Wow, imagine how surprised I was to find my face and my book on the front page of www.BlogTalkRadio.com! Yesterday, I was on the Secrets of Success radio show with Renee Belbeck of Like Minded Moms, and I was chosen as one of the day's top picks. Thanks BTR and Renee for having me. If you missed the show, you can listen to it at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/spotlightofsuccess/2009/07/30/Real-You-Inc.
Finding the right agency is like hiring a new employee. You need to be selective. The firm needs to fit in with your brand/culture—get your brand/culture. Think of your agency as an extension of your team. Because if you and your agency aren’t collaborative and creative together, you’re better off apart! Try these agency hunting tips to ensure a stellar team for your business’ growth. Ask for recommendations. Talk to your friends, and find out what kinds of experiences they’ve had with different firms in town or across the country. Check out each agency’s past work and client list. Anyone in your space? Have a brainstorming meeting with their team—the ones who will actually work on your account. See what kinds of ideas they have. Are they fun, innovative? Do they get your brand? Learn how their processes and communication work. Will you be talking [...]
You’re committed to putting your passion and heart into your Real You business – but have you captured your customers’ hearts? Are you delivering a great service or product and exemplary customer service? That’s the key. Keeping customers happy – especially today – and finding new ways of engagement. Here’s a great example: A hair salon in Cambridge, Massachusetts, launched a new service offering 15-minute Skype consultations to customers. According to Springwise weekly, the service is free and allows customers to get to know a stylist – or talk to someone she already knows about a potential new style. This is a great value-add service that could apply to any number of businesses. And in this virtual world, face to face chatting is a more personalized entrée to entice a customer into your world. http://springwise.com/weekly/2009-07-22.htm#planbsalon
Bear with me as this blog post is being written as I’m taking care of my son who just had his wisdom teeth out. (Yes, everyone I know remembers that day, too!) And no, this blog post IS NOT about that! What I started thinking about this morning is that there is wisdom in extraction. One of my favorite definitions of Wisdom is “knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action”. Action is the important ingredient in that definition. We are all wise, and hopefully, learning every day. But true wisdom requires action. True wisdom can be found, and built, when we take action and remove ourselves from situations that are harmful, limiting or otherwise bad for our personal brands, for ourselves. Are you in a situation in your business or personal life that you need to extract yourself [...]
Writing is one of my passions. Since you’re already familiar with Real You Incorporated, I’m excited to get another book into your hands. Be the first to get my new eBook, Turn your Passion into Profit: How to Create the Business of Your Dreams! It’s a 40-page, step-by-step guide to creating the business and lifestyle you’ve always wanted. It’s the perfect complement to Real You Incorporated—and it’s only $9.95! Here are 8 tips from the eBook to get you in motion. Know your Vision. Being able to envision your business service or product, and how it is differentiated in your chosen industry, is crucial to your long-term success. Be Ready to Work—and Get Help. Are you willing to do a little bit of everything, yet ask for help when you need it? Don’t go it alone. You must have a strong enough personality to [...]
Have you ever met someone that had a spark? A stranger or acquaintance you instantly connected with and thought, that person is going places. Or maybe she was a great salesperson who went above and beyond to make your visit complete. You know, the kind of person that makes you want to visit again and again and tell your friends about the outstanding experience. Recruit those people! They’re special. They’re driven. They’re unique, and they might just make the perfect addition to your team. You could begin the conversation by asking how they enjoy doing x. Or maybe you say, “You are a fantastic salesperson. Have you ever thought about the X industry?” One of my favorite brands, Apple, approaches these rising stars with “enticement” cards that display their logo with these words: “You’re amazing. We should talk.” The back goes on to tell the [...]
"If you're never scared or embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take any chances."-Julia Sorel (Rosalyn Drexler), See How She Runs, 1978 You know the feeling. For me, it's sweaty palms. For you it may be a racing heart, or butterflies in the stomach—all those tell-tale signs that you're uncomfortable. Your body is triggering the flight sensors, and you're going to go along with it. But then you take a deep breath, maybe have a little cry or call a friend, and realize this leap out of your comfort zone is what will propel you forward, get you to the next big thing. You realize that without the uneasy feeling of the unknown, it's easy to be stuck in the familiar and known. To grow a business, and for that matter, to grow a life, you need to keep pushing. To keep growing and [...]
Ok, here's the thing. As an entrepreneur who gets a chance to work from home on occaision, I've had a special opportunity this summer. My oldest son, who will be a freshman in college in the fall, decided to stay home this summer: eschewing camp for hanging out with his buddies here and just being home. Thus, we've been hanging out. And it's great. Until the Wal-Mart ads air. On the spot, a mom and daughter shop for dorm room supplies. At the end, the daughter runs and hugs her mom as she is walking away. I cry. I cry writing about it now. So, for all you mompreneurs out there with a freshly minted freshman-to-be, take heart. You aren't alone. That and enjoy your summer as it flies by!
Yep, it's true. It's tough out there. The economy is forcing layoffs, businesses aren't hiring. More people than ever are out of work. But what about the people who are still employed. Are they grateful? Happy even? It turns out, more than half aren't. According to an Adecco North America survey, 54 percent of employed Americans say they will look for a new job once the recession ends. Among 18 to 29 year olds, the number jumps to 71 percent. Almost 3/4ths of the under 30 crowd will leap at the chance to leave you once the recovery begins. This is a problem. It's a passion problem. If you're the leader of a team with these folks working for you, how are you going to rev up the passion? How will you build a culture that makes your team want to be there when times get [...]
What is independence? To me, it's entrepreneurship. It's the ability to do what I love, when I want, with whom I want. It's the new American dream. Women everywhere are making it happen, and you can, too! Here are my top five reasons you should take the leap. 1. Independence. I love this quote from an anonymous high school student: "Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won't, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can't." I couldn't have said it better. 2. Creative Reign. This is your chance to express your brand. To connect. To reach out. To give your customers just what they need, wrapped in a package that's uniquely you. 3. Passion. Create your own fireworks by doing what you love. Pursing your passions makes your heart happy. I promise! 4. [...]