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Archives for January 2016

Why You Should Have a Healthy Work and Personal Balance

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i4biz.com

There’s never enough hours in a day. And so, many business women can struggle to find a balance between their personal and professional worlds. There are mompreneurs who have done it but how does one make time for family and motherhood while running a full time business. How can the career woman spend time growing her business without the guilt of losing family time. It’s a tough act to balance but there are a few handy tips to help a hand.

Schedule and Organize Time

Time is so short with only a few hours a day to be as productive as the day before. Establishing a schedule is important with planning a structured future for your business and creating a family schedule is just as effective. Break down your day to include a couple of hours of family time away from your business where you can reconnect. Organize and prioritize your work tasks into parts of your day so they are easier to accomplish. With a little bit of shuffling around work errands, meetings and must-do’s, find the time to sit down with your children to have a conversation about school and save some time for your partner who has been supportive enough to push you towards your goals.

It’s All In the WHO

We’ve heard it enough in 2015, surround yourself with awesome people and awesome things come out of it. In the world of creativity, 89% is inspiration drawn from surroundings. The people who are around you and who you allow into your circle should be worthy of the time that you spend away from your family. It is always nice to catch up with an old high school friend but if it cannot fit into your schedule, don’t let guilt eat you up. There are people you make time for and there are people who can get some of your free time. Deciding who these people are can make it easier to open up your schedule to include more work to-do’s or family obligations.

It’s Okay to Say “No”

Not every meeting can be put off to another time but if you think that one will affect some of your personal time, it is okay to say “no, can we find another time.” Some events, meetups or meetings are not a priority and it’s important to remember that it’s okay. Prioritizing is making tough decisions and keeping ideas and tasks organized. Create a vision board, use up your planner, use a calendar, but figure out who and what deserves your time and how much of it.

Women are some of the most remarkable beings with ability to spread time and energy across business owner and motherhood. Keeping the balance between the two is a tough task but not impossible. What are some of the best advice you have received with balancing personal and business obligations?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

3 Reasons Why You Need to Be on Periscope

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bougieblackblogger.com

It seems as if every other day some new social media app has hit the scene. It all started with Facebook, then Twitter. Now there are so many apps you can use to ‘get social’ that I cannot count them. So, for us small business owners who want to ‘keep up’ with the new, we must figure out how each app works and make sure we actually have a target audience using the app. Right?

Well, this is where the game has changed and Periscope by Twitter is the ultimate game-changer. Periscope launched into the social media world in early 2015 and then few knew what it was. Fast-forward to 2016, and if you tell someone you don’t have a Periscope account they look at you like you have three heads. There is a reason for it. If you don’t have an account, after reading this, I am sure you will get one. Here are a three reasons why every small business owner or entrepreneur need to be on Periscope:

Reason #1: Periscope allows you to be real with your audience

Periscope is a live streaming application where your audience has the ability to ‘chat’ or ‘comment’ in real-time and you can respond to them. It is not like the old days of YouTube where you make a video, post it, then go back to see how many viewers you have and read their comments. Periscope is so much better than that! The best part about Periscope is that allows your followers to see you, however you want them to.

Reason #2: Periscope conversation coverts to cash when used properly

More often than not, people “go live” on Periscope just to pass time and have people listen to them babble about their days events. They don’t have a plan nor do they have a strategy. This is the thing- when you are live streaming, your audience is there for a reason- they want to hear what you have to say! So make it worth their while. People like to do one of two things: be educated or entertained. More often than not, they want both at the same time. You can use Periscope to give information about business, life, finances, spirituality and more. People like to learn and this is your time to show them that you have something they need. If you have a new product or program you are about to launch, build your audience and following and then direct them to your other platforms for more information or to contact you. In your stream tell them what you are offering and why they need it. Your ‘call to action’ is where the magic happens. Sell yourself well.

Reason #3: Periscope is the fastest growing app out right now

It may seems like everyone has a Periscope account already but that’s not the case. Back in September of 2015, about 10 percent of social media users had an active account with Periscope. It has grown by leaps and bounds once the word spread and business owners began monetizing their scopes. Periscope has help two summits to bring together their users from all over the world. If you become someone whose influence grows using this app and word gets back to the summit organizers, you could be called upon to be a speaker at the next summit. Now, how’s that for a platform building strategy?

I am not telling you anything that hasn’t worked for me. My first five paying business coaching clients came to me through Periscope. I’ve sold multiple copies of my first book from Periscope conversations. I have clients in multiple states and I have connected with individuals all over the globe through Periscope, so I know it works – when you work. In short, when you download the app, plan ahead and get a strategy in place. Don’t be afraid to share with the world what you have. Somebody out there is waiting on you to show up! Make Periscope your new ‘go-to’ and I guarantee you won’t go wrong.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Laura Cepeda and Kristena Katelas

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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^3067|url^https://www.womeneur.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/womeneur-spotlight-laura-cepeda-and-kristena-katelas-of-besteas-nyc_650_650_90_ffffffgrayopac-7_s_c1.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^womeneur-spotlight-laura-cepeda-and-kristena-katelas-of-besteas-nyc_650_650_90_ffffffgrayopac-7_s_c1|description^null” css=”.vc_custom_1461347874369{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1461347725468{margin-bottom: -2px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

LAURA CEPEDA AND KRISTENA KATELAS OF BESTEAS NYC

CO-FOUNDERS[/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/BesteasNYC” /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”twitter” link=”http://twitter.com/BesteasNYC” /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”instagram” link=”http://instagram.com/Besteasnyc” /][/dt_social_icons][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”3066″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Friends who create together succeed together! This is the motto of BFFs turned business partners, Laura Cepeda and Kristena Katelas of . Laura and Kristena have created Besteas NYC, the “full service traveling tea party” company bringing unique and sophisticated events to you and your besties.

The collabo always had a passion for tea, baking, and decorating. Their friendship began in church, and quickly blossomed into a beautiful business partnership. The ‘know-how” and confidence as businesswomen was sparked by their families who have owned and operated restaurants and bakeries and where they were able to gain valuable experience over the years. At some point in their lives they were bitten by the “Entrepreneurial Bug”, and advanced their knowledge in the . As a full service Traveling Tea Party and Event Planning business, Besteas NYC travels within the Westchester County and New York City area. Laura and Kristena are able to create traditional tea parties, as well as modern themed parties.

The great minds behind this unique company shared with us their business journey and how they are able to bring this traditional social gathering in to the lives of many sophiscated women of today!

Check out how these Womeneurs followed their dreams!

What inspired your journey into business?
After throwing a beautiful Tea Party for the bestie’s birthday, last year, we became instantly motivated and inspired by how well it was recieved by all of our guests. We owned and operated a cafe, where we hosted several tea events. While operating the cafe, we built great relationships with our customers, who also encouraged us to embark on the journey. We felt confident enough to move forward, and as a result,Besteas NYC was born.

What steps did you take to start your business?

  • Identified our Target Market
  • Developed a Business Plan
  • Discussed Financial set-up/budget with our Accountant
  • Met with our Attorney for advice on legal business matters
  • Spent a lot of time visiting various Tea Rooms in NYC and surrounding areas

What are your biggest fears?

  • Having an online presence, only, we fear that many people still do not know about us
  • How well will our business go over with the public

What do you do to stay motivated when you feel like giving up?
We find that spending time in meditation and practicing yoga, as well as escaping into nature really helps during the moments when we feel like giving up.

What are your weaknesses in business and how have you worked past them? 
Our business is our baby, as a result, we find it challenging to separate our personal feelings.When spending personal time with family, or even on outings with each other it’s challenging to not have a discussion about the business. Somehow our conversations always point to the business

What’s been most rewarding?
Repeat clientele is most rewarding. We are aware of the presence of many event planners and the wonderful work that they do. So when a client chooses to return we see this as the ultimate reward.

Who were you before you started your business?
Before this business we were restaurateurs

If you had to do it again, what (if anything) would you do differently?
If we had to do it again, we’d definitely implement stronger marketing and secure a brick and motar space.

What’s one good software or application you cannot live without?
We like the , which helps us manage our expenses while on the go. We keep all of our paper receipts and sometimes our work desk is cluttered. This App helps to reduce the clutter as all of the necessary receipts are saved within.

What’s your secret to cultivating a relationship between you and your customers?
When creating new menu items we connect with our clients via email, asking for their suggestions with the creation. We find that most of our repeat clients like to feel like they are part of the process. Whenever possible, we’d drop off a few of those new items for tasting.

Where do you see your business in 5 years?
In 5 years we would like to have Tea Rooms located in NYC and surrounding areas.

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

  1. Be Persistent
  2. Do NOT doubt your journey
  3. Do NOT expect others to be happy about your dream. If they do that’s fine, but recognize that it’s truly YOUR DREAM and no one else’s. Their discouragement should be your Motivation!  

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Why Your Excuses are Useless

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Excuses are tools of the incompetent and are used to build monuments of nothingness. Those who excel in it seldom excel in anything else but excuses. –Anonymous

Whoever said this was a genius!

Excuses are a waste of time and a way to keep you stuck where you are. Bottom line: don’t make them. I’ve heard time and time before that there are reason, then there are excuses. Reasons are due to life priorities or emergencies. Excuses are simply just because. Reasons have validity. Excuses can be fake as a Barbie doll’s hair. In the real world, excuses lead to inactivity, unproductiveness and complacency- the very things we as people have to avoid.

Now, if you don’t plan on making progress in life or plan on being successful in your own right, then continue doing whatever it is you have been doing to get where you are. But if you are one of few who desire to do more, have more and be more, you may want to take heed to the rest of this message.

Because I want us all to progress in our personal and business lives, I have come up with three action steps you can start implementing immediately to shift you from making excuses to delivering results.

Step #1 Learn the difference between something that’s important and something that should be a priority.

When you sit down to make your daily to-do list, put more thought into it! At the top of your list should be three things you MUST complete or do before the day is out. Priorities are things that are life and death and I don’t mean literally life or death to an extent. To the things first that make you better as a person and better as a business professional. Put things like doctors’ appointments, meetings and tasks with daily deadlines on this list. Honestly, everything you take on needs a deadline so you won’t fall into the trap of procrastination. After you get your priorities down, everything else can fall in line. Hair appointments, hobbies and side-gigs fall into the important category. Personally, in the top spot of my daily to-do list is meditation. Why? Because I understand that self-care is a top priority. As a single mother, small business owner and graduate school student, I have had to learn that in order for me to perform at my best level, I must make sure I am balanced and centered at the start of my day- before life gets my attention.

Step #2 Commit only to the things you know you can do.

Listen, I know we all get those impulses to say “Yes” to every opportunity that comes our way. We don’t want to feel left out or feel like we are missing anything. The truth is, sometimes saying “No” is the best choice. In your personal and professional life, here is a premise to live by: Never over-promise and under-deliver. Commit to the things that will lead to bigger and better opportunities. Agree to do the things that you know you will put your heart and soul into. Do not jump at doing everything because in doing everything, something will be left undone. (Somebody will catch that tomorrow.)

Step #3 Leave your excuses at the door.

At the end of the day, nobody really cares why. Not that may sound harsh but it’s the truth! When it comes to other people and you working with or for them, they do not care why you didn’t deliver. They care about what you said you would do and why it wasn’t done. Making excuses for your shortcomings diminishes your reputation. If something major comes up and it causes you to have to cancel on completing a task or meeting with someone, do your best to let them know beforehand. Having a no-call-no-show is not a good look. Better yet, make it a point to get things done early if possible. Most would agree that better early than late or not at all. It’s not rocket science, its common courtesy.

If you want to set yourself apart from everyone else, you have to operate differently than everyone else. There truly is enough success in the world for everyone to get some but how soon you get it and how much you get is contingent upon the amount of work you put in. I do believe if you start using these three steps, you will begin to feel better about your decision making and allocating your time where it need to be given.

4 Things That Can Break An Entrepreneur

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As an entrepreneur you will come across many challenges that will make you reconsider why you decided to take on this journey.  Here are four major occurrences that can break you, but knowing the battles ahead can also prepare you to plan better.

1.  Failure
Success is a word that conjures up images and feelings of accomplishment; it means that you have arrived at this place that brings you satisfaction.  Failure or failing is not a part of the plan, but to be an entrepreneur you will face failure and/rejection.  It is part of the DNA of being an entrepreneur, what seems like a fantastic idea to you may not be to others.  Nor will others share in your enthusiasm, and you can expect that will come from those closest to you.  You must be prepared for feeling and being alone at times, and the numerous numbers of doors that will be quietly or loudly closed in your face.  But most of all, you must prepare for the fire of failure, and failure is indeed a fire, it can either burn you up or clean away the debris.  You have to decide when the fire of failure comes to be prepared to start again, make changes, adjust with what it leaves you with…or walk away.

I can tell you personally, that failure is not easy, but if you are going to win in building your brand or your product you must accept failure, and do so with grace.  Grace allows you to rebuild, to see what you need to tweak and redesign in creating a better plan, product or idea.  You must change the images and feelings of what failure means to you.  And create in your mind the idea that failure is only a step in your success and not separate from it, success and failure go hand in hand.  It all depends on the cards you hold in your hands, are you willing to fold or ask the dealer to hit you again.  My hope is that you bet on you, and secure that bet with awareness, preparation and grace.  Hit me again dealer!  I’m not done just yet.

2.  Working Non-Stop
Working 24/7 is not what most think of when they go into business for themselves.  You’ve seen TV shows with a couple on a beach, laughing and enjoying a cocktail, all the while knowing their employees are hard at work for them.  But I can assure you; you will work harder, and longer hours then what you ever thought.  And the employees will be you, except you will have many hats; one might be secretary, the other delivery person and don’t forget consumer complaint receptionist.  That’s all you!  And I gave you the short list of hats. Late nights while others are asleep you will be going over the smallest of details, coming up with new ideas and discussing in your head how to best deal with the latest problem.  Sleep will be something others do, right now you will eat and non-sleep, your business.

If you have a family you might want to have a family meeting now, and discuss why Mommy will not be cooking the way she used too.  And sex, well you can of course fit that time in, but I can assure you, you will come up with ways on how to maximize that time better as well.  Be prepared for scheduling and rescheduling dates with friends, because something came up.  Ever heard of the saying “Time is money” you will realize that this is your mantra.  Can this break some, honey this will break most, but remember what I first said…if you know the battles ahead you can plan better.  So, do have a discussion with your family about your goals and plans, but include them and your partner/spouse to being helpers in the “family business.”

Now is a great time to build up little entrepreneurs too, teach them about money, let them send out your e-blast and allow them to help, helping makes the medicine go down easier.  But I encourage you to meet and make friends with other entrepreneurs, because they understand.  And you can find some solace in knowing, you have someone to talk to that understands why you’re on the computer and your kids are making English muffin pizza for the third night.  Find your balance, what works for you and your family/friends.  Use tools that are out there to make the workload easier (I have given you a few in past articles).  Remember, none of this will be easy, but it can be worth it.

3.  Taking Things Personal
Don’t take anything personal, yes that is hard to do when you have baby business, let’s be real…it can be difficult on a mature business as well.  But you have to develop a tough skin.  Realize now, that people’s time frame isn’t yours, nor will you share the same expectations.  People, whether friends or strangers will express their commitment and will leave you high and dry.  Just say as I do “ Don’t take it personally.”  Can that break you?  Yes it can, because some of us need our own personal cheer squad, but if you learn anything, learn this…count on you.  You are the only one you can control, if people who you know support you, that’s great, if they don’t that’s great too.  Because, if your idea or product is good enough it will make room for the people who are there, no need to hold space, and no need to be bitter.

Thank people/friends for their time and don’t get hung up with who bought or didn’t buy your product or who came or didn’t come out for your event.  Remember the fire of failure?  Sometimes it burns up the debris of what you held onto that wasn’t real, the fire makes it all clear.  Never and I repeat never rant on social media about your so-called friends, learn to smile in the midst of it all and be your own cheerleader, no squad need apply.  Don’t run after friends/family to support your new venture, it would be nice but don’t expect it.  Instead allow what will be, be.  When I have those who give me a long drawn out excuse as to why they couldn’t attend an event or purchase a book.  I stop them in mid paragraph, and let them know it’s ok, and the funny thing is they seem to need to hear me say that.  It’s like a relief for them, but what they don’t know is, it was more of a relief for me.  If you want to rant, buy a journal.  Over time, you will see instead of looking at what others did or did not do, you will begin to focus on your own accomplishments.

4.  Lack of Money
Money can be the great determiner if you stay in business.  You will spend money, money you do have, and money you don’t.  Either way be prepared!  For some of you, you will have to find those willing to invest in your product.  For that, you will need to already have a business plan and show what you have earned and what you can earn to be able to repay them back on their investment and/interest.  For others like myself, you will invest in your product using your own funds.  I was fortunate to be able to go into my retirement funds and use that to support my venture.  But I fully know I will have to pay back those funds with interest, and even be taxed on it.  See, everybody wants to get paid, but that was the risk I was willing to take for me and my dream.  That may not work for everyone else, so make sure to plan out with your accountant how to best minimize the losses.

I understood that initially in business, it is expected that I lose more than I earn and to keep very tight records on what I could claim for the business.  For me that included not just promoting materials (website, reorder of books, banners etc.) but also, renting space, travel expenses and of course up to date electronics.  It adds up, and quick, be sure to keep all receipts for big ticket items and small ones, record where you were, how long, and if what you did promoted the business.  Your new hats are now, record keeper and account manager.  Yes, you can save money, learning to maintain and design your own website, being your own social guru and taking a quick online course in business management, but that’s more hats.

Decide for yourself what you can and can’t afford and make adjustments, and bring balance to your life as much as possible.  By the way, that connection of making entrepreneur friends comes into play right about now, because they can give you some of their contacts or better yet help you in your options regarding how to best maximize your dollars.   But don’t take it personal if they can’t, you can either cast out a broader net or learn to do it yourself.  What about me you ask?  I hold twelve hats as we speak, and I am a DIY entrepreneur.  That’s what the fire taught me.  As always let me know what you think about the article, I am always on hand to help, listen and heed.

Follow me @ Gina Humber twitter and on FB and of course @ Ginahumber.com

Iman Dean of The Events Agency

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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^3065|url^https://www.womeneur.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/womeneur-spotlight-iman-dean-of-the-events-agency_650_650_90_ffffffgrayopac-7_s_c1.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^womeneur-spotlight-iman-dean-of-the-events-agency_650_650_90_ffffffgrayopac-7_s_c1|description^null” css=”.vc_custom_1461348689912{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1461348382065{margin-bottom: -2px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

IMAN DEAN OF THE EVENTS AGENCY

OWNER[/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/pages/The-Events-Agency/1602185856705082″ /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”twitter” link=”https://twitter.com/eventsagencynyc” /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”instagram” link=”https://instagram.com/theeventsagency” /][/dt_social_icons][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”3064″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Iman Dean always had a knack for the events planning industry. The Tampa, FL native honed her skills by working at her parents catering business before moving to New York City. It was here she further sharpened her skils by hosting at various chic, hotspots like Babbo, Jean Georges’ Spice Market and Nobu. Armed with five years of hosting experience, Iman solidified things further by taking Hospitality and Events Planning courses at City College and went on to consult with upscale eateries and eventually became Manager and Director of Events for the upscale, Puerto Rican restaurant, Sofrito.

Satisfied with her hands-on and ‘classroom’ education, Iman co-counded  (TEA), a boutique full-service event and venue management agency located in New York City. TEA offers complete planning geared toward weddings, corporate events and private social gatherings. Their management services include promotion collaboration, programming, production, entertainment, special event coordination and venue scouting. She also offers event management consulting, including development assessment, strategy, market planning, and staffing.

This Womeneur continues to be involved in the food industry by serving as a personal restaurant savant and guide for colleagues and friends.

What inspired your journey into business?
I have always been a visionary, and appreciator of others happiness however I stifled my own by making everyone els around me successful. This year when a chance opportunity presented itself I jumped at the opportunity.

What steps did you take to start your business?
Over the years I have put smalls steps into play to get here. Building my database and social network of people. Gaining relationships with those of like mind and equal interest. Then when it was time to really move forward I concluded all the legal aspects needed to make it a legitimate company. Which lead to completing my digital footprint and the last part letting everyone know WE are here.. Now daily it is an ongoing task to bring in the right business.

What are your biggest fears?
I am like all entrepreneurs, failing is my main fear..

What do you do to stay motivated when you feel like giving up?
I keep myself surrounded by other dynamic women doing dynamic things. When I see them win, it boosts my spirit to do the same. They say you are a perfect combo of your five closes friends and I want to be the same to them as they are to me.

What are your weakness in business and how have you worked past them? 
I often have so much to do that I do multiple things at one time however I know that completing a task and moving on to the next is the best way to be productive. To do list, and catching myself when I start to shift my focus are some tools I use to stay on track. I also give myself timelines to complete task.

What’s been most rewarding?
Seeing my clients eyes when the event is in full gear.

Who were you before you started your business?
I was the girl I am today but without knowing what I wanted from the future.

If you had to do it again, what (if anything) would you do differently?
I would have hunkered down and focused on me sooner. I spent a lot of years focused on others and how others were successful.

What’s one good software or application you cannot live without?
My calendar!

What’s your secret to cultivating a relationship between you and your customers?
Transparency, and communication….

Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I see The Events Agency as the leading event planning go to for all things AMAZING. When someone sees the name they will know it stands for professionalism, efficiency, opulent yet affordable.

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

  1. Make sure your product is consistent across the board in how you represent your brand.
  2. Pick an area at a time to focus on while balancing all the others.
  3. Know your budget and what you need to sustain yourself until you are able to bring in a revenue stream.

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4 Ways To Make 2016 Memorable

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I already know, every year we declare the “New Year, New Me” blah, blah. By February, it turns into, “I already messed up this year, so I will try again next year. We do this year after year and then look up and 5 years have passed.

Guess what? We are not getting any younger.

Life is passing every second and one day our time will be up. You will get no do overs (unless you believe in reincarnation lol). No more “next year is my year!” Just start now.  Yeah, maybe 2015 was a drag. But answer me this hun. Did you really, I mean really put your all into the goals you set forth. Most likely not. Trust me, I know all about half-assing goals and crying about it later.

When you set a goal, work the goal. And please believe that the work you put in will be evident in the results. You must commit!

So how does one create a year that gives them faith in the good things in life again?

1. Consider Your Mindset.
Before you can make any changes, you must analyze your mindset. Do you constantly think negative thoughts? Do you see accomplishing things as almost impossible? Are goals unattainable because you believe you are a failure? Or do you not believe you are worthy of obtaining the best things in life? Many of us have to check ourselves. We settle for the crumbs at the table in careers, relationships or our physical health. When you change your thoughts you change your life. Whenever negative thoughts come up, try to replace them with positive ones. This can be difficult as we have been trained to think negatively, but think about it like this. Your life depends on it.

2. Set Your Goals; Work your goals.
Write down your goals with dates as Dates Define Destiny. Whenever I am feeling inspired, I like to set aside about an hour to reflect on what I want to do within the next couple of months. I usually divide my goals into different subjects: Spiritual, Mental, Physical, Financially, Relationally, and Career etc. Break down the big goals into days and watch them be a tad bit easier to achieve. For example, if I wanted to launch a business, I would put launch business in March 2016, but this week I will research my competitors, and start on my business plan.

3. Express Gratitude.
Please be grateful for where you are. Yes, it is possible to be in a situation that is not the best and see the good. This lesson shows you how not to do something. To “fail” in an area enables you to succeed in a similar situation later on. But only if you take the time to learn why you failed previously. Otherwise you will go around that mountain again.

4. YOLO The Heck Out of It
Make a commitment to trying something new, regularly. How do we expect to change doing the same stuff. So often, we get stuck in a rut because we end up doing the same things with the same people at the same place and wonder why we get the same things in life. There is a life to be lived and no one else will live it for you. Stop living your life through reality tv, gossip sites and create the life you want.

There you have it. I have given you some ways to make 2016 #memorable. You have all the tools and the capacity to accomplish your dreams. Whether it is to get your GED or PhD, your life and where you are is unique to you. Do not compare your journey to others. Live this life as it is yours for the taking.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

5 Contract Terms You Need to Know, Now!

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[vc_row][vc_column][dt_fancy_title title=”khsta.org” title_align=”left” title_size=”small”][vc_column_text]Contracts are the lifeblood of business from lease agreements and product purchases to service agreements.  Contracts govern nearly all business-to-business transactions and a bad contract can cost you money and put your business at risk.  A well-drafted contract, however, can be your saving grace in a dispute.  Continue reading to learn about 5 specific contract terms you must know now.

“A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.” -Samuel Goldwyn

 

1. Parties

Naming the legal entity that is responsible for carrying out the contract is essential to enforcing the contract if something goes wrong.  If the business is responsible for the contract, look to see that you signed the contract as a representative of the business instead of accidentally signing yourself up for personal liability.  Of course, if you are a sole proprietor, you will be personally responsible for the company’s debts, so make sure your form an entity to give you an added layer of protection.  Check to see how the other party signed the contract as well.  You certainly don’t want any surprises later if you learn that the party you’re seeking to enforce the contract against is not obligated to perform.

Getting the contract terms right when you’re doing business is not only important when conducting business, but it can have lasting financial consequences if you don’t use them correctly.  In the last post, we talked about naming the right parties; this week’s contract phrase is Payment Terms.

2. Payment Terms

For most business owners this is the most important term in every contract. When reviewing your payment terms pay close attention to when payment is due and any penalties associated with late payments as they may increase the amounts owed.  Also take note of any conditions to receiving payment, such as special billing forms, waivers, or other documentation required to secure payment.

If you’re engaging the sale of goods, contracts are particularly important for your business.  Not only do contracts hold the other party accountable, but they let you know what performance is expected of you as well.  The contract term that sets the level of expectation for performance is up next.

3. Warranties

The warranty provisions govern what level of performance you should expect from a certain service and what the protocol is if the product or service does not perform as it should or is defective.  Know the length of your warranty; whether or not it is consistent with state law minimums; and the scope of the coverage the warranty provides.

Now that you know about Parties, Payment Terms, and Warranties, now is a good time to review some of your existing contracts with a new eye for the details.  Stay tuned for our last two contract terms coming your way soon.

If your business uses contracts on a regular basis, understanding the terms and conditions of the contract is a must.  You definitely don’t want any surprises!  Over the past few weeks we’ve learned about Parties, Payment Terms, and Warranties and the important role they play in using contracts effectively.

4. Termination Clauses

Termination clauses may have very specific procedures for terminating a contract.  For example, the business that is required to perform may have an opportunity to cure the problem, or may require written notice of the intent to terminate within a specific timeframe. By failing to follow the procedure detailed in the contract, you may find yourself in breach of the contract and subject to additional penalties, or worse, stuck in a contract longer than you desire.

Don’t forget to double-check your contracts for the termination clauses.  Know and understand what your obligations are as well as your rights for terminating a contract.

The final term in our contract term series is here!  We’ve covered Parties, Payment Terms, Warranties, and Termination Clauses and now that you know what they mean, it’s time to put that knowledge to use.  We have one more term for you to round out the series and it is a good one!

5. Indemnification

This is the most loved and hated word in all of contracts, depending on which side of provision you are on.  The indemnification provision is the clause that governs who you may have to defend or hold harmless in the event of a dispute or claim.  Be mindful of how far your indemnification obligation extends, and to what type of claims, costs, fees, and expenses this obligation includes.   Carefully note whether the indemnification obligation extends beyond your direct contractual relationship and whether or not the indemnification provision covers personal injury, products liability, property damage, or patent infringement.  Additionally, confirm whether or not your indemnification obligation includes attorney’s fees and other litigation expenses.

It may be difficult to keep all of the contract terms clear at first, but if you only take away one thing, take this: all contracts are negotiable.  The first step, however, is to understand the basic principles behind the provisions and to be knowledgeable regarding modifications and their effects on your business.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Nicole Rowley of Luxurious Web Design

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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^3071|url^https://www.womeneur.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/womeneur-spotlight-nicole-rowley-of-luxurious-web-design_650_650_90_ffffffgrayopac-7_s_c1.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^womeneur-spotlight-nicole-rowley-of-luxurious-web-design_650_650_90_ffffffgrayopac-7_s_c1|description^null” css=”.vc_custom_1461349086766{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1461348889364{margin-bottom: -2px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

NICOLE ROWLEY OF LUXURIOUS WEB DESIGN

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=”https://www.facebook.com/LuxuriousWebDesign” /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”twitter” link=”https://twitter.com/luxwebdesign” /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”instagram” link=”https://instagram.com/luxuriouswebdesign/” /][/dt_social_icons][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”3070″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Nicole Rowley is a well versed entrepreneur from the East Coast. She is the founder and CEO of , an international web solutions firm rendering web and application development services worldwide. Nicole has accomplished a great deal over the past five years alone personally and professionally. She has managed to earn her Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2010, obtained five of the industry’s top IT certifications, worked for over 3 Fortune 500 companies, and is currently pursing her MBA from Texas A&M Commerce.

The main principle of Luxurious Web Design is to constantly create great work and to always stay on top of ideas that makes the company innovative and the need to strive for a holistic vision.

The Womeneur™ shares with us her business journey and the future of her company.

What inspired your journey into business?
From a young age I saw how technology was vested in enhancing a society of change. Upgrading software, removing viruses, coding applications, and replacing hardware are needed operations, but I still have passion to understand the full spectrum of how technology works and how it can service all businesses. Through personal discovery, I found web & application development as the best outlet for my career. It presents the versatility of being able to work with new clients weekly, create daily, and remain agile.

What steps did you take to start your business?
I first started as a freelance web developer in college, but once I saw how small-scaled that was, I learned how creating the presence of a company would yield more benefits. Clients could contact me, and I could reach out to them while providing the security of working with a known brand as opposed to just a person. Once I created the business, I invested my time in marketing and gaining a larger customer base. I did research and development (R&D), to see what clients needed and what competitors were doing, and the one thing I still keep in mind today is to never fall behind the learning curve within the industry of technology.

What are your biggest fears?
The biggest fear would have to be timing. The fear is misallocation of time, as opposed to not capitalizing on endeavors in a timely manner. It’s so easy as a business owner to distribute time towards an initiative because we feel as if it will bring optimum value; the hardest thing to then realize is that our time should have been used differently. It’s thus a fear, because time is a resource you can’t get back, and potential opportunities could have been missed.

What do you do to stay motivated when you feel like giving up?
I don’t give up, that’s the thing; no matter what happens I eliminate “giving up” as an option. Therefore, by default I have to continue. The key activities I do are: figuring out the best way to remediate the issues and problems, stop focusing on changing all of the unchangeable “what’s” and focusing more on the “how’s”, re-strategizing or re-planning to have the guidance I need to continue, and I expose myself to the networks of people whom are encouraging, knowledgeable, and truthful.

What are your weakness in business and how have you worked past them? 
My biggest weakness has been specializing in too many things at once. I’ve looked at my sector as one that’s quite extensive, and just like many businesses there are so many directions to take. I used to attempt going down too many paths simultaneously. I never sacrificed quality, I more so apportioned time towards new initiatives as opposed to better optimizing the initial investments which could have potentially yielded more in return. I continue to work through these weaknesses by strategic goals setting, and planning for the continual progression of existing services.

What’s been most rewarding?
The most rewarding feeling is seeing my clients do well. Just knowing I created a resource that’s been instrumental in their ability to become successful as a business is the best gratification that there is. I quite often get to see the results in ‘real time’.

Who were you before you started your business?
I was someone whom aspired to one day own a business. I’ve never been fully thrilled by finding myself working in assigned cubicle, typing away at work assigned to me that I may or may not like from 9 to 5 for the next 35 years of my life. For me, that’s never been the ideal work life, although there’s nothing wrong with it, and most certainly it pays the bills. I’ve always found the need to fully challenge myself as an innovator, and not just look at what something is but more so what it can be, inclusive of my career.

If you had to do it again, what (if anything) would you do differently?
I would have focused more of my energy on my business sooner. It’s a tough trade-off between focusing on your job or focusing on creating a business that may or may not flourish. Now I see it’s sometimes worth a try, because the return on investment could be huge.

What’s one good software or application you cannot live without?
I couldn’t not live without WordPress. I don’t create all websites through WordPress, but the technology that’s now created for WordPress enables the extension of services that are needed by many businesses.

What’s your secret to cultivating a relationship between you and your customers?
I always adjust my approach to relating with my customers, contingent on whom they are. Some are very open, relaxed, and even share personal aspects of their life with me, and some are more so strictly professional. First, I always try to call my clients, it adds another layer of trust. Second, I always make the best effort to provide them with resources even though it may not be related to my business; it helps them. Third, I always follow up with my customers to see if there is anything else they need. Lastly, I try to broaden my perspective to better understand what they want and/or need. Sometimes it’s not an immediate “no we don’t do that”. It’s, “this how it can be done”, even if we won’t provide 100% of the needed service.

Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I see the business continually progressing to accept larger scale projects and contracts. I will say in alignment with the way technology is progressing, there are major opportunities within the development of applications, widgets, and tools required to support security needs.

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

  1. Set Goals, Plan, and Execute. Never become too complacent with where you are in life to set more goals. You’re always 100% accountable for your success.
  2. Having a low risk tolerance does not mean you shouldn’t take risks; it means you should better plan for them.
  3. Focus on being a leader as opposed to being a boss. A leader expands beyond the realm of their own box, masters teamwork, applies power plus effort, and in turn empowers others. Therefore, “leadership is action not position”.

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Do You Have Business Resolutions?

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Resolutions are not just about signing up to that gym that you will commit to going to for the first few weeks of January.  Resolutions should be the observation of what your current year was like and what you need or want to change for the year to come.  For entrepreneurs, our resolutions can be a number of ideas that you weren’t able to accomplish, setting a dollar amount goal by the end of the first fiscal year or committing to setting a time away from the business and relax.

Searching through the internet, here are a few resolutions that I think most people can utilize in their new way of life in the New Year.

Set goals – make sure they’re realistic

A very great resolution that we don’t always think rationally about.  Goals that are out of our reach may or may not be realistic.  Where have you taken your business and where you want it to go should be a well thought process that includes a business plan.

Promote your business – as much as you can

What good is your business if only those in your immediate circle of family and friends know about it?  Invest in marketing tools to get your great ideas out to individuals that may also be in line with your goals.  If you do not have social media accounts for your business, you are missing a huge market of people.

Delegate – free your time for new ideas

If you’ve had a great fiscal year, then you may want to look into expanding your workforce, so you can work on new ideas.  You need to have a person or two in your business you can trust to give important tasks to so you are able to work on bigger ideas and plans to expand your business.

Vacation—not a staycation

Decide where you want to go and book a ticket.  If you stay home while on “vacation”, you will do more work than relaxation.  Take the reward of being able to book a flight, stay in a nice hotel, order room service.  With or without children, taking a moment of time to relax and be stress free creates a healthy work-life balance.

One year is going to be behind us and with another year approaching, create resolutions that make a better you and business.  What are your business resolultions?