Platinum Diva Member

What advice do you have for women who are looking to start a business?

Plan ahead. The main problem I have seen with women I know who are starting businesses is lack of planning. Remember, it can take a few months or even a couple of years before you are earning enough to live on. So, not only do you need a business plan to guide you in starting your business, you need a plan to guide you in maintaining your life and relationships while you do.

What advice do you have for women who are frustrated with where they are in life right now?

Create a vision or a mission statement for your life. I know that sounds odd to many people, but just as most companies are guided by their mission statements, you life can be as well. Once you have envisioned what your purpose for your life is, and put it in writing, you can create goals and start working on the steps necessary to achieve it.

What are your keys to success?

Mostly perseverance. I just don’t quit! Perseverance, hard work, flexibility, willing to listen to those who have been there and done that! Faith in God and faith in yourself.

What is your website URL?

HelmsBriscoe site selection: http://helmsbriscoe.com/bio/mwhiteley

Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing: http://www.wealthtogether.web.officelive.com or www.fhtmus.com/wealthtogether

My blogs: WealthTogether – advice for building a home business: http://wealthtogether.blogspot.com

Don’t Trip Over Your Brain! – advice for Network Marketers: http://donttripoveryourbrain.blogspot.com

The Adventures of Traveling Bob – tips and recommendations for traveling with your pet: http://travelswithbob.blogspot.com

How can someone get in touch with you?

I’ve very easy to find. You can reach me via email at mwhiteley@helmsbriscoe.com. Or phone at 479-790-9953. Or fax at 866-241-5212. And there are contact forms on the HB and FHTM sites.

If you’re like me, you probably need a jump start to get your morning off and running. For many people, a good shot of caffeine will do the trick. But did you know you may be putting more caffeine in your body than it can handle—especially if you drink coffee AND an energy drink.

It’s now a billion dollar industry. Currently, there are at least 200 energy drinks on the market. So is it bad to get an energy drink buzz?

“There was a time when we would get our caffeine intake from coffee and cola, but now there are a number of caffeine containing beverages and we need to be careful because over a period of 24 hours that caffeine intake is cumulative,” says Dee Rollins, R.D., PhD, dietitian with Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine.

In fact, experts say energy drink consumers should keep careful track of the amount of caffeine they get in a day.

“If you know that 400 milligrams a day is the upper limit you can check the back of the labels and make sure that you don’t get more than that,” explains Dr. Rollins.

It may sound like a lot, but 400 milligrams is roughly the equivalent of just one energy drink and two cups of coffee. Getting more than that can lead to a jittery nervousness, nausea, heart palpations—and in extreme cases more severe symptoms.

“It can be so bad that if you take too much caffeine you can end up in the hospital thinking you have flu-like symptoms and really it’s caffeine overdose.”

So remember as you’re sipping—take it slow or it may not just be energy you end up with.
“We don’t think of caffeine as being a drug that we need to monitor, but we can overdo it,” says Dr. Rollins.

For most people—if they’re not getting more than around 400 milligrams of caffeine a day—these energy drinks are safe. But here are some important things to remember:

- Don’t drink energy beverages while exercising. It can lead to severe dehydration.
- Don’t ever mix these drinks with alcohol—it’s popular—but doing so can not only mask how intoxicated you really are, it again can be extremely dehydrating.

In addition to caffeine, most of these energy drinks contain very high amounts of sugar and sodium which can be dangerous for diabetics or those with high blood pressure.

Couples who work together know that being married and in business can be great or lousy. And sometimes it’s both in the same day.

Census figures don’t keep track of exactly how many Americans working full-time from home-based businesses are married couples, but estimates are that husband-wife business partners are on the rise.

The rewards and satisfactions that result from a husband-wife business include channeling business profits back into the family, negotiable fringe benefits like vacation and sick days, and built-in commitment and loyalty to the company.

Some of the advantages can easily turn into disadvantages unless both partners are aware of the pitfalls and temptations of this business arrangement.

With many husband-wife home businesses, little thought is given to roles or job descriptions; each partner does a little bit of everything. In the worst case scenario, lack of job expectations results in unfinished tasks or disagreements about who should have done something that did not get done. Each partner may not need to know every tiny detail of the daily business operation, but there must be a sound general understanding of what is going on, what is new, and what is coming up. Most husband-wife teams agree that it is important to talk out a breakdown of responsibilities and accept that.

The majority of home business partners agree that the effort required for a successful business was far more than they anticipated. Long hours and hard work often leave little time for relaxed communication even when husband and wife are working together. Taking and giving constructive criticism should be an ongoing process that occurs without disagreement or argument. Setting aside a time each day or each week to discuss minor problems allows a more casual approach to problem solving and saves time in the long run.

Most couples spend a good part of their waking hours apart at separate jobs and come home at the end of the day. When working hours are spent at home, it is important to separate the business time from the personal family time. Conscious efforts — such as keeping regular working hours and letting an answering machine pick up business calls in the evening — are necessary. The temptation to make a home business a daily, round-the-clock preoccupation can be hard on a marriage and family life.

To counter the constant togetherness, most husband-wife teams agree that everyone needs a little space. Free time to spend with the family and on non-business interests and friends is important. Equally important is time spent together in social activities — where the business is not discussed at all. A well-balanced life with multiple support systems results in greater personal happiness and, ultimately, to a more successful business as well.

Husband-wife teams can honestly say that they love their partners. Having someone you love filling a multi-dimensional role of boss, employee and partner definitely has its advantages!

The Wall Street Journal has written a telling article on what its like to be a woman working on Wall Street. For many women in business, it’s a story heard quite often.

Apparently when former Chief Financial Officer Erin Callen stepped down from her position at Lehman Brothers, she was criticized for being a classy lady—a lady who liked to look good. Some said she was more focused on fashion than finance and for attracting the wrong kind of attention.

Once again, women are judged by different standards when it comes to doing business in Corporate America. And it seems the higher up you go, the more criticism you receive. No, no one is overlooking the fact that Lehman Brothers is on the verge of losing nearly $3 billion under her reign, but there was someone else also ousted from the Company. HIS name is Joe Gregory, president and chief operating officer at Lehman since 2004. Funny I haven’t read anything about how he came to work dressed.

I invite you to read the entire Wall Street Journal article: WSJ

They call them Cougars. They’re described as successful, self-confident baby boomer women who prefer the company of a younger man. This attitude has always been prevalent in Hollywood. Remember the 70s romance between Dinah Shore and Burt Reynolds, who was more than 20 years younger? Or what about the relationship between John Travolta, when he was 22 and actress Diana Hyland who was 40 at the time?

Have you ever dated a younger man? While some may say there’s a lot of excitement in an older woman/younger man relationship, I believe it can also be a challenging one. It’s possible to remain a strong couple, but others disintegrate. Here are a few reasons the younger man/older woman relationship falls apart:

* A different vision for their lives.
At midlife and beyond, many women have carved out a vision for their lives that has created a certain level of success. Meanwhile, many twenty and thirty-something men are still living life in the fast lane and on a womanizing conquest. You, as the older women, may be able to tolerate his “wild side” but how much womanizing would you be willing to put up with while he’s still trying to find himself?

* Different values
How he was raised and his life experiences will certainly have an impact on your relationship. Just the fact that you come from a different generation presents challenges. By nature, many older women say they value family relationships, so what happens when you meet a young man who has no idea what it means to have family values? How will this difference play out for you over time?

* Communication.
This one seems obvious, but it isn’t. The strength of any relationship lies in communication. And that means learning to communicate effectively beyond the bedroom! If there is strong chemistry, values, shared dreams, and interests, communication makes those qualities stronger.

There is one consolation with the older woman/younger man relationship, according to Andy Rooney:

“Older women are forthright and honest. They’ll tell you right off you are a jerk if you
are acting like one.”

What kind of shape is your business in? Perhaps you need some boot camp training to take it to the level you desire it to be. A newly released book titled Business Boot Camp for Women by Stan Fine may be just what you’re looking for to give yourself and your business a kick in the pants!

During his 40+ year career in business, Fine has become an authority and business consultant on sales and marketing business development issues. His entertaining presentations have made him much in demand as a speaker and seminar leader. During a recent conversation with the author, he confessed that his mission in life is to help women in business gain the necessary knowledge and resources in order to achieve their financial goals.

In his book, Fine takes us step-by-step into the world of competitive business and what one must do (or not do) in order to be successful. One mistake he says is made all too often is sending your prospects poorly written material. You may be good with grammar but not know how to write copy that inks the deal. The words you choose to present your business or product will influence someone’s decision to buy. If it’s poorly written your message will be lost and the nice, fancy paper you used to convey your message will end up in a waste paper basket or shredder.

You’re going to be hearing a lot about Stan Fine and Business Boot Camp for Women on this website so stay tuned—especially if your business needs to be whipped into shape!

Platinum Diva Member

What advice do you have for women who are looking to start a business?

Follow your dreams and put your passions to work. Most of us as we get older get very caught up with everyday life where we leave ourselves on a shelf. Next to us on that shelf are who the essence of us and who we really are; our passions and our dreams. As young girls we grow up and we’re asked, “What would you want to be when you grow up?” Somewhere along the way, we fall short of our goals and take up other people’s goals.

We forget who we are; we become wives, moms, aunts, employees, and all that is beautiful, but we were women before we were any of that. Stay focused on who you are as a woman and what that represents to you. There is no crazy idea, and there is no limit to what you can achieve. We limit ourselves. Allow yourself the freedom to express yourself. Don’t limit your own potential. It may not be easy, but I feel that I’d rather live with some challenges than live with the regret of not having tried. Failure to me is not trying.

What advice do you have for women who are frustrated with where they are in life right now?

We all have challenges and obstacles that we are faced with otherwise this wouldn’t be “life”. It’s a test. You pass or fail. There is never, ever a negative situation. There is no such thing as “bad luck”. What there is is plenty of procrastination and fear; fear of the unknown causes procrastination. Well, for anyone who is faced with great challenges and you are feeling really low, can anything be worse? NO!! What can be worse is when that challenges passes, because they all do and you wake up and say, “ I should’ve…… do it before it’s too late. Face your fears, face your challenges, and embrace the obstacles. Make them your allies not your enemies and you will persevere in bigger ways than you ever imagined.

What are your keys to success?

Overcoming fear and educating myself about them. When I have been afraid to face something or been afraid to ask a question, I faced it head on. Sometimes with no thought process because it was about survival and I can promise you this, anyone who has been in survival mode for over 35 years as I have learns how to face things head on and not be afraid to stand up for what I believed in. The hardest challenge was to believe in myself and my power. Once I overcame that challenge, everything else never seemed as overwhelming. Stay focused with what comes natural to you and don’t ever lose sight of it.

What is your website URL?

We have begun to build www.99-series.com as we move towards the bigger picture of building www.ugouget.com. u GO u GET is the umbrella of what the 99 series falls into, but because the 99 book series is on its way to being published, it will be the foundation of u GO u GET because if I never went, I would’ve never gotten! Go after what you want and get it!

Platinum Diva Member

http://www.the24hoursecretary.com/

Platinum Diva Member

http://www.wecai.org/

Platinum Diva Member

http://www.peacewithptsd.org/

Platinum Diva Member

What advice do you have for women who are looking to start a business?

It’s an old piece of advice but do something that you love. If it feeds your soul and something you believe in then it will be easier to be to overcome obstacles and keep going in the direction you want.

What advice do you have for women who are frustrated with where they are in life right now?

If you are in an environment that is toxic to you that can be unhealthy. Nothing is worth risking your health or peace of mind. It is time to make a change and soon. However not everyone is able to leave their current situation while they find a new path. But nothing can stop you from making a plan or thinking about what else you would like to do or go with your life and making that change when you are ready. Stay open and aware at, all times, to your instincts, passions and any opportunity or sign that may come your way. Listen and investigate. When it feels right you go for it. Make a plan but stay spontaneous. Surround yourself with positive people who support you and want you to succeed. But you will have to dig deep inside because you must believe in yourself and find the courage to embark on the new journey.

What are your keys to success?

I just don’t listen to the naysayers. Tell me I can’t do it or it won’t work and it will have the opposite result. I’ll just work harder. I also try to not look at how much money I’m making or not making. Though that is essential for survival, if I believe in what I’m doing, the most important thing to me is if I am fulfilling my vision creatively in whatever I do. In today’s world where everything is judged by how much money you make or how much power you have I feel successful if I have weathered the storms and have reached people and have stayed true to myself and my vision. I believe that leads to financial success as well.

What is your website URL? www.inthetrenchesproductions.com

How can someone get in touch with you?

info@inthetrenchesproductions.com

In The Trenches Productions

Platinum Diva Member

What advice do you have for women who are looking to start a business?

1. Make sure that you put your time and energy into something that you love to do, otherwise it is just too much work if you are not passionate about it.
2. Learn about marketing and social networking.  Promote yourself first and your products/services will be more interesting.
3. Be true to yourself, and others will relate to you and care what happens to your business.
4. BLOG!  Learn how to promote your blog and/or combination blog and website.
5. There is so much to learn, and new stuff every day.  Be willing to learn, and learn what can help you for free – there is a lot out there on the internet!

What advice do you have for women who are frustrated with where they are in life right now?

You are not stuck, not at the end of the rope, and not at the edge of a cliff (most of the time!).  Try to relax, and listen to your inner voices (angels, guides, your higher self- whatever is in your belief system).  You know what is right for you, and what options that you have.  There are always choices and creative ways to shift and change your situation.

If you have a really hard decision, then you need love and support.  If you are feeling alone, then find a supportive group at a church or online, or through a women’s organization or a counselor.  If you are unsafe, find a women’s shelter, or call the police.

Remember, there are always options.

What are your keys to success?

1. Listening to my intuition, inner guidance.
2. Having faith that my efforts will bring success.
3. Visualizing and imagining the best possible outcomes
4. Creating wonderful, supportive relationships

What is your website URL? http://www.drsallywitt.com

How can someone get in touch with you? Skype – drsallywitt, phone 215-736-0900, email-drsallywitt@gmail.com