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Chic Perspectives

Elizabeth Gordon interviews Bonnie Buckner Reavis CEO of Zenith Design Group and Jessie Harrison and Sara Cook founders of Choosey Chicks on The Chic Perspectives Show

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Elizabeth Gordon, Bonnie Reavis, Sara Cook, Jessie Harrison

Elizabeth Gordon, Bonnie Reavis, Sara Cook, Jessie Harrison

I was thrilled to have established entrepreneur, Bonnie Buckner Reavis who is the Founder and CEO of Zenith Design Group, Inc. and Jessie Harrison and Sara Cook founders of Choosey Chicks.

Bonnie Buckner Reavis started Zenith Design Group, a full-service marketing and advertising agency, now located in historic Marietta Station in downtown Marietta 12 years ago.  The award-winning agency is home to a remarkable group of creative, business-minded talent that fuses a keen business sense with innovative design. As CEO, she is responsible for sustaining and growing client relationships, providing strategic counsel, and managing client programs.

Recent claims to fame include:

  • 2008 Top 25 Small Business of the Year – Cobb Chamber of Commerce and Atlanta Journal Constitution
  • 2009 Top 25 Small Business of the Year – Cobb Chamber of Commerce and Atlanta Journal Constitution
  • Top Ten Fastest-Growing Women-Owned Firms – 2008, Atlanta Business Chronicle
  • Bonnie was recently recognized as “Top 20 under 40” by Cobb Life Magazine – May 2010

Bonnie’s story is fabulous – just like she is.   She shared with us:

  • How Zenith Design Group started.
  • How long she ran the company by herself and when and how she knew she needed to grow the company.
  • The changes that occurred when the company began to experience significant growth.
  • Key factors that have propelled the growth of Zenith.
  • How the recent economic downtown has affected Zenith and how they effectively positioned themselves.
  • Stepping into bigger numbers and assembling the right team.
  • Why it’s important to take risks and choosing the pace of financial growth you are comfortable with.
  • Never losing sight of the big picture and maintaining balance.

Bonnie shared all kinds of great advice and perspective – and she is so savvy and chic – I just loved getting to know her.

For more about Zenith Design Group and Founder and CEO Bonnie Buckner Reavis you can call the direct office line: 770.425.5169 or visit  www.zenithdesigngroup.com

Zenith Design Group, Inc.

The Carmichael Building at Marietta Station

125 Church St; Suite 110

Marietta, GA 30060

http://www.facebook.com/zenithdesigngroup

Now to get to know my next guests – the Choosey Chicks you have to hear their story:

Three Chicks began their discussion on the importance of making positive choices.All were determined to get the message out that from an early age, girls have choices. And women of ALL ages can be empowered by the choices they make throughout their life!

I was lucky enough to have 2 of these 3 fabulous chicks in the studio with me today.

Jessie Harrison had a background in the apparel industry and
thought that there was no better way to make this statement than to wear it.

Sara Cook had a background in fashion design, immediately named the company Choosey Chicks and worked on their “vision”.

As soon as you meet these awesome ladies, you can feel the genuine and heartfelt  message their company is founded upon.  They wasted no time in getting this powerful message out quickly, creatively and memorably. These shoppers extraordinaire decided that high end graphics on quality apparel would best carry the message – that we are all responsible for our own choices.

These shirts are super cool and a must have for summer.  Versatile light, high quality breathable material grants any of their shirts – gets instant top billing in my Tshirts pile – I will wear mine everywhere!

The message is one of freedom, responsibility and authenticity and I love the live and own your truth philosophy.  The shirts become a symbol of your decision to own your own power and happiness in your life.

Not only are the T’s comfy and cute, they also pack a powerful message that will make you mindful throughout your day of the choices you are making.

Check out Choosey Chicks @ http://chooseychicks.com

THE POWER OF POSITIVE CHOICE LIES WITHIN YOUR HEART – BE CHOOSEY.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Choosey-Chicks/75512575246?v=wall

Thanks so much to Bonnie Buckner Reavis, Founder and CEO of Zenith Design Group, a full-service marketing and award-winning advertising agency located in historic Marietta Station in downtown Marietta and Jessie Harrison and Sara Cook of Choosey Chicks for an awesome show.  Be sure to check out their website and get friendly on facebook with ‘em too.

Thanks also to our show sponsor Pink Payments – Merchant Services for women, by women and supporting women.  Need to accept credit cards? Want a rate quote? Pink Payments is all about Conscious Commerce when you sign up with them, they’ll make a donation to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. which seeks to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer.  When you become a Pink Payments merchant, your business will enjoy quality payment processing services, outstanding customer support and the latest equipment and software to help keep your business running smooth and efficient.  Check out www.pinkpayments.com and tell them The Chic Entrepreneur sent you.

Thanks for tuning in to The Chic Perspectives Show.

Until next time…

Wishing you all Chic Success,

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Gordon interviews Kimberly Wilson, Designer, Yogini, & Entrepreneur, Tranquil Space Foundation & Dallas author & CEO Shama Kabani author of The Zen of Social Media Marketing & President of The Marketing Zen Group

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Today on The Chic Perspectives Show I had on Tranquilista, Kimberly Wilson from D.C. and Dallas author Shama Kabani as my guests.   Kimberly Wilson, Designer, Yogini, and Entrepreneur, Tranquil Space Foundation and Shama Kabini is the author of The Zen of Social Media Marketing.

Thanks for today’s show goes to our sponsor – Pink Payments, Merchant Services for Women, by Women and Supporting Women www.pinkpayments.com .

Kimberly Wilson is the author of Tranquilista and Hip Tranquil Chick. She is also the designer of eco-fashion line TranquiliT, and the founder of the Tranquil Space Foundation, which promotes yoga, creativity, and leadership in women and girls. She lives in Washington, DC. Visit her online at http://www.kimberlywilson.com

Kimberly talked about what a Tranquilista is – and why creative women of today want to embrace this philosophy.  A Tranquilista blends mind/body philosophy, creativity, and entrepreneurship to help women live a life full of extravagance grounded in mindfulness. Kimberly Wilson aims to help women realize — and revel in — their unique potential to make a difference through enlightened work and mindful play.

Kimberly explained what enlightened work looks like and feels like and how to use mindful play to make yourself more productive and more joy-filled.

Enlightened work is about forgoing spreadsheets and stodgy office politics to forge ahead with a new way of designing our lives as self-defined entrepreneurs who care about blending balance, bliss, and beauty. Kimberly uses the word entrepreneur, to  refer to today’s woman who wants to leave a legacy through her daily actions, whether working for a nonprofit, launching a vegan cafe, or being a full-time activist.

Mindful play allows the incorporation of art, creativity, style, and dreams into one’s spiritual journey. Kimberly says to think of play as the icing on top of a yummy cupcake – it makes the whole experience more enjoyable and balanced. Mindfulness allows one’s playful spirit to remained focused on the world-at-large and making a difference.

Kimberly focused an entire chapter of her book on style – so you know I was all over that.  We discussed how style ties into work and play.

Looking good and feeling good often goes hand in hand. “When I don a flattering outfit with a dash of the perfect of accessories and hint of make-up plus dab of eau de parfum, I hold my head high and put my best self forward.”  Here here sister!

In addition to fashion, Kimberly’s book also addresses decluttering, communicating clearly, home décor, beauty rest, bathing rituals, nourishment, exercise, and entertaining. Style plays into how you present yourself to the world in fashion, communication, home and office environment, and more. It’s a defining aspect of who you are and how you express your creativity.

Kimberly explained how she finds balance while wearing so many different hats

She says she no longer sees a distinction between my work and play. During down time you’ll find her reading business books, practicing yoga, or thumbing through fashion magazines – all of which are applicable to her career and professional life and fuel her passion. During work she’ll be sipping tea, engaging in social media, and blogging about her latest adventure. Her work and play commingle in a coherent, holistic way. She admits she’s also a sucker for self-care: regular massage, oodles of sleep, yoga, and journal writing.  – What a different world it would be if businesswomen had more pride in self care and a little less in being a workaholic or a Type A personality  – I talked about this very thing at a Panta Rei meeting recently.

Lastly Kimberly and I got into the reasons why she emphasizes spirituality and do-gooding as lifestyle essentials.

Kimberly holds that spirituality and do-gooding are foundational building blocks to launching a career and life mindfully. By taking time to feed your spiritual self through simple acts such as time in nature, meditation, journal writing, and yoga, you’re able to know yourself better and find your center. Similarly, by giving back to others and striving to let your thoughts, words, and actions have a powerful impact on those around you, you are able to make better decisions, be a leader, and, ultimately, leave a legacy.

It was such an awesomely Tranquil experience having you on Kimberly thanks so much for sharing your story and your tips with our listeners.

Find out more and keep in touch with Kimberly

www.KimberlyWilson.com

@Tranqulista; Twitter

and on the Tranqulista Fan Page on Facebook

Next up on the Chic Perspectives Show was Shama Kabani.  Shama is President of The Marketing Zen Group, a full service online marketing firm that serves clients around the world. She has been dubbed a “millennial master of the universe” and “online marketing shaman” by Fast Company magazine. In 2009, Business Week honored her as one of the Top 25 Entrepreneurs Under 25 in North America.

Shama holds a masters degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and prides herself on being a constant learner. Her website, http://www.MarketingZen.com, has turned into a high-traffic destination for people looking for advice on how to successfully market businesses online. Companies around the world have hired Shama and her fast-growing digital media agency to guide them through the world of social media marketing. She also hosts a popular web TV show on new media marketing at http://Shama.TV, and is regularly quoted on marketing and technology trends by broadcast, print, and online media.

Shama shared some valuable perspective on social media strategy and how businesses can leverage the tools to build customer relationships.

Shama says to remember that social media marketing comes LAST – after you have a great website, a solid product strategy, and a clear product direction.  Nobody “starts tweeting today” and makes a million.

It was interesting to here her talk about how traditional marketing tools are almost certain to fail in the world of social media – because social media is a consumer-driven environment, not a marketing platform.

Even if you don’t have a social media plan – Shama says social media is already influencing your customers.  It’s the great equalizer, that amplifies every opinion (positive or negative), where a college student in Austin can have as much impact as a magazine reviewer in New York City, depending on their network and their relevance to your target market.

A good rule of thumb – remember your mother’s advice:  treat people with respect, and don’t try to hide who you are.  (There are multiple case studies, and admonitions in the book, about this because one of the most common mistakes newcomers to social media make is to forget basic etiquette, or try to hide their identity to create “false positive” reviews or comments.  Two short examples:  you’d never run up to a stranger at a trade show, shove your business card in their hand, and then run away without saying anything – but people will sometimes do just that by posting their contact info or a product pitch on someone’s blog, Facebook page, or Twitter DM, without realizing that it’s the exact same thing.  Businesses that enter social media through the back door after a negative review on a site like Yelp, often try to “Googlewash” the negative reviews with positive reviews they write themselves under false names.  That ISN’T the way to handle negative consumer postings.)

Shama shared that for most businesses, it isn’t a question of whether or not they are going to make social media a part of their marketing efforts at some point.  It’s a question of when they are going to enter the conversation, and take charge of their online reputation and brand.  So what we do for our clients is show them how to get into the game, and use the Zen-like secret of success:  go with the flow, instead of trying to swim upstream.  By that, we mean using social media as a way to communicate with, educate, entertain, and open a dialog with people who may become customers (now, someday, or never) – instead of always trying to sell.  Yes, we do make money for our clients and our own business through social media marketing – and we do get customers that way.  But it is often an indirect process – someone who reads my blog, or follows me on twitter gives my name to their cousin who is looking for a web design firm, or they put our name into consideration when their company is looking for an agency, or whatever.  It’s not always a direct sales process – but is can be very profitable.

Find out more about Shama’s work, clients, book and solutions @ www.marketingzen.com

Be sure to keep in touch with Shama as well – she really knows what she’s talking about and is one of the leaders in this space.

http://Shama.Tv

twitter: @shama

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shamakabani

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/shamahyder

Thanks Shama for coming on and bringing some much needed zen into the social media world – I love your unique perspective.  It was such a pleasure getting to know you and we look forward to hearing more from the first “live book” on social media.

Thanks again to our sponsor – Pink Payments, Merchant Services for Women, by Women and Supporting Women. www.pinkpayments.com

Like to pitch a guest for The Chic Perspectives Show?  Visit www.chicentrepreneur.com for media contact info.

Thanks for listening.  Until next time… wishing you all Chic Success.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Gordon interview Atlanta’s Women in Technology (WIT) on the Chic Perspectives Show

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Today on The Chic Perspectives Show I had on some fabulous women from Atlanta’s Women in Technology.  Heather Rocker, Executive Director of Women in Technology & the WIT Foundation joined me in the studio to talk about WIT and her path to becoming a leader.

Heather Rocker joined WIT in March 2007 as the organization’s first-ever executive director. She was named to the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Top 40 Under 40”, awarded “Outstanding Young Alumna” by Georgia Tech and most recently won the Turknett Leadership Character Award in the “Inspiritor” category.

Heather currently authors a blog about strategic volunteering and speaks to nonprofit and corporate groups about incorporating this concept into their leadership development plans.

Heather talked about Strategic Volunteering  – it’s about making the most of your limited time while making an impact in your community

In order to create the best volunteer role for yourself: you have to know what to look for, where to go, and how to get into the right placement

She suggested women consider expanding their network by volunteering.  Here are some questions to ask yourself if volunteering would be a good move for you: Outside of work, where am I involved?  What is the list of people that I could call today for a favor or introduction?  Could the leaders of organizations for which I volunteer serve as a reference for me?

Heather also suggested  you create a strategic volunteering action plan: use your performance reviews/goals to align your professional goals with your volunteer goals

Check out WIT’s new website @ www.mywit.org

Find more about Heather Rocker and Women in Technology (WIT)www.Strategicvolunteering.blogspot.com

My next guest was Fela Strickland-Smith is the COO and Managing Partner at Satori Consulting, Inc.

With more than 15 years as a senior Information Technology professional, Fela provides clients with results-focused user centered processes, design , information architecture and usability  for traditional and web-based applications. Fela’s customer-focused leadership approach has led clients including Wachovia, JP Morgan, American Express Global Network Services and Chase Manhattan bank to achieve their business goals.

Prior to founding Satori Consulting, Fela led technology initiatives, developed products and established business processes for leading companies including Equity Residential Properties, GE Capital Corporate Treasury’s Short Term Funding Group and Accenture.

Fela is also holds a position as an adjunct professor with the Art Institute of Atlanta’s – Interactive Media and Design Department and also serves as an account manager for Women in Technology’s Strategic Alliances Outreach Program.

Fela earned her Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Math and Computer Science from Virginia Union University. Originally from the Northeast, Fela resides in Atlanta with her husband and two children.

Fela shared that  research is the secret weapon for an effective web site because it tells you the most important fact you need: how your customers use your product or service

When it comes to web sites, everyone wants to know the secret to customer loyalty. The key is RESEARCH FIRST, build and design LATER. Given a choice, the customer will buy based on their needs – not on design

The number one question they get asked at Satori Consulting: “why aren’t our customers buying from our web site?”  The answer: they’ve invested heavily in the technology and design of the site without understanding how their target audience will use the site

Fela recommended practicing the “Three E’s” – Examine your business goals, Enlighten yourself with research, Evolve your web site to meet your customers needs

She reminded us that it is important to also ask yourself: who is your web site’s intended user, and what are your business goals? Then find a way to marry the two.

Satori Consulting builds relationships with their clients while providing world-class consulting services. The result: clients know Satori Consulting will provide results-oriented solutions based on first-hand experience.

Web application development with a customer focus and product development with an emphasis on new product idea generation is a necessity for businesses building an effective web presence. Satori Consulting is a leader in developing web applications and new products for our clients to build their businesses while focusing on customer loyalty.

Find out more about Satori Consulting @  www.satoriconsultinginc.com – 1200 Abernathy Rd., Ste. 1700 Atlanta, GA 30328

My next guest was Jamie Greene, who is a Partner at Kilpatrick Stockton.

Jamie is a patent attorney with Kilpatrick Stockton where she has been obtaining and providing legal advice relating to biotechnology and pharmaceutical patents for over 25 years. As a co-leader of the Kilpatrick Stockton Health and Life Sciences Team, Jamie advises individuals, universities, and small start-up companies to large international companies on intellectual property issues.

She received a degree from Wellesley College in Molecular Biology, a law degree from Emory University and a Masters in Immunology from Emory and has been an adjunct professor of Intellectual Property at Emory Law School. In addition to being the immediate past-president of Women in Technology, Jamie is on the board of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America and Childspring International, and is a member of the Emory University Conflict of Interest Committee, the Georgia BIO Education and Workforce Development Committee and the CDC Foundation National Advisory Council.

Jamie shared her story and told us that it wasn’t easy being the first female patent attorney in Atlanta, but she has a determination to succeed.

As the graduate of an all-women’s college, Jamie is not easily intimidated. She is driven and passionate about the improvement of health and prevention of disease

She had a dream to contribute to something that had a huge impact on the health of humans and animals and started as a scientist in cancer research, but the results didn’t come fast enough.

Most people don’t realize that improvements in healthcare are directly related to patents

Discoveries must be patentable to provide business with the incentive to develop technology that will improve health.

By helping scientists obtain patents, Jamie achieves her original goal and has actually contributed to the eradication of illness and disease.

She has worked on obtaining patents involving human papillomavirus, the infection that can cause cervical cancer and death if not diagnosed and treated

The patents enabled a company to obtain the funds to develop a test that is now used to diagnose HPV infection at an early stage, resulting in the prevention of many deaths

Currently, she is helping  a scientist obtain patents on a diagnostic method for the early detection of breast cancer. He had to start his own company in order to develop and produce diagnostic tests based on his discovery. Patents were essential to funding and funding was necessary for successful research and development.

So was all the hard work worth it?   Organic Chemistry class, demeaning law professors, the Patent Bar exam and all those late nights studying and writing patent applications, when asked if she would do it all over again, Jamie Green answers an unequivocal -Yes, in a heartbeat.

To contact Jamie go to www.kilpatrickstockton.com

Next up was Tricia Dempsey, the founder and CEO of Agile, the IT staffing and consulting firm that works with technology leaders to speed their time to talent.  Tricia also serves as a board director for both Women in Technology and Komen for the Cure – Greater Atlanta.

Tricia talked about research that shows top talent is 250% more productive than average employees and what her firm does to help companies find the right people fast.


To hire someone with top talent, you must understand your need (beyond your job description) by creating a performance profile.

Tricia says the performance profile should “start with the end in mind” – you should consider what you will be reviewing  the winning candidate on one year from the date of hire.

Additionally, performance profiles consider hard skills, but also soft skills, values/motivators and behavioral style.

The bottom line – Hire slow…fire fast

Find out more about Agile the IT staffing company @ www.gotoagile.com

Next in the group was Mary Lou Heastings, President of Executive Alliance

As president of Executive Alliance, Mary Lou Heastings has responsibility for guiding the expansion of the company’s portfolio of technology related leadership award recognition programs, executive summits, roundtables, and custom programs across the U.S. Her leadership has resulted in the establishment of a national network for senior level executives in Fortune 1000 organizations. An avid boater, she also received her Captain’s license in 2004.

Mary Lou told us that it’s not enough to be good at what you do, people need to know how good you are

She recommends you stake out a corner – the key to building great recognition is “know me for this”  You want to showcase not what is most different, but most compelling.

Promote your vision; lead strategically, emphasize the journey, and focus on the vision

Leaders in a market are thought leaders, thought leadership is message based

Build great messages for yourself or your company that start with a named problem that needs to be solved for your customer or your organization

Recognized leaders have built “journey messages”; they showcase their intermediary wins to validate their journey

The real test of a great message is how your message is retold.  Leverage your visibility and recognition; maintain differentiation, aura, and momentum

Check out more about Executive Alliance @ www.execalliance.com

We talked about some of the trends to lookout for in technology as well as the importance of supporting math and science education for women and girls.

Thank you again to Heather Rocker bringing all these wonderful Women in Technology into the studio for a fantastic show.

P.S. Check out the after-show video

Elizabeth Gordon interviews Lisa C. Decker Certified Divorce Financial Analyst & Founder of Divorce Money Matters-Miss Money Matters- and Cheryl Draa of Cheryl Draa Interior Designs

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Today on the Chic Perspectives Show I had on Lisa C. Decker, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and Cheryl Draa, an Interior Designer – both successful and savvy entrepreneurs who shared some great advice from their own areas of expertise and experiences in starting and growing successful businesses.

Lisa Decker , aka Miss Money Matters, is the founder of Divorce Money Matters and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA™).  As a media resource who has been interviewed by many media sources including CNN, Good Morning America, Business Week, Forbes for Women, The NY Times and Oprah magazine, Lisa is an expert in divorce financial matters, a discreet problem-solver and a trusted advisor to her clients. In addition, she holds Series 6, 63 and 65 and insurance licenses.

Lisa shared some great advice regarding how to “Divorce Your Spouse, Not Your Money!” with good planning early on in the process.  Here are some of the points worth remembering:

  • You need a team to get the best outcome and settlement in your divorce.
  • Put your game plan in place if possible long before you file for the best results.
  • Get organized early on to save lots of money in fees to your attorney and CDFA.
  • There are more peaceful methods of divorcing if you start right from the beginning.
  • Attorneys do not always know what they don’t know.
  • Getting the right attorney and financial advisor are crucial from the start.
  • Know what questions you need to ask an attorney during an interview.
  • 50/50 is not always what it appears to be when taxes are taken into account.
  • Divorce has many pitfalls that you can fall into if you are not aware.
  • The house may be a noose around your neck.  Don’t become attached to things.
  • Understand the short and long term ramifications of the choices you are making.
  • Divorce courts do not have the authority to make creditors abide by your agreement.
  • If your name is still attached to the debt, then you are still legally liable regardless of who has been ordered to pay.
  • Don’t forget the importance of backing up payments owed like spousal and child support with life and disability insurance in case something happens to your ex.

Find out more about Lisa’s business @

www.DivorceMoneyMatters.com

Based in Kennesaw, but serving the entire state of Georgia

Cheryl is the lead designer at Cheryl Draa Interior Designs.  The company specializes in full residential interior design including room arrangements, custom upholstery, custom window treatments and accessories.  Cheryl is a member of IFDA, NFIB and WFCP.

Cheryl shared how she started her company from home with modest expectations and how she has grown it into an ongoing flourishing concern with loads of loyal clients that come back to her again and again to work on another house, another room, and fresh new look.  She talked about the process of choosing the right interior designer for you.  How she gets to know her clients’ style and lifestyle to insure that the end results suits their tastes and their lives.

We also got the low down on all the latest trends in home furnishings and accessories and some great ideas on how to update your space and create a home that is functional and fabulous.

http://www.CherylDraaInteriorDesigns.com

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43448192766

Elizabeth Gordon interviews Megha Rodriguez, Technology Consultant & CEO of Hire Humanity, LLC

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Elizabeth and Megha

Elizabeth and Megha

Megha Rodriguez was my guest on the Chic Perspectives Show.  Megha is a business strategist and technology consultant with over 11 years experience as an entrepreneur.

She is the CEO of Hire Humanity, LLC, a business services company that helps small business owners and solo-preneurs bring their dreams to reality.  They do this by providing small businesses with the additional human resources needed to make their business grow.

In her consulting work, Megha is committed to helping women business owners identify how to align their heart’s calling with their business objectives. She trains people how to use technology (e.g. social media, web-based software, etc) to sustain their growth and provides hands-on management support to help put great ideas into action.

http://www.MeghaSuccess.com

http://www.HireHumanity.com

Megha works with clients on taking their core authenticity and harnessing it in their social media – and we talked all about how to do just that during the show.

Megha offers tons of great advice on how to leverage social media properly to grow your business and expand your reach as well as develop more powerful and trusted relationships with clients, colleagues and all of you business associates.

Here are a few of her words of wisdom to remember:

  • Be Authentic in building your online social relationships
  • Beware of over-automating your technology and losing your personal touch
  • Take the time necessary to identify your target market and make it SPECIFIC
  • Don’t try to be everything to everyone in your messaging
  • Be considerate by be honest
  • Transparency is king – people like those who are willing to admit their mistakes
  • Identify your core purpose it will make a difference in how you are perceived
  • Know where your target market lives and go there well, rather than being everywhere poorly

    • This all goes back to the old adage that is even more true today than ever before  – people do business with people – so being authentic is keep to getting and keeping good solid and profitable relationships.

    What truly motivates your business activity – money? power? social impact? being a change agent?

    This is not an idle question but rather an all encompassing power center that permeates all of your business actions.  Who you are matters and why you do what you do matters too.  People want to know you and the essence of your life and business philosophy that makes your business different.  Your authenticity can’t be copied and it will help you create a business of inherent value.

    Keep in touch with Megha @

    http://www.MeghaSuccess.com

    http://www.HireHumanity.com


    http://www.Facebook.com/MeghaSuccessPage

    http://www.Twitter.com/meghab

    http://www.linkedin.com/in/megharodriguez




    Elizabeth Gordon interviews Karen Hughes of Image Assets on the Chic Perspectives Show

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    Wondering what’s in style this season?  Well you’ve come to the right show.  Today I talked with Karen Hughes who is a Certified Image Professional and the President of Owner of Image Assets.

    www.ImageAssets.net

    Early in her life, Karen knew she loved clothes, having learned how to sew at the tender age of 10, but she had a passion for teaching.   Spending a decade in corporate America honing her presentation skills she found herself again drawn back to fashion and clothing – she has a degree in fashion merchandising. Taking time off to raise her 3 children she began to formulate her vision for a new role as an entrepreneur.

    It was with a passion for education and love of fashion that Image Assets was created. With a mantra to help women “look good, feel great and have FUN doing it”, Karen creates workshops and events that teach you how to build a wardrobe for the lifestyle that YOU lead, whatever your stage of life!

    By enhancing your image through better style and dress, you can enhance your career progression whether its up the ladder or out on your own as an entrepreneur.

    On the show today we talked about the 3 F’s of Fashion (Fit, Flatter, Feel-Good),

    as well as the 3-Keys to Building a Wardrobe (Core-Accent-Accessories).

    Karen revealed the biggest mistakes women make in purchasing clothes and she also explained why alterations matter.


    For more about turning your image into an asset, keep in touch with Karen @

    Check out Image Assets’ Trends with Friends Event on Tuesday the 2nd of March and the StyleCAMP at the end of the month.


    Twitter: www.twitter.com/imageassets

    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/karenhughes

    Facebook Fanpage: www.facebook.com/pages/Style-YOUniversity/188572746337?ref=sgm

    and of course check out her site as well @ www.ImageAssets.net

    Thanks Karen for all the great ideas and advice for a creating a winning look that speaks our style.

    Elizabeth Gordon interviews Marsha Blackburn, a businesswoman who currently serves in the US House of Representatives

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    In this episode of the Chic Perspectives Show, I interview Marsha Blackburn, the first woman ever elected a state Senator for the 23rd District of Tennessee, and currently serving in the US House of Representatives.

    Blackburn talked about her new book, Life Equity: Realize your true value and pursue your passions at any stage in life.

    She encourages women to step up, step out and use their natural skills and experiences to ultimately achieve their goals and dreams.

    Marsh talks about how it is important for women reappraise their lives and recognize their real value and dig deeper into untapped assets.

    I love how Marsha busts some of the most common myths facing women each day.  It is so important to remove misguided shoulds from you life path that no longer serve you.

    Having female mentors and reading and learning about those who blazed the trail for us challenges us all to step forward and lead.

    Marsha thanks for inspiring woman to remove their self-doubt and become confident to take the risks necessary to change the world around them.

    It was a pleasure getting to know you.

    Check out Marsha’s book Life Equity Life Equity: Realize Your True Value and Pursue Your Passions at Any Stage in Life

    The Chic Entrepreneur Q & A

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    Q: What defines a Chic Entrepreneur?

    A: A Chic Entrepreneur is defined by her eloquent combination of style and industriousness. Being chic is about how you carry yourself and the choices you make. It is not about the clothes you wear or the way you cut your hair; it’s about your attitude and your actions. Chic Entrepreneurs balance optimism with realism; they know who they are, and they know where they are going. Being a Chic Entrepreneur is not about being perfect; it’s about being you at your best. It is about being professional, having integrity, never burning bridges, and working hard, but more importantly, working smart. For these reasons, Chic Entrepreneurs tend to be in the ten percent of startup businesses that actually succeed, but they don’t just succeed, they succeed with style.

    Q: Why is it so important to decide and convey the value your business can provide?

    A: If you can’t decide what value your business provides to the marketplace and clearly and concisely express it to potential or existing clients and partners, who can? You are the best salesperson for your business because it’s yours; you created it. So you need to have a one to three sentence summation of what your business is and what important value it provides that others need. You should be able to jot it down on a piece of paper at a moments notice, without getting a hand cramp. This is so important because you will be asked to talk about your business countless times as an owner. Wishy-washy doesn’t gain you any respect in the business world and it’s not chic. You need to have a unique value and nail the pitch.

    Q: How can women business owners work to develop their own niche?

    A: Choosing and developing a niche is all about research. Women business owners need to ask questions about who exactly their target niche market is that will buy their unique product or service: Are they businesses or individuals? What is their income? Where do they live/have offices? How old are they? Are they men, women, families or committees? What do they buy often? What do they lack? These and many more questions will give your chosen niche a name, a face and a personality. As a woman business owner, you know how to develop relationships. Finding out exactly what kind of people are in your target will allow you to better cultivate relationships with your niche.

    Q: What do women entrepreneurs need to know about cash flow?

    A: I’ve found in my own consulting practice that women often ignore the numbers when it comes to their business. Whether it’s because it’s boring to them or because it’s not something they’ve dealt with before. However, cash flow is crucial to the success of a business. Women entrepreneurs need to know that by plugging in reasonable numbers, understanding your business model, and learning to read your financials and do predictive analysis, you can keep your cash flow in check so you don’t get into a cash crunch. Businesses that fail run out of money. In order to succeed you need to know how to keep cash flowing through your business. It is your lifeblood. Women need to get comfortable with working with, thinking, and talking about money. If you know you need an bookkeeper and can afford it, get one, and use the time you free up for cash producing activities. If you know you can’t, do the legwork necessary and make sure you’ve got a handle on what’s coming in and going out and have a bit tucked away for a rainy day, or a perfect opportunity – they come along in business when you least expect it.

    Q: How can a woman business owner in the middle stages of growth determine if she’s on the right track to achieve greater profitability?

    A: Put your current and desired future states into numbers. Choose five key metrics to watch. Key metrics will allow you to monitor your company’s performance. You must identify a way to measure performance so that you can determine at a glance what you are doing well and what you are doing poorly and adjust accordingly. Your metrics will give you an indication of where you or your managers need to focus attention. Think of this as your executive dashboard, similar to your car’s dashboard, that you can look at as you drive your company forward. This will give you an overall view of how your organization is running and alert you to any issues that require attention. Your dashboard will consist of a handful of key metrics that act as a constant health check, a way for you to check the business’s pulse and other vital signs. Metrics are great and powerful tools, and as you get more comfortable with them you will learn to use them to spot opportunities and more effectively manage your business.

    The Millionaire Male Mind, Dissected by a Success Seeking Woman

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    Ever wonder how millionaire men think? Or what their day-to-day lives look like, what they do that makes them so successful?

    A key best practice of rich and successful people is to surround yourself with other successful people who can act as mentors, advice givers and guides to your along your journey from where you are to where you want to be.

    Goal Digger: Lessons Learned From The Rich Men I Dated

    Author Alicia Dunams took a most unusual approach in doing this which and ultimately led to this page-turner of a success guide that I thoroughly enjoyed. Alicia’s eventful admirable life journey has had many twists and turns from which she openly shares stories and draws insightful positive lessons.

    Circumstances that would have stopped a lesser person, have driven this diva to creating true wealth and independence for herself and security and time for her daughter.

    The wisdom she imparts on building a investment, real estate and business portfolio of diverse assets to “get your money working for you” is the essence of smart business.

    Her stories of her rich men and their secrets to success are entertaining, intriguing and enlightening. I think Alicia’s message of “Why marry a millionaire when you could just think like one?” is an extremely important one for women to hear, as we are living in a day and age in which we have all the capabilities to create our own financial security rather than relying on a mate to provide it for us.

    With the tools in this book, you’ll learn how other went from zero to millionaire status using these lessons to take advantage of proven wealth building opportunities.

    I loved the chapter on the Abracadabra Principle that teaches you how to create as you speak, and equally as important are the chapters on Fear and Risk, which I see holding so many people back. I also love the “Don’t Work, Think Your Way to Riches” chapter, as it is very in keeping with the Chic Entrepreneur philosophy as well.

    Understanding how the rich deal with the elements of business is a big eye opener. This book will give you insight into the inner mental game of millionaire men, info you can’t find anywhere else. Thank Alicia for sharing the inside scoop with us!

    In a great show of how powerful the female perspective is in explaining business and money success principles, this motivational self-help mixes juicy stories, with practical business and wealth enhancing strategies.

    You will be inspired by Alicia’s personal journey and awed by the power of the lessons she’s uncovered.

    Alicia’s message of -Why marry a millionaire when you could just become one yourself- is an extremely important one for women to hear. I caught myself underlining key points throughout this entertaining and enjoyable read. Full of great content and advice in an easy to read format.