What’s still unique about us? The uniqueness is the fact that we have accumulated over the years, the history of a diverse group of women who are pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams, big or small. Some businesses have closed, others have grown, and many have stayed the same or changed slightly. Regardless of their stage of business, we have been able to learn from many women about their path to business success.

For a few years, especially before we changed the website format into WordPress, we thought of shutting it down. But our passion, curiosity and supporters kept us going. We couldn’t have done it without perseverance and a true intention to highlight women’s successes and challenges, and most importantly how they persevered, so that you will as well.

Wishing you a year of perseverance and persistence, followed by the realization of your vision and business dreams,

Elisa Balabram

Here are a few examples of investments you could consider for yourself:

Knowledge:

• Personal growth courses, to help you better balance your life and business, and understand what may be blocking you from growing your business;
• Business skills courses, in case you haven’t taken business classes, I suggest that you consider taking one, and maybe writing a business plan;
• Social media courses, to help you understand and navigate through all social media options available to you

Time:

• Time management skills, so that you can work more efficiently and have time to spend with family, friends and/or taking care of yourself;
• Schedule time on your calendar for you – to exercise, to relax, to go out with friends, to spend with family, to meditate, to dance, to pursue a hobby, etc.

And for your business and other side projects:

• Hire support staff – are you still wearing all the hats in your business? Maybe it is time to hire help;
• Consult with a business coach/social media expert/marketing consultant, to determine the best courses of action for the business now;
• Invest in equipment – take inventory of your equipment, and consider the possibility of upgrading it to increase productivity.
• New Business or new product/service line- is it time to invest in creating a new line? Is it time to start a new business that compliments the first one? Are you ready to start pursuing a new passion and create a business to help you express it?

After you decide on the best investments you can make for yourself and your business, set priorities, schedule time, and create a plan of action to start making the investments you need to grow yourself and your business.

How can you invest in yourself and your business this fall? Do you foresee any challenges to making it happen?

I enjoy taking some time off from writing, editing and coaching to draw. My inspiration has been flowers for a few months now. Yesterday, my friend, entrepreneur and artist Ig Mata gave me a gerbera flower, and I took some time this morning to draw it using crayons. It was such a joy doing it, and I got inspiration to write a couple of articles. I’m sharing the drawing with you, to show you that it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just needs to help you relax and open your mind.

It is important to take some time off to do things you enjoy, it may be painting, listening to uplifting songs, dancing, drawing, running, walking, spending time with the children or playing with your pets. When you return to your business activities you will be inspired to create!

How do you use creativity throughout your day? Feel free to post a comment and share how you get your creativity going.

Here are a few basic suggestions:

• Re-package your current products or services and offer unique “combos”;
• Focus on a specific niche your competitors are not targeting;
• Provide stellar customer service;
• Add new products and/or services;
• Create strategic alliances with competitors;
• Be authentic.

Feel free to post your comments and share your experiences. We will offer suggestions and respond to your comments.

You can find me on Twitter: @womenandbiz

Elisa Balabram

Founder and Editor, WomenandBiz.com

Here are a few ways to do it:

• Take time off from running your business to do something special for yourself, get a massage, go to the hair/nail salon, read a book, meditate, practice yoga, go to the movies.
• Write an appreciation letter addressed to you, and list all the things you are proud of about yourself, and thank yourself for being who you are.
• Pick up a book that you love, and write a message to yourself in the first page, as if the author had autographed it, or a friend wrote a note to you. While I was on the journey to write my first book: “Ask Others, Trust Yourself”, I read many books on writing and on being an author. I wrote to myself in the first page of the book “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life”, by Anne Lamott: Dear Elisa, You are an amazing and successful writer. All the best, Elisa
• Buy yourself some flowers. Stop by a flower shop and choose a beautiful bouquet for yourself.
• Type phrases of appreciation, and post them where you can see them often.
• Cook and eat your favorite meal.
• Spend quality time with family and friends.
• Add something special to YOU to this list!

I’d love to learn about how you show appreciation, feel free to post comments below.

I appreciate you as a reader of WomenandBiz.com and thank you for reading this article.

Elisa Balabram, Founder and Editor

WomenandBiz.com

At some point I thought it was best to move on to the next project, but through the support group I’ve developed over the years, I realized that I needed to put more effort into promoting Ask Others, Trust Yourself: The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Key to Success.

The articles posted by our guest writers have actually given me more ideas into how I could do it. One of them is becoming more active with my social media efforts.

Here is my own new recipe for “When all else fails”:

• Brainstorm with your support group what can be done;
• Try a new strategy;
• Re-examine your goals;
• Create a new/revised plan of action;
• Stay focused;
• Take daily action towards reaching your goals;
• Revise your strategies and,
• Keep going!

If you have anything else to add to this list, feel free to post a comment below.

To your continued success,

Elisa Balabram

Editor, WomenandBiz.com

Author, Ask Others, Trust Yourself: The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Key to Success.

Welcome to WomenandBiz.com, your source of inspirational and resourceful business articles.

Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year, to you, your family and your business.

During this month, we recommend that you take some time to celebrate all barriers you overcame, all successes your business achieved and all that you have been able to accomplish in 2009.

Then, start planning for 2010. What is your vision for your business? What are your sales goals? Where would you like your business to be by the end of the year? I recommend that you write down your vision and goals for the year, and review it throughout the year.

Once you know your goals for 2010, make sure to breakdown each goal into smaller and achievable steps, and create a timeline to achieve them.

Here are a few opportunities that can help you grow your business in the new year:

Join PR Newswire 1-year free subscription, and find out how you can take  advantage of this online resource.

Stay up-to-date with your industry, by subscribing to free trade magazines. Visit http://womenandbiz.tradepub.com today to browse TradePub.com’s selection of complimentary Industry magazines, white papers, webinars, podcasts, and more across 34 industry sectors. No credit cards, coupons, or promo codes required.

Feel free to post your comments and share with us how you are celebrating the end of the year, and planning for 2010. You can also reach us by filling out the Contact us form on the About us page.

Success,

Elisa Balabram

Founder and Editor, WomenandBiz.com

Author of “Ask Others, Trust Yourself: The Entrepreneurial Woman Key’s to Success”.

Welcome to WomenandBiz.com, your source of inspirational and resourceful business articles.

In this month’s issue of WomenandBiz.com, our guest writers discuss the importance of investing in yourself and in your team by going “back to school”.

In the last few weeks I listened to an interview with Les Brown, hosted by Lance Hood, and to an interview with Tony Robbins hosted by Eben Pagan. Both of them talked about the importance of investing in yourself, learning from people you admire and consider successful and following through by taking action.

You can go back to school by purchasing online courses in the field you are interested in, by signing up to free or paid online podcasts, or by actually attending seminars and conferences. Take an inventory today of the skills that you are missing, and check out the opportunities available for you. It could be that you want to improve your public speaking skills, bookkeeping knowledge, strategies on running a business, or something more specific to your own industry. The time and money you invest in yourself and in your staff will pay off many times when you take action and execute the skills you will gain from studying.

If you already have a staff, you may also make sure that they are as invested in your business as you are, by offering them trainings and that will help them better utilize their strengths. It is important to always train them on customer service and on new products and services.

Feel free to post your comments and share with us how going back to school is helping you build your business. You can also reach us by filling out the Contact us form on the About us page.

Success,

Elisa Balabram

Founder and Editor, WomenandBiz.com

Author of “Ask Others, Trust Yourself – The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Key to Success”

Welcome to WomenandBiz.com, your source of inspirational and resourceful business articles.

In this 27th issue of WomenandBiz.com, we are discussing sales strategies. Our guest writers are sharing their tips on how to prepare for a sale, negotiate a sale, close the sale, and how to use social media to sell. You can click on the “27- Sales Strategies” link to read this issue’s articles.

These strategies will help you take the steps you need to keep growing your business, creating a loyal clientele and establishing yourself as an expert in your field.

Feel free to post your comments and share with us your creative and unique sales strategies. You can reach us by filling out the Contact us form on the About us page, or you can leave your comments on the articles you find helpful to you.

Success,

Elisa Balabram
Founder and Editor, WomenandBiz.com
Author of the forthcoming book “Ask Others, Trust Yourself: The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Key to Success.”