The Spirit of the Female Entrepreneur
I have just got of the phone to one of my favourite female entrepreneurs – who was so excited and full of the exuberance that only we mothers know when we are on our way to our child’s “first ever school excursion” as the most esteemed “parent helper”.
It took me straight back to the early days of my own sons schooling and how proud I was to be able to participate in his first and most precious memories.
Just like my friend whose words were… “The rewards of being able to work for myself and be able to participate make up the “GOLD NUGGETS” in my day.
These are PRICELESS MOMENTS!
In the next breath she was filling me in on the absolutely awesome, gigantic deal she is about to pull off that will set her apart in the entrepreneurial world as one of the best!
As we talked about the campaign and the strategy I felt the gratitude that I and all my female entrepreneur friends feel as we get to experience the best of both worlds….
I wanted to remind us all that our vision, our dreams and goals for ourselves and our families are worth all the effort, the stress, the hardship, the worry – the daily annoyances to reap the reward and benefits of being in control of our own lives and our own destiny’s.
The spirit of the entrepreneurial Mum is alive and well – and today a little boys eyes are sparkling and his heart is singing because his mum had the courage to take their financial future into her own hands.
I feel so proud of her and all of us “spirited women” who are out there making it happen….
I raise my “Latte Glass” to you all
Entreprenurial Spirit
Recently I sat is a room with some male colleagues who were discussing their entrepreneur ship with gusto. I realized that they had no trouble applying themselves with the label of “Entrepreneur”.
We hear this statement often in our circle and yet I wonder how many of us really know what it means to be an entrepreneur or if in fact we are one. My mission is to help other women develop their entrepreneurial spirit…so to help with this mission I have put together this set of critieria that I believe encapsulates the spirit of the Entrepreneurs.
On our path to rise to our Entrepreneurial Spirit we should:
- Own a vision: Write down your vision and keep it in a place where you can see it every day. Next draft a plan of action, execute it and remain focused specifically on your goals until they are accomplished. By doing this you will be crafting your own life and making your dreams come true.
- Stand firm against the negative things that people have to say to you or the negative attitudes you encounter in your daily life.. Stay focused on your mission and be “unstoppable”
Lead the way. Don’t wait to be told what to do. Focus your energy into being productive. Rather than rely on the opinions of others , do your own research and evaluations and come to your own conclusions. - Focus on what works… do not always try to reinvent the wheel, you must have the “if it’s not broken don’t try to fix it attitude to life.
- Find your niche and dedicate time to developing in that area.
- Learn from your mistakes. Try not to waste precious time wallowing in self-pity, crying over spilled milk or sweating the small stuff. You need to know how to learn from your mistakes and move on. Know how to take responsibility, be accountable, not procrastinate, and be decisive. Do not justify or condemn; you are in control.
- Take inspired, prompt and precise actions to get the job done. Make proactive steps quickly and decisively and follow your “gut reactions” and your intuition.
- Be teachable and coachable. Be open minded and willing to learning new skills and improve upon the old ones.
- Spend time and money seeking out knowledge, information and building yourself up. Attend training seminars, listen to motivational and inspirational recordings, read books and stay with the current trends. Self development should be a continuous process.
- To help propel yourself through your entrepreneurial process, find experts who walk their talk and pay them well to show you how to implement cutting- edge strategies to assist you in your success journey. Simply put, you pay people to do the things you can’t achieve alone.
- Be eager to share your wisdom and knowledge. Have a passion to bring out the best in others and in yourself. You want to always be on the cutting edge and to assist others in getting what they want…in doing so you will get what you want.
- Be a team players, mentor and resource guru. You know that when knowledge and wisdom are applied there is POWER. Share your knowledge because you understand that the more you “give” – the more you “get” .
- Listen attentively. Know that good listening skills are an asset to your success. Know that listening to what the customers need , is one sure way to build relationships and please them. Understand the power of word of mouth marketing.
- Never be afraid to ask questions. Formulate the right questions to get the desired answers.
- Be gratuitous and have a “giving spirit”. Study and apply the universal laws of success…and generously give back to society.
- Know your products inside out and how to maximize their benefits.
- Be the CEOs of your company as well as the CEO of your life.
I hope this list inspires you to fire up your “Entrepreneurial Spirit” and move strongly in the direction of your Dreams…. hopefully you’ll read these again over a deliciously, piping hot “cafe latte” and take reflection.
I’ll see you in the Cafe’s of the World….
Making Your Offer Irresistable
In my previous post “Are You A Home Based Business Entrepreneur” I covered the Number 1 mistake that people make when they start up their home based business. That was creating product first when they should be considering the “market” first.
Here is the second mistake that most people make… they are running a “Me Too” business.
In my experience most people in business are doing a good job, providing quality products and friendly service, but what they are failing to do is influence the client to choose them above anyone else.
Whatever your Niche Marketing idea is, you have to make sure there’s enough of a want or need for it (”need” is always better, by the way – people can always shrug off a “want”).
It is so important to make sure that your target audience is big enough and hungry enough – then go to work!
The place to start is to find out exactly what the fears, frustrations, want, desires and needs of your prospect really are and then offer them a solution in a way that persuades them to take action.
You need to market your product or solution to them in a way that has them clamouring to;
- place and order,
- pick up the phone,
- request a free report, or
- make an appointment
In other words take some positive action towards the solution that you are offering them.
Your goal is to make your business distinctive – positively distinctive – to get your customers and clients to see your business as offering a superior benefit or advantage that no other competitor offers them.
Something very valuable, very desirable, very important, very precious and meaningful to them that is not available anywhere else.
So the question is what are the biggest fears, frustrations, wants, desires and needs of your prospect?
What is it that keeps them awake at night?
And… How can you solves this problem for them in a way that none of your competitors can?…
These are tough questions I know but… without the answers you will be a “ME TOO” business providing “ME TOO” solutions and you don’t want that… if that’s what you have then you leave your customer no other alternative than to shop for “price” and price alone.
So it’s time to take out a pen and paper and start working on these questions… I suggest you go and sit in a sunny spot in your favourite cafe and get to work….
And I’ll see you In the Cafes of the World.
Are You A Home Based Business Entrepreneur
I am a firm believer in the statement “When the student is ready the teacher appears”. Several years ago I purchase the book by Professor Paul Zane Pilzer, called the Next Millionaires.
As you probably know Pilzer is a leading predictor of economic catalysts and trends.
Now how’s this for the law of attraction… this book jumped back into my hands several days ago and as I started to reread it I got very excited about what was jumping out of the pages. The next millionaires according to Pilzer are those that capitalize on the internet, and he goes on to say why home based business entrepreneurs will be among the richest in our new economy.
Fortunately for us we are still well within the 10 year times span that Pilzer predicts. As he says in the ten years from 2006 to 2016, we’re on track to creating in excess of more than 18.5 million millionaires. And they way to go is to develop your own successful home based business.
Now, for those of you who know me, you’ll know that I am passionate about helping others (especially my women friends) to create better business lives, to shift the focus from having a job to integrate both our family and business lives and still have time to indulge ourselves in the odd “cafe latte”.
Making the transition to home based can be simple if you follow the steps I will be sharing with you over the next few weeks. First it’s important to know what the common mistakes people starting their own home based business make… so here’s the first one..
1. The problem most business owners have is that they develop their product first.
Your product or service must solve a problem for a ‘group’ of individuals. It must identify their pain and take them to pleasure. Discover their problems and give them a solution.
Do you know the thing that keeps them awake at night, takes up their thought processes, or is on their mind from the moment they wake up in the morning.
If your product or service can solve this problem then it is worthwhile pursuing.
We work from the premise that you should find your target market first, find out what they want, what problems they have and then formulate your product or service around this existing market.
Rather than launching into your business and hoping that it will succeed – it is critical to do your research first. The internet is a quick and inexpensive way to find out if your idea will “fly”. (Key word searches, looking at the competition and searching for niches will all assist you)
Build it and they will come – is not the catch cry of business today – you need to be a ‘savvy marketer’.
So remember: Market first – Product or Service second
The Ultimate Cafe Latte Lifestyle
I just spent an awesome morning with a fantastic group of women in business at one of my favourite Cafe’s here in Perth, Western Australia.
The Secret To You
I’m a big fan of The Secret and try to attract the energy into my own life each day.
Coaches and Mentors – Creating Your Own Dream Team
A few days ago, my friend Margit and I went to the Perth Women’s Expo. It was a great “girl’s day out” filled with, stimulating conversation and lots of ‘dream building’ ideas.
This got me thinking about how important it is to spend time with friends and mentors, people who have a positive influence on your life… it’s about creating your own “Dream Team”.
In order for you to realize your Big ideas, dreams and goals, you need to have people in your life who support you in your quest. I would not be where I am today without all of my coaches and mentors—my “dream team.” It has been a key factor in my success. Your life success also will be about the books that you read and the people you associate with.
If nothing else – knowing these two concepts has the potential to change your life, and whether you control the input or not, they will influence your life both now and in the future.
If you take a moment to reflect back into your life and look at the influences that have impacted you in a positive way and caused you to make changes in your life, can you attribute it to something you have read or someone that influenced you?
I am sure if you look back to any negative changes that have affected your life you will see a similar pattern evolving. Was that change influenced in any way by either someone you listened to or something that you read?
Powerful isn’t it?
So it’s the books that you read (and yes, magazines and news articles count) and the people that you associate with, that really make a big difference.
I have also heard it said that if you look at your current income and then average the incomes of your five closest friends, you will find that there is a direct correlation there. Scary?
The good thing you can actually control the input with a very simple formula.
- Turn off the TV.
- Cancel the newspaper delivery.
- Read for 15 minutes every day – from a positive, uplifting or instructional book.
- Choose your mentors, coaches and friends wisely and spend time with them
By the way… if anything important is happening in the world that you really need to know about – believe me, someone will tell you. You still get to hear about tsunamis, bombings and interest rate rises and the Queen Mothers passing even when you don’t read newspapers or watch the news – trust me, I know this first hand.
More about “books” in my next chat… until then make a conscious decision to spend more time with people who can influence your life in the direction that you choose and less time with those who are going in the other direction.
See you in the Cafe’s of the World!
My Motivation For The Cafe Latte Blog
Let me tell you a little bit about the motivation for me to build my Cafe Latte Lifestyles blog.
I became a “home based business women”, because I was looking for a business opportunity to take me from an income of $150 a week (which was far from exciting) at home with a new baby. I was intensely driven to make some extra money and work in a way that I didn’t have to put my son into someone else’s care.
I guess what I did was to grab an opportunity that was right under my nose, and work with all my passion and intensity to grow it into a multi-million dollar turnover business.
The business grew into more than I ever imagined, but here’s the key…
I found something I loved to do… that gave me my dream life… and gave me the opportunity to do what I love best… talk to people and share a cup of coffee
Over the past 14 years I cannot count the number of amazing ideas that have been born in cafes around the world.
Over the last year I have become involved in a business start up that has taken time and effort to bring about and it has make me realize that the thing I miss most is my ability to meet my “girlfriend and my women ‘business associates’” for coffee chats.
To me this is where the real business happens, this is where we get to conceive our ideas, share, network, conceptualize our plans and bring our dreams to reality.
So… my Cafe Latte Lifestyles is all about taking one of the most rewarding journeys we can take… the one that takes us right through our front doors and out into the world to meet with our friends, associates and mentors… because it is so important to share precious moments not only with your family, but also with other women that you can relate to.
Though it may feel like one more thing on your “to do” list, the fact is that reconnecting with other women, and moms, is a way to pamper yourself.
Never underestimate the power of time spent with girlfriends!
Recently I made a conscious decision to make more time to reconnect with some of my special business women friends at ‘our favourite Cafe’s’…now here’s what happened.
Just shortly after I made this intention my phone rang and one of my fabulous ‘entrepreneurial’ friends rang me to catch up for a coffee.
If you understand the Law of Attraction you will know that what you focus on you will manifest in your life. Our conscious and subconscious thoughts create our reality.
As I sat with my friend I got to experience that “delicious feeling’ that emerges when two like minds start to create together, and it’s not surprising that we have come up with a couple of great ideas for joint venturing together, that will not only be FUN but PROFITABLE as well!
I am a firm believer in the Law of Attraction and that what you think you will manifest. Just recently I watched this great DVD called “THE OPUS” which is an extension of the Law of Attraction.
The Opus is an inspirational blueprint for us to take something that is our passion, from vision, to plan, to performance… to create, through our sheer love of creating, something amazing that will leave an indelible mark on our world. Go and check it out at www.TheOpus.com.au
So here’s what I suggest….take your thoughts off “auto pilot” and set some powerful intentions and find some positive ‘friends’ to network your ideas with.
It’s my hope that you’ll spend some time over the next few day connecting with some of your ‘entrepreneurial’ women friends.
I look forward to hearing your stories and I’ll see you in the “Cafe’s of The World!”
Finding Your Ideal Client
Now…I hope you’ve been thinking about your Dream Business….because believe me it’s possible…first let’s begin with how to get started…the right way.
Most people start their business for the wrong reasons –
- they love clothes so they buy a boutique,
- they like cooking so they start a restaurant,
- they like nic nacs so they start a gift shop
No wonder so many business fail within the first 5 years. This is the hard way to do business – because it is starting at the wrong end.
The best way to start a business or any new venture is to “Begin With The End In Mind”.
The best way to start a business is to first find a starving crowd and then feed them, and do it so well, give so much value that they keep coming back for more.
Doing it any other way is like a farmer going out into his yard and scattering grain hoping that the chickens will come. In business it really is a case of finding the chickens and then feeding them the right grain.
Most business go out and get the grain and then wonder why the chickens don’t come knocking at their door.
Of course if you already have a bunch of clients then the best thing you can do is find out what type of grain (product or service) they need in order to thrive.
The first thing you should be looking for is a problem that is shared by lots of people and then set out to solve their problem – sound too easy – doesn’t it.
Let’s look at it this way – people will only buy something if it:
- Solves a problem
- They really, really want it
- They have a fear and they need a solution
- They have a frustration that they want to go away
In other words what are their greatest – Wants Needs Fears and Frustrations?
How do you find your target market or your ideal client?
- You should be offering what you do best (your niche)
- To a group of people (your ideal client)
- Who hang out together in some organized fashion (your marketplace)
- Who desperately need and will pay for what it is that you offer (your target or niche market).
So a good definition for your niche or target market would be:
“Your target market is composed of individuals and businesses that have similar interests and needs, that can be readily identified and can be easily targeted and reached.”
Whatever target market you choose to pursue, make sure it involves something you either care about or want to do.
There are so many choices and opportunities out there that you should be able to find the fit between a money-making business and your passion and talents.
You’ll make much more money attracting a smaller stream of ideal prospects to your business or service than a deluge of wrong ones.
This is the key to operating a successful business. The more focused you can become in defining what you do and in describing the group who needs what you do, the more effective your marketing becomes. Weeding out all those prospects who don’t fit your niche, target market, or ideal client profile will leave you with a much better qualified pool of prospective clients.
So when I speak to you next I want you to be thinking about “who is your ideal client”.
See you in the Café’s of the World!
Can We Really Have It All?
The question I hear so often from my women friends is “Can we really have it all?” – “Is there really a way to have both personal and business success?”
As women, we take on so many different roles: wife, mother, friend, homemaker, business maker and it seems we are so often so busy caring for everyone else that we find it difficult to find the time to care for ourselves and dare I say follow our own “passion”. In fact we are often so busy helping everyone else develop their passions that we lose touch with what our own “passion” really is.
Suddenly we find ourselves at 40+ asking ourselves the tough question “Is it too late for me to follow my bliss and find my own passion”
Well I am here to tell you that – yes it is possible. From one who has been there and done it. To achieve the at home mum, lifestyle business – that I call my “Cafe Latte Lifestyle” by finding the balance to be both a successful home based business woman with time and lifestyle freedom and a full time mum…
Running your own home based business gives you the opportunity to utilize all your innate skills. There is no doubt that women are born networkers, communicators, promoters and story tellers… that is why they make the perfect entrepreneurs.
We seem to have been born with the natural tendencies to promote our products and services, especially the ones that we have had personal success with and we naturally communicate trust. The thing that I have found that holds women back most of all is that they just don’t know where to start.
Over the next few weeks I will be sharing with you some of the strategies that I have learned for getting started… You see, what most people do is they get a brilliant idea that they get all excited about… but then you start to have doubts and start focusing on all the work involved and get bogged down in the details.
My advice to you…before you start to get snowed under with all the things you have to do (or in many cases “think” you have to do), there are some simple steps that you can take to push forward – through the ‘doubt barrier’ and start heading for the success that you deserve.
Right now I urge you to put “Develop my Dream Business” at the top of your TO DO LIST… and work towards turning your passion into a real “Cafe Latte Lifestyle”
See you in the Cafes of the world
