How to Become an Entrepreneur – Weekly Wrap Up

December 10, 2010 – 10:30 am

Do you remember why you became an entrepreneur? Do you know anyone who is on the fence, but really wants to take the leap? There are so many different opinions on what it really takes to be an entrepreneur. But never has it been a one-size-fits-all proposition. The important factors to weigh are your personal reasons for wanting to become your own boss, your preparedness, and your passion.

This weekly wrap up was designed to share the blogs, websites and/or businesswomen that I found particularly helpful this week.  My top blog picks offer some great information on becoming an entrepreneur. If you have already started a business, but know someone who hasn’t mustered the courage to step out, please pass this post along. I hope you still find this information as interesting as I did. Happy Friday!


Top Blog Posts

9 Common Myths About Entrepreneurs

As stated in this great article from Grasshopper, over the years many myths have been created around the question, what does it take to become an entrepreneur. As if there is some secret formula to qualifying to start your own business. So if any of these misconceptions are still floating around in the back of your mind, it’s time to debunk them once and for all.

Four Reasons Not to Become an Entrepreneur: And Why You Should Ignore Them

This was certainly an interesting twist on the subject from Women Grow Business. Guest blogger, Stacy Yamaoka, shares how some of her fears nearly held her back from starting her own company. Her advice? You should ignore them. See how she was able to move past her mental roadblocks by changing her perspective on the questions.

Why a Bad Economy is Good for Entrepreneurs

In a time when would-be entrepreneurs are holding back, Maureen Mackey (managing editor of The Fiscal Times), interviews Bill Murphy, Jr. (author of The Intelligent Entrepreneur) on how a bad economy is actually a good time to startup. Centered around three Harvard Business School graduates, this post shares what set these three go-getters apart and contributed to their success.


Featured Site
When I was first considering starting this business, I was looking for ideas and inspiration to foster my growing belief that I could do this. At a networking event, a speaker shared an incredible video, created by Grasshopper, that was the final push I needed to spread my wings. Grasshopper is more than virtual phone system provider, offering great tips and information to keep entrepreneurs on the cutting edge with their Grasslands blog. I hope you enjoy their amazing video as much as I do, because entrepreneurs can change the world!


Woman of Excellence Award
Congratulations to Sarah Shaw, founder of Entreprenette, for winning this week’s Woman of Excellence Award! Becoming bored with her work in the Hollywood movie industry, Sarah broke out on her own, creating a hugely successful handbag line. Having learned valuable lessons on her way to retail Stardom, Sarah now teaches other women how to get their ideas from conception to retail boutique.

On her blog, The Entreprenette Gazette, Sarah took the time to ask over 100 fellow Entreprenettes what motivated them to break out on their own. The responses are inspiring! If you have a product idea that you know the world is waiting for, see how Sarah can guide you to the realization of your dreams. Find Sarah on Twitter @entreprenette.


In case you were wondering, I have no affiliate relationship with anyone I call to your attention on this blog. This is simply my way of spreading the news about information and individuals I have found particularly helpful.

That wraps up this post. Until next week, keep reading, keep learning, keep growing!

By Dr. Shannon Reece | Posted in Weekly Wrap Up | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

The Gift of Gab: Women’s Advantage in Social Media

December 9, 2010 – 6:00 am

Did you ever think that your ability to talk would be a valuable asset?  Social Media strategist, Lauren MacEwen, shares her insights on how women can really leverage their communication skills and achieve that edge in business that men don’t, because we’re just wired differently.  Thanks, Lauren!

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Women have the business advantage in social media. We continue to be the majority of social media users. As a driving force behind a lot of the overall internet usage, women are commanding a powerful influence in shopping, B2B, social media, blogging and content driven sites. But women are not just the consumers of retail, information and social activity, we are also the drivers.

Socially women are taught to communicate. We are taught to express our feelings and thoughts and spread information along to other interested parties. Community interactions teach us the art of the gossip and the gab. We are known as the purveyors of information. But we are not just the purveyors, often we are a vast and varied storehouse of information.

Another school of thought argues that women are neurologically better communicators. According to The Female Brain women can process 13,000 more communication events than men and have 11% more brain cells in planum temporale, which has to do with processing language.

“[F]rom a young age, women are conditioned to nurture, communicate, and express their feelings through words; all necessary qualities of a social medialite. Our male counterparts, no matter how accomplished or web savvy, have to work infinitely harder to master the art of casually dishing information and “gossiping” about industry hot topics.”

According to PsychTests, women are more comfortable sharing their thoughts and more willing to discuss issues and take others opinions into consideration. Also, women are better listeners and empathizers and are more skilled at handling “touchy-feely” conversations. But does this mean that women are better at social media?

Whether or not you believe that women have a neurological or a social advantage, many schools of thought support the idea that women are better communicators than men. Communication is a skill and like any skill is something that can be honed and developed. This skill is culturally supported for women, and possibly neurologically. For men, however, the cultural idea of masculinity being the “strong and silent” type is working in direct opposition to developing this skill.

The nature of social media is social. It is about community, communication, conversation and sharing information. The way in which women use the internet supports a social media advantage. Though men often use the internet more for research, women do use the internet for research but the way the research is conducted is different. “Women tend to treat information gathering online as a more textured and interactive process – one that includes gathering and exchanging information through support groups and personal email exchanges.”

The business of being social is in interaction and dissemination of information.

Through our skills in communication and our own user trends, women can be, and are becoming, a powerhouse in social media. “Women are enthusiastic online communicators.” Social media is providing a platform where our natural, or socially, developed skills at communication give us a business edge.

The joke in my house is that if you want to know what is going on, ask me not my husband. In fact, my husband often says how much he dislikes gossip and would rather abstain from a conversation than participate in what he feels is gossipy. Me, on the other hand, I am a collector of information. I collect gossip, news, sociological theory, tech developments, and maintain a repository of generally random information.

I often use this information in my business communication to deepen relationships. Just like friendships, business relationships are not limited to the topic at hand. The gift of the gab can be more than a friendly conversation starter, it can now be an entire business model

Some Facts:

picture of social media strategist Lauren MacEwen Lauren MacEwen is the founder and primary social media strategist for SM Cubed Consulting. She has a focus on relationship development for business development. As well as writing numerous guest posts for prominent social media and political blogs, she is also a member of the Advisory of Women Entrepreneurs for Dr. Shannon Reece.

Read her blog. Follow her on Twitter at @laurencubed or find her on Facebook.

By Dr. Shannon Reece | Posted in Guest Posts | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (3)

Tip of the Week – Dec 8, 2010

December 8, 2010 – 6:00 am

90% of the ascent to your business success goals is determined by how you view yourself as the climber. Your attitude about yourself will drive your actions to the bottom or to the top, you decide.

 

And don’t miss my guest post at Blue Kite Marketing today – Seven Essential Strategies to Preventing Overwhelm.

By Dr. Shannon Reece | Posted in Tip of the Week | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

Risky Business – Not Just a Man’s Game

December 7, 2010 – 10:30 am

For so long, the story has been that men, not women, are the risk takers in life.  Does that still hold water?  Current studies would suggest that such stereotypes aren’t valid when it comes to women in business, where they are demonstrating courage and are driving profitability.

“According to a survey by Boston’s prestigious Simmons School of Management, women business leaders don’t shy from taking risks, but rather take advantage of risky opportunities on a regular basis…Change is a big risk, and it turns out women aren’t afraid to tackle it.”

The gender disparity

Though women can handle business risks with the best of the male adventurers, the strategies women employ are distinctly different.  Men typically focus on the transaction rather than the relationship when it comes to making business decisions.  They do not back away from high risk activities, being drawn to the “thrill of the kill.”

Women mitigate risk by taking time to evaluate their options, weigh the costs not only for themselves but for everyone involved in their company, and understand the long-term ramifications of their decisions.  It’s not that women can’t jump in with both feet, they choose to take a more measured, and often more successful approach.

French Finance Minister, Christine Legarde, stated that women ” ‘inject less libido and less testosterone into the equation.’  As a result,…in a majority of cases for women (though not all), it’s less about ego and that allows women to approach situations in a slightly different manner.”

I am not suggesting that one approach is better than the other.  In a perfect world, boardrooms around the globe would have the best of what each gender brings to the table, by creating a balance of male and female executives.

Learning to embrace more risk your way

You might think that finding your comfort zone is the goal, but it should only ever be seen as a rest stop.  To be a successful entrepreneur, you need to seek out opportunities to grow and innovate to stay ahead of the competition.  This proactive mindset can be a little scary at times, but your fear will only hold you back.  If you have been leery of spreading your wings to full capacity, there are some strategies you can use to boost your tolerance for risk:

  • Put a label on it – The scary part of risk is the unknown.  Your mind can fill in the gaps with all sorts of limiting thoughts, if you let it.  But this kind of fear is imagined, and therefore loses all it’s power when you can determine the source of it.  Keep your thoughts focused on your desired outcomes, and don’t allow your mind to create spooks that aren’t there.
  • A risk is not the same thing as a gamble – When you gamble, you leave everything to chance.  Taking a risk is not the same thing — it involves carefully weighing the costs and benefits before making an informed decision, a strategy that women use in all areas of life.  Once you have done your due diligence, push yourself to make a decision.  Nothing will drive a business into the ground faster than analysis paralysis.
  • Be willing to accept failure as an option – Does that sounds defeating?  It’s not meant to, and here’s why.  Risk should never be viewed as an all or none proposition.  You have to be willing to lose sometimes, for the opportunity to win.  Calculated risk can reap huge rewards, but there may be times when things just don’t pan out.  The most significant reward is always in the experience, and you must have the mindset to take the bad with the good if you want to be successful.

Women are raised to be risk averse, where boys are challenged to push the limits.  Don’t resign to be limited by your upbringing.  You have a natural ability to reach for the brass ring as much as men do.  There are no insurmountable obstacles preventing you from becoming a woman of influence, like those invited to this year’s “Alley to the Valley” conference, unless you put them in your path.

“…we need to (as a society) place a higher (not lower) value on risk-taking, and encourage those who are more tolerant of a higher level of risk to form an expanding community – sharing their experiences, their successes, their challenges and their learnings.”  What changes will you begin to make today to become a member of this community, and be willing to share your successes, as well as your failures, to inspire future entrepreneurs?

Set your goal,

Calculate your risk,

Develop your plan,

And take the leap!

© 2010 Reece International LLC/Dr. Shannon Reece. All rights reserved.

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If you wish to use this article on your website or online newsletter, no problem, BUT here is what you MUST include:

Dr. Shannon Reece – The One Trusted Woman in a Man’s Business World

Starting your own business can be tough, but having the right tools makes all the difference.  Dr. Reece provides the strategies and tactics women need to get their businesses from zero to launch and achieve real results.  For more information visit www.DrShannonReece.com.

By Dr. Shannon Reece | Posted in Alphabet of Entrepreneurs, Aspiring Entrepreneurs | Tagged , , , , | Comments (3)

Question of the Week – Dec 6, 2010

December 6, 2010 – 10:00 am

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.

How do I get involved?

Every Monday I will post a new Question of the Week. This is a great opportunity for you to bring your expertise to the table.  Using the NEW link below, please submit a one paragraph response by Saturday, and the following week I will share our community responses on my blog.

To submit your response CLICK HERE

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!

By Dr. Shannon Reece | Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

What’s Your Year-End Challenge for 2010?

December 6, 2010 – 6:00 am

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.

How do I get involved?

Every Monday I will post a new Question of the Week. This is a great opportunity for you to bring your expertise to the table.  Using the NEW link below, please submit a one paragraph response by Saturday, and the following week I will share our community responses on my blog.

To submit your response CLICK HERE

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!

By Dr. Shannon Reece | Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged , , , , | Comments (5)

Tips to Maintain a Positive Attitude – Weekly Wrap Up

December 3, 2010 – 9:35 am

I love it when plans change for the better.  I had prepared to suffer through three weeks of bitter Chicago cold, but happily, I only had to endure three days, flying back to sunny Florida last night.  I was raised a Midwestern gal, but have firmly replanted my roots where it is warm, and cold weather does not require donning the equivalent of a bear hide to brave the outdoors.

At the prospect of being away for most of December, I was feeling quite void of the Christmas spirit.  My attitude was deflated, to say the least, and I was going to grit my way through the three weeks.  But when I landed at O’Hare, I couldn’t help but get a lift in my step seeing the terminal covered in little white lights.  There’s just something about Christmas that brightens my spirit.

Attitude is a powerful motivator or immobilizer in life and in business.  Your emotional state directly impacts your performance.  My creativity certainly took a nose dive as my focus turned inward, and I allowed my pending circumstances to color my entire outlook.  Maintaining a positive attitude takes consistent effort and pushing your internal “sparkle button” even when you don’t feel like it.  So I’ve been thinking about who and what pull me up when I am feeling less than sparkly.

This weekly wrap up was designed to share the blogs, websites and/or businesswomen that I found particularly helpful this week.  My top blog picks offer some great solutions on maintaining a positive attitude. I hope you find them as helpful and interesting as I did.


Top Blog Posts

27 Vital Tips for Staying Positive

Talk about one stop shopping, and who doesn’t love that when time is tight.  Business Blogs compiled the expertise of 27 business owners on how to stay positive.  There is a wealth of information here, approaching positivism from all sides — celebrating success, surrounding yourself with beauty, focusing on your strengths, etc.  Dive in and find the solutions that best fit your need to mentally get back in the game.

Starting is Easy – It’s Maintaining That’s Hard

Last month Chris Brogan, in his Escape Velocity blog, hit a topic that is common to all business owners.  Starting anything new is fun, it’s sexy, it’s exciting.  But when the new and shiny begins to wear off, the harder work begins, as you are faced with maintaining your focus, motivation, and positive attitude through to completion.  Chris recommends keeping your eyes on the bigger reward that awaits you at the end, and not getting sidetracked my the little victories along the way.  To read more from Chris you can find him on Twitter @chrisbrogan.

Worried Entrepreneurs?  Five Simple Tips to Stay Positive

Last, but not least, is a no-nonsense post from Lalitha Brahma with 5 tips to keeping a positive attitude in your business.  With action steps like taking responsibility, valuing what you have to offer, nurturing your curiosity, developing a good relationship with money and taking on one task at a time, her advice is right on.  Find Lalitha on Twitter @lalithabrahma.


Featured Site

The perfect choice for my featured site of the week is Melanie J.  I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Melanie on Twitter, and must say that this amazing woman has a knack for spreading inspiration and joy.  With a strong focus on empowering women to start their own enterprises, Melanie is a great resource, helping women feel beautiful physically and emotionally.

I really enjoyed her post this week, Tips for an Anti-Aging Makeover.  As we all near the end of a work-filled year, who doesn’t need a make-over?!  Melanie’s tips focus on how to think and look like a Star, without the celebrity budget.  To find more great tips from Melanie, follow her on Twitter @Melanie_Canada.


Woman of Excellence Award

Congratulations to Natalie Sisson, founder of WomanzWorld and co-founder of Connection Point Systems, for winning this week’s Woman of Excellence Award!  This amazing “Suitcase Entrepreneur,” as she likes to call herself, travels the world while sharing her social media and marketing expertise with women who want to drive their businesses to the next level and beyond.  I must say that I am regularly challenged by her insights and expertise, as well as her “have bag, will travel” approach to life.

Natalie is one of 20 women recently honored by Nike to represent their Nike Make Yourself Movement – Go Natalie!  In her latest post, she identifies the two factors that can launch women into their own power — destiny and mindset.  For more information on Natalie check out this great Market Like A Chick interview (@marketlikeachik) and find her on Twitter @WomanzWorld.


In case you were wondering, I have no affiliate relationship with anyone I call to your attention on this blog.  This is simply my way of spreading the news about information and individuals I have found particularly helpful.

That wraps up this post.  Until next week, keep reading, keep learning, keep growing!

By Dr. Shannon Reece | Posted in Weekly Wrap Up | Tagged , , , , | Comments (7)