Category Archives: Buisness success

22 Top Resources for Women Business Owners BY MELINDA EMERSON

October is National Women in Business Month, and it’s a good time to look at the impact women business owners are having in the US economy. In this blog post, I will share some statistics, along with some great resources for women business owners who want to start a new business or grow an existing one.

Women-Owned Businesses Are on the Rise

According to the 9th Annual State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, released by American Express, over the past year, women started an average of 1,817 new businesses per day in the US. That represents 42 percent of nearly 13 million businesses overall. These businesses have 9.4 million employees and generate $1.9 trillion in revenue. Women of color account for 89 percent (1,625) of the new businesses opened every day over the past year. In fact, 50 percent of all women-owned firms are owned by African-American women. 

Side hustling is also on the rise. Over the last five years, the number of women side-hustlers has grown at a rate that is nearly twice as fast as the overall growth in female entrepreneurship. Minority women are responsible for a large portion of the growth of side-hustling among women-owned businesses. 

Even though women of color are starting more businesses than ever before, not everyone is making big money. 1.7 percent of women business gross over 1 million in revenue. However, 88 percent of women are not grossing over $100K, and for African Americans, the average business generates $66K, which has gone slightly down over the last 5 years.

22 Resources for Women Business Owners

Women-Owned Businesses Are on the Rise

Given these stats, there is a lot of work to do to grow those revenues. I wanted to make sure every woman entrepreneur has what she needs to run her dream business. Here are the top 22 organizations and websites that provide resources for women business owners, including advice, advocacy, mentorship, funding support, and business connections, all of which are critical to long-term success.

1. AllBusiness.com

This site provides business information and resources for small businesses—those companies with fewer than 500 employees. The company also conducts research to measure the health and direction of the small business sector.

2. Black & Brown Founders

Black & Brown Founders provides community, education, and access to Black and Latinx entrepreneurs, allowing them to launch and build tech businesses with modest resources.

3. ChallengeHer

ChallengeHER is a program sponsored by Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) to share growth opportunities in government contracting with women-owned small businesses. The program is free for all registrants as part of a national initiative designed to promote the WOSB Federal Contract Program, to bring more women-owned firms into the federal government’s supply chain. Their next event is coming to Washington, D.C. on October 24, 2019.

4. Ellevate Network

Ellevate Network is a global organization enabling women in business to elevate each other. Members include both corporate women and women entrepreneurs.  

5. Essence

Essence is a monthly magazine for African-American women between the ages of 18 and 49. First published in 1970, it is one of the few American magazines that focus on reaching an audience of black women. They regularly publish finance and business content to help side-hustlers and full-time business owners.

6. Export.Gov

The government wants to help you take your business global. Developed by international trade experts and economists, Export.gov provides trusted market intelligence, practical advice, and business tools to help U.S. companies expand in global markets.

7. Female Founders Alliance (FFA)

FFA is an online community of female and non-binary founders of small businesses. They also run Ready Set Raise an industry-agnostic national startup accelerator that is a 6-week intensive training and funding program. 

8. ForbesWoman

This spinoff of the Forbes website shares information, resources, and ideas to help professional and executive women succeed.

9. The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that promotes growth and competitiveness of the United States’ minority-owned businesses, including Hispanic and Latino American, Asian Pacific American, African American, and Native American businesses. 

10. NAFE

The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) provides education, networking, and public advocacy to help its members achieve financial security and business success. Members include women executives, business owners, entrepreneurs, and allies committed to the advancement of women in the workplace.

11. National Minority Supplier Development Council

The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) offers a certification program to create opportunities for business owners of color to connect to the hundreds of corporate members who wish to build relationships with trusted minority businesses. They also build MBE capacity through programs and workshops at their regional and national conferences.

12. National Women’s Business Council

The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) is a nonpartisan federal advisory council that serves as an independent source of advice and policy recommendations to the president, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. The NWBC works to promote economic issues that matter to women business owners and to encourage bold initiatives that support women-owned businesses throughout their journey, from startup to success.

13. NAWBO

The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) works to help women business owners achieve economic, social, and political power. With 12,000 members, NAWBO is one of the best-known membership organizations for women in business. With the NAWBO Institute, women can access a virtual online learning platform to develop key skills and learn strategies to help take their business to next level.

14. Pipeline Angels

This is a national initiative that trains women to develop into angel entrepreneurs. It does this through education, mentoring programs, and practice. In addition, the program allows women from all over the country to present their business ideas in its Pitch Summits, with the winner having a chance to secure capital for their business ideas.

15. Small Business Administration (SBA)

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent agency of the federal government. Its goal is to assist and protect small businesses and strengthen the US economy. The SBA has an extensive network of field offices that provide training, federal contract assistance, business certifications, and loan guarantees. 

16. SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership

This is an office within the SBA that manages over 100 Women’s Business Centers that work to help women small business owners. WBCs provide entrepreneurs with in-depth training and counseling and various loan products.

17. SBDCs

The Office of Small Business Development Centers gives both current and prospective small business owners counseling, advice, and services, often for little or no cost. Small business owners can access these “one-stop shops” to get information, guidance, or education. Every state has at least one SBDC.

18. SCORE

SCORE is one of the best resources to find a mentor for your small business. SCORE mentors are business experts who’ve been in the trenches of corporate America and entrepreneurship. They provide free business consulting online or in person. They also have a huge website with tons of free resources.

19. Succeedasyourownboss.com

With decades of experience, I know how difficult (yet incredibly rewarding!) it can be to start and grow a business. Every week I share my advice with you in blog posts, #SmallBizChat interviews on Twitter and Facebook, and on my new #SmallBizChat Podcast.

20. WBENC

The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is a certify agency for women businesses. WBENC provides members with networking and other opportunities to market to government and corporations that want to do business with women-owned companies.

21. Women Impacting Public Policy

Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) is a national, nonpartisan organization that advocates on behalf of women entrepreneurs. WIPP lobbies Congress to create economic opportunities for women and impact public policy. They also provide benefits such as advocacy training, assistance getting federal contracts, and business workshops.

22. WPO

The Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) is a nonprofit membership organization for women who are presidents of million-dollar businesses. WPO members participate in advisory groups monthly that help them grow their businesses and partners to take their businesses to the next level.

Do you know of any other organizations that offer resources for women business owners? Let me what else should be on this list. Women business owners ROCK!Feel free to share…

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FILED UNDER: STARTING A SMALL BUSINESSWOMEN IN BUSINESSTAGGED WITH: BEST SMALL BUSINESS WEBSITESBUSINESS RESOURCESFEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIPNATIONAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS MONTHRESOURCESSMALL BUSINESS RESOURCESWOMAN ENTREPRENEURWOMENWOMEN BUSINESS OWNERSWOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS

Fix Your Business Now!

Order SmallBizLady’s new book Fix Your Business, 90-Day plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business. It includes the 12 Ps of Running a Successful Business and readers will finish the book with a new strategic plan to take their business to the next level.

About Melinda Emerson

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine named her #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also bestseller author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. Her latest ebook, How To Become a Social Media Ninja; 101 Ways to Dominate Your Competition Online was released in 2012.

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10 Tips to Build Your Self-Confidence so You can Manifest Your Ideal Client

10 Tips to Build Your Self-Confidence so You can Manifest Your Ideal Client and Collect with Confidence

It’s all about energy, attitude and consistency. These ten tips will help you magnetically draw clients to you and make you happy in the process:

  1. Use Music

One of the simplest tricks for helping yourself to both take action and feel more confident: Creating your own inspiring musical playlist, and playing it whenever appropriate. (Athletes know this secret and use music all the time, while training at the gym.)

Just as sad music in minor keys can help us process feelings when life deals blows like relationship breakups, so can energizing music or inspiring music actually raise our confidence level to the point where we take action.

Choose your own favorite “theme song.” It will automatically boost your confidence whenever you hear it.

Here’s one of my theme songs:

It’s by Mary J. Blige- Just Fine

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  1. Dress for Success

This doesn’t mean putting on a formal business suit. It does mean dressing in a way that boosts your self-confidence and makes you feel good about yourself.

Don’t try to copy your ideal client or niche influencer unless that’s a look you totally relate to. It’s more important to dress in a way that makes you feel you have already achieved your top goal.  If you see yourself with gypsy-style earrings and Afrocentric skirts in many colors and layers, go for it. If you see yourself as edgy and trendy, go for it. If you see yourself in a red coat, wear that!  And take note of how it makes you feel, when you dress for success.

Change your hairstyle. Buy those shoes you’ve been wistfully drooling over. Don’t worry about what other people think. Wearing what makes you feel successful and confident will attract the right client—for you.

  1. Make On-going Learning Part of Your Business Life

Knowing you are ahead of your peers (and abreast of top influencers) in the latest changes, improvements or information in your field is another good way to automatically boost your confidence. Sign up for our Virtual Conference, here. 

Take innovative courses, attend lectures, keep your certifications updated or upgraded, and subscribe to—and read—industry journals, in order to keep ahead of the pack and provide your clients with the best service. Proactively do primary research yourself. Contact organizations, companies and experts. That way, you won’t just be following top influencers: You’ll BE one.

  1. Start Small

Do you have a big change to make? Don’t wait for the “right time”—start small. For example, if you want a new office but can’t afford it, try buying a new piece of furniture or an accessory for your office that will make your life easier—like a bookshelf; or even just a shelf. Or a new lamp, to reduce the chronic eyestrain you suffer. Or even just some flowers because you deserve them!

When you start to surround yourself with things that signify success or make life easier, you are sending yourself a strong message – “I CAN have this in my life! I deserve this!”

  1. Make Confidence a Habit

Contrary to what others might think, no one is born with supreme self-confidence. It has to be learned. And it CAN be learned.

So consciously work on changing your habits. Take actions you need to take, change negative self-talk to realistic and more positive talk, and actively adopt the attitude of what you define as a successful person.

Confidence is not only for the few who “succeed.” Anyone can have it—all you have to do is make it a habit.

  1. Practice Makes Perfect

My number one way to walk in confidence is to be prepared – or over prepared if necessary. There is nothing better for increasing confidence than knowing you are absolutely ready to give that speech, approach that media personality or promote your book.

So read over the notes or listen to the recording you made for that new client’s free consultation, in plenty of time for their first appointment. Write down what you need to accomplish before tackling some event or project or task that makes you nervous. Make sure you try everything out in advance.

Practice that speech (many times!) Practice using that new webinar software. Anticipate questions. Make sure you have everything you need assembled and ready to go.

Being prepared is the best way to step out in genuine confidence. You will avoid that “imposter syndrome” that tries to kill your confidence.

  1. Do It until It’s a Yawn

Does phoning people to ask for interview opportunities terrify you? Remember that doing it once is only an ice-breaker. Once you’ve done it, the next one is easier (even if only marginally)—but if you don’t get straight back on the horse, the effect will wane.

Resist the urge to make just one phone call, or send one custom email, or approach one person at a conference. Set a goal of reaching ten, or twenty, or even fifty (if there are enough people to converse with). Sure, it’s a great breakthrough if you do something like pitch the media or do a book-signing for the first time—but the way to REALLY start enjoying these activities is to do it again and again, until you feel confident and sure of yourself.

  1. Realize Your Clients Need—and Want—Your Coaching

Instead of expending energy trying to attract new clients, focus on the ones you already have. They already trust you. They have “bought” from you and they are still coming back for more.

Make sure you meet and exceed their expectations. Be proactive. Anticipate their needs at the next level. Provide aides, extras and resources at the right time. Go over their notes, think about them. Empathize with their problems and dreams.

If you do this—if you treat your existing clients as if they are diamonds—you will automatically attract the same type of client who already wants your services.

  1. Know Your Own Value

The most confident people are those who know their own worth: What their time is worth, what their life experience and expertise is worth and what their services are worth.

Track your time. Look over your achievements and credentials. Read your client testimonials and emails. Identify the area where you help people make the biggest shifts.

Realizing how truly unique and valuable you are to clients can give you the confidence to set a realistic and healthy value on your services… so you can stop over-delivering and under-charging, and have the confidence to know you deserve your fees.

  1. Take Action

Speaking of small steps, one of the best you can take for yourself is to stop thinking and “just do it”—whatever “it” is.

Thinking leads to over-thinking, which leads to procrastination, which leads to a loss of self-worth. So be the person who takes action when others are still tossing around possible solutions.

Taking action is empowering. So, give your clients the best example, and be that “action person” they look up to, and admire. Tidy your desk. Send that email. Make those phone calls. Feel accomplished and gain momentum – and you’ll collect with confidence.

Pam Perry one of the speakers at the BacktoBusiness.me conference featured above. She is an award-winning PR Coach & social media strategist delivering online branding and marketing solutions for best-selling authors, nonprofits and entrepreneurs/authorpreneurs.  She is also the publisher of SPEAKERS MAGAZINE.

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4 Ways to Renew Your Mind for Business SUCCESS

4 Ways to Renew Your Mind for SUCCESS!

Everyday we’re bombarded with negative reports, which, if you’re not careful, can shape your thoughts and beliefs, programming you for a mundane life at best. True success isn’t an accident that just happens. If you want to break out of the status quo and excel as a Kingdom entrepreneur, you’ve got to train yourself for success.

 

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2 NIV)

 

To be a good entrepreneur you don’t need to conform to the world’s standard. You can be successful in the business world without being of the business world. When you renew your mind to think the way God thinks, you can program yourself for a successful outcome and fulfill His will for your business.

 

Here are 4 ways you can program your mind for success:

Number 1 ~ Meditation

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8 NIV)

“..but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night…whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1:2-3 NIV)

Meditating on the Word of God is a great way to program your mind for success. It simply means thinking about the scriptures and pondering on the promises of God. Make a list of scriptures that relate to you and your business and repeat them over in your mind until it becomes your mindset.

 

Number 2 ~ Knowledge

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” (Proverbs 24:3-6 NIV)

If you want to profit in business, there’s no substitute for knowledge. Wisdom and understanding both go hand in hand with knowledge. Make it a priority to acquire knowledge about your industry or field, marketing, technology etc. When you mix this knowledge with godly wisdom (from the Word) and understanding (from the Holy Spirit) you have a powerful recipe for success.

 

Number 3 ~ Association

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17 NIV)

The people you spend the most time with will have an influence on the way you think so be careful who you associate with. Actively seek to stay around people who will inspire you to greater heights and encourage you to think big.

 

Number 4 ~ Humility

Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] (Philippians 2:5 AMP)

The world likes to portray successful entrepreneurs as being arrogant. God’s Word paints a different picture of success. In fact the greatest leaders, inside and out of the bible, are often those who are the most humble – our Lord Jesus being the best example. In turn God gives more grace to those who are humble.

Your SUCCESS is Our Business!

Dr. Minetta Hare, President/CEO
Good Success Seminars, Training & Coaching Services.

For more additional on our training, seminars, workshops, conference and coaching services, contact us at goodsuccesseminars@gmail.com #Buisnessuccess #renewmind  #association #goodsuccess

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