Saturday, May 28, 2005
RE: Our Saturday Feature - 10 Tips for 10 Million WomenTM.
Welcome to the re:invention 10 Tips for 10 Million WomenTM Saturday Feature. Each weekend we feature a woman entrepreneur and her personal 10 tips for success. We hope this feature will be a powerful example of "women helping women win." Our goal: a wisely-stocked toolbox for women entrepreneurs, with practical business and marketing ideas you can use today to turn your million dollar dream into a profitable and actionable reality.
This week's featured woman entrepreneur is Dr. Letitia S. Wright, CEO, Wright Place T.V. (Pasadena, CA), a cable television show for women business owners.
about Dr. Wright & Wright Place T.V.
Wright Place began cable television broadcasting in 2000, and is currently in their 5th season with over 120 shows broadcast. They now broadcast to over 5 million homes on cable, satellite and by internet broadcast. Their viewing audience is comprised of women business owners, ages 25-55 years, with anything from a part-time, home-based business to women who own car dealerships. Wright Place T.V. brings information to women about how to improve their business and their lives.
CLICK HERE FOR DR. WRIGHT'S 10 TIPS
Share YOUR knowledge, WISE WOMAN! Submit A REQUEST to have your company featured along with your 10 Tips For 10 Million Women.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
RE: This WILL NOT BE a Post About Fast Company.
Now regular readers might expect me to share commentary today about Fast Company being put on the market by Gruner & Jahr. Sorry. My lipglossed lips are pursed.
Right now I'm diggin on this. BusinessWeek's free, practical, online courses led by expert instructors, available anytime you are.
- The Wireless Mobile Office
- Designing and Equipping Your Home Office
- Setting up a Wireless Home Network
and my personal favorite....
- Raising Capital for Your Small Business
Speaking of raising capital...I'll be in San Francisco this week (inevitably lost and fumbling with my GPS system, for those of you who know me well) for the Women's Technology Cluster Venture Awards, based on findings from the re:invention and Growthink Research 2003 Venture Funding for Women Entrepreneurs Report. I will try to blog from the event.
Saturday, May 21, 2005
RE: Our Saturday Feature - 10 Tips for 10 Million WomenTM.
Welcome to the re:invention 10 Tips for 10 Million WomenTM Saturday Feature. Each weekend we feature a woman entrepreneur and her personal 10 tips for success. We hope this feature will be a powerful example of "women helping women win." Our goal: a wisely-stocked toolbox for women entrepreneurs, with practical business and marketing ideas you can use today to turn your million dollar dream into a profitable and actionable reality.
This week's featured woman entrepreneur is Saj-nicole Joni, CEO, Cambridge International Group Ltd. (Boston, MA), a business consulting organization.
about Saj-nicole Joni and Cambridge International Group Limited
Cambridge International Group Ltd. (www.cambridgeinternationalgroup.com) is an organization dedicated to serving the advisory needs of leaders with significant responsibilities and challenges. Founded in 1997 by Dr. Saj-nicole A. Joni, Cambridge International Group has been carefully designed to offer world class exponential thinking partnerships in a context of high structural trust. Cambridge International Group's clients include leaders across the globe in Fortune 200 companies, in highly innovative smaller companies, in governments, and in non-profit organizations. CEO Saj-nicole Joni, Ph.D. is an internationally known business strategist and Third Opinion adviser to senior executives and high-potential leaders, providing insight into high stakes issues at the intersection of strategy, action and complexity.
CLICK HERE FOR SAJ-NICOLE'S 10 TIPS
Share YOUR knowledge, WISE WOMAN! Submit A REQUEST to have your company featured along with your 10 Tips For 10 Million Women.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
RE: But Daddy Said I Could!
Tammy Longaberger, CEO of the Longaberger Company basket-making empire, one of the USA's biggest female-owned companies, has been appointed Chair of the National Women's Business Council (NWBC). She replaces Marilyn Carlson Nelson, CEO of Carlson companies. Both Longaberger and Nelson are big GOP donors, not unlike big Democratic Party donors Lillian Vernon and Kay Koplovitz, Clinton's last two appointed chairs to the NWBC.
Another thing Longaberger and Nelson have in common? Super savvy daddies.
Longaberger and Nelson inherited companies from their fathers, a fast growing trend according to USA Today:
"A study funded by MassMutual Financial Group found that 34% of family firms surveyed in 2002 say their next CEO might be a woman, up from 25% five years before. Among them: Abigail Johnson, promoted this month at Fidelity Investments, the Boston-based mutual fund giant, where she's often mentioned as a successor to her CEO father, Edward."
I'm bemused by USA Today's reported trend. According to a study produced by the Center For Women's Business Research entitled,
"The Leading Edge: Women-Owned Million-Dollar Firms," women entrepreneurs with revenues over $1 million are more likely to have started their business from scratch (73 percent) than men (60 percent), rather than having purchased, inherited, or acquired it in some other way.
The USA Today article might have inspired me to write an ode to Daddy's girls - acknowledging those that work hard - but it appears that
Keiko Ohnuma has already been there, done that.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
RE: Tom Peters! Launches TPwireservice.
Hungry for the latest headlines about entrepreneurs, marketing, branding, leadership, technology, more? Here's something sexy and new from the good-hearted folks at Tom Peters! Tom's staff picks the stories...
Tpwireservice.com
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
RE: Activist Marketing 101. Right On, Brother!
Pete Blackshaw, co-founder of the Word of Mouth Marketing Association, CMO of Intelliseek, and Adrants Blogger, authors an interesting article on ClickZ this week. To Pete, activists are extraordinary marketers who understand MROI (marketing return on investment) and can "trump, co-op, and out-maneuver the system" on pennies.
Pete proclaims 5 forces drive Activist Marketing - outlining the forces with a Michael Porter-style consulting framework.
Pete's 5 Forces of Activist Marketing:
- Pure. We may not agree with activists. We may even have reason to despise them. But we know where they stand. Marketers, in contrast, are chock-full of disclaimers. There's always an exception or something in fine print.
- Passionate. Passion sells. It sells because it's usually genuine.
- Prophetic. Effective activists stick to their vision and help others to see it and believe in it.
- Poor. When cash is short, minds work harder and faster. Activists have no choice but to be flexible, creative, agile, iterative, and highly experimental.
- Paranoid. Activists have an "us versus them" mentality, often for good reason.
Ahh! Women as activists! Would you rather be a futurist or an activist? I lean towards activist.
In light of Pete's Nuevo 5 Forces, consider
THESE 10 "How To Be An Effective Activist" tips from Speakout.com:
- Know what you want.
- Know who to ask.
- Know what you're talking about.
- Be polite, personal, thoughtful, and rational.
- Pick a method of communication that works for you and your message.
- Know when to ask.
- Don't underestimate the value of staff.
- Follow-up.
- Understand the limitations of the System.
- Have fun!
Admittedly a little oversimplified. Still, sounds like good marketing to me...
Saturday, May 14, 2005
RE: Our Saturday Feature - 10 Tips for 10 Million WomenTM.
Welcome to the re:invention 10 Tips for 10 Million WomenTM Saturday Feature. Each weekend we feature a woman entrepreneur and her personal 10 tips for success. We hope this feature will be a powerful example of "women helping women win." Our goal: a wisely-stocked toolbox for women entrepreneurs, with practical business and marketing ideas you can use today to turn your million dollar dream into a profitable and actionable reality.
This week's featured woman entrepreneur is Angela Washelesky, Partner at Sachnoff & Weaver (Chicago, IL), a respected law firm.
about Angela Washelesky and Sachoff & Weaver
Sachnoff and Weaver (www.sachoff.com) represents individual and business clients in complex litigation matters and business transactions. Comprised of 140 lawyers, Sachnoff & Weaver has earned a reputation for leadership in the practice of law because of their entrepreneurial approach to their practice. As a partner of Sachnoff's Intellectual Property, Internet, and Techology Practice Group, Angela Washelsky has advised clients on matters as diverse as advertising law, marketing agreements, and sponsorships. She began her career as an attorney at Leo Burnett. Angela is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Copyright Society of the USA.
CLICK HERE FOR ANGELA'S 10 TIPS
Share YOUR knowledge, WISE WOMAN! Submit A REQUEST to have your company featured along with your 10 Tips For 10 Million Women.
Friday, May 13, 2005
RE: While VCs and Male Entrepreneurs Wage War, Women Are Baking Bank Loans.
BusinessWeek reports an update on the lawsuit filed by the 3 male co-founders of Epinions and their former employees against several Silicon Valley venture capitalists who reportedly "cheated them out of their share of a $200 million payoff when their former company merged with DealTime Ltd." The suit was originally filed in January.
Named in the suit: Benchmark Capital, August Capital, and BV Capital Management.
BusinessWeek's take on the suit reminded me of this very (unintentionally) funny 2000 Network World article by Howard Anderson, "Lies Venture Capitalists Tell."
Clearly some VCs suck more than others.
"What's the difference between a VC and and angel investor?" a young woman asked me at yesterday's invite-only Bank of America Business Banking conference.
Read THIS ARTICLE, I told her. And then go bake a bank loan. Securing a bank loan will take a little flour, a few hours hovering over the oven, and elbow grease -- you can't expect to walk in and buy one ready-made from the prepared foods case. You might also explore Count-Me-In, the nation's second largest microbusiness lender to women, an organization that recently announced the 3 winners of their Chicago Make Mine a Million Business Awards - Universal Health Institute, White Space, and Vander Wheele Group. Each winner receives a loan up to $45,000 from Count-Me-In to finance growth.
Just remember the wise words of Beth Polish, the former CFO of i-Village and Women's Leadership Exchange Advisory Board member:
"Bear in mind that being in the market for financing is a form of signaling. When you solicit funds for growth, you are telling your customers, partners, market and employees something about the status of your company. Before you do anything, think through the message and make certain it's one you want to send."
For Beth Polish, http://www.droombooks.com.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
RE: Our Saturday Feature - 10 Tips for 10 Million WomenTM.
Welcome to the re:invention 10 Tips for 10 Million WomenTM Saturday Feature. Each weekend we feature a woman entrepreneur and her personal 10 tips for success. We hope this feature will be a powerful example of "women helping women win." Our goal: a wisely-stocked toolbox for women entrepreneurs, with practical business and marketing ideas you can use today to turn your million dollar dream into a profitable and actionable reality.
This week's featured woman entrepreneur is Jill Konrath, President and CEO of Selling to Big Companies (Minneapolis, MN), a sales training and consulting firm.
about Jill Konrath and Selling to Big Companies
Minnesota-based Selling to Big Companies (www.sellingtobigcompanies.com) is a sales training and consulting firm. Since 1987, Selling to Big Companies has helped salespeople, entrepreneurs and independent professionals get their foot in the door of large corporations and win sizable contracts. Selling to Big Companies CEO, Jill Konrath, has been featured in Selling Power, Sales & Marketing Management, Business Journal and Entrepreneur, as well as numerous other online and offline publications. Jill's ezine is read by over 11,000 people in 87 countries. Her new book, Selling to Big Companies, (Dearborn Press) will be available in December.
CLICK HERE FOR JILL'S 10 TIPS
Share YOUR knowledge, WISE WOMAN! Submit A REQUEST to have your company featured along with your 10 Tips For 10 Million Women.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
RE: Dear Yogi Gogoi and Mompreneurs
Mompreneurs are le chic, says BusinessWeek's Pallavi Gogoi. Time ran nearly the same story. So did the Chicago Sun Times.
A photo from this recent round-up of articles and a 1950s Betty Crocker ad.
Can you tell which is which?
Eerie, isn't it?
"OK," I wrote in my email to Yogi Gogoi (a one-time Chicago resident), "While I am happy for the success of the women in your article -- they are good women and I like to see good women win -- there are far, far too many media stories about women entrepreneurs staying home, women doing business from their kitchens and the grocery store, women leaving corporate America and exiting the workforce altogether, women as moms who feel guilty about their kids, women who have wealthy fathers who have given them businesses, women with wealthy husbands who "spot them a dollar or two for business development," and women who work small. That is why only 3% of all women-led businesses are million-dollar businesses."
There are women entrepreneurs building serious businesses, who are bootstrapping, who are working zealously out of passion, who have interesting stories to tell. Yet media seems to favor only one side of the story - women with lifestyle companies. There ARE women running serious, non-lifestyle businesses. There ARE wise women with wallets. There ARE women making their mark in non-traditional industries (women own 17.6% of all construction firms with employees, 15.2% of all manufacturing firms with employees and 21.1% of all firms with employees in transportation, communications, and public utilities - and these untraditional segments are growing at a faster rate than traditional women-led companies). And there ARE women attempting to build million-dollar businesses who could benefit from some serious hard hitting exposure for their world-altering achievements rather than their good feminine and maternal graces.
Why is it that women entrepreneurs are relegated to raising major ink around Mother's Day? Let's keep sexy pj-clad moms in the kitchen where they belong with their kids on their hips - touting manicures, food items, catering services, gift baskets, and products for children - once and for all, darnit. Shame on certain members of the Media for depicting women entrepreneurs in this stereotypical way, declaring that this is new world news. It is not.
It is TIME to move women from the lifestyle pages to the business pages of the news. And to depict them not as moms and good women but as credible women leaders with sound business models. Everyday, not just when a holiday makes it convenient.
Check out for instance, this story by Shawn Taylor in today's Chicago Tribune, about women angel investors who fund women. Now that is a new story. That is inventive and balanced reporting.
On a final note, even the very best mompreneur is fettered in a home-based business. I believe a good woman entrepreneur needs an office (or an incubator space) of her own. Both Time and BusinessWeek seem to suggest office space isn't necessary. Oh yes, Virginia, it is. An International Data Corporation (IDC) study has estimated that the typical home-based business generates only $36,000 in annual sales.
editor's note: bolded paragraphs supplemented post original script.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
RE: Fast Companies and Women Business Builders.
Fast Company, in partnership with the national Women Presidents' Organization, has announced their first ever honorees of the "Women Business Builders Award." Each potential award applicant was scored based on revenue, revenue growth, and level and consistency of profits. Only 1 company on the list of 25 women-led businesses was venture-funded: CIRCLES. CIRCLES, a virtual concierge service to employees of corporate clients, is a Springboard Venture Forum alumnae.
We ALL know how I love the crew at Fast Company. I still have Heath Row's kind (and didactic) email posted to my office wall.
READ MORE ABOUT THE FC WOMEN WINNERS.
Click on the badge above to learn more. On Saturdays, we showcase wise women entrepreneurs. SHARE your 10 tips!
