 |
January 2006
Interview with
Kirsten Osolind
Kirsten Osolind is January's Wild WE of the Month.
Kirsten is the founder and CEO of re:invention,
inc., a marketing company for women-led businesses and the companies
trying to reach them.
Tell us about how your company, re:invention, came about and what services you offer to women.
re:invention, inc. (re:invention,
inc.), a full-service integrated marketing company for women-led businesses and the companies trying to reach them, was founded in 2002. Since then, we’ve worked with some of the nation’s premiere women entrepreneurs, executives, corporations, and organizations. We help our clients increase sales, build credibility, launch new products, discover new distribution channels, forge profitable partnerships, build an online presence, and gain national media exposure.
Our clients are served via re:invention's nationwide certified marketing associates network. Each of our certified associates has 10 or more years experience with a Fortune 1000 company or leading agency, to ensure that our clients receive high quality marketing work. Together, we are committed to exceeding client expectations and delivering measurable results.
How did you fall into your niche?
We watched, we listened, we learned. Women-led businesses are growing in number, yet only 3% gross over $1 million in revenues. Much about women-led businesses -- what makes them tick -- still remains a mystery. Part of our mission at re:invention is to educate corporations about women business owners and how best to reach them. When we connect corporations with women business owners, we all win. Our end goal: to build more women-led million dollar businesses. We’ve found that women entrepreneurs are seeking solutions and they need more than passion and creativity in their Little Pink Toolbox to succeed: they need marketing, money, massive customers or clients, and meaningful mentors. It’s important to note however, that re:invention is not a parental figure….they are also teaching us and we’re growing right along with them.
What kinds of women-owned businesses do you work with?
re:invention works with both Fortune 1000 companies and high-growth women-owned businesses. A bit about how we work...
re:invention introduces Fortune 1000 companies to women’s organizations and the women-led companies that re:invention endorses and supports. We share our insights about women business owners and executives and help develop profitable marketing programs to better reach them. We also work with women business owners. Our women-owned business clients all fit 3 criteria: (1) they have been in business at least 2 years (2) they are cash flow positive (3) they are willing to make a serious commitment and investment in marketing for measurable results.
Who have been your mentors and inspirations along your Wild WE journey?
A good friend once suggested to me that mentors were overrated. To paraphrase this friend: "There are people you collaborate with for mutual benefit, people you compete with, people who have knowledge you want, people who have influence you wish to benefit from, and people you just like. At any given time an individual may fall into more than 1 category or they may move to another category, it's not a conscious thing either, just a way to view your colleagues."
Over time, I have stumbled my way around to this friend's way of thinking. Simply put: I think you need to commit yourself to helping others when you can, accept help when its offered to you, and help yourself. I'm lucky to work with a wonderful team – Melissa, Todd, Lynn, and Lori – heck, I just like 'em! I also respect them. They are a constant inspiration and together we are building momentum.
We’re so glad to see your blog is back after a hiatus. It’s one of the most simultaneously comprehensive AND entertaining blogs I’ve read in awhile. What advice or tips would you give to women small business bloggers?
Don’t let the A-list bloggers get you down. Define your own niche and declare your own strategic advantage. Blogging doesn’t need to be competitive, it can be cooperative. Daily traffic and inbound links should not be your only measurement of success. I've met some damn fine people blogging (some dinkheads too, but that's part of the drill).
If you could give one piece of advice to Wild WE’s reading this, what would it be?
Someone was clearly tricked into letting me give the keynote speech at Duke’s 2005 Weekend for Women Conference, during which I described 5 “mantras” for women entrepreneurs:
- remember a road map and learn to keep score (like it or not, the score in business is kept in dollars and the system of accounting provides the rules for keeping score)
- know your strengths and weaknesses;
- surround yourself with people who are smarter than you are;
- focus on expanding your territory, creative marketing, and “isolating faces” (i.e. build coalitions, secure profitable partners, and create advisory boards);
- believe in your own ideas even when others don’t.
These mantras are pretty much the best advice I can give to women. But I’m always actively listening to hear everyone else’s advice and suggestions. Women and men wow me with wisdom everyday.
Achieve More by
Deleting "Should" From Your Vocabulary
By Kimberly Dawn Wells
When we talk about our goals, we use the word "should" a lot. Most of us think it's just an innocent word that helps us get out of boring conversations and confrontations about our bad habits. However, the word "should" poisons our speech and ambitions by inferring that what we're doing isn't good enough, and that we would be better off doing something else.
When you say you "should" do something, what are you really saying?
1. It's an obligation that you're not fond of.
We don't talk about how we "should" do things that we don't feel obligated to do. If we are excited about eating cake, we don't say, "I "should" eat cake." We just do it! However, if we feel obligated to eat celery, it becomes a "should." If making cookies for the bake sale is a "should," it's an obligation. If it were a fun activity, it would be easy for you to just do it.
2. You're not going to do it and you have an excuse as to why.
"I "should" ________________," is usually followed by, "but ______________." When you say things like this, you are proclaming to the world that you agree one course of action would be appropriate, and that you're going to do the exact opposite. Imagine how foolish you would sound telling your boss, "I know that the appropriate thing to do is to stay late and finish the proposal so I am prepared for tomorrow's meeting, and instead of doing that I am going to go home and take the chance of not finishing it before the meeting tomorrow morning." If this is what you really mean, why bother disguising with a "should?" Deep down, you know what's really going on.
3. You know exactly what you need to do to make things better and you haven't started yet!
For all of you out there who "should" stop smoking, who "should" lose weight, or who "should" go back to school, you know exactly what you want to do to make your life better for yourself, and you're using "should" as a lame excuse not to take action! Of course, standing on the sidelines is much easier than running after the ball, but you don't win any games that way. If you have a long list of "should's" and a short list of goals, choose which of those "should's" you will follow through with and put your plans on paper.
If instead of feeling that your day is just one thing you "should" do after another thing you "should" do, turn your "should's" into definite "will's" or "will not's." While "should" robs you of power and motivation, "will" gives you power and resolve to get things done. With fewer "should's" in your vocabulary, you'll find yourself speeding along the road to accomplishment.
Kimberly Dawn Wells is a freelance writer and author of the BE SMART Goal Achievement System. For more information on how you can preplan your barriers and learn dozens of other techniques that will allow you to achieve all your goals, visit http://www.BESMARTGoals.com. Find more articles like this at http://www.k23enterprises.com/articles.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kimberly_Dawn_Wells
How to Achieve
Your Goals
By Ja-Nae Duane, Founder, Wild Women Entrepreneurs
We all have a goal that we are trying to achieve. It doesn’t
matter if you are a runner or a musician; there is always something
that you would like to have. Well, though I wish that fairy godmothers
were real……they’re not. It’s our responsibility
to go out and obtain our own wishes and desires. Of course, nothing
will ever be accomplished without perseverance and self discipline.
I can not begin to count the times I’ve heard, “Yea,
I’m in a band. We’re practicing and stuff, but we can’t
seem to really get any gigs or get a break.” Of course, I
immediately start asking them how hard they have been trying and
what tactics they ’ve used. A few months after, I’ll
ask how everything is going with their project. Most of the time,
either nothing has been done or they have been banging their heads
against the wall with the same angle. At this point, I give up on
them.
If you want something, here are just a few helpful hints:
1)Make sure all your eggs are lined in a row
2)GO AND GET IT
3)Be persistent
4)Be creative: When one angle doesn’t work, try another angle
5)Be disciplined
6)Know when to give up
Make sure all your eggs are lined in a row
I can’t seem to stress this enough: NO ONE WILL DO THINGS
FOR YOU. I have a friend who is extremely talented in graphic design,
yet he feels like the world owes him everything. Since he is still
in school, there are some skills that he still needs to fine tune,
yet he does not see that. He thinks that he should be given a job
because he has raw talent. So, instead of working on what his weaknesses
are, he keeps getti ng angry that no one will hire him. People want
a polished product. So, do a self-inventory of yourself every six
months. Ask yourself these questions:
1) What are my strengths?
2) What are my weaknesses?
3) What do I need to do to work on my weaknesses?
Once you have self-evaluated, you can prioritize what needs to be
worked on first and so on. This way you have a structure in which
you can follow. The preparation for achieving your goal is half
the work. Don’t sell it short, or you might end up at square
one again.
Go and get it
My father used to give me some great advice, “If you want
something….examine what it is and the things you need to get
it. Once everything is ready, just go get it, because no one will
get it for you.” How true that statement is. Everyone has
their own agendas and is looking out for themselves. Occasionally
you will find people who are willing to help you, but they want
to see that what they’re investing in is the real deal. So
make sure that you are the real deal. No one will give you the time
of day if you haven’t proven to them that you are a go-getter
and are willing to struggle to make things happen. If you want something,
go get it. And if people are so inclined to help you, then it is
an extra benefit.
Be persistent
Once you are prepared to go out and achieve your goal…..just
do it. But be persistent in doing it. In my early college days I
was a tour coordinator for children’s tours. It was a job
that seemed interesting, would pay the bills, and be flexible around
my classes. When I interviewed for the job and the woman told me
that she would call in about a week. I waited that week, but when
I hadn’t heard from her, I decided to give her a call. She
said that they hadn’t made a decision yet. So, I waited two
days and then called again. She told me to call back in a day or
two. So, I called late the next day. I was hired over the phone.
She then proceeded to tell me that though my resume did not stand
out from any of the other candidates, my persistence and passion
to have this job was exactly what they were looking for.
Now, there is a difference between being persistent and being annoying.
If you are a candidate for a job, you want to show your eagerness
without being overzealous about it. So, don’t call every day,
but every other day. This allows for you to be in the forefront
of people’s minds, which will increase your chances of getting
whatever you want or need from them.
Be creative: When one angle doesn’t work, try another
angle
Being persistent is one thing, but being persistent while using
a plethora of tactics is another. Sometimes one approach to something
isn’t enough. You have to try something new and innovative
to help you get what you want. Get creative with it and start thinking
outside the box. www.creativethink.com
is one of my favorite websites whenever I need to get the creative
juices flowing. It helps me realize that there are no limitations
on the angles I can approach my goal from. The only limitations
are the ones I set and nothing else.
A good thing to keep in mind while looking for angles is how will
people benefit from your product? This is particularly true if you’re
trying to solicit something from someone. They have their own best
interests in mind first, so they want to know how you will help
them. A friend of mine used to send postcards to bars that said,
“I want to help you sell liquor.” Of course his band
got the gig! So, start thinking of ways that others can benefit
from you.
Be disciplined
Discipline can be an art form……and it needs to be
an art form that you learn to master.No one is going to keep you
motivated but yourself…….so find ways to keep yourself
that way. Some people like motivational signs around their desk,
some people have their friends and family hounding them….you
decide what is right for you.
What you must have is a to-do list. You are a business and your
goal is a part of that business. Make a monthly and a daily to-do
list that will lay stepping stones towards achieving your goal.
If the goal is an extremely large one (like the advancement of your
career), then make sure that you also have a yearly timeline. Life
is a progression and so is everything within life. So, create a
progression for your goal. The more steps you take towards the goal,
the more likely you’ll achieve it.
Know when to give up
When do you give up your goal? The answer is never. But if you’re
having trouble achieving your goal, depending on what that goal
may be, you may have to alter it. Or just take a breather, step
back for a while and reevaluate the goal. Is it a feasible goal
for you? If not, why? By stepping back you’re allowing yourself
to have a more outside perspective on the situation. This outside
perspective could help you see where you went wr ong or to what
stepping stone you need to go back to. Sometimes when we are so
involved in something, we are too close to realize that we missed
a step. Know yourself and know what you need.
Goals
Anything is achievable with the right preparation and the right
frame of mind. Through perseverance and self-discipline you can
discover that you are closer to your goal than you think. It just
takes one step at a time.
(c) 2003 by Ja-Naé Duane - All Rights Reserved
Up and Coming Renaissance woman, Founder/President of Wild Women
Entrepreneurs, and expert self-promoter, Ja-Naé Duane, is
taking the world by storm.....one gig at a time.
Check out: http://Ja-Nae.com
REPRINT PERMISSION
Would you like to run some of the content from this article
on your web site or in your e-zine? You may do so for free
as long as you add the following credit:
"Reprinted from Ja-Naé Duane's Newsletter, featuring
Ja-Naé's up-coming gigs and projects; and focusing on free
self-
promotion ideas; and free self-actualizing hints.
Visit http://Ja-Nae.com for free
details."
|
|
Teach Your
Own Class with Wild WE's Boot Camp!
If you have been dying to teach, here is your chance. Here's what
we need from you:
1) Resume
2) Web site URL
3) A course description
4) The dates and times you would like to run the classes (How many
weeks, how many days a week, time you would like it)
5) How you intend to promote the class (we promote it, but we like
to see what resources each of our Wild WE Boot Camp Leaders have)
Please send all your information to Ja-Nae: ja-nae@thewildwe.com
This is offered to all members for JUST a limited time! You must
sign up before February 1st. After February 1st, you MUST be a Gold
Member or higher. Don't miss this GREAT opportunity for you to get
yourself and your business noticed.
Wild WE Forums
Wild WE now offers members-only online forums where you can discuss
the business issues most important to you. Go to: http:/www.thewildwe.com/ForumEntry.html
or e-mail members@thewildwe.com to learn more.
Wild WE Direct Sellers Forum
A friendly place for those in direct sales to share information
on how to succeed in direct sales and to support each other in our
prosperity.
Email members@thewildwe.com
for details.
Quotation
of the Month
You got to be careful if you don't know where you're going, because
you might not get there.--Yogi Berra
Upcoming
Events
Boston, Wild WE Spa Event, Sunday Brunch and Spa
Sun., February 26, noon. Hosted by Tatiana Lewis, Boston City Leader
Dellaria Hair and Spa Salon in Newton Center, Newton,
MA
Stay tuned for more information!
Minneapolis, Launch Event, Tues., January 31, 6-9
p.m. FREE!
Where: Rock Bottom Brewery
800 Hennepin Ave.
Downtown Minneapolis
Cincinnati's Networking Mixer: Connections: Past,
Present and Future Cincinnati Women in Business, Mon., Feb. 6, 6:30-9
p.m. FREE!
Encore Cafe (ample parking available)
7305 Tylers Corner Dr
West Chester, OH 45069
We will have information about some of the most prominent
Cincinnati women in business. We will have about 10 - 15 minutes about the
opportunities for area women in business and then discuss plans to strengthen women in business and create new opportunities for the next generation of Cincy women in business. Part of our discussion will include our plans to put a mentor program in place.
See the Events
page for cost and registration information.
FREE Online Events
Teleconference with MenoQueen: Vickie Queen
When: Monday, February 13, 2006, 9pm EST
Where: Teleconference
What you need: A telephone
Topic: Hormonal Health
See the Events page
for registration information.
Beauty:
Inside and Out
By Charlotte Maddox
Stuck in a beauty quandary? Can't pull yourself out of your fashion
rut? Feeling like a Glamour "don't"? E-mail your beauty
and fashion questions to our expert beauty consultant, Charlotte
Maddox, at ask@thewildwe.com.
If we publish your question, we will offer you a free text ad in
our newsletter. All questions will be published anonymously.
Your Goals for the New Year and the New
You!
Do you believe in making New Year’s resolutions? Or do you
set goals for yourself throughout the year? Whether you view the
turn of the calendar from 2005 to 2006 as a time to make changes
in your life or consider each new day as an opportunity, what do
you strive toward?
Is one of your goals reducing stress in your life? We know about
the benefits of yoga but have you thought about Pilates? There’s
something about focusing your efforts on assuming its challenging
positions that displaces stress. (A side benefit is stronger abs!)
Is one of your goals maintaining your fitness or getting more fit?
Have you tried exercising in the pool? There are dance and sport-specific
workouts for almost every activity including walking and running,
cycling, golf, tennis and racquetball, cross-country skiing, you-name-it.
Water is a terrific cross-training medium and provides a nice change
of routine.
Is one of your goals losing weight? Online, we can research any
number of diets, log and track our progress, ask questions and even
receive support. (Have you checked out eDiets.com, the SouthBeachDiet.com,
WeightWatchers.com?)
Is one of your goals developing a more effective or simpler beauty
routine? Each season, adjust your skin care products to optimize
your skin’s reaction to the indoor and outdoor environments.
Then “play” with some of the new colors and products;
you’ll have fun and find a new look.
As the experts tell us, we increase our chances of reaching our
goals if we write them down, keep them in front of us and take steps
to make them happen!.
Communication Corner
By Dina Giolitto
You can write great copy for your business with practice and guidance.
The Communication Corner, a monthly column from freelance copywriter,
Dina Giolitto of Wordfeeder.com,
provides answers to all your writing questions. Got a pressing copywriting
question? Send it to Dina at ask@thewildwe.com.
If we publish your question, we will offer you a free text ad in
our newsletter. All questions will be published anonymously.
Are You Content With the Quality of Your
E-Zine? How to Send HTML-Formatted Emails in Outlook Express
How many times has this happened to you: you've been slaving over that email newsletter for hours, perfecting the tables, checking and rechecking the copy, tweaking image files. You're finally ready to send, hooray! You take a deep breath, click... and what happens? Your email newsletter goes out to thousands of people looking like crap! WHY? There was a problem with the images being read. It's enough to drive a marketer over the edge...
Tip: Take this Article and SAVE IT to Your Desktop. Next time you want to send out an ezine, open this up and read the directions carefully!
1. Create your email newsletter in an HTML editor. If you don't have one, purchase DreamWeaver or go for a freeware version here: http://nvu.com.
2. Create the "tabloid" where your newsletter will live. Use the "insert table" or a similarly labeled function to do this. Think logically, and create tables inside of tables where your various sections will be placed.
3. Add stylistic elements. Choose a font for the text and another for the headline. Decide if your tables should have a border or not. Add cellpadding (10-15 pixels or so) to every table inside your main table. Cellpadding gives your table's text and pictures a border so they look cleaner and more professional.
4. This is important: Make sure that the page you created does NOT have a background color. If your page has a background color or file, it will create problems if you decide to pop the HTML code into an email or on a network page that you own. In the editor I use, you must click FORMAT and then "page colors and background to edit the background color. Set it to NONE.
5. Fill in the details. Add all of the remaining elements including great copy, images that have been properly named and uploaded to your hosting server, and live links that your readers can click to "learn more," "download," or "buy now". When you're satisfied with the results, save as an .html file to your desktop or a properly labeled folder and publish.
6. Prepare to copy the file. Open a new, blank email in Microsoft Outlook Express. Go to the three tabs at the bottom - Edit, Source, and Preview. You want to be in the SOURCE panel. Open up the html file you created in the editor, and click VIEW>SOURCE. Click Control-C.
7. Transfer the code to your email now. Go back to the email SOURCE panel and do a CONTROL-V. Your code should flow in from the file you saved. Save as a draft just in case you accidentally wipe out the file, at least it'll be in your DRAFTS folder.
8. Take a good look at your newsletter. Do this in the EDIT tab of your Microsoft Outlook Express. The graphics, tables and copy should appear here looking virtually the way they looked in the HTML page you created. If everything is shifted to the left, go back to the HTML document, click the OUTSIDE table, click PROPERTIES, and designate CENTER as your alignment.
9. FIX and SEND! Add the new code back to your email by repeating steps 6 and 7 and then view your email in the EDIT panel once again. When you're satisfied with the results, blind copy your contact addresses, a catchy headline that will be noticed in people's email boxes, and finally hit SEND.
As I mentioned earlier, sending out a newsletter that looks sloppy and contains missing pictures gets a slap on the wrist! Don't let it happen to you. If you keep these instructions handy, they may prove useful for you one day. I know I plan to use them myself!
Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved.
Are YOU Content With Your Content? Get Top Secret Marketing Tips from the Web's Biggest Gurus and Expert Authors on The First Annual Web Content Awareness Day on FEBRUARY 9, 2006.
Go to http://wordfeeder.com/wcad/landingpage.html
for details.
Dina Giolitto is a copywriting consultant and ghostwriter with 10 years of experience writing corporate print materials and web content. Trust her with your next e-book, article series or web project, and make a lasting impression on your audience of information-hungry prospects. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for more details.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dina_Giolitto
|
