Thursday, February 26, 2009
RE: @kirsteno Invites You to Join "From Chicago to Coronado" - A Twitter Novel
In Japan, mobile phone novels called "keitai shousetus" have become so successful that they accounted for half of the ten best-selling novels in 2007. Can a Twitter novel written in in the U.S. have the same appeal?
"From Chicago to Coronado" is a micro-format, semi-autobiographical story tweeted in 140 word soundbytes about a culturally-challenged Chicago to Coronado transplant - a former Prada-heeled agency CEO, Economic Club of Chicago member and Entrepreneur Magazine writer forced into flipflops. Coronado is like Pleasantville. It rarely rains on the 7.4 square mile Island. Firemen exist to save cats, the Coronado Islander football team nearly always wins, only 4 registered sex offenders among the 20k city residents. From the Hotel del and the little flower lady perched in City Square...to the Navy SEALS training grounds, the politics of a city represented by a Federal Lobbyist Firm, and the 2.2 mile long Bay Bridge ranked the 3rd deadliest suicide bridge in the U.S...Coronado makes for a quirky setting. Expect romance, mystery, and maybe even...
Curious? Visit "From Chicago to Coronado" on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/kirsteno
Want to be a part of the "Chicago to Coronado" Twitterature storyline? @ or DM @kirsteno on Twitter.
Labels: "chicago to coronado" pleasantville twitter twitterature kirsteno flipflops osolind
Saturday, October 04, 2008
RE: 10 Tips from This Week's Featured Woman Entrepreneur or Executive.
This week's featured woman entrepreneur or executive is Jennifer Fredreck, Top Dog at Paw House Properties Inc.
about Jennifer Fredreck, Top Dog at Paw House Properties, Inc. (West Rutland, Vermont)
On September 1, 2001 Jennifer Fredreck left her career in law to create and open a hotel in Vermont that caters to dog owners and their dogs. As a woman who deisred a life that balanced career with lifestyle, she saw a unique opportunity and seized it with passion.
Since then, The Paw House Inn has grown into a nationally-noted "dog centric" Vermont getaway nearby to Killington and Okemo resorts - with dog-friendly design. Guests are greeted with homemade cookies for their pets. Guest rooms are pet-proof: floors are made of wood, anything made of fabric has removable covers and is washable, knickknacks are rare. Each guest room is equipped with a doggie bed. There is a mudroom where dogs can be cleaned. There is even a special inn (called Mario's Playhouse) where the dogs can play and bond! Rave reviews from enthusiastic customers have landed The Paw House Inn on CNN, and in Entrepreneur, USA Today, the New York Times, BusinessWeek, Body and Soul Magazine, and more.
This past spring, Paw House Properties expanded with a second hotel and they are in the process of considering a national franchise. In addition to running a multi-million dollar company, Jennifer and his husband, Mitch, have two children, both boys, ages 1 and 4.
Jennifer's Top 10 Tips
1. Write. Be it a diary, business plan, joke book, or a letter to a friend, something happens when you write. Writing clarifies your thought process and slows down the mind.
2. Make a "life plan." A "life plan" is my roadmap for achieving balance. As a woman, my goal has always been to balance my desire to be a successful businesswoman, mom, spouse, friend, and also to make time for myself.
3. Laugh. I find every opportunity to laugh - especially at myself.
4. Be flexible. Do yoga, touch your toes, and apply this lesson to business. Things change all the time and how you deal with "plan B" determines your level of happiness and success.
5. Take vacations. It is always such a strange paradox - my business always seems to do better when I delegate the important tasks to my staff...and then go on vacation.
6. Use online banking. This single tool is the greatest timesaver to any entrepreneur.
7. Sleep. Even with all the success of The Paw House, I still say that my best talent is sleeping...soundly.
8. Indulge in a simple, guilty pleasure on a daily basis. Chocolate and manicures go a long way towards achieving balance.
9 . Don't let anyone tell you Tip #8 (indulging in daily guilty pleasure) is foolhardy or frivolous, even with the bad economy.
10. Get a dog. Not only are dogs are great friends, they force you to get outside, exercise (even in the rain), and open doors to social networks. No matter how difficult it was in the office, a dog is there to cheer you up and take you away from your own self-importance.
Contact Information
Jennifer Fredreck
Top Dog and Founder, The Paw House
Web:
http://www.thepawhouse.com/call 866-PAW-HOUSE
Many appreciations to Jennifer for her words of wisdom!
Think Jennifer's 10 Tips deserve a complimentary
pair of shoes from the RE:INVENTION team? Post a kind comment!
Share your expertise! Submit A REQUEST to have your company featured along with your 10 Tips For 10 Million Women.RETURN TO TODAY'S RE:INVENTION BLOG POST.ARCHIVED FEATURESClick
HERE to read previous 10 Tips for 10 Million Women features.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
RE: 10 Tips from This Week's Featured Woman Entrepreneur or Executive.
This week's featured woman entrepreneur or executive is Elena Hahn Kiam, the
Senior Vice President of lia sophia.
about Elena Hahn Kiam, Senior Vice President of lia sophia (New York City).
Following her graduation from Harvard University in 1985, Elena joined J.P. Morgan’s corporate finance department. She later moved to the Asset Management Private Banking division where she was responsible for advising high net worth individuals and private companies on all financial matters. Elena established J.P. Morgan’s private banking business in Texas, Colorado and other western states prior to Morgan’s opening permanent offices in this area of the country.
In 1999, Elena left J.P. Morgan to spend more time with her family. She was a consultant for select individuals and an internet company before joining lia sophia. lia sophia, a privately held party plan jewelry company, is currently the largest direct seller of jewelry in the world. Based outside Chicago, the company offers a 500-piece product line of affordable, high quality, fashion forward jewelry and an unparalleled opportunity for women to own their own business. The company’s mission is to empower women by giving them the opportunity to own their own businesses. Elena oversees lia sophia’s marketing, public relations and creative initiatives, as well as the company’s partnership with Dress for Success, the company’s designated non-profit partner, of which she is a board member.
As Senior Vice President, Elena's proactive approach has helped to re-engineer her company. She began by revamping the product line to make it more fashion forward. She rebranded the company as lia sophia and created a new jewelry series, The “Kiam Family Collection.” As a result, lia sophia has grown into a profitable team of 4,000 active sales representatives, each with running their own business. The company expects to see its roster of active sales representatives grow to 10,000 in the next two years.
Elena also serves on the boards of the Nightingale-Bamford School, the 92nd Street Y, Children for Children, and is a member of the Committee of 200. She resides in New York City with her husband, Tory (lia sophia's President) and their three children; Alexander, Lia and Sophia.
Elena's Top 10 Tips
1. Have a good financing plan.
Have a cushion so if tough times occur, your entrepreneurial venture can survive and move forward.
2. Create a board of advisors—informally or formally.
Having an outside group of individuals you respect with other perspectives and experience is key to managing and growing a business thoughtfully.
3. Hire the Best.
Where possible, hire individuals smarter than you or ones who have expertise in areas you do not.
4. Aim high but stay realistic.
Always assess where you are and don’t delude yourself into thinking you are doing better or worse than reality.
5. Surround yourself with people who have a positive, can-do attitude.
This is critical for the health of your venture and your personal sanity as well as those around you.
6. Do your homework.
Understanding the best practices of your industry and other micro and macro trends that affect your venture will make you as well informed as possible.
7. Stay focused.
Concentrate on the key issues and what you do best---delegate as much as you can to quality people.
8. Be your brand.
Look, act and speak in a way that elevates your company.
9. Be respectful and professional to internal and external people you interface with.
This includes thanking those you work with for their efforts on a regular basis.
10. Try and lead somewhat of a balanced life.
Everyone defines balance differently so create your own list and try to stick to it where possible.
Contact Information
Elena Hahn Kiam
Senior Vice President, lia sophia
Web:
http://www.liasophia.com/Email:
cs@liasophia.com1.800.487.3323
Many appreciations to Elena for her words of wisdom!
Think Elena's 10 Tips deserve a complimentary
pair of shoes from the RE:INVENTION team? Post a kind comment!
Share your expertise! Submit A REQUEST to have your company featured along with your 10 Tips For 10 Million Women.RETURN TO TODAY'S RE:INVENTION BLOG POST.ARCHIVED FEATURESClick
HERE to read previous 10 Tips for 10 Million Women features.
Labels: 10 tips for 10 million women, Elena Hahn Kiam, entrepreneurs, executives, lia sophia, marketing to women, women, women entrepreneurs, women executives
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
RE: Motorola Bets on Babes and Bling.
Financially floundering Motorola will release the crystal-cut design Jewel fashionista phone in the UK this November. The purple Jewel will come in a makeup bag-shaped case with a credit card, mirror and lipstick holder. Motorola is billing the phone as "the perfect finish to any outfit...a phone so sassy that users will wish they could wear it." Hmm. We're dubious. Unless we are missing the product co-labeling with Kors or Louboutin. ;)
Over at Fast Company, Chris Dannen suggests Jewel is "hideous...like something you get out of one of those gumball-type dispensers at the mall."
Engadget asks, "...what pray tell makes this phone so sassy?"
Other than than the color and the gems, Jewel simply offers the standard 2MP camera, touch sensitive music controls on the outside of the enclosure, stereo Bluetooth, and noise reduction.
Color perception studies show that purple (not pink) is the favorite color among women. And CNET reports that "purple is the hot new hue for cell phones." Yet according to eBrain, a consumer electronics market research company, 32 percent of women think using colors to market tech products like cell phones to women is a bad idea. Only 11 percent of women surveyed said they loved the idea or had ever bought a phone based on color. Furthermore, 68% of women suggest a product "not taking up a lot of space" is an important criteria factor in their purchase decisions, compared to only 55% of men. 55% of women believe technology products should be "as portable as possible," compared to only 43% of men.
Take heed, Motorola. Marketing to women means more than fashion - the attributes to hype are portability and functionality.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
RE: The Benefits of Barefoot and Pregnant
According to a new study in the Journal of Applied Psychology, sexist men who "believe that women should be barefoot and pregnant" earn significantly more than men who hold equalitarian attitudes about the role of women in society. In response, a flood of media commentary from the Washington Post to Time Magazine. Even Newsweek is blogging about it.
For those of you wondering about study validity and noting that statistics can be twisted....the study, authored by an organizational psychologist named Beth Livingston, is based on national longitudinal survey information from the Federal Labor Department collected over a quarter-century. And the study results reflect a WHOPPING HUGE wage gap based on sexist attitudes.
RE:INVENTION's theory: traditional-minded, hard-headed men may negotiate harder for salaries and be more effective at work than their egalitarian male counterparts because they have a good woman at home picking up the slack and catering to their every need.
P.S. To prove our point, the study noted that the reverse was true for women, to a lesser degree.
Labels: Beth Livingston, Department of Labor, gender, men executives, Newsweek, sexist attitudes, Time, wage gap, women
Saturday, September 20, 2008
RE: 10 Tips from This Week's Featured Woman Entrepreneur or Executive.
This week's featured woman entrepreneur or executive is Ayat Shukairy, the co-founder and VP of Invesp Consulting, "the e-commerce experts."
about Ayat Shukairy, the co-founder and VP of Invesp Consulting (Farmington Hills, Michigan).
Ayat Shukairy is the co-founder and VP of Invesp Consulting, a young, growing online marketing conversion optimization company established in 2006. Invesp specializes in e-commerce. Ayat was always perplexed at the way companies tended to forget about the most important element for their website's success: the customer. She founded Invesp to help companies better understand their site visitors and cater their site to customer needs. Invesp's goal is to help e-tailers increase revenue and conversion rates. Ayat also shares online marketing advice every week through her many posts on the Invesp Blog, http://www.invesp.com/blog.
Ayat's Top 10 Tips
1. Hone in on what you really have to offer.
When we first started Invesp, we wanted to offer a variety of different consulting and business services. We really had to sit back and decide where we could offer the most value to our customers. Trying to do a million things at once is surefire way to get you to fail.
2. Define clear success criteria to measure performance.
Every company has certain goals they try to achieve throughout the year, many of which point to the ultimate goal of increasing the bottom line. You need to establish measurable objectives that must be met in order to achieve success.
3. Don't be overly ambitious.
Everybody will tell you to dream big. "If you can dream it, you can do it." Well - ambition is great to have, but when all your goals are unachievable stretch goals, you can potentially bring on your own demise. Choose some easy goals and some intermediate goals that you know you can achieve, with the resources you have available. Be sure you set some goals that are very possible to achieve.
4. Evaluate your progress on a monthly/quarterly basis.
Evaluating your progress will help you identify the weak areas that you need to tackle and improve upon. Knowing your mistakes is a lot better than leaving them to eat away at your business.
5. Working for peanuts pays off.
When you first begin your business you need to make a lot of sacrifices, especially when it comes to the types of companies you choose as clients. I learned that if a client had a recognizable name, it was worth it to take them on as clients even if the company was not going to pay me much. It helped me establish credibility when I included them in my client portfolio profile. Working for peanuts paid off. It led to future clients.
6. Establish yourself as an authority in your field.
Whatever industry you are a part of, you want everyone to know that you are the best in that field. In order to establish yourself you need to get yourself out there by publishing case studies or whitepapers on industry related issues, getting recognized in an industry-wide well known magazine, and networking.
7. Communicate with your customers.
We started our blog at Invesp before we launched the company. Many of our clients first got to know us through the blog before having the courage to contact us. Communicate with your customers through daily posts on a blog about industry related news, etc.
8. Instead of talking about you, talk about your customer and benefits they can expect.
Whether it's your blog or your website, just remember that it's not all about you. Your blog needs to offer interesting facts and information, not ads about incentives and deals you are offering. The language throughout the website should not focus on how great your company is and what you have to offer (we are great, we offer this), rather on THE BENEFITS you will be providing your customer.
9. Tap into online resources.
Almost 70% of business executives have a Linkedin Profile. But a large percentage activate their Linkedin profile and do little else. Everybody knows the importance of networking, and now we have a means to do it right at our desk. Join forums that relate to your industry, visit blogs that are up your alley and dive into this vast social media network in order to keep up with the people and world around you.
10. Offer more than a bunch of the same blahness.
A value proposition is created to define what "value" you bring to your customers. Yet how many value propositions have you read that are a whole bunch of mumbo jumbo? Too many really! Words such as lower costs, increase revenue, manage processes more efficiently, blah, blah, blah! Enough with it already, tell me what you really do! We have helped XXX company increase their revenue by XXX% by doing XXX. Now that is information that tells me what you can do for ME.
Contact Information
Ayat Shukairy
Managing Partner of Invesp Consulting
Web:
http://www.invesp.com/Blog:
www.invesp.com/blogEmail:
ayat@invesp.com1.800.421.7393
Many appreciations to Ayat for her words of wisdom!
Think Ayat's 10 Tips deserve a complimentary
pair of shoes from the RE:INVENTION team? Post a kind comment!
Share your expertise! Submit A REQUEST to have your company featured along with your 10 Tips For 10 Million Women.RETURN TO TODAY'S RE:INVENTION BLOG POST.ARCHIVED FEATURESClick
HERE to read previous 10 Tips for 10 Million Women features.
Labels: 10 tips for 10 million women, Ayat Shukairy, entrepreneurs, executives, Invesp Consulting, marketing to women, women, women entrepreneurs, women executives
Saturday, September 13, 2008
RE: 10 Tips from This Week's Featured Woman Entrepreneur or Executive.
This week's featured woman entrepreneur or executive is Tina Hofer, Founder and Designer of Lela Designs.
about Tina Hofer, Founder/Designer, Lela Designs (Vancouver, Canada).
Tina Hofer founded Lela Designs in January 2006 after recognizing a need for fashionable, eco-luxury women’s golf apparel. Under the direction of Hofer, Lela Designs creates fresh, functional apparel produced with innovative, environmentally-friendly fabrics. Hofer has generated considerable industry attention for the Lela concept which sparked a shift into the women’s wear division just one year after founding the company. A passionate supporter of the environment and a believer that small acts make a big difference, Hofer follows an eco-conscious lifestyle by recycling, donating clothing and unused products, eating organic and doing as much as she can to conserve natural resources, eliminate waste and bring awareness to environmental issues. Hofer continues these efforts through a charitable partnership with Camfed (The Campaign for Female Education), an international organization dedicated to eradicating poverty in rural Africa through the education of girls and the empowerment of young women. A portion of each garment sold is donated to Camfed. In addition, Hofer supports a wide variety of Canadian organizations.
Hofer was born in 1977 in Mission, Canada. After graduating high school, she briefly studied media communications before traveling to Australia and Europe where she spent much of her early twenties and holds dual citizenship. After returning home to Canada, Hofer was a rep for a London-based fashion line in Vancouver for a short time before creating 2BU Living Your Sports, a line of custom performance sportswear. Though the line was highly successful, Hofer sought more creative freedom and the retail fashion industry struck a chord in her.
An adventurous spirit and outdoor enthusiast, Hofer enjoys backpacking through new countries and experiencing new cultures, Bikram yoga, hiking, skiing, golfing (though she comes from a family of avid golfers, Hofer is a self proclaimed “average golfer!”), and is actively training for her first full marathon.
Tina's Top 10 Tips
Have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and make sure your business plan reflects that.
Your business will continually grow and change but make sure to follow your business plan to measure whether you are on track or not. Creating a business plan prior to launching your company will show you what you can expect in fixed costs.
Do your market research.
Your consumer/clients are always changing and you need to keep on top of what is current or else you will get left behind. There are multiple ways to research your market. A great source to start with is the internet. You can generally find a lot of answers to your questions here. If not then go to your local business center. Depending on what market you are researching will depend on where you can find current information.
Follow your budget.
Don’t think that the more you spend the quicker your business will grow as this is not the case and the reason why a lot of businesses fail. You have a budget for a reason. Longevity! It is important to also keep a "buffer" for your business because although you should be following your business plan there are always costs that get overlooked or creep up on you. Ensuring that you have properly outlined all of your costs will save you a lot of headache and stress in the long run.
Create a nice environment for your staff and yourself (keep your temper under control if you have one).
Nip negative energy in the bud. You don’t want this in your work environment. Happy employees will work harder for you if they enjoy coming into work! Hold regular staff meetings and get everyone involved!
Gather and except feedback on your product.
Constructive criticism is good as it enables you to grow. The best people to relay this back to you are your customers or your front of house staff (ie sales people). You may decide to put together a Q and A sheet for your end consumer/client to fill out. Not only will this help to improve your product but it will show your customers that you genuinely care about their opinion and are thankful for their feedback.
Network! Network! Network!
Get involved wherever you can in your industry. I know there is not always a lot of time for you to do this but do what you can. Go to events that relate to your industry or volunteer. You will be amazed at the people you meet and how willingly they are to help you. People are your greatest asset.
Take the time to get to know your buyers/customers and treat it as a partnership.
They have a lot of options to purchase from so you need to give them a reason to keep coming back (besides a great product). Take the time to ask your customers what they are looking for. All too often we just want to make the sale and forget to really find out how you can service you client best.
Don’t take on everything yourself as if you do one division eventually fails.
You must know your business inside out but make sure to delegate. You have hired employees for a reason. Have faith in them and they will not let you down.
Look for a niche for your product.
Think outside of the box. A good way to get ideas flowing is to hold a meeting with all of your staff. Bring in some breakfast and have a “brainstorming session”. People like to be involved with ideas outside of their job description. You will be amazed at what you get out of them!
Take time to breathe.
You need to take time to relax in order to keep your batteries charged. You will enjoy your work more! Trust me! If you are well rested than you can concentrate more of what needs to get done.
Contact Information
Tina Hofer
Founder of Lela Designs (eco-luxury sportswear)
Web:
http://www.leladesigns.ca/1.866.449.LELA
Many appreciations to Tina for her words of wisdom!
Think Tina's 10 Tips deserve a complimentary
pair of shoes from the RE:INVENTION team? Post a kind comment!
Share your expertise! Submit A REQUEST to have your company featured along with your 10 Tips For 10 Million Women.RETURN TO TODAY'S RE:INVENTION BLOG POST.ARCHIVED FEATURESClick
HERE to read previous 10 Tips for 10 Million Women features.
Labels: 10 tips for 10 million women, entrepreneurs, executives, Lela Designs, marketing to women, Tina Hofer, women, women entrepreneurs, women executives
Monday, September 08, 2008
RE: Less Blubbering, More Whaling.
What happens when you lose a whale? Today's story in AdWeek titled, "How's Life for Dell's Former Agencies," explores the question and offers real-life answers.
The article includes a case history with insights from Gay Gaddis, President and CEO of small shop T3 in Austin, Texas, which handled Dell's small-business-oriented interactive and direct marketing duties. T3 lost the Dell account in June.
Gay wasn't giddy after learning they would lose the account; Dell represented about 25 percent of T3's revenue. Her team was sad, admittedly with good reason.
Gay's response? Less blubbering, more whaling. T3 redoubled its efforts in new-business development -- adding ConocoPhillips, Robbins Brothers, Intel and Taco Bell -- in part due to references from Dell.
At some time or another, you may lose a big account. Analyze what went wrong but don't do anything short-sighted (like ruthless cost-cutting), ask for feedback and references, and then prospect to refill your sales pipeline.
For more: read "The Art of Losing Business: How to Lose and Prosper."
Saturday, September 06, 2008
RE: 10 Tips from This Week's Featured Woman Entrepreneur or Executive.
This week's featured woman entrepreneur or executive is Gayle Jagel, Founder and Executive Director of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. (YEA!).
about Gayle Jagel, Creator, Founder and Executive Director of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!). (Rochester, NY).
Gayle Jagel is the Creator, Founder and Executive Director of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!). Gayle Jagel developed the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, or YEA!, in 2004 at the University at Rochester to teach young people how to start and run their own businesses. Now she is launching a nationwide rollout of YEA! to motivate hundreds of thousands of young people across the country.
Since 2003, she has served as the Director of the University of Rochester’s Office of Special Programs, the department charged with, among other things, creating, managing and operating academic pre-college programs for middle and high school students. She is a 1999 graduate of, and certified instructor for, the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship. In 1998, she created ASPIRE, the After School Program of Innovative Learning Reaching Every Child, a highly successful not-for-profit after school enrichment program for middle school students in suburban Rochester. Jagel has served on the Rochester Museum and Science Center’s Committee for Advancement and Innovation and has served on the Board of Directors of the American Marketing Association.
Ms. Jagel is herself a young achiever and entrepreneur. At 19, she was the principal organizer of the Centennial for Liberty celebration in Boston to benefit the Statue of Liberty restoration, for which she received special recognition by Lee Iacocca, chairman of the nationwide restoration movement. At 25, Jagel conceived and successfully launched Rochester Delivers, Rochester’s first upscale multi-restaurant delivery service. She then founded and published DiningIN Rochester, an award-winning magazine devoted to wine, restaurants, recipes, cooking and entertaining in Rochester. At 34, she created ASPIRE, and at 38, YEA!
Jagel is the parent of three aspiring young entrepreneurs. She most recently served on the Board of Directors of Women’s Council, an affiliate organization of the Rochester Business Alliance, as president-elect. Originally from the Boston area, today she lives in Rochester, NY.
Gayle's Top 10 Tips
1. Talk a lot, but listen more.
You can’t be afraid to talk a lot, to different people and audiences. Make sure to articulate your goals and what is important to you. Also, be approachable by giving people access to your time and advice.
2. Dive-In!
Many people miss out on opportunities because they don’t take the plunge. Be prepared to get bumps and bruises once you’re already in the game. Don’t let hesitation take over.
3. Be nice.
Remember the old cliché “what goes around comes around”. It’s important to be helpful and to help facilitate connections between friends. You never know what connections you can help create.
4. Think Big.
Many women sell themselves short. Instead, set your goals to the nth degree, and if you fall short, remember you are still ahead!
5. Get Personal.
Don’t forget to send a note or email, or to even reach out with a call to let colleagues know you are thinking about them when work is a bit overwhelming. Let your guard down and remember to say thank you. Also, personal notes go a long way.
6. Stay Connected.
Stay in touch with your surroundings. Know what is happening to people to colleagues, people in your community and around the world. Decisions need to me made in the mainstream, so it is important to be aware of more than what is taking place inside your office.
7. Become an Expert.
You don’t want to be surprised by something new in your field. Stay on top of trends and relevant publications so you are able to make predictions about your area of industry.
8. Have both passion and perspective.
…and know when it is time for each. It is very important to be passionate about what you do, but to also know when to let perspective take over. Passion will carry you far, but sometimes you need perspective to tell you when to walk away.
9. Inspire Others.
Encourage people to make their positions their own. Get them excited about what they are doing and to be open to achieving goals in ways others see fit. Help them to reach their potential by encouraging their strengths through advice and education.
10. Marry Well!
If you marry, having a spouse or significant who cheers you on and understands your passion and commitment, is key. Make sure to surround yourself with people who are supportive, positive and genuinely interested in your well being.
Contact Information
Gayle B. Jagel
Founder and Executive Director of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy
Web:
www.rochester.edu/osp/yeaEmail: gayle.jagel@rochester.edu
# 585-275-9054
Many appreciations to Gayle for her words of wisdom!
Think Gayle's 10 Tips deserve a complimentary
pair of shoes from the RE:INVENTION team? Post a kind comment!
Share your expertise! Submit A REQUEST to have your company featured along with your 10 Tips For 10 Million Women.RETURN TO TODAY'S RE:INVENTION BLOG POST.ARCHIVED FEATURESClick
HERE to read previous 10 Tips for 10 Million Women features.
Labels: 10 tips for 10 million women, entrepreneurs, executives, Gayle Jagel, marketing to women, women, women entrepreneurs, women executives
Saturday, August 30, 2008
RE: 10 Tips from This Week's Featured Woman Entrepreneur or Executive.
This week's featured woman entrepreneur or executive is Mei Xu, Founder and Creator of Chesapeake Bay Candle and Blissliving.
about Mei Xu, Founder and Creator of CHESAPEAKE BAY CANDLE and Blissliving (Rockville, Maryland).
Mei Xu is the creator of candle- and home fragrance brand Chesapeake Bay Candle and interior lifestyle brand BlisslivingHome. She studied to be a diplomat in China and received a BA in English Literature from the Beijing Foreign Studies University. After the Tiananmen Square uprising in 1989, she and other college graduates were sent to work in the countryside and factories for their "re-education". Not satisfied with her situation, she applied for and received a fellowship to the University of Maryland and in 1992, earned her MA in Journalism. Mei and her husband, David Wang (who emigrated to the U.S. four months after Mei), took a series of uninspiring jobs and desperate for new opportunitie. In 1994, they went to a gift show, toting an array of products – massage pillows, musical dolls, silk flowers, glow candles and more. They received $90,000 in glow candle orders and were well on their way to becoming a real company. In 1996, sales slowed and Mei and David turned their Annapolis, Maryland home into a lab by making candles in her basement with soup cans and paper towel rolls. Today, with retail partners such Target, Kohl’s, IKEA and Pier 1 Imports...2000 varieties of candles and accessories...and 40 percent annual growth over 10 years; Chesapeake Bay Candle has become a household name synonymous with scent, style and ambiance. The company has been named twice by Inc. magazine as one of America's fastest growing company.
In 2007, Mei launched Blissliving Home, a line of home accessories, bedding, and candles inspired by Thailand, Morocco, and other global destination locales. She has since combined both brands under one holding company, Pacific Trade International, a $60 million dollar home decor and textiles company. She has also created the Mei Xu Cultural Exchange Foundation, providing video-conferencing software enabling American students in Washington to have real time interaction with English immersion Chinese students in Hangzhou, China. In 2007, the Asian Women in Business Organization honored Mei with their Entrepreneurial Leadership Award.
Mei's Top 10 Tips
1: Blue Sky Thinking
Just because we run a million things everyday doesn't mean we should not always have a moment to pause, and look at the blue sky. Taking a break allows us to think about things in a completely fresh prospective and give us the opportunity to evaluate our positions, priorities and strategies.
2: Lock your Blackberry up, for the weekend and in the evenings
I know many of you are addicted, or controlled, by your Blackberry. It pops up everywhere: between meetings, at birthday parties of our children, or even at the dinner table before the main course is served. As important as it is in your life, it sometimes deprives you of the attention you need to pay to the ones you truly love.
3: Follow your passion, not money, when you decide which business to start
It is easy to make a decision solely based on the money you could make. Ask yourself if a prospective opportunity is the career or business you would be proud of 10 years later. Can you see yourselves pour your heart and soul into it and enjoy the ups and downs of that for the rest of your life?
4. Make it liquid, when it comes to money in business
It is very tempting to invest in certain aspect of financial products or real estate. After all, experts always advise you to grow your money. But in business, liquidity is gold. It is precisely due to lack of cash flow that many companies are not able to last more than 3 years.
5. Hire slowly and fire quickly
Employment relationships are like dating. I believe in hiring slowly and firing quickly, even though most companies do the opposite. Organizations are faced with the challenge of evaluating when to hire and when to fire. Always remember to not burden those who are performing with those who are not. And because of that, you must find the right person that can blossom in your company.
6. Always leave the idea box open
One of the biggest challenges for a small business is that it may get caught up pretending it has become a big one. It may start are putting "rules and procedures" in place. And meetings start to get longer and more frequent. Try to stay as nimble as possible and encourage your staff to come forward with good ideas. Try to maintain a layer free structure when ideas and creativity are concerned. Do not let yourself become too removed from the creative process.
7. Know your friends well, but your enemies even better
Train your sales team to become as sharp as network correspondents. Equip your sales staff with the tools to unlock the inner work of your competitors through their customer interaction and market research. No level of preparation is ever going to be enough if you are not focused on defeating your competitors by using your strengths against their weaknesses.
8. Life is a beach, work can become a holiday
That's right. Have some fun. Let your staff know you enjoy coming to work every day and working with them. A great and happy boss is contagious. It can make the little world around you so much more attractive!
9. Don't play the generalist, become the sought-after expert
Find a niche in your industry. It is easy to try to become everything for everybody. But you don't have the energy or the resource to make everybody happy. Why not run a complete inventory of your talents and competitiveness and come up with a niche that has a great potential in the long term?
10. Network even if it takes away time from work
Whatever experiences you are going through in life and at work, chances are other people have been through it before. Networking with peers is the easiest way to find answers that you cannot get from your customers, staff or friends. And what a rewarding experience it is to help others with your expertise in return! You become stronger and better when sharing your experiences with peers.
Contact Information
Mei Xu
Founder and Creator of Chesapeake Bay Candles and Blissliving
Web:
http://www.chesapeakebaycandle.com and
http://www.blisslivinghome.com866-95-BLISS or 1.800.331.8339
Many appreciations to Mei for her words of wisdom!
Think Mei's 10 Tips deserve a complimentary
pair of shoes from the RE:INVENTION team? Post a kind comment!
Share your expertise! Submit A REQUEST to have your company featured along with your 10 Tips For 10 Million Women.RETURN TO TODAY'S RE:INVENTION BLOG POST.ARCHIVED FEATURESClick
HERE to read previous 10 Tips for 10 Million Women features.
Labels: 10 tips for 10 million women, entrepreneurs, executives, marketing to women, Mei Xu, women, women entrepreneurs, women executives
Read our archives of tips from women entrepreneurs & executives. NOMINATE a 10 Tips Expert! Leverage their credibility! Click on the 10 Tips Badge above to learn more.
