Deciding to Start Write Communications and WomenCentric.org

• How did you spot the opportunity to start your business?

I knew that my combined experiences and expertise were languishing at my last job – I was not able to implement ideas and strategies that I knew would work – so it was borne out of frustration!! I knew I had valuable insight to business growth strategies, and I wanted to increase my journalist writing opps as well.

• How about WomenCentric.org?

I went to several networking venues and met some incredible, articulate women with different areas of expertise. I thought it would be cool to work as a team, in a speaking environment, to produce fun, fast-paced forums covering career and entrepreneurial success tips. My idea: collaborate, learn, share and grow; that WomenCentric could provide additional business opps and critical media exposure that would help us under the moniker of WomenCentric, while growing our respective businesses.

Write Communications and WomenCentric

• Tell us about your business and the services you provide.

Today Write-Communications is a very different company than it was when I started! I am now repositioning myself as a Success Strategist – so I am focusing my services on mentoring, assessments, training and writing. I am seeking out other women to put together joint projects, and will be looking to outsource some of the copywriting and assessment work, so I can concentrate on beefing up my journalist writing and speaking opps – as a keynote speaker or panelist/moderator. Under WomenCentric I’m seeking to boost keynote opps and training/ seminars to three distinct markets: corporations, colleges (and other educational institutions) and the entrepreneurial set.

• What were/are the most demanding conflicts or trade-offs you face as a business owner?

There is never enough time to get to all the ideas that are constantly percolating in my head! I am seeking some angel investors to help with that – as I need to hire a staff, get an outside office and get some smart IT help and Systems in place. This is key to getting me to where I want to go – to be the “Oprah of Entrepreneurs” sooner rather than later! Trade-offs? I am trying to craft of life full of action, purpose and balance – so achieving breakout growth while maintaining focus on what is truly paramount to me – down time spent with my family and friends and pursuit of fulfilling hobbies, like singing and fiction writing, is an ongoing challenge!

• What are your plans for the future?

I am getting on radio and TV more and liking it a lot! I want my own TV show, one that is focused on dishing the dirt on a myriad of critical topics: funding, how to get started, marketing, sales, networking – the works! I envision helping other women grow their companies by profiling real people and business experts, who discuss their unique journeys, challenges and solutions. I know this can be done within a fun environment, sharing terrific business secrets & tips that will make a profound difference for millions of women entrepreneurs. I know the issues they face firsthand, and have been through the heartache of things going very wrong. Since women are now creating new businesses every 3 seconds – there is a huge audience thirsting for quality info, not hype, seeking to help themselves, to help their families, to make an impact on their communities, provide jobs and new opportunities for others. My immediate goal is to add “Author” to my bio, so I will be getting my book proposal to my publisher in several weeks. Getting Unstuck

• Could you share with WomenandBiz.com readers if you’ve ever been stuck with Write Communications?

You bet! When you are a solopreneur it’s easy to get lost in the minutia of things. With the internet and email it is so hard not to get distracted and waste a lot of time – even if what you are doing is valuable business research that you can use to your benefit! I tried to do too much too fast, and it affected my personality – I was too tense too much of the time.

• If yes, how did you overcome it?

I realized there is a natural progression, and that many things I was devoting my attention to were keeping me from focusing on my prime goals. In the beginning I did not quantify how many clients I would need to keep cash flow humming. I took a step back, and appraised my efforts and performance (or lack thereof!) and realized that I would be able to achieve measurable growth through culling down the number of balls I was juggling. Another realization: I needed an immediate influx of cash to fund important initiatives in marketing, advertising and networking. Once I got both of these issues handled I experienced explosive growth! Advice and Lessons Learned

• Could you suggest the most important lessons you have learned in order to run a successful business?

I’ve learned that I am capable of so much more than I ever imagined possible! I learned that opportunities are born from ourselves. The day I said aloud for the first time “I’m going to be a writer” was the day that opened so many doors. I discovered that hard work and perseverance does pay off. That keeping your eyes and ears open can expand your horizons in amazing ways. I’ve realized that even my best friends may not “get” what I’m doing, but that my path belongs to me. And that whether I fail or reach the summit depends on a number of things, including but not limited to timing, instinct, belief, homework, research, listening. One of the best lessons I learned was that helping others, being a cheerleader for strangers, and being a connector and facilitator is much more fun and rewarding than being inclusive.

• What advice would you give an aspiring entrepreneur?

Number one – you have to have a product or service that people need, or can be convinced they need (think Pet Rock or other fun or silly products or services!) Unless you’ve got a Rockefeller in your back pocket, with deep pockets, you need to be prepared to invest a considerable time and sweat, along with a reasonable amount of money to get your business started and keep it running.

Your friends will not keep you in business.

You need to have a business plan! It forces you to quantify how, when, where, why – and will help chart your own course.

You need a dedicated marketing plan with capital set aside for this line item. The plan must outline specific, different ways to consistently engage your target audiences – or you can kiss your business good by.

If you are passionate, take the time to get educated, and seek professional assistance from people who have the expertise(s) you lack, you’ll have a better chance of succeeding.

• Additional Advice

Just go for it! Your first dream business may not be the thing you end up succeeding in, it may be a critical stepping stone to what is the perfect path for you. Never stop learning – never stop dreaming – never stop learning, and always be merciless when it comes to honestly assessing your performance and results. It is the only way you will evolve and grow to meet the needs of your clients. Do your homework, under the psyche of your prospects, who they are, the language that will engage them. The most important thing I counsel my clients to remember – it is NOT about you; it’s about what your customer wants and expects.

To learn more about Pattie Simone and her businesses, please visit www.write-communications.com.