**********WE'VE MOVED**********

Effective Saturday, January 17, 2009:

Women, Wealth and Worth has moved to Portico Business Solutions


Please click on the above link and when you arrive at our new home, add the new address to your Favorites.

Women, Wealth and Worth is now…
{stay tuned for a new name and a new look}!

In keeping with our dedication in providing, the best and most updated information for women business owners, we realized that our previous name did not express who or what we are…a portal to business knowledge for women.

There are some changes we’re making in 2009 (all FREE to you):
~ an A-Z outline of how to choose / start / maintain a business
~ how to price & market your products
~ how to optimize your reinvest
~ industry trends
~ SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
~ Website vs Blogging
~ Guest Vendor profiles
and much more!

In addition, we will offer a series of specialty e-books, ranging from $6.95 - $10.95. Each booklet will consist of valuable vendor lists, competitor demographics, money saving tips, letter writing samples and much more!

We will try to keep all information generic enough to be valuable to any industry, but if we can’t, we will certainly reach out to our panel of experts to assist in getting you the information you need to succeed!

All that we ask in return is that you dedicate yourself to your business. It’s important to our success – and yours – to always bring integrity, honesty and the best that we can offer to each and every client.

Remember, our blog (meaning me, you and everyone who joins), is only successful when we choose to respond, initiate and submit topics to discuss. You don’t have to be an expert to ask or answer questions – you just have to Pay It Forward, each time you visit.

With that being said…
See you in the New Year, where we’ll unveil our new name, new look and new tools to help us make 2009 a prosperous year!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS: I need to send a special and heartfelt thanks to some of the best business women in the world, who always inspire me to keep going...even when I've run out of gauze for my wounds: Terrica, Randi and Alesia.

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

We’re a few weeks early for our Farewell to ’08, but with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, now is as good of time as any to share our thoughts.

Just like the title says: yesterday’s behind us, today is here and tomorrow is waiting for us.

Let's take the good, the bad and the otherwise of 2008 (yikes! Where’d the time go?) and make it work better for you in 2009.

So, as we step back and reflect about this year, we ask: what do we need to do in ’09 that we didn’t/coulda/shoulda/woulda done in ’08?

Then, think like an Olympian hopeful - where the ultimate goal is the Gold Medal, not the Bronze. Where the time put in everyday, can either, end in a bang or a bust.

Where an excuse is never expected nor accepted.

Where everyday paves the way for tomorrow and a better future – but we can’t get to the future without getting through “right now”.

We can’t get through “right now”, unless we live and breathe, that one ingredient that makes everything else pale in comparison:

D-E-D-I-C-A-T-I-O-N

Every venture starts the same way In The Beginning:
*Business name:
Read: “Are You the New Kids on the Block?" for more insight.

*License or d/b/a:
...especially if you’re products are edible

*Liability insurance:
...especially if you’re products are edible

*Professional email address & business cards

*Plans A-Z:
Short term & long term, this is the crux of any business.

*Pricing structure:
Don’t forget…time & labor is just as important as the actual product

*Contracts:
A business to client contract. A business to vendor contract.

*Competition:
Yes, you DO need to know what they’re doing.

*Product:
ALWAYS bank on quality over quantity.

But it’s the dedication that pulls it all together and sets the path for the future.

It’s that extra mile that you gave that closed the deal.

It’s the plan you thought about for days and finally DID IT, that moved you forth.

Remember, the best laid plans aren’t always successful, but are never a failure – they just need to take a different route.

In the words of Terrica at Fabu-luxe Events:
if you're going to fall, fall on your back. That way you'll always see the sky.

Meaning, if you fall face down and open your eyes, you can only see the splat! you made BUT, if you fall on your back and open your eyes, the sky is still the limit. (I know she will come in and correct me on this adlib. It’s ok. I’m used to it.)

So, yesterday’s behind us, today is here and tomorrow is waiting for us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we enter this long weekend (long for me, anyway) and the beginnings of the holiday season, I wish all of you a safe and happy holiday!

Safe travels. Don't forget the camera. And don't worry about calories, for once.

Just enjoy the moment.

Quick & Dirty Tips For Improving Your Communication Skills

This is The Public Speaker: Quick and Dirty Tips For Improving Your Communication Skills. With your host, Lisa B. Marshall.

Have you ever been face to face with a blank piece of paper? Stressing out because the clock is ticking closer and closer to your presentation deadline…wondering when all your creative juices are going to kick in?

You’re not alone.

Creating an engaging and interesting speech is a challenge, even for experienced professional speakers.

As a coach, I created a quick and dirty technique, to help my clients create interesting and engaging speeches. It works really well for things like self-introductions, best man speeches, and eulogies and even for corporate motivational talks, but it doesn’t work for every topic. Still, it’s a good technique to master because the basic elements in this model are also part of more complex techniques.

Today’s episode is the first of a two-part program called, The Public Speaker’s Quick and Dirty Speechmaking. This approach has six steps and uses personal stories and examples as the foundation. It’s very simple. And the best part is that the stories make the speech very easy to deliver and fun to listen to.

You might want to try this technique as I explain it. Like most things, it gets easier with practice.

Step One - Brainstorm Descriptive Adjectives
So, the first step is to take out six pieces of paper—that’s right, exactly six. Go ahead, hit pause, I’ll wait. Oh, don’t forget to grab a pen.

OK, ready?

On the first piece of paper, write down the main topic. If it’s a best man speech write the name of the groom, if it’s a project at work, write down the project name.

Next, you’ll need a timer. You can use your cell phone or a watch. Set it for exactly two minutes.
Until the timer beeps, write down as many descriptive adjectives for your topic that you can think of. For example, my topic is John, so I might write, energetic, magnetic, passionate, determined, strong-willed, motivated, compassionate, silly, frail…you get the idea, you’re just listing descriptive adjectives.

Remember, you’re brainstorming. Please don’t edit any ideas, not yet. If you think it, write it. Don’t say, ”Nah, I can think of something better.” The idea is to write down as many adjectives as you can in the two minutes. Think of it as a contest. The more you write the better.

When your time is up, circle the “best” three words from your list. What do I mean by the best? Well, the ones that are the most interesting. The ones that might be a little unusual or unexpected. The ones that communicate the most. The ones that appeal to you. You’ll know.

Step Two - Defining Your Descriptive Adjectives
Next, take each of the three descriptive adjectives that you just picked and write each of them, separately, on a piece of paper. So continuing my example, I might write “motivated” on one paper, “compassionate” on another and “strong-willed” on the third piece.

Next, either underneath or next to each of the adjectives, you’ll need to complete the following sentence:
To me the word (blank) means...
So sticking with my example, I would write, “To me the word motivated means…”
The idea is to create your own definition for the word.

It’s really important that you use your own words to define the term, but feel free to use a dictionary if you’d like some help.

One big secret to great speeches is to remember to create the speech for the ear not for the eye.

Choose words that are short, simple, and have as few syllables as possible. Make your sentences short. You can include a longer sentences here and there for variety, but most sentences should be short.

Use contractions; because that’s the way be speak.

Use 10-cent words over 50-cent words. For example, “on” is better than upon and “find out” is better than “ascertain.”

Be brief. The main idea of this second step is to create unique, personal definitions that are listener friendly.

So, getting back to my example. I might write, “To me the word motivated means taking action, going the extra mile, especially when you really don’t want to.”
Of course, you’ll need to create definitions for each of the three adjectives.

Step Three – Telling Your Stories
For step three, you’ll need your timer again. You’ll also need a way to record yourself. Just use one of those small digital recorders or use the web. Try Utterz.com or for video options, check out the video blogging episode from The Small Biz Tech Girl.

For each of your adjectives give yourself three or four minutes. This time you’ll brainstorm stories and examples that illustrate why or how these words apply to your topic.

When you do this step, it is very important to just blurt out whatever comes to your mind. You’re not writing the story, you’re talking, you’re recording. The idea is to tell your story, even part of a story, as long as it makes sense to you, that’s all that matters right now.

Don’t worry about the wording details, you’re just trying to capture as many stories as you can.
Some people really struggle with this step. Because they think a “story” is some long complicated thing. And I’ve found, that for them, it’s sometimes helps to view this step as sentence completion game.

For example, (remember that you are saying this aloud), “I know that John was “motivated” because...” or “I know this was true because…” The idea is to complete the sentence by telling a story or giving an example.

In my example, I would say, “I know John was motivated because he went to graduate school even though he was terminally ill.” “I know he was motivated because instead of feeling sorry for himself, he got involved in community education, oh, and also he got involved in fund raising.”

Notice, I am not giving a ton of details, just enough to remind myself of the story I could tell.

Again, the desired outcome of this step is to come up with options. If you can only think of one example or one story, that’s OK. But try to come up with alternatives so that you can choose the best story that you’ve got.

Again, don’t get hung up with the wording; you’re going to refine the stories in the next step.

Don’t forget, you’ll need to brainstorm stories and examples for each of the adjectives you picked.

If for some reason, you just can’t come up with a story, just choose another adjective from your original list. Once you have stories for each of your words, then pick the best story for each.

OK, let’s review the process.
Step one: choose your topic and brainstorm a list of descriptive adjectives.
Step two: choose the best three words and create personal definitions for each of them.
Step three: record your stories that are examples for each of these adjectives.

Next week, we’ll continue and complete the process. You’ll learn how to refine your stories. Then you’ll learn how to create the beginning and the ending. And of course, the final step will cover how to deliver the talk.

To learn about Part2, visit The Public Speaker’s Quick and Dirty Speech Making – Part 2.

If you have a question, leave a voicemail at 206-350-7970, or send email to publicspeaker@quickanddirtytips.com. For information about keynote speeches or workshops visit lisabmarshall.com.

TRUMP University

Whenever I hear "Trump", I don't think of a card game. Oh no. There is only one Trump, and that is "The Don".

No matter how we feel about his attitude, business dealings or hair, you can take it to the bank that he's on top of his game 24/7.

For some odd reason, I Googled his name, trying to find out the latest "noise" about his businesses (he's more than just real estate, ya know).

I'm looking at the search results, thinking "This CAN'T be right?!" because..."The Don" has graced us with TRUMP University!

Yup. It's true! 'The Don" has opened the doors to his own School of Hard Knocks.

Here's a brief from the website:
Congratulations! You've started your own business. You've got a great product to sell or service to provide, and you're ready to get rich.

There's only one tiny question left to answer: how?

The answer is marketing, and there's more to it than you may think. Marketing helps you determine whether a product, market or customer segment is a profitable opportunity or a costly distraction. Marketing drives revenue. Marketing is the connective tissue of your company. It sits on top of sales, advertising, product development, customer service and more.

In other words, marketing determines your bottom line profitability.

Unfortunately, as any entrepreneur knows, the daily demands of negotiating with vendors, coaching employees and managing the business can be overwhelming. So, for all of it's importance, entrepreneurs frequently don't leave enough time in their day for the one thing that can ensure long-term growth and profitability... their marketing plan.

I signed up immediately and can't wait to get home and see what else TRUMP University offers!

Heidi Klum: she's more than just a Super Model

So, I'm reading Instyle.com during my lunch hour, and come across Words of Wisdom from the awesome Heidi Klum, host of Project Runway (Auf Wiedersehen = until we see each other again) and an astute businesswoman in her own rights.

She shares Five Top Rules to Succeed in Business, which are so simple, so powerful and so true at the same time.

1. You Have to Have a Goal
"Some people have not figured out what it is they want to do. That's the main problem. When I knew I wanted to be a model, I wanted to be a good model. First you have to have to have your goal."

2. You Should Learn About What It is You Want to Do
"In my business, it would be like knowing what photographers, what stylists, what magazines, [are in the industry] and being in shape for it. If you want to be a chef for example, then you have to know what are the best knives, what are the best pots and pans, what kind of food do you want to cook! What do you love to eat? Do you want to do Japanese, Italian, Chinese?"

3. Work on Your Confidence
"I think you have to just look at things positively. If you're scared, don't show it. Maybe it's cute when people are on stage and say they're nervous, but it's not so cute when you go into a business meeting. You have to look in people's eyes and you have to just say, 'this is what I like to do and this is why I'm here and I believe I'm good at what I do.'"

4. Be Open to Learning New Things
"It's not good to think you know it all—I don't think that's cool or smart. I think there's always more things that people teach you. Be confident and open to incorporating certain suggestions!"

5. Don't Take No for an Answer
"Be tenacious and don't give up. How do other people do it? I think a lot of things happen because someone knows someone, but there are other people [who succeed] because of their talent and because they don't give up. Otherwise I wouldn't be here. I know from people I work with, that people say 'I want to have Heidi’s career,' and my friends are like, 'but she also works very hard.' It's the truth! It's not as if I sit back and watch things fly onto my plate. I went for a lot of the things. It doesn't happen by waiting for things to happen because there are other people who are hungry. The early bird catches a worm."

In the grand scheme of all that makes us want more, how will her advice uplift our way of thinking - not just about business, but about everything we want?

Five simple tips that costs $0 but is heavy in "knowledge" wealth.

Thanks, Heidi!

photo credits: www.instyle.com