Dear Entrepreneur,
Welcome to the 14th issue of WomenandBiz.com!
Our guest writers are discussing how to establish Business Connections, create strategic alliances (Sherese Duncan, Nina L. Kaufman and Pattie Simone), join support groups (Persephone Zill) and leverage from technology (Lena West and Dan Koifman). You can also learn listening skills (Lorraine Cohen), networking and follow up […]

I’m part of an entrepreneur’s support group and the experience has been one of amazing business connections for all of us. We call ourselves the “Board of Advisors” and we have met about twice a month for almost two years.
Each business owner gets 15 minutes per meeting to share our ongoing goals, where we stand […]

Technology has made keeping in touch infinitely easier with wireless Internet access and mobile communication devices that fit inside the palm of your hand. But, it needs to be done the right way. Looks like Evelyn’s got the right formula…
Big Corporation just called and their event planner folded at the last minute. They want you […]

Making the connection is everything to grow your business and career, but it is nothing without follow-up. The problem is, many people don’t really know how to keep the connection going, and/or how to organize their contacts so that none of them falls through the cracks.
First, create a follow-up plan: How will you keep in […]

If you’re like most business owners, you are always looking for ways to grow your sales. In order to make your dreams blossom into reality – you’ll need to do a little backtrack work. Hopefully you regularly remove yourself from the daily grind and take a look at what you do, who your best prospects […]

In the new book I have written with Michael Corbett and Perry-Lynn Moffitt, The Entrepreneurial Conversation, we show how conversations that focus on collaboration lead to mutually productive, long-term business relationships. One key element of having these entrepreneurial conversations is keeping the focus on what is most important to the other person, or their real […]

Most people in business get sales catalogs on how to motivate people through gifts and award programs. However, it ultimately boils down to what our parents taught us: say “thank you” to everyone. This may seem like simple etiquette, yet it is amazing what it can do for your business relationships. When we express our […]

The Business Plan column is back! We’re picking up from where we left off, launching into your Marketing Plan. To refresh what was previously covered, you can pull up previous columns on:
* Why You Should Write the Business Plan Yourself: Issue I
* Motivation to Start Writing Today: Issue II
* Knowing Your Plan’s Purpose: Issue III
* […]

We constantly hear about blogs. How they planted the seed for Dan Rather’s downfall and brought “people-powered politics” to Howard Dean’s campaign. But what are they and how can they help your business?
In contrast to a typical static corporate web site on the internet, weblogs or blogs for short, are similar to an online version […]

How many times have we run afoul of film producer Samuel Goldwyn’s famous maxim: “A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on”? (I’ve certainly done it). And yet, isn’t life nicer, simpler when you don’t have to worry about creating a paper trail? Why not just trust the people you’re doing business with? […]

Developing Ease at Networking Events
Hi Jill,
I attend a lot of business conferences. While I enjoy the structured educational sessions, I can feel very uncomfortable during the social networking periods. I feel shy about approaching people I don’t know and often get a nervous stomach. Sometimes I duck out at the beginning, but I’d rather learn […]

When we talk about strategic connections, we’re not talking about meeting potential clients or prospects, we’re talking about meeting those people who have influence, power, and credibility and can pass on those credentials to you. They are equipped to open unapproachable doors vs. just providing a referral.
Here are four areas to think about when building […]

In working with many people throughout my career(s), I’ve come to appreciate that listening is truly an art. Developing strong listening skills is a key element is building collaborative professional relationships and long-lasting personal friendships.
Many people may claim to be great listeners. Are you?
In Stephen Covey’s book, 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, he describes […]

Katia Santana - Background

Please tell us about your background

I was born in Agua Boa, Brazil, and as a young girl I assisted my grandparents in caring for and nourishing the coffee trees to facilitate the harvest and assure the quality of full ripe red coffee cherries for the picking. After high-school, I […]

Marilyn Jenett, founder of Marilyn Jenett Locations and Feel Free to Prosper, is telling her story on Ryze.com. I first learned about Marilyn from one of the networking groups on Ryze.com. We exchanged emails and she was one of our guest writers on our 11th issue: Vision. Soon I had an opportunity to listen to […]

Angela Cassel - Background

Please tell us about your education and professional experience

Growing up in a culturally and linguistically diverse Europe I studied languages in order to understand and effectively communicate with people. After graduating from the Sorbonne with a DEUG-Lea in foreign languages, psychology and history I was employed at NATO, Brussels […]