Are you feeling a bit jealous when you see your colleagues succeeding in business? Have you been wondering what it takes to get to their level?

I know that a lot of people seem to think it is complicated to create a successful business.Well, actually, it’s not! It’s quite simple, really. I want to share a few ideas with you – ideas that have helped me to be on track for a multiple 6-figure business this year.

Public speaking is one of the best ways to grow your business – I don’t care what industry you’re in. You want to show confidence, when public speaking, from start to finish. It takes meaningful, relevant, sustainable content – along with showing confidence through your body language. You want to be certain to present your ideas with lots of energy and passion so that people get excited about the possibilities in store for them. How do you do this? Get out there and start talking.

One of the other secrets to success is to know your market – it is critical to price your products and services appropriately. This is the one area where I see many women entrepreneurs fail! It is a combination of lack of self-esteem and a sense of self-worth through to the fact ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’ about pricing! I didn’t have a clue, quite frankly, until I made the investment to work with a high-level marketing coach. It was at that time, and in that relationship, that I learned so much of ‘how’ to do this. It is such a pleasure for me to work with my clients and see the light bulb come on when we explore the different options available – not only with the pricing, but with the creation of multiple streams of revenue.

You want to project a professional image to your community. As far as I’m concerned, this topic does not get addressed enough when it comes to having a successful business. If you are serious about becoming a wealthy woman leader, then you must look, act, speak and project yourself in this way. Find role models. Hire an image consultant. Do whatever it takes. Are you going to meetings looking like you just got out of bed? (I’ve seen it!) When you work from your home office, have you fallen into the trap that it’s convenient to dress in sweats? Come on – get serious! When you look good, you feel good – and when you feel good, you do good. Dress for success.

You not only want to project a certain image to your local community, but it’s also important to ‘be that wealthy woman leader’ when it comes to your on-line presence. Most of you are aware, by now, that I have recently re-branded to the Wealthy Woman Leader image. I am constantly up-leveling and growing my business and therefore, my professional image needs to reflect same. Our company image, locally and on-line, reflect this in every way. What about you? What needs to change? Take a very good look at your business and at your image from the eyes of a new prospect – what do you see? What do you want to see?

Prospects love to see positive client feedback – so make it available. In working with my clients, I realize that one of the reasons they have not been sharing positive client feedback is because they haven’t asked their clients for it. You want to create a successful business – then share the success stories of the people with whom you have worked. Pretty simple – yet, I know many potential wealthy women leaders hold themselves back from asking because of mindset issues again. In working with my clients, we have created a simple template, and an ‘ask’ script that makes this very simple.

So, if you are feeling somewhat jealous about the success of others around you, take some of these simple ideas and implement them today. You, too, will begin to experience progress, build your confidence, and watch that bank account grow – and be the successful business owner that you have just dreamed of being. It’s all in your hands! Make it happen today.

One of the primary reasons to invest time and effort into business networking is to get more business. Yet, for many the outcome of greater business remains elusive.

Business Networking – How To Get More Business

As a personal business coach one of the first things I ask a potential client, whether it be a self – employed small business owner or a corporate manager or executive, is if they are doing any business networking. Most of them will tell me that they do some business networking.

The main reason they do business networking is to get more business. When I ask how successful it has been the answers range from very successful to virtually no success at all.

How come one person has great success and another doesn’t. Is one’s product or service in greater demand? Possibly, but very often it has nothing to do with that.

Business Networking – Success Is About How You Fish

For a moment visualize a business networking event as a big pond with many fish. You have come together with a group of other people and all of you are fishing in the same pond. Some of you will catch fish, prospects, referrals and customers. And most of you will put your bait on a hook and come up with nothing.

What’s causing the difference in results? It could be the pond you are in. Maybe the fish you are swimming with aren’t ideal for you or your business. But, more often than not it is not the fish in the pond that is the problem.

The problem is how you are choosing to fish in that pond. Especially for small business owners seeking more small business growth and success how you fish is a critical determinant in your results.

Running a small business is a big enough challenge to your time and energy without engaging in business networking that is not producing positive results. So if the pond of your business networking is not yielding the results you desire, yet appears to be a good pond, then you must change the way you fish in the pond.

Business Networking – It’s About The Human Being And Not The Human Doing

How do you catch a fish? It’s easy. You give him some bait where he wants to bite on your hook. The best hook you have is you. It’s not your business. It’s not your service. It is who you are. Most people when you engage them do not need your product or service.

The key is that they certainly may need it at some point in time in the future. The goal is to start building a relationship with them based on who you are, not what you do. In the end they will do business with someone they know, like and trust.

The key to successful business networking is to get beyond the human doing, your business, and let others get to know the human being. Focus on learning about who someone else is. Reveal to them more about yourself. It will give you and them many more reasons to build a solid relationship.

Focus on the human being, not getting business. And, the last part is the most important. If you have business networking functions every month attend them regularly. Even if business is good and you feel too busy attend them regularly.

Great relationships aren’t built with intensity but with regular contact over a period of time. Be consistent in showing up and persistent in building your relationships. When you approach business networking as an essential marketing activity focusing on human beings instead of human doings you will start catching a lot more fish in your pond and even greater small business, large business and personal success.

What’s Your Passion? If you are thinking about starting a business, it should be something you enjoy. Since a lot of time and energy goes into running a business, it is smart to look at your hobby or professional experience as a potential business idea. For example, if you are good at sewing, consider a tailoring shop; or an accountant could look at bookkeeping or tax service. Now, imagine what your life would be like if you spent the majority of your day actually doing what you love. Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? To improve your chances, here are 10 Extremely Important Tips for a Successful Business Launch.

Tip 1: The Name Game

Now that you’ve narrowed it down to ONE ‘business idea,’ you’ve got to figure out a name. A major challenge in starting a business is the process of searching and choosing the right business name. Choosing the right business name can mean success while a poorly thought out name could doom your business from the start. Three smart business name tips:

1. A smart business name must be unforgettable. It is imperative that potential clients be able to remember your business name. I’m sure most people have heard of Nike, Walmart, Target, Home Depot and McDonalds. Like these household names, your name should be easy to pronounce and memorable.
2. A smart business name must describe what your business does. When you create your business name, potential clients should be able to understand what products or services your company offers. For example in ‘ Browder Consulting Group,’ the word “Consulting’ is a clue that I provide specialized advice; or as in Lynn’s Styles & Cuts,’ the words ‘Styles & Cuts is a clue that this is a beauty salon.
3. A smart business name should be as short and sweet as possible. As you advertise your business, it is important that your name display well on your marketing material, such as business cards, ad campaigns, domain name and email. As potential clients search for you on the internet, you want it to be an easy spelled and searchable name.

Tip 2: On a Mission

A mission statement is an important tool that tells others who you are, what you do, how you do it and why you are superior than your competition.

• It identifies and clarifies the business’ vision, purpose and direction.
• It provides the path and focus needed for making and implementing decisions.
• It helps define to your future employees what they are doing, why they are doing it and where they are going.

Tip 3: Make it Legal

Be diligent in choosing the best Legal Form for your business. This is one of the first important decisions that you will have to make. This decision can have long-term implications, so here are a few things to consider when deciding which business structure is best for your business:

• Scope of business you plan to attain
• Size of your business
• Business’s vulnerability to lawsuits
• Tax implications based on the different ownership structures
• Level of control do you wish to have
• Expected profit/loss of the business

Tip 4: Surround yourself with a Progressive Team

Who do you need to know or collaborate with as a part of your external team? Having the right people on your team will allow you to focus on your business and help you to avoid costly mistakes. For example, you might need the following:

• Certified Public Accountant: best form of ownership, establish bookkeeping, record keeping procedures and tax planning, etc.
• Business Attorney: reviewing lease contracts, determining the right business structure, etc.
• Computer Information Technician: set up systems, repair issues, etc.
• Human Resource Management Consultant: assess your current HR processes for compliance, navigate through delicate labor issues, set up hiring processes, compensation and benefits and create employee manuals, job description and Standard Operation Procedural manuals.

Tip 5: Research Licenses & Permits Needed for Your Industry

As you can see, there are many steps involved in starting a business. With the daunting task of figuring it all out, it’s easy to overlook the important legal requirements associated with permits, licenses and registrations. Here’s a list that your business might need:

• State Requirements: Business licensing requirements may vary from state to state.
• Business Licenses: Depending on your state, county and city, a business license may be required for tax purposes and to conduct other basic business functions.
• Occupations and Professions: Depending on your profession, state licenses may be required for occupations such as, appraisers, accountants, barbers, building contractors, cosmetologists, funeral directors, physicians, private investigators, private security guards and real estate agents.
• Tax Registration: Some states carry a state income tax. If you establish your business in a state that does, you’ll have to register and obtain an employer identification number. If your business engages in retail sales, you will need to obtain a sales tax license.
• Trade Name Registration: If you plan to run your business in your local community only, registering with the state may be adequate.
• Employer Registrations: Are you planning to hire employees? If so, you’ll probably be required to make unemployment insurance contributions.

Tip 6: Know Your Clients

A common mistake that I encounter with new business owners is that they don’t know who their customer is… possessing a poorly defined target market. Most want to sell their products or services to ‘everybody’ instead of narrowing their targeted customer base to a manageable size. You must do your homework… i.e., market research. I’ve created a business resource guide to assist you, Resource Guide for Women.

Tip 7: Got Marketing?

In business, marketing plays a key role in getting the word out to your prospective clients. You must create an image and be consistent! It’s important to mold and hone your business image to successfully appeal to your prospects and customers. By choosing a relevant company name, answering your phone professionally, creating a professional and clear elevator pitch, investing in professional business cards, logos and brochures, etc… all are key in marketing your business.

Tip 8: Don’t forget Uncle Sam

Understanding tax obligations is one of the most important issues facing small businesses. The local, county, state and federal agencies does not care that you didn’t know or you forgot to pay your taxes. You will be subject to penalties for not paying on time. Here are some resources to assist you:

• For a list of state agencies: business.gov/states/
• For a SBA resource guide by state: smallbusiness3.com/magazine
• For IRS business information: irs.gov/businesses/index.html

Tip 9: Don’t forget the ‘B’ Word… Budget!

Create a start up budget. Because businesses are different, each will have its own specific cash needs at various stages of development, so estimating your start-up costs may vary. Some businesses can be started on a shoestring budget, while others may require considerable investment in inventory or equipment. It is imperative to know that you will have enough money to launch your business venture.

A few ways to prepare:

• Create a list of anticipated expenses for your first three years
• Projections are fine, be realistic

Have a tracking system

QuickBooks, Quicken, Ledger, Excel spreadsheets, I don’t care which you use…. It’s important to put a system in place that works for you. Personally, I use QuickBooks. I can send files to my CPA, easy to work with. In addition, as the treasurer on the board of a non-profit organization, I also use Quick books to reconcile the organization’s bank statements and to bill our member’s annual dues.

Open a business checking account. The worst thing you can do is run your business from your personal account… it is an accountants nightmare. Open up a business account so that you can separate the two… plus it tells others that you are serious and professional.

Tip 10: Put it all together… in a plan!

Last but not least, you must write your business plan. By failing to plan, you are planning to fail. If you can’t take the time needed to plan for the success of your business, then don’t waste your time starting one. Statistics show that 8 out of 10 businesses fail within the first three years. This is staggering but true! Invest your time in researching and writing a business plan. Many prospective entrepreneurs think that a business plan is very hard and tedious. The truth is it’s a powerful tool that can help you plan and achieve business success.

So, what is this thing called a business plan? Well, a business plan is your blue print or what I tell many of my clients, it’s your bible! A business plan defines your business, identifies your goals, and serves as your company’s resume. It will help you arrange strategic alliances, obtain financing and attract key personnel. By planning for success, you will be able to overcome many hurdles that may arise.

A closer look at why a business plan is important:

• To secure funding, your lender will request your business plan with completed financials. DO NOT approach a lender without having a completed business plan. In his/her eyes, you will look unprepared and too risky. By being prepared, you will have a better chance at securing funding for operations or expansion of your business.
• It is a great way to test the feasibility of your business idea. By the time you complete your market or competitive analysis, you will have a clear picture of the viability of your idea.

As you can see, there is a lot of work involved before starting a business. To ensure success, it is important to research thoroughly, take advantage of the resources available to you and learn as much as you can. Preparation is key to a successful start!

Sylvia Browder is Founder of National Association Women on the Rise, a virtual membership community for aspiring and established women entrepreneurs. For more about NAWR or resources and information for women entrepreneurs, visit us at http://www.nawomenrise.com.