Indie Business Blog

Take The "I Am Indie Business" Pledge

The 10 Commitments of 2008

The "I Am Indie Business" Pledge empowers you by changing the paradigm through which you view the connections between family, home, wealth and business. They are the commitments that I and my family made that helped us reach our goal of successfully managing home and business, without compromising either.

         

To find out if you're ready for the Pledge, enjoy the "I Am Indie Business" video. Is 2008 your year to take the pledge?

Bring On The Indie Business Revolution!

If You Have A Passion, You Have A Business

Yesterday, the business section of my local paper ran a story about a woman with disabilities who is perfectly capable and willing to work. She's been employed her entire adult life, but at only 54 years of age, is unable to find a job.

          

She was laid off after 29 years at Bank of America in 2002, and recently lost another job due to a reduction in force when the company she worked for lost its biggest contract. I hope she enjoys some kind of pension from the bank and that the other company can provide severance and unemployment compensation.

Double-Minded Dilemma

Successful Indies Look In One Direction Only

A New Testament Bible verse says that a double-minded person is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:8) That's true, especially when it comes to business. Every day, I speak with Indies who love what they do. They want to make money and maybe even ditch a full-time job so they can support themselves while also pursuing their passion. But there's a problem, and it's not that they are lazy, clueless or shiftless. They are simply double-minded.

          

One mind wants to pursue a hobby all day and have fun. The other one wants to pursue a hobby all day, have fun and make a living. The former means eventual starvation and poverty. The latter could possibly mean the same. So they buy a bunch of supplies, come home and create create create. Then once there are dozens of products on the shelf, they put a few photos up at a website and expect them to fly into people's shopping carts. When that doesn't happen, they claim that they tried and things just didn't work out.

Fear It And Forget It

Don't Let Camera Shyness Keep You From Your Dream

Yesterday I posted my Indie Business TV interview with Karen Williams of Indie Beauty Network member Pockuts. Before the interview, Karen told me she was terrified of being in front of a camera that was capturing her every move. She was afraid that she would say something incorrectly or just not like the finished product.

          

I assured Karen that if she pretended like we were the only people in the room, she would forget the cameras were rolling in no time. After the interview, Karen told me that once she started talking about her products and the thought and care that goes into producing them, she began to feel surprisingly at ease. I am so pleased at how Karen pushed through her fear, not only because I got the benefit of sharing her story with you, but also because her courage and tenacity will inspire and encourage other Indie Business owners to overcome their fear of cameras and the media in general.

Share From Your Heart

Years ago, when I was an attorney at law firms and Fortune 500 companies, the butterflies in my stomach never went away. From the time I rose in the court room to the time I sat down, I was terrified. Early in my career, I was so frightened that at one of my first trials, the judge was kind enough to actually walk me through the first several questions in my direct examination. He knew that my poor performance was due to nerves and not lack of preparation.

In the court room, I was nervous in part because I was speaking about things I had been taught rather than about things I was passionate about and loved to share with others. Today, even though I sometimes get a little nervous, time and space suspend themselves when I share my passion for women who are making their business dreams a reality.

There's really no secret to making the butterflies go away. The best thing to do is to accept that they are there and acknowledge that you are nervous. If you are living out your passion and somone asks you about it, just share from your heart as Karen did and chances are good that the cameras and microphones will quickly fade into obscurity as the things you love most in the world rise to the ocassion.

Indie Beauty Business For Sale

This Could Be Your Chance To Break Into The Market

Looking for a way to break into the Indie Beauty business without strating from scratch? Then consider snapping up this company with a great media portfolio, trademarks and other assets that could have you on your way in no time.

          

The Seller prefers to remain anonymous and will consider serious inquiries only. I am not brokering this transaction so please do not contact me personally for details since I have none. Contact information for the Seller is at the end of this post. Here's an overview of the Seller's representations.

Being Chicken Is For The Birds

Chicken Indie Is Not An Option

Yesterday, an opportunity to feature members of the Indie Beauty Network on Indie Business Radio arose at the last minute. While totally unexpected, I thought it was a great chance for Indies to get some free pub. I circulated an email to companies featured in my 2007 Holiday Gift Guide and several Indies who had the time joined me for a fun show.

          

But one Indie's response to the invitation puzzled me: "I'm too chicken to participate."

Over 40 And Short On Finances?

AARP May Have Some Money For You!

But time is short! The deadline to apply for the women's scholarship is October 31. A big shout out to Indie Jamila White for the heads up!

                  

If you are over 40 and enrolled or will enroll in a school or training program within 6 months of the scholarship award date, you could get from $500 to $5,000 to complete your studies.

Formal training is vital to small business success. Everyone from customers to potential investors want to know that you have invested in yourself by accumulating the knowledge needed to serve their needs. If you need help doing that, this opportunity may be for you!

For details and to apply, click here.

How Many Toilets Would You Clean?

To What Lengths Would You Go To Make Your Business A Success?

At 26, Indie Beauty Network member Lela Barker was a newly divorced, unemployed college drop out and the single mother of two toddlers. When most people in her position would have been looking for the nearest secretarial job, Lela was starting her business. She landed an order with a local spa, which covered payment to a website designer. But she still needed good product photos.

          

So she called on her aunt, an expert photographer. But Lela didn't go to Auntie for a handout. Instead, she offered to clean her house from top to bottom in exchange for some product photos. One Friday night, Lela dropped her children off at a relative’s house and drove several hundred miles to her aunt’s house where she spent the entire weekend cleaning toilets, polishing furniture and mopping floors.

How We Live

Indie Business Owners Redefine Working For A Living

Last night, I watched a little of The Billionaire Inside. Donald Trump was the guest and one of the things he talked about was how his father worked all the time. "There was never a time when he wasn't working," said Trump. "He hated to take  a day of vacation, and then couldn't wait to return to work. He had a passion for it. It was all he wanted to do."

          

Isn't that what being Indie is all about? The 600+ members of the Indie Beauty Network are all very different, but we have one thing in common. We work in the morning, we work in the afternoon, we work at night. We are thinking about work as we fix dinner. We are conjuring up new products as we nurse our babies, load the dishwasher and take the clothes out of the washing machine. We are taking notes about work when we're stuck in traffic. It's work work work. And we love it love it love it.

We love it so much that it's not work. As Indie Business Owners, we make a living doing what we love to do. That's not work. Instead, it's like being high all the time. It's stress, but not stress. It's pure, unadulterated fulfillment. It's purposeful, and as it was for Trump Sr., it's more than just how we earn a living. It's how we live.

The First Mover Advantage

Being The First To Market Is A Huge Leg Up

In economics, a theory called "the first mover advantage" describes the benefit obtained by the company that is the first to market with a new concept, product or service. MCI, for example, was the first company recognized as going toe to toe with AT&T in the long distance telephone market.

          

What company was the second? Who cares? MCI paved the way for thousands of companies to come afterward. Another example is Ann Bramson's book, "Soap: Making It, Enjoying It," the first maintstream book on the topic of soap making for modern hobbyists. It was published 3 decades ago, and though hundreds of soapmaking books followed, Ann's book is generally viewed as the one that "started it all." I don't know of an Indie soapmaker who doesn't own an oil-stained copy!

In any arena, the power of being "first" cannot be denied, making it well worth any business owners' while to find something they can be the first to market with. Here are some of the benefits of the first mover advantage:

1. Influence. Being first distinguishes you as doing something besides capitalizing on a great concept first marketed by someone else. It paints you as the "inventor," even the brains behind the success of the rest of the industry that follows you! You set the tone. You define the market. Everyone else is a follower!

2. Customers. Being able to say that you were the "first" attracts customers. Who can resist buying a product, which has since flooded the market, from THE person who thought it up in the first place?

3. Publicity. Are you the first company to offer handmade eye shadow, customized to match your customers' eyes or skin color? Are you the first spa in your area to offer a unique treatment using some raw material imported from an exotic locale? Whatever the case, if you're the first, you are suddenly not issuing just another press release. You are educating people about something new and exciting, and doing that is one of the best ways to gain positive media attention.

One caveat ... being first doesn't mean you can rest on your laurels. You have to work hard to maintain the first mover advantage, usually in the face of everyone else coming along behind and trying to emulate your success. This means that not only do you have to be the first, but you also have to be the best, and continue to be the best.

Make Your Business Dreams Come True

Enter To Win Cash To Launch Your Business

Need a cash infusion to launch your business? Or how about a new wardrobe so you can look the business part wherever you are? Either way, maybe Mirassou's Make Your Dreams Come True Contest can help. The winner will receive $50,000 or a Talbot's shopping spree.

                     

Entries must be submitted by December 15. Get the application here. Read contest rules and details here. Thanks to Nancy, who was kind enough to spread the word!

Indie Gets Her Own TV Show!

Aromatherapy Comes To The Small Screen

Indies wear lots of hats and juggle a dizzying number of balls in the air. But a truly impressive Indie is one who can catch more balls than she drops. Take Indie Beauty Network member Noelle Katai (pronounced "Kay-Tai"), of Vim Essentials, for example. She contacted me earlier this year for consultation and to share that she was in the early stages of negotiating a contract to host an aromatherapy television show.

          

I am pleased to announce that Everybody Nose has just launched! It's the first television series to feature aromatherapy and essential oils for well being. You can start enjoying the show this week on Veria TV. Satellite subscribers to DISH Network can tune in to Channel 9575 on Fridays at 4:30, Saturdays at 4:00pm and Sundays at 8:30pm.

Check out the show trailer here. (Requires Windows Media Player.) Congratulations Noelle!

The SBA Wants To Honor You!

Hundreds Of Businesses Will Be Celebrated, Why Not Yours?

In April 2008, we will celebrate Small Business Week. To mark the event, as it does every year, the US Small Business Administration will recognize small business owners for the contributions they make to our nation's economy, to society and to communities across America.

          

Award categories include these:

Small Business Person of the Year
SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Phoenix Awards (for disaster recovery)
Women In Business Chamption of the Year
Small Business Journalist of the Year
Miniroty Small Business Chamption of the Year
State Small Business Person of the Year

... and many others.

Small business owners in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are eligible. I won one of these awards in 2003. You could too! To find out more, check out the SBA Small Business of the Year Nomination Guidelines, which contain a listing of SBA offices nationwide and phone numbers to call with questions. Deadlines are various dates in November. Good luck!

What I Learned From Tori Spelling

I always thought of Tori Spelling as a snotty, rich, spoiled brat. Maybe that's because she was one in Beverly Hills 90210. Or maybe it's because after seeing her father's 123-room, 56,000 square foot Hollywood mega-mansion, I was just jealous.

          

Either way, when Tori & Dean Inn Love, Tori's reality show with her husband Dean McDermott, launched, I nearly vomited at the thought that anyone would sponsor a show about bratty Tori. Then I watched an episode, and here's what I learned.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." So says Proverbs 14:23. Preachy, I know, but it makes the point. How many times have you or someone you've known said, "I'm going to start a business next year," or "I'm going to do such and such to make my business better." Then, blah blah blah. It never happens.

          

But if you're more than just talk about making your Indie Beauty business all it can be, then get your hustle on and high tail it over to Belllingham, Washington to learn a thing or two from my friend Anne-Marie Faiola of Otion, Bramble Berry, Organic Fusion and who knows what else she has up her entrepreneurial sleeve!!?

Through Vocation Vacations, Anne-Marie is hosting 2 days of one-on-one mentorship to help you launch or expand your Indie Beauty business. You'll get some opportunities to take career personality tests. Yes, that's nice. But I have known Anne-Marie for over 5 years and if you spend a few days with her, you'll learn more than just the color of your parachute and how to stir a soap pot. Read more about it at Anne-Marie's blog and here.

Related Posts

What's Your Hustle?
Fear Of Flying? Get Over It!
Everyone's A Winner

Free Ride Or Free Agent?

Have you ever turned down $25,000? I have. One of my last traditional jobs was at a law firm. I started the job in January, and in March, the firm increased my annual salary by $25,000. It wasn't because I was brilliant. (I'm not, but you already knew that.) It seems they had decided that by increasing my salary, they could compete more effectively against other firms for new attorneys.

          

As the managing partner announced my raise, I wanted to yell out, "No, thanks! I don't want your money!" You'll be glad to know I thought better of that little idea. Still, I was not happy. Something inside me wanted to actually earn a living, to eat what I kill. Instead, I was a slave, and I knew that the more money they threw at me, the more slave-like I would become. A slave who make gobs of money is still a slave, right?

I was not ungrateful. In fact, I realized that millions of people would work twice as much as I did for half the money. God bless them. I just couldn't do it. The raise first appeared in my April pay check. By November, I had resigned to start the Indie Beauty Network.

Thanks, but please keep your golden handcuffs. I'd rather be a free agent than get a free ride.

Related Post

5 Reasons To Be Indie

What's Your Hustle?

Remember the air traffic controllers strike of the 1980's? Then President Reagan ordered the striking workers back to work under threat of termination. Those who didn't return to work were fired. Those who did are now headed for handsome retirement packages. Their replacements earn 70% of the outgoing workers' salary, yet they work harder and under much more stressful conditions in the aftermath of 9/11.

          

Meanwhile, inflation is rising far faster than wages, even when wages are headed in a positive direction. Let's face it, the rewards of traditional hard work are not what they once were. The handwriting is on the wall, and it's not in pencil or subtle black ink. It's in bold fluorescent colors and blinking wildly to get our attention. No matter where you work, who you work for or what you do, if you don't own a business of your own, it's time to get busy.

I used to date a guy who could not hold a job. When I expressed my concern about this, he told me, "Don't worry about me. I'll always have a hustle." I had visions of him pimping and selling drugs on street corners. Today, he is a business owner, and upon reflection, I now know that what he meant when he said "hustle" was that he would never rely on other people to meet his needs.

It's great to have a job, but now more than ever, you also need a "hustle" of your own. Check out these examples of people just like you who started with a "hustle," and are now supporting themselves and their families:

Kibby and Jay Mitra
Rebecca Picard
Nikki Rodriguez

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The Entrepreneurial Imperative
The Indie Business Way
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The UpSide Of Frustration

Has technology ever disappointed you? Last week, my email software program suffered a massive coronary. At first, I refused to believe it, as if ignorning the problem would make it reverse itself. I rebooted and gently clicked all the right buttons. Ack! My mind screamed in frustration, yet I resisted the urge to kill Laptop and return to a regular job where an army of wizards would fix all of my technical problems.

         

Indie life isn't like that, is it? You have a million things to do to keep the business going, yet when one thing you rely on -- in this case, technology -- stops performing, everything stops until a solution is found. Yes, it's frustrating. But there are some up sides.

What They Know For Sure

Forbes Magazine recently asked 20 rich business people -- I'll call them "Richies" -- a series of questions. One of them was, "What was the hardest lesson you ever learned?" I thought the answers were insighful.

          

1. Don't Lose Focus. One Richie said that losing focus caused him to go bankrupt. Don't try to be all things to all people. Focus doggedly on what you do well and you're practically guaranteed to succeed.

2. Money Doesn't Buy Happiness. Money is good. But the business world is littered with unhappy billionnaires. Divorce, disappointment, broken business relationships. The love of money is indeed the root of all kinds of evil. (1 Timothy 6:10) Earn money, don't worship it.

3. Patience. Three Richies said patience was a hard fought virtue. Patience comes with wisdom and practice. (Proverbs 19:11) It doesn't come easy, but the rewards of practicing it are priceless.

4. Leaving $50Million To The Kids Is Too Much. I agree. Better to leave it to charity and teach the kids to fish for themselves.

5. Immediate Problem Solving. Letting problems fester until they explode is a poor way to manage a business. Better to prevent them to start with, but if you can't do that, address them sooner rather than later.

6. Incompetent Attorneys. This could apply to any professional service provider. Get favorable recommendations from others before hiring anyone.

7. Delegation. Two Richies said learning how to let people make decisions without them was hard to do. Truth is, if you're not an expert, you probably know just enough to be dangerous. Do what you're good at and leave everything else to the experts.

8. People First. Love your family, cherish your friends and respect and support your community.

9. Ignore Mean Spirited Comments. Do your best and get on with it.

10. Wealth Corrupts. One of the most corrupting influences in life is wealth because it's so easy to use and manipulate it to hurt other people.

11. Don't Fret Over The Competition. Invest your energy in your own ideas instead of worrying about how you can copy someone else's or about how others are copying yours. Assemble your vision and then get in the car and drive it.

12. Don't Be A People Pleaser. Some people will hate you no matter what. Take what you can (if anything) from them and keep doing what you were called to do.

13. Don't Throw In The Towel Too Soon. If you believe in it, but you give up on it, you're the loser.

14. Be A Solid Manager. The only way to learn this is by doing it. Don't beat yourself up when you make a mistake. Fix it, apologize and keep on truckin'.

15. People Are Not Created Equal. I disagree. I think we were all created equal by a loving Creator. However, we don't treat each other as if we have equal value and that's the problem. Let's all do our part to fix it.

You can enjoy the entire survey here. I appreciate their wisdom, don't you? Too bad none of the Richies were women. So, Indie ladies? What's the hardest lesson you've learned?

Eat What You Kill

Kill It, Drag It Home and Eat It

I once worked for a man named Randall Robertson. One day, we talked about how we could contribute years of blood, sweat and tears at a company and get nothing out of it but a pay check. Having been told all my young life that a pay check was a good thing, I questioned what he meant. His response: "Well, you should be able to eat what you kill."

         

A light went off in my head, and it's burned brightly ever since. I worked for Randall 3 months after that, and I took his comment to heart. Within two years, I had started my own business. Today, it thrives in large part because of the wisdom Randall shared with me.

No matter how you earn a living, if you make it happen, you should share in the spoils. Fundamental fairness demands that your reward be commensurate with your efforts and the results attributable to them. You should be able to eat what you kill, and nowhere are the chances of that better than if you own your own business.

Do you eat what you kill? Isn't it satisfying? Like not only are you working, but working for a cause that transcends a pay check? How does eating what you kill make you feel? Inspire us with your story!

Fear Of Flying? Get Over It!!

People are afraid of different things. In the end, sadly yet all too frequently, they are afraid of success. Afraid that their business will succeed beyond their wildest dreams and propel them skyward. They have a fear of flying.

          

How do you get over a fear of flying? By flying of course!! Take my friend Lela Barker of Indie Beauty Network member Bella Lucce. A few months ago, she jumped out of a plane at Skydive Carolina not too far from my home, and she sent me the picture to prove it.

My high tolerance for risk in business has always served me well. But jumping out of a plane is personal. Nevertheless, on October 6, I will join Lela and jump out of a plane 14,000 feet in the air, and speed toward the earth at 120 miles per hour. Fear of flying? I'm over it.

Want to join us? Leave a comment and I'll be in touch.

Everyone's A Winner

I watched a little Joel Osteen last night. His message encouraged people to take time after work to adjust their attitudes so they did not bring workday stress into the home. Good advice. The problem is that for most people, the distinction between work and home is blurry at best.

            

These days, people with traditional jobs bring work home every day in the form of PDAs, laptops, cell phones, pagers and briefcases. For those of us with our own businesses, the distinction between work and home blurs even more. And if your work is your passion, the lines disappear completely as you combine things you enjoy with the need to pull your own weight in this world. What could be better than being able to kill those two birds with one stone?

OK so, even if our passion is work and our work is passion, we still can't have a business conference call at the family dinner table. On the other hand, we welcome times when family and business blend together organically. For example, after church yesterday, I found myself talking with two women about how they could use the Indie Business Trifecta to grow their businesses -- all while we watched our kids play in the sunshine. Another example: I am helping my daughter's kindergarten teacher change her print newsletter to an email format. In so doing, I give my daughter a happier teacher, make it easier for me to read and save her newsletters, live out my passion to help women be successful in their chosen profession and promote my business -- all at the same time.

Many of us have heard what Osteen said about separating work and family so many times that we assume that a healthy lifestyle is one where the lines are clear and bright. I disagree. I think everyone should strive to find a way to do what they love, get paid for it and teach their children and other family members how to do the same. That's what Osteen's doing. And that way, everyone's a winner.

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Don't Make Me Work Too Hard

Alright already! So the 2007 Love To Be Indie Contest was great, but it was making people work too hard. That's what I was told anyway.

            

I was testing that theory with new simplified contest rules but that's not working either so I'm bagging this contest and will return soon with another one. Let's test that theory and see if simplified contest rules make a difference. The deadline is September 24. Let's find out if it was indeed too much work, or if no one could use an extra $100 this month!

Mango Body Butter Forever!

                     A life well lived. A passion well executed.

                      
                             Anita Roddick :: 1942 ~ 2007

Get Anita Roddick's book, Business As Unusual, and be inspired to put your talents and passions to good work today. Learn more about her extraordinary works and talents at her website.

Amen.

Beware The Green Monster

Last week, I talked with a freind who has been very successful in business. Years of 80-hour work weeks, losing sleep, missing out on family time and delaying gratification on all fronts have resulted in her dreams becoming reality.

            

Most of her colleagues are celebrating with her, but some of them have begun to treat her differently. On the surface, they smile and cheer her on. But now and then, through a word or a look, something different shines through. It's called the green monster.

The Sooner, The Better

My daughter started kindergarden this morning. I teared up a little, but was mostly all smiles because I want to let her know that I whole heartedly encourage this first step toward independence and self sufficiency.

            

That's why I am baffled as to why some parents and educators disagree with states (among them Mississippi, South Carolina and Florida) requiring students to declare a major area of interest when they start high school, particularly since they can change their "major" at the beginning of each school year. What's wrong with that? It's not as if they are forbidden fom having other areas of interest or are being told that if they choose Cosmetology as a major in the 9th grade, they will forever be seen as a makeup artist.

A Needle In A Haystack

To express that it's difficult to find something, you may say, "it's like looking for a needle in a haystack." I felt that way a few days ago when someone called and said, "Hi, I found you in the September '07 issue of Entrepreneur Magazine ..."

            

I didn't hear another word he said. I had already started heading for the closest magazine stand to find myself (the needle) in the magazine (the haystack). Finally, there I (or at least my name) was, on page 36. But the best part is that the article mentions the Indie Beauty Network! It's a small "Flash" article called "Eye On Makeup," written by Lindsay Holloway. It's about the importance of targeting a niche if you are in the Indie beauty business, and specifically mentions the market of young girls ages 5 to 9. I am honored to be included.

There's lots more other great stuff in the issue, including a guide to new technologies for growing businesses and a spotlight on "hot" businesses like day spas and businesses selling pet products and sweets. Get your copy on most news stands or subscribe online here.

In The Beginning Was The Passion

Many great spiritual texts start with the creation of the world, summarizing a mysterious process where a great and powerful being made something out of nothing. What passion that reflects! A similar fire burns inside all of us, just waiting for a chance to ignite.

Last week, my mother found a copy of my very first brochure while sorting through my father's things. My friend Lisa here is holding a picture of it. As you can see, it's tiny and not at all fancy. My logo was composed of clip art and my contact information. Inside listed some of my products, including my best selling Vanilla Butter Bar: "As rich and creamy as it sounds, a yummy combination of cocoa butter and honey for extra rich and gentle cleansing."

I also carried soap made by my soap mentor, the late Nancy Brown Manville, pictured making soap in her Texas soap studio. You can meet Nan here. My favorite of Nan's soaps was ChamOatmeal made with chamomile and sandalwood essential oils, oatmeal and Vitamin E. I also sold candles and aromatherapy blends and accessories.

In the early 90's at my "real" job at a Fortune 500 company, I had excellent pay and benefits, a comfortable office with fancy technological accessories, great vacation time, wonderful colleagues and a stimulating work environment. Yet somehow, it wasn't enough. As I searched my soul to find an explanation for my feelings of unease and discontent, it became clear that as good as my job was, it did not allow me to work in ways that fully expressed my personality, nor did it give me the flexibility to pursue marriage and family in a meaningful way. This brochure was my first effort to change that.

As you can see, there wasn't much to it (here's the back page), but I did have passion, and that passion propelled me forward. I am living proof that you don't need a lot to get started so long as you have passion, a creative spirit and a commitm