Archive for the ‘Business Inspiration’ Category

As many of you know, I think Twitter is a fantastic social media tool to grow a small business brand.  There are many fabulous people who I’ve met online and these ladies are a special group of women who handle business in a way that I respect and admire.  I thought that I would share them with you so that you would know who I follow on Twitter.  If you follow me @smallbizlady you will often see me “retweet” information from these ladies:

@Smallbiztrends Anita Campbell, Editor Smallbiztrends http://www.smallbiztrends.com

@DawnRiversBaker  Dawn Rivers Baker, Editor The Microbusiness News Journal http://blog.microenterprisejournal.com/

@thebossnetwork Cameka  D. Smith Founder  of http://www.thebossnetwork.org/ Great site for women of color and all women in business

@Holly_hanna  Holly R. Hanna  Founder of http://www.Workathomewoman.com , a solid resource for WAH Moms and all business women

@ithinkbigger Kelly Scanlon National Chair, National Association of Women Business Owners http://www.NAWBO.org

@paulag01 Paula Gregorowicz Life Coach/Blogher Blogger http://www.thepaulagcompany.com

@bizauthor Stephanie Chandler Author/Speaker/Business Coach http://www.stephaniechandler.com She wrote one of my favorite books;  Entrepreneur to Infopreneur

@elenaverlee  Elena Verlee is a PR expert for small businesses http://www.prinyourpajamas.com

@darnyellejervey She’s the passion to profit coach http://www.darnyellejervey.com

@currentmom Katherine R. Lewis, editor of www.Currentmom.com Sunday is the day they focus on business, but they always have great info on the other days too.

@womanzworld Natalie Sission Founder of http://womanzworld.com/ great resource for female entrepreneurs

@shessothere Sweetie Berry High-level strategist and southern powerhouse for women with an emerging brand. http://www.shessothere.com

@cathywebsavvypr Cathy Larkin is a social media strategist and co-host of #Smallbizchat http://www.websavvypr.com

@indiebusiness Donna Maria Johnson Coles is A Small Business Blogger and Founder of the Indie Beauty Network http://www.indiebusinessblog.com

@simplicityinc A. Michelle Blakeley Micro Business Therapist and Blogger www.simplicityinc.com

@kgreenstreet  Karyn Greenstreet  business coach and queen of mastermind groups http://www.passionforbusiness.com

@richelleshaw Richelle Shaw is millionaire business coach and email marketing genius http://www.richelleshawmarketing.com/

@sueyoungmedia blogger/communications consultant http://getinfrontcommunications.com/

@CEOtoday Tachelle Daniels hosts CEO Today on Blogtalkradio—always an informative show http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ceo-today

@merylkevans Meryl K. Evans is s professional writer/blogger on small business, technology and writing. http://www.meryl.net

@pamperry Pam Perry PR coach and amazing book publicist http://www.brandingsuperstar.com

@janeoutofthebox  Michele DeKinder-Smith Marketing research expert and creator of http://www.JaneOutoftheBox.com

@ZimblerMiller Phyllis Zimbler Miller Power marketing and social media coach www.MillerMosaicLLC.com

@lenawest Lena West Social media strategist/blogger www.xynomedia.com

@allyson7minutes Allyson Lewis Productivity Expert/Author, 7 Minute Difference http://www.7minutedifference.com

For more tips on starting or growing your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog at www.succeedasyourownboss.com

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure.  As CEO of MFE Consulting LLC, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. She has been featured on NBC Nightly News, the Tavis Smiley Radio Show, in the Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur and Black Enterprise Magazine. She hosts #SmallBizChat weekly on Twitter for emerging entrepreneurs and publishes a resource blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also the author of the national bestseller Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. (Adams Media 2010)

I’m Melinda Emerson and every week as @SmallBizLady, I conduct interviews with experts on my Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat. The show takes place every Wed on Twitter from 8-9pm ET. This is excerpted from my recent interview with Paul Wilson Jr @pwilsonjr.  Paul is the founder and Chief Inspiration Officer of Biznovations, LLC. The company inspires and designs creative solutions that empower individuals and companies to maximize financial and social profitability. They design and implement innovative strategies and processes that help organizations reach their operational, financial, and community goals.  He also authored the book, Dream B.I.G. in 3D: How to Pursue a Bold, Innovative, God-Inspired Life! For more information http://www.paulwilsonjr.com.

Smallbizlady:  What’s the difference between a vision and a dream in business?

Paul Wilson Jr: I’ve heard it said that a vision is a dream with a deadline. A dream is all about creating a mental picture that stretches the boundaries of your imagination for what you believe is possible. A (business) vision brings clarity, specificity, and direction to the dream.

Smallbizlady: Where do you find inspiration to dream big in business?

Paul Wilson Jr: Faith in God. Other big dreamers. Vision boards. Imagining the benefits and results of the lives that my business is targeted to reach. Driving through areas of the city that I want to see transformed. Praying for the people that I want to impact. In essence, putting myself in situations to have my mind stretched, including different types of learning environments, listening to those who inspire me, reading books, and other things.

Smallbizlady: How do you shift from dreaming big to doing big things in your business?

Paul Wilson Jr: Vision without execution leads to frustration. One vision is often a combination of many (complimentary) ideas. List all the different ideas needed to realize your vision. Choose one to work on first and build your business plan for that. Implement, grow, and perfect that idea and then build on it with another complimentary idea going through the same process.

Smallbizlady: What is one key of success for implementing a big dream?

Paul Wilson Jr: One key to long-term business success is that there’s alignment and congruency between the vision of the business and the dream/mission/purpose of the individual.

Smallbizlady: How can you ensure that your life plan is aligned with your business plan?

Paul Wilson Jr: Your business plan should be an outgrowth of your life plan. This also ensures that you’re in the right business for the right reasons.

Smallbizlady: How can you assess if your business is the right fit for your life plan?

Paul Wilson Jr: Evaluate and assess the alignment of three things in relation to your business: 1) Your purpose, your passions, and your professional skills. 2) Your purpose involves your personal vision, mission, and values. 3) Your passions are key areas that drive and stretch you to be excellent – no matter what it takes. Your professional skills combine your talents, knowledge, education, experience, etc.

Smallbizlady: What hinders big dreamers from having successful businesses?

Paul Wilson Jr: The person is more important than the plan. Don’t get intoxicated with the dream and then not be willing to following through on the execution to implement it. The best business plan is only as good as the people who are executing it. Develop yourself so that you are the best person you can be to execute your business plan.

Smallbizlady: How do you keep doubts out of your dreams?

Paul Wilson Jr: For some people dreaming can inadvertently cause doubt when you stop dreaming and starting thinking about all the reasons why you can’t do something. Reverse that with thinking about all the reasons you CAN do it. Dominate your doubts or your doubts will dominate you.

Smallbizlady: How do you overcome F.E.A.R. in order to dream big in business?

Paul Wilson Jr: Focus your thoughts in a positive direction – for me it’s God’s power. Evaluate your obstacles thoroughly to assess their validity. Attack the enemies “in-a-me” (silence the negative voices). Respond to the challenge.

Smallbizlady: How do you ensure long-term sustainability of your big business dream?

Paul Wilson Jr: It’s not about you – it’s about what you leave for someone else to build on. That’s legacy. Build a business where you are focused on the size of your significance versus the significance of your size.

If you found this interview helpful, join us on Wednesdays 8-9pm ET follow @SmallBizChat on Twitter.

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to my blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

Melinda Emerson, known to many as “SmallBizLady,” is a Veteran Entrepreneur, Small Business Coach and Social Media Strategist who hosts #SmallBizChat weekly on Twitter for emerging entrepreneurs. #Smallbizchat is the trusted resource on Twitter to discuss everything entrepreneurs need to know about launching and running a profitable small business. Her first book Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months was released in March 2010.