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Discipline = Success :: Especially for Women Owned Firms

Success can be defined in so many ways and the journey to obtain a certain level of success is subjective. One of the keys to success that I hear from many of those that have reached a high level of success is the fact that they have to remain disciplined in their daily routines. You will often hear people that are successful say that they do the same thing in their morning routines day in and day out. They may have coffee, workout, read the news on their preferred device, but it is the same routine day in and day out.

I have since learned that the reason for this is because when you implement something as simple as a morning routine, you now do not have to use ‘brain power’ (for lack of a better term) on something that really does not matter. Something like what you must do in the morning to get your day started is not as important as developing the strategy to grow your business or deciding the steps you need to take today to keep the country safe. In one of their final interviews as President and First Lady, First Lady Michelle Obama stated that President Obama has so many of the same exact suits, shoes, and accessories that he does not have to think about what he is putting on in the morning. He can at any time grab one of the suits and put it on and not have to deal with the minute detail of what he needs to wear for the day. As President, he also had to be conscious of the fact that he had to be politically correct in what he decided to wear.

I am someone that gets bored easily. A doctor may call it ADD, but my attention span is lost quickly. Doing the same routine day in and day out seems impossible to me. But, I am going to try to make it a habit for 1 month and see what it may change in my level of productivity. One of the first steps to creating this discipline in your own life is to make sure you are organized. Successful people tend to keep their home and office very neat. They do not have to spend time finding something because everything has a place. This is sometimes easier said than done when you work from home. Depending on how much space you have in your home will determine how organized you can truly be (in my opinion). When you must mix kids’ stuff with office stuff, you are in for a real challenge (unless you live in a large home). Hopefully, by getting as organized as you can, you can then obtain the level of success that will allow you to buy a home or office that will be spacious enough for all of your needs. Some of you already have plenty of space, but may need to throw out some items that you do not need (junk). Take this opportunity to give items away to the less fortunate. Someone else would find your junk to be their treasure.

When running a business of any size, if you cannot elevate your productivity, you will lose this ever-changing game of entrepreneurship. What is interesting to me is the variety of ways that people work to achieve the first 1 million dollars in revenue. This tells you beyond a reasonable doubt that there is no one right way to reach above average goals. I have listened to financially successful people state that it was a challenge making their first million, but once they got it down to a system, making the next million was not so hard.  From the outside of the million-dollar circle club, that seems to be a daunting task. But, if you are a student of success, one could glean some elements of similarities amongst peers that are making a million or more.

Traits of millionaires:

  1. Most millionaires are self-made. Meaning that they did not become a millionaire by working for someone else. According to BMO Private Bank in 2013 67% of millionaires in the US did not inherit their wealth. They found ways to acquire it.
  2. Millionaires are not afraid to take risk. Playing it safe does not land you in the wealthy category. Like CEO Elon Musk, with his company Tesla Motors, was told his concept would not work. He was continuously told that he was not going to be able to compete with the Detroit manufacturers. Today, he is proving his naysayers wrong and trending toward one of the biggest disruptions in the automotive industry.
  3. “The rich invest in time. The poor invest in money.” This statement was said by Warren Buffett and it exemplifies my next point. The wealthy understand the value of time.
  4. Self-made millionaires live within their means. They do not splurge outside of their budget and often, they will work diligently to stay under budget.

If you are a data person like I am, then at this point you must be interested in some numbers. I have a strong affinity for women owned businesses. So, let’s look at data as it relates to women owned business.

  1. More than 9.4 million firms are owned by women.
  2. The 9.4 million firms employ nearly 7.9 million people and generate $1.5 trillion in sales as of 2015.
  3. 9 million firms are majority-owned by women of color in the U.S.
  4. 2% of all women-owned firms have revenues of 1 million or more.

Source: Statistics from Womenable report commissioned by American Express “OPEN State of Women-Owned Businesses  2015” for full report click here.

So, what needs to be done to improve these numbers for more women owned business to reach a level of success that includes generating at least 1 million dollars in revenue. Does discipline play a role in the level of success that women are seeing? Partially, but there are so many other factors that go into success. And one thing that none of us should get into the habit of doing is making excuses. We all have to deal with our own realities and accept our starting points. What we can change is where we end up. We can put in the work to not only reach our goal but to exceed it.

In this blog series, we are going to dive deeper into success, the role discipline plays, and what all of this means for women business owners. One thing we know is true and that is if you are male or female, discipline is an important factor to achieving your goals. No one can really tell you where you need to increase your level of discipline, but you will have to get systematic in your efforts. Start with small changes, be patient, but remain consistent with your eyes on the goals you hope to achieve.

 

The Diary of the Mompreneur Series Starts on May 31st

The Diary of a Mompreneur is a project that we have worked on in the background and are now ready to bring it to life.  We feel that moms can sometimes be made to feel guilty for wanting and acting on their desires for a high level of success.  Often times, when a mom is building her company, this may mean that she is a way from home, missing activities like the kids recitals, and not preparing a hot breakfast every morning. Chores like laundry go undone and mom may come across a little disconnected when she is working to grow her business.

But, what we are finding is that mom has the best intentions for her family. She is looking to build an empire so that she can pass her fortune on to her kids.  To make this happen, unfortunately there are some sacrifices that have to be made, but mom is typically looking at the long run game.

This project will take you behind the scenes of what it takes for moms to juggle all that they are needing to juggle and run a successful business at the same time. Throughout this project, we hope that you will share your experiences using the #DiaryOfAMompreneur hashtag.

Why Every Entrepreneur Should Listen to Entrepreneurs Think Tank


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There are a lot of podcast to choose from.  We hope that Entrepreneurs Think Tank will be one that you add to your library.  As entrepreneurs, sometimes we can get so busy trying to build our business that we forget to reach out to our network to see if there is an easier and more efficient way to complete certain task.  This is where the Think Tank will come in.  We are building a community to support entrepreneurs on their journey to earning their first million dollars in revenue.

Tell your friends and colleges about Entrepreneurs Think Tank! The more we bring in to the community the stronger the information is that we will share with one another. This is a community that will celebrate your wins and help you learn from your failures.

 

The BET Award Show was LIT!

From the moment the 2016 BET Awards show opened with Beyonce to the after party where DJ Khaled released his new video, this awards show will be remembered as one of the best productions that BET has produced in many years. Even with all of the fun that was being had during the entire awards show experience, the bottom line is that this show was about business and each of the artists and actors that were on the show used the global platform to promote the projects that they had coming next.

We will explore The BET Award show from the business aspect.

The PreShow

Typically, you see newer acts perform during the preshow.  Acts that perform here are trying to break from being considered a newbie. So, although you have an act signed by Puff Daddy, they still have to work their way on to the main show. Diddy understands promotion and marketing on a level that many have been educated in marketing still do not get to this day. His act performed, he made an appearance in the audience, and he shared it out in social media.

The lesson for entrepreneurs here is not to be afraid to use a testing ground before you hit a ‘MAIN’ stage.  This will allow you to do some preliminary research before you release to the masses. But, when you do testing like this, its best to bring your A Game.  Testing out your B Game is a complete waste of time.

The Opening

 

Beyonce has not graced a BET Awards Show stage in many years, but this year she used her presence to the fullest. Sisters Chole and Halle Bailey, one of the first signees to Beyonce’s Parkwood Entertainment, were able to have a prime time for performing during the show.

The lesson here for your business is to always think about how you can negotiate to the benefit of your business. BET is going to benefit heavily for at least the rest of the year from Beyonce’s performance. So, in return, she has the right to also gain a little extra for her time to prepare and perform on the show. The searches that their website will get, the buzz that is created because of her performance, the boost to the BET brand is all things that Beyonce can bring to the table and deliver on.

What you have to do is to understand what you are bringing to the table to use as leverage as you negotiate for your business?

The After Show

DJ Khaled, who has a highly engaged Snapchat following, was allowed to perform at the PreShow and also promote the fact that he was releasing his new video that features JayZ and Future. What you have to remember is that DJ Khaled is a DJ, not a rapper, but he has a HUGE rap album with a mega collaboration being released.

There is a lot of business behind this act from numerous directions. The first element is that DJ Khaled can now be considered an influencer on Snapchat. The idea that he will be promoting the BET Awards show and the release of his new album on his Snapchat channel is a WIN for BET.

Secondly, DJ Khaled is touring with Beyonce on the Formation World Tour. JayZ looked at this as an AWESOME way to THANK DJ Khaled for stopping what he was doing to tour with his wife.  But, it really was a WIN-WIN-WIN for all involved.

Think about ways that you can collaborate with other business owners that can make for a mutually beneficial situation where everyone wins.  These collaborations have benefits that go beyond that of the actual act.

 

Perspectives: Women, Confidence, & Success

You might look at these 3 words and say where is she going with this article OR … you may look at these words and say that you know exactly how intertwined these words can be for women.

Question: Do you know how to exude confidence?

Over the past week, I have attended a number of women’s conferences and leadership events. And as you may expect, there are several common themes that I can pull out as jewels for women business owners.

First and foremost, as women we must learn how to boost our own confidence. In order to have a higher level of success, it is critical to take risk, raise your hand to be heard, and take on leadership roles. One thing that many of the keynote speakers noted was that you typically do not see men afraid to voice their opinions. It’s almost equivalent to Michael Jordan being scared to take shots. If MJ was scared to fail at taking some of the shots he did, he possibly would not have won all of the championship rings.

Growing up, many of us were taught that our looks do not matter…that what matters is on the inside. Unfortunately, we are in a society that makes its impression based off of how you look. I am not talking about perceived beauty, I am referencing the idea that you should do the best you can with what you have to present yourself appropriately for the role you seek. If you are seeking to work in the ‘corner office,’ than you need to ensure that you present yourself in a manner that those making that decision can visualize you in that role. Being well groomed can be done at any price point with a little effort. When you look good, you feel good!

Define what success means for you! When you take a look at women that have obtained an extraordinary level of success, you see a confidence that they have developed over their journey that can not be shaken. They walk with confidence, they dress with confidence, and the speak with confidence. They have also mapped out what success looks like to them. They have an end goal in mind and a plan to get to it. The major key here is that these women do not allow anyone to shake them away from their end goal.

Self doubt can be crippling! It can actually keep you from releasing your gift to the world. As women, we benefit from hearing the journey of other women. Be mindful of your circle friends. Ensure that these friends are the ones that will lift you up and constructively criticize you when necessary. Also, take the time to invest in yourself. Have you ever taken note of how you feel when you leave a conference and a dynamic woman speaker has just left the stage. There are times in your journey when you need to be around this additional knowledge so that you can grow to your next level. 

In all actuality, that same feeling that you get from attending an awesome conference is one that you can give to other women by sharing your story and living in your purpose. You simply have to have the confidence to do it!

Take-A-Ways From Attending DIGSOUTH

This was my first time attending the DIGSOUTH conference in Charleston, South Carolina.  I have attended many conferences and I have to say that this is now one of my favorites.  Because I was selected to live tweet some of the sessions, I have the perspective of an attendee and staff.

This is the 4th year of the DIGSOUTH Conference and on day one, the conference opened with upwards of 1500 people in attendance. The stage was beautifully designed and the music playing in the background always kept the atmosphere fun.

DIG Stage

POWER

The theme of the conference this year was POWER.  I saw the concept weaved in and I love the idea of the power that we all posses with the support of technology, collaboration, and innovation. This is a great time to be an entrepreneur.  At your fingertips, you now have access to the world.

The Venue: The Galliard Center

The Galliard Center is a new facility located in the heart of the historic district of Charleston. I was able to easily walk to King Street for lunch, catch a trolley that drove around the historic district, and find a nice hotel to stay that was within 2 miles of the venue.

The inside of the venue is what made the conference. From a ping pong table to rooms properly equipped for presentations, this venue was perfect for this style of conference.  The only negative was the fact that the sponsors that participated in the Trade Show were kind of tucked away from the main elements of the conference.  Because they were off the beaten path, many did not think to go visit the sponsor area.

As a side note, I was impressed with the number of sponsors that supported the conference. It may be worth considering to have a lot of small sponsors as opposed to going for just the bigger sponsors. As I put together conferences in the future, I now have a few ideas of how to add in some benefits to some sponsors that may not be able to shell out the big bucks.

Networking

Almost every person that I chatted with stated that they loved meeting the great people that are in #DIGNATION.  People were exchanging information in each of the sessions that I was in, at spaces in the hall ways, and sitting outside on the benches.  Those that attended this conference were a special group of start-ups, seasoned entrepreneurs, techies, e-gamers, and so much more.

Content

The comment that I heard most from attendees was, “I am now even more inspired to go after my dreams.” People left DIGSOUTH with information that they could apply to their businesses today.  Many of the speakers talked about situations that they really implemented on a limited budget. All of the speakers were approachable and willing to share everything that they experienced.

Top Business Take-A-Ways from DIGSOUTH

  1. It’s all about the story you tell about your brand that will encourage people to want to do business with you.
  2. Pay close attention to the e-Gaming industry. It sold out Madison Square Garden in 9 minutes.
  3. Don’t look at social media as a marketing tool, but as a medium to connect.
  4. Focus on the voice of your brand and post good content.
  5. 70% of social videos are watched without audio. – @Shonduras
  6. Humans’ attention span is now less than a goldfish.
  7. Innovation does not care about your feelings. -@GaryVee
  8. Don’t be afraid to use plain text emails. It’s a great way to stay out of the promotions tab on Gmail.
  9. If your demo is 30 and under spend 50% of your budget on Snapchat. -@GaryVee
  10. If pitching an investor, be sure to build necessary relationships first so they will be inclined to pay attention to your pitch.

5 Mompreneur Tips as You Prepare for School to Start Back

Mother With Baby Working In Office At Home

Mompreneur taking care of business and baby!

It’s that time of year for many of us in the US. The time of year to get the kiddos prepare for back to school. As Mompreneurs, it changes our routine completely. We are going from the lazy days of summer to the hustle and bustle of after school activities, making lunches, and last minute projects.

Here are a few tips to get ahead of the curve:

1. Load your calendar now – Many schools have already sent out their calendar for the year that includes days off, holidays, and other special days to remember.  If you have kids at multiple schools like I do, this task may take a little while.  But trust me, you will be glad that you took the time now as oppose to waiting until later on when school starts.

2. Load your contacts now – If you have contacts related to your kids school(s), load them in to your contact list now. From the main school number to the nurse line, it will be helpful to have all of this up-to-date in your address book. Also, I like to keep the email addresses of the principals and counselors in my address book too.

3. Stock up on school supplies now –  This time of year is the cheapest that school supplies will be. Stock up and figure out a way to keep them organized. Target has a really cool plastic shelving system that I am thinking about getting this year. I hate buying the supplies and not being able to find them in a few months.

4. Include your kids in your business if you can – This is not always easy to do (depending on the age of your kids), but they will love it.  My kids enjoy video editing and social media. These are areas that I can teach them how to help out. This is also a way that they can earn a little extra money.

5. PrePlan your meals – Get in the habit of planning your meals ahead of time. This is something that I do not do yet, but I plan on doing it. I find that I spend a lot of extra time thinking about new meals that I can prepare that are healthy and that I have all of the ingredients for in my pantry. So, if I plan well on Sunday, it is something that I will not have to worry about the rest of the week.

I am sure that there are several more tips that can be added to this list. Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Top 14 Industries that Can Benefit from Live-streaming

Friends making selfie. Two beautiful young women making selfie

Live-streaming is all the rage now in social media. In our opinion, it is a true game changer.  Live-streaming give you the ability to have your own television station in the palm of your hands. Right now, there are two live-streaming apps that are garnering a lot of attention – Periscope and Meerkat. Each of the apps have great features. Currently, our preference is Periscope and we will write about that in another post.

Today, we want to share with you 14 industries that could really move the needle on anything from raising brand awareness to increasing sales by using one of the live-streaming apps regularly. Here is our list in no particular order:

14. Consultants

13. Musicians

12. Retail store owners

11. Restaurant owners and chefs

10. Travel

9. Realtors

8. Health and wellness

7. Photographers

6. Fashion & beauty stylist

5. Authors

4. Journalist

3. Actors

2. Event planners

1. Educators

What industries would you add or delete? Leave us a comment below to share your top industries that could benefit from live-streaming. We will be diving a little deeper in to this topic on our upcoming scopes this week. Follow us on Periscope and Meerkat at @Selsi_Ent .

Scanning on the Go 

Scanner Pro LogoIn keeping with our app review series, we have turned our attention to scanning documents and creating PDFs. How often are you away from your office and in need of the ability to scan a document on the go? Although  there are numerous office stores that you can utilize, if you are like us we do not like wasting the time when there is another option.

According to Global Workplace Analytics, teleworking has increased by 80% since 2005. Another interesting stat is that 2.8 million people now consider themselves self-employed and that there primary place of work is a home office. That being said, this app is a great one for many people that truly work within a mobile office situation. When you are working from your mobile office, carrying around a tool that scans is not always feasible. When they say there is an app for everything, there truly is an app for everything.

The app Scanner Pro is 2.99 and designed for both the iPhone and the iPad. The app is developed by the very experienced Readdle team. They have a number of productivity apps that they say have been download over 40 million times. The app is very user friendly. The guides within the app ensure that you get a pretty good scan the first time.

scanner_pro_screenshots

Give this app a try and let us know if it helps you out with the scans that you have to create.

We are days away from launching The Mompreneur Lifestyle on SelsiTV

Are you ready to go on a journey with us through what it takes to be a mompreneur? We hope that you will watch our episodes, make comments, and ask questions that you would like to see us discuss.  We are not promising to have perfect video editing and sound effects, but we can assure you that we will have AWESOME content that any mompreneur can use immediately.

Stay tuned for additional sponsorship information and information for how you can be a guest on the show. Here is a preview of the intro:

Mompreneurship: Raw & Uncut

Please go ahead and subscribe to our channel in YouTube.  You can get right to it by clicking here.