Good Things Take Time

I remain excited about my new journey. I am learning that you gain and lose business. Any small business owner must know that patience is a virtue. This is a lesson I learned in the 11th grade after I wrote that sentence 50 times for my geometry teacher. But, that’s another story for another day. Back to the world of entrepreneurship. As you experience ups, downs and those times in between, you have to continue to go harder.

Don’t let any barriers get in your way. Sometimes, we can be our worst enemy. So, don’t let you get in the way of you. Push yourself! Even when you think things are going downhill, look for unique opportunities and think outside of the box.

Of course, not everyone will be on your side. Some people will question your abilities. They will push their insecurities on you. Don’t take it personally. Keep it moving! Don’t let any barriers keep you down.  Remember, that sentence I had to write 50 times. Patience is a virtue. Write it down a few times if you have to. Good things take time. The next big opportunity is coming your way.

Success Under Construction

I believe it is important to give back to our community, especially to the next generation of leaders. As a small business owner (and even before my new venture), I find time to volunteer. I really enjoy working with our young people. They have so many fresh ideas. Their take on the world is inspiring. It is crucial to encourage and nurture their creativity.  I recently ran into a young man who wants to get into the communication field. He asked if he could call me because he wanted to learn so much more. I loved his confidence and ability to ask questions. I, of course, gave him my card and told him to call whenever he wanted.

But, unfortunately, not all young people have that drive and determination. Some have no hope, goals or aspirations. My heart was broken not long ago when a middle school student told me her future consisted of her probably going to jail or being dead in the next five years or so. I told her that I believed in her and had more hope for her future.

I am sharing these stories because this proves that we need to spend time educating, inspiring and motivating our kids. Their road to success is under construction. We have to believe in them and let them know they must reach for the stars and beyond. Let them know that they have the ability to achieve as long as they are willing to work hard. I know we all get busy, but let’s not forget the kids who need us. I challenge you, entrepreneurs, to find a way to help at least one youth. Give him or her an internship, call the student or just listen. Our youth are depending on us.

PR in Your Back Pocket

I use my blog to motivate and share tips I think will be beneficial. My lessons as a small business owner never cease to amaze me. I continue to grow and learn. It’s important that I maintain my skills and be willing to expand myself, which will benefit my clients. It’s important for any business, especially a new company, to know and understand its brand. It’s also important to know that how the business shares that brand with others is key. So, I have a few public relations (PR) tips that you can keep in your back pocket.

I did research to gather some of the advice. But, many tidbits come from the school and experience of little ole’ me (Angela Spears Communication). You have to build relationships. You’ve probably heard the saying that people buy from those they trust. If they don’t know your brand, they will not use your product. So, don’t be afraid to get to acquainted with people. Those relationships can produce positive results such as partnerships or sponsorships. This leads to another key component of PR which is communication. You have to be able to tell your story effectively. You also have to know when, where and how often to spread the news. You don’t want to over saturate the market.

This next piece of advice is crucial. Sometimes, businesses (or people) don’t think they need public relations consultation until it’s too late. Bottom line, invest in the service while things are going well. Do not wait for a crisis to try to share your story. I hope you can pull some of these tips out of your back pocket when you need them or better yet just call me. (This is a shameless plug… I know! LOL)

Sharing Your Story... In All the Right Places

A day in the life of an entrepreneur is always very busy. Of course, it’s no different for this business lady (my favorite uncle still calls me this). From creating strategic media plans to pitching stories to promote my clients to attending networking events, this all means very little sleep, but I enjoy it! I had the opportunity recently to share tips with other female business owners about marketing and storytelling.

I love a good story. You have to find unique ways to share that story. Storytelling attracted me to the news industry. (Yes, I’m still a news junkie.) That storytelling will help you market your product or client. But first, it’s important to know and understand your brand, which is simply your promise to your customer.

Other key factors are to know how and where to market your story. Sometimes, we go to the wrong places to pitch ideas or sell products. (I have been there and done that!) You don’t want to exclude any potential opportunity to make a profit. But, please know that you have to be strategic in where you market your goods. Your services may not be for everyone and that’s okay. Identify your key area and find creative ways to market your brand and tell that dynamic story!

How Strong is Your Foundation?

I have been attending as many business workshops and seminars as I can lately and I am soaking up the knowledge. Building wealth has been a hot topic. How strong is your foundation, your company’s economic stability? As a new business owner, the big bad wolf may be able to blow it away… for now.

That is why I want to share some valuable tools that I have learned from the experts. Here goes: 1) It’s important to understand that cash flow is not the same as profit. 2) You have to understand why some businesses fail – unexpected growth, not enough capital and poor management. 3) Convert payments to cash quickly. In the words of one expert, be sure to make deposits daily.

In this day and age, small business owners should be able to accept mobile payments. I learned this from a friend who pulled out the square one night at a dinner party. I was going to give him a check. He said, “Oh no, I accept credit or debit cards.” He message was simple. You can’t let that money get away. I got my square shortly after that.

Please stick with me (I have a lot to say today. LOL). I have just a few more tips I recently learned about building wealth: make a decision; have vision; manage your time, skills and emotions; have discipline and don’t lose your hustle; and be willing to make that short term sacrifice. Wow! Let’s learn, listen and grow! Let’s make that foundation solid so that it can’t be blown away.