Every woman on this list is an inspiration in her own right and to the watching world. They are a testament to the truth that African American women are courageous, skilled, confident, enterprising, and daring. They are shining stars; an inspiration to every African American in whatever field of endeavor.
Here is another edition of Maisha’s Lemonade Stand’s Sours. It’s my chance to vent at the never ending frustration of running a business, managing people or being part of a team. I am known as an optimist so I always hope for the best but even if we all have good intentions, BUT the following…
We are all in the digital age and marketing has shifted into social interactions and that’s great. But it appears to me that we are also losing our ability to make connections. Or the connections we do make are fake. Just for the selfie or just to increase our friends’ list.
When I started my businesses, it was because I knew I had the personality and skills to be successful BUT more importantly, I knew I had the Rolodex of contacts of people that knew my capabilities and could refer me. Remember, I didn’t have a website until I was in business for two years. It was my relationships that helped me.
For the last couple of years, I was so busy executing on projects that I realized I wasn’t making new friends or contacts. More importantly, I was using social media as a substitute for real relationships. I liked, RT, send canned messages from LinkedIn without making a real connection. I started my company because I liked the independence from a boss and because I trusted in my ability to help companies grow.
What I didn’t know was how much I loved selling. I love talking to entrepreneurs, hearing about their challenges, smiling at their out-of-the-wall ideas and creating creative marketing strategies that’ll help them accomplish their goals. I LOVE IT!
This blog is about my journey to be a healthy, wealthy and wise entrepreneur. Part of that journey is connecting with people. Oprah agrees.
So while I hope my lunches bring me business it is really about connecting with people, catching up with them and for those that are my real friends remembering why we became friends in the first place.
And if you want to have lunch with me. Let’s do this. We can only become healthier, wealthier and wiser for the opportunity.
I will share a few stories about the people I reconnected with, especially if they have businesses since as you know promotion is in my blood!
Resources for you to read about social media and its effect on us and our businesses:
The other day I saw an ad on YouTube that was selling to entrepreneurs that didn’t like going to networking events and talking to people, its product was for you. That got me to thinking. If you don’t want to talk about your business than perhaps its time to break up with it. Since its…
I think all entrepreneurs need to create a day that they promise to follow up on the items on their to-do list that somehow fell out of priority. Whether it’s a time of the day, once a week or once a month, we all need to take the time to delete items off our list…
I can’t tell you whether you should or shouldn’t make resolutions. I can only tell you why I think it’s important for me. But as I was inspired by this newsletter from Start-Up Digest about making resolutions and this one from Forbes that speaks to why we shouldn’t. I decided to write my own take on…
