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Social networking is serious business! This is social networking for the 21st century, one in which every business owner should get on board with. As entrepreneurs, it is essential that you continually generate new ideas in order to maximize the profit-making potential of your venture.

Social media is a great way to leverage your products or services. It is an easy and inexpensive way to connect to people around the world and an opportunity to make friends with people who have similar interests, find solutions to problems they might have by collaborating with others, as well as attract clients that might need your products or services.  Be more strategic.

According to a recent survey on online social networking by the Institute for Corporate Productivity:

• 65% of business professionals use some form of personal or professional social network
• 47% use social networks to connect with potential clients and market their skills
• 55% use social networks to share best practices with colleagues

So, ready to jump on the Social Media Bandwagon?  Here are 4 Super Duper Tips for Social Media Success:

Super Duper Tip 1:  Create a Strategy

Social media is comprised of many different platforms. Creating and implementing a marketing strategy for using social media is extremely important.  This will alleviate a lot of time wasted and help you to focus on the most effective way to use it and decide which social networks best suit your business needs.  Three things to consider in your plan:

• Primary goal: decide on the purpose and goals for establishing social media
• Content: decide on the message you want to convey to your target audience.  It is important that your content is in line with your company’s mission and values.
• Measure Your Progress: Set a timeline for the appropriate time to measure your success.  This will allow you to make adjustments to your strategy.

Super Duper Tip 2:  Know your audience

Often, I consult with clients who after talking to them, I find that they have not considered who their customers are.  Most of them want to sell their products or services to any and everybody who will buy from them. I explain to them that they cannot be everything to everybody, it just won’t work!  Imagine having to create a marketing campaign to attract a dozen or so industries. You would have to because one shoe does not fit all!

While using social media can allow you to reach millions of people, you want to make sure you are reaching the appropriate audience.  Though Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin are the most popular at this time, make sure you research other social sites that can give you the greatest access to your audience.

By knowing your audience, will dramatically increase your effectiveness!  This is important both online and offline.  Again, know your audience!

Super Duper Tip 3:  Protect Your Image or Die!

The image your business portrays sends an important message to your clients.  It is easy to get too comfortable and let down your guard when using various social networks.  It is important to treat people with the same respect online as you do offline.  Truth is information travels like wild fire!  If you have a dissatisfied customer; in the matter of seconds, they can post negative information about your business.

For example, if I was dissatisfied with the way I was treated as a consumer from a business, I could post my complaint to my 1900 twitter followers or to my 1200 fans Facebook.  Imagine the impact if a percentage of my followers also shared that post with people in their network?  A web savvy customer can literally shred your company to pieces as well as destroy your credibility and reputation with a single post.  Protect your reputation.  Remember, image is everything!

Super Duper Tip 4:  Build Lasting Relationships

If you put up your profile to never update or visit the social media site again, what are potential clients and business partners to think?  In order to blossom and make an impact in the communities that you join, you must network. Networking is a reciprocal process based on the exchange of ideas, contacts, advice and referrals. By networking, you are building professional relationships and generating new business.

In closing, more and more local small businesses and non-profit organizations are climbing aboard the social media bandwagon to market themselves for free. It just makes good business sense to learn how to leverage social media to build communities around brands and then leverage them into revenue.

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Without getting all bridezilla on everyone here’s the experience that ignited my fire and wrote this post: I’ve recently become engaged and while shopping around I fell in love with a venue, however, the events coordinator failed to effectively follow-up. I work full-time, go to school and now, I am planning a wedding. You better believe- if I am about to spend my hard-earned-cash at a venue and ask for a call on my lunch hour, I expect the courtesy. If it slips their mind once I will let it go, but twice makes me twitch and THREE times makes me cross them right off my list.

Which brings me to my point: the events coordinator of that venue was not the owner, she was, however, a representation of what I may expect had I chosen them to host my wedding.

It’s possible you too have built a flourishing brand of your own and are no longer the everyday face of your company, your brand. When you’re no longer answering your own phones or selling your own product it’s time to remember that you are the company you keep!

When you hire administrative support, sales associates or PR, they become your company. These employees interact with your customers, make sales, pursue follow-up, develop relationships, brainstorm ideas and engage future clients. All of the effort you’ve put into branding both yourself and your company can be tarnished by the company you keep.

Haven’t you ever had an experience where you’ve entered into a store completely ready to purchase merchandise, but the sales associate was rude, so you walked away? That discourteous sales associate became the company to you (for that brief instant). They lost a sale for their store and possibly tarnished a client’s attitude towards that stores brand.

It is so important to manage the company you keep; hire people who believe in your business, who love what they do and who realize how valuable they are to your survival.

It’s a theory that runs in friendship, business, teams and partnerships: Folks, YOU ARE THE COMPANY YOU KEEP!

Fellow readers: make me feel less like a bridezilla; have you learned a lesson from the people you’ve hired or have an experience where an employee of a brand you LOVE tarnished your relationship with the experience of shopping that brand? Please share your comments, stories and advice!

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As much as I love working from my home office (working in your pajamas has its perks), there are times when I simply can’t do it. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I can see our backyard pool from my office window, but there are just times when I cannot, for the life of me, stay focused on the task at hand. That’s when my local coffee shop comes in handy. Why? Well, for starters the coffee is far better than what I brew, and the atmosphere simply can’t be beat. Here at five reasons why work-at-home women should spend more time at their local cafe.

Five Reasons Your Local Coffee Shop is Better Than Your Home Office

People

Seriously, you need to talk to someone other than your cat in order to keep your creative juices flowing and avoid going crazy. Coffee shops are the central meeting ground for practically everyone. From CEOs to students, everyone stops at the local cafe to grab a muffin and chat about the weather. Networking is easy because the setting is neutral and there are absolutely no expectations. Simply say “hello” to the person in the booth next to you – who knows, they could be your next client.

White Noise

Silence is distracting, especially when you’re trying to work on an important task. If you’re home office sounds more like a tomb than a productive workspace – get out! Your local coffee shop is full of comforting noises that can help you settle down and stay focused. From the coffee grinders to the clink of silverware, these subtle noises combine to create a background of soothing white noise. Stuck sitting beside the town chatterbox? Don’t forget your headphones – slip them on and not only will she realize you’re not listening, but it will also help drown out some of the more abrasive noises, even if you don’t turn any music on.

Food for thought

If there’s one thing that drives my husband nuts about my home office, it’s probably the fact that I forget to eat whenever I’m working on a big project. I just know that if I leave my desk for 20 minutes to make a sandwich it will take me twice as long to get my mind back on track and into the groove again. When I’m at the coffee shop, I always remember to eat… who could resist! From pastries and cookies, to salads and soups, there’s always a fast, fresh alternative waiting for me behind the counter. And while it’s probably not benefiting my waistline any, eating regularly does help me stay focused and on task. Plus it benefits the establishment that I’m working at. The owners are kind enough to let me use their WiFi, the least I can do is order one of their triple fudge caramel brownies… or maybe two.

Inspiration

A change of scenery can do wonders for entrepreneurs in need of a little inspiration. Snippets of overheard conversation can sometimes lead to major breakthroughs, often at the least expect moments. The next time you’re at your local cafe, close your computer and simply watch what’s happening in the shop. From the friendly cashier, to the bird that’s nesting just inside the doorway, there’s bound to be something that strikes a chord with you.

Options

Most towns have more than one WiFi equipped cafe. Even in my little rural neighborhood we have a few. Make sure you take the time to test out a handful of establishments in your area, and always remember to occasional switch things up. You’re sure to find one that’s your favourite (those triple fudge caramel brownies are pretty hard to resist) but each will have its own unique effect on your mood, creativity, and productivity. You may find that one location is great for keeping you motivated, while another is perfect for days when you just want to take things slow and steady.

What’s your favorite coffee shop to work in and why? Leave a comment to let us know!

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Social media has given us great ways to protect and build our digital reputations. Today we have the ease of searching conversations, the ability to set alerts to help us monitor our names, the constant availability of learning opportunities and more ways to communicate and interact with others. All of these tools, which were not available just a few years ago, now make it possible for us to be proactive in maintaining, building and protecting our good name. Here are five easy ways to do just that:

1) Set Goals

I am sure you have done this already, but just in case, first do a search on Google for your name in quotation marks. It is important to see what comes up on the first page. The first page of a google search result is precious real-estate. Then set up a simple spreadsheet so you can keep track of your digital footprint. Do a little research and spend some time collecting numbers. How many Facebook followers do you have? What kind of traffic do you get on your site? Once you have the numbers you can then decide on your goals.

Are you interested in growing the numbers of links/connections/followers or do you want more one-on-one engagement? Or are you more interested in getting retweets on Twitter (which, as Guy Kawasaki said recently is “now the sincerest form of flattery”). Once the goals are in place, track the results in the spreadsheet and adjust as needed.

2) Learn

To accomplish any of these goals, you are going to need to learn. The new world of communication is moving quickly, which naturally lends itself to a couple of advantages. First, there is a lot of room for experimentation, so use your talents and skills to communicate in your own unique way. Second, this experimentation has led to collaboration, and smart people are sharing information all the time. Make sure you make time every day for “learning.” Look over sites and information to keep up with the developments in social media. Currently I am taking part in an online conference, called Social Media Success Summit 2010 and am learning a lot. And among the many sites I visit, one of my daily stops is: PR Daily News: Public Relations news and marketing in the age of social media.

3) Develop Content

To communicate 24/7, which is now the expectation and the norm, you need to develop different types of content. Blogging is a great way to share your knowledge and collaborate with others. However, blogging can be a big undertaking. Blogging expert Denise Wakeman recommends that you blog 3 times a week. If that is a daunting task for you, try guest blogging on an established site or blog in your industry. Another way some of my clients have developed content is through books, ebooks, whitepapers, audio recordings, slide presentations and videos.

4) Build Relationships

Building and maintaining relationships has never been easier. Those of us in sales and marketing have always known the value of relationship building, but now everyone needs to make it a priority. Make sure you have profiles on LinkedIn, and Facebook. Twitter is a fantastic source of information, and an excellent place to learn. People on Twitter are eager and happy to help each other. To get tips on effective communication on these sites, I look to Cindy Ratzlaff who has a daily video tip along with regular blog posts on her site. Social media is an excellent way to build relationships, but don’t forget the value of face to face meetings, phone calls, hand written notes, and emails. It’s good to focus on important clients and influencers, but leave room for the “accidental” connections. Social media networking can be serendipitous, you never know which person may lead you to a new connection or client.

5) Monitor

Social media alerts (Google or Social Mention) are a great way to monitor your name and/or industry. If something important happens in your industry you’ll know about it and can comment. If someone says something positive, a thank you goes a long way. If there is negative chatter starting up around your name or company, alerts keep you on top of it and you can jump in and take care of things quickly. I also use Addictomatic which is a great site for big picture monitoring.

There are many tools and resources now that can help us to become better communicators and better guardians of our reputations. I know it is a big undertaking, but the question to ask yourself is: If you are not investing in yourself, why should anyone else?

About the Author:

Fauzia Burke is the Founder and President of FSB Associates, a web publicity and social media firm specializing in creating awareness for books and authors. For web publicity and social media news, follow Fauzia on a new Twitter: @WebSnapshot

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Before seeking funding, there are several things that I advise my clients to do in order to determine if their business idea is viable.  These are important tips that should be used by all entrepreneurs – things lenders will look for when making a decision to approve funding or NOT!  Here are 4 extremely important steps that all new entrepreneurs need to take before seeking funding!

Prepare a Business Plan

A comprehensive business plan is imperative to your business success.  It is needed to not only organize your business but to get a small business loan. Your business plan should be written early in the planning process and is your road map for starting and operating your small business.  Because business plans can be daunting, you don’t have to do it alone.  Here are some resources available to assist you:

• SCORE offers online business tools to assist you in business planning.
• SBA offers online business tools to help you start grow and succeed.
• Business Plan Pro software is easy to use, affordable and loaded with hundreds of templates which guide you in writing your business plan.

Research and Know Your Competition

Understanding who your competitors are helps to project sales, avoid surprises, decrease reaction time as well as helps in understanding your own business (or proposed business) better.  After your research information has been compiled and evaluated, it is important to develop strategies for competing, thus, determining if your if your idea is viable.

When you look at your competitors, you are analyzing:

• Who are your major competitors?
• What share of the market do they have?
• How do you compare to your competitors and how will they react to your entry into the
  market?
• What are their strengths and weaknesses (e.g. quality, price, service, payment terms, location, reputation, etc.)?
• What factors could increase or reduce your competition?

Analyze Your Market

The success of your business depends on making sales. Marketing is a way of communicating with your target market so they (customers) will buy your products and services. It is a necessary element of business.  A constant marketing effort is required to establish, stabilize, and grow a successful business. Marketing & Sales practices include: describing your products and services clearly; continuously developing your understanding of your “marketplace”- who’s buying (customers), who’s selling (competition), what’s selling (products & services) at what price, how is the market changing; tracking the success of your marketing & sales strategy; improving your business’s ability to establish and maintain good prospect & customer relationships.

Put Personal Finances in Order

A prospective entrepreneur’s relationship with money and his/her ability to successfully manage personal finances and credit are directly connected to his/her success in the planning, decision-making, detailed oversight and big picture strategizing that are necessary to healthy business finance management.  It can take time for a new business to develop a cash flow, so, making sure your personal finances are in order before launching your new business, is essential. Here are four quick tips to organize your personal finances:

• Pay off your credit card debt.  Charge it!  We are so used to whipping out the credit card and buying ‘things’ that we don’t need or can’t afford.  Consider paying off your credit cards and consolidating balances to the credit card with the lowest APR. You will breathe a sigh of release once you realize you ‘CAN’ live without the dreaded plastic.  And, you can thank me later!
• Invest wisely.  Having an investment plan is the key to long term success.  There are a lot of options out there, so I suggest you speak with a financial advisor.
• Save for an emergency. With the economy being so weak, sometimes it takes every penny that comes in to make ends meet.  You must get out of that mind set and start saving on a regular basis.  Start small and increase as time goes on.
• Create a personal budget.  A personal budget is extremely important in managing your household.  In fact, your monthly budget will help you in determining how much you will save and invest!    An informative book that I’ve read and suggest is by author John L. Macko: Budget Yes! 21st Century Solutions for Taking Control of Your Money Now!’

By following these steps, you will position yourself for a successful funding request.

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I’ve already covered how to Ping out tweets or FB status updates simultaneously and how to keep track of your LinkedIn network connections with a CRM. This is an article for the business women who STILL resist my rants to tweet.

I recently met a rock-star small business owner. As she was venting (on-and-on) about how she can’t think of value added content in the midst of client meetings, interviews and soccer practices– I opened up a word doc and handed her my laptop.

My directions to her were as follows:  Take 1.5 hours a month, open a word doc and write down 60-90 tweets.

Stumped on what to write about? Try these ideas:

• Have a Calendar: Open your outlook calendar and discuss upcoming events in the next month
• Have Favorites: View your favorite websites and link back to them in tweets
• Have Inspiration: Link articles that have inspired you, share the content and mention mentors
• Have a Pay-It-Forward Attitude: Plug past clients in a tweet with a link to THEIR website
• Have Solutions: Mention past client solutions you’ve been able to offer with your website link
• Have Personality: Write down a random thought here and there (stay P.C., of course!)
• Have Fun!

The benefit of doing this yourself one day a month is now you have 60-90 tweets all ready to go. These 2 -3 tweets per day can be copied and pasted from your word doc before you start your day, on your coffee break, on lunch or while you’re running the treadmill. Try updating your account in-real-time, but when you’re extraordinarily busy, reference this handy cheat of what to write. Keep it saved on your blackberry or desktop and allow yourself to tweet value added content.

What I’m suggesting does not replace the SOCIAL in Social Media and I strongly encourage interaction and engagement; however, if you’re just getting the hang of things this can head you in the right direction. Writing down tweets ahead of time that mention articles you like, people you admire or calendar events coming up isn’t cheating as long as you remember to be yourself and keep it SOCIAL!

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The clock strikes 2 p.m. and the after lunch sluggish feeling sets in; if you are working from a home office like me your fluffy comforter beckons you from the other room.  Not an opportune time as your online calendar prompts you for a client call.  Fear not, we are not alone; a study conducted by Medical News Today suggests that 40% of workers experience afternoon fatigue.

When it comes to a nap or tending to the excel report the choice is an obvious one, but I’ve tried and been successful with five slump busters to stave off afternoon fatigue to share with my fellow ‘yawners’.

1. Have an afternoon snack.  A handful of almonds or an apple with peanut butter is low in sugar and high in protein providing the body with sustaining energy vs. high in sugar products like candy bars that burn off fast.
2. Stay hydrated.  Less than 32 ounces of water a day can keep a body feeling consistently sluggish. Keep a BPA-free water bottle at your desk for quick refills and as a friendly reminder.
3. Play a game.  A time restricted distraction like online Tetris or watching a 15 minute video can give your mind a mini-vacation and leave you feeling focused and alert when returning to work tasks.  Stick to the time restriction as to not get absorbed, if this doesn’t suit you – take a 15 minute walk around the block for some fresh air.
4. Stay organized.  Having a place for everything eliminates the need for expending extra mental energy trying to track down say that container of paper clips.
5. Have a jam session.  Listening to a favorite upbeat song can instantly change your mood.  So plug in that iPod.  If you work in an office with other people, see if those around you want to schedule regular rock out sessions after lunch.

Do you have any other suggestions for beating the afternoon slouch?

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Joining me today is Tammy Hawk-Bridges, founder of PhotoCandy, a company that turns memories into custom art pieces.

Natalie: Tell us more about your business, PhotoCandy.

Tammy: PhotoCandy was started out of a deep passion of mine which is the love of photos and memories. What I do is take a favorite picture/pictures and turn it into a piece a customized art portrait that is placed on canvas. It can be made into many different designs ranging from very abstract, pop art style, or in collages made from multiple photographs. It is fully customizable by the client based on their color preferences and their artistic taste.

Words cannot express the feeling I have when I put a canvas that I created in someone’s hands and get to see the look on their face. I create happiness and that feels amazing. I love the fact that something I created is hanging on the walls of their sacred place -their home. It means so much more than anyone really realizes.

Natalie: What made you take the leap into entrepreneurship and what did you do prior to running PhotoCandy?

Tammy: This is my second stint at being a business owner. About 12 years ago, I owned a business called Southern Soap Company. I made handcrafted soaps and sold them wholesale to stores. I had them in over 80 stores in the southeast. For the last 12 years I have been a sales exec, predominately in advertising and marketing for the media sector. What made me take the leap back to entrepreneurship? First of all: THE CURSE. I was born to be an entrepreneur -it is part of my core being.

The past several years have been tough for me. Even in our fast moving world of ideas, imagination and technology, women are still inferior in the work place, overlooked, and not paid equally to men. I am not saying that every company does that but it has been my personal experience. I am exhausted of my ideas and talent being taken for granted and once again ready to take matters in my own hands and to benefit personally from the knowledge that I have worked for all these years. In this stage of my career, my life has become more about meaning than money, I still have the need for the acknowledgment my drive and determination deserves.

Natalie: I always say that making meaning is more important to me than making money so I totally relate. What are the three biggest lessons you’ve learned as a woman entrepreneur?

Tammy: I really had to think about this one to just pick three since there are so many lessons I’ve learned.

1. One of the biggest drivers in making my decision to start PhotoCandy is that I had a business before and I made lots of mistakes. I learned my lessons and would not make any mistakes this second time around, right? WRONG. I have made new mistakes. Research ALL possibilities and exhaust them BEFORE making decisions in your business that cost money. I made a couple of very costly mistakes and as a veteran, I thought that wouldn’t happen. All business ventures are different and bring individual challenges. I don’t care if you have owned one business or twelve, treat it like it’s the very first time. Being too confident can cost money that you don’t have to spend.
2. Don’t exhaust yourself. I have literally worked an average of 18 hours a day and it wears me down emotionally and physically. This is something I battle constantly, I don’t know if I will ever be able to find the happy medium. When you are exhausted you are very vulnerable. When you are vulnerable you do not make good decisions. Nor are you emotionally equipped to handle things like disappointment and rejection which is something as a business owner you have to deal with almost daily. Unplug yourself and recharge – you will be better for it.
3. Find your focal point and stay on track. There are a million ideas -ideas curse me and keep me from sleeping at night so I too have to work at this. But you will never succeed at anything if you don’t focus on what you do the best. Some of the best advice I ever received was, “the jack of all trades is the master of none.”

Natalie: I’m still working on the focus part myself! What is a day like “in your heels?”

Tammy: I get up at 6 am and I get my kids off to school. I start the day by sitting down and going over the list of priorities that I made the night before. Because I am a morning person and that is when I am at peak I like to do my design work to fill orders because it takes careful attention to detail. Lunch is usually a handful of almonds and a cup of tea. I am not disciplined enough to stop working to eat right now… yet I am not any thinner hmmmmm.

I spend the afternoons doing research because I am still new at this venture and I am trying to learn the world of retail which is a very different animal to me. I am also working on social media and doing everything and anything I can do to get the word out about my business. I am also attending networking events every available opportunity. My day doesn’t really end right now. Yes, I take time to visit with my family and eat dinner, do a load of laundry or two but then I am right back up in my office usually well past midnight. I am extremely driven and so passionate that it is really hard to pull myself away, eat or even sleep at this point. My friends call it a gift -I refer to it as “the curse.”

Natalie: Thanks for sharing your story and advice for other entrepreneurs. One piece of advice for you: get some sleep and don’t skip any meals! Thanks Tammy.

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New national survey from Women & Co. reveals affluent women applying their growing financial knowledge and influence to break down taboo of talking about money and impart financial lessons.

In the wake of the recession, women are on the verge of outnumbering men in the workforce for the first time in history, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The second annual survey by Women & Co., a financial community where wisdom, wealth and women meet, backed by Citigroup, uncovers how the economic downturn has impacted what women are thinking, saying, and doing when it comes to money in today’s She-conomy. Results of the latest survey, Women and Affluence 2010: The Era of Financial Responsibility, reveal that women are using their growing financial knowledge and rising influence to foster an open dialogue about money and usher in a new age of financial responsibility.

Women’s rising financial influence is breaking down the long-standing taboo of talking about money. As revealed in 2008, money is the #1 topic between mothers and daughters. This year’s results find that 91% of women are talking about finances with family members. These conversations are now extending outside the family, as well. The majority of women, over two-thirds, believe that in the wake of the economic downturn, talking about money is much more socially acceptable.

“It’s not surprising that women recognize it’s time for a new era of financial responsibility,” says Lisa Caputo, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Citi’s Women & Co. “Because we know from our conversations with women over the last 10 years and from the results of last year’s survey that they are knowledgeable, confident financial decision makers who consider themselves financial role models.”

Top findings from Women and Affluence 2010: The Era of Financial Responsibility include:

Women are ushering in a new era of financial responsibility in response to the economic downturn.

• Half of all affluent women feel a sense of responsibility to pass along lessons learned in the economic downturn.
• 52% already passed along guidance to others. The primary recipients of this advice were children, spouse/family, friends and colleagues.
• 64% of respondents stated that they’re sharing their financial values with others.

Women’s financial values hold steadfast in light of the economy.

• The one word affluent women most closely associate with wealth is security (54%), consistent with women’s views prior to the economic downturn (55% in 2008).
• While over half (53%) of respondents believe the definition of wealth has changed for society overall, only 30% say their own definition has changed.
• Three-quarters of women believe that society defines wealth differently than they do. In general, they believe that society’s definition is more about having material things.
• However, 7 in 10 women agree that now society believes that saving for the future and for emergencies is important.

Affluent women’s financial knowledge and confidence continues to climb.

• 82% say they are knowledgeable about investing and finances, a significant increase from the 75% who said the same in 2008.
• The majority of women now feel confident that they started saving for retirement at the right time in life. In 2008, less than half felt that way.

Earning power propels affluent women to the financial head of household.

• Today, 66% of women consider themselves the CFOs of their household.
• 73% of full-time working women said they hold this position, compared to 68% in 2008.

Women’s rising influence is breaking down long-standing taboo of talking about money.

• In 2008, money was the #1 topic between mothers and daughters; today, nearly all, 91%, of respondents said they are talking to family members about money.
• In the wake of the recession, two-thirds of women agree that money has become a topic much more open for discussion.
• Investing, saving, spending and anxieties/concerns are the top financial topics discussed.

What are your thoughts on these findings? How has the economic meltdown affected your financial outlook?

This is a guest post by Women & Co., a vehicle for insightful women to build their financial knowledge, bolster their confidence, and create financial strategies. Through access to education, resources, and a network of financially minded women, Women & Co. is the place where wisdom, wealth and women meet. To learn more, visit womenandco.com.

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Part of what I love so much about connecting with other women entrepreneurs and having this blog is hearing all the stories of women who have overcome obstacles and adversity to get to where they are. Marissa Levin is a woman entrepreneur with an inspiring success story. Fourteen years ago, Marissa started her business, Information Experts, in her kitchen after her boss told her she would never be worth more than $34,000. Today, Information Experts is a multimillion-dollar integrated consulting firm and Marissa has since won several awards for her leadership skills. I am pleased to be interviewing Marissa today about her experiences as a woman entrepreneur.

Natalie: 14 years ago you started your business because your boss told you that you’d never be worth more than $34,000 and today you run a multimillion dollar company. What has this journey been like for you?

Marissa: This journey has been a tremendous learning experience. It has, in many ways, shaped and defined who I am. It has pushed me way beyond my comfort zones in many ways, and has required tremendous courage and perseverance. As a CEO and woman business owner, I am always concurrently both a teacher and a student, as well as a mentor and a protégé. I never envisioned that I would be running a business like this. I’ve always been expressive, family-oriented, relationship-focused, and interested in helping others. I try to be present in life… to show up in every aspect of my life, and in every relationship.

I also want to always be able to look squarely in the eye those that trust me and depend on me, and this need drives my decisions and actions. I take the trust and vulnerability of others very seriously. It really is these characteristics that drove me to start my own firm, because I don’t think these traits were valued or appreciated in my previous roles. Only my skill-sets were valued. I think my ability to stay true to my core value system has enabled me to be a successful leader. I also think I was very fortunate to learn early on what I didn’t want from life. And that also was a catalyst for me in starting my own firm. Overall the journey has been one of self-discovery, personal growth, and professional growth. And despite how much I have accomplished, I am certain I haven’t even scratched the surface of any of these aspects. I have so much more learning, growth, and discovery ahead of me, in all aspects of my life. And I will eagerly embrace all of it.

Natalie: Can you tell us a bit more about your company, Information Experts, and your role in the company today?

Marissa: Information Experts is a full-service strategic communications firm with three core practice areas: Education/learning, Human Capital, and Creative Services/Marketing/Outreach. Blending strategic thinking with creative and pragmatic implementation, we create and manage programs that produce real results: a changed and educated audience, a compelling brand and a more productive workforce. As CEO, internally I set the vision, mission, value system, culture, and strategic direction of the company. Externally I build our brand, articulate our value to the marketplace, establish relationships with strategic partners, and develop & maintain relationships with customers. I am very much the face of Information Experts. I also do a tremendous amount of speaking on how to successfully build a government contracting organization, how to bootstrap an organization, and how women entrepreneurs can build organizations that align with the rest of their lives. I am very passionate about helping other women business owners.

Natalie: What advice do you have for women entrepreneurs or women who may be in the position that you were in 14 years ago and wanting to start a business?

Marissa: Women today have so many more advantages than I had 14 years ago. There are so many avenues of emotional support for women business owners through local, national, and online networking organizations, and this is essential for women business owners. Tap into those groups You can’t build a business on your own, and you have so much to learn. Surround yourself with people that know more than you do and stay connected to others that emotionally support you.

Stay true to your core value system, and don’t forget to have a family life. I see so many women business owners delaying their family plans or becoming so engrossed with their businesses that they don’t nurture other essential relationships. There will never be a “right time” to try and have it all. The business can not define you. You must derive satisfaction from other aspects of your life. Do not neglect your relationships. I’ve had my business for almost 15 years, and I have two boys, ages 9 and 12. It is extraordinarily hard to try to be all things to all people. There are times when I have had to sacrifice the growth of my business for the development of my children but I make no apologies for that. I also implore women to give themselves the gifts of imperfection and self-acceptance. Embrace the journey and believe that you can succeed.

Natalie: What are the three most important lessons you have learned building Information Experts?

Marissa: I’ve learned finally to not compare myself to other successful women who seem to have it all together. Invariably, things are not always as they seem, and no one has it all together. I have also learned how important it is embrace change because at any given time, you will need to shift strategies due to circumstances beyond your control. Finally, I’ve learned that when you are in the middle of the ocean, failure is not an option. We must keep swimming. Somehow, in the hardest of times, we are able to find the strength to pull through and to come out stronger in the end. We must have patience and faith that things will turn out the way they were meant to be.

Natalie: What is a day like “in your heels?”

Marissa: Every day is different. But every day has similar components: self-care (beginning with a 60-minute exercise session), family care (caring for my kids before and after school and being present when I am with them; connecting with my husband outside of Information Experts), organizational care (doing what I need on any given day to propel the business forward: internal meetings, external meetings, planning, etc.), connectivity with extended friends and family, and some type of spiritual fulfillment, even if it is simply a prayer of gratitude.

Natalie: Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story with us Marissa.

In Her Heels: Interview with Incredible Woman Entrepreneur, Marissa Levin is a post from She Takes on the World