Indie Business Blog

Boyz in the Fam

Who Stole My Hair, Makeup and Teleprompter??!

I recently invested in a laptop with a webcam. I didn't know it was there until I got it and my husband noticed it. Since I'm married to a professional photographer and videographer, I am used to spending most of my time in front of the camera. With a teleprompter. And with hair and makeup. And it's always a much better camera than this one, as you know if you've enjoyed any of the other videos at this blog. But since I have the most fun when I'm laughing at myself, I thought I'd share this quick glimpse into early morning life in the Indie Business household. I'm nuts, I know.       

What do you think? Is this the best break you've had all day from the politics-heavy stuff you're seeing on everyone else's blog today?! Enjoy!

Getting to Know You: 10 Interesting Things About Jamila White

I am fascinated by attorneys like me who pursue non-traditional career paths. One such person is Tax Girl. Her blog is funny and interesting. Subscribe to it so you can learn stuff you need to know about taxes. Tax Girl has a category at her blog called Getting To Know You. Since I can't think of a better title for this category at my blog, I'm borrowing Tax Girl's.

            

In my Getting To Know You column, I'm going to share with you ten interesting things about someone I know personally and professionally. Let's begin. My first Getting To Know You column features Jamila White. That's me and Jamila in a photo taken by fellow Indie and IBN member Anne-Marie Faiola while we were on Capitol Hill earlier this month with Lela Barker and Kayla Fioravanti.

Prayer of the Week: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Tackle the Problem, Not the Reason for It

In life, we sometimes pursue dreams that never materialize. A business that never launches. A relationship that fizzles out before it really starts. A job interview that goes nowhere. Those stubborn 10 (or 50) pounds that won't seem to go away. A marriage that, despite your best efforts, still ends in divorce. Why do these things happen? Are we failures? Did something happen in the womb or some dark and faraway place that we can't remember? Are the stars lined up against us? Are we living in the wrong century?

                        

Some or all of those things may be true, but do you really want to waste time analyzing to death the whys and wherefores, when you could simply recognize the problem and start eliminating it, even before you know why it's there? Come, let us reason (briefly) together.

Indie Business Launchpad: Zularis Naturals

Indie Finds Niche, Launches New Business In 147 Days

On August 20, Penny Tallent, one of my clients and a member of the Indie Beauty Network, launched Zularis Naturals. Penny's story is inspiring. No matter where you are in your life, and no matter what health challenges, family obligations or traditional jobs you have, Penny proves that you can own a brand of your own.

           

Penny is a 39-year old Massachusetts mother of 3 girls, ages 17, 10 and 6. She has been married to her husband, Rick, for 11 years. Penny has worked as a nurse 3 nights a week on the 11:00PM to 7:00AM shift for nearly 17 years, so she gets very little sleep. Amazingly, she launched Zularis Naturals, from soup to nuts in just 147 days while working all night 3 days a week and being at home (and awake) with her children during the summer months. She did all of this while managing a significant health related challenge. I asked this amazing Indie Business Owner to share the milestones, high points and low points of the process she went through to make Zularis Naturals a reality.

Blogging: So Easy, Anyone Can Do It

5 Actions That Keep Blogging Simple And Fun

I'm helping a client launch a blog this week so I'm answering a lot of questions. While each one has a different slant, there is one central theme: Am I doing this right? Unfortunately, there's really no right or wrong way to answer that question.

          

I've been blogging now since 2005 and I've helped a lot of people launch blogs. One thing that's universally true is that no one feels comfortable when they first start blogging. But for most people, blogging eventually becomes second nature with practice and consistency. One way to help make that happen is to commit to these five actions that keep blogging simple and fun.

It's Not About You

Shame On You If You Pull the Ladder Up After You

Earlier this month, while I was on Capitol Hill and at the FDA advocating Indie Beauty Network member positions against the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, I was accompanied by 4 amazing women. Each has at least one successful and profitable business, yet, she took time away from her rice bowl to join me in a fight that will positively impact business owners around the country for years to come.

         

Kayla Fioravanti, Anne-Marie Faiola, Lela Barker and Jamila White are screaming examples of women who are not so wrapped up in their own success stories that they abandon a moral obligation to pave the way for others to enjoy the same opportunities they have.

Indiecation Nation

With More Americans Becoming Entrepreneurs, Indiecations Are the New Vacations

A lot is being discussed these days about "staycations". These alternatives to vacations are taking place more and more as families find that the rising cost of gas and other consumer goods is making it more difficult to vacation away from home. They are meeting this challenge by taking time off, but staying at home to "staycation."

       

Last week, I was on "indiecation," a term I coined to describe the kind of vacation Indie Business owners like me take. Indiecations are enjoyed by solo and family owned businesses who take traditional vacations away from home, but who still have to manage their businesses day to day, even while away. Indiecations are characterized by a mixture of traditional vacation time and work time, often done at the same time. Here are some tips you can use to enjoy your Indiecation.

Greetings From Hilton Head

We are having a blast on Hilton Head. Thought I'd share a photo from our glorious Indiecation.

            

Want to know what an Indiecation is? Subscribe to Indie Business Blog today so you don't miss finding out in my next post!

Sample Letters You Can Send To Congress and the Media

Use these Samples to Prepare Your Own Letters!

My last post offers tips and strategies to help you impact the political process in your favor. Now that you have an overview of the process, here are some sample email letters you can use to reach out to the media and your representatives in Congress.

          

Remember that these letters are meant to be samples and they have already been used effectively by IBN member Lisa Rodgers of Cactus & Ivy to set up a conference call meeting with a South Carolina Senator's staffer, and also by IBN member Starlene Moore of Supplies by Star so set up a conference call meeting with a Texas Congress woman. It's always a good idea to include a sentence or two that personalizes them so that they don't appear cookie-cutter to the person receiving them. While these samples are designed to address issues associated with the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, they can be used for most any political outreach you may be involved in at the federal, state or local level.

Preparation, Practicalities and Politics

10 Tips For Impacting the Political Process For You, Your Family and Your Business

In his book, First Things First, author Stephen Covey offers valuable tips to help us do more than just be busy and get things done. Covey says that, to be productive, we must distinguish between doing things, and doing the right things. Doing lots of stuff may land your arrow on the dart board, but in order to hit the bull's eye, you have to do the right stuff, and it all starts with being prepared. In this first in a series of posts, I put Covey's advice to good use to help you participate efficiently and effectively in the political process.

          

While my post will be written from the perspective of what we are doing regarding the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, you will be able to use my suggestions in any political arena, whether it's federal, state or local. Be sure to subscribe to Indie Business Blog so you don't miss tips to help you be effective in matters of importance to you, your business and your family.