FM Walsh & Associates Inc.

I have been at 2 networking events over the last week and both times I met interesting people who did not have business cards with them.  The cardinal rule of networking is to always have business cards with you.  You never know who you are going to meet.  So here are two tips for making sure you don’t forget your business cards in the future:

1.  One woman I know puts business cards in the pocket of every suit jacket in her closet - that way she always has a stash with her.

2.  I put business cards into every purse I own.  That way I never forget my business cards when I change purses.

Dr. Carolyn Anderson is truly extraordinary - she really thinks BIG!  In addition to being an eye surgeon, she is also an author, motivational speaker and entrepreneur!  She owns 6 companies - Dr. Carolyn Anderson Eye Surgery, Langley Surgical Centre, Images by LSC, Impower Age, Impower Med and Impower Women.  We sat down over dinner and she shared the following tips for building the life you want.

The combination of medical doctor and entrepreneur is a rare one;  what fueled you to become an entrepreneur?

My driving vision has always been to touch as many lives as possible;  I wanted to bring that to life and I felt the best way to do that was to build different businesses.  The best part of being an entrepreneur is the excitement of not knowing how things will turn out.  You get an idea, you start building and it always turn out different than you expected.  And I like having control over my destiny -  it is up to me to make my vision come to life, to build the life I want.

I am going to ask the question every woman is thinking right now:  How do you do it all?

It’s a combination of wanting to accomplish certain things and then doing only those things that are impactful and that move me forward.  I hand off the stuff I don’t like doing and that I am not good at.  The one thing that has really driven my success has been learning to leverage and delegate.  I get my team on board with new business ideas - I get their input and ideas on how we can make an idea successful.  Combining our expertise and energy we have accomplished some remarkable things!  All of them have a do it now attitude.

Another important thing is self-care.  I get up at 5AM and work out every day - it gives me energy.  And then I just hang for a half hour writing in my journal, reviewing my goals and meditating.  This gets me energized and focused for the day ahead.  Too many women spend all their time looking after others and give nothing to themselves.  You have to recharge your batteries on a daily basis if you want to be successful.

I have always been extremely goal-focused.  Every day I write down 6 key things to get done that day - 1 key thing for each business.  This keeps me always moving forward and focused on what I need to bring me success.

I also do a weekly planning process;  every Sunday evening for 1 hour, I sit down with 8 blank sheets of paper - one for each business and one each for Family and Fitness.  I have a goal for each one and then quickly write down all the things I can do this week to move forward and accomplish that goal.  I know that even if I only get one thing on each sheet, I am getting closer to making that goal happen.  I have been doing this for years and it works really well for me.  The key to building success is not doing the occasional big thing - it is actually about building continuous improvement on a daily basis.  I am always asking myself:  What can I do this week to move myself forward?

Talking with Dr. Anderson is very inspiring.  The tools she uses are simple and extremely effective.  If you find yourself struggling to get the important stuff accomplished on a daily basis, give her tools a try - I think you’ll be surprised at the results you’ll get.

I got a call from the new business account manager at my bank last week;  she called to introduce herself.  I told her I was surprised as I had never received any kind of contact from this bank since I had opened the account.  I also told her that I did not recommend this bank to any of my clients or in my seminars because of the lack of service.

Her response?  Nothing.  She repeated her name and phone number and told me to call her ‘anytime’.  She did not ask any questions about my business or what I did, made no attempt to fix things.  It was obvious that she had been told to call a list of customers and she was going through the motions - nothing more.  She blew a golden opportunity to turn me into a satisfied customer and has, instead, ensured that I will switch to another bank.  And the irony is that I would prefer that the bank fix things, rather than having to switch accounts.

Take a look at your existing customer list - what can you do to make them feel glad to do business with you?  Usually it is as simple as a thank you phone call or a short note of appreciation.  But if you are going to pick up the phone - do it with sincerity and a willingness to fix things.  Otherwise don’t bother.

Who doesn’t love fresh-baked cookies and milk?  I just stumbled over my dream business idea- Insomnia Cookies.   Started in 2003, by some undergrads at the University of Pennsylvania, this combination retail store and delivery service offers fresh-baked cookies to midnight snackers. They also do corporate catering and clothing.  Check out their expansion plans here.  This is a great example of spotting a niche market with a need and going after it.

If you are wondering what domain name to get for your company, today’s column comes from the experts at Eat My Words - a boutique naming firm in San Francisco. They have shared these tips for choosing a good domain name.

1. Don’t give up on a great brand name if the domain is out of reach. 

2. Don’t give up on a great brand name even when the domain appears to be in use. 

3. Don’t think just because a site is “parked” that the price is astronomical. 

4. Don’t think “not for sale” is written in stone.  

5. Don’t name your company something just because the domain name is available on GoDaddy for $9.95. 

6. Don’t get a domain name that is spelled differently than it sounds like Naymz or Takkle. 

7. Don’t leave out vowels ala Flickr. 

8. Don’t put dots in your name like del.icio.us. 

9. Don’t come up with your name over a bottle of wine. 

This article is great reading - lots of great stories!  Check out the whole article here.

As I come up with new ideas and suggestions, I often find myself receiving constructive feedback from many.  When I first began, I found this feedback somewhat intimidating and I felt uncomfortable sharing my ideas with certain people.  I thought I wanted feedback from only those who would be positive.  I also felt the “constructive” criticism needed to be validated by three or more people who I respected.  It was important to me to be both supported by and accountable to these people.  Mentorship and support can always be important when receiving and acting on feedback; I have found that new ideas and thoughts are brought to life by constructive criticism. 

For the next month, try to be around colleagues who will give you the kind of feedback that will get your ideas flowing.

-Katrina

Today’s interview is with Tamera Olsen, Executive Director, Mortgage Brokers Association of BC.  A very high-energy woman and mother of two boys, she has held some interesting jobs in the non-profit world and has some great advice for women in business about setting limits.

What is your current job? 

Executive Director for the Mortgage Brokers Association of British Columbia.

What do you do before this job? 

Executive Director for the Professional Ski Instructors of America/American Association of Snowboard Instructors – Northern Rocky Mountains.

What do you feel is the important thing you have mastered to contribute to your success?

My vision, diplomacy, integrity, conviction, and passion.

How do you balance family and work?

I don’t own a blackberry. I turn off my cell phone in the evenings. I work hard at the office so that I can focus on activities with my family when not at work.  I firmly believe in a work/life balance and my family comes first.

Words of wisdom for women entering the business world?

Negotiate your terms.  It is important to understand that you’re worth it. Without being pushy or ungrateful, counter job offers with competitive salary recommendations and decent benefits.  This positions you much more favourably when annual increases come up, and puts you higher on the corporate ladder.  It also shows you as a professional who deserves respect, in that you are capable of taking charge of your career. Lastly, maintain a work/life balance for ultimate satisfaction. 

This summer, I have found that persuasion and influence are key in any business relationship.  In the consumer world, companies often offer some sort of perk or promotion to encourage potential customers. The Apple ipod hook is a good case in point: when students buy a new laptop for school, they receive a “free” ipod.  

In his book titled “Influence: Science and Practice”, Robert Cialdini suggests the best way to get consumers to buy a product is to first offer a promotional gift and then sell the product rather than the other way around.  When a consumer receives such a gift, even as small as a pen or notepad, they feel a sense of obligation to buy the product, even if they dislike the company.  How could this strategy help you to gain more customers?  What small product could you give away to your future customers?  

-Katrina

Coast Capital Savings and Enterprising Moms Network Inc. present Suze Orman Live in Vancouver on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 7pm at the Orpheum Theatre.  Ghost CEO Business Coaching  is proud to be one of the sponsors so come out and join us for a great event and the chance to hear from a very inspiring woman!

About Suze

A two-time Emmy Award-winning television host, New York Times mega bestselling author, magazine and online columnist, writer/producer, and one of the top motivational speakers in the world today, Suze Orman has written six consecutive New York Times bestsellers including her latest book, “Women & Money“. Orman hosts the extremely popular and award-winning Suze Orman Show, which airs every Saturday night on CNBC. In May 2008 Time’s Magazine named Orman as one of the TIME 100, The World’s Most Influential People.

The top female motivational speaker in the U.S in 2007 according to Business Week Magazine, Orman has lectured widely throughout the United States, South Africa, Asia, and Canada to audiences of up to 100,000 people. She has appeared numerous times on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, The View, and the Today Show.

Tickets are on sale now through all ticket master outlets, and will sell out quickly. Visit Enterprising Moms Network for more info, or  visit Ticketmaster  or  call 604- 280-4444 to secure your tickets today!