Social Media Efforts

Well, there was a time when I was actually trying to do this thing called social media on a regular basis.  It had its fun times, but it also was a lot a of work that seemed to take me away from other work. 

After a looooong hiatus from blogging and tweeting and facebooking -- I'm trying to ease myself back into it.  The goal it to come up with a schedule or plan of action that makes sense. 

One of these things I came up with is a strategy I heard some writers do.  Commit to one page a day.  I read once of this author who says she commits herself to writing at least one page a day.  On some days, that page comes out in less than five minutes and she ends up on a roll and might do ten, twenty pages.  On other days that one page might take 12 plus hours. 

I certainly don't have 12 plus hours to commit to social media each day, but I am committed that my "one page" will be that I will do at least on social media activity each day.  Like that writer, there may be days when I get on a roll and become inspired by an event in my life or an epiphany of brilliance may occur that I feel I have to share with the world.  But I know on most days, it might just be one tweet, one facebook post, one viral video on YouTube....or one blog post.   Can you guess what my "one page" is today?

Why Did You Make The Leap: Oana Hogrefe, Photographer

Recently I ask for some entrepreneurs to share why and how they made the leap from the j-o-b to starting their own business...


I have been pursuing a safe (although difficult) high-tech/science path for many years. I hold a PhD in Physics, and have been holding corporate positions in the IT/software industry for 9 years.

I decided to become an entrepreneur when I realized that the way I spent my waking hours needs to reflect my passions, priorities and what brings me joy. The corporate ladder has its advantages, but it can also feel constricting and many of the limitations are out of ones control.

I am now a full time owner of a boutique photography studio in Atlanta, and I love the feeling of being able to have my business be an authentic extension of myself, my beliefs, priorities, personality and passions..

For people who are looking into owning their own business, here are a few pieces of advice: avoid paralysis by analysis. Move forward daily, even if with small steps. You will never be completely perfectly ready to make the leap. You will not replace your previous income right away. Growing a business takes determination, focus and action. Be a little better every time. Deliver exceptional products or services. Align your actions with your passion, and people will appreciate your genuine spirit.

Oana Hogrefe
Photographer


http://www.shutterview.com/

The Art and Technology of Photography

Even with all the modern technology, taking a great picture is an art.

I took a few moments to talk with photographer Scott Hewitt about his art and some of the new technology that is added new demensions to his work.

For more information about 360 degree phtography, visit Scott's websites. 

http://www.scotthewitt.com/


http://www.dgree360.com/

Teaching Entrepreneurship -- An interview with NFTE Leaders

Across this country, non-profit organizations are meeting their mission of helping to improve their communities. They are meeting these quality improvement and outcome goals through the generous contributions of volunteers.  This is especially true of one organization, the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, which relies greatly on local volunteers and business professionals to bring their experience and expertise to the next generation of business owners.

Successful entrepreneur and new author Tony Hartl has given so much to his local NFTE chapter. I had the opportunity to talked with Mr. Hartl, Laura Maczka, the Executive Director of the Dallas area NFTE, as well as Philadelphia area NFTE Executive Director, Sylvia McKinney about why teaching entrepreneurship to students is so important.

To learn more about Tony Hartl's book, visit www.sellingsunshinebook.com

To learn more about NFTE, visit their website at www.nfte.com

Interview with Author Jeffrey J. Fox of Fox and Company

Are you fierce?!?

Author Jeffrey J. Fox has written a new book --  "How To Be A Fierce Competitor".   I had an opportunity to talk to him about some of the things he feels are necessary to be and remain successful in our society; to be not just a competitor, but to be a fierce competitor.

I hope you enjoy our talk as much as we did.

For more information about Jeffrey J. Fox and his latest book, please visit his website.

http://www.foxandcompany.com/

The Power of Relationships in Building Your Business

Big, small, or tiny, success in business is about creating and maintaining relationships, not only with customers but with those who can help you build your business.

One of the low-cost strategies that a business owner can incorporate into their Marketing Plan is being someone who connects with other businesses and helps them build their business too.  It is a simple way to build your business through building your circle of influence.

Each week make it a goal to build relationships with complementary small businesses that are not direct competition. If you sell candy, become a marketing partner with a florist, a salon & spa, or a restaurant. If you are a gourmet food shop, connect with a caterer or an event planner. The key it to see how many "business partners" you can connect with for reciprocal referrals and joint marketing events.

For all you A-Type personalities who need to quantify and measure your marketing activities and their ROI, this is easy to track. Set goals on your number of contacts and their outcomes. How many new relationships have you created this month? How many referrals have you made? How many have you received? What is the average gross receipt for each partner's referrals? You can decide to retain or end a partnership based on the reciprocity of the relationship.

Are you raising an entrepreneur or two?

Calling All Experts

I'm a firm believer in the sentiment...."You learn something new everyday." Sometimes this happens naturally, sometimes you need to seek out your next teacher.

So that's what I'm doing now. I'm looking for experts who can teach me and my readers something

So....Who are you and what do you do? What do you know that I need to know?