Make Mine a Million $ Business is a program of Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence — and founding partner, OPEN from American Express®. Count Me In introduced the program to help women entrepreneurs grow and build sustainable enterprises, create jobs and develop innovative products and services.

The Make Mine a Million $ Business Award provides a combination of coaching, financing and marketing tools that women entrepreneurs need to help grow their businesses from micro to millions. Count Me In launched the dynamic movement of Make Mine a Million $ Business with a goal to inspire one million women entrepreneurs to reach annual revenues of $1 million in the next decade.

The impact of reaching this goal would be to create over 4 million new jobs and $700 billion in economic activity. With 97% of all women-owned businesses in the U.S. reporting less than 1million $ in revenue, Make Mine a Million $ Business is addressing the growth needs of established and new, women-owned businesses. We have connected women entrepreneurs to pathways of business growth through confidence, coaching, and community support, provided ways for big corporations to invest in small business success and inspired women to expand their vision of what is possible.

Who is eligible?

Make Mine a Million $ Business™ targets businesses organized and doing business in the United States with the following characteristics:

• The company must be at least 50% owned by at least one woman who is a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
• The business should be at least two years old and have annual revenues of at least $200,000.

All Applicants who are selected as Finalists must attend the Event at their own expense and be willing to participate in the coaching program, related public relations events, and promotions for the Make Mine a Million $ Business program and its Sponsors and other partners.  In some cases applicants may be asked to change the event/location to which they have applied.  You will be notified by Count Me In if this occurs.

What do I get by applying for the MAKE MINE A MILLION $ BUSINESS COMPETITION?

You become a member of the Make Mine a Million $ Business Community!

Community members receive:

• Opportunities to connect with the thousands of women entrepreneurs, potential strategic partners, clients, and vendors
• Forums to discuss business growth questions, comments and concerns on our message boards.
• Real-time feedback from other entrepreneurs and experts on your day-to-day concerns.
• Opportunity to market your business to thousands of women by completing your profile page
• Business growth tips, advice, and success stories in our monthly newsletter.
• Be the first to know about our upcoming webinars, live workshops, seminars and events.
• Face to face meetings with women entrepreneurs in your local area through Meetups .

We’ve been told by hundreds of women that the application process changed their life.  You will most likely find that by completing the application you will have clarified your vision and plan, identified points for improvement, and discovered new strategies for your business’s growth.

What are the prizes?

In addition to Community member benefits, applicants for the Make Mine a Million $ Business program are competing to receive a limited number of Awards Packages consisting of products and services that are provided by Count Me In and its sponsors to help business owners grow their businesses.

• Business coaching from Count Me In’s coaching partner, The Coach Connection
• Count Me In’s Capitol Concierge service – personalized assistance from Count Me In experts who will help you prepare your financials to pursue financing through SBA lenders
• Access to American Express Platinum Card for selected awardees
• Local and national visibility for you and your business from American Express OPEN
• Membership to Sam’s Club
• Discounts on select shipping and office and print services from FedEx
• Increased exposure to potential customers seeking your goods or services
• Opportunities to reach new national markets with partners like American Express OPEN, Reader’s Digest, Dell, FedEx and Sam’s Club
• Promotion of you and your business through local and national television, newspapers, magazines, radio and blogs

How do I win?

Applications are solicited and processed throughout the year in conjunction with the schedule of Make Mine a Million $ Business Events.   On your application, you will be asked to select which event you will be applying for.  All events are national unless otherwise noted.  Applications for the Make Mine a Million $ Business program are screened by Count Me In staff and a team of banking and financial professionals selected by Count Me In.

Applications are rated according to how well they meet the eligibility requirements of the Program and the following additional criteria:

Company’s potential to reach the $1 million revenue level (or higher) within 18-24 months

• Potential to scale business
• Realistic vision
• Mindset for growth

Company has a credible Marketing Plan

• Identifiable niche and target market
• Clear strategy to reach target market
• Competitive strengths

Management  has the capacity to take the Company to the next level

• Owner’s experience and skill
• Experience of management team (if applicable)

Company appears to be on a sound financial footing

• Financial acumen of owner
• Management of personal and business credit
• Company is financially solvent and shows historical growth
• Ability to take on more debt

Company will benefit from being in the Program.

Applicants with the highest ratings will be selected as Finalists.  Finalists must be able to attend the Event that they have applied for, where they will compete to become Awardees.

At the Event, each Finalist will compete by presenting a three-minute pitch of their business, their qualifications, and how they would benefit from the Program.  This Elevator Pitch is given in front of a live audience and a panel of qualified judges selected by Count Me In.  The judges, with input from the audience vote, will select which of the Finalists should be named as Award Recipients.

To learn all the requirements and deadline, please visit the M3 website:

http://www.makemineamillion.org/grow/content/type/tools/article/930

I graduated from Indiana University with a BA in Marketing, then earned my Masters of Business Administration at University of Miami, with a specialization in International Business. I’ve always enjoyed sales and marketing, and I have a passion for travel. I also love to entertain, and consider myself a pseudo gourmet chef.

How did you come up with the idea to start Catalogs.com?

I got my start in Internet retailing in 1994, when e-commerce was in its infancy. Together with my husband, we launched Neckties.com, an upscale mail order print catalog and website selling artistically designed men’s neckties.

From that experience, I learned the power of filling a specific retail niche for online shoppers.  The web offers the perfect place to shop efficiently and conveniently for specific products in a way that is nearly impossible in bricks-and-mortar stores.  By bringing together a comprehensive collection of catalogs all on one site, we realized we could offer a level of options and convenience not previously available to shoppers.

That realization was the spark for Catalogs.com. Recognizing the untapped potential of aggregating and indexing a wide array of catalogs that shoppers might not know about or have access to, we developed a way for Internet shoppers to select and receive catalogs of their choice all in one place.

Did you want to have partners or do it solo? Why?

We started the business with no outside partners, and no venture capital. Our business is completely privately funded. The huge advantage is that you maintain the control and flexibility without having to answer to others. It allows quick decision making and you tend to make sure that every penny invested makes sense.

Tell us about Catalogs.com and the services it provides.

Early on, we noticed that many merchants were trying to find a way to incorporate the availability of new online channels into what had been a more traditional catalog-driven business.  Catalogs.com was created to meet that demand.  Catalogs.com provides a mechanism for merchants to offer a variety of shopping options, while offering consumers the convenience and efficiency of online shopping.  For 13 years, we have helped shoppers find and order the perfect catalogs for the products they want, at no cost to the consumer.

Catalogs.com offers access to more than 650 print and online catalogs — from the world’s largest retailers to companies specializing in unique and hard-to-find items.

Catalogs.com shoppers have the opportunity to purchase anything their heart desires, no matter how big or how small, through a trusted resource.  We also offer exclusive rebates, savings and offers that shoppers would not find anywhere else.

Merchants must meet specific standards set by Catalogs.com to be showcased on the site, including: (1) retailers must have a website that sells a variety of types of products, and (2) products must be reputable and reliable.

What were the most difficult challenges you faced as you began to grow?

Since we began our business 13 years ago, the biggest challenge has been keeping ahead of an industry that seems to change at lightening speed.  The level of sophistication required to operate a successful Internet company has increased dramatically during this time, and we continue to surround ourselves with highly qualified employees specializing in each aspect of our business. Hiring the right employees for the job is, and always has been, of utmost importance.

What things do you find personally rewarding as an entrepreneur?

As an entrepreneur and business woman, there is nothing more personally rewarding than working hard to build something from scratch. I savor the creative aspects involved in starting something new. Surrounding myself with people I can learn from contributes to my personal and professional growth. And, being my own boss and setting my own schedule is a definitely its own reward.

What advice would you give an aspiring entrepreneur?

When we started the company 13 years ago, the Internet was so vastly different than it is today.  My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to go for it, but first make sure you have sufficient capital to support your business plans and help you achieve a presence on the Internet. Advertising, search engine optimization, computer programming, and sales support must be well funded if you are truly interested in building a successful Internet-based business.

What are your plans for the future?

Catalogs.com is always changing and adapting to the ever-growing online community.

Our company is launching several new initiatives, including www.OnlineCatalogs.com, which gives shoppers a whole new way to shop by catalog.  With its launch, shoppers are able to browse through complete catalogs online using flip-page technology.  It is the latest advancement in paperless catalog shopping, eliminating paper waste while saving precious time spent waiting on catalogs to arrive in your mailbox.

With the growing presence and authority of social media, we are increasingly using tools such as our blogs www.catalogs.com/blog/index.html to increase our visibility online, as well as personal reviews of items culled from hundreds of catalogs at http://www.catalogs.com/coolpicks/.

I was a professional actress in NYC, balancing an acting career with various other positions –

1. Worked at CBS 60 Minutes as Administrative Assistant

2. Senior Account Executive (sales) with MicroVideo, Inc. a start up company that I worked at and helped to build into a multi million dollar business.

How did you spot the opportunity to start ECOBAGS.com?

I don’t know that I spotted the opportunity as much as I started living the opportunity. It all started because I didn’t want to accept single use bags, which led me to find “filet” cotton string bags (like the ones I saw all over Europe).  I bought some for my own use and began bringing them with me for shopping.  Everyone wanted to know where I got them and where they could get some so, coming from an entrepreneurial family I guess I had an “aha” moment and thought that there might be a business opportunity in there somewhere.

Did you want to have partners or do it solo? Why?

I built the business myself, primarily. My husband delivered the necessary technical expertise for early online software and then more developed web applications. We refer to his position as “wires” beneath my wings.

Tell us about ECOBAGS.com, its mission and products.

Our mission, when we started in 1989 was “Cleaning Up The Planet One Bag At A Time.”™  We’ve grown beyond bags but still incorporate the “one ___ at a time” focus. We believe that grassroots growth builds movements and movements alter our culture.

I read on ECOBAGS.com’s blog that you swam across the Hudson River, in the Hudson River Swim For Life, raising funds for Leukemia and Lymphoma research. What did this experience mean to you?

I love to swim and I love challenges. It’s a lot like starting or running business. You have to set your intention and move into the future. You cannot disregard the past but you have to incorporate lessons learned into your next steps.  The Hudson River Swim was a 3-mile mind over matter test for me. I hadn’t been training. I just love to swim and decided to do it – to test my own strength and flexibility and to raise money, awareness and build community around an important cause. We raised a lot of money, too, in a short amount of time.

What are your plans for the future?

Our plans for the future are to continue to build the ECOBAGS® brand and make it a household name, whether it’s through our web store or in-store products. We want to develop and deliver products that replace single-use throwaway items, whether they’re bags, water bottles, lunch bags or sandwich wraps and build the conversation about that.

What advice would you give an aspiring entrepreneur?

My advice would be:

• Go for it
• Talk to everyone you know about your ideas
• Line up $$ support or credit for when you need it
• Don’t over-extend but don’t be risk adverse
• Trust your gut
• Be patient

Are there any other questions you wished I had asked, from which you feel Women and Biz’s readers could learn valuable lessons?

Ask me – what do I read? Where do I get my inspirations and info?

I read a lot and I read diverse publications –

Essential publications

• New York Times (especially Sunday edition with style sections/magazine and business sections)
• NPR Radio
• Harvard Business Journal
• People Magazine
• Oprah Magazine
• E Magazine
• Sierra Club Magazine

Essential for thought processing and inspirations –

• Swimming and hot tub afterward —
• Walks in the woods
• Yoga
• Kayaking in the warmer weather
• Dinner with my family at the dinner table every week night (unless I’m traveling or there’s some special event)
• Leave work everyday after 8 hours and, leave it alone until the next day
• 24 hour off-email/internet period 1x every week

For more information about Sharon Rowe and her business, please visit ECOBAGS.com

Can you believe it, we are already in November! The year past so fast and there are only two months left to achieve your goals. I guess that like most solo-entrepreneurs, last January you wrote a long list of goals for the year; new things you would be excited to do, new strategies you planned to implement to get plenty of new clients and grow your business.

It is ten months later and it is time to take stock. Are you on track with your goals? Are you half way there or did you get caught in your routine and forgot all about those goals? Did your goals change since you last evaluated?
It is not too late; you have two more months to go. Don’t be overwhelmed by the holiday season. Yes, most people who do not have businesses centered on holiday goods and services slow down for the holiday season, but it is the perfect time to give a last boost to finish out the year on a high note.

Take your list back out, check it twice… No really, check each goal and rate it from 1 to 10 to see how far you are from achievement (1 being not started and 10 being complete). Select the 3 that rate the most and concentrate on those only. What could you do to reach those goals by the end of December?

What ever your goals (whether they be to get more clients, create new products, start a marketing plan, etc.) they are all related to your network. You can have the best product in the world but if you don’t have clients you have no business. You get clients simply by building your list and your network which is filled with people who like you, trust you and will work with you or refer clients to you.

How did you focus your networking this year?

How many events did you attend, how many business cards did you collect, how many follow-up meetings did you schedule, and how many new clients did you get from your networking efforts. It is time to look back on what happened since the beginning of the year. Take this opportunity to organize and update your database and formally enter your contacts on software like Act, Outlook, or simply Excel. Even if you if you are not technology savvy, make sure to take all the business cards you collected off your selves or shoes box and create a database to set up a concrete follow-up system.

How can you reactivate all of your contacts and implement your follow-up system?
Send a greeting card just to say “Hi.” Important: don’t try to sell anything, you are here to build a relationship, not to do a sale pitch. Ask them how you could help, it is ALL ABOUT THEM NOT YOU. A couple of weeks after the card, give them a call to invite them for a drink or a coffee to learn more about their business. Invite them to join you at holiday parties. Listen to what they say and take notes to find out what you can do for them. Then write your notes down to use them later in your follow-up system.

If you know that their birthday is coming up, send them a birthday card. People always like nice attention and the fact that you remember personal information about them. The recipient will be impressed and you will be number one on their list when they will need your service or will have a referral for you.

Send a Holiday card, if it is the one action you will take by the end of the year, don’t miss this opportunity. Even if you didn’t see them or spoke with them for months, it is the perfect time to reactivate the connection and come back to the top of their mind. Don’t forget to put them on your follow-up system so by next year you won’t be months without keeping in touch with them on a regular basis.

Use the last two months to effectively implement your follow-up system, if you don’t have one yet, so you will be ready to start the next year as a successful network. This strategy will give your more time to work on your marketing plan or to promote your product or service and grow your business.

The advantage of having a follow-up system in place, is that you work on it once, then your system is doing the work for you, telling you what to do with all of your contacts and when to do it. That will free up a lot of your time.

Need help to reconnect with your contacts and/or set-up your own follow-up system? Check my program “Power of Networking Secrets”, I will walk you through my step-by-step proven follow-up system, and will show you how to keep in touch with your contacts on a regular basis (even years from now) without worrying about attracting new clients every day.

About the Author

Biba F. Pédron, Business & Marketing Consultant, founder of Biba4Network, also knows as “The Connection Queen”, helps solo-entrepreneurs to maximize their networking results and reveal proven strategies to attract more clients and double your business with simple but effective networking system.

Biba is the author of “Start Your Dream Business Today! The Proven 11 Steps to Start and Grow Your Own Business”. And “Power of Networking Secrets” a program teaching you step-by-step how to turn more networking contacts into business boosting clients in 7 simple steps.

To receive her free e-course “15 Ways to Maximize Your Networking Secrets” and Free Audio “Networking Know How” visit http://www.theconnectionqueen.com

If so, you may want to consider putting your company through a valuation process. A valuation process may involve working with a business broker to determine its fair market value. Or, if your company has annual sales of less than $1 million, you may be able to do some of it yourself (although be sure to get some guidance from competent professionals). Whether for investment or sale, once you know how much your company is worth, you can then factor that information into your exit strategy and personal life plans.

But if you’re not happy with the numbers you uncover – or they simply aren’t large enough to buy you that thoroughbred racing horse you’ve coveted – there are a few steps you can take to enhance your company’s valuation and strengthen your negotiating position with potential buyers:

• Put your financial house in order. No one gets any boost of confidence when seeing financial irregularities or problems. So do what you can to settle any claims, lawsuits, or debts. In particular, pay all back taxes and put the systems in place to make sure that you do not fall into arrears in the future. Do not play games with sales taxes, employee taxes or pension funds, as you will be inviting disaster.
• Clean up! Sloppy books will not enhance the price you can command for your business. Make them as transparent as possible. Consider getting rid of nonessential family members. And stop running your personal expenses through the business accounts (if you’re doing it). Few things shout “amateur” more than this. Also, sloppy premises can hurt the impression you make. Could you sell your home or apartment for the best price if it looked like a pigsty?
• Show off your “legs”. Buyers or investors want to know that your business has “legs,” that it’s a stable business that is not highly dependent on one key factor (e.g., you, a supplier, a customer, an asset). Can you demonstrate steady profits and predictable cash flow? How much does it cost you to deliver your product or service to your clients? Analyze your customer list so that you know how long your customers have been with you and how much each is likely to spend. Also evaluate your key suppliers. Who is easy/hard to replace?
• Have the best team possible in place. While you always want to know that you are working with those who are best for your business, it’s especially important to have a good team when you are thinking of selling or asking others to invest in your business. This is an appropriate time to get rid of underperformers, particularly those at a management and financial responsibility level in your company. And while ideally, you should have en employee manual at the outset, consider developing standard policies and practices so that employees know what duties and behaviors are expected of them.

Finally, whether with your advisors or potential buyers or investors, be sure to address potential problem issues up front. Thorny issues can include: leases that need renegotiation, equipment to be replaced, pending litigation, key employee and customer retention, and outdated financials. Hiding unfavorable information is the surest way to destroy the trust of your potential buyer or investor (and possibly get the transaction rescinded for misrepresentation) – and say “aloha” to your dreams.

Nina Kaufman is an award-winning business attorney, speaker, and Entrepreneur online columnist and blogger.  For more information, visit www.GreatBusinessLawResources.com.

Reflect and Review

Dust off that initial business plan and review the company goals and objective you set in the beginning of the year. How many goals and objective did you achieve? If you were unable to meet some, or all, of the goals and objectives, then determine how not to repeat the mistake again.

Tip: If you haven’t got a business plan, it’s not too late. There is an abundance of software, online portals and independent Web sites that will help you develop a business plan. For business plan development assistance, visit The Small Business Administration (www.sbaonline.sba.gov)

Slash Those Expenses

Every dollar that stays in the coffers flows down to your business’s bottom line and eventually your pocket. Review your office leases, supplies, equipment purchases, phone usage, etc., for opportunities to cut down or eliminate costs. A word to the wise – be sure to not to cut back on essential costs that are required for long-term business growth.

Tip: Interest rates have been rising. Find low, fixed-rate alternatives to using credit cards to finance cash flow problems.

Keep Better Records

Where are your important business documents? In a shoebox or at the bottom of your handbag? I should hope not! Get in the habit of saving and categorizing every receipt, clearly marking those that are 100% deductible. This will make tax time less of a chore and more of a treat. Devise a workable filing system and use it, whether it is in a filing cabinet or on your computer.

Tip: Backup, backup, backup! Find a simple, regular way to backup your computer(s) and do it regularly. Options include a tape backup system, CDs, or an online backup system.

Raise Your Rates

Consider raising your rates in 2010 – a new year and a new price. Contact your customers and inform them that, due to rising costs in general, you find it necessary to raise your rates. They’ll understand that the cost of living and doing business goes up and will be more accepting at the beginning of the year.

Tip: Entrepreneurs wear many hats: marketer, product developer, administrator and so forth. With so many things to do, it’s easy to get distracted. Figure out what areas cannot do without your involvement and which ones you may be able to outsource. Sure, it takes time and energy – and money – but evaluate whether you might actually make more money if you had someone to take over some of your non-income-producing tasks.

Remember what truly matters. This fall, no matter how tough life will get trying to balance our checkbooks, don’t forget to set time aside for you. A balanced and rested body is not only good for you but also for your business.