Category: Entrepreneurs

Based on the results she wants, a female entrepreneur can create a marketing system for her company that meets her needs. From a marketing workhorse to a slow and steady system, the possibilities are endless and depend on a business owner’s vision, entrepreneurial style and desire for growth.
A recent study from Jane Out of the Box, an authority on female entrepreneurs, reveals there are five distinct types of women in business. Based on professional market research of more than 1,000 women in business, this study shows that each type of business owner has a unique approach to running a business – and therefore each one has a unique combination of needs. This article outlines two of the five types and provides tips for creating marketing that meets the needs of the business, now and in the future.
Tenacity Jane is an entrepreneur with an undeniable passion for her business, and one who tends to be struggling with cash flow. As a result, she’s working longer hours, and making less money than she’d like. Nevertheless, Tenacity Jane is bound and determined to make her business a success. At 31% of women in business, Tenacity Janes are the largest group of female entrepreneurs.
One of the main reasons Tenacity Jane isn’t seeing the financial success she craves is that she doesn’t have a singular focus. Aside from being determined, Tenacity Jane business owners are visionary. A big vision provides something to work toward. On the other hand, many Tenacity Jane business owners envision several streams of income and start out by working on getting all of them profitable at once. The problem: if a business doesn’t already have a strong customer base and deep pockets, it is difficult to market effectively for several streams of income at once. Here are some tips to get Tenacity Jane’s business in the black:
* Examine the business concept and the business model. Define exactly what the business provides to customers (the product and its benefits), and in what form. If customers aren’t buying, consider revising the business concept or business model for a more effective base for marketing. Once the business concept and business model are crystal clear, it becomes easier to complete the next necessary step: decide on a target market and a clear message. Here’s an example: Sally, a beauty advisor, goes into people’s houses each morning, wakes them up, and does their make-up. The concept and benefits are clear, but will people buy her services? Probably not. It may be more realistic for her to schedule a one-time appointment with a client, during which she would go to the client’s home, analyze her current products and beauty concerns, and teach her to apply her make-up – and record it so the client could watch it again and again. People would be more likely to pay for this one-time consultation – the improved business model.
* Take concrete steps toward marketing to the newly defined target audience. Some Tenacity Janes have expressed that they know what they need to do, but have trouble following through. For Tenacity Jane, this almost always is a case of needing to change her mindset, habits, or environment, or to learn a new skill. Tenacity Jane may consider attending networking events where she can meet other professionals and discuss the possibility of affiliate marketing, which gains both partners and clients with minimal investment. She also may consider referral marketing, wherein existing clients get a small reward for referring their acquaintances to Tenacity Jane. Additionally, Tenacity Jane may consider rewarding her long-term or repeat customers with special incentives.
Go Jane Go is passionate about her work and provides excellent service, so she has plenty of clients – so much so, she’s struggling to keep up with demand. She may be a classic overachiever, taking on volunteer opportunities as well, because she’s eager to make an impact on the world and she often struggles to say no. Because she wants to say yes to so many people, she may even be in denial about how many hours she actually works during the course of a week. As a result, she may be running herself ragged and feeling guilty about neglecting herself and others who are important to her.
Since one of Go Jane Go’s primary challenges is that she feels overwhelmed with all the obligations she’s taken on in her work and personal life, it may seem like she doesn’t need to think about marketing. Although she will not likely want to enact a fast-growth marketing strategy, she needs to keep her marketing efforts active to sustain the business she has worked so hard to build – and to help others, which is another passion in her life.
* Go Jane Go’s desire to make an impact on the world gives her a unique marketing opportunity. She can combine her altruistic desires with her practical, professional responsibilities and donate time or money to an organization or charity she holds dear. Go Jane Go may be working to prioritize her activities, and charity work will undoubtedly remain near the top of her list. Whether she donates time, services or products to a cause, Go Jane Go can get personal fulfillment, give help to someone in need, and get her name out there at the same time.
* Sometimes Go Jane Go has trouble saying, “no,” when a client approaches her with a project. A crystal clear marketing message directed toward a specific group of clients may limit the projects coming through the door to only the most desirable for someone stretched as thin as Go Jane Go. This will better ensure that the company’s marketing message is attracting the right clients.
Whether a business owner is determined to define her marketing message, or resolute in maintaining her freedom while still growing her bottom line, marketing methods exist that meet an entrepreneur’s needs – and those of her company.
About the Author:
Michele DeKinder-Smith is the founder of Jane out of the Box, an online resource dedicated to the women entrepreneur community. Discover more incredibly useful information for running a small business by taking the FREE Jane Types Assessment at Jane out of the Box. Offering networking and marketing opportunities, key resources and mentorship from successful women in business, Jane Out of the Box is online at www.janeoutofthebox.com

When I first started coaching clients on their fees I figured they would follow my advice, begin to make more money and live happily ever after.
So you can imagine my shock and surprise when I quickly discovered that just because a woman entrepreneur makes more money, doesn’t mean she keeps more money.
Sounds silly, doesn’t it? After all, what’s the point of working hard to be successful, only to watch the fruits of your labor slip through your fingers?
But, after coaching thousands of women on their fees and on their relationship with money, I can assure you that this issue isn’t isolated to an unlucky few. In fact, nearly all of the women entrepreneurs I talk to have a secret issue with money that causes them to lose their power along with their cash.
Most possess a fear that somehow, having more money will change them or change their life in some way they can’t control.
So, while on the outside they do everything they can to be successful, on the inside, their mindset and beliefs are sabotaging their ability to enjoy the fruits of their achievements.
If you, too, struggle with never seeming to have enough money, even when you’re making more, then I trust you’ll find these 3 tips illuminate what’s really at the bottom of this pesky issue.
Tip #1: Are You Afraid Having More Money Will Change You?
You’d be surprised at how many women fear they’ll lose their values or become someone they don’t care for if they have more money. Let me reassure you, having more money in your life will magnify your core values and character, not turn you into someone you’re not.
While it’s unlikely you’ll become another Leona Helmsley (she was known as the “Queen of Mean”), I recommend you get clear now, on the values and traits about yourself you most enjoy…and those you wouldn’t want to see amplified. The more you allow yourself to express your positive characteristics now, the more confident you’ll be that having more money will only enhance your quality of life, rather than rob you of your humility.
Tip #2: Who Are You Afraid Of Offending By Making More?
I’m going to get pretty personal here, but experience tells me that it’s not uncommon to have someone in your life (often a family member) who you “think” will be threatened, upset or disturbed in some way if you make more money.
If this resonates with you, then the first thing you must do is acknowledge your fear. Next, ask yourself, “What is it that this person really wants for me?” The answer is likely to be security, abundance, happiness and a life of ease. Focus on their positive intentions for you.
Tip #3 What Is The Money For?
I’m frequently asked to speak about how to create and achieve empowering, bold money goals. One of the most powerful steps you can take to align money with your spiritual path is to have a clear money “why.”
At first, making more allows you to buy life’s little luxuries. But once you move beyond indulging in the deluxe manicure or splurging on private car service when you travel, you’ll want to connect your heart and spirit with your growing income. Knowing exactly and specifically what larger amounts of money are slotted for will help you value keeping more of it.
Money Is A Powerful Catalyst For Self-Growth
If you truly want to grow as a person, moving beyond any preconceived limits or self-imposed restrictions, then I highly recommend using money as a catalyst for your self-growth. Not only will you delight in how spiritually advanced you become but your new income will give you the opportunity to make a profound, positive difference in the lives of everyone you touch.
About the Author:
Kendall SummerHawk, the Million Dollar Marketing Coach, is an expert at helping women entrepreneurs at all levels design a business they love and charge what they’re worth and get it. Kendall delivers simple ways entrepreneurs can design and price their services to quickly move away from ‘dollars-for-hours work’ and create more money, time, and freedom in their business. For free articles, free resources and to sign up for a free subscription to Kendall’s Money, Marketing and Soul weekly articles visit www.kendallsummerhawk.com.

To become a successful entrepreneur you basically need these qualities- Innovation, Hard work, Positive attitude, Confidence, Determination and Courage to take risk.
But, no two entrepreneurs are alike. Some of them take more risks than others, while few prefer to play completely safe. Quality is the top most priority for few entrepreneurs but for others quantity is more important. So in this article I have tried to divide the entrepreneurs in to nine animals on the basis of their working styles and how they correspond to a particular animal. Without further ado here is the list.
Rooster– These are the entrepreneurs who start their business at a very young age. They are basically the self-starters who do not need any kind of instructions. Entrepreneurs in this category always consider themselves as Perfectionists and are most affected by ego problems.
Rat– These are the hardest working entrepreneurs. Work is their topmost priority due to which they can’t create a perfect balance between their personal and professional life. They take a lot of time to open up with others and always prefer to remain in their comfort zone.
Goat – These entrepreneurs can’t take quick decisions. They always remain confused and depend on opinions of others to take their decisions. They are the most sensitive and take things to their heart. They are the creative persons and can’t perform well under pressure.
Monkey – Entrepreneurs in this category are the attention seeking entrepreneurs. They can’t sit idle and always need something to work upon. They are creative and problem solvers but get bored very quickly. These entrepreneurs are always ready to learn new things.
Snakes – They are basically Solo Entrepreneurs. They do not have any employees and prefer to do all the work themselves. It doesn’t mean that they do not work in teams; they do but prefer to keep a distance and work like a virtual team member.
Ox– These entrepreneurs are the slow learners. They are hard working, persistent and have a lot of patience. They need lot of time to take any decision but after taking the decisions they stick to it in all conditions.
Dragon – These entrepreneurs are full of energy and leadership qualities. Their aim is to grow fast. They are very optimistic and always remain full of enthusiasm. The entrepreneurs under this category can make you crazy with their wildest ideas.
Horse – These entrepreneurs know how to use their resources effectively and are very good in handling money. They can’t focus on their goals for a longer period of time. They love meeting people and are very good in creating effective business networks.
Pig – These entrepreneurs are the most productive entrepreneurs. They believe in long term investments. They are goal oriented and always complete the project they start with great enthusiasm.
So these were the nine categories I found suitable to divide the entrepreneurs. Do you know any other animal we can add to the list? We’d love to hear about it. Feel Free to share your opinions in the comments.
About the Author:
Gagandeep Singh is working for Fortepromo which creates high quality Promotional Products that help companies to promote their brand in market.

Most female entrepreneurs probably strive throughout the year to improve their business’ efficiency, strategize for growth and meet market needs. However, the New Year provides women business owners with an opportunity to slow down and really examine the structures on which they’ve built their companies, and to work strategically to better those structures for long-term success – in whatever way they define it.
A recent study from Jane Out of the Box, an authority on female entrepreneurs, reveals there are five distinct types of women in business. Each one has a unique approach to running a business – and therefore each one has a unique combination of needs. This article outlines two of the five types and provides some advice for continued success and satisfaction as they ring in 2010.
Accidental Jane is a successful, confident business owner who never actually set out to start a business. Instead, she may have decided to start a business due to frustration with her job or a layoff and then she decided to use her business and personal contacts to strike out on her own. Or, she may have started making something that served her own unmet needs and found other customers with the same need, giving birth to a business. Although Accidental Jane may sometimes struggle with prioritizing what she needs to do next in her business, she enjoys what she does and is making good money. About 18% of all women business owners fit the Accidental Jane profile.
Accidental Jane business owners report feeling confident and fulfilled in their work, and they appreciate that their businesses provide them with a great work-life balance. On the other hand, Accidental Janes often say the ebbs and flows of business can be stressful. Sometimes the workload is overwhelming, and other times there doesn’t seem to be enough work. To obtain greater satisfaction starting in 2010, Accidental Jane business owners may want to consider the following tips:
Maintain an even workload. Accidental Jane’s marketing efforts usually run opposite her workload. For example, if she has several projects to work on, she slows down her marketing efforts because she doesn’t have time for more projects. On the other hand, when she nears completion on current projects, she starts marketing to find new clients to fill her time (and keep her income steady). How does a business owner maintain an even workload?
* Create a “non-negotiables” filter. Make a list of items you absolutely must have. These items may be: one work-free day per week, the ability to take a day off to care for loved ones if the need arises unexpectedly, projects that require creative stretch or clients with whom it is enjoyable to work. If a new opportunity comes up, but doesn’t allow Accidental Jane to have all the things on her must-have list, then she can pass it on to someone else. This way, Accidental Jane will only take on projects that she’s sure to enjoy and that are in keeping with her standards for living and working.
* Design an effortless, steady marketing system. Networking systems exist that don’t take up much time, yet allow for a steady stream of marketing opportunities. This is just right for Accidental Jane, who doesn’t want to spend too much time marketing, but who will undoubtedly appreciate a steadier workload. Putting a certain amount of time into social networking outlets such as Facebook, will allow Accidental Jane to market with little effort and steady results.
* Hire help. Some Accidental Janes are reluctant to hire help, in part because they enjoy their freedom and don’t want to be tied to employees or dragged into the politics they left behind in the corporate world. Hiring a virtual assistant for several hours per week, or a personal assistant to take care of the menial chores Accidental Jane doesn’t enjoy anyway, can take some of the smaller tasks off her hands, leaving her more time to do the work she loves.
Merry Jane. This entrepreneur is usually building a part-time or “flexible time” business that gives her a creative outlet (whether she’s an ad agency consultant or she makes beautiful artwork) that she can manage within specific constraints around her schedule. She may have a day-job, or need to be fully present for family or other pursuits. She realizes she could make more money by working longer hours, but she’s happy with the tradeoff she has made because her business gives her tremendous freedom to work how and when she wants, around her other commitments.
Merry Jane loves the way her business fits into her life. It gives her the flexibility to take care of the myriad other tasks and responsibilities she must complete, and it gives her a creative outlet at the same time. On the other hand, a majority of Merry Jane business owners said they would love to make more money. In 2010, Merry Jane can increase her business’ revenue by following some simple advice:
Increase marketing and sales. Defining a business’ target market and then marketing to that group is key to increasing a company’s bottom line. It sounds simple, and it is; consider these strategies before launching a huge campaign:
* Identify the target and form a clear message. Merry Jane must decide exactly who she wants to sell to, and why those people are likely to buy her product or service. A clear target and marketing message provide maximum efficiency for any marketing activity. To best define the market, ask existing customers why they chose Merry Jane’s company, what they enjoy about the company, and how the rates compare with other companies.
* Select a fitting marketing method. Traditional marketing that includes a call to action can bring customers in fast, but it’s also expensive. Traditional sales techniques require an investment of time that a Merry Jane may or may not want to invest. Networking gives Merry Jane entrepreneurs a chance to meet with other business owners and to sell services face to face. Affiliate marketing provides opportunities to work with other entrepreneurs and to earn commission and business. Referral marketing (in which existing customers earn a reward if they refer an acquaintance) is an easy way to gain new customers without much work, but it does require a strong existing customer base.
* Leverage existing customer relationships. Create programs in which customers get rewards after spending a certain amount of money. Offer an auto-ship program, where customers automatically receive (and pay for) a product, on a weekly, monthly or annual basis. Referral programs gain new customers with little output.
A New Year is an excellent time to focus on opportunities for reaching unprecedented levels of satisfaction for business owners, in whatever way they define it. No matter how successful the previous year has been, the next year can be even better.
About the Author:
Michele DeKinder-Smith is the founder of Jane out of the Box, an online resource dedicated to the women entrepreneur community. Discover more incredibly useful information for running a small business by taking the FREE Jane Types Assessment at Jane out of the Box. Offering networking and marketing opportunities, key resources and mentorship from successful women in business, Jane Out of the Box is online at www.janeoutofthebox.com

Article Contributed by Michele DeKinder-Smith
As a business becomes increasingly successful, an entrepreneur must examine her business’ changing needs and implement a system for meeting them. Booming success often means hiring a team of people to see to the details so the entrepreneur has time to run the business. Creating a winning team is a bit more complicated than just asking a bunch of people for help – is there a right way to do it? Is there a way to go about it that will leave members of the team, as well as the owner, feeling fulfilled while the business thrives?
A new study from Jane Out of the Box, an authority on women entrepreneurs, recently revealed there are five distinct types of women in business. Each of these five types has unique approach to running a business—and as a consequence, each of them has a unique combination of characteristics and factors. This article profiles three of the Jane “types” and the different ways they may handle hiring a team.
Jane Dough is an entrepreneur who enjoys running her business and makes good money. She is comfortable and determined in buying and selling, which may be why she’s five times more likely than the average female business owner to hit the million dollar mark. Jane Dough is clear in her priorities and may be intentionally and actively growing an asset-based or legacy business. It is estimated that 18% of women fall in the category of Jane Dough.
To Jane Dough, business is business. In her world, systems and efficiency share the throne. When hiring a team, she is likely to choose members based on their specific skill sets and how those skill sets and their exacting implementation will affect the system she plans on using.
Pros and cons:
Pro: Because Jane Dough is a pragmatic business owner, she’ll choose team members who know what they’re doing, and do it well.
Con: Because Jane Dough is so focused on pragmatism, she may hire team members who don’t get along well with each other – personalities aren’t as important to her as efficiency and a job well done. But down the road, conflicting personalities may negatively impact the system she loves.
Pro: Jane Dough’s fast pace means she gets a lot done and doesn’t waste too much time waffling on decisions about whether to hire someone.
Con: That fast pace is enough to make anyone’s head spin, and if Jane Dough isn’t careful she may overlook a candidate with better long-term potential in favor of someone who fits the bill right now – putting her future self at a disadvantage.
Merry Jane. This entrepreneur is usually building a part-time or “flexible time” business that gives her a creative outlet (whether she’s an ad agency consultant or she makes beautiful artwork) that she can manage within specific constraints around her schedule. She may have a day-job, or need to be fully present for family or other pursuits. She realizes she could make more money by working longer hours, but she’s happy with the tradeoff she has made because her business gives her tremendous freedom to work how and when she wants, around her other commitments.
Because Merry Jane is “freedom-focused,” she’ll need a team that allows her to continue working as many or as few hours as she wants to, which means that she’ll have to be flexible with their schedules, too.
Pros and cons:
Pro: Merry Jane loves her freedom, so she’ll hire dependable people who can do their jobs without a ton of direction.
Con: Loving her freedom can come at a price – Because her business may not be her first priority, communication may slip from time-to-time. If her team is unclear in what they need to do or if they take too much accountability, this can create problems for Merry Jane.
Pro: Hiring people means that Merry Jane can delegate some of her work and therefore have even greater flexibility.
Con: Creating a team also adds responsibility, of which Merry Jane already has plenty – she’ll need to face payroll, meetings, e-mails and phone calls that she didn’t deal with before – and this may mean more administrative work than she anticipated.
Tenacity Jane is an entrepreneur with an undeniable passion for her business, but who is struggling (a little or a lot) with the business’ financial performance. As a result, she’s working longer hours and making less money than she’d like. Nevertheless, Tenacity Jane is bound and determined to make her business a success. At 31% of women in business, Tenacity Janes are the largest single group of female entrepreneur.
Tenacity Jane’s greatest asset is her attitude. She may feel overwhelmed at times but she keeps on keeping on because she truly believes in the business she’s building and she wants to make it work. As she seeks to hire a team, Tenacity Jane will seek people with great attitudes like her own.
Pros and cons:
Pro: Tenacity Jane feels like she can make this work, despite having faced many business challenges – she has a positive, “keep chugging” attitude.
Con: When hiring a team, attitude isn’t enough. Tenacity Jane may be drawn to people who are also enthused about her business, but does she take the time to (and does she know exactly how to) evaluate their skills, experience, and preparedness to do the work at hand?
Pro: Tenacity Jane loves her business concept and can see the big vision of what it can someday be, which may include a large team sometime down the road.
Con: Because she is focused on the “ultimate” vision, Tenacity Jane may not map out the path to get there step-by-step. If this happens, she runs the risk of hiring too many people too soon (and then not being able to retain them) or hiring them in the wrong order to maximize business growth.
Whether hiring a team is strictly business, or it’s a small part of a grand scheme, it’s a big deal. Women entrepreneurs shouldn’t go into it without a solid idea about who to hire, what they’ll do and how they’ll do it – and how all of that will affect the business in the short- and long-term. From Jane Dough to Merry Jane to Tenacity Jane, business owners must get a plan in place before hiring to ensure the step from one-woman-band to marching band sounds great.
About the Author
Michele DeKinder-Smith is the founder of Jane out of the Box, an online resource dedicated to the women entrepreneur community. Discover more incredibly useful information for running a small business by taking the FREE Jane Types Assessment at Jane out of the Box. Offering networking and marketing opportunities, key resources and mentorship from successful women in business, Jane Out of the Box is online at www.janeoutofthebox.com