Tuesday, February 28, 2006
RE: Women's Venture Funds Going Bust? Go Figure.
Sheryl Marshall has one lingering question as she winds down her venture capital firm, Axxon Capital, after a disappointing six-year run: Where are all the women at? Launched in 1999 with the mission of funding technology startups founded or managed by women entrepreneurs, Axxon's investment strategy has run aground. Specifically, Marshall says she is shuttering her operation amid a dearth in women-led businesses, particularly local ones in the high-growth information technology sector. MORE.
This is truly not new news. Boston-based Axxon Capital -- which launched with an inaugural $56 million and invested in Surebridge, MarketMAX, and FlightTime.com -- has been virtually closed for a couple of years now and former partners Sheryl Marshall and Paula Groves have been waging a legal battle.
When former securities broker Sheryl Marshall started scouting institutional investors for Axxon Capital, she says the reaction among many was, "Ugh! A venture fund focused on women? How can that be successful?"
So how are other women-targeted venture funds faring?
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Illinois-based Inroads Capital, the first venture fund in the nation to provide specialized service for women and minorities which once had $50 million under management, never raised a second fund and currently is not investing.
Here's a surprise: two-thirds of Inroads' investments were in businesses founded or run by men. The Illinois investor community -- yes, that includes people who give dimes to beggars holding tin can cups -- occasionally whispers about Inroads investments not paying off. Note: I still greatly admire and respect Sona Wang - general partner at Inroads, evangelist for women entrepreneurs, sushi aficionado.
- What might the future hold for Sona's new
Illinois Ceres Fund?
- How well has
Isabella Capital performed? Isabella, headed by
Peg Wyant, a former P&G general manager, bills itself as "The New Girls Network." Originally a $6 million fund with a focus on early stage investments, Isabella has certainly had a few wins, notably
ViaCell. Isabella's investments are structured to achieve a high rate of return within 3 to 5 years through initial public offering, strategic merger, or recapitalization. They haven't appeared in the news since 2002.
- And Ascend Ventures, focused on women and minority-owned applied technology and education companies? Shout out to Kylie Dixon, Ascend Managing Director who took PhatNoise through Series C and D prior to their cash sale to Harmon. Find out firsthand when Ascend appears at "
The Perfect Venture Conference," April 5 - 7.
Leave it to little kcc -- kinda complicated chick, kinda charming chick, kinda catty chick -- take your pick, it depends on my mood -- to ask: what's the status of venture funds for women? And do the returns really suck? Sadly, "Venture Capital (is no longer) at the Crossroads." During high school, I lovingly carried that book, with dog-eared, well-read pages, and crib notes. I dreamed of being "invited into the VC world." But it was all for naught: re:invention's investors are friends and family and one great Hedge Fund guy.
Since launching my own business, my supposition has morphed to match this quip from
Myra Hart:
"For women, money is not usually how they measure their success. It's not that women don't want it. They just want it for the things that they can get with it...The vast majority of venture capital is allocated to technology-driven businesses: software, hardware, Internet-related spaces. There is also significant investment in the life sciences and biotech. There is some portion of venture money that goes into retail but only if the concept is very large scale...Few women-led firms need and qualify for venture capital."
For the rest of you who remain optimistic, mark your calendars for the
Women Technology Cluster's 2nd Annual Venture Capital Awards on April 4th at the Computer History Museum in San Francisco.
Melissa Reinert, re:invention's SVP of Operations, sits on the
WTC's 2005 Angel Colloqium Planning Committee.
Looking for further evidence on the role of gender in business financial performance?
Try this 2004 Journal of Small Business Management abstract.Technorati tags:
Osolind women venture bust
Monday, February 27, 2006
RE: Business Rituals - Cost-Cutting.
Monday means its time for Business Rituals. re:invention defines business rituals as a customary observance or practice in the workplace. Business Rituals are an intriguing, sacred ingredient for enduring business success. MORE ABOUT BUSINESS RITUALS.
Business Ritual #7: COST-CUTTING.
Everything you do costs money - and nearly every company has some semblance of cost-cutting procedures. Cost-cutting is tough business. Reducing costs is a step-by-step process that begins with diligent and ongoing planning. Rethinking every expenditure and controlling costs is "in." From limiting long-distance telephone calls to outsourcing and employee layoffs, the bottom line is profits. Cost-cutting is a ritual -- you gotta do it -- if you don't do it your company may be deemed a loser, one that simply can't compete.
According to Robin Bloor, "compelling infrastructure propositions are usually about cutting costs..."
Cost-cutting: opportunity, burden, or ritual? How willing are you to squeeze the neck of your network?
It has been proposed that the cost-cutting ritual consists of 3 steps: (1) counting the paperclips (2) pointing the finger and (3) facing reality.
According to a 2001 Culpepper Global Compensation and Benefits Survey, over 90% of all companies take cost cutting measures. The number one cost-cutting measure used by companies is reduction in staff through layoffs and terminations. Companies with over $100 million in revenue were twice as likely as their smaller counterparts to have reduced base salaries and/or forced time off.
Other forms of cost-cutting? A freeze in wages and salaries, mandatory use of vacation/time off, cross-training employees, a freeze on equipment upgrades, an increase in the employee cost for benefits, reduction in travel.
Cost-Cutting: A Summation of Worst-Case Scenarios
- Cost-cutting drives outsourcing growth.
- Your goal should be cutting costs, not corners.
- Of course, there are cost-cutting cartoons, notably about not-so-funny layoffs, workforce reductions, and "legal expenses reduction."
- Significant labor cost-cutting occurred during the 1990s.
- In spite of the Culpepper Survey, cost-cutting apparently can avert labor layoffs.
- Want to be adventurous in cost-cutting? Be strategic, remember technology is only half a step, and consider that talk is cheap but crucial.
- In tough economic times, cutting costs can save your small business and small businesses can run lean and mean home offices with 5 money-saving tips from Entrepreneur Magazine.
- One of the keys to running a successful small or home-based business is controlling costs.
- Yes, Virginia - there is a "Manager's Guide to Creative Cost-Cutting." And there is a "Can't Miss Plan for Cutting Costs."
- Adrian Slywotzky, a managing director with Mercer Management Consulting and author of the book "The Art of Profitability," says today's productivity gains might be just a one-time event, grown out of the massive investments that companies made in technology during the late 1990s. Adrian believes there are still plenty of examples of companies following old -- and possibly dangerous -- cost-cutting ways during the most recent downturn.
- There are indeed rules to cost-cutting -- see the NDMA.
- Looking for case study examples? Cost-cutting seems to be working for HP, Michelin, and Clariant.
Business Ritual #7 - Benefits Summary: Recent rounds of corporate cost-cutting have left employees weary and wary, but cost-cutting savings add up. Cost-cutting across-the-board generally decimates an organization's ability to do anything well. Although
corporate cost-cutting as a goal may be a mistake, cost-cutting can result in improved competitiveness, higher profits, potential savings on maintenance and repair, improved demand, and revenue increases. Still, the benefits of cost-cutting may simply be short-term. Remember to leverage your existing resources.
Business Rituals Archive-
Business Ritual #1 - Expressing Appreciations
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Business Ritual #2 - Team Meetings
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Business Ritual #3 - Goal Setting & Business Planning
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Business Ritual #4 - Coffee Breaks
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Business Ritual #5 - Exchanging Business Cards
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Business Ritual #6 - Office Gossip
Technorati tags:
Osolind business rituals cost-cutting
RE: More About Harvard.
oh those kind comments from re:invention BLOG readers. keep 'em coming!
Our latest reader comment, inspired by my BLOG POST DATED 2.21.06...
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With all due respect, you've adduced nothing in the way of substantive argument as to why Dr. Summers is deserving of such opprobrium. That he suggested the possibility that neuroanatomical sex differences vis-a-vis aptitude for math MIGHT play a role in the disparity of gender in the hard sciences hardly strikes me as worth of the appelation "DIRTY WHITE BOY." There is a rather well-known professor at Harvard named Steven Pinker whose work is focused upon this question. If our institutions of higher education are not the appropriate venue for such discourse, what is to become of the enlightenment, I wonder?
Publius | Email | Homepage | 02.26.06 - 9:58 pm | #
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Dear Publius:
Dr. Summers has qualified himself a gender-biased bigot and a racist based on his own words and actions during his entire tenure at Harvard. Did you click on any of my "dirty white boy" links???
I facetiously call Larry a "dirty white boy" because he uses those types of undignified phrases when referencing women AND minorities. He has done so again and again throughout his tenure - not simply with his most recent "gender and math diatribe." A few of Larry's more irritating soundbytes: he suggested "people in africa should eat pollution." He questioned the entire premise of Harvard's African American Studies department - resulting in the departure of esteemed professor Cornel West (and others). He denounced the movement to divest University endowments from funds with a stake in Israel. Summers had plenty of enemies before his remarks about women in science.
Larry was the single reason why I did not apply to Harvard for graduate school way back in 1993.
As Bill Clinton's treasury secretary, Larry was muzzled at least in public (yes, that link to Avis Lavelle is intentional). A mere 6 months after joining Harvard, Larry began instigating verbal and hostile controversy.
Is Larry insensitive or uninformed? I simply believe Larry sorely lacks media training.
But beyond Larry's big mouth, the simple fact is that the percentage of tenured job offers made to women by Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences has dropped dramatically since Larry took office. What a coincidence! I don't buy Larry's attempts to spin his comments off as intellectual hypotheses.
And if you are going to throw out Pinker for substantive support - I'll serve up Elizabeth Spelke. Spelke has debated Pinker in public. Unlike Pinker, Spelke IS an expert on the cognitive capacities that underlie mathematical ability. Unlike Pinker, Spelke doesn't have a publicist. Unlike Pinker, Spelke wasn't recruited by Larry Summers to champion his cause. Spelke's research demonstrates that there is absolutely no evidence for the innateness of sex differences underlying the observed differences in math test scores (she argues that innateness is irrelevant to the actual debate over gender disparities among faculties in certain fields). Her conclusion: there is no evidence for sex differences in math-related cognitive abilities that can account for the gender disparity in math and science departments, while there is a wealth of evidence for gender equality in both primary and secondary mathematical abilities. Has her paper been published yet? NO - score one for Pinker and Summers. It's a great read: http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/%7Elds/pdfs/Spelke_SexSci_2005.pdf
So Publius, I'm glad you are reading and commenting. I admit I found humor in your posting under the email pseudonym: Alexander Hamilton (first Secretary of the Treasury, noted Jefferson nemesis). Thank you. You have raised my ire this morning and that will make me infinitely more productive. Appreciate the debate.
P.S. Very impressed with your use of the word opprobrium...however, by definition opprobrium implies a state of disgrace resulting from public abuse. Larry Summers has self-inflicted his own wounds -- every single time he has opened his mouth.
kindly,
kirsten
kirsten | Email | Homepage | 02.27.06 - 10:24 am | #
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
RE: Oprah is a Hot Woman Entrepreneur. Right, Jeffrey?
Harvard Business School's Working Knowledge offers a "groundbreaking" case study about Oprah, woman entrepreneur. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - Oprah is a hot woman entrepreneur.
Ever heard of Jeffrey Jacobs - Winfrey's lawyer, attorney, and chief advisor - the MAN BEHIND OPRAH? In 1984, Oprah approached Jeffrey to help with her AM Chicago contract. Within just one month, AM Chicago surpassed Donahue as the #1 local talk show, and within a year it was renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show. A year later, Jeffrey worked out Oprah's first national syndication deal and negotiated her first huge marketing campaign to catapult her into competition with Donahue. More about how.
Executives at King World felt the media would pounce on "a war with Donahue" so they created one. The first step was to send tapes of Oprah's shows to "focus groups" in several localities to see how they responded. The results were positive. The next step was to show tapes to selected small network alliance stations under a single owner. These groups would be offered exclusive broadcast rights. To launch Winfrey on the air King World kicked off a major advertising campaign. Media publications trumpeted Oprah's ratings victories over Donahue in Baltimore and Chicago. The "Donahue-buster" strategy was tempered by Winfrey herself, who worked hard not to appear too arrogant or conceited. When asked about head-on competition with Donahue she replied that in a majority of markets she did not compete with him directly and that while Donahue would certainly remain "the king," she just wanted to be "a part of the monarchy."
By the time The Oprah Winfrey Show went national in September of 1986 it had been signed by over 180 stations - less than Donahue's 200-plus, but approaching that number.
Oprah attended HBS's
The Coming of Managerial Capitalism class to share a message about purpose: one's purpose and one's service.
RE: Dreaming About A Rocking Chair, A Porch, and Retiring to Biloxi, Mississippi.
I wasn't one of the 8 lucky Nebraska meat processing plant employees who claimed the record $365 million Powerball jackpot on Wednesday. Damn me for day-dreaming about retirement.
What women business owners need to know is that sponsoring a retirement plan, not just for their employees but also for themselves, is really quite easy. This short article explains qualified and unqualified plans: CLICK TO READ.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
RE: Harvard's President Larry Summers Resigns. Hoo-Hah!
Harvard University announced that Lawrence H. Summers plans to resign as president at the end of this academic year, after a turbulent five years. He had faced renewed criticism from many arts and sciences faculty members. MORE.
My opinion of Dear Larry: DIRTY. WHITE. BOY.
RE: The Percentage of Public Companies In Chicago Without Any Female Board Members Has Increased.
According to a new report by the InterOrganization Network, a group of seven organizations of female executives, boards are still dominated by men. No surprise there. Of notable interest: the percentage of major public companies without any female board members has actually increased in Philadelphia, Chicago and Georgia, according to the study. Sigh. MORE.
RE: Top-O-The-Morning, Tip-O-The-Day for Companies Trying to Reach Enterprising Women.
According to a new study by the Frank About Women market research firm, women today are concerned about the economy and, as a result, are doing more comparison-shopping and bargain hunting than in the past....More women are turning to the internet to conduct comparison-shopping expeditions before heading to a store to buy. MORE.
That sounds about right. In fact, it's one of re:invention's
8 FILAMENTS For a CUSTOM-FIT RELATIONSHIP Between Corporations and Women-Led Businesses:
#2. Focus on women business owners' budget limitations.
Women business owners are price sensitive and they often lack access to money and capital resources. In a September 2003 study conducted by the National Women's Business Council, women entrepreneurs cited access to capital as their biggest challenge. Statistics validate women business owners' concern. re:invention's "2004 Venture Capital for Women Entrepreneurs Report" revealed that only 4% of all venture funding is allocated to women business owners. The Center for Venture Research suggests a mere 5% of angel funding goes to women. Many women fall in between the criteria for eligibility of many micro lending programs and the credit scoring systems used by conventional financial institutions. It has even been proposed that the lack of women-led franchises is due to a lack of access to capital. Corporations looking to connect with women business owners should consider special promotions, affinity programs, and financial benefit overviews. If you nurture women business owners as they grow, they will remain loyal lifetime customers.
Want to tap into the $3 trillion in revenue generated annually by women-led businesses? re:invention knows the women-led business space intimately.
- We can conduct training sessions with your marketing or field sales teams to share key insights about women business owners and their impact on your company's bottom line.
- We can evaluate partnership opportunities for your company with influential women's organizations and women-led companies, provide meaningful introductions, and customize awareness-building and sales-generating partnership activation packages.
- We can also create, develop, and implement profitable marketing programs that encourage women entrepreneurs and executives to become your lifetime customers and brand evangelists.
Technorati tags:
Osolind women corporations marketing
Monday, February 20, 2006
RE: Business Rituals - Office Gossip.
Monday means its time for Business Rituals. re:invention defines business rituals as a customary observance or practice in the workplace. Business Rituals are an intriguing, sacred ingredient for enduring business success. MORE ABOUT BUSINESS RITUALS.
Business Ritual #6: OFFICE GOSSIP.
"I heard Kirsten didn't make it into the office on Friday because she had a friend visiting from L.A. -- some eye-candy dandy she met on New Year's Eve."
Good golly - that sounds like office gossip! It's an unavoidable presence in office workplaces - from large corporations to small businesses. Gossip can be benign, damaging or beneficial, and become especially prevalent in work places where information isn't very forthcoming. Office gossip can be a tempting and testing business ritual.
Researchers Goldsmith & Baxter have discovered that our day-to-day talk is centered in one of six main areas: gossip, making plans, joking, catching up, small talk or recapping the day's events.
In the book, Discreet Indiscretions, Jorg Bergmann suggests gossip is the social form of discreet indiscretion. Bergmann attributes the following quote about gossip to Goethe: "I have seldom seen people...look as attentive and thoughtful as when they listened to the latest gossip, especially if it was derogatory."
A Gaggle of Office Gossip Goodies:
- The epicenter of office gossip has traditionally been the water cooler. Last week, the Detroit News suggested the water cooler may be replaced by the infinitely less politically correct smoker's hangout.
- "Eighty percent of what you hear through the grapevine has some truth in it," says Margaret Morford, president of the HR Edge in Nashville, Tenn. That seems right. When in doubt, parade out Pareto's Principle.
- Who DOESN'T need an Office Gossip mug? Perhaps you prefer Office Gossip Stock Cartoons?
- CNN (in partnership with Careerbuilder.com) recently ran a report about office gossip, offering 5 tips from a corporate communications director; what to believe, what to dismiss, and what to do about it. The tips? Consider the source - Don't be the messenger - Look for signs - Get the facts - Read the writing on the wall. Umm. I'm guessing they don't mean the bathroom wall.
- BBC News recently reported that instant messaging is the perfect vehicle for spreading office gossip.
- BBC has also suggested that office gossip increases worker productivity. But Allbusiness.com's Jillian Dearing begs to disagree. She thinks office gossip is the silent business killer. Beware. When office gossip disrupts productivity, lowers morale, and crosses the line into harassment, it can become a source of legal liability.
- According to author Susan Dunn, H.R. teams can squelch office gossip with proactive emotional intelligence (www.susandunn.com) and anti-mobbing programs.
- Interested in a case study? Silencio Inc. is a workplace that prides itself on having completely eliminated its office gossip. For the record, Silencio executives also believe idle hands are the devil's forked tongue.
- The People Pro proffers 3 tips to consider before you engage in office gossip: (1) is it kind? (2) is it true? (3) is it important?
- According to Askmen.com, women gossip more, but men don't lag too far behind.
- A 2005 study by Kevin Kniffin (University of Wisconsin) and David Wilson (SUNY) found that men gossipped for just as long and on the same subjects as women, but were more egocentric, talking for two-thirds of the time about themselves, while women did so for only a third. Women were more animated in their storytelling.
- Organizations that foster a chummy, cliquey environment are more prone to gossip than others.
- Where do you suppose the "water cooler" is for entrepreneurs without an office? Starbucks? Chamber of Commerce networking events? The new "unconference conference?"
- Million-dollar women business owners with employees are more likely than their male counterparts to belong to formal professional, trade, and networking organizations - and they view their peers as credible references. This could have intriguing implications for corporations that want to cultivate positive office gossip within women-led businesses.
Business Ritual #6 - Benefits Summary: Know the red flag characteristics of your local office gossip, and you just might learn how to make the grapevine work for you. Gossip can circulate important business information, control bad behavior, and improve office relationships. The question remains: if journalism is organized gossip, then what does that make
social media?
Business Rituals Archive-
Business Ritual #1 - Expressing Appreciations
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Business Ritual #2 - Team Meetings
-
Business Ritual #3 - Goal Setting & Business Planning
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Business Ritual #4 - Coffee Breaks
-
Business Ritual #5 - Exchanging Business Cards
Technorati tags:
Osolind business rituals gossip
Friday, February 17, 2006
RE: Hero Worship - Honoring Companies & Organizations that Support Enterprising Women.
I've recently been chastised for giving "a former mentor and friend" too many verbal appreciations. It really ticked me off. Kinda like this "mentor" was kicking me in the ass for my kindness. It's inspired me to spend even more time hero-worshipping -- honoring companies and organizations that support enterprising women right here on re:invention's blog.
Today we venerate AllState and The Cobb Microenterprise Center. Kudos to the AllState Foundation, for presenting the Cobb Microenterprise Center of Kennesaw, Georgia with a $15,000 grant in support of the Women Business Center's "Building Wealth Program."
The Cobb Microenterprise Center, soon to change its name to The Edge Connection, was the first community collaborative microenterprise training center in the nation. CMC was certified as a Metro Atlanta Area SBA Women's Business Center in 2004. According to the CMC: "microenterprise development requires a holistic approach, embracing poverty alleviation, human development and economic development strategies."
HP, UPS, and Wachovia have also provided corporate funding to the organization.
The Edge Connection will host their 1st Annual Microenterprise Gala on April 29th. CLICK HERE to become a sponsor.
Is YOUR company or organization doing something good for enterprising women? Drop us a line and let us recognize you!
Thursday, February 16, 2006
RE: Oh Those Tawdry Tech-Girls!
Females have become tech savvy consumers whose technology purchases including PDAs, mobiles, MP3 players, and DVDs, amount to $55 billion USD annually. That's according to today's report, "The U.S. Market for Women and Technology Products and Services" from researcher, Packaged Facts. No longer "tech shy", the report finds that women actually outpace men in PC's, DVD, and Video Game ownership.
According to a 2004 study by the Center for Women's Business Research, women business owners are more likely than male business owners to embrace technology as part of their business strategy (58% vs. 35%) and more likely to have a web site with transaction capability (56% vs. 38%). And the 2005 HP Small Business Survey reported that the majority of female small business owners (91%) use locally-based tech support because they want to support their local businesses.
RE: Mentors Young At Heart
Welcome to our Thursday blog feature - Business Shoulder Story Bag - blog entries that relate stories of people in business that received help in a time of need. Today I am sharing a story of an unlikely mentor that inspired a vision and renewed faith.
Alice Krause is the founder of newsonwomen.com. Her mentor is somewhat unusual...her daughter, Molly. She believes this generation (of twenty-somethings) sees no limits to their opportunities, have no baggage, are excited about the future and fully expect to participate in every way. She looks to the young for encouragement and example. It is why she started newsonwomen.com. Alice wanted a way for women, like Molly, to have the ability to celebrate their achievements and to encourage the media to devote more coverage to women achievers.
Sounds like a grand idea. Having a young(er) mentor can provide refreshingly new ideas to a network of women entrenched with potentially outdated ideas (spoon-fed to us as we grew professionally).
Want to share your Business Shoulder Story with re:invention blog readers next Thursday? Send me your personal business stories - we prefer stories about someone who offered a hand, renewed your faith, or helped you overcome a business obstacle. Do you need a business shoulder for support? Ask us a question and we'll try to give you an answer or find someone who can. Click here to send me an EMAIL.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
RE: Reinsdorf Rails Against Reporters at Economic Club Dinner... A Woman Who Kicked A Heavy-Handed VC to the Curb.
Jerry Reinsdorf, Chairman of the Chicago Bulls/Chicago White Sox, took some liberties and risks as last night's speaker at the Economic Club of Chicago. They can't swear me to secrecy - I was a guest, not a member, and I seriously doubt I'll ever qualify for member standards (I'm merely quasi-elegant eye candy). I'm guessing this blog post will clinch it for me.
Only with the invite-only "who's who in Chicago" Economic Club can you expect a Black Tie dinner that commences at 5:45 p.m. on Valentine's Day. It was their 313th dinner meeting.
Reinsdorf railed against media reporters - characterizing media as bad guys who lack integrity, fail to fact check, and make their own masters of the universe version of the news. According to Reinsdorf, owners feel forced to kow-tow to media. He specifically lambasted Jay Mariotti, much to my delight (I was once "unseated" during a hot date at AVEC for Mariotti). Reinsdorf also condemned the Baseball Commissioner for waffling, players over the age of 30, and Chicago fans for being "fair weather." At first, I suspected the ribald Reinsdorf was rummied, until I realized he simply felt comfortable on bully pulpit. This is the same man who wouldn't give free tickets to (dreamy) John Cusack for the world series and ran Michael Jordan out of Chicago -- twice.
Wonder what Mark Cuban would have to say about all that?
Best part of the dinner: meeting a woman CEO who had recently divorced a Boston Venture Capitalist. We shared perspectives. She became a CEO after she kicked this VC to the curb; he had admonished her for her aspirations and didn't like her asking questions. Swoon. I think she's my new hero.
Worst part of the dinner: pulling my floor-length white gown up over my head to pee during a powder room break and getting red lipstick on the front of my dress (yes - right there in front by my hoo-hah). Wonder if the drycleaner can get that stain out? Sure made for some interesting conversation after dinner.
EDITORS NOTE: OK. I've heard you, dear readers. It appears you are horrified by my sharing my happy, heavy-handed hoo-hah hygiene story. I kindly retract it. Where's my southern gentility? I guess I need to stop wearing the t-shirt.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
RE: Love Sucks, Read the Review.
Keeping with the Valentine's Day spirit, I blogged naked today.
Love sucks, read the raving review.
In the end, the best thing to love about Valentine's Day is yourself.
Monday, February 13, 2006
RE: 4 Tips for Services Biz Owners
According to an article which appeared last month in MarketingProfs, services marketing professionals must clearly understand the following 4 characteristics and how they affect client behavior:
1. intangibility
2. inseparability
3. variability
4. perishability
Simply sharing a good link.
Technorati tags: Osolind entrepreneurs intangibility inseparability variability perishability
RE: Culling and Cultivating Celebrity Endorsements
The DBI is a new celebrity-evaluation index for brand marketers and their ad agencies which will evaluate celebrities based on eight key attributes: appeal, notice, trendsetting, influence, trust, endorsement, aspiration and awareness.
While small biz owners shouldn't rush out to hire a celebrity to tout their company's products or services...having a big name notice you can have huge payoffs and cultivating local celebrity endorsements isn't out of the question.
Technorati tags: tips DBI celebrities brand news
RE: A Special Note For My Male Biz Advisors Who Want Me To Go Back To Brunette....
OK - a kind note for those esteemed male business advisors who suggest I should go back to brunette to "enhance my perceived level of intelligence and credibility." I have something to say:
- ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
- Is this 2006 or 1906?
- Are we still in high school?
- Is this debate even significant when the woman in question has a Duke M.B.A.?
- Have you not seen Ann Coulter's Photo Page? Get a load of that girl's clever gams! And she only has a J.D. degree from Michigan.
- Apparently some people think bottled blondes have plenty of intellectual appeal.
- Besides, I'm a strawberry blonde (a shade that's synonymous with redhead).
- Maybe I should buy a fake pair of glasses too. Damn me for having 20/20 vision.
Geez.
RE: Are You Certified?
We're looking for a few new certified re:invention associates for urgent client projects. We're building a nationwide network of certified marketing associates with 10 or more years client or agency experience, a passion for exceeding customer expectations, and a commitment to marketing with measurable results. Our current associate network has an amazing 400 years combined experience with industry leaders including Aramark, Bozell, Burger King, P&G, Careerbuilder, Chicago Tribune, Coke, DDB, Disney, Frankel, General Mills, Glaxo Smithkline, IBM, Marriott, Newell Rubbermaid, Oracle, Porter Novelli, Publicis, SBC/Ameritech, Wachovia, Weber Shandwick, WebMD, Whole Foods Market, Xerox, and more.
re:invention provides our certified marketing associates with a branded identity (analogous to what Century 21 does for agents), membership in the re:invention Associate Rewards Program®, active assistance with new business development, and strategic growth resources.
Potential associates apply for re:invention annual network certification. Certification is granted only to those independent marketing professionals who meet the following 10 SELECTION CRITERIA.
1. A Passion for Marketing
2. A Track Record of Success
3. Demonstrated Critical Strategic Thinking Skills
4. Demonstrated Ability to Harness Creativity
5. Commitment to Customer Service
6. Commitment to Marketing Return on Investment
7. Commitment to Quality Work
8. Meaningful Applications of Knowledge
9. Work Portfolio Endorsement
10. Screening, Apprenticeship, and Continuous Assessment
Curious to learn more about re:invention certification?
1. Once you've reviewed our Standards, read OUR GUIDELINES.
2. Review the BENEFITS OF BECOMING CERTIFIED.
3. Fill out OUR APPLICATION FORM.
Technorati tags: Osolind marketing associates recruiting
Saturday, February 11, 2006
RE: Our Saturday Feature - 10 Tips for 10 Million WomenTM.
Welcome to the re:invention 10 Tips for 10 Million WomenTM Saturday Feature. Every Saturday throughout 2006, we once again feature a woman entrepreneur or executive 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 Roxanne Darling, CEO of Bare Feet Studios LLC (Honolulu, Hawaii), a web development company. Roxanne leverages her extensive training and coaching background to help her clients understand the business relevance of the Internet and how to use it to grow the bottom line.
about Bare Feet Studios
Bare Feet Studios is a web development company based in Honolulu, Hawaii, serving virtual clients across the U.S. Co-owner Roxanne Darling manages sales and operations. After ten years as Internet developers and business advisors, Bare Feet Studios has proven ability to help clients use the Internet to deliver their messages and make more money. In short, they serve as your "Virtual CTO." Bare Feet Studios knows the web can be one of your best assets.
CLICK HERE FOR ROXANNE'S 10 WEBSITE AND ONLINE MARKETING TIPS
Share YOUR knowledge, WISE WOMEN! Submit A REQUEST to have your company featured along with your 10 Tips For 10 Million Women.
Technorati tags: tips women entrepreneurs business saturday
RE: Gwyneth Says, Go Where The Men Are. Grr.
In an article which appeared in Institutional Investor on Feb. 6, Gwyneth Ketterer (Chief Operating Officer of Bear Stearns) shares her personal story of tenacity, overcoming obstacles, and life's inconveniences.
Her chief complaint? Women aren't assertive enough, they don't know how to take credit for their achievements and they don't self-promote like men. They also tend to choose careers that are well-represented by women.
Her advice? Look for the part of the business where men are - that's where the money is.
While I concur with Gwyneth's evaluation of women's weaknesses, I disagree with her conclusion. While nice girls don't get rich, and women's balance sheets may weigh heavier with Goodwill assets, I believe passionately that powerful women are building wealth and bringing bucks to the table. Yes - it may be tougher now that Goodwill cannot be amortized under GAAP General Accounting Standards. The fact remains: women are starting our own networks, our own venture capital firms or angel groups, our own businesses every day. We may first realize our wealth from inheritance from our fathers or our husbands. But the smartest women have always known that they can't afford to overlook men's networks or women's networks. The fight for women begins with women helping women win.
I love working with men -- some are sage teachers, some even make me swoon. I'm dedicated to championing women.
Women aren't lacking ability, we simply lack confidence and the right connections. Especially when we begin without wealth (I did). It's our responsiblity as women building wealth to help open doors for one another.
With deferential respect....shame on you, Gwynnie. I'd take you to lunch, but I'd rather save my pennies.
MORE READING.
Why women MUST help women win.
Technorati tags: Osolind women gwyneth ketterer www.institutionalinvestor.com bear stearns money
Thursday, February 09, 2006
RE: Hunt For Mentors
Welcome to our Thursday blog feature - Business Shoulder Story Bag - blog entries that relate stories of people in business that received help in a time of need. Today I ask, Where are the mentors?
Jungle Magazine published an article in December, titled "Women on the Edge". The article was a virtual rountable media panel discussion on balancing work with family life. A panel of women address work/life balance for women. Edie Hunt says the "pulls", i.e., personal growth, financial reward, career progression, etc., must outweigh the "pushes", family responsibilities. Leslie Campbell also believes there needs to be more focus on the work side of the equation, specifically ensuring women have the opportunity to earn senior positions in core business functions. She consistently hears that there are few role models that exist in these core areas. So where are they?
Larry Kesslin has some good advice: Find a person who has accomplished the goals that are similar to yours, who has the time and energy to help you achieve these goals, has a shared value system, and is willing to listen.
"Learning is finding out what you already know. Doing is demonstrating that you know it. Teaching is reminding others that they know it just as well as you do. We are all learners, doers and teachers." - Richard Bach, Illusions
I think all of us reading this can identify. Do we realize we are mentoring someone? I am not sure it is always clear.
Want to share your Business Shoulder Story with re:invention blog readers next Thursday? Send me your personal business stories - we prefer stories about someone who offered a hand, renewed your faith, or helped you overcome a business obstacle. Do you need a business shoulder for support? Ask us a question and we'll try to give you an answer or find someone who can. Click here to send me an EMAIL.
RE: Stepping Up to the Plate.
Sorry I've been silent this week. For 6 months, I've been busy planning the first Illinois National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Step Up to the Plate event. The event finally took place yesterday in Springfield. Illinois Governor Blagojevich declared February 8th as a day to recognize Illinois women business owners. In Illinois, there are nearly 385,000 women-owned firms, generating $195 billion in sales and employing over 1.4 million persons.
The day began with a rally in the Capitol Rotunda (where I unexpectedly mustered voice to speak and boom to the balconies), continued with legislator meetings and standing committee sit-ins, and ended with lunch at Inn at 835. Together, we shared our concerns about ***procurement, rising health care costs, and equitable tax policy for small business owners***. Our lunch speakers included Carol Kuc (National NAWBO President), Frank Watson (Senate Majority Leader), Louis Lang (Assistant House Majority Leader, who won a Lifetime Membership Award from the Illinois Democratic Women in 2003 for his legislative work in behalf of the Equal Rights Amendment), Illinois Treasurer and Gubernatorial Candiate Judy Baar Topinka, Stella Black (NAWBO Chicago PAC), Diane Valetta (NAWBO National PAC), and all Illinois NAWBO Chapter Presidents.
Women Business Owners As Advocates
Advocacy for women business owners is about representing your issues and the issues of other women business owners to government agencies, elected officials, and other decision-makers in your community. It's about getting out the message that women business owners are a powerful united force, with significant economic influence and impact. It is easy to come up with reasons not to be more active! Taking the first step is often the hardest.
From our new NAWBO Illinois Advocacy Toolkit, here are the most common barriers to advocacy and how to overcome them.
Time:
There's never enough time to do every thing that needs to be done. Our lives as women are busy - we wear multiple hats and we are guilty of committing too much of our time. Getting the message out about the importance of women business owners is a priority. In order to sustain your program, you need to develop support for your efforts. Determine how much time you can devote to advocacy - one hour a week? One day a month? One day out of the year?
Money:
Paying for advocacy activities is difficult, particularly when we are often scraping pennies and our hard-earned funds as women business owners are being directed into our business operating capital. The good news? If we all serve as advocates, we will dramatically increase our capital opportunities for our businesses as well as gain access to government contracts and grants. We will increase our ability to build enduring, profitable businesses. Advocacy means more money for all of us.
I Don't Know Where to Start - Or - I Can't Make A Difference:
Women often feel that they don't have the know-how to really make a difference or that their individual efforts will not have an impact. Think again! Through your successful work as a woman business owner, you have already developed the skills needed to make a difference. Like all women, you are passionate, articulate, and dedicated to helping women win. Get started today!
Some of the most common approaches to legislative advocacy are writing, calling, or meeting with your legislator. You can also invite your legislator to visit your local company, attend your NAWBO chapter events or schedule a coffee with them when they are in your home district (they may be home for President's Day on February 20th). Their schedules are less hectic when they are away from the Capitol.
Politics:
Advocacy is about policy, not politics. It is about advocating on behalf of women business owners and their issues. You can take a proactive approach to affecting policy that will make a difference for Illinois women-owned businesses.
Knowledge:
For more information, or for a complete list of Illinois Senators and Represenatives and their contact information, visit www.ilga.gov. To determine your State Legislators or Senator, visit www.elections.il.gov. Click on "Voter Information," then "Find Districts/Officials." If you live outside of Illinois, www.ncsl.org/public/leglinks.cfm links to all the state directories of senators and representatives. Be sure to visit the new WPO Public Policy BLOG.
I feel inspired and honored to have worked with the entire cross-chapter Step Up to the Plate planning committee. Many appreciations to our event sponsors (Sandstorm Design, FTD, National City, Curves, Express Personnel Services) and our smart speakers.
kindly,
kirsten
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Monday, February 06, 2006
RE: Business Rituals - Exchanging Business Cards.
Monday means its time for Business Rituals. re:invention believes Business Rituals are an intriguing, sacred ingredient for enduring business success. MORE ABOUT BUSINESS RITUALS.
Business Ritual #5: EXCHANGING BUSINESS CARDS.
Inevitably it happens. Just as soon as a meeting convenes, the business cards pop up like hot salty buttered popcorn on the conference room table. According to Entrepreneur Magazine, exchanging business cards is one of the 10 Commandments of Networking. An effective business card is a direct marketing vehicle, a lead generator and a networking tool. "THEY" say you should never be without your business card because you never know when you'll have the opportunity to hand one out. Nothing says you are in business like a business card. A business card brings instant credibility.
Count Basie once quipped: "I decided that I would be one of the biggest new names; and I actually had some little fancy business cards printed up to announce it, 'Count Basie. Beware, the Count is Here.'"
The first business cards -- known as "visiting cards" -- appeared in France during the reign of Louis XIV - "Le Roi Soleil". By the 18th and 19th century they were fondly known as "calling cards". Riddled with ritual.
Why not rethink your business cards? Today's business card can be a referral card. An information card. A billboard card. A note card. A card pad. A coupon card. A rotary file card. A sticker card. A web card. A CD card. A high tech digital card. A refreshing alternative to a cheesy pick-up line (ahh bliss!).
Powerful Business Card Tips:
- Begin with the business card basics: your name, name of your business, website and email address, phone and fax number, and mailing address. A personal tagline is nifty. It helps if the card subtly alludes to what you do.
- Consider developing a system for carrying and collecting business cards (such as a cardholder, so that you aren't frantically digging them out from your briefcase or purse). I myself am saving for the swanky Why Get Married business card case. I think it will pair nicely with my Bombshell Tampon Case.
- Save or file business cards in the same way that you remember them (company name, person's name, or industry)
- Know your business card etiquette. According to tradition you should look at a card when it is handed to you before putting it away. Comment kindly when possible; laughing heartily at a person's lowly inconsequential title could be deemed politically incorrect.
- Feel free to jot notes on the back of a person's card if you want to remember specific information about the contact. For brownie points, you might ask if they mind first. Notes such as: "A+++ Idiot" should be quickly tucked away for safe keeping.
- Sadly, most business cards tend to pile up in a drawer or get lost amidst desk clutter. You might as well throw them away. A solution? A business card scanner, such as Card Scan, to help you organize your contacts quickly.
- Business cards have gone high tech - from CDs to digital.
- Use the back of your business cards (it's prime real estate). Cathy Stucker offers a few creative caresses for your backside.
- Some suggest you need an unforgettable and memorable business card to stand out. Others claim the simplest business cards are the best. In the end, the most appropriate bad decision is up to you.
- Peruse Mario Sanchez's 50 Business Card Tips for a creative, darn exhausting list.
- VoIP may spell doom for the calling card business, but there ain't nobody sayin' that business cards are passe.
- If all else fails, Hugh Macleod over at Gaping Void can draw you a funny little business card cartoon. Hugh will intoxicate you with possibility.
Business Ritual #5 - Benefits Summary: Oh admit it. You yearn to be seen, heard, and remembered. Now all together in harmony, let's recite the
Business Card Creedo:
"This is my business card. There are many others out there, but none of them are like mine - because there's nobody else like me. My business card is not a formality. It's not a piece of paper containing my name and contact information. And it's not another annoying thing to keep in my pocket. My business card is the most important networking tool that I own. It's a reflection of my personal brand and a bite-sized morsel of the mission of my business. I LOVE my business card. And I can't wait until somebody asks me for one. Because when they do, I will find a way to give that person REAL VALUE."
Indeed.
Just remember -
Buyers Don't Network.
Business Rituals Archive-
Business Ritual #1 - Expressing Appreciations
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Business Ritual #2 - Team Meetings
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Business Ritual #3 - Goal Setting & Business Planning
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Business Ritual #4 - Coffee Breaks
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Osolind business rituals business cards
Sunday, February 05, 2006
RE: Could Dilbert Be Getting A Girlfriend?
Hot on the heels of Lance and Sheryl Crow's breakup...it seems romance could be in the air for Dilbert today:
CHECK OUT THE FULL STRIP.
After all these years, the girls ("and guy") of re:invention just KNEW there had to be a girl out there for Dilbert. Of course it couldn't be Alice, because she has worked with Dilbert too long. She could be a woman executive in Dilbert's office. Or maybe a woman entrepreneur (perhaps a supplier diversity program vendor???). I hope Dilbert's new gal pal gets a soundbyte about Viper simulators and Valentine's Day in the same sentence. Such a cool angle to bring diligent Dilbert up to speed for 2006.
Melissa and I are peeing in our pants, especially since we both began our careers with an RBOC (Ameritech and SBC respectively) just like Dilbert's creator Scott Adams. Dilbert - I'm still single!!!!! Alas, I do have a few horrible defects. ;)
I'm kinda bummed Dilbert's potential liplock is not a blonde. How about you Marissa?
Technorati tags: Osolind women Dilbert girlfriend comics
RE: Betty Friedan Gracefully Bows Beyond Gender.
Betty Friedan died of congestive heart failure on her 85th birthday yesterday. The founding mother of liberal feminism, Betty was born in Peoria, Illinois. We both have...had...a silly, crooked nose. She was deeply frustrated, as am I, about the restricted roles of women. She knew men were not the enemy - women often victimize themselves. Women Kill Their Strong, While Men Kill Their Weak. This Wednesday, February 8th, Illinois Governor Blagojevich has declared a proclamation recognizing the power of Illinois women business owners. Betty would have been proud. MORE.
"Men are not the enemy, but the fellow victims. The real enemy is women's denigration of themselves."
- Betty Friedan
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Saturday, February 04, 2006
RE: Our Saturday Feature - 10 Tips for 10 Million WomenTM.
Welcome to the re:invention 10 Tips for 10 Million WomenTM Saturday Feature. Every Saturday throughout 2006, we once again feature a woman entrepreneur or executive 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 executive is Kara Cenar, Esq., Principal at Welsh & Katz (Chicago, IL), an intellectual property (IP) law firm with offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C. Kara is also President of the Chicago National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) chapter.
about Welsh & Katz, Ltd.
Welsh & Katz, Ltd. is a full-service intellectual property law firm. The Firm focuses on obtaining patents, trademarks, and copyrights; intellectual property litigation; protecting trade secrets; product anti-counterfeiting; clearance opinions; and licensing transactions. The Firm's distinguished client base includes corporations, universities, and individuals involved in high-tech fields such as electronics, chemicals, computers, and biotechnology as well as those in the entertainment industry. With offices in downtown Chicago and Washington, D.C., Welsh & Katz has proximity to state and federal courts and important governmental agencies, such as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the U.S. Copyright Office.
CLICK HERE FOR KARA'S 10 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TIPS
Share YOUR knowledge, WISE WOMEN! Submit A REQUEST to have your company featured along with your 10 Tips For 10 Million Women.
Technorati tags: tips women entrepreneurs business saturday
RE: Ladies and the Lord.
Check out this "life changing sermon" from Pastor Jack Hyles: "How to Make A Lady Out of a Girl." Note these gems: "do not show off her talents to others," "teach her to plan for a profession but hope it will not be needed," "teach her to do feminine chores." Lord help me Jesus!
Friday, February 03, 2006
RE: The SBA's "Premiere Solution for Women" -- A F****** Farse, If You Ask Me.
Interesting article featuring SBA Administrator Hector Baretto in the Feb. 2 edition of BusinessWeek.
In the article, Hector fearlessly responds to a Jan-2006 BusinessWeek interview and tarty tongue-wagging from Lloyd Chapman, founder and President of the American Small Business League. In his interview, Lloyd declared that the SBA is hostile to small business owners, particularly to women. Lloyd pointed to the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce 2004-2005 legal battle with the Bush Administration, over the SBA's failure to achieve the goals of the Women's Procurement Program (allocation of 5% of all government contracts to women). Currently only 2.5% of federal contracts are awarded to women-owned small businesses. What makes it more challenging? Nearly 80% of federal contracts go to firms within the Washington Capitol Beltway.
Hector's specific defense to Lloyd's "lack of support for women" attack: the SBA's Business Matchmaking Program. The SBA Business Matchmaking Program touts itself as the "business version of speed dating" -- quick Big Boy & Small Biz Owner biz card exchanges in 15-minute increments. Partially funded by "once small, very small" HP, the program provides no-cost formal opportunities for business owners to network and connect with Fortune 500 companies and federal agencies. SBA's Business Matchmaking program was launched, claims Hector, "in response to women complaining that they had the know-how, but not the know-who." (K.O. NOTE: It's Not Chutzpah We Lack, It's Contacts.) Hector claims that the program has "resulted in 40,000 appointments over the past 2 1/2 years, and tens of millions of dollars in contracts."
Hmm. Some thoughts from K.O.:
- Take a gander at the Official SBA Business Matchmaking Site.
- The program does not guarantee contracts - to wit, nowhere on the site do they tally in aggregate "their glowing results."
- Wander over to their archive of program success stories. A mere 4 of the 13 success testimonials are from women business owners. Need I remind us that 50% of all small businesses are owned by women -- or that Hector claims this particular program is the key to the SBA's deliverance for women business owners?
- A little secret? The SBA fiscal 2006 budget proposal suggests only 29 (of the nation's 10.6 million women-owned businesses) won contracts as a result of the program.
- It doesn't even look like they ASK GENDER in the SBA Business Matchmaking Virtual Matchmaking Workshop.
- And in the Program FAQs they state that you DON'T EVEN NEED TO BE CERTIFIED as a Minority, Disabled Veteran, Women-Owned, or HUB Zone company to participate in the program.
So forgive me dear Hector, if I can't understand why you are touting this as the SBA's "premiere solution for women."
A F****** Farse and a lot of top spin, if you ask me.
Ahh yes. That's right, Hector, you didn't.
My respectful apologies to Dr. Ying Lowrey -- mother, kind woman leader in the SBA Office of Advocacy, and author of the refreshingly brilliant Nov-2005 study entitled, "
U.S. Sole Proprietorships: A Gender Comparison." But your "fearless" boss is kind of a lame-ass.
Hee-haw. Women deserve better.
kindly,
kirsten
EDITOR'S POST SCRIPT NOTE (RESPONSE TO GANDHI)....
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Farse \Farse\, n. [See Farce, n.] (Eccl.) An addition to, or a paraphrase of, some part of the Latin service in the vernacular; -- common in English before the Reformation. Google and research ol' Hector to understand WHY I used that spelling.kindly,
kirsten
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RE: Stop Dragging My Heart Around!
More women than men have died of heart disease every year in the U.S. since 1984. "I buckle with the weight of the words." Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women. One woman dies every minute of heart disease, nearly half a million women each year.
To call attention to this critical health issue, Kellogg's Smart Start Healthy Heart brand is launching a major heart health initiative in 2006, which includes providing national support for the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement. This initiative includes the launch of Smart Start Healthy Heart Maple Brown Sugar, free health screenings and community events, and retail promotions. - MORE.
This announcement red-marked today's
Go Red for Women Day.
Women business owners listen up:
heart disease lessens with STRESS REDUCTION. And according to
a recent JAMA study, while aspirin therapy cut the incidence of strokes in women, it did not reduce their incidence of heart attacks. So help yourself to a bowl of Kellogg's Smart Start and a spoonful or two of
self-love. Much better for your heart than a
blue or
red box.
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Thursday, February 02, 2006
RE: Business Shoulder Story Bag
Thursday's blog feature, Business Shoulder Story Bag, relates stories of people in business that received help in a time of need. Before I begin with Business Shoulder Story Bag, I've been thinking about how to leverage women's credibility at all stages. re:invention's network of certified marketing associates consists of independent marketing professionals with 10 or more years of marketing experience. This leaves out a niche market that I believe is important to engage - those trying to gain that experience. I remember when I started interviewing for my first job, and how everyone wanted someone with relevant experience. Well, re:invention has decided to welcome and develop that market. We are beginning the process of interviewing marketing intern candidates for spring and summer internships with re:invention. As a re:invention esteemed marketing intern, you'll be involved with various aspects of the business - from pitching media and writing press releases to market research and online marketing development. You'll gain access to our network and partners. We also will teach you how to run a business, which I feel is extremely important, and rarely taught. If you are interested, please email your CV and any relevant documents for our review, and a re:invention team member will call to schedule an interview.
I believe a mentor/intern relationship will have a positive impact on the development and maturation of both. Let's prove this theory!
Back to Business Shoulder Story Bag...
This week we would like to introduce Mary Goodrich. Mary is an attorney in Dallas, TX. Four months ago, she was 1 of 6 female partners at a large commercial litigation firm and was president of the largest young lawyers association in Texas. She decided to open her own firm. On her own, determined yet unsettled, she started to search the Internet for community and support. She found re:invention's blog. She began to read archived stories of the many women who had walked the same path she was going down. Women who had succeeded. In addition to success stories, she opened our toolbox of resources to help make it happen. Mary began to believe she could do it!
Mary has now embarked on a mission to start and scale a woman-owned law firm in Texas -- The Goodrich Group. She views re:invention's site as a shoulder for support - and suggests that mentors don't always have to be people you know personally. In fact, Mary says, mentoring doesn't have to be face to face. Mary has since reached out to women within her own community and provided a warm welcome.
A great quote from Thinkexist.com: "Mentor: Someone whose hindsight can become your foresight."
We want to feature you in a future blog. Send me your personal business story - tell us about someone who lent a helping hand, renewed your faith, or helped you overcome a business obstacle. Do you need a business shoulder for support? Ask us a question and we'll try to give you an answer. Click here to send me an EMAIL.
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