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Archives for September 2015

Believe In Your Mission

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We hear it all the time, “Stay true to your mission. Find your path and stick to it. But what does it really mean to transform an idea in to reality? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the idea of executing a major idea and sometimes intimidation can bring some apprehension to getting the ball rolling. Finding a passion is hard enough but to get the wheels turning to keep that passion alive, it takes some serious hard work walking along with faith. Below, I have summed up some of the best advice I’ve received throughout my life:

Don’t think about it for too long

For some reason, it’s natural to hesitate at a really great idea. When it comes to hesitation, the mind suddenly stands still and nothing makes sense. Have you ever thought of an idea that someone else ended up taking credit for? Don’t allow this to happen anymore. When an idea presents itself, don’t think about it for too long. Don’t give your fear a chance to talk you out of it. Go for it! Create a place in your head where it is possible and hold on to that prospect. Don’t falter from all the ideas that come along with it. If it’s worth it then it’s ahrd work and sitting still is only an excuse for delay.

Find Experts

With everything, we need experts to guide us in to the light. They’re the ones who have done it before you and 9 times out of 10, they’re willing to help you not fall flat on your face. Find someone locally or even internationally to answer some questions you may have even if it’s asking where to start. Asking for help is one of those things we should all practice. Pride may be the reason many people end up doing eveyrhing by themselves but asking for help definitely builds character and potentially longevity as an entrepreneur. It builds character because there’s humility in asking for help. The more humble your approach, the more genuine your feedback will be and in the business for launching ideas, honest feedback is a solid foundation.

Walk In Your Faith
Having faith is the knot that ties all of your passion and hard work together. It’s the glue that can stick or falter. Walk in your faith. Walk with your head in the clouds of belief. Only you can create an image of confidence and persistence with your drive to execute your mission. Only you can breathe life into your passion and guide it to the throws of success. Faith is the fuel to start up and continue working towards success. Don’t let your faith falter because your great idea will suffer. Remember why you started and let that belief carry you to your success.

What’s the best advice you received before executing your idea? What advice would you give to others?

Womeneur Partners With Coursehorse To Offer Classes to Advance Your Skillset

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Learning is an on-going element of being a true entrepreneur. With the heavy reliance on technology and gaining valuable resources from the World Wide Web, it becomes easier and easier to find ways to improve an array of skills.

We’re delighted to announce  and Womeneur™ have partnered to bring to you all learning opportunities that will mold you in to a well-rounded businesswoman. Coursehorse is a NYC based online platform offering a large, curated inventory of classes and courses that you can take to enhance your skillset in a variety of topics. Under Professional, you’ll find courses in Business, Legal, Executive Education and more. But it can’t always be all work and no play. When you take a break from work and enjoy some downtime, check out the Cooking, Life Skills, Dance, Music, Art and other courses. Visit Classes in our navigation bar.

Starting this month, we will inform you of a few educational tools that can directly improve the way you do business. Enhance your knowledge with courses in Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Management, Accounting and so much more. One of the key elements of entrepreneurship is investing in both yourself and your business.  We’ve outlined a few below that are an amazing addition to your brain power!

**Use code “womeneurlearns” to save $25 off classes through Oct 9**

 – Thursday, October 1 and Tuesday, November 2; 6:30 – 9:00PM in Flatiron, Manhattan

  • Description: Over 1900 courses in NYC to fit your schedule. Social media channels are an effective (and free) way to engage your audience and grow your business. But if you’re putting in the time and effort to expand your digital footprint, it’s essential to make sure you’re getting the most out of it. By knowing how to keep track of and analyze key metrics, you’ll be able to develop your social media presence into a powerful brand building tool. In this class, you’ll gain an understanding of the fundamentals of social media analytics.
  • Business Use: Many businesses utilize social media to gain their core customer base, provide their audience with information and grow their brand. Through this business course you can  learn the core metrics worth monitoring and analyzing

– Understand how to optimize social media content based on analysis and trends

– How to develop proper social media reports for clients or team members

– Maximize the use of free and paid social media monitoring tools

 

 – Thursday, December 3, 2015; 6:45PM @ Mediabistro – Midtown, New York

  • Description: Over 200 courses in NYC to fit your schedule. The first part of this course teaches nuts-and-bolts tips and techniques to become a more confident and competent public speaker. In the second part, students are assessed on their abilities to apply the learning to specific presentations and coached to address areas of improvement.
  • Business Use: As a Womeneur, speaking to clients and potential clients are probably a daily task. Comfort with speaking to a group or individual about your business and how it will benefit your customer base is perfected through practice. Customers want you to be confident, knowledge and articulate. Public speaking can be scary but the more you do it, the great benefits for your business

 – Tuesday, Oct. 27th 2015; 1PM @ In Good Company – Flatiron, New York

  • Description: Over 100 courses in NYC to fit your schedule. Your “brand” reflects all the experiences and interactions people have with you (as a business owner) and your company – from meetings, to sales presentations to your website, social media, PR, client service and other marketing activities.  The more clearly you can define what you stand for, the more successfully you can communicate with customers to increase sales.
  • Business Use: You are your business. The ability to clearly explain your service or product in a short amount of time is a gift and a talent! Passion and focus makes it easier but there is great finesse when it comes to pitching your idea to a potential VC you met at a social event or during a scheduled meeting. The goal of these classes is to ensure that you are always prepared.

Stay tuned for our suggestions on more courses/classes that will benefit you as an entrepreneur.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Malacia N. Anderson of Li Li’s Creations

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Womeneur Spotlight” google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Take a walk down the path of these entrepreneurs, business owners and progressive women.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”vc_default” bg_type=”image” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_image_new=”id^3017|url^https://www.womeneur.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/womeneur-spotlight-malacia-n.-anderson-of-li-lis-creations_650_650_90_ffffffgrayopac-7_s_c1.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^womeneur-spotlight-malacia-n.-anderson-of-li-lis-creations_650_650_90_ffffffgrayopac-7_s_c1|description^null” css=”.vc_custom_1461336175065{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1461334899762{margin-bottom: -2px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

MALACIA N. ANDERSON OF LI LI’S CREATIONS

[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”5″ accent_color=”#e3672b” css=”.vc_custom_1460496937176{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Website:

Social Media: [dt_social_icons animation=”none” alignment=”default”][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”facebook” link=”https://www.facebook.com/liliscreativecrochet?sk=wall” /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”twitter” link=”http://twitter.com/tweetie814″ /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”instagram” link=”http://instagram.com/lili814″ /][/dt_social_icons][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”3016″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Malacia N. Anderson has wanted to open an Etsy shop for a very long time. In the beginning, like many entrepreneurs, the fear of not being able to afford it is a very real factor. 2013 was the year that Malacia decided to realize a lot of the goals that she had put on hold. Since the opening of in August, it has been an amazing experience for Malacia. She has found that by promoting the Etsy shop through her social media platform, , and participating in vendor events, it has really brought shine to the shop. She has discovered through this process that she has become the best marketer for her company. She attends various natural events and wears her signature pieces that she has created which has propelled her dream to become more and more realized everyday.

Malacia learned how to sew when she was 10 years old through . Her mother sewed and would make dresses overnight for Malacia and her siblings to wear to school the next day. Malacia’s goal has always been to be able to create the same magic that her mom made for her. Throughout her career, she has sewn for weddings, held fashions shows and much more over the years. In an effort to grow and transition her career, Malacia decided to stop sewing all together. She began crocheting and making clothes that way. That segued into Li Li’s Creations. It has been an amazing experience!

This Womeneur took the time to share with us a better understanding of her career and some great advice for those of us seeking to grow our business.

What inspired your journey into business?
I have been sewing since the age of 10. I learned through 4-H in my hometown of Roosevelt, NY. My mother sewed and her creativity was so inspiring and has become the catatlyst that made me want to learn to do the same. Her ability to produce items for us to wear was like magic to me. She is my inspiration to always give my absolute best.

What steps did you take to start your business?
I have been sewing and doing seamstress work for several years but it wasn’t until August 6, 2013 that I decided to launch Li Li’s Creations. I wanted to take my love for clothing and fashion in a different direction by utilizing African prints with Modern Classic Designs. Opening a shop through Etsy took a lot of the “guess work” out of building a website and establishing a client base. They provide an excellent support system for up and coming entrepreneurs who want to share their creativity with the world.

What are your biggest fears?
I wouldn’t necessarily say that I had a biggest fear, it was moreso of an obstacle to climb over. This came in the form of transitioning from a full-time employee to a full-time business owners. I am still in the process of completely preparing myself so that I am able to make that transition as smooth as possible.

What do you do to stay motivated when you feel like giving up?
My clients motivate me the most when they share their beautiful pictures wearing my work. When they take the time to leave heart felt reviews on an item that they received. It motivates me to continue to pour my love and passion into my work.

What are your weakness in business and how have you worked pass them? 
The weakness in my business has been keeping up with the demand. I am currently working towards hiring an assistant to help produce some of the items that are offered.

What’s been most rewarding?
The most rewarding thing has been watching the Li Li Girl Brand grow and stretch its reach cross the U.S. as well as internationally.

Who were you before you started your business?
I was the same creative, innovative, passionate person before launchign Li Li’s Creations. I simply made a conscious effort to put that energy towards my dreams more so than to put it towards someone elses.

If you had to do it again, what (if anything) would you do differently?
I can’t say that there is anything that I would do do differently. The way my business has grown and is continuing to grow is simply based on the direct favor and blessings from God.

What’s one good software or application you cannot live without?
The one software application that I can’t live without is Instagram. It provides my company the ability to have direct contact with my customers. It gives me the ability to know how a design will be perceived prior to offering it on my Etsy shop. The resources and contact it provides with other entrepreneurs is priceless.

What’s your secret to cultivating a relationship between you and your customers?
I love meeting every single Li Li Girl in person. Connecting with people through conversation is just an amazing experience for me. I find that by sharing my inspriation thoughts, fashion, styling and one-on-one contact through vending events, and signature events such as “The Li Li Girl Brunch,” gives me a personal conection to my followers and customers.

Where do you see your business in 5 years?
In 5 years, I see my business moving into wholesale where my clothing can be distributed in to small upscale boutiques, as well as, a free standing studio where my customers can come to shop, be fitted or attend events.

What are 3 tips you can share with budding and current entrepreneurs/business owners?

  1. Have faith in God to help you prepel the dream He has put inside of you.
  2. No matter what the challenge or obstacle, don’t give up. Our greatest successes comes through struggle. Don’t be afraid of the process.
  3. Guard your dreams and passions like gold. Never let anyone or anything negative deter you from operating in it.

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13 Fall Conferences for Female Entrepreneurs

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[vc_row][vc_column][dt_fancy_title title=”S.H.E. Summit – giltcity.com” title_align=”left” title_size=”small”][vc_column_text]Establishing a small business brings about many questions and a need to make some key and immediate connections. This Fall there will be a number of small business and women empowerment conferences that seek to provide information and inspiration for the goals you have set for your business and personal growth.

Fall has officially arrived and there are plenty of conferences that we think you should attend! Many of these conferences have panel discussions from some well-known and up and coming stars in the entrepreneurship world. Check out our key finds and register today!

1. 

September 25th – September 27th

  • Location – Washington, DC
  • Description – The Women Inspiring Women Sisterhood Conference is an opportunity to create memorable experiences through empowerment and self-discovery. Our desire that you will walk away from these three days feeling renewed, encouraged, and inspired. This is an opportunity to build new relationships, gain knowledge, share your story, and nourish your soul. We are also very excited to collectively participate in community service during our stay in Washington, D.C.!
  • Cool Deets! – Speakers include Martice Sutton (founder of Girls Gone Global), Zim Ugochukwu (founder of Travel Noire) and Quanisha M. Smith (founder & Chief Activator of Mitea LLC & the Black Women Rise Movement)

2. 

September 29, 2015

  • Location – Digital Sandbox, 55 Broad Street, NY, NY
  • Description – Womancon is a women’s entrepreneurship media and content company that offers women entrepreneurs the tools, resources, relationship building and inspiration needed to effectively start, grow and thrive as business owners.  Womancon brings together experts from a variety of disciplines to provide actionable advice to the women’s entrepreneurial community.  In 2015, we will be hosting the third annual womancon2015 conference on September 29, 2015 in NYC. To learn more about Womancon and to register for the annual conference.
  • Cool Deets! – filled with speakers (Egypt Sharrod, HGTV Host, Vivian Giang, Fast Company and many more!) seminars (“Networking with a Purpose”, “Pitch the Media”, “Successful Strategies for Female Entrepreneurs)

3. 

September 27th – September 29th

  • Location – San Antonio, TX
  • Description – This is an incredible opportunity to connect with hundreds of women entrepreneurs of all experiences and industries from across the United States.  The conference includes the opportunities for sponsors, exhibitors and in-kind vendors.
  • Cool Deets! – Panel discussion including Bonnie St. John (1st African-American to win Olympic or Paralympic medals in sky racing) and a Leadership Bootcamp filled with information workshops!

4. 

October 3, 2015

  • Location – The Roosevelt Hotel, NYC, NY
  • Description – Rock the World is an annual gathering with a mission to inspire, educate and connect women entrepreneurs and leaders. Attendees can expect to experience a day filled with inspiring speakers, a buzzing marketplace with products and resources, and expert breakout workshops.
  • Cool Deets! – Face to face orientation, success stories from celebrity CEOs and inspirational speakers, and shop at the Marketplace

5. 

October 6 – October 7, 2015

  • Location – 92nd Street, NYC, NY
  • Description – S.H.E. Summit’s mission is to be the world’s most accessible women’s empowerment conference–exposing today’s leading role models, empowerment stories and strategies, women’s campaigns and supportive community to a global female audience who have the power to ripple affect change in their own lives, and for the betterment of other women and the world
  • Cool Deets! – “The 2015 Content Sessions”; Speakers including Chelsea Clinton (VP of Clinton Foundation), Ali Brown (Entrepreneur Mentor, Ali International), Latham Thomas, HHC, AADP (Founder, Mama Glow Guru) and many more!

6. 

October 10, 2015

  • Location – 195 1/2 Chrystie St NY, NY
  • Description – Calling ambitious women: world-changers, DIYers, entrepreneurs, freelancers, corporate takeover-ists, artists, elder stateswomen, forward-thinking students, and all other take-charge bullicorns
  • Cool Deets! – Face to face orientation, success stories from celebrity CEOs and inspirational speakers, and shop at the Marketplace

7. 

October 12th – October 14th

  • Location – Washington, DC
  • Description – This year’s theme is “Leading with Purpose,” and the agenda will feature one-on one interviews, panel discussions, interactive breakout sessions and high-level networking.  What started as a list 16 years ago has evolved into the world’s most extraordinary leadership community, convening the preeminent women in business—along with select leaders in government, philanthropy, education, and the arts—for wide-ranging and inspiring discussions.
  • Cool Deets! – Confirmed to join us in 2015 include Fortune 500 CEOs Mary Barra of General Motors, Ursula Burns of Xerox, Lynn Good of Duke Energy, Ilene Gordon of Ingredion, Marillyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin, Gracia Martore of Gannett, Sheri McCoy of Avon, and Denise Morrison of Campbell Soup, Ginni Rometty of IBM.

8. 

October 15th

  • Location – Austin, Texas
  • Description – The Texas Conference for Women offers the community and connection, the information and inspiration, the motivation and momentum to help you discover what you want—and go get it! The Conference features nationally recognized speakers who share their wisdom and expertise on a wide range of personal and professional development topics, helping you find clarity on your goals and what you need to accomplish them
  • Cool Deets! – Robin Roberts, Patricia Arquette and Candy Chang will be keynote speakers for this daylong event!

9. 

October 15th – October 17th

  • Location – Albuquerque, N.M.
  • Description – Conference to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.
  • Cool Deets! –Breakout session and Networking and Business Show and Tell

10. 

October 17 – October 18, 2015

  • Location – Jacob Javits Center, NY, NY
  • Description – Circle of Sisters (COS) is the largest expo for women of color in New York City. Founded in 1998 and sponsored by WBLS-FM, HOT 97, WLIB – AM and Emmis Communications, COS hosts a variety of panel discussions, seminars, inspirational services, R&B and gospel concerts and a fashion show in addition to over 200 vendors and small businesses selling unique items and services all weekend.  This expo is accented by an avalanche of captivating elements such as fabulous shopping and food tasting with some of today’s top chefs at the Food Pavilion and youth activities including lessons in the arts and dance at the Children’s Pavilion.
  • Cool Deets! – Informative and empowering panel discussions led by authors, field experts, political figures and some of the biggest names in entertainment.

11. 

November 7th

  • Location – Riverside Epicenter – Atlanta, GA
  • Description – Faith. Hope. Love. Mom Conference is a full-day event designed to empower and inspire women who are committed to the success of their families. We’re changing the conversation, taking the focus away from the obvious and talking about something that moms often overlook – themselves. This conference fuels the desire to exchange ideas with like-minded women. Faith. Hope. Love. Mom Conference is for smart, motivated, and highly conscientious moms who know that being a mother is more than just a balancing act.
  • Cool Deets! – Black Girls Run creator Toni Carey and Tracy Nicole, mother and designer are among the great speakers.

12. 

November 19th  – November 21st

  • Location – Miami, FL
  • Description – If you’ve got big ideas AND the commitment to bring those ideas to life, The Summit is like pouring accelerant on a flame – it will supercharge your momentum. The Summit will stretch you, push you and pull you toward your highest and best destiny. So get ready for a life-changing experience. By attending this event and participating fully, you WILL walk away with: 1) Influential contacts and connections – people who could change your career forever; 2) Innovative ideas for your business – the kind that fast track your results; 3) Solutions for problems and challenges – that you didn’t even realize were holding you back; and 4) The latest tools and resources – to leverage your strengths and magnify and multiply your outcomes.
  • Cool Deets! – An array of amazing speakers including Jennifer Grace author of “The Art of Making $H!T Happen” and Michael Hall Social Entrepreneurship Champion, and Owner & Senior Partner of MediumFour

 13. 

November 20th 

  • Location – Leesburg, VA
  • Description – The Virginia Women’s Business Conference is THE one day event for visionary women who want to discover the tools for success, make strategic business connections and leave feeling empowered and inspired to take action.
  • Cool Deets! – is exclusive to this conference and gives small business owners the opportunity to take their business to the next level. The winner of the 2015 Business Makeover Mentoring Program will be the focus of a special mentoring program overseen by the Virginia Women’s Business Conference Advisory Council with a cash prize!

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3 Ways to Wake Up With Purpose

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As a businesswoman, it’s easy to realize that you are conveniently connected to your business and clients in unique ways. Whether it’s being connected through social media or email, today’s technology has made it pretty effortless to contact and respond with just a click or touch of a button. However, due to this instant way of communicating with the outside world, it has become difficult to resist all those beeps, dings and whistles.

While you’re on this entrepreneurial grind, you have probably had many mornings where you wake up raring to go. There are emails that need answering, clients that need assistance, products that need to be created and websites that need to be updated. In many cases, all these things may have ran through your mind before you’ve even taken a sip of your freshly brewed coffee! In your world, there’s no time to waste.

It’s true that the early bird catches the worm, but there will always be plenty of worms to catch once the bird gets her mind right. The truth of the matter is that you can improve the quality of your day and the success of your business simply by taking the time to wake up in a manner that serves your mind, body, spirit AND purpose.

If you are waking up with all of these things on your mind before even getting out of the bed, chances are you may be a little more clouded in judgment and easily frustrated by the time you hit the midday rush. Giving yourself a chance to breathe, enjoy the sunrise and reflect on all the things you’ve accomplished thus far will help drastically change the pace of how the rest of your day (and week) goes. Fortunately for all of us, there are some surprisingly simple ways to do this.

1. Leave Your Phone Alone

Yes. It sounds completely backwards, but there’s a method to the madness. More than likely, your phone also functions as your alarm clock. Since you have to turn it off (or press snooze, let’s be real) anyway, the temptation to find out the latest tea on Facebook in between checking texts and emails is oh so real. Don’t feel bad, we have all indulged in this temptation many times over.

The Solution – After turning your alarm off, put your phone on silent, turn it face down and take a few deep, slow breaths. Become more present in that moment with your body and your thoughts. What are you feeling? What is coming up for you?

When you’ve taken a minute to do this, you will naturally feel your body adjusting to this small change.

2. Stretch For Success

There is no coincidence that one of the first things we naturally want to do upon waking up is to stretch our limbs. Think about it. For about 5-8 hours, we are limited in movement. Because our bodies are just as intelligent as we are, it knows that stretching will help wake up all of our joints and muscles so that getting out of the bed is just as pleasurable as getting in it was the night before.

The Solution – Take your stretching a bit further by turning it into a daily yoga practice. You don’t have to get really intense with it; just a 5-10 minute morning yoga routine like this one will give you the jumpstart that you need. After all, you need your body to help accomplish everything you have to do for the day!

3. Put It On Paper

Remember those thoughts you allowed yourself to be more present with right after you turned your alarm clock off? Revisit them by grabbing a journal and a pen so that you can let it all flow out. For best results, it’s a good idea to always keep a journal and pen right beside you for easy access.

Sometimes you will wake up with a lot on the brain and it’s a good practice to check in with yourself emotionally so that those things don’t bleed into the rest of your day. Writing out your thoughts and feelings is also a good way to set the tone for your day. Feel free to be as authentic and raw as possible; the only witness to your innermost thoughts is always there to be an open book for you.

By putting these daily morning practices into use on a regular basis, I can guarantee you that you will see a difference in your peace of mind, business and beyond!

What are some other ways you like to start your day?

3 Tips For Doing Business With Your Bestie

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Essence Magazine has always been a long time favorite go-to guide for all things black inspired. I appreciate the noticeable effort to embrace women who reflect my character more than some other popular publications. In one of their latest issues, with the very gifted Misty Copeland gracing the cover, I came across an interesting article about starting a business with your best friend.

There has always been the unspoken rule “Don’t do business with family.” It’s assumed to be messy, emotional and may result in failure. Still, there are inspiring success stories that can instil hope in the “besties with a million dollar idea.” Essence Mag showcased a few success stories of best friends in business including:

  • Ginger Johnson and Liz Pickett are co founders of Ginger + Liz Colour Collection, a vegan nail lacquer that has been distributed in over 1000 locations worldwide. They have experienced great success with sales tripling since launching in 2010.
  • Renee Warren and friend Kristen Hill are co-presidents of Noelle-Elaine Media Inc. a 20 year old media company specializing in event management and show production. Their list of clients include BET, CNBC and the National Urban League. Yukia Walker and Yunesia Harris are the sisters who launched Curvaceous Couture, a plus sized bridal boutique, in 2008. They have serviced over 6500 brides and star in their reality show TLC’s Curvy Brides.

These women offered valuable advice for people looking to share a business with a friend or loved one.

Get Everything In Writing

For reasons like protecting interests and protecting the relationship between two business partners, getting everything in writing is a valuable piece of advice. So many times when family is involved, there’s an informality with normally serious contracts and long term agreements. When everything is in writing and done with either a lawyer or a third overseeing party, it can help start a strong foundation for a lasting business relationship.
Be Financially Prepared

With every successful business comes great financial planning. For friends Liz and GInger, they saved enough money for six months to support themselves on a personal level providing a clear mind to grow their business without financial pressure. This point of advice is most valuable if not most important in starting a business. It can remove the stress level for the parties involved and start a trend for effective financial planning.

Work Through the Hardship

The hardest part of owning a business is having to face the hardships that comes with it. The important thing to remember is that hardships are needed for growth within a business. It’s what happens during those trying moments that can define good business owners. When Renee and Kirsten shared their scary experience with the IRS and how they really needed to join forces to efficiently attack the issue, it showed how they overcame the experience. On the other side,they had learned more lessons and had gained more trust to keep building their business.

Starting a business with a friend or a loved one can be a little more nerve-racking than starting with an unrelated business partner but these pairs of women have successfully launched businesses in spite of their close relationships. It is very possible for businesses to strive through friendships and close relationships and it’s fair to say that these women have made it a little easier for me to believe the idea that these successful relationships are really possible.

Have you ever been in business with a friend?  Have you ever considered it? What are some tips you would give to the people who want to go into business with a friend?

Keita Turner

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Womeneur Spotlight” google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Take a walk down the path of these entrepreneurs, business owners and progressive women.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”vc_default” bg_type=”image” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_image_new=”id^3013|url^https://www.womeneur.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/womeneur-spotlight-keita-turner-of-keita-turner-design_650_650_90_ffffffgrayopac-7_s_c1.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^womeneur-spotlight-keita-turner-of-keita-turner-design_650_650_90_ffffffgrayopac-7_s_c1|description^null” css=”.vc_custom_1461334702608{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1461334391646{margin-bottom: -2px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

KEITA TURNER OF KEITA TURNER DESIGN

INTERIOR DESIGNER[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”5″ accent_color=”#e3672b” css=”.vc_custom_1460496937176{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Website:

Social Media: [dt_social_icons animation=”none” alignment=”default”][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”facebook” link=”https://www.facebook.com/KT-Design-Solutions-LLC-56997447979/timeline/” /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”twitter” link=”https://twitter.com/KT_DSNY” /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”instagram” link=”https://instagram.com/keitaturnerdesign/” /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”linkedin” link=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/keitaturnerdesign” /][/dt_social_icons][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”3012″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Keita Turner is an interior designer who creates Enduring Fashionably Classic Designs for her companies  & . A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Turner has an extensive background in both fashion and interior design.  Her award-winning full-service firm, launched in 2000, offers expertise in residential and commercial interior design and has produced environments for numerous high profile clients across the country.

In 2014, Turner was invited, along with a handful of New York City’s top interior designers, to unveil stylish room vignettes on the new 9th floor furniture gallery at Macy’s Herald Square.  In 2013 and 2014, Turner participated in New York City’s most popular interior design fundraising event – Housing Works’ Design On A Dime benefit, as a featured top designer, charged with creating unforgettable room vignettes. Since 2011, Keita Turner has served as a member of the Interior Design Committee for Young Collectors Night at the 58th, 59th, 60th and 61st Annual Winter Antiques Show.

Turner’s work received Honorable Mentions in the (IDA) competition for two of her State Farm Agency commercial office projects.  Named the 2nd prizewinner of the 2007 International Design Awards for Residential Interior Design, a runner-up winner in The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute’s Prettiest Painted Rooms in America national design competition in 2006, Turner has been featured in publications including The New York Times, Elle Decor, New York Spaces, Better Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping, New York Cottages and Gardens, New York Post, New York Daily News, Curb NY, New York Social Diary, and Essence.

What inspired your journey into business?
I love what I do so much that I just had to share the gift of design with others around me. I understand personally, the positive or negative effect an environment can have on the satisfaction or success in one’s life or business. Several years ago after transforming one of my former residences into a personal oasis, a place of serenity and tranquility from my stressed filled life, I discovered that my well-designed space had far reaching influence on my friends and the people around me, way beyond just for my personal satisfaction. Friends and guests would walk into my home and be awestruck. “Wow, you live here?”, would be the usual response. That initial gut reaction is what made me realize the importance of starting a business that approached design from the perspective of wanting to enhance and improve peoples’ lives. Well, that and another pivotal event helped spearhead me into my business. Several years ago, I hosted a party in my New York City apartment. A young lady, who was a guest of a friend, approached me and said, “I like your style. One day, I’m going to hire you!” I did the polite thing and told her, “Thank you”, but secretly to myself, I thought, “Yeah, right.” I hadn’t even started my business then. I hadn’t even studied interior design, yet. I was still a fashion designer. I really just designed my space for me. That encounter with that young lady helped me to realize my next career. And guess what? She called as promised and hired me to help her with her family residence, which later led to her commissioning me to design one of my first commercial retail projects!!

What steps did you take to start your business?
Armed with a design degree from the (RISD) and several years after establishing myself as a successful New York City fashion designer in a very cutthroat industry, I later decided I needed a major change in my career and lifestyle. I made the transition into interior design at the  (SVA). After working on both residential and commercial projects for my mother’s interior design firm, Betty R. Turner Interiors, in St. Louis, Missouri, I later struck out on my own to share my unfailing eye for design and help busy people and businesses fulfill their design dreams.

What are your biggest fears?
Losing it all and having to return to a ‘normal’ work life, working for someone else full-time. Losing my positive energy, drive and enthusiasm. Fear of failure or falling behind the business growth curve, whether due to competition, funds disappearing, societal / industry changes or being blindsided by a recession. These fears are real, but through my faith, I find the inspiration to triumph, persevere and keep my vision on my goals.

What do you do to stay motivated when you feel like giving up?
I get on my knees and pray to God for faith, help, blessings, grace, love, mercy, strength, power and endurance. I thank God for everything in my life – good and bad. The “good” because I want to channel more of it into my life. The bad because I want to learn from those mistakes and vow to never repeat them. I call my mother. She is my angel and rock after God. There is something about her voice that makes me feel everything is going to be okay. She soothes me and is so positive and supportive. My dad is my rock, too. Can’t forget about my dad. I look back on the work that I have under my belt. It reminds me of where I have been and where I want to go. I want to go far and continue to grow. So, I say and ask myself “You can always quit now. But, why when you are halfway there?”

What are your weakness in business and how have you worked pass them? 
When I first started my interior design business, I found that I wasn’t as naturally wired to market and publicize my business, as I wanted to be. I placed emphasis on my main strengths, which are design, building a solid portfolio, and organization systems. As someone who has years of design education and experience and has been developing art and design portfolios since high school, I felt safe playing to my strengths. Without strong relationships with shelter magazine editors and other industry media contacts, I was relying heavily on the organic type of buzz – ‘word of mouth’, to generate new business. I once heard a well known design agent say, “You may be one of the most talented interior designers out there, but if no one knows you exist or is familiar with your work, it doesn’t matter.” With stiff competition in the saturated design industry, media folks are not necessarily going to seek you out. You may not be on their radar, yet. So, now I regularly focus on developing marketing and pr campaigns to target affluent demographics in this very competitive and saturated market. I will never give up focusing on building relationships with editors, freelance writers, bloggers, influencers, etc. because I know that without these relationships, my natural wired state is to stay in my comfort zone and only flex my strengths.”

What’s been most rewarding?
The most rewarding and important aspect of my business is to wake up everyday knowing I get to create surroundings that will play a beneficial and spiritually uplifting role in my client’s lives! I understand very well and personally the effect an environment can have on one’s life or business. Keeping that design perspective in mind, I create surroundings that will play a valuable role in the life and image my residential and commercial clients want to lead or project. Although, I employ an individual and altruistic approach, my projects evoke a sense of Enduring Fashionably Classic Style. Using lifestyle as my canvas, I design interiors that convey the inspirations, spirits, and habitudes of my clients. My ultimate goal as a design professional is to provide my clients with what I believe are seven essential elements necessary to preserving and improving human life and experiences through the built and designed environment. Those elements are satisfaction, balance, order, aesthetics, productivity, challenge, and abundance.

The other reward and LESSON that I have gained over the years through my journey as a business owner is a growing understanding of my value and self worth. It has been challenging over the years and continues to be, but I now feel more confident in my value as an interior designer. I realize if I am confident in my value, the people that want my services will understand that. The customers who value my products and services will stay and the ones who don’t—the ones I don’t want anyway—will go away. And now, I let them.

I have found over the years, some clients do not understand the value that good design has on their life or business until the design process is over and the project is successfully completed. They become the believers. They were open to letting me educate them on the benefits of hiring a professional designer. And some will never value design, so we now know those are not the clients for us.

I truly believe what I have learned and experienced will only help to attract and keep happy and loyal clients walking through my doors for years to come.

Who were you before you started your business?
Growing up with a mother who is an accomplished fine artist and interior designer, the choice to enter the art and design world was a natural one. I received my formal design education from Rhode Island School of Design, School of Visual Arts, and . So, I have always been an artist and designer. But, prior to studying interior design and becoming an interior designer, I enjoyed a successful career in New York City as a fashion designer for corporate fashion firms like Liz Claiborne, Inc., Gap, Inc., and Federated Department Stores, Inc.

If you had to do it again, what (if anything) would you do differently?
There is a part of me that feels I am exactly where I am supposed to be. Although, being and entrepreneur is very challenging, I am very proud of all of my accomplishments over the last 15 plus years as a business owner. But, if I had to do it again, I would probably have put more emphasis on marketing my business and hiring a public relations firm or publicists from the onset of starting my business. But other than that, I am grateful and blessed for all that I have achieved. I am okay with the slow and steady growth. It beats the sizzle and fizzle.

What’s one good software or application you cannot live without?
BEST APPS AND SOFTWARE FOR INTERIOR DESIGN:

  1. Project Color by The Home Depot
  2. Pinterest
  3. Penultimate
  4. Instagram
  5. Auto CAD

What’s your secret to cultivating a relationship between you and your customers?
I genuinely care about and respect my customers. I wouldn’t take on their projects, if I didn’t. It is personally my goal and the mission of Keita Turner Design, to make sure that we treat our customers right and that they are happy with the end product. Whether they are a residential or commercial design client, we have to make sure that they are pleased with the results. If their home is their biggest asset and personal sanctuary or their business is where they earn their living, it is our job to make sure that we transform these spaces into environments that bring satisfaction, balance, order, aesthetics, productivity, challenge and abundance to our clients.

We have learned over the years that it is always important to listen carefully to our customers, offer ongoing support, treat them like valued partners, build trust with them by communicating changes – positive or negative, being honest and transparent with them, following up with our customers, and always taking responsibility. Mistakes and misunderstandings may occur, but at the end of the day, the customer is always right. Lastly and most importantly, we always say thank you and express our gratitude for their business. Because, if it wasn’t for our clients, we wouldn’t have a business.

Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I want Keita Turner Design and KT Design Solutions to be a well-known and respected design brand five years from now. I would like my brand of design aesthetic and products to be a go-to brand for design enthusiasts and customers, not
only nationally, but internationally, too.

The brand is branching out into product development, with an initial design line of luxury soft furnishings. Our vintage and contemporary pillow collection, LIVVY & NEVA is currently in development and production. It is our dream to continue product development through fabrics, furniture, lighting, carpeting, bedding, etc., either through licensing or private label. I see my product brand being sold in select trade showrooms, high-end boutiques, or retails stores like Bergdorf Goodman.

Then, I would also like to design and produce more moderate level product offerings that would be accessible to a wider target audience through department stores like bed Bath & Beyond, The Home Depot or HSN, for example. Everyone deserves access to great design and quality products.

In terms of interior design growth, it is my goal to continue getting commissions for high-end noteworthy residential and commercial projects that will challenge me to grow as a design professional. I would like to keep the mix between contemporary and traditional projects. And since I have a strong background in fashion design, my dream is to delve more into retail fashion projects. Madison Avenue is one of my favorite streets in New York City, lined with high-end boutiques from some of the biggest an most respected fashion labels around. I see a store or several stores designed by us being on Madison Avenue one day. Why not? You have to put it out there!

What are 3 tips you can share with budding and current entrepreneurs/business owners?

  1. Be passionate about your business.
  2. Welcome challenges as an opportunity to solve problems, create a niche or fill a void in the market place.
  3. Successful entrepreneurs create businesses that are not only profitable, but also recognize the value in helping to improve human life and experiences through their products and services.

Lastly, all business owners should protect themselves legally with proper contracts and legal assistance.

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Why You Should Ask For Help

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Women everywhere are notorious for being headstrong, driven and hustlers. We are a passionate group of individuals who own the word “independent.”. It is amazing how women can be be so multifaceted yet we lack the ability to ask for help when we need it. More often than not, we are so used to ‘holding it down’ which limits us from being vulnerable in times of need. Asking for help is vital for personal and entrepreneurial growth.

It is not uncommon for woman to have a little voice in their head that whispers a constant reminder, ‘I got this’. From issues related to finding new investors, finding a babysitter, or attending an important event, women can hold it together all in the name of being strong. However, it may not always be the best idea to take the weight of the world alone. This is why we need a solid support system and why we need someone other than ourselves for a helping hand.

Recently, I came across a compelling article of a woman who turned an unfortunate situation in to a positive one throughout the past couple of years. Tran Will’s story began sixteen years ago when she was pregnant in highschool and living with her now husband’s family. Fast forward to this year and she is a business owner of Base Coat Nail salon, a nail salon that prides itself on using products free of most harmful known toxins and Svper Ordinary – a gallery and retail space that encourages objects of art and design.

In an interview with Fortune Magazine, her offer of advice to women trying to make it all work was:

“Always ask for help. Once I started doing that, my life got way easier.”

There is truth here and even while some of us will admit it easier than others, asking for help can sometimes be our only outlet. Yet it still isn’t the easiest thing to do. Even so, there are some valuable benefits for reaching out.

Balance

With everything, we need balance – career, family, recreation. Sometimes things can overlap and threaten to fall apart. There are simply times when you want to give up but you cannot. You have worked so hard at your dream that the threat of losing control can be overwhelming. When that feeling threatens you should seek aid. It can be seeking out a mentor to highlight some avoidable mistakes or having a conversation to talk out some frustrations.

Character Building

Fighting for a vision is a valuable part of character building. It is the time when creativity soars because you understand what is needed versus what is wanted. This is the time when you shock yourself into success because of stepping out of that comfort zone. It is okay to break out of character because you are growing. You are learning. You are changing and that’s okay. That is the beauty in enjoying your journey because it is at your pace and on your terms. It is only right that lessons are learned along the way.

It’s normal to be confused about how to ask for help. What if you ask the wrong person? What happens if you get turned down? When do you ask for help?

Not everything that glitters is gold. Sometimes we may feel inclined to ask people for help and expect a “yes”. Maybe because our missions are aligned or our similarities seemed much clearer but that’s not always the case. With everything in life, lessons are learned. Asking for help is embracing yet another lesson. This one relates to growing your circle. It can clarify a whole new world for you and offer insight to those supportive of your mission and unfortunately those who are not. Either way stay focused and encouraged. Nothing is built in a day and with every lesson learned is a level higher to your goal.

There’s humility in asking for help. It brings your vision more into perspective and help better define your business mission. This does not mean that we are shedding the independent title, only that we are surrounding ourselves with a support system that can offer some hope when things get tough.

Have you ever had to ask for help? If yes, what was your experience like? If not, what restrained you from seeking help?

Visually Image Branding: Why Selfie of You Just Won’t Do

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Ok, you got on all the social media platforms, put your profile in, checked it ten times, crossed your t’s and dotted your i’s.  Than you listed your credentials, and became followers of everyone.  Check that again, became followers of those you want to emulate, now you need a photo.  You look on your smartphone and pick the photo of you that got 121 likes on Instagram.  And that is what you put up, it’s cute, its poppin’… it’s so wrong.

How do I know this?  Because that’s what I did when I first started b out. I didn’t really think I needed a professional photo because I’m not a model or an actor.  My career stems between teaching, writing and speaking, but I found out very quickly, that people take into account how you look.  Clients decide in a snap of a photo whether or not your look represents a brand they want to buy into.  So my friend who is a photographer and heads her own studio in NYC, Tanzie Johnson Photography gave me some advice.  “No one thinks about photography until the last minute, and entrepreneurs need a photo, it is as much as their brand, as their name.”   “ It speaks volumes of the care you put into your brand, and the right photo will get you clients.”  She asked me to do one simple tasks.  “Look at photos of authors and tell me what you see?”

I did just that.  I saw photos of all genres of occupations that weren’t related to their career, or their brand.  I saw photos where the lighting was poor, or the photo was just out dated.  I realized my selfie wasn’t the look I was going for.  With some direction from the shoot, I walked away confident in fact that I was sculpting my brand.  As you can see from this article I wrote, which photo above would you want speaking at your campus?   Which photo of me do you find credible and professional?  Now take a look at how your own picture represents you and your brand.

Here are some ways to know if you need to get a professional photographer:

  • Is your brand your name?
  • Was your hair short and now it’s long?
  • Is your photo about ten years old?
  • What are the colors you are wearing in your photo? Does your photo convey a sentiment of trust, professionalism and warmth?

I also would like you to know that I decided to have two headshots done.  You might want to do the same, depending on the different careers you juggle. Take a look at your photos on all your media sites.   Does it showcase you?  Is it the face of your brand, or just a face?  Ask around to a few of your closest friends, and see if you need to make an appointment with your friendly photographer!

Desiree Verdejo

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Take a walk down the path of these entrepreneurs, business owners and progressive women.

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DESIREE VERDEJO OF VIVRANT BEAUTY

FOUNDER & CEO
[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”5″ accent_color=”#e3672b” css=”.vc_custom_1460496937176{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Website:

Social Media: [dt_social_icons animation=”none” alignment=”default”][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”facebook” link=”http://facebook.com/vivrantbeauty” /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”twitter” link=”http://twitter.com/vivrantbeautyny” /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”instagram” link=”http://instagram.com/vivrantbeautyny” /][/dt_social_icons][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”3008″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After practicing law for seven years, Desiree Verdejo decided to pursue her passion within the beauty industry and opened up a beauty boutique in her hometown of Harlem, USA.  caters to a diverse range of women of different nationalities, skin tones and hair textures. This amazing beauty brand proudly stocks a wide selection of beauty products from more than 30 premium, ingredient-conscious, women-owned, person-of-color owned and local beauty brands.

Like so many Womeneurs, transitioning in to a new career field comes with its challenges but the silverlining is that the motivation behind these changes are simply moving closer to your purpose. Desiree tapped in to the need for many  women of color to find beauty products that focused on their uniquely beautiful tones. Vivrant Beauty is based in “the Mecca,” Harlem and provides its customers with a beauty experience.

This Womeneur lets us in to her world and tells us about her journey thus far in the beauty industry and becoming a stable right in her own neighborhood.

What inspired your journey into business? 
A beauty boutique seemed like the perfect marriage of my interests in beauty products and ingredients, being surrounded by inspiring folks and marrying my interests with the business skills that I gained as a corporate lawyer. I started to become extremely excited with just the thought of picturing myself in this role and every day I realize that it was a great move.

What steps did you take to start your business?
It took a lot to get comfortable before the business launched. I started a personal beauty blog to learn about new brands, folks behind the brands and beauty trends that appealed to me. I also started writing my business plan, reaching out to realtors and to brands before I quit my job. The most important thing that I did was to save for the career transition. I spent a couple of years slowly planning the business. There were actually only about three weeks between when I quit my job as a lawyer and when I opened the doors of Vivrant Beauty.

What are your biggest fears?
The saying goes that “if you build it, they will come.” My biggest fear is that that’s a lie. Lol! I am anxiously watching the word spread about our new beauty boutique, meeting customers that have found us through friends, the internet or passing by, and hoping that the clientele continues to flourish. A huge fear of mine is that folks won’t come…or worse that they will find out about Vivrant Beauty but not feel like we are filling a void for them.

What do you do to stay motivated when you feel like giving up?
When I feel nervous about the growth of our clientele, I get busy. I am constantly working on something related to the store whether it’s bettering our product offerings, our e-commerce experience, the way the products are set up or our social media presence. I don’t give myself time to sit and think about whether we’ll succeed, I just spend time focusing on actions that should lead to success.

What are your weakness in business and how have you worked pass them? 
My biggest weakness is that as a newcomer to the beauty industry and the entrepreneurial life, everything is new to me. I am learning about sales taxes, merchandising, beauty conferences, industry leaders, etc. every day. There’s a lot of trial and error (and sometimes costly errors) with things that seemed simple going into the process (like shipping products, for example). I am trying not to be so hard on myself about mistakes as long as I learn from them and better my process because of them.

What’s been most rewarding?
Many aspiring entrepreneurs can probably relate to the stage where you haven’t made the transition but it’s all that you can talk about to anyone that will listen. My closest friends and family members knew for years that I wanted to launch this business. It is so rewarding to have those same friends and family members know that it happened. I love showing my loved ones around the store and they must be able to sense it because they’re constantly visiting (and supporting).

Who were you before you started your business?
I was a corporate lawyer for seven years and practiced at a large NYC law firm for most of that time.

If you had to do it again, what (if anything) would you do differently?
Just one thing? I’d probably hire an interior designer with retail expertise. I added at least a couple of weeks onto the build out and have a basement full of unused hand painted tiles and random paint colors because I did everything on my own. Is anyone redecorating?:)

What’s one good software or application you cannot live without?
I love Shopify. My e-shop was built using one of their templates.  It’s the technology behind the website and it’s my POS (Point of Sale) system in the store. The software also comes with a phone app so I can get a notification of all sales on my phone when I’m not there. It was really easy to learn, speaks really easily to other apps, and they have amazing customer service. Great customer service is everything when you’re doing tech stuff on your own.

What’s your secret to cultivating a relationship between you and your customers?
I get to talk to my customers about their lifestyles, their problems, their loves, their everything and I get to be a listener and an adviser. We haven’t even been open for two months but I have already had many return customers that have trusted advice on a smaller or singular purchase and have returned to sort out a regimen or address an unrelated area. I can’t think of a better way to build a relationship.

Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I am so focused on perfecting the products and the customer experience, and also on spreading the word right now. I think that opportunities are endless in five years if we accomplish those goals now.

What are 3 tips you can share with budding and current entrepreneurs/business owners?

  1. Do it!
  2. Do something!
  3. Do something now!

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