Economic conditions have certainly been harsh, but in spite of them, women continue to thrive, launch businesses, and move forward.  Circumstances will always be with us. But you can choose to celebrate, be encouraged, and gain knowledge and resources to move you forward!

Join us September 25 & 26 at the Moonrise Hotel in St. Louis.

Tickets are $55; $65 beginning September 1st.

Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Sharon Hadary, Founder & Former Executive Director of the Center for Business Women’s Research.

Visit herstartup.eventbrite.com to register and for Speaker line-up.  

Sponsors & Advertisers welcome!

We just got an opportunity from Pink Magazine - skyscraper ad in next week’s newsletter for only $2500. contact me asap if interested.

As promised, here a few tips for those of you who already own businesses:  

1) Whatever you do, do not stop advertising! This is not the time to do a disappearing act unless you want your customers to think you've gone the way of so many other businesses or  just lack the fortitude to stick around. This is a perfect time to negotiate rates with advertisers and take advantage of the competition that may be cutting back in this area.

2) Take an honest look at expenses. Do you really need $2 ink pens or will $0.32 pens work just fine? Is that project you are working on truly feasible for the business, or is it a pet interest? Mind you, we are not talking about becoming stingy, but making decisions with longevity in mind whose rewards will pay off more than just now.

3) Find out why your customers are really leaving, but take a gentler approach. Thank them for their business and ask them what your company could do better. Tell them your company is about to run a promotion just for them because it is tough out there for everyone, but you wanted to check with them and find out their needs first to make sure you were on the right track. Really listen and do not assume anything. You may discover some really valuable information that will help you overcome hurdles in the future. Same phone call. Same conversation, but accomplishing more.

4)  Do not blindly cut prices! Restructure them. This may sound contradictory, but it really isn’t.  Say you have always retailed an item for $995. Develop different payment terms to accommodate the pricing (i.e., monthly payment terms, down payments, bonus item for purchasing). Note - if you throw in a slow-moving item just to move the inventory, make sure it is useful and something they at least may want, but not necessarily buy. Win-win.

5) Do not be afraid to show you care. Business owner or customer, you both are in the same boat noe. Realize that. You can either continue to focus solely at the bottom line and lose, or you can be supportive of the community around you and show you care. Consumers are becoming less and less interested in companies that do not understand this. Doing so acts as a buffer during times as this. Your customers will take an interest in your success because you first showed an interest in theirs.

It is time to do things differently in case you did not know. Those that do will position themselves for even greater success once these days are over.

----------------------------------------------- --

Khrys Vaughan is the founder of [Link Removed]  our online newsletter/soon-to-be magazine, and to find out more info on programs such as 90 Days to Launch, and upcoming events for women business owners and female entrepreneurs.

Khrys, Your links have been removed, please consider upgrading to premium membership.

Over the years, you may have heard me say things like -

- If you can work 40+ hours a week for someone else, why not work at least 5 for yourself
- A career track does not always equal a life track
- Do more with your business than look at the bottom line
- Et cetera...

Up until recently, I heard all kinds of excuses, received expressions of disbelief, you name it. Flash forward to just a few months ago. Now this is what I hear -
- Had I worked those 5 hours a week, at least I’d have some income coming in now
- Maybe I should have focused on my own development rather than just the classes my company wanted me to take
- If I took an interest in others more, perhaps someone would be willing to help me now...

Makes cents when you look at it that way doesn't it? (And no, that's not a typo). What changed true enough was the economy. What should not change is the importance of having a plan for your life. Think not? Even Rich Sloan, founder of [Link Removed]  stated at last year's Vision to Venture conference that it is more important to have a vision for your life first.

The current economic situation has forced everyone to view and do things differently, regardless if they want to or not.  Everyone is trying to do more with less. Those who cannot do more with less are cutting back, running lean, downsizing, and all your other favorite words. And while people are scrambling, looking for other jobs, they are also beginning to remember ideas that were put on the shelf long ago, and dreams were never realized.  

Is there a silver lining in this economy?  Yes! And the silver lining is this - If you can run a business during these times, you can prosper in any  economy.  

For those that didn't take the advice seriously the first time, here are a few things you can do now:  

1)  Take inventory and stock of yourself. Give yourself the credit you deserve and give careful thought to what your natural talents, skills, gifts are.

2)  Figure some way to channel those same skills into a service or product that people need and how to earn money from it.

3) Change your mindset. You do not need the $50 stapler, to redecorate the house to accommodate an office, etc. What you need is a plan and to watch costs so you can be efficient from day one. The internet has plenty of cost effective resources. Stay away from cheap, cheesy ones.

4) Discover ways to make life better for someone else and do not pass up opportunities to volunteer. You may be surprised at who you may meet.

5) Intentionally do something each day to build your personal and business skills. It can be as simple as reading an article, attending a webinar, exercising, etc. Everything is a process, but nothing begins without the first step.  

Our next post will list tips for those of you who already own businesses.

----------------------------------------------- --
Khrys Vaughan is the founder of [Link Removed]  their online newsletter and soon-to-be magazine, and to find out more information on programs such as 90 Days to Launch, and upcoming events for women business owners and female entrepreneurs.

Khrys, Your links have been removed, please consider upgrading to premium membership.

You’ve heard it all.  Economic doom and gloom forecasted.  Joblessness is at an all-time high. Unemployment rate soars. Company lay offs. So can I please ask a question? Why are you still looking for a job?!

I know the obvious reasons - there are bills to pay, insurance is a necessity, or you signed a contract and it is not up yet.  What I'm really asking is what is it going to take for you to read the writing on the wall or have enough faith in your own abilities to do something about it?

In his book, "Rich Dad/Poor Dad", even Robert Kiyosaki realized when it was time to stop the madness.  The incident I am referring to is when his ‘poor’ dad with a great education got fired from a job he loved and did very well at due to a personality conflict with his supervisor. His dad believed education was the key to all life’s problems, so when Robert asked him what he was going to do now, his response was to go back to college and get another degree so he could look for another job (I am paraphrasing here).

Excuse me - huh?

Mr. Kiyosaki knew that trading time for money and placing your future in someone else’s hands was not the answer. As the story goes, he found the solution he was seeking from his ‘rich’ dad which eventually led him to the place he is today. This brings me to another question. Are you ready to accept responsibility for your own future? And if you are already out of a job, why are you placing all your energy and effort into securing a job at the risk of the same scenario repeating itself in another six months or so and possibly at lower pay?

I am not saying quit today and have a mega-million dollar company tomorrow. What I am advocating is the need for people to do things differently if they ever hope to receive a different outcome. The majority of people work 40 or more hours a week for someone else, but will not work at least five hours building something for themselves and their families. Even if it is just something on the side, and takes a few months or longer, by all means begin the process.

What are your gifts, your talents, your skills?  What dreams have you ignored or placed on the back burner because others told you it did not make sense?  Get them out, shake them up, and dust them off! What gaps exist in needs being met around you that your skills would be a perfect match for? Is there a cause you are passionate about, but never had time to do much about it?  Get involved?

This is the time to be creative, to pull out the stops, to open your eyes and realize that you have more options than just the ones they told you about. And once you build to the point that you have a viable business, promise that you will do more than just look at the bottom line.  This is called giving back, building a business with a purpose in mind, and leading an integrated life.  You will do this because you will remember a time when you were between jobs, needed help and there was none or something happening that was beyond your control. So surely there must be others like you and/or needs that still have to be met.

This is the time to dig deep. In doing so, you may find something else that you forgot existed within you.  I believe they call that *courage*.

* [Link Removed]  

Khrys, Your links have been removed, please consider upgrading to premium membership.

My life took an unexpected turn a few weeks ago. Just when you think you know what you know or have made peace with your suspicions, you discover you know nothing. I won’t bore you with details, but long story short, I am 40 years old and just found out I am adopted.  

Growing up, I was very much daddy’s little girl. On the other hand, my mom and I were more like oil and water. Nonetheless, I had a good family and was raised in a loving home. Other than that I was teased periodically by relatives my age who told me she really was not my mom. But kids can be cruel so that was quickly dismissed. After my dad died, I became a teenager, my mom and I really stopped getting along, and we haven’t really spoken that much as a result.

For some reason I decided to call her out the blue after years. I must admit, it was good to talk to her. But she must have been so happy to hear from me after all this time that she told me everything. Not only am I not her daughter, but I am not my father’s either. It was the last part, that really threw me.  

Even though I do not know who my birth parents are, I found out some interesting things through the agency. They were both in college. She was 19 and loved dance (I do too), he was 21 and an athlete (does Nascar count?). Both of them were in college.  They gave me up at four days old. I had no name. But I was placed with the parents that raised me the following month. I did not have to be here, but I am. I had no name, but God had a plan. And even though my mom and I have our differences, they seem almost non-existent now. I think all children have their opninions about what parents should have done or could do better, but with this as the beginning of my life, I now have no complaints. I had it good for someone that did not have to be alive, yet alone taken in by a family so for everything, I am exceedingly more grateful.  

Will I try to find my birth parents? Possibly - even if only to know my heritage which is questionable and to let them know I turned out okay. But for now, it sure is good to be alive and a good time to be thankful.