From the category archives:

For Entrepreneurs

Bleh

May 3, 2011

That’s how I’m feeling. And it shows because I haven’t been very active in social media and I haven’t updated my blog in a while. I write when I’m inspired and I get really quiet when I’m not. It’s not the way to build a blog or an audience, but as a friend of mine [...]

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Should I Join a BNI Networking Group?

April 18, 2011

BNI (Business Networking International) is an industry-exclusive, competition-free networking group  that gathers once a week for the purpose of passing referrals to everyone in the group. When I started my business three years ago, I joined a BNI group and I didn’t renew after my first year. Why? It is a big investment in time. [...]

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On Fighting Skunks

April 11, 2011

Last Saturday, I had the chance to hear an outstanding speaker named Keith Lowry who enlightened us about dealing with difficult people. In his hilarious and poignant way, Keith took us through his experience dealing with an extraordinarily difficult, button-pushing person. Part of what he learned was which battles to fight. My friends, as entrepreneurs, [...]

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Procrastination Is Important

April 4, 2011

Sometimes I procrastinate because I’m disorganized. You know, I can’t find what I need,  so I can’t do what I need to do. Sometimes I procrastinate because I’m lazy. I would just rather do something else like get on Twitter, talk to a friend or read a can’t-put-it-down book. But most of the time I [...]

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What I’ve Learned In 3 Years of Business

April 1, 2011

Today is the three year anniversary of my business! Woo-hoo!!! I started to write a post with all the things I’ve learned in the last three years, but it got too big. (Look for an ebook soon.) Instead, here’s the short and simple version: Do what you love. Be picky about your clients. Stop giving [...]

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How to Do Great Marketing with (Almost) Zero Money – Jeff Ogden

March 14, 2011

You are in for a treat! Welcome to the 2nd in a series of marketing specific posts for small business owners called March Marketing Madness. My guest expert today is Jeff Ogden, President of Find New Customers. I met Jeff virtually on Twitter via #B2BChat (I suggest you follow that Twitter conversation Thursday nights) and [...]

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Someone Stole My Clients!

March 10, 2011

This was a concern of two of my clients recently. In John’s case, an ex-employee is contacting his clients trying to woo them away to John’s competition. He asked me if he should give his ex-employee a call accompanied by a smack down. He also wondered if he should reduce his prices to keep the [...]

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How To Stop Doing Things for Free

February 24, 2011

When three clients ask me similar questions in one week, I figure it’s time to write a blog post. 1st Client Question: Someone who follows me on Twitter asked to have coffee with me. It sounded like she was interested in hiring me, but she ended up asking me for free advice the whole time. [...]

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I Changed My First Flat Tire – 3 Business Lessons

February 20, 2011

I’ve always wanted to learn how to change a flat tire. It just seems like one of those things that every woman should know how to do. Personally, I don’t want to be stuck somewhere without cell coverage and at the mercy of whoever drives by with good or bad intentions. My husband has been [...]

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The Simplest And Best Advice About Delegating I’ve Ever Heard (PG-13)

February 16, 2011

If you struggle with delegating work to your employees, you’re not alone. Entrusting parts of your business, your blood, sweat, money and reputation is scary and you wouldn’t be normal if you didn’t have a fair amount of trepidation about it. However, if you are an entrepreneur, you simply can’t afford not to delegate. What [...]

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What To Do About Your Competition

February 9, 2011

Have you ever feared what competitors might do to your business? There is a healthy fear which may prompt you to do research about your competitors so you will understand your differences and strengths. Perhaps you’ve succumbed to some unhealthy fear on occasion? This type of fear might lead you to read every blog post [...]

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The Best Time to Do Something in Your Business Is…

February 2, 2011

A perspective to help you get unstuck: Related posts: 3 Ways to Stop Overcommiting Why You’re Feeling Business Fatigue If I Were a Light Switch — How All or Nothing Will Hurt Your Business Alicia Arenas is a business coach and corporate trainer. When she’s not singing or song-writing, she helps her entrepreneurs increase their [...]

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What Corporate Can Learn From Small Business

January 26, 2011

I was recently interviewed by a local magazine and the interviewer asked me this question: “You worked with a wide range of clients, from family-owned businesses to several Fortune 500 companies, what have you learned from both?” I think the answer to that question merits a post. I learned that both business models have a [...]

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Get Future Hindsight Today

January 24, 2011

As I look back at this high school graduation picture, I remember what my life was like, what I was thinking about and how I was feeling about myself and my future. And in retrospect, I have to laugh at how I thought my life was over because I didn’t have a boyfriend, because my [...]

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5 Ways to Build Your Twitter Influence

January 21, 2011

Anytime someone uses the phrase “social media guru” it cracks me up because really and truly, it’s not that hard to build a strong following online. You don’t have to be a guru and it certainly doesn’t require 10,000 hours of mastery. You must, however, understand that building influence online is about building relationships. You’re [...]

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Why You’re Feeling Business Fatigue

January 19, 2011

What do you think? Does this apply to you? Related Posts: 3 Ways to Stop Overcommitting Are You A Crystal or A Magnifying Glass Why Your Business Isn’t Changing Alicia Arenas is a business coach and corporate trainer. When she’s not singing or song-writing, she helps her entrepreneurs increase their sales through coaching and her [...]

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Auntie Grace’s Thank You Note Primer

January 3, 2011

Auntie Grace was technically not my real aunt, but she was family to me. She could not have had a better name because Grace described every bit of her: her hair, her nails, the way she walked, her immaculate and elegant wardrobe and the way she spoke.  Her daughter Anna and I were childhood best [...]

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My 2011 Ikebana Un-Resolution

January 1, 2011

I had this well-written blog about how to stop writing resolutions because they don’t work and how to do strategic planning instead. I even had this checklist about the best way to set goals. And then I thought, “Screw it.” Instead, I’m just going to write what’s on my mind – pretty or not. Ikebana [...]

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Small Business Gift Giving

December 30, 2010

I visited a client the first week of December. I walked into his office and sitting on his desk were boxes of cookies, candy, pretzels and Harry and David. You know what he said to me? “I’ve got a ton of this stuff. Take whatever you want.” Stuff? Someone spent their hard earned money buying [...]

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Project Entrepreneurs Inspire

December 6, 2010

I’m sick and tired of seeing entrepreneurs fail. In the last two weeks, three people I know closed their businesses and two others filed for bankruptcy. Gosh darn it! It’s not easy being an entrepreneur. We all have our moments when we hit a wall and are tempted to throw in the towel. I have [...]

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