It’s never been an easy name for the group… “V/B” and “M/N” can be difficult to discern if you’re saying the initials of the group, the “B” and “W” are frequently swapped around or the entire name is kinda slurred over by those who haven’t gotten the hang of it yet…  which includes quite a few members too (It’s embarrassing if you can’t even say the name of the group you’re in!)

The group was founded as a source of support for women entrepreneurs. Yet “entrepreneurs” is not in the title, and the group doesn’t have an “official” tagline that clearly expresses its’ mission.

The members are the reason the group has survived 30 years; but I can’t help but think that the group would thrive if they branded themselves better – if they created a strong identity with a more recognizable name, a strong tagline, and a meaningful logo.

As incoming president this year, I’m hoping to help with that – if you have suggestions or thoughts I’d love to hear from you!

True entrepreneurs create and build because they are people who love to create and build. They feel it deep in their bones. It stirs their souls.

I love that!

Going back to blogging this week, been away too long!

I was called by someone I’ve done business with and asked to join a local group that would be like a BNI but without the price tag. Since I respected the person that asked I attended the meeting.

About 10 of us gathered around the conference room table and each chatted about their business and handed out their cards. Most of them were new faces to me. I had never met “Bullwinkle” but I had just stopped using his company’s services (which, of course, I didn’t mention) .

Bullwinkle, not really knowing any of us, hands us all his card and a brochure for his products (all of which are a few hundred to a few thousand dollars) without asking if we had the slightest interest in them (obviously the company he works for is paying for the brochure so he doesn’t care how many go into a landfill).

I handed out a copy of the MVBWN (Mohawk Valley Business Women’s Network) Directory. I did this for two reasons: 1) I want people to know there are women entrepreneurs out there and utilize their services and 2) at that time I designed the piece so was marketing for my skills too.

Well, within three days I had Network members emailing me asking if I was getting emails from some guy named Bullwinkle – sure enough, he had taken the directory and spammed every member!

Obviously he didn’t understand that:

1. We’re women entrepreneurs and if he had passed that on to a woman to spam us he may have gotten a better response
2. He should have considered establishing a relationship by using the services of a member
3. Several of these women clearly had no need for his product
4. That kind of spamming makes you seem desperate
5. We’re businesswomen – we’re not going to buy a big ticket item from a stranger through an email

I felt violated (for lack of a better word). I never implied anyone should spam these women – I assumed business people would know better. As I said at the beginning, I only went to ONE meeting – I have a lot of connections and if someone abuses them there is no second chance; I take the privilege of relationship very seriously. I’m sure Bullwinkle didn’t get a single bite from his spam – and he lost any chance of ever doing so.

Remember: It’s about relationship, and “bullying” your way into an inbox does not build a relationship, it builds a wall. Protect your contacts and respect the contacts of others – that’s the #1 rule of networking!

I’m thankful for my life, my family, my friends, my home, my clients – I think this song sums it up…

V-

Would you trade places with a 3 foot man in a wheelchair?

Before you say “NO WAY!” I’m inviting you to watch this video from my colleague, Sean Stephenson – a man whose life story is pure “Chicken Soup”.

Google
him, and you’ll find that he’s professionally speaking and traveling
the world as a person on a mission – a mission to rid the world of
insecurity and help people live the quality of life they deserve, no
matter what their challenges are.

If you’re inspired by Sean’s video,
please help me help Sean!

You see, Sean got a pilot deal for a show about his daily life, struggles and achievements, on the Biography Channel.

He
needs a 300,000 people to tune in (this Sunday night) to push his show
to the next level and get picked up as a series. I want to help Sean
take his inspirational story to millions of people, helping them
overcome their own adversity and limiting beliefs.

The show premiers Sunday, November 15th at 7PM and 11pm PT, 10pm ET on the Biography Channel.

Watch Sean’s video and PLEASE tune in and find out why Jimmy Kimmel calls Sean “the Yoda of personal development’.

Wishing you much love and happiness,

JACK CANFIELD
America’s #1 Success Coach
CEO, The Canfield Training Group

http://v1kram.posterous.com/liu-bolinthe-invisible-man ]]> http://mventrepreneurs.org/2009/10/the-only-time-that-blending-in-is-good/feed/ 0 http://mventrepreneurs.org/2009/07/you-say-your-accountant-is-creating-your-website-hows-that-working-for-you/ http://mventrepreneurs.org/2009/07/you-say-your-accountant-is-creating-your-website-hows-that-working-for-you/#comments Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:59:00 +0000 Veronika Freeman http://4448784c-2517-415a-a6a2-ba20997e4a83 Continue reading →]]> I was meeting with a new client today (will announce his name as soon as site is complete) at a new local coffeehouse – and afterwards I had the opportunity to chat with the owner. When I mentioned I loved the space there and want to have more client meetings there, she of course asked what I did for a living… I told her I designed websites. She said she hated the computer and has some “free” thing started on Homestead and that her “accountant was working on it”….

Of course, at this point I swallow hard and smile. I love my accountant (acutally CPA, Julie Steele, www.gustafsoncpas.com – she’s awesome!) but I wouldn’t put my website in her hands! All my money…yes! My branding / comporate image / internet presence..NO! Would you let your lawyer cut your hair? Or your hairdresser remove your gallbladder? And then there’s the “free” companies…

I’m not one to talk down about any other company – my clients will back me on that. It just slays me that people think they are getting something “free” or “cheap”  because they are uninformed.

She isn’t the first – I’m sure you’ve all found the “FREE WEBSITES!” banner somewhere and been tempted, if not taken in… “free” is seldom free – and if it is it’s not necessarily good.

Most of these “free hosting” companies are only free:

•  for a certain number of months OR
• with advertising OR
• if you use their domain name in the site (like www.homestead.com/mybusiness or www.mybusiness/homestead.com). That package is only free for 30 days then it’s $4.99 a month (comparable to other companies)

if you want a domain name it’ll cost you – way more than $10. If you want your own name with an email address and hosting it’s $140 for the first SIX months! (and $24/month after that) – that $140 would be my company’s fees for a full year, including the domain name and email (heck, I even set them up for my clients – for free!)

Feeling “homey” yet? Well, then at the “starter” level you only get 30 days phone support – and at the “gold” you get 90 days! Wow! Of course, unless I sign up for an account I can’t find out what their customer service hours are… But I’m guessing they’re not 24 / 7 / 365 like mine – and mine are unlimited; you can call my company 15 times a day every day forever if you want and my customer service reps will happily answer your questions (or I’ll beat them! kidding!)

I usually promote other companies, software and other cool things on this blog… but the interaction I had today made me feel like I should just put it out there and let people know that there are all sorts of options out there and not to jump on “FREE” without doing some research…

I had another client tell me he was building a website on www.webs.com and said it was “free” – it is but:

• Curently NO phone support
• $19.95 for domain name (mine are less that $10)
• $17.95 for privacy on domain names (mine is, again, less than $10)
• You can’t use your own name unless you purchase the $99/year package.
• I cannot vouch for how long some of these “new” “free” companies will be in business – you’re taking a risk…

My hosting company has been around since 1997, and I’ve personally been in business since 2003. We do not outsource or offshore any of our operations. I’m in NYS and my hosting is in the USA as well.

In conclusion – just do your research before you get started – as all these are proprietary programs – meaning once you build it there you aren’t moving it… leave it or lose it! If you hated building it the first time it’ll really suck to do it again! Don’t pay too much, know what you’re getting and what’s “extra / add-ons / premium services”. Also, consider getting a professional’s opinion / assistance – there’s a scary range of prices there too (perhaps another post in the future…?) – even a genius businessman / woman can muck up a template if given enough time!

I hope this has been helpful, feel free to contact me with questions!

PS – I’m sure webs.com and homestead.com are fine companies – I only use them to show you the range of pricing and differences in plans – if I didn’t give you their names you may think I was making it up! Go there and look, and by all means if you like what you see then build your site there – we all have different needs. I’ll be here if you need me ;<
V-

Discgear.com

Stylish Studio stacks to hold 300 discs!

Studio 100

Love this product! Now discontinued!

Pros: Functional, Attractive Design, Teal great color, Stylish Design, Like printable list

Cons: Discontinued

Best Uses: CDs, Matches my office

Describe Yourself: Midrange Shopper

Primary use: Personal

Store my music cds in my office – I hope that the online printing feature will still be available to add CDs to. Keeps my music close at hand and organized, funky and clean look keeps office looking tidy.
Would love to get wood grained or metal-look for living room.

()

… hero (male) and heroine (female) came to refer to characters (fictional or historical) that, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and the will for self sacrafice – that is, heroism – for some greater good, originally of martial courage or excellence but extended to more general moral excellence.

Captain Sullenberger, according to many, falls under that definition. His hometown - actually most of the world – calls him a hero… and his modest response is:

“Circumstance determined that it was this experienced crew that was scheduled to fly that particular flight on that particular day,” he said. “And I know I can speak for the entire crew when I tell you we were simply doing the jobs we were trained to do.”

I hope that I get the chance to do something that amazing someday and think of it as “simply doing my job”.

I started thinking about what part that played in the safety of the landing… then I read this article, which confirms what I thought: that he not only used his knowledge of flying a glider, but that he also was brave – brave enough to make the decision that the Hudson was a better landing choice for him and his crew. Not eveyone could so quick-thinking.

V-