News of Interest: Fabulous WPO National Conference in Dallas!

We had a wonderful time in Dallas at the WPO national conference where more than 850 thriving women business owners attended and fifty of them were recognized for their Texas-sized growth (list here).

We hope to see you next year in New Orleans!

Related post.

Photo courtesy:  ©2013 Laurel Delaney.  "WPO National Conference Dallas 2013"

News of Interest: WPO Featured in WSJ

Dallas skyline

Accomplished Women Entrepreneurs From Around the World to Gather in Dallas

The Women Presidents' Organization (WPO), a global peer advisory organization for women presidents and CEOs of multi-million dollar companies, will host more than 750 successful women entrepreneurs at its annual conference from May 1- 3, 2013 at The Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

See you in Dallas!

Photo courtesy:  david.nahas

Article of Interest: How to Get Targeted Traffic

Email marketing is important for growing your business.  But did you know that there are several excellent free email marketing tools to fuel your online activities? 

Here's one:

With excellent drag and drop features Mailchimp has got many things for free. With Forever free tagline, Mailchimp is one of the most used email marketing tools.

Read the entire article:  9 Best Free Email Marketing Tools to Fuel Your Online Business

Photo courtesy:  opportplanet

Article of Interest: How to Defeat Stress

As a business owner, you're pulled in a million different directions, making critical decisions that affect the livelihood of not just yourself but your family and all the people who work for you.  How do you go about minimizing or even defeating stress?  This is how it might play out:

You have too much on your plate, deadlines are looming, people are counting on you, and to top it all off, you still have holiday shopping to do. You are under a lot of pressure — so much that at times, you suspect the quality of your work suffers for it. This is life in the modern workplace.

Does that sound like you?  Then read on with this informative article on how to defeat stress:

Nine Ways Successful People Defeat Stress by Heidi Grant Halvorson - Harvard Business Review

Note:  I don't know about you but just by looking at the photo above calms me down. 

Photo courtesy:   ©2013 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.  "Chicago Lakefront 4/13/13"

News of Interest: WPO Featured in Forbes

WPO Founder Dr. Marsha Firestone is quoted in Geri Stengel's Forbes article, "6 Secrets of Women Entrepreneurs Who Built $10 Million Companies:"

1.) Participate in peer advisory groups: “Entrepreneurs learn best from one another rather than academic courses,” said Marsha Firestone, President and Founder of Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), a peer advisory group for women presidents of multimillion-dollar companies.

Read the entire article here.

Article of Interest: How to Get Repeat Business From Customers

What makes customers loyal to your business?  Is it because you provide exceptional service, are "green" minded or offer amazing creativity?  Whatever it is - it's important to identify so you can generate and sustain long-term business success.

Read the entire article: 
Small Business Finishing Touches:  How to Get Repeat Business From Customers

Articles of Interest: Small Business Must-Reads (3/22/13)

©2013 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.  "Chicago, 3/23/13"

Four small business must-reads from The Wall Street Journal (3/22/13):

Most Small Businesses Don't Recover From Cybercrime - what's a business owner to do?

888.com Wins First Net-Only Gambling License in U.S. - what it means in terms of opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Bootstrapper's Guide to Airfare - best places (make Chicago your next destination - as shown!) and seasons for air travel plus how to get the biggest bang for your buck on business or personal travel!

When Business Names Confuse Consumers: the basics of trademark law.

Photo credit:  ©2013 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.  "Chicago, March 23, 2013."

Event of Interest: WPO International Conference 2013

It's not too late to sign up for our WPO 16th Annual Conference held in Dallas from May 1-3.  For more information and to register, visit here. 

The conference encourages WPO members to share business strategies and experience with other successful women from all over the world, as well as learn from interactive seminars and speakers. Additionally, it will provide potential members who qualify a unique opportunity to experience the impact the WPO has on women business owners professionally, and personally.

I hope to see you there!

Article of Interest: Things You Should Never Include in Your Twitter Bio

Want to turn people off so they never, ever bother to follow you on Twitter?  Mention these phrases in your bio:

• Social media maven
• Social media guru
• Calling yourself an "anything" junkie (e.g., tech junkie, PR junkie, info junkie)
• Thinking that some part of your bio should be in CAPS because it is so important

Wait, there's more!

Read:  25 Terrible Things You Should Never Include in Your Twitter Bio

Article of Interest: Is It Time to Redesign Your Website?

How do you know when it's time to redesign your business website?

Facebook and Twitter have undergone major overhauls to help users interact more efficiently and share more content. And just recently Yahoo.com made news when it revamped its homepage.

Ask yourself these questions to determine if you need a website makeover.

Is It Time for a Website Redesign?  Five Questions to Ask 

Photo credit:  Women Presidents' Organization Chicago blog homepage

In Loving Memory: Geraldine Smothers (WPO Chicago I member)

Gerri Smothers (12/13/12)

In Loving Memory of Geraldine Smothers

January 10, 1946 - February 17, 2013

We will miss Gerri enormously.

May she rest in peace.

Article of Interest: Is Your Business Prepared for a Mobile Revolution?

According to a new visual report issued by Milo.com nearly 11% of the total United States retail e-commerce sales last year were made on mobile devices.  Is your business ready for the mobile e-commerce revolution?  Have you optimized your digital presence to attract more shoppers to your business?

The chart of U.S. retail mobile commerce traces back to 2011, when sales totaled $14 billion dollars, more than doubling in 2012 to $25 billion. One of the more interesting figures is the average amount per purchase by device, noting that $250 was the average purchase on a smartphone, while an average tablet purchase amount was significantly higher at $329.

Read more here.

Illustration credit:  Business2Community.com

Article of Interest: Why Success Is a Habit

You make your bed everyday.  You brush your teeth.  You walk your dog (if you have one).  Why is it with success we don't think of it as a habit?

John Maxwell says, "success is a habit, just like all those other routines.  Sure, it takes a little more work to cultivate this one than, say, filing your paperwork before it overwhelms your desk; but nonetheless, if you train yourself right, you can experience that "I did it!" feeling over and over again."

Here's how.  Read entire article:  How Can You Keep on Winning?

Book of Interest: The Growth Story

WPO London Chapter Chair Sue Stockdale has a new book out, The Growth Story, published by Book Shaker.  The book aims to inspire men and women alike to build powerful growth-oriented businesses.

The Growth Story covers nine different growth strategies used by women entrepreneurs - from geographic expansion to franchising to acquiring companies.  If you haven't already achieved successful growth for your business, read this book and find your path.

Buy now:  The Growth Story -- also available at Amazon.

And if you plan to attend our WPO 2013 Annual Conference in Dallas this year (May 1-3), Ms. Stockdale will have copies of her book available for sale.

Photo courtesy:  ©Laurel Delaney 2013. All rights reserved.

Article of Interest: Recharge Your Business in 2013

Amidst chaos and uncertainty, is it possible to stay focused and set the foundation for a successful year to come?  You bet.  Here are six ways to help you recharge your business in 2013.  It starts with getting your priorities in line.

6 Ways to Recharge Your Business in 2013

Are any recharge ideas missing?  Let us know and we'll add yours to a list in a separate blog post later.

Photo courtesy:  Changed Priorities Ahead

Article of Interest: 10 Conversations That Changed Our World

While running a multimillion-dollar business, are you out to change the world?   Each of us has a desire to make a difference -- whether to improve the lives of others or to cure a dreadful disease.  The trick is:  How do you make it happen?  What sparks the idea to develop a new product, go global or own the online space you operate in and each with the intent to change the world?

We've got clues and they start here.  Read:  10 Conversations That Changed Our World

Illustration credit:  Fast Company

Note (1/21/13):  One other conversation that changed the world: MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech

Blog Post of Interest: In 2013, Will You Manage or Lead Your Business?

Dr. John P. Kotter, the Konosuke Matsushita Professor of Leadership, Emeritus at Harvard Business School and the Chief Innovation Officer at Kotter International, a firm that helps leaders accelerate strategy implementation in their organizations, makes a case here on the radical differences between management versus leadership.

In more than four decades of studying businesses and consulting to organizations on how to implement new strategies, I can't tell you how many times I've heard people use the words "leadership" and "management" synonymously, and it drives me crazy every time. 

Find out why Dr. Kotter is driven to madness on this topic:  Management Is (Still) Not Leadership

As always, be sure to read all the reader comments for the optimum level of insights.

Meanwhile, how will you take your organization into the future - by managing or leading? 

Illustration credit:  Kotter International

Article of Interest: Inspirational Quotes for 2013

Happy 2013! 

I hope it's your best year ever.  Here's my quote to you for the new year:

"May you innovate, disrupt and solve a lot of customer pain points in 2013!" ~ Laurel Delaney, WPO Chicago Chapter Chair.

Try these other motivational quotes on for size - there's twelve in all - because they will inspire you to take amazing action in the new year.

12 Great Motivational Quotes for 2013

Holiday Greetings and Best Wishes For a Very Happy New Year From WPO Chicago!

©Laurel Delaney 2012, "The Great Tree, Walnut Room at Macy's in Chicago"

Tip of the Day: Bad Boss? Bah, Humbug!

This holiday season - don't fall into the 'bad boss' boat and disregard it with "bah, humbug!"

Here are three ways to avoid being labeled a 'bad boss.'

Don't Be a Bad Boss - Management Tip of the Day

Article of Interest: Lessons Learned From 2012

Photo credit:  Samasource.org

Fast Company asks an array of thought-leaders what they learned in 2012.  Here are three from innovative women:

"The best way to make employees happy is to set realistic goals and achieve them." ~ Leila Janah, CEO, Samasource

"We've launched "To Get Her There" to give girls skills they need to be leaders in 25 years." ~ Anna Maria Chavez, CEO, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.

"We have to think about everything that goes on in our members' lives, beyond just what they're doing in the club." ~ Sarah Robb O'Hagan, President, Equinox

What did you learn in 2012?  Let us know and we'll publish your best lesson here.

Meanwhile, get your own dose of business wisdom here.

In the News: WPO Chicago member Shelly Sun

Shelly Sun, CEO and co-founder of BrightStar (Chris Walker, Chicago Tribune)

A great feature in the Chicago Tribune on WPO Chicago member Shelly Sun, CEO and co-founder, BrightStar:

Executive Profile: Shelly Sun, co-founder of BrightStar Care

CEO envisions a world of possibilities for her elder home care business

Photo credit: Chicago Tribune (Chris Walker)

Article of Interest: Managing Globalization

Over at Forbes, Christopher Koch provides four ways that small and medium-sized businesses can manage globalization without losing their minds:

1. Build a process for airlifting in best practices.
2. Plan for disruptions—don’t wait for them.
3. Make up for a small workforce through knowledge sharing.
4. Seed market demand before going in.

Read the entire article here.

This related primer on doing business internationally may help as well.

Article of Interest: How to Promote Like a Pro

Shine Like a Star!

How can you make a difference with your customers and constituency base?  How can you shine?  How do you promote your business like an online pro?

We've got your back covered.

Go here for solutions.  Have any additional tips to share?  We welcome hearing from you!

Book of Interest: How Women Lead

How Women Lead:  The 8 Essential Strategies Successful Women Know is authored by Sharon Hadary, Principal of Sharon Hadary & Co. and founding and former executive director of the Center for Women’s Business Research and Laura Henderson, President of Henderson Associates and founder and former President and CEO of Prospect Associates.

Learn:

• How to empower the leader within.
• How to own your own destiny.
• How to be the advocate unabashedly for yourself + more!

Order the book here.

Article of Interest: Growing Beyond

In a recent report, Growing Beyond: how high performers are competing for growth in difficult times, Ernst & Young's United Kingdom's operation analyzes the ways in which high-performing companies are responding to the new economic landscape.

Further, it shows that leading companies are striving to grow beyond traditional boundaries by expanding into new markets, promoting innovation in products and services, and nurturing new talent.

Learn more here.

Event of Interest: 100 Black Men of Chicago and the Women Presidents' Organization

100 Black Men of Chicago and the Women Presidents' Organization 
Honoring Women of Color

Sponsored by PNC and IBM

Thursday, November 1, 2012
The Mid-America Club, Chicago
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Private affair - members and special guests only.  

We are excited about honoring WPO Chicago members and many other influential women.  See you there.

For more information, please contact:  Laurel Delaney (773-381-1700).

Article of Interest: Presentations That Matter

Who hasn't put together what they thought was a killer presentation in their professional lifetime only to find out later on -- during the presentation -- that the audience has a glazed-over look in their eyes, some even falling asleep?

Fear no more.  One of my favorite presentation experts, Nancy Duarte, in the following article provides two big ideas on how to make the audience the stars of your presentation and deliver a presentation that matters.

Create a Presentation Your Audience Will Care About

About Nancy Duarte:  She is the author of the all-new edition of the HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations, as well as two award-winning books on the art of presenting, Slide:ology and Resonate. Her team at Duarte, Inc., has created more than a quarter of a million presentations for its clients and teaches public and corporate workshops on presenting. Follow Duarte on Twitter: @nancyduarte.

Illustration credit:  Nancy Duarte, Harvard Business Review

Article of Interest: 10 Secrets to Managing a Successful Blog

As featured in the October 2012 edition of the Women Presidents' Organization newsletter.

10 Secrets to Managing a Successful Blog

How to Grow a Niche-Market Blog Into the Hottest Property on the Planet

Illustration credit:  ©Global TradeSource, Ltd., The Global Small Business Blog

Full disclosure:  Laurel Delaney is the creator and publisher of The Global Small Business Blog

Organization of Interest: Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP)

With the presidential election right around the corner, we've called on Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) to help us better understand the policy impact and policy priorities each of the candidates will have on small business owners, if elected.

That said, at our October WPO Chicago meeting, we will have Ann Sullivan who heads up WIPP's government relationships in DC present a nonpartisan comparison of our presidential candidates.

In preparation, we will read the Economic Blueprint for the 112th Congress.  Please click here to access it.

The Economic Blueprint's strength is evident by its support from the women's business community and many business associations. Through the Blueprint we have a voice, and through the Blueprint, Congress and the Administration are able to clearly understand the economic principles important to small business growth.

 To get involved with WIPP, go here.

Illustration credit:  WIPP

Posted by:  Women Presidents' Organization Chicago

Event of Interest: WBDC Conference in Chicago (9/20)

Bari Ray, Chapter Chair and Membership Services Coordinator for WPO at the WBDC Conference Chicago 2012

We had a wonderful time exhibiting at the Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) conference in Chicago on Thursday, September 20th.  Thank you for stopping by our Booth No. 512!

Bari Ray, Chapter Chair and Membership Services Coordinator (pictured) and I enjoyed meeting you.  We chatted with many talented women business owners, including our very own WPO Chicago members.

If you have any questions about WPO (Chicago), please feel free to contact me.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Article of Interest: Kiss Bad Presentations Goodbye

What's the downside to a bad PowerPoint presentation?  I know, I know, we don't have all day.  Number one, you will either turn people off (forever) or put them to sleep, whichever comes first.  Either one is not too pretty, especially when it relates to nailing down new business.

Here comes Haiku Deck, a free app for the iPad making it impossible to create ugly, pathetic slides.

Curious as to how this is possible?  Me too.  So have a look over at:  Haiku Deck.  Meanwhile, read the entire article:  A Presentation App That Forces You to Tell Better Stories

Illustration credit:  Haiku Deck homepage

Article of Interest: The Next Digital Revolution

©2012 Laurel Delaney, "Digital Revolution"

Below is a snapshot of six trends and developments in the world of mobile along with suggestions on what you should do next with your business to stay ahead and remain relevant. Use it as a guide for paving the way to a more prosperous future in our connected world.

The Next Digital Revolution: Mobile Phones Plus e-Commerce Equals Digital Global Success

Video of Interest: What Is the Women Presidents' Organization?

The Women Presidents' Organization currently has 101 chapters in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Peru and South Africa.

If you would like more information on WPO, please call 212-688-4114 or email info@womenpresidentsorg.com.

Book of Interest: 4 Traits to Business Success

Heart, Smarts, Guts, and Luck -- already a New York Times bestseller -- is a new book authored by Anthony Tjan, Richard Harrington and Tsun-Yan Hsieh.  It's core finding is that business success and decision-making is driven by the four traits of the book's title.

Do you know which of these traits dominates your personality?  For long-term succees, you ought to.

Learn more here.

Go straight to:  Heart, Smarts, Guts, and Luck:  Wisdom Manifestos culled from top business leaders

Illustration credits:  Heart, Smarts, Guts, and Luck website

Article of Interest: The Social Media Roadmap

Are you on top of your social media game?  Quick test.  Do you know how to utilize Reddit, Foursquare, Facebook and Twitter to grow your business?  Not so sure?

Get your social mojo in order below.  A snapshot of just a few of the fine insights you will learn:

Social Or Die
What Your Social Media Consultant Should Tell You
The 36 Rules of Social Media

The Social Media ROADMAP

Illustration credit:  Foursquare

Article of Interest: How to Improve Search Rankings Through Social Media Interactions

Online content is Queen (not King in our case). It's a valuable asset to leverage and grow a business.

Here are three ways to use social media to improve your search rankings.

Blog Post of Interest: How Stimulating Should Your Work Environment Be?

Is your lifestyle designed to serve as a smokescreen - hiding the fact that what you do doesn't matter?  If you are running a meaningful and successful business, clearly that should not be the case.  But are you?

How can you tell whether you are pushing your employees too much -- that they never have a moment to think outside the box, create new breakthroughs or even look for new opportunities to help grow your business?

Think there's an easy solution?  Guess again.

The answer isn't a simple "yes" or "no."  While Kreider argues that we need a bout of idleness to get inspired and work more effectively, there is evidence that workers benefit from busyness. 

Susan David at the HBR Blog Network addresses this compelling topic and more in "Is Busyness Bad For Business?"  Take the time to read the reader's comments.

My tip for today is:  "Be idle.  Get inspired!

Article of Interest: How to Build a Great Sales Team

Let's face it, we all want a winning sales team.  But why is it so many of us fall short of building one?  Is it "us" or is it "them?"  Or is it something else?

Clearly, the best sales forces have both excellent salespeople and excellent managers.  A team of ...

Read the entire Harvard Business Review blog post here.

A few interesting reader's comments:

•  You need to get the right person at the driving seat and let him or her run with it. A great manager will get great people working for him and ensure the organization is benefited.

•  Few organizations have any substantial programs for sales managers, much less real sales leadership.  Yet, sales team leaders and sales “managers” are the most critical element for success because they define and drive the culture for each sales person and the sales team.

•  What were great managers before they were great managers?  As far as I know, you don't just get promoted into a management role - you have to earn that right, build that experience and then win the position.  I would disagree and say that all great managers, at one time or another, were great sales people.  "You can't know where you're going, unless you remember where you came from."

 What's your experience?  How have you developed a best sales force?  We welcome hearing from you!

Article of Interest: Mobile Commerce Booms

New data from IBM shows mobile commerce in 2012 is booming, representing 15.1% of all online sales.  Social commerce, on the other hand, is declining 20% in Q2 2012 - just 1.9% of online sales (down from 2.4%).

As a business owner, how are you leveraging technology to perform better for your customers?

... it’s clear that mobile commerce is growing bigger and faster than social commerce.  Why?  Well, mobile-enhanced commerce has a clear value proposition that hits one of the core 4C’s of marketing (as shown above) – convenience.

Read the entire article and view the slideshare here.

Illustration credit:  Social Commerce Today

Article of Interest: Why Emotions Matter in the Business World

What to do with negativity in the workplace?  How do you handle a chronic complainer?   Every once in a while we hire a key person who seems ideal for a job - only to discover later on that they are a big time energy drainer within the firm.

What can you do?  The article below is a good example of how one executive handled a very similar situation.  Once he took action, a cloud had lifted and the sun came out.

Read the entire article:  Emotional Contagion Can Take Down Your Whole Team

Event of Interest: 9th Annual WPO Chicago Summit 2012!

For more information, contact WPO Chicago Chapter Chair Laurel Delaney, ldelaney@globetrade.com or 773-381-1700.

For Members Only.

Books of Interest: Great Summer Reading for Business Owners

Photo courtesy:  ©Laurel Delaney 2012, "Steve Jobs"

Start up or beyond, these books will help you brush up on everything from modern marketing to leadership to innovation.  A terrific book list.

A List of Must-Read Books For Startups and Entrepreneurs

Photo -- "Steve Jobs - Biography" -- courtesy of Laurel Delaney and featured as No. 5 on the book list under Inspiration.


Related posts.

Article of Interest: The Consumer Cloud

©Laurel Delaney 2012

As you run your business, you need to access critical information -- presentations, files, spreadsheets, and photos -- on-the-move.  According to "Top Trends of 2012:  The Consumer Cloud," there are three main types of consumer cloud services.  I just happen to use all three.  Are you?

1.  Online storage:  Dropbox is the leading brand in this category, despite competing with heavyweights like Google Drive, Microsoft SkyDrive, Amazon Cloud Drive, Box.net and others.

2.  Online sync: iCloud enables Apple users to easily sync their media across devices. So far music is the battleground in this category, although it will eventually extend to other types of media (like videos). iTunes Match allows iTunes users to sync their music collection across devices, using iCloud. Competitors include Google Music and Spotify.

3.  Online notes: Evernote is the leading player in this niche; it really has no peers.

Read the entire article here.

Photo credit:  ©Laurel Delaney 2012

Article of Interest: What's Next for Silicon Valley?

It pays to track trends, especially when running a business.  For the restless souls, this article gives a glimpse of what's around the corner in terms of technological advancements that might disrupt the way in which we conduct business.

The engineer behind Google X, Sebastian Thrun, shares his background and provides ideas on what he's currently working on (e.g., Udacity as shown above) in Google world.

Can't you pinpoint almost everything that happened back to some technological breakthrough?" ~ S. Thrun 

Read:  What's Next for Silicon Valley?

Article of Interest: Hitting the $1,000,000 Mark

Men and women alike know it's not easy to grow a business beyond the $1,000,000 mark.  It takes a good idea, initiative and tremendous discipline.  For women, here's a look at how to overcome the stereotypes.

How She Hit the $1,000,000 Mark

Local women business owners share what it takes to shatter expectations.

Let us know if you agree or disagree.  We welcome hearing from you!

Note:  In the Resources For Women-owned Growing Businesses, the Women Presidents' Organization is referenced.

Blog Post of Interest: Thank You Barilla!

Photo courtesy:  ©Laurel Delaney, "Barilla samples"

Thank you to Barilla for the box of new product samples for WPO Chicago members.  We will enjoy!

For those who don't know about Barilla, they are an Italian Food Company that has been around since 1877.  To learn more about Barilla's new microwaveable meals, go here.  They claim:

Ready in just 60 seconds, so that even the busiest individual can enjoy a delicious Italian meal.  Requires no refrigeration, so you can throw them into your bag on your way out the door.  They're made with only high-quality 100% natural ingredients, and no preservatives.

Best wishes for continued success to Barilla and thank you again for thinking of WPO Chicago!