Tag Archives: entrepreneur

Cricket Lee and FitLogic®

on September 1, 2011 in Motivation & Inspiration, Women in Business

Guest Post by Brandy Mychals, BrandyMychals.com, eWomenNetwork 2011 Business Matchmaker of the Year

Cricket Lee, founder of Fitlogic®, a patented fit system that will revolutionize the way clothing is sized in the fashion industry, attributes much of her success to her daughter.

When Cricket began her development of Fitlogic in 2002, she and her business partner were both single mothers.  Cricket recalls those early days as trying. The first time her company fell apart, in 2003, her partner called it quits.

She suggested that Cricket give up on her vision as well, claiming the concept was “too big” for her and that if Cricket wanted to take care of her daughter, she would have to find something more stable.

“At that moment I had a choice– to either give up and quit or to teach my daughter to go for her dreams and never give up no matter how difficult. I can’t say it’s been easy for us… but when I asked her what she wanted me to do as things got more difficult, she always said: ‘Go for it, Mommy!”

And go for it, Cricket did, researching what would become Fitlogic: an “operating system” for apparel, making it easy for consumers to find their size without the hassle of the fitting room, alterations or returns. Fitlogic will standardize fit from one brand to another regardless of style, price or channel giving women the opportunity to buy the items they like without worrying about whether or not it will “fit” their body.

Not only was Cricket’s daughter her greatest cheerleader, but she was also fundamental to the development of Cricket’s Fitlogic system. Part of the Fitlogic magic is Cricket’s insight that women’s bodies are not all shaped as “hourglasses” as antiquated fashion industry standards have based fit on for decades. Instead, we come in different shapes and apparel should reflect that in order to “fit” correctly. “When I first started, I was using ‘straight’, ‘curvy’, and ‘round’ with square, triangle and circle symbols [to describe different body types.] [My daughter] said: ‘Mommy, no one wants to be called straight!”

Cricket’s daughter– who was then nine years old– offered her this advice: “Why don’t you call it curvy 1, 2 and 3?” The numbering system stuck and is the method Cricket uses to this day to describe the trademarked “shape fit” part of the Fitlogic System.

Cricket’s daughter is now the model for her website, Fitlogic.com. “That was her dream– to be a model. Since she helped make my dream come true, I thought: why not help her create hers?” Cricket’s daughter, now 18 years old, has grown up with Cricket’s business and learned valuable lessons along the way. “She has learned not to place her reliance on material things or people, but to know she is the sole creator of her world and experiences.”

Cricket’s dream to “make women feel good about themselves when they shop in the knowledge that they are perfect just the way they are” is fast becoming a reality. Her first product introduction began this summer at the eWomenNetwork International Conference on July 16th. Kym Yancey, President of eWomenNetwork said: “We are really excited about sharing Cricket’s message and the Fitlogic® System with the more than 500,000 women business owners connected to our International network.” Although Cricket intends to standardize all types of apparel, only pants are available at this time.

Cricket has been featured on the Today Show, the cover of the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Fox and Redbook. Often described as a “serial entrepreneur and marketing visionary”, Cricket has created campaigns for British Airways, JCPenny, Ralph Lauren, Ford Models,  Hanes, Saks Fifth Avenue and many others. She holds world patents and 72 awards for Creative Excellence in Advertising including a National Addy Award.

Join Cricket Lee on Success Institute, 9.14.11, at 1:30pm CST as she and Kym Yancey discuss:  Moving a Mountain:  How to Raise Big Money, Attract Top Publicity, & Launch Your Big Dream

 

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How to Drop Fear

on August 2, 2011 in Coaching Corner, Education, Women in Business

Guest Post by Pragito Dove, Discover Meditation Training, Inc.

Fear is the absence of love. And the problem with something that is absent is that you cannot do anything with it directly. Fear is like darkness, which is the absence of light. There is nothing you can do with darkness directly, because it is an absence of something — which leaves you nothing to work with. But you can bring in more light.

Switch on the light. If you want darkness, switch off the light again. You work directly with the light, not with the darkness. The same is true with fear and love. Don’t bother with the fear—focus on love. You can do something with love immediately. Start loving.

Love is born within us, it is an intrinsic quality. We can just start giving love, sharing it, allowing it to flow out of us. As we do that, it grows. Don’t hold back; don’t be miserly with your love. If we don’t use our natural qualities they become blocked, grow stagnant, and wither away. That’s what happens to embittered people—they become frozen by their refusal to share their love.

When we give love, in the very giving we become richer because our love starts radiating outward. And then our fear starts to naturally disappear. It simply cannot exist in the face of so much love.

So it is not a question of dropping fear; it is a question of sharing your love, and then the fear vanishes of its own accord.

MEDITATION: Start Loving!

BENEFITS
The more you do this technique, over time you feel the joy in your heart expanding and your fear dissolving.

Become more and more loving, and you become more and more joyful. Don’t worry about whether or not your love is returned; that is not the point. Joy follows love automatically, and fear is dissolved automatically. The beauty of love is that its result, its value, are intrinsic. Love does not depend on the response of another, because it is totally yours.

Choose a person or pet to be loving toward. It makes no difference to whom you are loving—a dog, a tree, a stranger in the grocery store. Smile at people in the street, be more loving toward yourself.

Join Pragito Dove on Success Institute,  August 9, 2011 at 1:30pm CST, to Revitalize your Entrepreneurial Enterprise with the Power of Laughter Meditation.  Learn how to revitalize your entrepreneurial enterprise while discovering inner calm!


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QR Codes are Worth a Scan

on July 31, 2011 in Education, Marketing, Technology, Women in Business

Post by Kathy F. Catoe

QR codes are popping up everywhere. These strange two dimensional codes are appearing in magazines, on coupons, in television commercials and on websites. You may have even seen them at the doorway to your favorite restaurant or on business cards at the 11th Annual eWomenNetwork Conference & Business Expo. Their adoption is steadily increasing as a marketing tool. This presentation will give you some insights into this exciting new technology.

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Countdown to Connect – 3 More Conference Tips to Optimize Your Experience!

on June 2, 2011 in Annual International Conference & Business Expo, Relationship Networking, Women in Business

Guest Post by Sandra Yancey, Founder and CEO of eWomenNetwork

We are just 41 days away from the 11th annual eWomenNetwork Conference.  In an effort to help you be fully prepared, I am sharing some ideas and tips to help you maximize your Conference experience!  I want to again thank Susan Rueppel, a veteran Conference attendee, for sharing her observations with me and urging me to build upon her valuable insights.  Following are three more things you can begin to do right now so that you, too, can glean all that the Conference has to offer:

 

  • Refine your 60-second introduction! The culture of the eWomenNetwork Conference is one of support and assistance.  We believe that when ladies are standing in a small circle and someone else begins approaching, everyone should take a step back and widen the circle.  You never have to worry about those awkward instances when people turn their heads and pretend they don’t see you.  No way!  Not at eWomenNetwork!  You will always be invited to join the circle and asked to introduce yourself.  When this moment happens, you want to be prepared – not so prepared that it’s like you are reciting your national anthem.  You want to make eye contact with the others in your presence in a warm, friendly, authentic manner.  Be you, be intentional, be clear and be memorable!  Not confident your introduction is the best it can be?  Hire a coach to help you!  If you are a member, this is the perfect reason to use your two complimentary coaching sessions!  Remember, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.  Your 60-second introduction should be solid!
  • Know what you need! You will be amazed at the number of times you will hear my five favorite words, “How can I help you?” This is your moment to get the ideas, information, resources and connections you need to resolve a business challenge or gain assistance with something you are excited about.  Come to the Conference trusting that you might get access to the one thing that could bust your business wide open from the person you least expect!  Be prepared to complete these sentence stems:  If I could waive a magic wand and address one thing that would propel my business to new heights it is ….  Or, one thing that I am really excited about, but not sure how to go about it is …. Completing these two sentence stems are great ways for helping you get clear on areas where others can help you.
  • Update your eWomenNetwork eProfile! That’s right.  The women that come to the Conference are serious about doing business and establishing great connections. You will be sharing your business card with lots of attendees.  Each of us will be trying to hone in on the critical few we want to follow up with.  It is not unusual for attendees to go back to their rooms and use their laptops and iPads to learn more about you.  When they check out your eProfile, you want them to be even more impressed about you and your business.  You’ve probably heard one of my favorite sayings, “Better to be prepared and there be no opportunity, than for there to be an opportunity and you not be prepared!”

These three tips will undoubtedly help you leverage your time and interactions with others in the most effective and beneficial way.  I’ll be back next week with three more tips on preparing to get the most out of the eWomenNetwork Conference!  I’m excited about blogging and connecting with you before you arrive in Dallas!  We are sure to have a fun and productive time together!

 

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How to Optimize Your Conference Experience!

on May 27, 2011 in Annual International Conference & Business Expo, Events, eWomenNetwork Foundation, Women in Business

Guest Post by Sandra Yancey, Founder and CEO of eWomenNetwork

The 2011 annual eWomenNetwork Conference (#eWN2011) is just 47 days away.  Susan Rueppel, a long-time eWomenNetwork member and devoted Conference attendee, has gathered some valuable tips for optimizing your Conference experience.  From Susan’s list, each week we will be featuring three things you can do now so that you feel well prepared to take full advantage all the benefits—from soup to nuts—that the Conference has to offer.

Over the next two weeks, we recommend the following:

  • Order business cards – take plenty (200-300).  We recommend that the back is blank so that people can write down notes about you, like what you are looking for and how they can best serve you.  We also recommend that you bring cards that are not coated with a waxy finish that doesn’t allow people to write on them.
  • Check out the Conference banner on the website.  Particularly, click on the link Travel & Hotel.

Tips from Susan Rueppel, Ph.D., Chief Intuition Officer, ChiefIntuitionOfficer.com

If you plan on flying into Dallas, you may wish to explore American Airlines.  AA is a national sponsor of  eWomenNetwork.  That’s great news for you because they provide a discount on flights for the Conference.  In order to capitalize on our sponsorship savings, call       1-800-433-1790 and give the American Airlines Representative our STARfile number 9971AN, or go to www.aa.com/women and enter it there.

Did you know that if you fly American Airlines, you can help the eWomenNetwork Foundation in a big way and it costs you nothing?  That’s right, when making your airline reservation, simply either mention or enter the Foundation’s Business ExtrAA account #756327, and AA will gift “matching miles” to the Foundation.  Isn’t this cool!  This is how we fly in our Grant recipients and Emerging Leaders so that they can experience the Conference just like you!  Again, nothing is taken away from you!  You can still use your own frequent flyer number and accumulate AAdvantage miles.  This is simply an “added” benefit and bonus to help the eWomenNetwork Foundation!

  • Finally, don’t forget to make your hotel reservations.  At the discounted rate of $149, our room block is selling out fast.  We can’t guarantee that the hotel will honor our special discounted room rate after our set-aside block has been met, so make your reservation today to secure your room at our special rate.  For your convenience, you can click here to register or call 1-888-421-1442.

With these basic fundamentals out of the way, we’ll be back with more information to fill you with more strategies to pace yourself, take full advantage of all the offerings, and ensure that you maximize your Conference experience!

 

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Change Your Mind, Change Your Money

on May 7, 2011 in Success Institute, Women in Business

Guest Post by Sherí Taber, Founder and CEO of the Peak Performance Group

What you believe about your ability to be successful and build a successful business completely determines your success.  Interestingly, the beliefs you hold at a very deep level drive your thoughts and your actions. One of the greatest contributions to the failure of women-owned small businesses is their mindset.

Throughout history, women have been conditioned to accept that they are first responders to all things domestic and while they may have “permission” to play” at business, the game shouldn’t be so high that it creates a risk of financial loss or failure to attend to the needs of their family.  The older you are, the more powerful the conditioning and the higher the expectations.  Even women in their twenties and thirties are unlikely to have a mom-preneur role model and have been subject, at the very least, by osmosis to this mindset.   Understanding what is at the root of your belief system about being a successful business owner is the key to unlocking the gates to success.

You might say, “I don’t have any limitations embracing and executing what it takes to be outrageously successful!”  That’s phenomenal!  However, unless you have analyzed your own belief systems about:

  • Business
  • Investing in business resources
  • What you believe should take first place before your business responsibilities

you might be surprised at what could be holding you back.

Historically, women have allowed their families to create the expectations and priorities they must then manage before freely focusing on the responsibilities and priorities of their businesses.  Even those who might label themselves as ‘empowered with independence’ naturally feel an obligation to manage family and social business before the priorities of their enterprise.

Research shows women entrepreneurs also struggle with investing in resources such as administrative support, technology and business coaching.   A recent study by Kimberly-Clark revealed that the most significant barriers to success were A) access to financial resources (65 percent), B) risk of failure (43 percent) and C) not knowing where to start (36 percent).  Barriers A and B would be scalable if they invested in support that helped them know where to start, what to focus on and how to plan for success, how to prepare and position their organization to qualify for funds, if needed, and how to avert risk and prevent failure.

On May 17th, join Sheri’ Taber on Success Institute as she introduces a framework to help you avoid these barriers to success.

You’ll be empowered to:

 

  • Examine and overcome limiting beliefs about business success
  • Overcome organizational stutters and stammers
  • Resolve barriers to success
  • Manage expectations to maximize personal and professional success
  • Leverage intention over impact to accelerate success
  • What’s impeding your immediate success?  Conduct your own gap analysis

Don’t miss this one if you are serious about business success!

 

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Top 5 Reasons to Use “Message” Marketing for Speakers & Entrepreneurs

on April 29, 2011 in Branding, Marketing, Women in Business

Guest Post by Brandy Mychals

1. Craft Your Message so it is memorable!

Having a succinct message that drives home the purpose behind your business creates clarity for you and your ideal client. When speaking in front of a group this will be the #1 reason your audience remembers you once they are out of the room. The clarity it provides you as the speaker and entrepreneur is invaluable as it can keep you on track in all your content creation, marketing and promotional efforts.

2. Create a Message in “Sound Bites”

One of the ways to get the media’s attention is to have a clear message that can be translated into print, radio and TV. Having a message that is marketable generates press. Quick tip: Use your business/book/product in your message.

3. Use Who You Are in Your Message

What happened in your life to make you who you are? The joys and often even more compelling…the challenges! I will be sharing how to access this info and why it can be the “mojo” for your message. I often tell my clients, YOU are the most powerful form of advertisement for your business. In the end, as a Speaker & Entrepreneur, your clients are buying you.

4. Memorize Your Message & Use it Everywhere

If your message doesn’t roll off your tongue, get a different message. It doesn’t need to be fancy. Simple, succinct and ideally, sizzling hot will work! Use your message in your blog, your presentations, your email signature, your tag line, your website….I will walk you through the process of creating a clear message!

5. Become Known for Your Message

If you are starting to get a little tired of hearing your message over and over again…then you are on the right track! It is okay to be repeating the same core message because that is what you will get known for. You want that message promoted and exposed to audiences over and over again. This is one of the ways you “generate buzz” about your business and attract your dream clients. When I spent the time needed to craft my message my business went from the feeling of climbing the face of a glacier to flying down a water slide! Whether you go through this process with me or someone else, I urge you to take the time needed to really craft the message for your business. As a speaker and entrepreneur, I know it will make all the difference! Now, you want to take that message and move into action with your marketing… When I work with my clients we sit down and decide which marketing strategy is going to work best for their business. We base this on their own Character Code and their financial need (how quickly do they need results?)… I often start by creating an outline of their overall strategy. One way you can do that is by having a massive marketing “mind dump” that you will organize into the many spokes of your marketing wheel. After that, we decide how we are going to achieve that and I break it down into 3 strategies:

“Throwing Spaghetti Against the Wall”

This approach works well for those that have an immediate need for a financial return and can move quickly. They will be in action and will be learning as they go. Instead of activating one spoke of the wheel at a time, they will activate 3-4 at a time, hence the title! It is a fun, fast way to generate buzz. Those that are most fond of this approach are Cheerleader, Actress & Class President Character Codes.

“Fill Your Audience First”

This approach works well for those that have time to build and have a spouse, a second job or additional source of income. They will provide information and create a following before they ever initiate an offer. It is a longer time line that can result in a bigger response when an invitation is made, thus the title! Those that are most fond of this approach are Activist, Scholar or Artist Character Codes.

“The Kitchen Sink”

This approach is usually desired by those that have to generate some immediate results and will follow some of the steps involved with “Throwing Spaghetti Against the Wall”. They also have some items structured into a later launch and will use the “Fill Your Audience First” strategy for that…This works best with those that have the need and ability to move quickly in some areas and the patience to be able to wait in others…Marketing is FUN when you can see where you are headed and break it down in to bite-sized bits of information and instructions you can handle. Marketing is also the easiest when you have a clear, carefully crafted message and are in the position of feeling compelled in your work and not driven.

Join Brandy Mychals on Success Institute, May 10th at 1:30 pm CST to learn “How to Go from Obscurity to Buzz in Record Time!”

Original Post from BrandyMychals.com

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Rose Bushes Yield Beautiful Fragrant Results

on April 1, 2011 in Women in Business

Guest Post by Camille Gaines

Let’s look at how a rose bush relates to yield, another one of the most common investment performance terms.  If you are considering buying a gorgeous pink knock out rose bush at your local nursery, and the price is $35, you’ll naturally think about the roses that you will get from the bush before you make a decision to buy it. Different types of rose bushes are expected to yield different quantities at varying frequencies, and also provide different types of roses, such as trailing or long tip. You base your purchasing decision on these expectations, which is the yield you will get in the form of beautiful roses.

In the same way that you considered the probable yield from the rose bush, you can assess an investment based on the amount of money you can reasonably expect to receive while you own a particular investment. Just like your rose bush yields beautiful fragrant roses while you own it, your investments can yield money back to you in different forms and frequencies, depending on the type of income producing investment you make; investments that provide yield are referred to as “income producing”. The most common forms of yield associated with investments are from stocks, in the form of dividends, rental income from real estate, interest from bonds, and royalties from oil and gas properties.  As a numerical example, if you invest $10,000 in a bond fund, and it pays $500 to you in interest each year, then that investment is yielding 5% a year.

Income from investments are undoubtedly as welcome as the roses from your rose bushes. Just as you would probably not buy the rose bush if it did not produce the roses, you wouldn’t want an investment that doesn’t produce a yield if that is your primary investment goal. As a financial woman, always first know your desired investment goal, then evaluate any investment you are thinking of buying to make sure it meets that goal.

Disclaimer: © 2011 Financial Woman. All Rights Reserved. This information is for educational use only and is in no way meant to be interpreted as financial advice.

Connect with Camille Gaines at the Financial Woman Alliance (original post)

To gain more insights from Camille Gaines, download her Success Institute Tele-Session, “Become Financially Secure Now!”, from the  eWomenNetwork estore.

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Building a Business or Transforming a Life?

on March 21, 2011 in Women in Business

Guest Post by Louise LeBrun

I am often asked “How did you create a successful business that has lasted for more than 20 years?”   Like many before me, my business began with an intention, determination and a dream.  As a living process unfolding and evolving over the years, it has morphed into ways of expression that have defined and are defined by who I have been willing to become.  As a long-standing solopreneur, I’ve come to recognize that a long-term relationship with my business is a deeply intimate and personal affair.  And like any good relationship, without the give-and-take of that enlivened and enlivening connection, my business would not be sustainable over time.

Like many, I began this journey believing that I was creating something ‘out there’ – separate from me – whose value would be reflected by meeting the needs/wants of others;  inescapably linking my outcomes to the boundaries of what was defined as meaningful and relevant to them and for which they would pay.  By doing that, I would amass vast fortunes by appealing to the patterns of consumption of my clients.

Surprisingly, within the first few years, I soon tired of it all. The cha-ching of dollars accumulating lost its ability to delight.  I could have been left seeking to sustain a viable business through will power and determination; through the discipline of self-imposed performance expectations; and ultimately, by doing what was required rather than risk losing the very ground for which I had paid significantly in time, effort and energy. Instead, what I discovered and subsequently have written about, spoken about and shared with thousands of people, is quite simple:

“There is no business ‘out there’ – there is only YOU in relationship with others; and the quality of your own life!“

There are clues to how you are living and what you select as ‘your work’ that can guide you and give you feedback on how things are going.

What’s it like for you to get out of bed in the morning and face another day?  Are you eager to engage your life?  Or do you find very good reasons (like illness) for you not to bother?

Are you genuinely excited by what you seek to share with others?  Or are you tired of the sound of your own voice and find very good reasons (like fatigue) for you not to have to speak?

Does the potential of your business to contribute and make a meaningful difference in your world propel you into the next wave of its expression?  Or do you find creative ways (alcohol, shopping, exercise, food, affairs, gambling, etc.) for you not to bother showing up?

What I have come to know is that my business is and always has been all about me – just like your business is all about you.  It is a way for me to come face-to-face with my own internal truth that defines the quality of my life – just like yours, invites that discovery in you.

Building a business can be about ‘stuff’ and/or it can be about creating a meaningfully sustainable life.  Either way, it is a deeply personal and intimate experience; and one that will, at some time, bring you face-to-face with the truth of who you know yourself to be.

Are you building a business or transforming your life?  Truth is, they are like the back and front of the same hand:  where one goes, so goes the other.  They cannot be separated; and the one you focus on is the one that will define you and carve out the quality of your life.

Join Louise LeBrun on Success Institute, 3.29.11 at 1:30pm CST for “Fully Alive: Work/Life Integration for the Evolving Entrepreneur!”

For more information about Lousie LeBrun and The WEL-Systems® Institute

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Partner with your husband? This is how it is done folks!

on March 11, 2011 in Education, Success Institute, Women in Business

Guest Post by Danelle Brown

I recently put on my Facebook page update something awesome I was witness to. I was in a great goal setting workshop a couple weekends ago. This was an all day thing mind you. You went in at 9:00 and didn’t come out until 4:00. So many great business owners in there ready to take charge of their year. I met a lot of business owners – particularly ones working with their spouses. This does not surprise me because you are all out there!

At the end of the workshop, I was walking outside with a wonderful lady I had met that day and we were talking about – of course – the fact that she worked with her husband. She was excited to read my book and it was a nice conversation. We both approached our cars to find that someone mysteriously had left a single long stemmed red rose on her car window.

One guess who it was.

Later I spoke with her on Facebook and she told me her husband left her that rose in appreciation of her working hard on their business and taking time on a Saturday to get it done.

Wow.

That is how it is done. Little things like that are so simple to implement to not only encourage one another in your business, but also to keep the spark alive. More often than not, you two are the only cheerleaders you have in the business. It is so important to maintain the balance of encourager, supporter, sounding board and even the romantic.

What small steps can you take today to show your spouse how much you support them in running your business together?

Join Danelle Brown on Success Institute, 3.22.11 at 1:30pm CST to learn “How to Run a Business With Your Spouse and STAY Married!”

Original Post from Soulmate Proprietors

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