Stuck in Start up

The dream has been captured and hidden inside your heart throughout the years. The letterhead, business cards, website, and a mile-long list of clients are all vivid images dancing around in your thoughts. Now, you must decide what keys are necessary to ignite the fire in the engine of your dream to make it a reality. Once you have laid out your road map, join the thousands of women business owners who have moved from being stuck in their start up phase.

According to the Center for Women’s Business Research, women-owned businesses grew at twice the rate in comparison to other segments during the period of 1997 to 2002, and account for 16 percent of all U.S. jobs. Women-owned companies contribute over $2.8 trillion dollars annually to the economy, while also directly and indirectly impacting the creation of more than 23 million jobs.

Even though, there has been tremendous growth of women-owned business, a segment of women still lag behind in growing their businesses at the rate of their counterparts. Women of color are estimated to start businesses three times more than other groups; however, research reflects that they face more major obstacles to moving from the initial start up phase to full implementation of reaching their defined success level. Those obstacles include cash flow and capital; marketing; access to decision makers; human resources; and strategic partnerships.

What can you do move your business to the next level?  First, you should network, network and network with everyone, especially with individuals who have expertise in establishing a business.  Next work through the steps necessary to overcome obstacles and challenges - draft a business plan, develop marketing strategies, implement administrative processes, and allow yourself room to make mistakes, but ultimately learn from those mistakes.  Along the path to entrepreneurship, seek out materials to help you learn how to run a successful business.  This may be in the form of buying books, attending classes, or contacting the Small Business Administration. 

Now that your homework has been completed, you can forge ahead to making your dream business into reality!

In the Meantime ... Career Strategies

The first step toward career success is building a positive self esteem and establishing a healthy confidence. Whether, if you are currently unemployed, underemployed or seeking a promotion, begin your job search by promising to be optimistic and believing that you are able to reach beyond your current situation.

The second step is preparing your resume. A resume is a concise, accurate and well-organized summary of your qualifications, skills, education, and career interests. The resume is the first impression that is presented to a potential employer. A resume should always be accompanied with a cover letter. The cover letter should be addressed to a specific individual, identify the targeted job, state why you are writing, explain how your qualifications align with the position, and indicate follow up options.

The third step is preparing for the interview. The interview is your second chance to make a good impression. The three R's for effective interview preparation are research, rehearse, and respond. First, research the company to identify its mission, goals, and services. Your research will also allow you to prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the company and the job itself. Second, rehearse potential questions that may be asked. Also, plan your attire, which should be professional and conservative. Third, respond by sending a thank you letter immediately following the interview that should include your continued interest in the position, and thank the interviewer for their information and time.

A fourth step in the career search process is effective networking. As many as 80 percent of job openings are filled by networking, which means solid networking skills are essential, especially in a competitive economy. Networking takes on many facets including talking with people in your immediate circle, then expanding your network to include employee referrals, mentors, and professional organizations. Remember to always add the personal touch when networking by remembering names, follow up with recent contacts, and always stay in touch with your network circle by either a periodic email or phone call.

Networking Your Way to Success

You have done your homework, your book has been designed and printed, now you are ready to pound the pavement and knock down doors to make that sale. First, design your website to include the cover of your book, a picture of yourself, a synopsis of the book, ordering information, and contact information are the basic pages to include when you initially set up your site. Watch the site grow as your sales increase. You will have additional information to include such author events, photos, and reviews. Second, create an interesting email campaign to send to your contacts to spread the word about your new book, and hopefully, they will then forward your email to their family and friends.

Join the social networking phenomenon, set up your Face Book and MySpace pages. If you already have a personal page set up, then establish a separate page for your book business. It is best to maintain a professional appearance on your social networking sites, you never know who is watching... Create a blog page and keep it update with fresh, new content to keep readers coming back. Always make your website is linked to all of your marketing material. Readers need to know how to always contact you or review your work.

Join author and writing groups, which will prove to be beneficial in several ways. These groups can offer constructive criticism, honest feedback, and become interested buyers. Also, have business cards printed and available with you at all times. Have bookmarks or postcards printed with the cover of your book as the design, and include ordering information such as the ISBN number for easy access. Remember persistence pays off!