If you attended any large conference recently (virtual or in-person), you probably met many amazing people. You are, more than likely, in your office with a stack of business cards or a list of contacts sitting on your desk, with great intentions of calling, emailing and maybe even handwriting each of them. You probably have a thousand other priorities that could easily take … [More]
Yes, the System Is Failing Us
COVID-19 has changed the way we work, live and do business. In just a matter of days, the world was disrupted by the pandemic. As time progressed, it seemed like some businesses have excelled. Some industries ceased in just a matter of days. Others swiftly shifted their business model to stay afloat. While the world was still grappling with the changes that COVID brought, … [More]
Dude! We’re All on the Same Team
One of the challenges with having a sales team is building the right sales culture. Years ago, I was on a sales team — and there was an opportunity I was working on, with the goal of getting a particular deal closed. There were some questions from the prospect I was speaking to that I couldn’t answer. I knew there was another member of the sales team who had more expertise in … [More]
President’s Message: Is It the System?
Most systems are fallible at conception because they are not designed for everyone to excel. Systems are generally created to reinforce beliefs or constructs that already exist. And in some cases, concerns for the minority, meaning those who are not represented in the decision-making, are not part of the equation. This lack of consideration leads to oppression if gone … [More]
Telling Your WHY Story to Connect
Finding the perfect pair of pants that look great from every angle —that’s an age-old quest with a modern solution thanks to Sara Blakely. Her coveted shapewear solution became Spanx, a now billion-dollar company. Blakely experienced a problem and created a solution. That’s what entrepreneurs do! You started your business to somehow address a need or overcome a problem. That … [More]
How to Get Out of Your Head and Write from Your Heart
You’re under a deadline to write a 750-word blog in a couple of hours. What do you do? If you’re anything like me, you start writing a sentence, then correct a word in that sentence, write a second sentence, delete the first sentence, then delete the second sentence — and you’re back at ground zero with just 90 minutes left on the clock to finish. “What in the world am I … [More]
Find Your Brand Voice It’s Right Behind Your Smile
Chances are good you have settled into 2020 and the new decade. Goals are set and you are optimistic about reaching them by planning your work and working your plan. You know what you offer and feel confident around your process for delivery. There’s only one problem: You don’t feel comfortable with how you communicate it. The MOST IMPORTANT part of selling yourself, your … [More]
5 Ways to Manage Risk as a Business Owner
I worked with a business owner several years ago who unexpectedly passed away after a heart attack. He was in the prime of his life; having spent nearly 20 years building his business to the point where he had “made it,” he was finally able to enjoy the success he had built for himself and his family. Then, everything changed in an instant. Thankfully, he had life insurance … [More]
How to Put the Heart back into Leadership
Photo courtesy of Financial Potion In a 2018 article, “The Real Crisis in Leadership,” Forbes shared the following data: “One in two employees at some point in their career leave their job to get away from their manager — solely in an effort to improve their overall lives. Think about this fact for a moment: 50% of employees leave their jobs at some point because their … [More]
Do What you Love … and Lead Your Money!
Remember 30 years ago when Marsha Sinetar told us to Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow? What an encouraging and inspiring idea! You do your passion. You trust. You will be supported. So has that been your experience? Really? The answer for me and smart, hardworking businesswomen like our NAWBO sisters is YES, when we do what we love, it’s satisfying. But — and it’s … [More]
Come Full Circle with NAWBO Phoenix
National Association of Women Business Owners represents the voice of the 12 million women business owners (WBOs) across the nation. This year, NAWBO Phoenix will focus its efforts on understanding what is impacting WBOs in the Valley to begin addressing some of the challenges and removing barriers to success. As we continue to see a rise in WBOs across the nation, there … [More]
Your Ideal Prospect/Client Needs You!
When was the last time you thought about connecting with your ideal prospect in the hopes of turning them into your ideal client: Today? Yesterday? Last week or month? Well, you are just like the rest of us. We all want to be in front of that person or business we have defined as our “Ideal Client.” Now, how do we go about doing that? Let’s just say you have a website that … [More]
Another Viewpoint about Women on Corporate Boards
Throughout my year as president of NAWBO Phoenix, the issue of legislating women on boards, as they recently did in California, has been our most talkedabout subject. We have tried to potlight different viewpoints on the subject. This time, we found someone who has actually done it, and tried to get her point of view. We reached out to Chas Roberts A/C & Plumbing CEO … [More]
You Don’t Need a Headshot
Two seconds. That’s how long a typical user will spend on your website or social media platform —unless something captures their interest. You have two seconds to make a connection. You have two seconds to tell a compelling story. What’s one thing that will hold their interest and cause them to stay for more than two seconds? Captivating visuals. So, if visuals are so … [More]
Seven Extraordinary Lessons for Accomplishing Your Dream Learned from a Nine-Year-Old and an Overboard Wish
My little one, Allie, is about to turn 10 years old. Being a social mediasavvy kid (she did grow up with a mom who worked in technology), she created a wish list on Amazon and sent me this message: “I really, really want this hoverboard. Can I get it?” “Sure,” I said. “Do you have enough money?” “I don’t have any money,” she replied. “I’m just a kid.” “You get … [More]
Top 10 Tips for Better Media Interviews
As many business owners know, publicity is a cost-effective way to get your message out to your target audiences. Publicity has an important, implied third-party endorsement/credibility. While every media interview is different, there are some basic rules you can follow in any interview situation to make your presentation most effective. Whether you are working with a reporter … [More]
Help! What Kind of Video Do I Need for My Business?
It depends on where you want to go. There are as many types of videos for business as there are cars on I-10 at rush hour. When you’re stuck in traffic, you can’t help noticing that some cars are old, some are new; some are fast, some are slow; some are sleek, some are unsightly; some are massive, some are so small they could fit inside a closet. Regardless of looks, cars are … [More]
From Labor to Human Beings, Why It Pays to Understand What Makes Your People Tick
Labor. Workers. Assets. Human resources. Human capital. Employees. Associates. Team members. These terms reflect the evolution of understanding around the resource that makes business run. For decades, the terms were one-dimensional, referring to the single aspect employers cared about: getting products made and delivered. Early management view of labor was simple: Clock in, … [More]
