Embrace your flaws as a marketing strategy? Yes, that’s what I said.

If you feel confused by social media, or get overwhelmed by your business tasks, or maybe yearn for the good ‘ol days when people wrote letters and didn’t know what a crackberry was, then here’s a thought – you aren’t the only one. And, if you’re not the only one, there’s probably a market that needs your help dealing with that very same struggle.

When you identify a flaw in yourself – maybe you see it as a barrier or maybe an old fashioned badge of honor for how things “should” be done – then remember that there are others out there like you. Use the feelings you have to dig deeper into the emotional triggers of your potential clients. Use the coping tools and solutions you find as an example for others. Use your viewpoint, even if you feel it’s something you need to shift, as a starting point for better understanding the needs and work flow of your customer.

Process is everything. By fully embracing your own growth and discovery process and sharing the results (and yes, the struggles and failures) through your online persona, you allow people a bird’s eye look into how you think. Demonstrating your values, becoming one of us instead of a stand offish always right guru allows for others to fall in love with what you do. And, they will even fall in love with those flaws.

Go on, now….go give yourself and all your beautifully imperfect flaws a big, juicy hug. If that feels silly or someone sees you with a funny look on your face, just tell them you’re tweeting. They’ll leave you alone!

It’s the color of the season, the color of an open heart, and the new black – gratitude.

Never before in my life have I felt such an outpouring of gratefulness, generosity, and caring as I have witnessed over the last several weeks. Don’t know if I was just wearing the right clothes, or smelled just so, but I have had the pleasure of seeing some amazing things first hand. And, I feel glad from it.

Everywhere around us, we witness the world. Some of it can seem frightening. If you listen to the general attention monger media, you might conclude that we should all be in a constant state of fear.

But here’s the deal – fear is a state of mind, not an automatic reaction. When we open our eyes to beauty and miracles, we see that instead. Call me a rose-colored glasses wearing optimist, but hope and forward looking visioning feels better to experience. It gives me more strength of spirit to face the issues that need addressing and to take action. Fear cripples – hope and love uplift. Fear is a choice and it is not my choice today.

In honor of this elation and well…gratitude I feel for the wondrous and hopeful things I see around me, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite causes. If you have one you love, please list it in comments below so we can all know about the good work they are doing and how we can help.

Kiva.org – Microlending site: For as little as $25 you can provide much needed credit assistance to deserving entrepreneurs worldwide. Most entrepreneurs who use microlending are women.
RoomToRead.org – Literacy program started by ex-Microsoft executive, John Wood, that builds libraries throughout the developing world. Room to Read’s programs have reached more than three million children so far and hopes to improve literacy for ten million children by 2020.
WomenForWomen.org – Women for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency.
Charity: Water - Almost a billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean drinking water. That’s one in eight of us. charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 100% of public donations directly fund water projects.

We have the power within ourselves to create a world of peace, understanding, tolerance, and health. Thank you to everyone who is working toward this vision – know that many of us stand in gratitude for what you do.

Together, we are stronger!

Vicki Flaugher, CEO
SmartWomanGuides.com

I got a nuclear powered phone today. Ok, not really, but this thing is phenomenal. It’s the Instinct, the Sprint version of the Iphone, and it does nearly everything except make you coffee. It has a camera and huge picture storage, I can store hundreds of audios on it, it has texting, internet surfing, GPS navigation that talks to me, and I can even watch TV on the thing. Oh, and of course I can talk on the phone too. WOW!

I admit I am a bit of a gadget freak. Maybe you’re not. If you are the type to completely shun new technology, I am suggesting that you drop that approach. You may not go full force right away, but technology is an amazing tool that can help make your life easier. Yes, you might have to read a manual, or call tech support, or even surf some forums to learn some of this stuff, but it’s so worth it!

Some women I know tell me that they are completely overwhelmed. What worries me most is when I hear them say things like “I’ve never been good at that kind of stuff” or “Girls were never allowed to play with machines in my family” or “I am just not smart enough to learn all that”. You could literally hear my heart breaking if you were sitting next to me when I hear these reasons.

These reasons are completely not workable. Being an entrepreneur means growth. Being an entrepreneur means asking for and accepting help. Being an entrepreneur means stretching your comfort zones. Growing pains are natural and healthy. They make you stronger and better.

I do understand your trepidation, though. My sweetheart is not completely comfortable with technology. He’s a smart guy, too, but it frustrates him, especially initially. But, usually, in no time at all, he’s up and going and loving it. He get’s over it quickly. He commits to learning it and asks me for help when he gets stuck and he overcomes. You have to do this too.

So, today’s challenge is for you to complete a high tech task you’ve been putting off. Remember: one of the tools of a successful entrepreneur is delegation. If you can’t do it, ask the high school kid down the block—she can probably do it in her sleep. Just don’t keep putting it off because you think you have to learn it but “can’t”. There is power in using all the tools available to you and you deserve to be in full command of that power. Use it!

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

p.s. Be sure to sign up for Wednesday’s June 25th teleseminar with Lynn Pierce about turning your passion into cash. SmartWoman Guides with Lynn Pierce Teleseminar Signup

Sometimes you have to make your commitments out loud, to an audience of supportive people, to make their outcome real. My goal with today’s post is to review our first month together and make my commitments to you for the upcoming month.

In our first month, over 1300 people have visited SmartWoman Guides!  I had my first interview and also had the pleasure of interviewing Chris Brown about being a female entrepreneur. I’d like to double our number of visitors in June, so would you help me spread the word? It would be much appreciated. The more, the merrier, right?

For June, I already have two exclusive interviews scheduled with some heavy weight entrepreneurs (I’m keeping their names a surprise until reveal day!). My goal is at least 4 interviews this month. If you know someone who would be inspiring to our audience, and/or if you’d like to be presented here, please contact me.

At this point, our community here has been visited by women in the United States, Russia, Korea, Japan, the UK, Taiwan, Canada, Australia, Austria, and Germany. My goal is to facilitate an international community so I wholeheartedly welcome the women around the world who have joined us here. Thank you for visiting.

For June, I’d like to add 10 more countries. I intend to add an international post weekly and am looking for female ambassadors from every country who could report to us on her country’s progress in supporting the goals of women entrepreneurs. Is that you? If so, please contact me.

In May, I provided the 50 Female Resource Sites listing, the Emerging Woman Entrepreneur’s Top 10 Questions to Ask (and Answer) Workbook, and a free Your Internet Cash Machine book sampler from Joe Vitale and Jillian Coleman Wheeler.

In June, I will provide more free resources and training, at least one write-up per week. I will also be adding more free articles, at least 3 per week and I will continue to recommend great websites every week. Please contact me with the specific types of help you need, as it’s important to me to give you what you need the most.

In June, I will begin releasing a weekly newsletter. It will include special bonuses and product reviews that give you a deeper look at the resources available to you as a female entrepreneur.

I am developing a Web Traffic 101 Study Course, a beginner’s guide to creating web traffic and I’ll be adding free monthly teleseminars so you get the chance to talk with me live with your questions and issues. I will announce the first teleseminar date later this week.

Thank you to all of you who have made me feel so welcome. As always, I am available if you need me.

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

p.s. Watch for an upcoming Female Entrepreneur Makeover contest as well…do you know anyone who could use that? If so, keep your eyes peeled for the details!