Strategies and Tactics for Women by Dr. Shannon Reece

As I have been making plans for how I can celebrate the end of 2010 with a bang and something new and exciting, I wanted to poll our experts and find out what amazing things they are planning to accomplish before the close of another year.  I posed the question:

With just one month left until year-end, what challenge will you commit to tackling before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve?

Four amazing women responded and shared the fact that the holidays are in no way slowing them down.  They are heading into 2011 at full speed, which I find incredibly inspiring and challenging, and hope you do too!

“I commit to a launch date and full outline for our first Book More Brides project by December 31st, 2010.  This is my dream and just about the scariest thing I can think of.  What a way to start the New Year!”

Stephanie Padovani (@bookmorebrides), Co-founder of Book More Brides

“I’ve been considering offering a few service packages on my website.  From what I’ve seen on other business coaching or consulting sites they seem quite popular.  It makes the decision making process easy, yet still fits a variety of budgets.  That’s my goal!”

Nicole Fende (@BizFinanceForum), President of Small Business Finance Forum

“No matter how busy I am, there is one thing that I make sure to do in the last quarter leading into a new year.  I update my strategic plan!  I have a document (living and breathing – meaning it changes as my business changes) that I visit on a regular basis.  It contains the strategic direction of my business: financial goals, marketing plan, product development, service delivery, etc.  Every year at this time, I review that plan in detail to recognize how far we have come over the year and to modify any of the short and long range goals that we have.  If you are not working with a working business plan, I suggest that this should be the first thing you change going into 2011.  You would never go on a long trip without your map or a GPS right?  Why would you run your business without having a solid idea of where you are going?”

Stephanie LH Calahan (@stephcalahan), Founder of Calahan Solutions

“I am committing to a more aggressive business strategy. I have created a plan that involves diversifying revenue streams and working beyond my professional comfort zone.  When you are beginning a business most of what you do is outside of your comfort zone. In part, asking more of yourself than you normally do, contributes the aggressive growth of your business.  However, once you are through the start-up period, it is easy to settle into a comfortable routine which can be limiting to growth.  Before the end of the year, I am preparing my business for aggressive growth and preparing myself for stepping out of my comfort zone.”

Lauren MacEwen (@laurencubed), Primary Strategist and Creator of SM Cubed Consulting


My sincere thanks to our four experts for their willingness to give us a glimpse into their busy lives and be inspired to meet our own year-end challenge!  If you missed the opportunity to post your personal challenge, I’d love to have you share it now by leaving a comment below.  It would be an honor to cheer you on as you race to the finish line.  The one thing that I have found to be an incredibly powerful motivator is to be held accountable and supported by my peers.  That’s what this Advisory of Women Entrepreneurs is all about.  If you are interested in joining our community, follow the link below to submit your response to this week’s new question and you can join this network today.

This week’s question is –

How important is your work environment to your productivity, and what is essential for you to be consistently productive?

Why should I join the discussion?

Because this online forum is a great place for us to exchange ideas, learn from each other and network.  My goal is to unite successful women entrepreneurs to share our insights and solutions to the challenges we most commonly face in our businesses.

I look forward to your response to this week’s question! If you have any questions you know where to find me. Have a great week!