By Sylvia Browder, on November 15th, 2011% A client recently asked me ‘how would she know when she was finally successful.’ I explained that success means different things to each of us. To achieve success, you must define what it signifies. Success is a journey! As we sail through life, we encounter many obstacles along the way. Imagine yourself sailing the high seas; navigating your ship as it sails through calm waters. At times, it will buck in storms. If you are determined to stay the course, you must periodically adjust your navigational instruments and adjust when problems arise.
As you continue your journey, envision the serene, tranquil and calm blue water with sea gulls flying above, a light house in the far distance and several boats sailing calmly with the waves; here are 4 ways to navigate to your port of dreams!
By Sylvia Browder, on October 28th, 2011%  I was truly inspired by the story of a 100 year old man, Fauja Singh, who after 8 hours of running, made it to the finish line at the Toronto Marathon. Though he finished last, he was determined, thus, earning a spot in the Guinness World Records. After finishing the article, I thought about the similarities of preparing for a marathon to that of running a business.
As a woman in business with many responsibilities, here are 3 tips to help you to the finish line:
Stay Dedicated… it’s Key
As a marathon runner, a daily workout routine is imperative to condition your body. This includes training early or late; maintaining a well-balanced and strict diet; and making adjustments in your routine to ensure your success.
By Sylvia Browder, on October 19th, 2011% “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.” Erma Bombeck
In the recent death of Steve Jobs, I watched a video of his 2005 commencement speech to Stanford University graduates. Ironically, I watched it using his brilliant creation, the I-phone. As I allowed his words to resonate in my mind, “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today,” I related those words to my life and to the many women who are business owners, mothers, mentors, volunteers and more. Are you living a life of purpose?
By Sylvia Browder, on September 7th, 2011% Have you ever launched a marketing campaign yet it didn’t yield the results you envisioned? Did you take the time to thoroughly research your campaign idea before executing it? Important elements to a sound campaign encompass identifying your product or service and your consumers.
The other day, I met with a client to discuss her upcoming marketing campaign. When I asked her to share her overall goals for this initiative, she looked at me bewildered and said, “I just want more sales.”
Well, that’s fine and dandy, as we all want more sales, but to have a successful campaign, you must consider what your overall objectives are. Every successful marketing campaign begins with a plan. So, in the planning process, these 4 tools are essential:
By Sylvia Browder, on August 24th, 2011% Recently, a friend told me about a negative incident she had while dining at a large restaurant chain. Her waitress was very rude and inattentive. By the time her meal arrived, her colleague had finished eating. The last straw was realizing her steak was prepared wrong. Angrily, she took out her I Phone and sent out a tweet to her followers about her experience. Minutes later, she received an apology from the restaurant’s general manager; the cost of her meal was waived; and she was given a $100 gift certificate for a future visit. Imagine if that restaurant chain didn’t have a social media presence? What you don’t know can harm you!
By Sylvia Browder, on August 3rd, 2011% By: Sylvia Browder
Recently, I was faced with a situation in which I hired and trusted a seemingly smart, professional and successful business woman only to be let down drastically by her actions. What you see is really not always what you get. Though I’ve always been a good judge of character, I must admit, I let my guard down which left me doing damage control.
“Reputation is the shadow. Character is the tree.” Abraham Lincoln
Character is who we are even when no one is watching; it’s doing the right thing! So, what attributes should one look for when hiring an Independent Contractor, partnering with other entrepreneurs or collaborating on a business project? These are 3 I’s which every entrepreneur should possess.
By Sylvia Browder, on July 21st, 2011% By: Sylvia Browder
Are you a bundle of nerves at the mere thought of speaking in public? Do you experience wobbly knees, sweaty palms or an upset stomach? Well, you are not alone! The fear of public speaking ranks with death and an IRS audit for most of us.
Whether participating in a live event, teleclass or webinar, with practice and planning, you can overcome your fears and develop strong presentation skills. To help, here are 5 Strategies for a successful presentation… every time!
Prepare in Advance
Preparing for a presentation requires research, organization and planning. Each is vital to the success of a presentation. How do you prepare? Well…,
By Sylvia Browder, on July 14th, 2011% By: Sylvia Browder
Recently, I received a call from a lady who needed financial assistance to start a business. She had done a ‘reverse mortgage’ on her home to purchase some land to use for a business idea. I learned that she was in her seventies, had very little income and no savings but wanted so desperately to leave a legacy for her adult children. She said, ‘Sylvia, I will fight with all my strength to make this happen for my children before l die.”
After that call, I was both touched and shaken. Here, an elderly lady so passionate about taking care of her adult children, waited so late in life to plan for her family’s future. Sadly, her financial situation might hinder her from receiving a small business loan.
By Sylvia Browder, on May 20th, 2011% By: Sylvia Browder
LinkedIn is a powerful social network for business growth. As recent as March 2011, LinkedIn reported more than 100 million registered users, spanning more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Imagine the exposure using LinkedIn as a part of your strategic plan?
If used properly, LinkedIn is a superb and very effective networking and marketing tool!
Are you LinkedIn? If not, then why not? Here are 6 ways to incorporate LinkedIn as a part of your company’s marketing strategy:
Create Your Profile
By Sylvia Browder, on April 21st, 2011% By: Sylvia Browder
Are you living within your means? Many Americans spend more than they are saving, thus, gradually going deeper into debt. According to the Federal Reserve statistics, “consumer debt has more than doubled in the past 10 years” and the average American family has taken on more debt than can safely handle. How can you avoid falling into this pitfall and build wealth? Here are 5 simple tips to financial wealth.
Create a monthly budget
This is key to controlling your monthly expenses. By creating a budget, forces you to examine your income and expenditures to track how much money you make and spend. Of course your living expenses, i.e., mortgage, utilities, vehicles, insurance payments and food are a must, but additional payments should be allocated to pay off bad debt.
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