Archives for April 2013

Do You Have An Inspired Brand?

mallYou have business cards, check. Your website is up, check. You are networking, check. You even have some clients, check. You’ve done all the things you’re suppose to be doing to get your business  up and running and now it’s running, but that’s about it. You don’t feel the way you thought you would at this point. Things aren’t as fun and exciting as you imagined they would be.

It happens to most entrepreneurs at some point. In the beginning you have all the enthusiasm of a kid on the last day of school. You can’t wait to open the doors and get out there, but something happens along the way and you lose steam. While it’s true, there is a lot of foot work to be done to lay a strong foundation for your business, you mustn’t lose the spark that set you on the entrepreneurial path in the first place in the process.

That spark is the core of your brand. It’s not the snazzy business cards, the zippy new tagline or even your great services or products that is going to attract people to your brand. How enthusiastically people respond to your brand is in direct proportion to the level of passion you exude towards what you do.

But what’s a girl to do if she’s lost that lovin’ feeling? It is essential you find ways to stay excited and inspired about your business. Here are a few ideas to get you back into your groove: [Read more…]

I’m Off That

“If you off that, it means you don’t mess with it
But if you love that, it means you mess with it
Let me tell you what I mess with…”

I recently added a new song to my iPod called “I’m off that” by Pitbull.  I downloaded it because it had a good beat, but really didn’t pay much attention to the lyrics until I went for my run and had a chance to listen more closely.

“Dirty money, I’m off that
Cleaning money, I’m off that
Phony money, I’m off that
Getting money, I love that”

Pitbull says over and over, “I’m off that, but I love that” listing all the things he no longer likes or desires and then declaring what he does love now. Even though the frame of reference is very different from my own experience, I LOVE the inference.  It’s a song of letting go and upgrading. I thought it was such a great lesson. [Read more…]

Where’s The Party At?

iStock_000023713971XSmallI love InStyle magazine. It’s so fun to look at gorgeous celebrities in the beautiful gowns they’ve worn to the Oscars or some fabulous party. Is there anything that makes a woman look better than a well fitted gown? I don’t think so.

When I was in college I would go with my girlfriends to Bloomingdales and try on all of the prettiest, most expensive gowns I could find. I’m sure the sales people hated us, but it was so much fun. Really, ladies, if you ever want a pick-me-up, I highly suggest you try it. Of course, in those days I was also performing a lot and actually did need gowns for my wardrobe. I had a reason to get dressed up, I was going on the stage.

A big part of creating a winning brand is knowing how to dress it up, but making it look pretty is only the beginning. In order to have success, you have to step onto the stage. You can’t just stand in the wings in your ball gown and expect your business to grow. It is a mistake I see many entrepreneurs make. They think because they have spent time and money getting their websites up or sharp new business cards or even a snappy new tagline, their work is done. In fact, it’s just beginning! [Read more…]

Turn Fantasy into Reality and Start Living the Dream

“When I grow up, I wanna be famous
I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies
When I grow up, I wanna see the world
Drive nice cars, I wanna have boobies

When I grow up, be on TV
People know me, be on magazines
When I grow up, fresh and clean
Number one chick when I step out on the scene”–The Pussy Cat Dolls

 

What did you wish for when you were a kid? Did you want to be famous? Did you love music or horses or maybe painting was more your thing? When I was a kid, I wanted very badly to be an olympic gymnast. I would practice hand stands for hours and hours, but alas, the closest I ever came to olympic glory was doing cartwheels for the half-time show of a donkey basketball game at our local high school. For those of you unrefined heathens out there, donkey basketball is played by grown men riding real donkeys up and down the court. True story, I could not make this up!

As a chubby grade-schooler living in rural Wisconsin, I had about as much chance of becoming an olympic gymnast as Courtney Love has of being elected president. I eventually let go of that dream and moved on to others. In 3rd grade I wanted to be an astronaut, in high school I wanted to be on the olympic volleyball team, in college I wanted to sing at the Met. None of these fantasies [Read more…]