also funded Carnegie Hall.But his two main interests were education and world peace.Believing that people in the teaching profession were underpaid, he established The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, a pension plan that looked after aging teachers.Though he was denied an education, he knew the value of learning and was determined that everyone should have access to knowledge. His pet project became his free public libraries.He made the following offer to communities: He would build a library for free if they agreed to stock it with books and maintain it.Over the years that followed, he built 2,811 free public libraries. It was estimated that at their completion, 35 million people made use of his public libraries each day.Most of his money went to build new educational institutions or fund existing ones. He created the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh, Carnegie Institute of Washington, and Carnegie-Mellon University, and he assisted more than 500 others, especially the smaller, lesser-known universities and colleges.World peace was his other passion. He created the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, with headquarters in New York City and Geneva, Switzerland, and the Peace Palace at the Hague in Holland.Being a full-time philanthropist wasn't as easy as Carnegie thought it would be. Each day, he was flooded with 400 to 500 "begging" letters. After each announcement of some large benefaction, the number would increase to 700 a day.For instance, when it was reported that Carnegie donated a new organ to the church his father had attended, requests for new organs poured in from all across the country.When it was over, Carnegie answered each of their requests and donated 7,689 organs.Contrary to common belief, he did not require or encourage institutions to bear his name."I find it difficult to avoid having gifts for new things called after the donors. Carnegie Hall was called by me The Music Hall. Foreign artists refused to appear in 'a music hall.' The Board changed it in my absence in Europe without consulting me."He said he didn't want to be remembered for what he gave, but for what he persuaded others to give. By building libraries, he inspired communities to fill them with books, asking only that they inscribe the words "Let there be light" above the entrance.It's true that he was very public with his library project, pursuit of world peace, and the advancement of education for all people. But there was another side to him that few knew. One of his most enjoyable acts of philanthropy was the millions he gave away anonymously.During his lifetime, he gave away 90 percent of his fortune. To this day, The Carnegie Corporation, the philanthropic foundation he created, still gives away millions of dollars every year.But there's something else that he gave away that was even more valuable. I'm sure you've heard of the saying ..."Give a man a fish, and he can eat for a day.Show him how to fish, and he can eat for a lifetime."When Carnegie's formula for success became public, ... thousands learned how to fish ...

The Cost of Not Pursuing Your Passion

Posted by Janice McMillian on August 2, 2012 at 12:21am

So many of us are unhappy and unsatisfied with how we are managing our lives. Though most of us are grateful for the ability to have an income during this tough economic season, I believe the #1 desire is to do what you love to do. A great percentage of time and energy is directed toward doing alot of busy work. Unfortunately when that's the case, we have no say so in the qualty of life for 7-12 hours of the day. That's a whole lot of time doing what you know doesn't offer satisfaction.

Operating in your passion is the most important thing you can do in life, because it causes something on the inside of you to bubble up. You feel euphoric. You're motivated, inspired and built up and you have a feeling of satisfaction at the end of the day, not dread that you got through it.

So what occurs when you are not connected to your passion?

You have no joy. It's all over your face.
You lose your sharpness.
You take less risks in life because you don't see the benefit of going against the grain.You become comfortable with where you are and what you're doing. You have found a way to be comfortable even though you are unhappy, joyless and unmotivated.
You miss out on opportunities to reach people with your gifts and talents. You're not changing lives. At the end of the day, you should ask yourself,"whose life have I changed today?"

You know I can list more, but I think you get the message. We were not created to live this way. I've found that people who are passionate about life are:

Productive daily.
They are not afraid.
They follow their calling, take risks, and see challenges as opportunities to expand.
They are in synch with who they really are and it's revealed in what they say, do and think.

Until you discover your core DNA, you are living a life of mediocrity. Take intentional steps to do the great things you were meant to do. You owe it to yourself!

Success has NO Excuses

Posted by Denise Bethune on October 5, 2012 at 4:28pm

As women we are fabulous but sometimes we need to step back and take care of ourselves

Posted by Artiatesia Deal on February 20, 2013 at 8:00am

As we start to say good bye to February, Women's History Month or the month of March is just around the corner. As women we judge many roles. Some of use are wives, mothers, sisters, entrepreneurs and more. We are forever taking care of everyone else to the point that we tend to forget about ourselves. This week lets take some tips from three of our fabulous sisters.

Are you flyy? Are you a female? Are you fabulous?

Jamie a.k.a Mocha Writer has launch her magazine - Flyy, Female and Fabulous. It features interviews with Dr. Stacia Pierce, Lisa Nicole Bell, Tangie Henry and more! (Continue Reading)

Feeling a little sluggish lately? Do you feel like your have lost your mojo?

Re-energizing when your spirits are down can help with those feelings. One tips I love and use myself is - Listening to inspirational music. Music works for me. Do you know what will work for you. Regina has a couples more tips you can try out. (Continue Reading)

Say it with me Self-Love ain't never hurt no body.

How many times to do take time for yourself, to do a little something nice that would bring a smile to your face. You are no good to anyone else if you are got whole yourself. Ogor Winnie Okoye wants to help you refuel your self-love tank. (Watch Video Here)

More to come!

Artiatesia Deal
BBWO Content Manager
www.mybbw

Essential Tips for Effective Business Branding

Posted by Wanda Mays Noel on August 28, 2012 at 1:30am

When a businessman embark on a new business venture, they readily go processing ideas on complicated marketing strategies and other ways of promoting their business but none of their efforts are dedicated to business branding. Indeed, with so much factors coming into play, it is easy to miss out on the most essential and basic aspect. But that is just one half of it, since the other half is dedicated into ensuring that you can build an effective brand that will produce results for your marketing efforts.

But the key to an effective branding strategy is to be able to deliver. You must be able to back up your claims and produce exactly as you say. Majority of your business sales and profits come from repeat customers, after all. An effective business branding system involves the following:

Customer Satisfaction

Brand is just a mere representation of your company. Therefore, it must reflect exactly what your business can deliver for the customers and build its reputation from there. If you cannot produce quality product or services, then regardless of how potent your branding system or strategies are, you'd never be able to turn your marketing campaigns into a sales force.

Therefore, you need to be as sensitive to your customers' needs as possible. But only to a certain extent that you still hold control over the image and reputation that you want your brand to exhibit.

Indeed, brand equity is a vital aspect in every business, especially consumer-based equity. It reflects the level of trust and attitude that a customer has towards a product associated with a given brand. This is impacted by the actual experience that a consumer has had with the product such that brand loyalty is affected by factors such as perceived quality and the delivery of the product.

Consistency

One of the most effective ways to build trust amongst your customers is to be consistent with the message you are trying to convey. Consistency is most important when exhibiting the values that are key and vital in your company. Then, focus on every aspect of your business to ensure that it remains consistent with the values professed by your company and that they make a good representation of the company's vision.

Expanding Your Brand

Creating a brand for your company is not only limited to the creation of a logo. While it is essential, your work does not stop there. After all, a logo is just a representation of your professional image but there are several factors in between that would help translate them into sales. You do not even have to spend lots of money to fulfill them. In every form of communication that you use in your business transactions, include your company logo in it, whether you'd be using business cards, yellow page ads, newsletters, letterhead, invoices, envelopes, and many more. Your logo is of no use unless you are able to capitalize on it and make it do its work for you.

Managing Your Brand

As market trends continue to change and evolve, so must your approach at branding strategies. While you set your own company's branding standards, you also need to look into exceeding those promises you've set and this is one of the most effective ways to generate more customers. On the other end, one failure could eventually ruin your business' reputation on a long haul.

If you see any opportunity where changes can be done or improvements can be executed, then don't be afraid to execute them. This is one way for your business to stay on top of things and keep up with changing trends in the market for an effective business branding effort.

Note: this page contains paid content.

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Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.