I have some great stories to share with you again this week of awesome and inspiring women worldwide. Enjoy!

Women achievers honoured
Dispatch Online – South Africa
Melonie Gobel of Living Waters emerged the winner in the new social entrepreneur category. The women were honoured at a glittering event in East London’s …
See all stories on this topic

SMALL ECONOMIC UNITS IN DEMAND WORLDWIDE By Yank Elliot, IAHBE …
By Erny Setyawati(Erny Setyawati)
Other ways women can use IT are:. Female farmers could greatly increase productivity with access to information on improved agricultural inputs, weather, markets, new production techniques, and farming technologies. Entrepreneurs …
BUILDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP – http://buildingentrepreneurship.blogspot.com/

07/30TiE Successful Women Entrepreneurs
By admin
Body BASIC RICH The Chugh Firm http://www.chugh.com Description: TiE-Atlanta is proud to present “A Candid Conversation With Successful Women Entrepreneurs: What they wish they had known and what they are still … More: continues here …
Uvox.us » LifeHacker: The Lifehacker… – http://www.uvox.us

Leap of faith
Hindu – Chennai,India
Meenu calls herself a social entrepreneur. “I believe that when women move into spaces not considered their own, it frees them mentally. …
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Global Grassroots helping women social entrepreneurs
By David
In Rwanda, Global Grassroots offers Social Entrepreneurship Training and Venture Investments to genocide survivors, including widows, women with HIV/AIDS and victims of sexual assault. Investments assist in capacity building, …
Who are Americans? – http://whoareamericans.com

From Inmate To Entrepreneur
By Rich
The Mercy Corps program is intended to foster an entrepreneurial mindset by teaching financial literacy, and small business and interpersonal skills to minimum security female prisoners. It is a rigorous 26 week-long program that covers …
Business Opportunities Weblog – http://www.business-opportunities.biz

Mandy Haberman: Success with a No-Spill Drinking Cup
By WomenHomeBusiness.com(WomenHomeBusiness.com)
Hence, the Anywayup Cup was created in 1990. In 2000, Mandy received the title British Female Inventor of the Year; and in 2003 was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as a ‘Pioneer to the Life of the Nation’.
Entrepreneur Success Stories – http://www.womenhomebusiness.com/blog/blog.html

Business Push Benefits Poor
World Bank Group – Washington,DC,USA
To do so, it created a network of 46000 entrepreneurs, most of them disadvantaged women, who sell low-priced products, often in single-use packages, …
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Women entrepreneurs launch their Website FP Report
MULTAN: Women entrepreneurs Multan has launched its own Website “NeedleCraft Association” (NCA) with the collaboration of Multan Chamber of Commerce & …
- http://www.thefrontierpost.com

You can get involved with programs helping women entrepreneurs worldwide for very little money. I will be doing a piece in a few days about microfinancing and how you can use funds from these organizations and how you can help others through them. Thank you for all you do!

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

I don’t know about you, but referrals and recommendations work on me. When someone I trust, either a friend, family member, or someone I recognize as an expert recommends a business, I usually check it out. Especially in areas of wide choice, huge variation in service levels, and many substitute alternatives, I ask my friends what they choose, whether it’s light hearted stuff like a hairdresser or restaurant or more serious stuff like a physician or preschool for my niece.

I often go in with a softer attitude toward performance, too. I cut them slack. And, when they don’t need any slack and perform well, it rates double. And, not only does the business get a gold star, but so does the friend who recommended them. It all works together to strengthen my trust and deepen my relationship with all involved. I go in expecting greatness rather than wondering if I’ll get it.

To use testimonials and referrals to strengthen your business relationships, here are some helpful hints:

1. Ask directly
Nothing goes farther than simply asking. And, be sure to be polite but direct.

If you are looking for more clients, ask your current clients during the process, rather than after. To understand why this particular timing is important, you need to understand a scientific phenomenon called “morphic convergence”. In basic terms, it’s why when you are beginning to shop for a Prius (or even just start to think actively about starting to shop for a Prius) you begin to notice Prius cars all over the place when you never noticed them before. And, you start meeting other people by happenstance that are also looking to buy a Prius. Your mental focus brings these things into view for you, or converges on that idea.

The approach then is to use the power of your client’s morphic convergence experience to help you. If they are looking to buy your product, they have probably met others who are too. Waiting until after the sale or process means your client will meet more people who just bought their Prius rather than are looking to buy, which doesn’t really help you, right?

Ask for an introduction to anyone they know who they feel could use your services. Include in your introductory meeting with clients that you work mainly by referral. Tell them that you would rather spend money serving the loyal clients you have better than on advertising looking for new clients. Timing is everything. You don’t want to ask for a referral before that new client even knows what you’re about, but it can happen sooner than you probably think or are completely comfortable initiating at this point. Just ask and it will feel more and more comfortable to you as you practice it. Find your groove and it will come back to you in good will and increased sales.

2. Set up an incentive program
Reward your clients with recognition, gifts, discounts, your unfettered time, or other courteous and thoughtful gestures.

It doesn’t have to cost much, as you will find that the human touch goes a long way. People don’t refer their friends to make money, in general. They are being kind and helpful. Responding in equally motivated ways magnifies that and does more for a relationship than money. Money is nice, but giving a gift rather than offering a discount sets the stage for maintaining your price points as well as building trust and rapport.

One thing you can do here: if you have a progression of products that you sell, for example beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, giving a gift that moves the referring client to your next level of products in addition to recognizing their generosity for referring can increase your business in more than one way. That’s great for everyone.

Another idea is to partner with other businesses that can refer back to you when developing client gift ideas. If you sell birthday cakes, include a free helium rental coupon for balloons from a florist gift shop. The client will have to pick up the helium canister and is likely to buy the fancy balloons at the same time. And, give the florist gift shop a gift offer they can give away. Be sure to make it a real gift though rather than a thinly disguised sale offer or it won’t work. But, don’t you think that client will always call you for cakes when they get such great service? Of course they will!

3. Be consistent and make it easy and fun to participate
Adding more positive experience and doing so consistently emphasizes further the advantages of interacting with you and your business.

Setting up a call-in audio testimonial line and then featuring the referring client and their business on your website or in your newsletter is a fun way to show your appreciation. People love talking about and hearing themselves, and it is so sincere and believable. And it establishes further reciprocity – you do something for them, they do something for you, you do something for them, and so on and so on.

If you are a blogger or website owner, review and recommend someone else’s site that would be helpful to your core clients and then send an email to that site’s owner with a link to your review. They are likely to refer back to you. Sometimes referrals come after you’ve given first, so be generous with your information and expertise. It will pay off.

Don’t pretend that sending a cute birthday card to your insurance clients is going to ensure you referrals. I always laugh out loud when I get an overly personal message from someone who, frankly, isn’t that overly personal with me in actuality. Consistent contact is usually better than no contact, but make the contact count. Pick up the phone for example. Even a phone message just saying hello, or inviting them to a client appreciation wine tasting, or checking on someone for no particular reason at all carries weight. Pretending you know them enough to send them a personal greeting doesn’t.

Many service providers I work with only work with referral clients. They don’t advertise, they don’t discount, and they don’t take on clients they don’t like. They don’t have to because they have implemented a referral strategy that gives them everything they need. If you try it, you might like it.

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

I had a sad day today. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and given medication for it. If you knew me well, you’d know how deeply I dislike traditional pharmaceutical medications. I like to work with natural products and supplements, but that wasn’t going to do today. I had to do something more drastic. I’m bummed.

As I was sitting in the doctor’s office, strangely enough, I wondered how my business would survive a serious illness. Not well, I realized. So much of what I do is mine to do, and I have minimal structures in place to let someone else step in. Not a plan for continuity.

Because my current business is rather new, it’s easy to understand why major structures aren’t in place. It still doesn’t change the fact that they’re not. So, I have decided that I will give my business a medical makeover at the same time I am giving me one. And, I thought it would be smart to list a few important ideas and share them with you. (You aren’t invulnerable either, you know.)

One thing to get straight is a will that includes what happens if you either can’t make decisions or pass away. Not just for medical decisions, but also what happens to your business accounts, your multiple revenue streams, your debt, and your other royalties and rights. Especially if your family isn’t directly involved in your business, it’s really good to have it all listed together somewhere.

Next, think about gathering together all your logon URLS, usernames and passwords. You want to be careful to maintain your list in a secure place, but be sure that your family knows where the list is at. A safety deposit box would work. Yes, your passwords might change, but you can do that with a system if you wanted, for example password01, 02, 03, etc. monthly. It would be easy enough to piece that together in your absence.

This list also helps your family piece together where all of your intellectual property resides on the internet. I received an email recently from EzineArticles.com, where I have several articles, announcing that they created a posthumous category for exactly this issue.

Neglecting or dismantling a revenue producing, on-going concern isn’t necessarily the best thing for you if you are under medical care or for your family if you don’t make it through. Disability and business stoppage insurance is worth checking out. There are a wide range of insurance products that would help. Main message to catch: You’re an adult now – time to begin gathering together your team of professional experts.

I know I am feeling blue, and I don’t intend to bring you down or to be too morose, but part of being an entrepreneur is planning for the future, both what you can expect and those things that you don’t. Get with a good business attorney and they can direct you to the various specialists you need to handle your affairs. At least put this on your list to do, even if you don’t do it right now. Truth is, right now is what you have. Do what you can to ensure that all of your hard work pays off.

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

p.s. On a lighter note, the doc says I need to drink a little red wine every day…it’s not all bad.

This Thursday, July 24th, will be the official launch of the new SmartWoman’s Weekly Newsletter. I will be including, all in one easy to find place, a weekly summary of all the previous week’s blog posts, hot topics, news, interviews, and more. I am even lining up some guest authors too, so there will be exclusive content in these newsletters that won’t be on the daily blog.

I also plan to pre-announce all new products and events to my membership community first, so newsletter members will get the first heads up on tele-seminars, contests, and live interview sessions. I want to do all I can to make this as exclusive as I can, as I feel it’s important that you have a place to go where you get the extra juicy stuff. Note: I am currently working on a Web Traffic 101 course that will be very affordable and helpful to those of you trying to really make your business’ website create an enduring revenue stream.

As a special thank you, I am offering an inspirational quote eBook via email download as a gift for signing up for the newsletter. This eBook is filled with beautiful original photography (by myself and other women artists I know) and dozens and dozens of quotes from my favorite women (and women friendly men) throughout history and contemporary times. These quotes were hand selected by me personally and are intended to encourage you, embolden you, and lift you up as you live your passionate life. I sincerely believe you will love them.

To sign up, fill out the form below. Once you sign up, you should receive an email from SmartWoman Publishing that contains your download link. Contact me if you run into any problems receiving your email, ok?

The newsletter membership is free and your privacy will be respected always. And, let me take this opportunity to say that I appreciate that you have come to visit and look forward to getting to know you better.

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

When setting up your profile, whether it’s on your blog, your eBay page, your youpublish account, your twitter page, your qassia page, or whatever, there are a few important things to include. Here’s a short list to get you started:

1.  Your viewpoint

Always, always, always let your personality show through. You have a few seconds. Use them wisely. First impressions count. Don’t forget that you are a unique person, so be sure to demonstrate that uniqueness. Ease up a bit on the pitch and be tastefully revealing about your thoughts and feeling. Talk about what you value, your passion and goals, and your hopes in what they will get out of meeting you. If you have a motto, mantra, or catch phrase, weave it in skillfully, but weave it in somehow.

2.  Benefits of interacting with you vs. others

Think of what you offer in terms of how it benefits the visitor and in terms of your difference in the market place. If most others in your marketplace are weak on customer service, you’d mention your great service (assuming it’s your specialty). If you cater to a specific, underserved market, say so. Give people a reason to pick you instead of the next person. It’s not so much about competition but rather focus on what you can give that no one else does.

3.  Your picture

Pick a recent color picture of your face relatively close up and post it. In some markets a caricature or a creative avatar could work, but not most markets. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a smiling picture – sometimes gravitas is what you need to demonstrate. And avoid the fakey Glamour shots thing. Remember that this is another opportunity to demonstrate yourself as a personality, a real person. It’s not a prom photo, mugshot, or a formal posed shot. This picture should be another motivator that spurs people to get to know you better. 

 4.  Contact Information

Be sure that you give information on how a person can contact you, either via email, through your website, or whatever. It’s important that you honor whatever terms of service apply here, so don’t post external links on sites that don’t like you doing that, or include your personal phone if that is forbidden. Be safe, be smart, but give your visitors a way to contact you easily. Your profile is essentially an invitation to get to know you more, so assume they like you and ask them to move forward with you.

 5.  Goodies

If you give a free ebook for signing up for your newsletter, it’s good to mention that in your profile. It’s good service to inform someone as to what they could get if they took action. Then, be sure that the link you give them takes them to the page where they can sign up, not just your general home page. If you simply dump visitors into a general page that doesn’t take them to where they need to be to get their prize, they will get frustrated and blow you off. They’ll feel duped and that’s never good.

When writing your profile, be somewhat concise but don’t be afraid to blow your own horn a bit. Tailor how you say what you say to appeal to your ideal customer. That way, the people that won’t like what you’re doing won’t even check you out and no one’s time gets wasted. The whole point of targeted marketing is to know your ideal customer intimately enough that you know what matters to them and then, simply give them that. They’ll love you for it.

Only spammers have empty profiles. Go check yours out and make sure they’re in shape. There’s no crime in them not being in shape yet, but it’s a real shame if you leave it that way. People care about your story and your viewpoint. Give them a chance to discover them!

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

I am a firm believer in mentors. I use the word guru in a playful and partly kidding way (well, except for my actual spiritual guru), but I know of a handful of amazing people I would consider at that level, a business or marketing or sales guru. Some of mine include Seth Godin, Jay Abraham, Brian Tracy, and others.

It is usually easy for me to feel comfortable recognizing others with more expertise, ability, and experience. I value interacting with people farther along a path than I am or with a more refined and capable skill set. I like having people around me that know more than I do. I’d rather had a “better me” than a “mini me” to work together with. Here’s where I have to digress, though.

Just because someone is a guru does not mean that what they suggest to do is always the very best thing for you to actually do.  It’s tempting to not question someone who is so far ahead of where you are that you can’t hardly see where they’re coming from, but it’s not a good course of action. You have to incorporate the information into your own situation. You have to evaluate if their course of action resonates with your own goals and values.

What I like to do is use guru wisdom as my jumping off point. I listen with an open mind, say yes to everything they are saying in the initial stages of learning, so I don’t turn a blind eye to something I really need to change or know, and then see how it all feels in my gut. I listen to my own reaction to ensure that what I choose to do is proper for me.

Sometimes a guru’s wisdom triggers a creative idea in me, a better idea. Sometimes it brings me clarity on what I don’t want to do. Sometimes it makes me realize I need to embrace some new values. Sometimes it’s exactly what I need to hear at exactly the right time and it spurs me on to action.

When a guru’s idea doesn’t seem right to me, my next step is to ask myself if there is a block in my mindset which is preventing me from seeing the wisdom in the guru’s words. Just like riding a bike felt strange the first time, sometimes new ideas need to be experienced a bit before they feel right. The whole point of a blind spot is that we can’t see there. And, blind spots are definitely worth eliminating.

With all this in mind, if an idea doesn’t work for me, I don’t use it, regardless of the high status the person who suggested it may have. It takes courage to move counter to someone more successful, or happier, or smarter, or whatever. But, ultimately, you have to look yourself in the mirror. You are responsible for what you choose, not them.

Gurus are people. They make mistakes like you. They may be more right more often than you are, but they are still living in the world, just like you. While you can offer them respect and attention, and you can learn amazing things from them, at the end of the day, it’s important that you unconditionallly trust the greatest guru you know – yourself.

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

Social networking is the latest, greatest tool to help you build traffic to your website and to build your brand. At this point there are too many to mention, but a few you will recognized include twitter, facebook, and myspace. They are a great way to stay connected with literally millions of people. I get it, I love them, and I completely see their value.

I know I should be using this type of marketing fully. You probably should too. But, I am finding that it’s very time consuming. For a business owner, with a thousand other things to keep straight, who has time to go chat? And, once I am there and getting into it, who can break away and not get sucked in? It’s worse than Law and Order reruns!

As hard as it might seem, you and I both have to break through and persevere. Keep in mind that you want to be sure your point of view shines through, but if you are simply adding interesting links and a small blurb to come visit, you can hire (bribe, coerce, otherwise “encourage”–hint, hint, your kids, an intern) people that will help you write. The important thing is that you need to stay visible, and that takes consistency and regularity. Having a dependable presence seems to really impact your success.

I admit that I have not done this.I can also say that when I do, I get visitors to my website from it. So, I am turning over a new leaf. This next week, I am going to make sure my profiles are in good shape and I am going to be active again. I will report back how it works out. Want to play along?

You’re invited to come follow me on Twitter: Follow SmartWoman on Twitter 
Twitter is fun and it helps me meet new people. I have liked it.

My other profiles are definitely not in order, so I will notify you as I fix them. Feel free to shout back with your hook up information. I will be your friend! And, share your stories. Have you ever made a big deal because of social networking? Tell us how it happened.

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

I belong to many newsletters and they frequently give me tremendous ideas and free resources. I wanted to share one of my favorites with you:

Warren Whitlock: Warren is one of my all time favorite free publicity guys. You can get involved by offering your products as bonuses for author’s book launches, which will get you some very nice traffic. You can also get great tips on how to promote yourself as an author too.

Warren has been working lately on Twitter a lot and he is fast becoming a super user. You can click on his name to check out his blog and you can follow Warren on twitter as well.

Honestly, Warren Whitlock does lots of things–see if you like him too. I do! I think he offers great information. 

Short but sweet. I’m on a road trip for an investment training class. Until I return on Thursday evening, stay happy!

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

P.S. Note: Just in case you haven’t noticed, I am launching a weekly update newsletter. You can sign up for it by filling out the form on the upper right corner of the page. I promise I won’t SPAM you and will only send you good stuff.

P.S.S. I made a commitment to myself to laugh more so I found a great way to do it–this is just a silly, tangential thing, but I bet you laugh also.

Feel the blood pumping through you? That’s the state of mind your business should generate, right?

I watched a very sweet and quirky movie last night entitled Lars and the Real Girl. On the surface, the movie seemed like it might just be strange, but the characters and writing and message quickly drew me in. How they told the story and the underlying compassion beneath it is what has really stayed with me through today.

The story is about Lars, a painfully shy, yet very good-hearted man who has been seemingly damaged to the point of no repair by his family history. He lives in the garage apartment of his childhood home with his older brother and pregnant sister-in-law, both of whom care very deeply for him and try to help him overcome his less than fully fuctional state. He has a job, but he is very inept at socialization, and compulsively keeps to himself.

Lars decides to purchase Bianca, a life-sized girl doll, as a companion. To Lars, Bianca is alive and very real. Unlike the more typical uses for an anatomically correct doll, Lars treats Bianca with love, respect, and dignity. He compliments her, tells her jokes, opens the door for her, and they sleep in separate rooms because, being that their relationship is so new, to do otherwise would be a violation of trust. Any woman would yearn to be treated with so much care.

Of course his brother, who carries guilt with him for their childhood years through hard times, goes bonkers with worry about Lars seemingly going off the deep end. The sister-in-law hatches a plan to get Lars to accompany his new latex girlfriend to see the local doctor (who also happens to be a psychologist) to make sure Biana stayed healthy during her travel. The doctor uses the time during Bianca’s “treatments” to help Lars untangle his psyche. The doctor further suggests that Lars is not mentally ill, but rather having a delusion designed to help him work through his childhood trauma. She encourages them all to go with it, to treat Bianca as a person until Lars is able to move on without her.

What ensues is a deeply humorous and insightful journey about attachment (or lack of it), the very human need for companionship, and how each of us uses symbols of some sort to not only cope with our traumas, but also to define who we are in this world. We all have our delusions and we all have a need for acceptance.

Here is a scene where the brother and his wife are telling their church family about Bianca and Lars’ need for understanding:

By the end of the movie, the entire town has befriended Bianca with an unconditional love and patience unlike any movie I’ve ever seen. There are no “kill the bully to get the girl” undercurrents here. No one particularly makes fun of Lars. They seem to buy into the idea that he is working through a healing process. Even if he never “gets better”, he is happier than they’ve ever seen him and is interacting with them more than he ever has before.

I don’t want to spoil the story but suffice it to say, Lars works through his issue and returns to humanity able to love and interact with real people like other better adjusted adults. What seemed like a crazy little movie turned out to be a shining example of a new way of treating each other, a new formula of communicating and sharing.

Your first response to this story might be to reject it as unrealistic. Bullies are a given in this dog-eat-dog world and everyone makes fun of those who are different, right? It’s just human nature to be competitive….right? I don’t happen to believe that, but maybe so.

So, how do we create change? I think our world changes, in part, by movies like this. To see such a well done representation of love in action moved and inspired me. It touched my heart because I long for this type of world. And, when people are moved and inspired, they act differently. They change.

So, finally, we arrive at our business. How can we effectively change our world in a way that moves us from war and hate to love and peace? How do we do that through our business? What is our current metaphor, the symbolic story we tell, that defines us and how we conduct our business? What is our coping delusion and how can we heal and move past it?

What is your business Biana, your delusion for coping? What do you choose as your companion in business? Is it stress or worry? Is it food or tobacco? Is it procrastination? Or something positive, yet still a delusion? Would you be able to serve another by understanding their need and allowing for their differences without ridicule? Would you have voted Bianca onto the school board (yes, the story humorously goes that far…)?

Every day, as business people, we are given the opportunity to reach others and serve them. yet often we are focused only on our own viewpoints and needs. When we look beyond the “norm” and truly see another for what they need and how we can help, lives can be transformed. It’s the stories we hold sacred and the metaphors we live that guide us.

What is your business metaphor? How can you soften your grip on your own delusion to move forward in a better and faster way? I challenge you to find out and to do it. Not only is it good business but you will impact others in a way you can barely imagine yet. Go rent the movie and see if inspires you too. Then, go do your thing. Even if this world isn’t idealic yet, do your thing. It makes a beautiful (even if quirky) difference.

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

I have a confession to make. I am feeling a bit pushed with my obligations right now. I apologize to you fine readers to have only offered radio silence for the last few days. Thank you to those who checked in on me. Nice to see you notice when I’m gone….

So this a polling post—how do you deal with overwhelm? I’d like to tell you I never get it, but I’d be lying. I can say I am better than I used to be, but still not where I want to be. I figure I will just cut myself some slack.

When I make a to-do list, it’s all stuff I like to do. That’s good. But it’s long! Not so good. So, for today, I am going to take a deep breath, get organized for Monday and be kind to myself. Maybe I’ll whip out that foot massaging soaker thing I own (which has cob webs on it, I’m sure) and relax a bit. And look at some pretty pictures or flowers (check out the cool photo that my unofficial mom-in-law took–isn’t it great?) Maybe some merlot is in my near future too…hmmm…

I am always admonishing you to take care of yourself. I guess that’s what I’ll do today for me.

What about you, ladies? What are you doing to handle overwhelm? When the going gets rough, what do you do to deal with it? I’d love know!

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

p.s. I actually have a bunch of exciting things to share, so stay tuned. Also, we will cover more traffic techniques next week. Have a great day!!