http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog 2010-03-18T15:00:00Z info@savorthesuccess.com (Savor the Success) en http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/negativity-lesson This week I vlog about stopping negative comments without getting emotionally charged.  You are building your businesses so get your troops on board because it's tough enough.  Nip negative comments in the bud! 1754 2010-03-18T15:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-flaa/dressing-thin-on-camera-and-off I stumbled across this quick slide show and it's so worth passing along. Easy tips and the before/after  shots are amazing.  Great things to keep in mind for what to wear on camera.  Note that solid colors work well on-camera but avoid wearing white. How To Dress Yourself Thin (click to view the quick slide show - only 12 slides) by Charla Krupp on time.com. "In her book How to Never Look Fat Again, Charla Krupp reveals wardrobe secrets to make ... 1751 jflaa1@vettanna.com (Jennifer Flaa) 2010-03-18T05:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/why-a-broken-computer-made-me-more-productive-than-ever Note: This is a break from our regularly scheduled "How to Pitch" column due to an emergency. What's the emergency? Read on... It was a stormy Monday afternoon and I was diligently tapping away at my laptop computer. All of a sudden my computer froze. Hmm...no big deal....we can "ctrl-alt-delete" that problem immediately! Not....so....much. After many failed attempts, I realized my whole laptop froze to the point that no button, or combination of buttons, could fix it. I&nbs... 1753 2010-03-18T01:55:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/nancy-vaughn/time-patience-commitment As a publicist and freelance writer/journalist, I've been on both sides of the "pitching" fence.   Working in PR, I am thrilled when the media comes calling for one of my clients. I don't care what time it is or when, I'm ready to go. I also work toward training my clients to be "ready to go" as well. I explain that there is no "stop the presses" and availability and making time for the media are important to establishing relationships and obtaining editorial coverage.   H... 1752 info@whitebookagency.com (Nancy Vaughn) 2010-03-17T23:46:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-shaw/how-to-conquer-distraction I have been doing a lot of interviews lately and the same question keeps coming up.  "How do you manage your two companies and be a mom to 26-month-old twins?" The answer is TIME MANAGEMENT and knowing where your strengths and weaknesses are. As an up and coming Entreprenette you are probably wearing many hats and often feeling overwhelmed.  We all hope to walk into our office (or the dining room :O)) and hope to be able to cross everything off our to-do lists each day befo... 1750 sarah@entreprenette.com (Sarah Shaw) 2010-03-17T14:09:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/lisa-steadman/so-you-want-to-write-a-book As a best selling author of multiple books, I'm often barraged by friends, clients, and strangers with one simple sentence... "I want to write a book." My reaction always has three stages: 1. First, I bite my tongue and my urge to explain how remarkably awesome AND incredibly challenging getting published and making money as an author really is. 2.  Next, I get ridiculously excited for the person, ask them about their book idea, celebrate with them, and send them away with massive Wo... 1755 lisa@lisasteadman.com (Lisa Steadman) 2010-03-16T14:48:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/julie-steelman/how-to-avoid-ever-being-pushy-when-you-sell At least once a day, I get asked how to sell and make the sale without being pushy.  It is a great question and if you understand the distinction between when being a leader - helping someone to make a buying decision - crosses the line and becomes pushy or too aggressive, you won’t make that mistake.When someone comes off as pushy or it feels awkward or uncomfortable to continue selling, the seller has moved into the zone of “their agenda” and moved out of the &ldquo... 1748 jsteelman@me.com (Julie Steelman) 2010-03-16T07:10:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-flaa/3-steps-to-vlogging We've all seen them - the "one step wonders" - the folks that hit record and then hit post and voila their vlog is done. When you spend a few moments to consider the image words we talked about last time, it's time to take a que from Hollywood. Adding a couple more steps will give your vlogs a little more polish. 1. Pre Production   Decide what you will talk about for approximately 1-3.5 minutes. Practice   2. Filming   Get your "studio" and equipment setup ... 1744 jflaa1@vettanna.com (Jennifer Flaa) 2010-03-16T05:01:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/lori-webb/a-quick-follow-up Hi again. Just a quick follow up post here. I will most definitely be talking more about the triple bottom line in the future since it is a culmination of three very strong current trends: globalization; the environment & authenticity. On another note, I hope that my posts not only get you thinking, but encourage you to take the information and begin actionable steps to impact your business-now.This is where the true power of trends come into play. If this has tickled your fancy an... 1746 lori@indspark.com (Lori Webb) 2010-03-14T20:17:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/why-borders-books-made-me-teary-eyed It was Friday night. The hubby asked me if I wanted to have a date night- it's been a few weeks, and it sounded like fun! My parents came over to watch the kids, and off we went for a trip to Borders and a bite to eat! I am blessed to be married to someone who appreciates the book store as much as I do!! We both LOVE reading, and while he chooses to go to sports and history, and I go to spirituality and wellness, we usually meet in the middle at memoirs. I have to admit, as I approached the... 1745 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2010-03-14T14:07:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-flaa/3-things-to-decide-before-you-vlog Things We Know For Sure We know from Savor's legal eagle, Francine Ward, that anything we put on the web is out there forever. We know we want to generate more interest in our business offerings and sales! We know we want to project a certain kind of image that will get us more fans, followers and sales. We know...we can either nail it or screw it up with video. So, before you jump in, press "record", upload to YouTube and post it on Facebook, here's a few foundation elements ... 1743 jflaa1@vettanna.com (Jennifer Flaa) 2010-03-13T04:48:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/lori-webb/philanthropy-as-a-brand-amplifier Intro In this blog, I will exemplify how philanthropic engagement can act as a brand amplifier and positively impact your triple bottom line. It got a little long so, if you are in a hurry you can just scroll down and check out my recommendations for philanthropic brand engagement.:-) Impetus Like many other female entrepreneurs, I am not solely interested in the economics of my company but also the social and environmental impact that my company makes. This often drives me to seek op... 1742 lori@indspark.com (Lori Webb) 2010-03-13T00:10:38Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/lori-webb/intro Hi Everyone, I am very excited to begin as an official savor blogger! Here, I hope to add a bit of international flavor and diverse thinking to the already fantastic Savor resource mix. Through my eclectic background, international activities and constant trendspotting, I will blog about the latest global thinking, activities and happenings. At times, I will simply introduce individual elements and at other times I will identify greater emerging trends. In either case, the information... 1741 lori@indspark.com (Lori Webb) 2010-03-12T20:15:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/avocado-grand-a-great-raw-food-lunch I don't usually post recipes here, but since my latest adventures include stepping up my fitness game and eating more healthfully (you can join me and others doing the same on Twitter using the #FitCEOs hashtag), I thought I'd share something easy, healthy and delicious. This recipe is adapted from "The Joy of Not Cooking: Vegetarian Cuisine Cooked Only by the Sun." There's an interesting story behind the book and my relationship with its author, Imar Hutchins. You can read it at my blog. ... 1739 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2010-03-11T12:47:42Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/tip-to-improve-your-marketing This week I vlog about marketing your services or products - follow this one tip and you will be surprised how much quickly your marketing skills improve! What marketing works for you? Post your comments here and I'll answer with some thoughts!  1737 2010-03-10T15:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/julie-steelman/sell-more-easily-when-you-share-your-truth Selling is always about the customer.  Your job is to help them get to know you, to see if they can trust you, and understand how you can help solve their problem or enhance their life by using your product or service. One way to turn on the rocket boosters and increase your sales is to infuse your story and expertise into the sales conversation.  The first step is to identify your ideal customer.  Pick one of your favorites and make a short list of their characteristics. E... 1734 jsteelman@me.com (Julie Steelman) 2010-03-08T23:19:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/should-you-consider-guest-posts-at-your-blog Over the years, I have received numerous guest post submissions for my blog. I have only accepted one. Others have been cheesy attempts to advertise to you, and a few have been submitted by people who threw something together and submitted it to dozens of blogs at once. I know you wouldn’t have appreciated posts like that, so I politely declined. These days, I’m receiving increasing numbers of submissions, a few of them quite good, so I created some guidelines so people ... 1733 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2010-03-08T13:46:41Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/know-your-target-market This week I vlog about your target market. A lot of business owners don't really know who their market is, and I have noticed that this important piece of information is what is missing in the sales equation for many. Who is your target market? Watch the vlog and comment! 1731 2010-03-03T15:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/how-to-pitch-lucky-magazine Many of you refer to Lucky Magazine as one of the ‘Top 10 Outlets I want to be Featured in.' After dispelling plenty of advice to entrepreneurs on how to pitch top magazines, I thought it was time to take action and go right to the source. I had the pleasure of interviewing Elise Loehnen, Editor-at-Large at Lucky Magazine on the best way to pitch the magazine. Check out the amazing insight she provides for all of you fabulous ladies!Melissa:  When is the best time to pitch you?Elis... 1729 2010-03-03T12:36:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/pursuing-fitness-one-small-victory-at-a-time Yesterday, I started using the pedometer given to me as a surprise Christmas gift. I decided against a morning run so I could prepare for the hearings on the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act, which ran from 3:30pm to 8:44pm EST. According to my guest on yesterday’s Indie Business Radio Show, one should aim for 10,000 steps daily to achieve maximum fitness, especially if weight loss is a goal. When I went to bed last night, my pedometer read 2,789. This ... 1728 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2010-03-02T20:01:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/nancy-vaughn/the-cobbler-should-really-get-the-kids-some-shoes I think we've all heard the phrase: The cobbler's children have no shoes. While I'm not sure where the phrase originated, I know I've fallen victim to it more times than I'd like. For those who don't know, it's the accountant who dismisses her taxes, the lawyer who overlooks her own legal matters, the organizational consultant with no organization, or the wardrobe stylist with a suit from the 80s (not a classic one...a trendy, dated one).   This doesn't mean that the aforementione... 1725 info@whitebookagency.com (Nancy Vaughn) 2010-03-02T04:55:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/rock-the-world-testimonials Register Here > 1721 2010-03-01T14:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/adding-in-vs-taking-away Sometimes when we are aware that we'd like to make a change, we think about all the things we've done "wrong" or we have to "stop doing". Especially this time of year, I know alot of people who are just plain old beating themselves up in the name of "motivation". I say, flip your focus to what you want to "add into" your life vs. what you want to "take away". I mean, it is both frustrating and an energy drainer to worry about the things we have to give up, right? Once you... 1724 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2010-03-01T04:35:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/lisa-meloche/creatively-balancing-chronic-pain-and-your-business Running a business requires master juggling skills, working crazy hours, and personal sacrifice, and for some of us we are also managing chronic pain.  Chronic pain might be the reason some of us went to work for ourselves in the first place.  Working for ourselves gives us the opportunity to control our schedules and work when we feel great and, if it’s feasible, take breaks when we don’t.  I have found the need to find a balance between being creative with my sc... 1720 lisameloche@bodyworkalternatives.com (Lisa Meloche) 2010-02-28T21:30:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/should-you-join-a-competitor-s-fan-page Yesterday was another fun FaceBook Friday! If you missed the previous FaceBook Friday about ways to attract people to your Fan Page, you can read it here.) This week’s question was aimed at getting a sense of what small and independent business owners consider when decided whether or not to join a competitor’s FaceBook Page. Turns out, they think about a lot! Below are a few of the many well articulated thoughts of the people who responded to the question. You can read a... 1717 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2010-02-27T22:43:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/video-new-laws-would-adversely-affect-cosmetics-manufacturers If you sell cosmetics, please be aware that there is legislation pending in Colorado that will operate to significantly increase the costs of selling your products in that state. It may even cause you to have to stop selling your products to spas, retails stores and consumers in that state. The Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act is under discussion in the Colorado legislature now and hearings are set for Monday in Denver at 1:30pm. This video provides an overview. While this particular... 1715 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2010-02-26T14:38:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/are-you-ready-to-rock-the-world-let-s-spread-this-inspiring-video-ladies I just wanted to give a shout out to Angela and Marc for this amazing video about the Women Entrepreneurs Rock the World event, I literally watched it with tears in my eyes- so inspiring, isn't it? I think everyone needs to see this video. We can share it and help spread passion and positive energy  all over the web!! I can't wait to see you all at the event, too- it's such a thrill and honor to be connected with women who are changing the world! Let's make this video go viral- he... 1713 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2010-02-25T13:48:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/how-to-pitch-the-experts-part-3-jene-luciani This week we have some amazing insight on how to pitch Lingerie and Style Expert Jené  Luciani! http://www.jeneluciani.com Jené Luciani is a trusted source in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle industries and a strong presence in television, print, and web media with hundreds of bylines and production credits to her name. As a recognized expert and authority in the field for more than a decade, she can be seen regularly on television news outlets nationwide inc... 1712 2010-02-25T12:46:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/are-you-ready-for-the-march-fitness-challenge Next Monday, March 1 at 1:00pm New York time, Kimberly Linton will be my guest on Indie Business Radio. You can see from the photo below, Kimberly means business! I recently stepped up my fitness efforts in order to put a healthy body alongside a healthy business. I plan to start Kimberly's virtual fitness training program on March 1, and you can join me at a discount and get a chance to compete to win your choice of a $200 gift card from Amazon.com or a TRX portable home gym t... 1710 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2010-02-24T14:33:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/focus-like-a-raccoon Business lessons through children's books. The children's book, Our Library, by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Maggie Smith is a beautiful example of focusing on one project. "Miss Goose stamped my library book. She leaned across her desk. ‘Our library is going to close forever,' she whispered." Little Raccoon and Mouse look sad. "Oh, no...Why?" The library is old and in need of a lot of repair says Miss Goose. So, the little creatures set about on a very serious project. They check ... 1706 2010-02-23T11:50:46Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/how-to-pitch-the-experts-part-2-jennifer-jolly Jennifer Jolly (http://goodideagal.com) is on a mission to give busy people in a busy world, simple, solid, good ideas they can use right now to make their world a better place to be. She and her tight-knit team cut through the daily clutter of choices to help people save money, save time, better use technology, get happier and stay healthier. Jennifer was kind enough to share some insight into what kind of TV segments she does (and she does A LOT) and how she likes to be pitched! This infor... 1703 2010-02-22T18:18:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/terry-dagrosa/pommes-dauphine-capped-with-caviar When you meet a milestone in your business, or close that deal you've been working on--don't forget to take a moment to celebrate your success and what better way to do this than over a glass of champagne and a special dish shared with your husband, your co-workers, your girlfriends, your boyfriend or family. Here's something special and elegant-- Pommes Dauphine capped with caviar.  Pommes dauphine is a dish named after the Dauphine, the title given to the wife of the Dauphin, or heir ... 1700 2010-02-22T15:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/the-1-way-to-get-your-products-on-tv One of the biggest gripes I hear from entrepreneurs is the difficulty they have getting their products on morning (or evening) television news shows. If you can't secure a whole TV segment on just you and your product - how can you get your product on TV? One word. EXPERTS! Media "Experts" are those sunny personalities that appear on many news programs presenting a slew of products under a specific topic (example: Five Items to Organize your Life). These people have worked hard to build a n... 1695 2010-02-18T20:58:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/savor-pr-academy-launches-today Ladies,   So much happening over here at Savor... so no vlog for today. Next week's vlog will be about finding your target audience!But for today, the big news is that Savor PR Academy launches today!!!   Are you ready to launch your own PR campaign?  I know I am! What are your PR goals?  Why not grab that dream by the horns and get moving with other amazing entrepreneurs?Let's get you mentioned in your dream media outlets like Oprah, People Mag, Today S... 1691 2010-02-18T14:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/audience-please Business lessons through children's books-- The Cat in the Hat children's book by Dr. Seuss can teach us a valuable business lesson about audience. As entrepreneurs we must always be focused on our audience. Who buys your stuff? Really, do you know? Can you pick your buying client out in the line at the grocery store? In the classic book, The Cat in the Hat, the cat knows exactly who his audience is---bored young children! You may recall in the book two small children peering out the... 1690 2010-02-16T23:39:20Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/nancy-vaughn/party-mixer-shindig As a publicist, I don't think it's absolutely necessary to have event planning skills, but I've found that having these skills has served to benefit my clients and my business.   My experience runs from planning small office parties and fundraisers to event logistics at large scale national conferences (think 40,000+ attendees). Events can be beneficial from a PR standpoint because they can help to create a buzz around your business (especially when you seemingly have nothing else... 1689 info@whitebookagency.com (Nancy Vaughn) 2010-02-16T03:50:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/pr-academy-preview-5 1681 2010-02-10T14:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/how-comment-blogging-expands-your-sphere-of-influence Publishing consistent, focused comments at influential blogs in your field can help expand your sphere of influence more effectively than just about anything else. I call this "comment blogging" (I think I just made that up), and I do it reguarly. If done consistently over a period of time, comment blogging can result in new client prospects, exciting collaborations and even features at other people's blogs. No doubt you’ve been encouraged to increase traffic to your bl... 1668 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2010-02-05T17:15:59Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/nancy-vaughn/a-smart-way-to-embrace-a-new-brand-or-brand-new-option I came across this video on Advertising Age from Pepsi and thought it was very ingenious of the popular soda brand to just "go with the flow."   Pepsi found that some Spanish speakers found it easier to pronounce the Pepsi brand name without the "P" as in "Pesi."   This commercial does a great job of driving home its main point, "regardless of whether you say 'Pepsi' or 'Pesi,' our beverage is the one you're going to want to drink." Pepsi was aware of their target market ... 1666 info@whitebookagency.com (Nancy Vaughn) 2010-02-05T11:43:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/my-apologies-for-the-savor-magazine Where is the Savor Magazine?  Find out about my frustrations over the entire process and what is happening next. A special thanks to Ann Baker of PR123 for her support, wisdom, and knowledge.  In a previous life, she owned magazines and has been a wonderful resource for us as we have navigated through this entire process. Check out her fantastic service for entrepreneurs to pitch those queries for you.  She offers a special deal for Savor Premium Members! 1662 2010-02-04T16:58:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/savor-pr-academy-sample-video Savor PR Academy with all 12 episodes launching on Wednesday, February 17, 2010! FREE for Premium Members. 1663 2010-02-04T16:17:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/ann-baker/aargh-you-need-to-send-a-small-image-file-not-the-honking-big-3mb-one-you-have Here is the fourth in our “Aargh!” series on how to do stuff that you don’t know how to do and now you have to do it and you’re tired of trying to find out how to do stuff you don’t know how to do.    Making an image file not so darn big   Double click the file name.  Click on the Save icon.  Give the file a new name in the Save As dialog box - “Head shot-web,” for example.  Now close the file to preserve the origina... 1660 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2010-02-03T06:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/excellence-101 When my son began preparing for pre-school not too long ago, one of the things we did to help him prepare was to recite his elementary school's pledge. It’s short, sweet and a good reminder for small business owners and everyone in general about our responsibility to pursue excellence. Here it is. As a student, I pledge to: Make good choices and be responsible for my own actions. Use manners, kind words, and actions to show respect for others and myself. Arrive on time daily wit... 1654 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2010-01-28T17:20:21Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/how-i-blew-an-audition-for-qvc-and-how-you-can-learn-from-my-screw-up Sigh. As many of you know, I'm darn near obsessed with being a QVC guest host. If you didn't know, here is an excerpt from an earlier blog: I grew up in what I refer to as the 'QVC Household.' This means my mom was obsessed with QVC. She set the VCR to tape the silver show or southwestern style. I hurried home from school each day to hide the little brown packages under my bed so my dad wouldn't see (3-4 every day...I kid you not). We also owned the QVC host Christmas CD and played it every... 1653 2010-01-28T16:06:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/savor-pr-academy Watch as Melissa Cassera and I talk about the new Savor PR Academy launching in early February.  It's a 12-part video series on everything you need to know about conducting a successful PR campaign.  I watched as Marc and Melissa recorded the entire series, and let me tell you, it's jam-packed with information that will take you step by step through your PR process.   So how much do you think we are going to charge you for this series?  Most PR firms would c... 1649 2010-01-27T15:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/nancy-vaughn/choose-your-words-wisely We've all heard it before...choose your words wisely and watch what you say. This applies to words used personally and professionally. Thanks to texting and character limits, we've become more (or perhaps less) creative with word usage. Think: thx, lol, gr8t, ltr.   I've seen the texting language in response to media questions and in cover letters I receive from applicants. (Texting language can be a whole other blog post.) It's kind of sad. I'm not a grammarian or English major, b... 1650 info@whitebookagency.com (Nancy Vaughn) 2010-01-27T13:57:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/ann-baker/aargh-you-need-to-send-an-image-file-in-a-different-format-than-what-you-have Here is the third in our “Aargh!” series on how to do stuff that you don’t know how to do and now you have to do it and you’re tired of trying to find out how to do stuff you don’t know how to do.        Converting a jpeg to a png or bmp or other image format     Open the file with Windows Picture and Fax Viewer.  Simply double click the file and the default program that opens it should be Windows Picture and Fax Viewer.&n... 1582 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2010-01-27T06:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/terry-dagrosa/seductive-chocolate-cocktails-for-valentine-s-day As you prepare your romantic meal for two this Valentine's Day--what better way to express your love and desire than with chocolate? A favorite culinary aphrodisiac of many, chocolate contains phenylethylamine - the same chemical released in your brain when you fall in love, leading to an excited feeling of infatuation.   This Valentine's Day try a romantic cocktail party for two with a tempting invitation to experience any of the seven luscious chocolate cocktail recipes below. I ... 1648 2010-01-26T21:31:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/fear-it-and-forget-it Recently, I interviewed a business owner for one of my video blog segments. Before the interview, Karen, the CEO, told me she was terrified of being in front of a camera that was capturing her every move. She was afraid that she would say something incorrectly or just not like the finished product. I assured Karen that if she pretended like we were the only people in the room, she would forget the cameras were rolling in no time. After the interview, Karen told me that once she starte... 1646 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2010-01-25T12:58:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/terry-dagrosa/love-is-in-the-air Today begins the annual tribute to the most celebrated day of romance--Valentine's Day. From now through February 14th, Seduction Meals, the "go-to site for Romantic Meals for Two", brings an array of dazzling dishes from appetizers to main courses, desserts and luscious cocktails, to help you plan for your special romantic rendezvous. We start with provocative chocolates by chocolate artisan---Vosge.  Embraced in their signature purple boxes that exudes style and seduction, Vosges Haut... 1643 2010-01-23T14:39:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/health-is-wealth This week I vlog about how getting very sick earlier this week reminded me of what is important in life.   Here is a list of businesses that will be donating 10% proceeds or more to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund from their website sales until January 31, 2010. Celebrate GreenEC Stewart DesignsThe Grapeseed CompanyDirty Dog OrganicsBiscuits by LambchopVerve CardsOm Aroma & Co.EcorationsTempleton's 1639 2010-01-22T15:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/ann-baker/aargh-you-need-to-send-a-jpeg-but-you-have-a-pdf Here is the second in our “Aargh!” series on how to do stuff that you don’t know how to do and now you have to do it and you’re tired of trying to find out how to do stuff you don’t know how to do.      Converting a pdf to a jpeg   You have a great looking document or image file in pdf format and you need to upload it somewhere, where pdfs are not accepted and a jpeg or other format is needed.  How can you convert it to this othe... 1581 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2010-01-20T06:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/nancy-vaughn/ignore-it That's what I'm learning to do when I'm having one of those days. Just ignore it for a little while. Have you ever had one of those days where not only is nothing going as planned, but you just want to crawl back into bed because you kind of see where things may be headed for the day?   Here's an example of one of those days:   I had a call from a client who was wondering why her interview hasn't been published. Turns out the reporter had more pressing news she had to fe... 1633 info@whitebookagency.com (Nancy Vaughn) 2010-01-19T15:55:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/3-steps-to-more-effective-leadership-of-your-small-business Last Saturday, I celebrated my 10th year as the leader of the Indie Beauty Network, a trade organization serving small manufacturers of soaps, cosmetics, perfumes, candles, confectionery items and other health, beauty and lifestyle products. I am thoroughly enjoying serving my members, and I look forward to the next decade and beyond. Unfortunately, too many small businesses don’t last the first few years, not to mention ten. While the lack of longevity can be explained by ... 1631 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2010-01-18T12:39:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/where-s-the-map I'll never forget when I was in high school my family decided to take a road trip to South Carolina. My father is very reminiscent of Chevy Chase in Family Vacation, so he was super-excited, planned every detail, and had itineraries, maps, and roadstops all mapped out ahead of time. What he didn't figure into his calculations was the fact that we would all fall asleep during the ride, so he didn't have anyone to help navigate. A couple of missed turns, and we were in the car for an extra cou... 1627 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2010-01-14T13:08:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/nancy-vaughn/one-more-thing-syndrome I have a "one more thing" syndrome. That's when I try to do "just one more thing" before running out the door, or check just "one more" email or take just "one more" call. All in the name of being more productive and trying to make the most efficient use of any available time.   I read somewhere by starting/stopping/starting tasks again, you lose about 25% of time. I'm not sure how that's calculated, but this seems pretty accurate. You know when you go flying out the door at the l... 1625 info@whitebookagency.com (Nancy Vaughn) 2010-01-13T17:34:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/be-organized I'm convinced that being organized is one of the key pieces to being successful.  Watch my vlog and see how being disorganized almost cost me $4500.  Thank goodness I got my act together just in time!  What can you do right now that will help you to become more organized to help your business flow? The websites I mention are The Organized Parent and Gotham Organizers.  Check them out! OFF TOPIC and FUN: Part of being a mom, I'm learning, is going with the f... 1624 2010-01-13T15:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/ann-baker/aargh-you-need-to-send-a-pdf-but-you-have-a-word-document Here is the first in our “Aargh!” series on how to do stuff that you don’t know how to do and now you have to do it and you’re tired of trying to find out how to do stuff you don’t know how to do.      Converting a word document to pdf   Portable Document Format (PDF) is the standard for secure and error-free distribution of electronic documents.  Your formatting stays intact and is protected from modification, unlike a word document.... 1563 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2010-01-13T05:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/how-fragile-we-are I am heartbroken to learn of the tragic earthquakes that are right now rocking the Caribbean. I first learned the news on FaceBook as I dined at a seafood restaurant with my family. I have never visited Haiti, but my husband once did on assignment with ABC News. He's told me many times of the poverty he witnessed, so the news of a fractured Haitain landscape struck him in ways I don't fully understand. His first words, "Already one of the poorest countries in the world ... as if those people... 1623 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2010-01-13T01:19:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/terry-dagrosa/the-best-crab-cakes-ever A Seduction Meal is a recipe or dish you do really well; one that you know is always a hit. This recipe is one of my all time favorites--one that  I love to share with friends and family. Each and every time results in the same words of praise "..these are the BEST crab cakes I've ever had!" Each bite is filled with luscious crab meat and an array of simple flavors. Fans love the fact that they are not deep fried or overly filled with bread crumbs. And the spicy remoulade is the special... 1620 2010-01-12T16:20:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/the-truth-about-my-family-business I normally do not re-post blog posts that have been published to my branded blog, but in this case, I felt that the commentary and questions are especially relevant for Savor Ladies. I hope you don't mind the re-post. I enjoy working in a family business. After spending so many years fighting rush hour traffic and toiling away in the corporate jungles of Washington, DC, I am thankful for my lifestyle. I don't have to jump through administrative hoops to take my children to the pedi... 1612 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2010-01-09T20:27:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/nancy-vaughn/what-s-the-difference At least a few times a year I have to explain the difference between some often confusing marketing communication techniques, like advertising, branding and public relations. I wanted to share this image with you as it's a clever way to help some people understand.     While there is much more to marketing, public relations, branding and advertising, this graphic seems to help people, "get it" initially. (There's also another one that includes telemarketing and design.) &nbs... 1609 info@whitebookagency.com (Nancy Vaughn) 2010-01-08T19:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/my-big-mistake-over-the-holidays My January goal is to fix this mistake that I made.  Hope this will help you to set yourself up for even bigger success for 2010! 1605 2010-01-07T15:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/the-benefits-of-boredom Many years ago, I had a lunch meeting with a favorite mentor. He's an attorney and the author of 23 or 24 (I lost count!) business books. He is a husband, father, speaker and an adjunct professor at a respected business school. We were chatting about my business as it existed at the time, as well as about my long range business plans. At one point in the conversation, he expressed his concern that I seemed to be downplaying the success of my business up to that point. He told me that my ey... 1604 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2010-01-07T00:45:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/ann-baker/awards-are-pr-gold If you win an award for your business, product, or contribution to your industry or to society, that’s PR gold, for two reasons:  First, you have a perfect reason for contacting a reporter with real news, and second, you can add the award as a credibility enhancing footnote or addition to your boilerplate in future pitches.   So I could almost hear you ask: great advice, Ann, but how the heck do I go out and get an award so I have something to announce?   Ha.  He... 1562 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2010-01-06T05:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/grow-your-business-by-training-like-an-olympian The 2010 Winter Olympics are right around the corner, and I decided to take a little time to research how these spectacular athletes can devote their life to win those coveted medals. What I found is that most of their training and principles parallel those of an entrepreneur. Check out the specifics below to see if you're falling short of the gold this year. Planning and ProductivityPlanning those four-year intervals is a huge part of Olympic training - much like we develop our long-term an... 1601 2010-01-05T21:32:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/nancy-vaughn/i-hope-you-dance Here in Tampa Bay we have these dancing advertisement people who promote businesses - everything from pizza to legal services to apartment rentals.   They're not professionally trained dancers and at first look, you'd probably think it's pretty ridiculous. These people are performing dances that most people only do alone...behind closed doors...sometimes in front of mirrors...while singing into a hairbrush. You get the picture. They have their headphones on and they are shaking w... 1598 info@whitebookagency.com (Nancy Vaughn) 2010-01-04T14:10:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/rethink-the-resolution-give-yourself-permission-to-just-be While New Year's is a very popular time of year for everyone to think about resolutions, what they want to change, what they want to accomplish, I am taking a stand against the "mad rush" to "start" (the  phenomenon that happens every January), and instead, asking you to consider how awesome you are right now, in this moment, and relish in the fact that you can just "be". Be happy. Be healthy. Be inquisitive. Be diligent. Be strong. Be kind. Be yourself. Be accepting. Be present. ... 1597 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2010-01-03T14:56:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/shifting-from-feeling-depressed-to-feeling-good Babies have so many lessons for us, and this week's vlog is not really a business lesson but something that dawned on me after watching this video.  Look at how delighted she is to discover herself in the mirror for the first time!  This made me think about how amazing it would be if we were just as delighted to savor even the small baby steps that we have made this past year.  As you know, I opened up an Om Aroma shop at the Bryant Park Holiday Shops this past ... 1594 2009-12-31T15:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/my-themeword-for-2010-wisdom I am not into New Year's Resolutions because they are not profitable for me. Since I set, adjust, achieve and abandon goals for a variety of reasons all year long, setting new resolutions on January 1 seems sort of anti-climactic. But I do like the idea of selecting a "ThemeWord" that encompasses the notion that my 2010 activities will be undertaken in accordance with a mindset that is significant to me. My ThemeWord for 2010 is WISDOM. I tend to be a social butterfly. Easily excited by ot... 1593 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2009-12-31T01:28:35Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/leadership-2010-and-beyond As a new year approaches, it's important to ensure that as small business owners, our tactics change with the times. Back in "the day," business leaders led with an iron fist. Every little thing was a secret to be guarded with your life. If you wanted access to a company's business plans and strategies, you had to either steal them or become an employee. It's different today. While there are some trade secrets, the reality is that if you want insight into how someone runs their business, you... 1586 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2009-12-28T21:37:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/ann-baker/time-to-reflect Just a short note - the last for 2009.  As you reflect on this last year, and look toward the next, ask yourself not just what goals you hope to achieve, but how you hope to achieve them.  Reflect on the most productive actions you took, and also the most time consuming.   Then ask yourself how you can do things better next year - but without working harder.  Resolve to do that thing that businesswomen in particular seem to find so difficult - delegate. Find one or more ta... 1484 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-12-23T06:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/the-snowball-effect I'm going to totally simplify "change" in a nutshell. So, if you've been racking your brain thinking about how to do something you want to do, how to make a change or reach a goal try this: Do one teeny tiny thing that is in-line with your goal, and do it regularly. Soon the teeny tiny thing inspires us to do a little more, and a little more, and it's like trying to roll a snowball. At first, it's not packing, the snow is a little soft, it's taking a little time to get it rolling! But, if yo... 1580 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-12-23T04:21:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/it-takes-a-village-to-make-a-melissa Alternate headline: It Takes a Village to Make <insert name here> After several months and plenty of contemplation, it's finally here. The proof that hard work, dedication and an entire team of people can create something fabulous. That something fabulous is my new website: http://www.melissaslifelessons.com Now, don't mistake this blog post for shameless self promotion (although, yes, there is a little bit of that here as well). The point of my posts, as with all the others, is to te... 1578 2009-12-21T18:03:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/who-are-you-hanging-out-with It does matter who you hang with because eventually their energy rubs off onto yours!  This is not only important in personal life but it is very important for your professional life, too. 1567 2009-12-16T13:55:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/ann-baker/keyword-research-tools You keep hearing that you’re supposed to research and use the most popular keywords, right?  But how do you do this?  Where are the best tools?  There are several online keyword research sites you can tap into, and TopRankBlog recently conducted a reader poll for the best ones. The top five winners were: Keyword Discovery – http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/ Wordtracker - http://www.wordtracker.com/ WordZe - http://www.wordze.com/ Google Keyword Tool - https://adwords.google.com/sele... 1476 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-12-16T06:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/how-treating-life-like-an-encyclopedia-will-increase-success You might be thinking - 'Life like an encyclopedia?! Has she lost her mind?!' That's right folks - treat life like that dusty old set of Britannica's you had years ago and you'll ultimately increase your success. So, how does this work? To explain this concept, let me back up a bit and share a story... I recently enrolled in a great spokesperson/hosting workshop to help fine tune my craft and to get critical feedback on my performance as a TV spokesperson. Our exercise for the past two... 1560 2009-12-11T13:30:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/never-assume-anything You know what will save you a headache in business (and probably in personal life as well)? Don't assume anything. Watch my lesson learned in this week's vlog. 1557 2009-12-09T16:01:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/ann-baker/more-on-seo Did you know that three of the top search engines are now social media sites?  YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook now are just about as important for SEO considerations as Google.  So, when thinking about and planning your SEO tactics, apply them to your presence in these social media sites and not just to your efforts to draw traffic to your website from Google searches. Think about what social networks and media sharing sites your customers use.  Then within those sites, you can do some soc... 1475 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-12-09T06:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/nancy-vaughn/surviving-the-stress-of-the-season At church this past Sunday, our pastor was discussing the hectic pace during the holidays. He said that changes will always occur, and our response to change is what will determine our level of stress and how we manage it. I couldn't agree more. That's why sometimes one situation may have me rolling my eyes and slapping my forehead, and the same situation on a different day or time might have me shrugging my shoulders and giggling. Perhaps partly hormonal, but largely my choice of response to... 1556 info@whitebookagency.com (Nancy Vaughn) 2009-12-07T19:44:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/what-are-your-new-year-s-resolutions Tis the season to vow to make 2010 a better year. Whether you're wanting to whittle your waistline or get a grip on your finances, we all make at least one resolution. I often struggle with resolutions because I have trouble keeping them and then, at years end, I feel incredibly defeated if I didn't accomplish what I wanted to. But a good bit of reflection this morning helped me come to this conclusion. My resolutions sucked. Yes folks, you heard it right. The whole reason I couldn... 1547 2009-12-04T13:25:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/update-from-the-shop I share more sales secrets that I've learned from my little adventure at Bryant Park Shops in NYC.  It's all about experience and vivid imagery... 1542 2009-12-02T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/ann-baker/how-should-you-follow-up-on-your-pitch-to-a-reporter-part-4-sending-samples-as-part-of-a-campaign If you’ve got a new product and want to publicize it, the best way possible is to show, not tell.  By all means, if you’ve got the budget, send samples to the journalists who you feel are most likely to have an interest and whose coverage of your product would generate the best buzz.   I don’t recommend sending samples totally out of the blue, however.  If you have a new product to publicize and you want to send samples to select reporters with an announcement, then send an email f... 1469 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-12-02T06:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/what-s-draining-you-here-s-a-simple-worksheet I think we can all agree, when we have a lot on our minds, it's near impossible to be present or productive. Since we are "walking magnets", we attract to us exactly what we are thinking. If the stuff in our lives is draining us, bringing us down in a sea of negativity, we will just keep getting more of the same!! Now, I know on first glance you may be thinking it's impossible to eliminate what's weighing you down (See my post about moving to the nearest bubble!). But, before you assume anyt... 1535 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-11-30T02:26:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/more-employee-woes Follow my journey as I learn how to juggle employee schedules (so I don't have to work all the time!) and making sure we have enough inventory to sell vs. not overstocking those products that are not moving as fast.  Wow... what a ride!  Business school?  Not needed.  I'm in my own boot camp right now. 1530 2009-11-25T14:35:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/ann-baker/happy-thanksgiving-the-usa-s-best-publicity-stunt What better way to publicize the message that our country is great, than to have everybody stop everything that they normally do, for a day of thanks?  Think about how you might halt business as usual for one day sometime over the upcoming year, and show thanks to your clients or customers in a way that’s genuine and memorable.   Enjoy your day.    Ann Baker is CEO of PR-123, www.PR-123.com, and Publicity Pros, www.PublicityPros.net, and Savor Mastermind Leader for Manhattan Beach,... 1468 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-11-25T06:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/how-to-wake-up-on-the-right-side-of-the-bed We've all heard the old adage about waking up on the wrong side of the bed. You feel grumpy, stressed, miserable, distraught - and the excuse that it's all because you 'woke up on the wrong side of the bed.' Believe me, I've used this excuse hundreds of times. Unfortunately (for me), if you have dogs and simultaneously a dog trainer as your husband, waking up on the wrong side of the bed just isn't an option. You see, when you own a dog and marry someone that's trained to study human an... 1526 2009-11-24T13:05:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/nancy-vaughn/focus-focus-focus-and-shop I'm a bit more sore than I'd like to admit since my first 5K run yesterday. The thought of taking a step in honor of keeping my body active and moving today was nonexistent. I am beyond sore, but do you know what immediately crossed my mind? Black Friday. I must remain in shape and agile to maneuver through the Black Friday sales this weekend. I must be quick and coordinated. I must be able to dash through the parking lot of Kohl's to reserve my line space, crouch before the opening of pallet... 1522 info@whitebookagency.com (Nancy Vaughn) 2009-11-23T19:40:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/tell-your-life-story-in-60-seconds In the hopes of one day landing my coveted spot on QVC (ahem....are you reading producers??) - last night was the first night of my on-camera spokesperson and hosting class taught by none other than someone who helps cast for QVC :)  Our first exercise was to stand in front of the camera and tell our life story in 60-seconds. There was no timer and no one saying 'cut.' Your job was to get the story out in 60-seconds. So, I comfortably offered to go first, rambled on for a bit about drea... 1513 2009-11-20T15:50:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/am-i-crazy This week I vlog about the craziness of being a new mom and opening a holiday shop for Om Aroma in Manhattan.  I also talk about how to learn from others who are doing what you want to be doing. 1506 2009-11-18T15:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/ann-baker/how-should-you-follow-up-on-your-pitch-to-a-reporter-part-3-the-cold-pitch Last week I dealt with proper follow-up after you sent a sample in response to a journalist's request.  This week I'll discuss following up after you’ve sent a cold pitch – one sent as part of a campaign of your own making.   Basic rules of decency apply.  When you’re cold pitching, you are, let’s be honest, akin to the door-to-door salesman.  You’re showing up out of the blue, knocking on the reporter’s electronic door, and saying, “Here’s my news.  Want to buy it?” ... 1467 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-11-18T06:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/how-to-increase-revenue-by-adding-value-to-your-newsletter To me, “SELL” is a 4-letter word. Yes, at the end of the day, sales are critical to sustain any business.  But, when you just “sell” you sell yourself, your passion, and your product short. I’ve learned that people buy usually because of recommendation, relationship, value, experience, or price point. Let's talk about adding "value" in an electronic business world! How do you increase revenue by adding value to e-mails? It seems to be a hot new trend, ... 1505 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-11-16T18:09:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/ann-baker/how-should-you-follow-up-on-your-pitch-to-a-reporter-part-2-sending-samples-by-request Last week I dealt with proper follow-up after you sent a pitch in response to a journalist's query.  This week I'll discuss follow-up after sending a sample of your product when a blogger or editor has sent out a query asking for samples.  What’s appropriate?   If the journalist published a query requesting a sample, then send it as quickly as possible so you maximize your follow-up time before his story deadline.  Send complete information in the package with the sample, and simultan... 1465 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-11-12T15:20:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/building-the-shop-at-bryant-park   I vlog about opening up a shop at Bryant Park for the holiday season for Om Aroma.  I will be chronicling my journey and sharing the lessons learned about sales, PR, marketing, managing employees, balancing life as a new mom, and so much more. 1488 2009-11-11T15:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/sell-with-story I swept my hand across the new red glistening Savor the Success Holiday Catalogue, and said, "So many stories are inside here." As we share this beautiful catalogue with friends and family far and wide, don't forget to mention the giving and powerful stories of the women behind the products and services. Customers love story. I am reminded of a children's poem I wrote many years ago after seeing a robin one morning. Don't tell me--- You saw a bird eating breakfast in the rain--- When... 1491 2009-11-10T18:51:21Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/julie-steelman/oh-to-savor-the-act-of-selling-est-reading-time-3-5-minutes This is it....the time to make up your mind to savor selling instead of dreading it!  Why?  ...because your product or service provides a benefit, solves a problem, or relieves an emotional need. From now on every time you hear the word “sales”, translate that to mean you have an opportunity to share the gift, the healing, the power, and the knowledge your product or service supplies.  If YOU don’t share it and educate others about your product and service, th... 1492 jsteelman@me.com (Julie Steelman) 2009-11-10T17:30:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/julie-steelman/is-your-lack-of-follow-up-destroying-your-sales-efforts-three-easy-steps-to-change-that-now-estimated-reading-time-2-5-mins Are you working really hard to make a sale or close a deal and not getting the result you want?  It’s okay, you can change that today in 3 easy steps!  I promise.  This formula is what I used to become a peak performer, you can too.Step #1:  Commit to establishing a follow-up ritual today. (Like washing your face)Just like going to the gym, you have to decide that you are going to change the way you follow-up with your customers, so you can shorten your selling cycle... 1473 jsteelman@me.com (Julie Steelman) 2009-11-04T18:35:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/penelope-the-pr-agent/how-should-you-follow-up-on-your-pitch-to-a-reporter-part-i When you send a pitch to a reporter, it's hard to know how to follow up appropriately.  If you ask ten people, you'll probably get eleven opinions as to the right course of action.  There is no right answer. You don't want to be the retiring wallflower who never gets noticed.  You also don't want to be an annoying pest who gets excluded from the story out of spite.    What to do? I'll deal here with proper follow-up after you sent a pitch in response to a journalis... 1460 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-11-04T06:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/how-detours-lead-to-happiness There's nothing like driving in NYC - no matter what day or time of day I'm visiting it seems like 12 yellow cabs try to share one lane with me and usually the path that I choose to take to the Lincoln Tunnel to head home to New Jersey is detoured - yet the signs don't tell you where the detour is nor does my navigation system, which annoyingly shouts ‘rerouting - rerouting - rerouting' over and over again. Finally I find my own way through the tunnel and breathe a sigh of relief as I m... 1490 2009-11-03T00:36:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/julie-steelman/did-the-law-of-attraction-just-die Wanted to share a thought I had.  Are we deciding the “economic decline” means the law of attraction just up and died on us? With all of the news media proclaiming “doomsday” on the US economy, it is easy to forget the law of attraction didn't go any where, but, our belief in it is being shaken.  This time also makes it more challenging to stay really focused on our own mission and goals.  I see this economic shift as a corporate cleansing and a switch... 1466 jsteelman@me.com (Julie Steelman) 2009-11-02T23:00:28Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/your-dad-s-lessons As entrepreneurs we are into the final quarter where we will be breaking land and speed records at what we attempt to accomplish by the end of year. We will feel like we cannot hold on sometimes. I am reminded of the Audrey Hepburn quote, "The best thing to hold onto in life is each other," and the children's book, Me and My Dad by Alison Ritchie and illustrated by Alison Edgson. Richie writes through a fuzzy papa bear and a playful baby bear. Little bear says, "We go out exploring, ther... 1458 2009-10-29T15:20:36Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/5-ways-to-write-a-better-blog As some of you know, I've recently headed down the path of lifestyle blogger with my new venture www.melissaslifelessons.com I started the blog with the purpose of finding my voice and, at first, didn't do a whole lot of promotion to make it public. But surprisingly it's served as the catalyst in helping me book 15 television spots in two months, and one of those spots was solely highlighting my blog! Before I launch into my tips for better blogging, I have to preface this by saying a lot of... 1450 2009-10-28T17:49:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/is-your-marketing-plan-outrageous-enough This week I vlog about creating a marketing plan that really cuts through the "noisy" social media world to get people talking on your behalf.  I spent an afternoon with Payson Cooper, jewelry designer and brilliant marketer, to come up with an idea that may inspire you! 1447 2009-10-28T15:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/penelope-the-pr-agent/this-blog-s-for-you-or-is-it Do you often wonder if you’re wasting your time – or your sample products – on blogs?  When you consider posting to a blog or sending sample products for review, do you question whether you’re putting your efforts and/or your goods into great outlets for coverage, or great electronic gift bags for the blog poster?     As we all know, blogs can be anything from fabulous to phony.  If you don’t have a PR agent with access to behind-the-scenes ... 1448 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-10-28T06:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/the-martyr-vs-the-mirror I have been pretty busy these days, and as I was driving this morning I couldn’t help but notice the eyebrows which are in need of some TLC. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not a person overly concerned with appearances, and I think beauty is in our uniqueness and flaws, but I also believe we are ‘inside-out’ beings. There should be a balance and a connection between the two, and often we see the connection, but sometimes can’t quite find the "balance"?! I m... 1442 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-10-22T04:24:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/why-she-buys-creating-your-marketing-strategy With the holidays approaching, I know we are all working on our marketing strategies to have a successful season. The other day, I received a wonderful book from Barbara Poole called Why She Buys by Bridget Brennan who is the CEO of Female Factor. She includes stories from major companies who missed the mark by hiring male marketing executives to come up with their marketing campaigns. What they were missing was that by a ratio of two to one, more women than men say they make most of the d... 1436 2009-10-21T14:53:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/penelope-the-pr-agent/seo-for-regular-folks The struggle over SEO - how to understand it, use it, and upgrade it - whether to pay an expert to fix it on your website - well, it goes on and on.  In the meantime, here are some free tools to learn more about SEO and do a little SEO sprucing up on your own. All Things SEM - www.allthingssem.com  Start with the "What is SEO?" page 97th Floor - www.97thfloor.com/blog  Search the categories to home in on your biggest need: Link Building, SEO, Viral Marketing, Web Analytics, a... 1437 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-10-21T06:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/6-things-you-must-know-before-being-on-tv So you've finally booked your first TV appearance - chances are if you've listened to me or to one of the wonderful media trainers here on Savor (like Jennifer Flaa) you are no doubt practicing in the mirror, thinking of all the things the host might say and maybe feeling a little nervous. Truth is, preparation is key, but there are always things that happen right before a segment or during a segment that you can't control, but need to act like it's no big deal. Here's my list of the 6... 1431 2009-10-15T00:30:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/she-s-finally-here Our baby daughter has arrived and already I'm learning so much from her! I feel more energetic, focused and have clarity even though I'm sleep deprived.  How?  One thing at a time... 1428 2009-10-14T15:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/penelope-the-pr-agent/tools-in-cyberspace Here’s a quick rundown of tools in cyberspace that help you save time, save space, make your information easier to remember, and make it easier to share files and resources.  All of these benefits add to your professional delivery of pitches and information to journalists. File hosting – If you have a large file, or several files, and either no website for hosting them, or if it’s not easy to add content to your website, you can post files to free file hosting sites an... 1425 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-10-14T06:21:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/hippopotamus-truth In these, "I need it yesterday times," companies can make promises, but not deliver. So, it's important to make sure you really can deliver before you make promises. George and Martha, in The Complete Stories of Two Best Friends by James Marshall, reminds us all of a key business concept for success. George, in his hippopotamus finest and most stately, sits down for tea with his friend Martha. "I used to be a champion jumper," he says. Martha raises an eyebrow. "And," says George, "I ... 1412 2009-10-07T15:35:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/penelope-the-pr-agent/odd-publicity-tip-1-burma-shave The great thing about social media is it’s free, or nearly so.  This gives you leeway to stretch your wings, try different tactics, and sometimes just be downright silly.  Of course, you don’t want to do anything to hurt your reputation, but you can give yourself permission to have some fun once in awhile, and maybe generate some interest and appreciation because you’ve brought a little amusement to others. This was the classic philosophy behind Burma Shave’s... 1410 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-10-07T06:21:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/how-to-respond-to-a-pr-query-and-get-national-media-exposure I wanted to blog about this topic because I think so many of you ladies ARE INCREDIBLE, and deserve to be used as an expert source or have your product/service featured in a magazine. Since I am on both sides of the pitching fence (as a “Source” and as a Radio Host/Writer), I wanted to share some tips on how to get national media exposure based on your response to a query.   Where can you find queries? Here’s my top 3 list: -     &nbs... 1405 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-10-01T15:17:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/how-giving-birth-to-a-baby-is-like-launching-a-new-business   I've been thinking a lot about giving birth lately (since I'm now two weeks away from due date), and I'm hoping that the lessons I've learned from launching a new business will guide me as I wade my way through the joyful aftermath of giving birth!   1. Embrace chaos and take time outSometimes bracing yourself for chaos helps you to deal with chaos.  Everytime I see a new mom, she looks like a deer caught in headlights. That frozen "what-am-I-doing" look freaks me out beca... 1391 2009-09-30T14:30:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/penelope-the-pr-agent/more-on-the-social-media-hamster-wheel-in-hell-stop-spinning Here are a few more tips on how to manage your time while making the most of what social media can do for you: This may run counter to advice you find elsewhere, but consider unfollowing those on Twitter who don't add value to your intake of information on a regular basis.  If you find that whenever you log in, the stream of comments and responses that you see is nearly meaningless to you, consider paring down those you follow to the top 10, or 50, or 100 who are commenting on items of ... 1393 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-09-30T06:01:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/why-you-should-act-like-a-kid-when-running-your-business As we grow older, we grow wiser. But being wise also can mean growing a cynical mentality. You know, statements like:"I'm not trying that, I'll get hurt.""I'm not going to that event, no one will talk to me.""I'm not exploring that opportunity, it will never work out."These statements are reflective of past events. Maybe one time you tried a yoga class and hurt your back. Now you assume every yoga class will result in an injury. Maybe you attended a networking event to find everyone broken of... 1387 2009-09-28T19:21:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/my-re-packaging-mistake So what do you if you have spent thousands of dollars on a business decision only to realize that it is not the right path? Do you continue on or do you back up and start from ground zero again? Watch as I weigh out my dilemma. 1369 2009-09-23T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/penelope-the-pr-agent/tips-for-twitterers Just like your grandma used to say, “Listen before you speak.”  With Twitter, try to listen on a regular basis, anyway.  Regularly go to the search box in the upper right corner of the Twitter screen and type in your company’s name.  Anything come up?  What are they saying?  Read, listen, and learn.    Share links to interesting content.  Yes, I know you’ve probably heard that before, but listen, don’t go so overboard th... 1350 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-09-23T06:55:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/how-would-you-answer-this-question Ok, I have to tell you, I am surprised at how many perfectly fabulous women don’t realize just how fabulous they are, and I’m mad as heck about it!! Let me explain, on my radio show, I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Genevieve Ferraro, founder of The Jewel Box® home. She is smart, witty, fun, real, glowing, gorgeous, and living her purpose- assisting people to create beauty out of any size space. She got into this business after her dream of owning a big home was c... 1362 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-09-18T15:32:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/2009-savor-holiday-catalog-featuring-top-50-women-entrepreneurs It's that time of year again! While everyone else is thinking about going back to school, new projects, and the change of season, we entrepreneurs are pumping up our holiday campaigns. Savor is launching the 2nd edition of its annual Holiday Catalog, which will feature 50 of the top women entrepreneurs in America!  Both product and service-based businesses are welcome to submit their forms. (Service-based businesses will be our "green" gifts!) The story behind this catalog was when... 1351 2009-09-16T16:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/5-ways-to-form-a-better-relationship-with-your-publicist-or-client *or marketing firm, graphic designer, copywriter or other creative service professional Over the years I've had several people contact me with complaints about their current *publicist. After a bit of prying, I often find that the problem isn't with the *publicist's work ethic, but rather a flaw in the *publicist-client relationship. As someone that hires creative service professionals, and a publicist that is hired by clients - I've been fortunate enough to examine these relationships from ... 1353 2009-09-16T15:06:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/your-sexy-numbers Pay attention to the math of your business----fall in love with it. While reading the children's book, Mathematickles! by Betsy Franco and illustrated by Steven Salerno, the idea of the sultry, synergistic  effect of poetry and math made me think of my bottom line in a sexy way. In the book, there is a short poem set-up like a math problem, "pumpkin patch x sunlight = ooooooorange." Wow, multiplication is sooooooo  pretty----oranges and yellows combine to create a lot of zeros.... 1352 2009-09-16T14:52:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/penelope-the-pr-agent/don-t-forget-the-why-in-your-pitch When you send out a pitch to a reporter, even in response to their notice stating they’re looking for experts or businesses just like you, it's a good idea to point out the ‘why’ in your response.  Meaning, why should the reporter include you in her story as opposed to any of several other similar businesses who probably also responded to her query?  Let’s say a reporter asks for information about leads on unusual or custom-made jewelry, for a gift guide ... 1349 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-09-16T06:50:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/what-s-your-definition-of-success A woman emailed me, and wrote: I’m thinking about becoming a coach. I saw your website, and you look pretty successful. I was just curious if you make a lot of money, or if it’s just a 'feel good' job. What’s the average salary? If you know how I can find this out, please write me back. I’m not a numbers person. Some people write the date in numbers: 9/10/09 I like to spell out the month: September 10, 2009 I don’t know why, there’s something about nu... 1345 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-09-11T01:30:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/how-to-land-tv-spots-as-an-expert-and-be-a-great-guest   Have you ever wondered how to get on TV as an expert? Because I want you to get the maximum exposure for your product or service, I am sharing my journey on why and how I got on TV as a "Green Lifestyle and Beauty Expert". Here's how you can do the same for you and your business. What's Your Why? The first step for a successful PR campaign is to know why you want to get on TV. My motivation to get on TV was very straighforward and simple: I wanted to become an advocate for my ... 1338 2009-09-09T13:01:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-the-f-a-c-t-s-about-embracing-change      Just last month, my family packed up and headed West, a move we're calling an "adventure", although my youngest son says he's tired of that phrase. We've rented a house at the beach for a year - leaving a life-long life for most of us in Columbus, Ohio. Were we all nervous as we drove across the country wagon-train style, Oreo the mutt included?     Sure. Is it still different, strange, exciting, beautiful, and surreal? Yep.     ... 1342 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-09-09T12:12:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/penelope-the-pr-agent/throw-in-the-towel-before-it-s-too-late I’m not talking about quitting – I’m talking about making sure you keep going!  And now, as a new school year has started and holidays are approaching and end-of-year pressures are mounting to hold sales, special events, or end-of-year activities, it’s time to seriously consider delegating some of your duties, especially those that enhance PR.  Stop thinking that you can do it all!   Lucky for you, the world of Virtual Assistants is exploding nowa... 1339 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-09-09T06:30:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/there-is-no-shortcut-to-success One thing I've learned from living with a tennis pro is that they get really aggravated when you don't work hard. I've listened over the years to my husband become irate over kids whose parents pay thousands of dollars for lessons - then they come, swing their racquet half-heartedly and refuse to run for the ball. Yet these same kids dream of playing first singles and eventually winning grand slam tournaments like the US Open. Maybe it's my husband's influence, but I also become ag... 1340 2009-09-09T01:14:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/are-you-using-twitter-effectively-6-tips-to-consider Twitter is a fantastic business tool.  It's helped me grow my business and allowed (similar to this blog) for my followers to get to know me a little.  In case you're not following me, my legal twitter handle is DeenaEsq.  In case you haven't realized it, I'm very different from most lawyers.  I'm very comfortable with the latest technology.  As such, I'm often asked to help colleagues to get started. The question I get asked most is why anyone would bother with Twi... 1330 2009-09-03T17:52:30Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/penelope-the-pr-agent/say-thank-you No doubt you’re polite when you deal with reporters and bloggers, and you probably say “thanks” for this and that during the course of your correspondence, if you have follow-up with a journalist after the initial pitch.  And when you hear that you’re going to be featured or given a mention, you probably express gratitude then as well.  That’s all good.   It’s a good idea to make one last effort, too, when you do finally see your name ... 1318 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-09-02T06:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-how-to-find-the-perfect-agency Think of your public relations or advertising agency as an extension of your team. The firm needs to fit in with your brand/culture and understand where your brand is going. When it comes to selecting the right agency for you, it's good to be picky.  Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net Try these tips to ensure you find a great partner for your business' growth. Ask for recommendations. Talk to your friends, and find out what kinds of experiences they've had with different firms in town o... 1326 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-09-02T05:17:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/my-letter-to-oprah I am sharing this with the Savor ladies, because I think every one of you is truly FABULOUS (and an Inspirista)...so if you've ever beat yourself up over the size in your clothing, this is for you! In January, I decided to write a letter to Oprah. Not an actual letter, this was more of a “dump-it-outta-my head” letter. I guess I’d been thinking a lot about what she said- how she couldn’t believe she let herself get to 200 pounds again, and how 2009 would be &ldqu... 1311 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-08-28T03:59:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/when-to-stop-working-and-give-it-a-rest This week marked my one year anniversary. One year of getting disgustingly sick, that is. I may get the occasional stuffy nose or headache, but for the most part I remain a pretty healthy gal. But every year, I come down with something. And that something turns into a week of tossing my cookies, fighting a high fever, a terrible sore throat, a throbbing headache and just about every other ingredient you can imagine that turns into a truly awful existence. The worst part of my yearly illness... 1308 2009-08-27T00:26:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-hire-like-apple Have you ever met someone who had a spark? A stranger or acquaintance you instantly connected with and thought, that person is going places? Or maybe she was a great salesperson who went above and beyond to make your visit complete. You know, the kind of person that makes you want to visit again and again and tell your friends about the outstanding experience.  Recruit those people! They're special. They're driven. They're unique, and they might just make the perfect addition to your te... 1305 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-08-26T14:44:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/2-ways-to-deal-with-stress I know that stress blocks us from our potential as entrepreneurs, people, parents, spouses, and friends. When we feel stressed out, it can sometimes be paralyzing especially for people who do it all. I consulted with Dr. Sharon Melnick to get some tips on how to deal with stress in a positive and proactive way. As I put more and more on my plate, I know that the best way to get through the day with joy and energy is to deal with stress and to be organized. In this vlog, I share wi... 1294 2009-08-26T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/penelope-the-pr-agent/i-yam-what-i-yam-and-that-s-all-that-i-yam That’s what Popeye the Sailor Man, the cartoon character of the 50’s, used to sing.  He was nothing fancy, not handsome, not rich, and not glitzy, but he was honest and true and strong and whaddaya know, he was the star of the show!  And - he always ate his spinach!  (I know, anyone younger than a Boomer is scratching her head, asking, what the?)  But Popeye’s mantra was and is a good one – don’t try to be what you’re not, don&rsquo... 1296 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-08-26T06:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/making-mistakes-makes-you-smarter-if-it-doesn-t-kill-you-first Hey, the only way we learn is by making mistakes.  Ok, well, that's not exactly true.  You CAN learn by following someone's example that already made the mistake, but if you're anything like me, you never do that... Do I get stuff wrong? Heck, yes.  All the darn time. You think I'm smart?  I'm not.  I've just made a TON of mistakes... LOL!  And I'm still making them. I'm so darn stubborn that I even make mistakes that I would advise my clients not t... 1300 2009-08-25T18:39:19Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/the-inside-story In this internet world, people still want to connect on a personal level. Clients want to know your story! What state do you live in? Why did you make selling dog biscuits your entrepreneurial adventure? Do you leave the cap off the toothpaste? I even choose some of my library books based on the author page. When I open a new children's book at the library, I check the back flap. That's where I find the "About the Author" page.  For example, Leslie Patricelli wrote the book, Higher... 1297 2009-08-25T11:47:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/what-is-your-wow-word So what's your "Fancy Nancy" word? The one wow word you use to describe your business? Do you fumble with your pitch? I'm well a ________. I create_________. Well, what I really do is_____________. Who are you really? Really, who are you? What word comes to mind when others think of you? It should be a magic word! It should be one word. --Become the word you want to present to the world---wear it---Payson, with her transformational jewelry, can help you at www.paysonjewelry.com. While r... 1288 2009-08-20T03:48:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/2-things-i-did-to-increase-sales-goals-by-100-last-week This week, I vlog about two things that I did to increase Om Aroma's sales goals by 100% last week.  I've been learning in my 7-Figure Club about how we can shift our perception to bring in sales.  Yes, I may HATE to sell, but I love to provide wonderful solutions to other people. 1280 2009-08-19T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-the-passionless It's tough out there. The economy is forcing layoffs, and businesses aren't hiring. More people than ever are out of work. But what about the people who are still employed? Are they grateful? Happy even? It turns out, more than half aren't. According to an Adecco North America survey, 54 percent of employed Americans say they will look for a new job once the recession ends. Among 18 to 29 year olds, the number jumps to 71 percent. Almost 3/4ths of the under 30 crowd will leap at the chance to... 1284 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-08-19T12:46:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/penelope-the-pr-agent/is-social-media-your-own-hamster-wheel-in-hell Here’s what they say: You must, must, must use social media!  And you must keep up with the newest tools!  And you must be genuine, and share legitimate content, and not be too sell-y, and post to your blog at least every two weeks, or was that one week, or maybe every other day!  And keep that tweet deck up, get a vlog going, schedule your own chats, and get a least 100 fans for your facebook business page so you can nab your vanity URL – and – yikes!  Y... 1283 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-08-19T12:10:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/a-big-dose-of-no   Over the weekend, I got a big dose of “NO!” It’s not that my ideas haven’t been rejected before- please, I’m living testament to the motto, “If at first you don’t succeed, try try again!” But, this most recent “NO!” was tough, because I really felt in my heart I would hear “YES!” I thought my idea would fly, perhaps even be applauded. I was so excited, I couldn’t wait to present it. And, like a pin to my pro... 1278 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-08-18T02:23:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/savor-to-the-rescue-happy-birthday I am an entrepreneur, but I am also a mom. The reason I'm writing this blog is that sometimes the mom and the mompreneur mingle a lot! And, I get tired---but when we entrepreneurs get tired we have to figure out what's important---and call in help from a professional when we just cannot do everything. The following post is the reason I decided to call Inna Shamis (www.agcomgroup.com) and contract out important PR, Melissa Cassera, (www.casseracommunications.com), Ayesha Mathews-Wadhwa (w... 1264 2009-08-12T22:09:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-entrepreneurship-is-the-road-to-independence What is independence? To me, it's entrepreneurship. It's the ability to do what I love, when I want, with whom I want. It's the new American dream. Women everywhere are making it happen, and you can, too! Here are my top five reasons you should take the leap. 1. Independence. I love this quote from an anonymous high school student: "Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won't, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can't." I couldn't hav... 1263 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-08-12T20:38:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/happy-birthday-savor Join us in celebrating Savor's 1-year birthday!  From 12-1 PM EST noon, we are having a group chat so just pop in for a couple of minutes, wish Savor a happy birthday and connect with other amazing entrepreneurs from all over the world.  Also, please take today to list a few successes from the past year that you can savor.  It's SO IMPORTANT to do this!  How many times have you accomplished something and just brushed past it?  Announce it to the world... po... 1254 2009-08-12T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/penelope-the-pr-agent/what-if-the-reporter-asks-for-a-product-sheet What if the reporter asks for you to send a product sheet, and you don’t have one?  Do you have to admit this, and let the opportunity drop, or must you hire a professional graphic designer to prepare a fancy document at your expense?  What’s in a product sheet, anyway?  Savor Premium Member PR Clients, look for this Thursday’s PR Tip from Penelope for more on how to make a beautiful, polished product sheet using Savor’s easy and elegant online tools. ... 1258 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-08-12T06:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/how-to-use-fear-to-your-advantage Over the past year, we've heard a ton of information about the state of the economy, and of course, you may be a bit fearful. Fear is part of life- I get it! I'd be remiss to act as though fear doesn't exist, right? But, my take is, fear can be used to find opportunity or fear can be used as a catalyst for despair. We each have the power to decide how to use our fear. You may think I’m nuts. Find opportunity in fear? How?  Well, in every experience... 1259 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-08-12T02:37:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/4-reasons-why-you-should-daydream-more-often I'll admit it...I'm addicted to daydreaming. I can't count the number of times my husband caught me in a daze and asked me 'what were you just thinking about?' As I'm snapped back into reality, I answer "nothing." In reality, I'm thinking about a lot of things. Walking onstage to a screaming audience as I host my own TV show. Getting a call from QVC to tell me I need to be their new host. Getting a call from Kellogg's to tell me they need to have me as their new spokesperson. Sipping cocktai... 1250 2009-08-09T15:27:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/read-this-no-seriously-read-this-privacy-law-changes Normally, I wouldn't do this (and I apologize to those of you who read my legal blog on a regular basis, since I just posted this there too).  But it's too important to all of you for me not to repeat it here. Just When You Thought That You Were Compliant With Privacy Law by Deena Burgess, Esq. You're a responsible business owner.  I know that you are.  If you weren't, you wouldn't have stopped to read this blog post.  You know that you have to follow certain pri... 1249 2009-08-09T14:58:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/your-prosperity-plan-just-do-it Faith is the most important part of growing your business. The book that best illustrates this idea is the children's book-The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Crockett Johnson. I have been struggling over the last three weeks to do what Mike Michalowicz, the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur (www.ToiletPaperEntrepreneur.com), puts forth as a must to succeed---a prosperity plan.  I've decided that all of you reading this post must create one too!  Just like in The Carrot S... 1244 2009-08-07T19:50:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/a-little-love-for-linkedin I don't always participate in conversations that take place here on STS, but I watch what seems like most of them (though I'm sure that's not true).  I see a lot of discussion of Facebook for business and Twitter.  Don't get me wrong, I use them both and I enjoy them (well, Twitter more than Facebook, but still...). I think that LinkedIn gets overlooked in the equation, particularly for people who are running service based businesses.  Hey, I get it.  You can't be ever... 1240 2009-08-06T13:50:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/overwhelmed-3-simple-tips-to-peace-of-mind   “Attitude is everything.”  “Everything happens for a reason.” Everyone has heard these phrases, and many have probably used them a time or two. But, if you’re in the midst of a meltdown, stuck in a rut, or letting life, busyness, and stress overtake you how on earth can you have a positive attitude? Simple!! Begin with two words: “Thank You!” By being thankful for your life now, as it is today (craziness and all!), you open the do... 1238 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-08-06T02:32:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/4-tips-on-how-to-get-featured-on-tv I just had my very first live TV segment as a Green Lifestyle Expert. I've always been the one who pitched the press for Om Aroma so it was an eye-opening experience to be on the other side of the fence of being pitched.  I tried to observe as much as I could in order to share with you what works and what doesn't. This vlog is about what you can do to get your product on TV through gift guide experts. On a side note, I had an extremely stressful situation getting to the TV... 1234 2009-08-05T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-personal-recommendations-beat-out-online-sources As I was reading my daily marketing news, I ran across a study that found most online purchasers bought because of a personal recommendation from a friend/relative (34%), followed by spouse/partner (25%), then a blogger (5%) and a chat room (5%). Truly, this is no surprise to me. Personal, one-on-one connections are gems. These are the people you trust and depend on. If Oprah tweeted, "Acai is amazing", but my friend Jane said, "I tried it and it's not worth the price," I'd go with Jane... 1235 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-08-05T12:56:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/penelope-the-pr-agent/pr-tip-from-penelope-attachments-are-a-no-no-with-the-initial-pitch Sending an attachment with a media pitch is akin to sending a package to a stranger marked “hazardous.” Don’t do it. Most emails with attachments get shot straight to the spam folder and the reporter never sees them. Those that make it through, annoy the heck out of reporters. Not a good way to start a positive relationship. Savor Premium Member PR Clients, look for this Thursday’s PR Tip from Penelope for more on how to make complete information available to a rep... 1212 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-08-05T09:50:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/little-miss-negative-kick-fear-to-the-curb Years ago, I wanted to begin a new venture. Not just with work, that was part of it, of course, but with my whole life! And, there was this little voice inside my head telling me: Just do it. Take the darn leap and don't look back, just spread your arms out, and believe that you will fly. Believe that you will soar. Believe that you are doing what you are meant to do. Let your dreams be your wings, and go for it. But then, there was the other voice, the little voice that told me: Be practi... 1228 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-08-04T01:34:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/feeling-the-energy One reason I love my bootcamp class is the positive energy that radiates from our group. This is also the same reason that it's so difficult to explain to other people why they should join the class. To anyone that isn't physically there - it just sounds like some crazy class where we all get sweaty and extremely dirty and push our physical limits at a disgustingly early hour. But if they just gave it a try, I know they would walk away every morning feeling truly amazing ... 1225 2009-08-03T13:15:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-what-kind-of-smart-are-you We're all smart, but what kind of smart may be vastly different. I love the book 7 Kinds of Smart: Identifying and Developing Your Multiple Intelligences by Thomas Armstrong. His theory of multiple intelligences transformed my thinking about what it means to be smart-because in our culture, the traditional way we view smart is very limited. And limiting. Our society values logical and verbal smarts while often overlooking all the other amazing attributes that make each of us truly gifted.So, ... 1218 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-07-29T16:10:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/penelope-the-pr-agent/pr-tip-from-penelope-make-sher-your-pitch-is-free-of-typos Jarring, isn’t it? When you see a glaring typo, it really distracts you – and let’s be honest, it colors your opinion of the writer, does it not? Typos and misspellings and grammatical errors are common, human mistakes, not the biggest deals in the world, but when you’re sending a pitch to a journalist, you should do everything in your power to avoid them. Your pitch is like your resume, business card, or the sign on the front of your office; it’s your first f... 1211 ann@publicitypros.net (Ann Baker) 2009-07-29T14:50:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/you-and-your-company-s-branding-image This week I vlog about the importance of getting great photos taken for your branding and company image.  I'm joined by special guest and amazing photographer, Lisa-Marie Mazzucco.  We also get sidetracked and talk about how she also lost 20 lbs since I last saw her! 1215 2009-07-29T14:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/zen-quickies-10-ways-to-feel-more-balanced-instantly I, like many of you, wear multiple hats. I'm a wife, a mother, a friend, a daughter, a sister, a toy-fixer. I'm a writer, a speaker, a consultant, a lifestylist, an entrepreneur. I could go on, but I think you get my drift! Juggling lots of things can make us feel a bit crazed, unless we embrace the moments, and leave juggling for the clowns!! I think it's the little things that make the biggest difference, and besides, when we focus on the things we CAN control, finding balance is a... 1214 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-07-29T02:30:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/create-your-happy-kit When we have a cut, bruise or scrape we reach right for the first aid kit to get our obligatory band aid and ointment. But what do we reach for when we have a bruised ego? When something cuts right into our heart? When we feel like we've been scraped across the coals? Wouldn't it be great if we could all have our own First Aid Kit for Happiness? I decided to take matters into my own hands this weekend and start creating my own personal Happy Kit. Now on those days when I desperately need so... 1203 2009-07-27T13:22:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/look-at-your-shadow-the-shadow-knows What are you avoiding? What or who is following you around that you don't want to deal with? Do you have a problem shadow? In the children's book, Bear Shadow,  by Frank Asch  the main character, Bear, playfully reminds us of shadows---I use them as a metaphor here for business problems we need to confront in order to move forward. A cute little black bear strolls to the pond to fish one afternoon.  Bear sees a big fish. "I'm going to catch that fish, thought Bear to himself.... 1202 2009-07-26T21:09:26Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-rock-your-next-radio-interview I love radio interviews, but only if I'm prepared. Here are a few things I learned while on Real You Incorporated's  radio tour. Do your homework, and get to know the station and its personalities. Learn their style, tone and audience. Are they jokesters, serious, down-to-earth? Listen to a few broadcasts. Most have a listen online feature.   Know what you'll be asked ahead of time. If you're not provided with questions, send a few to the producer. Also include your backgro... 1194 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-07-23T20:23:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/the-story-behind-savor-s-name-and-what-that-means-for-your-business My vlog this week is about why I named our social network “Savor the Success” and what that means to you and your business.  I realized that I was standing in my own way of success and by shifting one small (yet big) thing, things started to change for me.   Check out that gorgeous necklace and earrings that I'm wearing from Keri Starker Jewelry! 1176 2009-07-22T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/branding-thoughts-on-business-from-children-s-book-giraffes-can-t-dance Finding your true brand and what you want to present to the world doesn't happen overnight. Ideas that count-that stand the test of time-take time to develop. Don't fret if you don't create your genius brand overnight. In the children's book, Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andrede and Guy Parker-Rees readers learn the importance of taking the time to explore a personal brand. "Gerald was a tall giraffe whose neck was long and slim. But his knees were awfully crooked and his legs were rath... 1174 2009-07-21T12:35:04Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/4-tips-to-stress-less-and-smile-more OK, I’ll admit, this may be because “Annie” was my favorite movie as a child, but I’m of the opinion that you’re “never fully dressed without a smile”. This dawned on me when I was writing an Employee Handbook, and the subject of dress code came up. Of course, at work we should be neat and presentable, but shouldn’t we also be positive and happy? So, I threw in a line about smiling! I tested my theory years ago on a client who was really unha... 1173 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-07-21T03:22:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-learn-to-say-no By nature, women are nurturers-the ones always helping others. While it's admirable that we are always trying to be there for others, between work and family, our lives can get chaotic. In striving to be SuperMom, we often forget how and when to say no. Then, being overcommitted with no time for ourselves, we're left feeling frazzled, burnt-out, despondent and not much good to anyone.  Fortunately, there are a couple things we can do. First, learn to set limitations for yourself. Instea... 1139 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-07-16T20:39:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/how-i-got-on-fox-news-and-check-out-the-video One thing I always encourage entrepreneurs is to get booked on local TV. Not only will local TV give you exposure to your hometown, it's key in building your reel (clips of your media segments packaged in a nice 3 minute video). Reels are essential for pitching national TV shows like Good Morning America and the Today Show, and if you're lucky enough to reach a producer there that likes your pitch, the first thing out of their mouth will be - 'send me your tape.' I've recently been... 1133 2009-07-15T16:07:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/3-things-that-make-a-good-plan So everyone has been asking me lately, "Hey Angela, what's your plan for when you give birth?  You have two businesses and now you will have a baby.  What are you going to do?"  I'm always a little befuddled by this.  I mean, I raised a puppy and I still was able to function, right?  Babies sleep, don't they?  That's my plan!  And I'll deal with it when I get there... I soon realized after talking to numerous moms that I needed something with... 1125 2009-07-15T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/who-do-you-know-who-do-they-know Whoever said it was right.  It's not what you know, it's who you know. No, really.  It is. When I was in my 20's, I remember distinctly thinking that being smart should be enough to get me where I want to go.  I work hard, I'm a pretty smart cookie... (If I do say so myself). When my dad would say that he knew a guy who knew a guy... (you get the idea), I'd look at him like he'd lost his mind and tell him that I appreciated the offer but that I wanted to do it on my own. I ... 1126 2009-07-14T17:21:32Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/wombat-writing-business-lesson-from-diary-of-a-wombat-by-jackie-french-and-illustrated-by-bruce-whatley What can you learn from a wombat? Well, when one member of the species keeps a journal--a lot! In the children's book--The Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French and illustrated by Bruce Whatley-- keeping a journal of daily life is important for wombats as well as business professionals. Our little wombat friend on Monday did a variety of activities.  "Monday morning: Slept, Afternoon: Slept, Evening: Ate grass, scratched. Night: Ate grass." We all know the value of keeping a daily jou... 1120 2009-07-13T19:09:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/have-you-ever-beat-yourself-up-how-i-learned-to-nurture-myself Ok, I’m a firm believer that balance is a state of mind- literally! Well, since food plays a MAJOR role in the way we feel, food is one of the keys to staying balanced!!  I discovered this when I was diagnosed with borderline diabetes almost a decade ago. I was always tired, and just downright mean to myself. You know, feeling “fat” in everything I put on, always beating myself up over the image in the mirror, asking my mother if my butt looked big in my jeans. Ugh! No... 1119 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-07-13T16:23:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/jennifer-tuma-young/finding-balance-thanks-to-grandma-millie My grandmother’s favorite saying was “everything in moderation.” She would have been over 90 years old, and I can’t imagine what she’d say about the things that are going on in the world today! I mean, “moderation” sounds great in theory, but is it really possible? To do things in moderation, have things in moderation, live in moderation? Well, that to me sounds like, dare I say, balance?! The horror!   I thought of my grandmother’s say... 1113 jennifer@inspirista.net (Jennifer Tuma-Young) 2009-07-10T03:24:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/why-quitters-often-win Did you ever start something and then feel so hell bent to persevere because quitters never win? I did. When I took my first corporate job out of college I was determined to work my way to the top. In only 6 months I was promoted (which was practically unheard of there) and I was top of my division and the right-hand gal to my boss. Most likely I would have been next in line for her job. The problem? It wasn't what I wanted to do. But the popular belief in the office was that you'd be crazy ... 1109 2009-07-09T17:04:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-nix-time-thieves Did you know interruptions consume 28 percent of an average workday? It's true. And interruptions can be even more time-stealing if you're working from home and not setting limits. Case in point: the other day I was working from home. That's typically a great place to work. But, one of my kids was sick. She slept most of the time, but still needed checking, food and comfort. Then, I answered the home phone, instead of letting the answering machine grab it. A mom looking for help with a fund... 1104 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-07-08T13:44:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/are-you-procrastinating-eat-a-frog-every-morning   This week, I vlog about how you can make sure you are not procrastinating in getting important things done.  Sometimes I look at my to-do list and see that the small things get done very easily.  But the hard things - like contacting a potential buyer or a big-time magazine editor - are not checked off.  Why?  I found a fantastic way to deal with that, and I'm sharing it with you!  Try it and see the difference in your lives. 1096 2009-07-08T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/happy-birthday-to-me Today isn't the day I was born.  That's in February (in case anyone's interested).  Today is the one year anniversary of me launching my law firm.  Hooray!!!  On July 7, 2008, I launched my website and started marketing my firm.  That's kind of like my birthday.  I mean, I am my firm.  (Hmm, I wonder if that means that I should ask my husband whether I should expect presents... Probably not... LOL!) And it's been an unbelievable year.  I owe a lot ... 1097 2009-07-07T17:19:24Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/why-failing-is-the-best-thing-for-you "I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game's winning shot...and missed. I have failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan In the latest issue of Success Magazine, publisher Darren Hardy tells a story of his father teaching him that not only is it "ok to fail, it is proof you are improving." Is it possible that the more we fail, the more we succe... 1082 2009-07-02T13:38:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-five-tips-to-de-stress With all of the bad new and budget cuts, it's just plain stressful out there. That got me thinking of tips I've heard and used to create a little peace and relaxation in the middle of the day.If you're stressed and in a bad mood, you project it through everything you do. Personally, my jaws clench, and I become short with people. And that's no fun, for me or them. I'm not as effective as a leader, a mother or a friend. And while a little stress is good for performance, a lot of stress throws ... 1080 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-07-01T18:09:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/what-is-your-why I went to a NYC Entrepreneurs event/conference last week mostly because I thought it might be a good place to find business.  That turned out not to be the case.  Oh well, you win some, you lose some. The event wasn't a total loss for me though.  I got to hear a very interesting speaker named Simon Sinek.  He has a book coming out in October called "Start with Why".  He talked about why companies like Apple Computers, Harley Davidson and Southwest Airlines h... 1079 2009-07-01T13:51:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/annie-organics-founder-shares-his-secret-weapon I interviewed Andrew Martin, Founder of Annie Organics and SmartFood (sold to Frito-Lay for millions), and asked him what was the secret to his success.  His answer was simple yet it made an impact on me this past week.  As a result, I'm approaching prospects differently and I can already see a difference in their reactions. Would would have thought that something so simple could make such a profound shift? 1075 2009-07-01T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/don-t-discount-outside-voices-whispering-to-you-a-business-lesson-from-duck-and-goose-a-children-s-book-by-tad-hills A cute, yellow duck waddles up to a large round sphere with bright orange, red, and yellow spots encircling it and asks a very good question: " 'Oh my, what is that?' Duck quacked. 'That's a silly question,' Goose honked. 'It is a big egg, of course." Whoa! Be careful Goose not to jump to conclusions so quickly! Goose and Duck learn a valuable lesson in the story Duck and Goose by Tad Hills. In business, cohesive goals, ideas, and manners of doing "things" remain vital to success. Howev... 1067 2009-06-29T01:43:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/trying-something-you-always-thought-you-hated Today I'm going to tell a story. A story of something I always wondered why people would spend their hard earned money on. Something I would always read about and think was, for lack of a better word, bullshit. Something I swore I would never need in a million, bazillion years. Luxury Skincare. I've always been the Dove soap girl. I would wash my face twice a day with Dove soap, and my skin looked just fine. Once in awhile I would get crazy and buy the CVS brand of Oil of Olay and wash my f... 1057 2009-06-25T21:54:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-empowering-cultures-attract-positive-people Businesses often go through growing pains. Sometimes good; sometimes bad. And right now, many companies are facing the pressures of having to downsize. However, there are some companies that are prospering and need to hire more employees.  To ensure that you hire the best and most well-fitting employees, my advice is to create a great culture-one that is inviting and represents your company's outlook. Potential employees will use your culture as a guide for gaining insight on your com... 1054 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-06-24T17:51:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/sometimes-saying-good-bye-opens-up-new-doors I gave my last concert last week in the Minneapolis area.  End of chapter in my life.  Sometimes good things have to come to an end in order for you to really move on and fly into the next chapter.  You know how sometimes we know it's time to move on but it's extremely difficult?  For whatever reason, we hold on whether it's a relationship that needs to end or a part of your business that needs to be phased out or a necessary move.  Change is difficult ... 1048 2009-06-24T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/let-s-talk-about-professionalism When you're a service business, all you have is your reputation.  And part of the way that you gain a good reputation is your level of professionalism. You would think that this would be common sense to most service businesses.  But it's apparently not.  Not even to lawyers. (Then again, the problem with common sense in general is that it's apparently not all that common.) Let me tell you a story about what happened with me last week... I've been working on wrapping up and ... 1049 2009-06-23T15:22:33Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/rats-learn-from-the-passion-of-a-river-rat-business-ideas-from-the-children-s-book-sam-who-was-swallowed-by-a-shark-by-phyllis-root-and-illustrated-by-axel-scheffler How do you know you are following your passion? Do you think about the red dress you want to design when you are eating your macaroni and cheese dinner? Do you talk about the way you will mix financial data and dreams while resting your head on your lavender pillow next to your spouse? At the stop light, with your car window down, does the sweet smell of tar remind you of the next party you will plan with an over-the-top artichoke rolled in prosciutto appetizer? If so, you have crashed int... 1046 2009-06-22T23:15:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/a-secret-i-was-too-embarrassed-to-share-until-now Today I’m going to share a secret with you. This is something I’ve kept secret from most people in my life (except my husband and immediate family) because of the sheer embarrassment that saying it out loud brought me. But I’m done with that – and I’m no longer ashamed. I can’t ride a bike. As a young child, I vaguely remember having a little bike with training wheels, but I can’t remember why those training wheels never came off. I started notici... 1040 2009-06-19T13:31:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-the-balancing-act-personal-vs-professional Women continually struggle with work-life balance. There are many women who believe there is this set, generic and ideal form of balance. However, that is just not the case. Balance differs for everyone. What works for your co-worker may not work for you. And what works for you may not work for your neighbor. Everyone is different and has a different job and your work-life balance should reflect that. Also, many women believe that their personal and business life should be completely differen... 1037 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-06-17T15:04:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/life-skills-i-ve-learned-from-working-with-my-spouse This week, I vlog about the skills I've learned from working with my spouse.  As you know, being in a relationship is not always easy let alone working with that person in an intense situation.  See how we make it work! Also, I share my fave finds from Transformational Jewelry and Killion Clothes... simply gorgeous! 1035 2009-06-17T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/can-you-keep-from-doing-too-much As many of you know, I'm in the middle of my Inertia Project Challenge, which is meant to get me out of the galloping inertia that I've been experiencing.  I've started a café for all those who would like to join me on being accountable for overcoming the inertia.  Join us.  The more, the merrier.  It has come to my attention that part of my problem (I don't know if it's that I'm a woman or it's just me) is that I often like to try to take on big projects and do... 1033 2009-06-16T15:24:43Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/i-feel-the-need-for-rest-lessons-in-business-from-caps-for-sale-by-esphyr-slobodkina "Mommy?" my daughter asks. "Can you do that ‘thing' you do?" "What thing?" Hmmmm--what is she asking--that "thing"? Does she mean when I cut the crusts off her oozing grilled cheese sandwich? Find her favorite green and pink frog underpants? Fill the bathtub with 98.9 degree water for her to play mermaid in? "What ‘thing' honey?" "That kiss, tickle, hug thing." She giggles and lifts her shoulders to her ears to get ready. "Oh!" Then, the wild rumpus begins--hug--kiss--tick... 1024 2009-06-14T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/what-10-weeks-of-boot-camp-has-taught-me-about-life 10-weeks ago I felt sluggish, uninspired, and honestly...a little sad. Not sure if it was the winter blues or that I hit a personal plateau, but something just wasn't gelling. That was until I made the leap into a boot camp class that surprisingly changed not only my physical state but my entire outlook on life. I've had a lot of support from the Savor community during my journey, and listened to feedback ranging from 'you're inspiring' to 'I could never do something like tha... 1027 2009-06-13T20:31:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/wishes-really-do-come-true The last time I blogged here, I was caught up in a siege of superstition. I was breaking wishbones, blowing on dandelions and generally doing everything in my power to make a wish come true. I was doing this mostly because I no longer had control. I'd done all I could to convince a publisher to buy my book. I'd built a blog with a following. I'd gotten media exposure for it. I'd written and edited my proposal a million and one times. In the end, I just had to trust that an editor would believ... 1023 2009-06-12T17:12:42Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-how-to-master-the-phone-interview So, you’ve scored your first interview with a reporter. Woohoo! I know that feeling. It’s exhilarating the first minute; the next is filled with panic. Don’t worry. It’s time to get serious and start preparing. Do your homework. Check out the reporter. What beat do they cover? What’s their style? What companies have they covered in your industry? Nail down the key messages you want to get across. Put together your talking points. What are your... 1014 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-06-10T15:43:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/get-rid-of-toxic-people-in-your-life Get rid of toxic people in your life!  Sometimes, for whatever reason, we are attracted to what is not good for us and impedes us from performing at our optimum. Here I talk about how getting rid of a toxic person led me to the most special person in my life, my husband. And I also talk about how having a great team of people to work with helps you to "fly" in your professional life.  But how do you get there?  Sometimes kissing lots of frogs is the key! 1010 2009-06-10T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/the-inertia-project-challenge If you read my last Savor blog, you'll know that I've been having a hard time getting over the inertia in my life.  Apparently, I'm not the only one... So, I've started a Savor café called "The Inertia Project".  The point is to get over our inertia by making ourselves accountable to others, setting out our plan and checking in and let everyone know how we're doing.  If you'd like to join, I'd love to have you. I'm not going to list all of my accomplishments and failur... 1012 2009-06-09T16:48:01Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/rule-your-world-with-a-single-purple-crayon-business-solutions-from-the-children-s-book-harold-and-the-purple-crayon-by-crockett-johnson Even if your idea of coloring is changing your plum passion toenail polish to beachin' peach, you too can "crayola " your way to business success. If little Harold from Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson can reach his destination with a single purple crayon, you can too. So, grab that broken lavender wax stick stuck underneath your printer--yeah, I know it's there. Take it out, and pull a piece of paper from the printer while you're at it. One evening little Harold decides... 974 2009-06-07T13:07:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/don-t-be-afraid-to-suck If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly - G.K. Chesterton I have a confession to make. I really hate not being able to do something. And I hate it more when I'm not able to do it right. This week I took my boot camp instructor up on his offer to do some personal training on the 'off' days of our morning class. Our focus was working the upper body, and about halfway through the workout he mentioned working my shoulders. Unfortunately while I can do bicep curls all d... 997 2009-06-04T19:03:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-get-your-daily-dose-of-laughter As a mother of four and full-time business woman, I understand the pressures moms face. Unfortunately, many women have accepted that stress has become part of their daily lives and are finding it harder and harder to relax.Prolonged and increased levels of stress not only affect our home lives, they also affect our health. Our bodies are well adapted to dealing with short-term stress, but prolonged stress can cause serious health problems. Your stress levels can affect your nervous, respirato... 991 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-06-03T15:29:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/being-a-body-in-motion I need to ‘fess up.  I have a gigantic case of galloping inertia.  I don't feel like doing anything.  Except sleeping.  I spent weeks running at 100 miles a minute getting ready for the play that I was in.  So, I neglected other things.  Now, I'm not talking about not working.  I've been doing work as it comes in.  I'm not talking about my kids or my home either (though, admittedly, my floors and bathrooms could really use a cleaning).  I'... 986 2009-06-02T13:52:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/i-vant-to-be-alone-a-business-lesson-from-the-children-s-book-the-story-of-ferdinand-by-munroe-leaf-and-illustrated-by-robert-lawson I marvel at the deep yellow tulips performing in my neighbor's garden. The smell of lilacs wafts by my porch window enticing me to step outside. Flowers are intoxicating! In The Story of Ferdinand  written by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson, readers are introduced to a quiet, young bull entranced  by the smell of flowers while sitting under a cork tree (and yes, Lawson illustrates real wine corks hanging from branches).  Ferdinand is not like the other bulls; he... 973 2009-06-01T09:30:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-share-the-spotlight I was recently at a company meeting and realized only the department heads took center stage. They covered a lot of great info, but it got boring. Face it: People just stop listening after so many PowerPoint slides. It would've been so much nicer to see some new faces. All of their team members were in the back, and only one leader gave a shout-out to her team.Whether you're having a sales rally or a client meeting, make sure to include your team. They work hard for you, so share the spotligh... 968 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-05-27T18:52:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/how-do-you-deal-with-your-competitors This week, I talk about how your competitors can actually propel you forward.  Turn something seemingly negative into something healthy and positive.  Also, I feature Andreea Ayer's TeesForChange.com! 964 2009-05-27T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/when-pigs-fly-business-advice-between-the-pages-of-the-children-s-book-today-i-will-fly-by-mo-willems Elephant and Piggie crawl into bed with me at night. They talk to me too. Piggie jumps on the covers, between my daughter and me, and shouts with the full force of her pinkness, "Today I will fly!" Elephant settles on the other side of Piggie and replies, "No, you will not fly today." My daughter then says, "Mommy, I want to hold the book." And, I realize, I'm encountering a classic business dilemma through the lens of a children's book by Mo Willems--Today I Will Fly. What happens whe... 959 2009-05-27T00:10:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/ready-fire-aim One of the things I love most about my morning bootcamp is how quickly we maneuver from one exercise to the next. So quickly, in fact, that I start doing something and before long I can't believe I'm actually doing it. For example, one day my instructor told us we'd be doing pull-ups. Instant panic ensued. I have never done a pull-up in my life. My high school fitness tests always listed ZERO next to the 'how many pull-ups can you do' section. As I approached the bar I hesitantly put up... 966 2009-05-26T21:56:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/gwen-gardner/business-lesson-gold-mined-from-kid-s-books-a-little-about-me-and-why-i-ll-write-this-new-blog I live by the motto: If you are not living on the edge of the world, you are taking up too much room— So here’s some stuff I know: the best restaurant in Lima, Peru (Astrid y Gaston), where to see the most beautiful butterscotch sunrise (Top of Mt. Fuji), where to find the purest black pearls (Rangiroa-Tuamotu Islands), and how to do the Argentine Tango (on ice). How do I know this? I’m like a cat; I’ve lived nine lives already—but I’m just getting started... 947 2009-05-21T13:16:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-moms-remember-to-slow-down With endless days filled with meetings, luncheons, doctor’s appointments and kids’ activities, it’s hard to cram everything I do into a 24-hour period. It is no wonder working moms feel overwhelmed. Mothers across the country are reaching out and starting support groups and communities. On an episode of Oprah, An Overwhelmed Mom’s Deadly Mistake , a grieving mother, Brenda Slaby, spoke about her unfortunate accident that she described as her “wake-up cal... 946 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-05-21T12:54:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/what-s-your-chanel-no-5 Here's a challenge to hone in on what you or your company do best. Also featuring Premium Members Annette Frey of Biscuits by Lambchop and Sarah Leah Gootnick of Secretary in Israel.   886 2009-05-20T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-are-you-skimping-on-the-free-gift One of the guilty pleasures of cosmetics shopping is the gift with purchase, which has been luring us into retail stores since the beginning of time. I remember the good old days when the gifts were amazing: real leather totes; a full assortment of real-sized cosmetics; or a simple, but classy, special compact. And while I realize it is the time of cut-backs, the lipstick economy is stronger than ever. Attempting to tap into that small splurge mentality is Clinique, with the buy something fo... 864 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-05-14T13:52:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/what-are-your-rules 851 2009-05-13T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/when-was-the-last-time-you-gave-someone-a-compliment My husband and I were out to dinner a few weeks ago and we had an excellent experience. The food was amazing, the service impeccable and the ambiance delightful. As my husband handed our waitress his credit card he asked "May I see the manager?" The waitress looked at us in wide-eyed horror and said "was everything OK sir - were you unhappy with your food or service?" "No," my husband said. "People are always quick to share their complaints but rarely do they share their compliments. I want ... 844 2009-05-10T13:47:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/do-wishes-come-true About a week ago, just before my literary agent started contacting publishers about my memoir, I played wishbone tug of war with my daughter. I'd had the wishbone on my desk for months, ever since STS member Deena Burgess gave it to me attached to a holiday card. I was saving it for this special occasion.But I should have known, you know? It's one of the universal laws of life. Parents do not try to beat their children at ANYTHING, including wishbone tug of war.I should have never ever in a m... 838 2009-05-08T00:54:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/it-almost-didn-t-happen I have a secret to share with you.  The Women Entrepreneurs Rock the World event almost didn't happen this year. It's a long story and for now, I will give you the short of the long. We all know that it's very, very expensive to do an event in NYC.  And I knew that it was going to be an ambitious project to try in our first year to pull together a major event with major press.  Slowly it became very clear that the economy was not on our side and we may not be able to pull it o... 823 2009-05-06T12:40:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-survival-tactic-stay-the-same Many of the astounding entrepreneurs I’ve profiled deal with folks who have revolutionized an industry, or who have kept up with the times through change and constant improvements to their business model. But what about the success stories that abound of businesses and entrepreneurs who thrive through lack of change? Through tradition and continuity?My 8th grade son and I had lunch together at one such place. The diner is called Chef-O-Nette, and it's been in business since 1955. I'd li... 826 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-05-06T12:37:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/eenie-meanie-miney-mo I hate pictures of me.  No, really.  I do.  So, I don't have any.  All of the pictures that you see of me in my profiles here, on other boards, on Facebook, Twitter, etc. are all pictures where I've cropped someone out of the picture (or, in the case of my STS picture, left the other person in).  Or I just use pictures of my kids. The thing about that fact which is most shocking is that I always used to have headshots around.  I've spent a lot of my life in ... 801 2009-04-29T20:45:18Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/five-ways-to-feel-happy-now I'm having one of those days. I first felt like I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Then I felt I didn't push hard enough in my morning workout. Then a slew of 'really no big deal' work catastrophe's have led me to feel...well...pretty crappy. And it's only 2pm. Following the sage advice of my therapist that 'the only person responsible for my happiness is me' I decided to take the next 30 minutes to achieve my goal of getting happy. My mission? To make a list of five things to do immed... 800 2009-04-29T18:06:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/you-re-not-alone You know those times when you are feeling alone and don't know where to turn?  Turn to your Savor members.  There's a wealth of support, advice, and friendship that these women can offer to you... as I learned this week! 788 2009-04-29T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-is-it-time-to-add-a-new-ingredient-to-your-secret-sauce I'll admit it. I can still sing the lyrics to the McDonald's Big Mac commercial: two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun. Ta da! Did I get that stuck in your head, too? For McDonald's—and the rest of the kings of fast service restaurants—the key to success is consistent, quality delivery.  You get what you ordered, what you are familiar with, whether you order a Big Mac in Big Sky, Montana, or in the Big Apple. That's why, on... 797 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-04-28T20:33:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-opportunity-valuing-yourself-and-knowing-when-to-say-no Successful women entrepreneurs are inspiring. That's why I wrote my book, and that's why I love networking with all of you here at Savor the Success. And, as a blogger, I think it's especially important to share our ups - and downs! Here's my down for the week. You know my goal is speaking engagements. That's why I'm committed to networking and working my business. To reach others, to spread the power of women entrepreneurs, oh, and of course, to make money to support myself an... 778 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-04-23T13:07:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/can-you-make-your-office-greener I know, I know.  You're probably thinking... Why is a lawyer talking about green office policies? Well, other than the fact that today is Earth Day and I like to try to be relevant, I think that this might be a topic where lots of businesses have trouble.  Happy Earth Day, by the way.... As a lawyer, I can tell you, it's HARD to get rid of all that paper. Have you ever been to a lawyer's office?  It's rows and rows and rows of file cabinets.  Do you ever wonder ... 774 2009-04-22T14:19:26Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/the-secret-i-learned-this-week-about-how-to-bring-in-more-revenue 767 2009-04-22T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/how-to-wipe-that-scowl-off-your-face About 8 years ago I was in acting class performing a yogurt commercial on camera. I remember feeling so proud that I memorized the whole thing in about 10 minutes. My diction was perfect. I kept my head still and stopped my funny eyebrow twitch. I emphasized all the important words and delivered the last line believably right into the camera. After I stepped off the stage I felt I delivered the best yogurt commercial in the world, and that everyone would want to buy my yogurt, and that every ... 771 2009-04-21T00:14:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/note-to-self-just-believe When I first starting blogging at STS, Angela challenged me to set a goal. I was new to this whole blogging thing. I was feeling really motivated and positive. The blogosphere was my chocolate, you know?So I said, "My goal is to have 20,000 monthly blog visitors at Project Happily Ever After by January."Angela emailed back, "Are you sure that's realistic?"I said, "No, but anything less just wouldn't be interesting."Well, as you all know, January came and went. I didn't reach my goal. I think ... 770 2009-04-20T21:04:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-don-t-let-interruptions-consume-your-day Did you know interruptions consume 28 percent of an average workday? It's true. And interruptions can be even more time-stealing if you're working from home and not setting limits. Case in point: Today. I'm working from home. That's typically a great place to work, especially during school hours. But, today, one of my kids is home sick. She's sleeping now, but needs checking, food and comfort. Then, I answered the home phone, instead of letting the answering machine grab it. A mom looking for... 762 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-04-18T12:45:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/how-physical-challenge-can-make-you-stronger-mentally In my quest to be nice to myself (and to my body) I decided to take on a new physical challenge. My original plan was to take up pilates at a local studio or take a spinning class. One day I was combing through my township recreation brochure and found a 10-week Boot Camp class. The small blurb promised that we would get a full body workout, 3 days per week, at 6am. Outside. In all weather. I immediately signed up so I wouldn't back out and thought 'how bad could it be?' I run 5 days a ... 760 2009-04-17T20:20:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/how-to-attract-1000-blog-readers-instantly So you've been blogging for a while. You've been checking Google Analytics for a while. You've been submitting your stuff to social bookmarking sites like Stumble Upon and Reddit for a while.And, for a while, your traffic has completely stagnated. If you've seen any Stumble Upon bump at all, it's in the neighborhood of 100 or 200 extra visitors, all of whom stayed on your site for all of 20 seconds.And you keep hearing about these stinking bloggers who are getting thousands of Stumble Upon or... 754 2009-04-16T17:19:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/exciting-news My ebooks are finally for sale!  My new site (http://www.why-the-heck.com) is finally up and running!  I'm so EXCITED!!! Ok, calm down, Deena.  Breathe.  Whew!  Now explain... As many of you know, I have been working on an ebook series called "Why The Heck Should I do That?" for quite some time.  (Actually, I've been finished with the first two books for over a month.) I've been waiting for my tech guy to build my site.  Ho hum... Have I mentioned that... 753 2009-04-16T14:52:06Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/how-i-got-invited-as-a-guest-on-cosmo-radio-and-how-you-can-get-similar-press-too 747 2009-04-15T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/buy-an-ad-save-a-magazine-or-a-newspaper Thinking about advertising in print media? Now may be the best time ever.   I have to be honest. I have been at odds for awhile with print publications, especially daily newspapers. Yes, it’s true, there was a love-hate relationship there based on decades of control (the newspaper’s) and decades of increased cost (my real estate company’s ). Same space as last year? That’s only a 12 percent increase this year, the rep would say. Oh, wow, thank you. How about if ... 742 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-04-15T00:59:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/making-lemonade So, I was about to make a huge announcement today.  Then my website, email and everything else crashed.  Grrrr. As Angela always says, "Give, give, get."  So, instead of that, I've decided to give you a present...  In honor of Passover and Easter, my mom's recipe for Super Duper Macaroons (though scrumptious any time of year).  They're also super easy to make and fun to do with kids. **Legal Disclaimer:  These are NOT diet friendly in any way.  Please do... 745 2009-04-14T14:39:24Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-every-experience-enriches-you-cherish-the-moments You were born to succeed. You need to believe that. It’s true. It’s also true that if the life you’re living or the path you’re following starts to get you off track, you’ll be given guidance in order to get back on the path. The guidance may be subtle – or it could be a big and painful lesson. But either way, you’re learning. It’s so hard to realize this as you’re living your life, especially while we’re all in the middle of the g... 736 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-04-10T17:57:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-so-happy-to-be-here-oh-and-who-am-i-anyway      I realized, just now - because Angela reminded me -  that even though I've posted several blogs for Savor the Success I haven't introduced myself to you all. I'm sorry! I'm Kaira - president and creator of the first woman-focused brand in real estate, Real Living, (I won a Stevie Award for Best Entrepreneur last year!) and most recently, the author of Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs. I've been a marketer for my... 733 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-04-10T15:36:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-are-you-and-your-significant-other-keeping-financial-secrets It's everywhere. Stress levels are on the rise. What we know is that during times of pressure and stress, men isolate and women connect. Many men, during these stressful times, are isolating. They are putting on a brave face, even as their work worlds crumble around them. In some of the saddest cases we've seen, the distress and fear of failure, layoffs and social isolation have led to heart attacks, strokes and even suicides. Literally, the financial crisis is breaking hearts, accord... 728 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-04-08T19:03:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/what-scary-thing-will-you-do-today I'm scared of a lot of things, ranging from heights to piranhas, but one of the things that scares me the most is this: rejection.And I've had plenty of it, so you'd think I'd be used to it by now. I've had my share of breakups. I've sent my share of essays off to magazines, only to get the "this is not right for our readers" response. And, of course, there was the David Sedaris brush off.Yes, the very David who I love to read. Yes, the very David who I thought I knew, because, you know, I've... 725 2009-04-08T17:04:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/your-past-experiences-good-bad-can-help-you-to-succeed In today's vlog, I talk about how your past experiences can propel you to success.  I also throw in a little personal announcement... :) 721 2009-04-08T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/change-sucks I know that this is probably going to be an unpopular opinion, particularly to you life coaches and other eternally optimistic folks out there, but I hate change. I think it sucks.  Truly.  My baby is turning 2 on Saturday and I'm not liking it, not one little bit.  I was thinking about it this morning as I baked the cupcakes for his birthday party tomorrow and I'm quite certain.  I actually started thinking about this blog post when I gave him his first ... 722 2009-04-07T15:44:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-the-power-of-pr If your budget looks like mine, you’re probably cutting back on advertising and ramping up your PR efforts. A common misconception is that advertising and public relations are the same. As I write in Chapter 6 of my book, Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs, you need all aspects of marketing to get your message accross. Here are the basics: Advertising is paid placement; PR is third-party coverage, as in a reporter including you or your business in an article.... 717 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-04-06T14:42:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/kick-ass-pr-resources-you-may-or-may-not-know-about Media Bistro For only $55 a year, you can join this amazing website and get access to editorial calendars, forums, media contact info and my favorite part - the 'How to Pitch' section. The media bistro folks interview a new media outlet each week and spoon feed you information on how to pitch and who to pitch at top outlets like USA Today, Glamour, Family Circle, Pregnancy Magazine and more! Oprah Producer Blogs Looking for the names of Oprah's producers? Want an exclusive look behind the ... 712 2009-04-04T13:54:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-you-are-your-brand-so-remember To embody it wherever you go, and be its biggest fan. Carry your product around. Give it away when possible. People want instant gratification, and they love the ability to touch and feel the product. It helps make that emotional connection that leads to the sale. Estée Lauder , who started her business in 1946, was frustrated when large advertising agencies wouldn’t take on her relatively small company (at the time). So she started her own campaign, which consisted of free sam... 695 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-04-04T00:06:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-every-woman-has-a-story-what-s-yours In my book I talk about telling your story and I have gotten various questions regarding this topic. Most asking “why tell your story? ” And to that I respond…Because it’s unique! It’s yours and you own it. The important part of defining your personal brand is to understand how to bring it to life as a competitive advantage. Without that, you’re just another entrepreneur. With your story, you are fully formed.Within your story you find perspectiv... 694 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-04-01T23:58:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/how-to-silence-your-inner-critic I don't know about you, but my inner critic is ruthless, and she starts tearing me down the moment I get out of bed and step on the scale. Just this morning, for instance, she sneered, "See? I told you! If you hadn't have eaten that chocolate mouse parfait last night, you'd be two pounds lighter this morning! You had to be such a pig, didn't you?"I have a Positive Voice, too, and she tries to fight off Mrs. Negativity whenever possible, but she's not always quick on her feet. For instance, th... 701 2009-04-01T19:22:39Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/are-you-losing-money-doing-it-all In this vlog, I talk about how my 30/30 project is going and how I really REALLY didn't want to go out for dinner one night with my husband's associates... but I'm glad that I did!  I learned something very important during that dinner, and I'm sharing it with you. Also, I talk about Penelope the PR Agent, your virtual assistant to find TARGETED PR opps for you so you don't have to spend time scouring through the internet and lists to find something perfect for you.&nb... 693 2009-04-01T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/an-important-list-to-keep I know, I know, I usually give legal advice.  Today's post is going to be advice of a more practical nature... (Ok, well it's kinda legal, but I can't help myself.  Sad, really.  It's a curse.)  I have a story to tell, with an important lesson to be learned and I thought that I'd share it with you because it's so simple, but SO important. How many of you keep a list of everyone who has your address?  Did you register your company with the state using your addr... 691 2009-03-31T17:02:57Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/kaira-rouda-3436/real-you-don-t-forget-to-brand-your-workspace Whether others see your office or not, I always recommend that your office be a reflection of you and your personal brand. It should be comfy, functional and stimulating. If you are a messy person by nature, that’s OK; just don’t let the mess overwhelm you. To begin, have a sense and direction of your personal brand, and then begin thinking how you will translate that into the décor of your room. Use the five senses. Start by painting the walls. Display some of your favorit... 685 kaira@realyouincorporated.com (Kaira Rouda) 2009-03-29T19:06:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/trust-your-gut Yeah...I really wish someone would have posted this kind of blog entry when I was old enough to read so I would never forget this. Unfortunately there weren't blogs then, and even if there were I probably wouldn't have been mature enough to listen to the advice. But I digress... If I had just trusted my gut, I probably wouldn't have made half of the business mistakes I've made. And I've made some doozies. I'm now a big believer that instincts are often right and first impressions often... 676 2009-03-25T21:47:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/get-off-your-computer I've challenged myself to get off my computer and do something fresh, fun, and new in the coming month.  Want to join me? 666 2009-03-25T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/how-i-broke-my-addiction-to-google-analytics No one, to my knowledge, has established a support group for people like me, but someone should. You see, ever since the initial weeks of blogging, I've been a traffic addict. It started with me begging my brother to activate Google Analytics on my blog. Because I did not initially have access to it, I called him daily to check my stats. I eventually annoyed him enough that he set it up for me on my computer so I could check on my own. At first I checked just once a day. Then I discovered tha... 669 2009-03-24T17:36:30Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/the-top-ten-legal-issues-you-need-to-know-about-when-starting-your-business As the Small Business Superhero that I am (LOL!), I often consult with potential clients that are just starting up.  I go through all of the various issues that could confront a business like theirs and help them to develop a plan to address those issues.  But many businesses start up without adequately protecting themselves, their businesses and their families.  Whether that's because they don't have a lawyer to advise them or because they don't choose the "right" lawyer to ... 668 2009-03-24T16:58:57Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/one-step-closer-to-success Circling back to my original goals in writing this blog and my 'self challenge' I thought I'd give a brief update to the many exciting changes that are happening and hope some of you can help me celebrate your 'changes for the better' by commenting below! QVC In my ongoing quest to get on this show I'm VERY excited about my plans for this Monday. I will be filming a few videos with a professional team and one of them will be a mock segment for QVC! I've planned everything out with a script,... 653 2009-03-19T19:49:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/i-love-criticism-bring-it-on-baby   Everyone always says, "Focus on the positive... and only on the positive".  Well, I say that is baloney!  Yes, there's a time for that and I am a huge proponent of saying affirmations and focusing on what is good.  But how are you going to "up" your game if you don't figure out what is going on with your customers or clients?  Also, check out our Premium Members' Mother's Day gift baskets.  Thank you to Kim Shanahan of Book Bouquet and Meliss... 641 2009-03-18T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/stories I never thought that storytelling would become such a pivotal part of my life. I loved stories as a child. Then I loved acting out stories working as an actress for 15 or some odd years. Now I shape people's stories into something the media will want to hear. Through this journey I never realized how much I liked telling stories until now. As most of you know I love talking....in public. In fact I would probably never stop talking if it wouldn't annoy the bejesus out of everyone. But I ... 630 2009-03-11T23:29:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/why-you-care-about-california-s-laws-even-if-you-re-not-in-california In case you didn't know, I take requests.  I'm always looking for new ideas for blog posts both here at STS and on my legal blog.  So, this one comes to you thanks to our very own Angela Jia Kim... I was talking to Angela one evening and was telling her that people don't realize how very careful they need to be about emailing the lists of people who give them information on their website.  After I had spent some time explaining why, Angela insisted that all of the wom... 626 2009-03-11T20:21:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/how-to-do-it-all-and-stay-sane-in-the-process I come from a family of hard workers. On my Dad's side, there are the farmers who survived the dust bowl and the Great Depression. They rose every day at 5 a.m. and worked until dark. On my mom's side are the Russian and Polish immigrants who arrived in this country penniless and persecuted, using hard work, street smarts, and determination to open and run successful businesses in Brooklyn, the Bronx and elsewhere.My heritage taught me this: The road to success is paved with hard work.So, dur... 625 2009-03-11T19:14:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/my-secret-weapon-the-100-times-rule   A lot of you have asked me what is my secret to getting things done. This week, I share my secret little weapon that I pull out whenever I feel deflated.  I strongly believe that if you follow this tip, you will see a lot more flow in your life.  What is your secret weapon?  I'd love to hear it! (Oh, and you will also meet my little friend, Ella Fitzgerald!) 619 2009-03-11T13:24:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/a-ny-daily-news-pr-opp I know I've been missing for a while so I figured I'd write about something useful now that I'm back. I found a great PR opportunity while reading the Daily News this weekend. We could all use another PR opp, right? The NY Daily News is looking for rays of hope in the midst of the financial crisis. Did you recently open a business? Did you land a new job? You can send any good news stories to goodnews@nydailynews.com. Hope that helps. Happy pitching! Alex * Esculon 620 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2009-03-09T23:23:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/when-is-help-too-much-help-and-7-sales-lessons As part of my role as VP of our ABWA chapter in Niagara Falls, I set up the speaker programming for the meetings. May's speaker will be a highly regarded and well connected sales & business trainer/coach. Last week I was finalizing details with him and he requested a meeting with me. I had an inkling that this was a "get to know you" (aka sales) appointment for him, but that was fine with me since I am actively working on improving our business and sales as you all know. Plus, I decided ... 608 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2009-03-05T14:39:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/what-i-learned-from-piano-can-be-applied-to-business Related links:  Penelope the PR Agent 592 2009-03-04T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/are-you-unwittingly-violating-the-law You're so careful about making sure your business is legal.  I know you are.  You don't cut corners; you don't fly by the seat of your pants. You can't.  If your business fails, it could cost not only your business, but your family as well.  So, I have a couple of questions for you.  Do you have a newsletter?  You have a signup page right?  Do you have a contact form on your website where you collect information from potential customers?  Do you coll... 602 2009-03-03T13:46:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/writing-it-down I've always been a 'list' girl - there's something about writing down a 'to-do' item and crossing it off that makes me feel...well...exhilarated. Several years ago when I packed on 10lbs working at my first desk job, my saving grace was writing down every morsel of food I put into my mouth and its corresponding calorie and fat content. It was only then that I realized those 540-calorie cafe mochas from Starbucks were killing my brutal hour-long workouts and that those small slices of Montere... 600 2009-03-03T01:41:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/i-owe-you-an-update When Angela started this blog project, she asked all of us "official" bloggers to chronicle our journey towards achieving a specific goal. Mine was to complete a long overdue business plan by January 2009. I confess: I missed my deadline - sorry! But I'm not stressing about it because I've achieved a lot. And I think for me at least, what's more important than completing the goal on time has been the journey to get there. It has ended up being a pursuit of more than a business plan - more l... 582 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2009-02-26T19:01:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/the-zen-work-station I wrote last week about how the Power of Less encouraged me to check email a lot less often. This week I want to tell you how this book has affected my desktop.I'm one of those people who likes to be able to see everything I'm working on. Because of this, I have not seen the top of my desk in a long, long time.In this book, Leo suggested that a messy desk is not conducive to a calm mind and productive life. I first thought, "Oh come on Leo. Really. My messy desk works for me. I can see everyt... 583 2009-02-25T19:42:09Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/selling-ideas Wow, I've missed STS. The last couple of weeks flew by and seem to have been filled with family calamities. My husband went to Italy to be there when his grandfather passed away, renewing my utter awe for single mothers. And he brought back some travel germs along with the parmeggiano cheese and Italian candy in his bag - he and my littlest one have just finished up their antibiotics. Fun.   So anyway, I've been percolating this blog post for the more than a week and decided it's high ... 580 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2009-02-25T16:22:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/do-you-have-to-be-a-shark-to-succeed I grew up in a retail family.  My mom's family started and ran a retail business for three generations and my dad ran the business for over 20 years.  I started working for the company when I was 14 years old.  My parents know pretty much everything there is (or was) to know about running a retail business.  No, really. And when it comes to having a business where you're a successful business but also respected and liked by your employees, competitors and the community a... 578 2009-02-25T14:35:41Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/planning-committee/update-on-the-rock-the-world-event The Planning Committee has been meeting every Tuesday morning at 11 AM, and there's a lot to report!  First, we've secured a block of rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn Times Square on 8th Avenue for a very reasonable rate of $249 / night for all of you out-of-town guests.  For NYC, this is an INCREDIBLE price for a clean and nice room.  We'll be posting the number to call for your reservations by next week. Second, we would like to reveal one of our speakers!  Sydney Biddle ... 576 2009-02-25T12:44:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/what-i-learned-from-my-dreaded-weekend-about-kindness Last year, I was on the road 200 days as a touring concert pianist.  Count ‘em.  200 days.  It was enough to drive me crazy from all of the travel, delayed flights, and different hotel rooms every night. So I decided to take a much-needed hiatus from the piano this year.  However, my touring agency had to schedule two concerts this year due to scheduling conflicts from last year’s season.  One of those “run-outs” was this past weekend in my hom... 574 2009-02-24T15:56:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/hate-mail I always try to prepare my clients before embarking on a PR campaign what to expect - last minute deadlines, sending samples overnight, tough interview questions, etc. The one element I often forget to mention is dealing with'hate mail.' Once you start putting yourself out there in the public eye, people take notice. Which is typically the intention with publicity - spreading the word about your product/service/business through the use of mass media. What you're also doing is opening a 'can ... 571 2009-02-21T12:37:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/the-week-i-spent-without-email A normal workday for me usually goes something like this:Daughter wakes me up. I turn on the Disney Channel and bring daughter juice. I turn on my computer. I check email. Next thing I know it's 8:15 and I'm rushing to make and eat breakfast and get us dressed and out the door before 8:45. I return from the preschool drop off with a latte in hand. I check email and surf the web as my "warm up to face the day." Then I tackle the to-do list, all the while taking breaks to check email, do social... 569 2009-02-20T20:59:54Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/the-pricing-game I was once told that a product-based business that makes between 100K to 500K is in danger of not making it.  At the time, I thought, "That's crazy!  I can't wait to make a quarter of a million in sales.  We'll be well on our way to really making it." Now I know what that person was saying.  See, the problem is that if you are in the product business, you have a lot of overhead.  A LOT.  And unless you started out with a lot of money, you probably can't purchase... 561 2009-02-18T12:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/my-deadline-has-come-and-gone As many of you know, my deadline to get 15 blog/PR mentions was February 1st, 2009. Well, I guess I should tell you that I haven't actually gotten that far, YET. I'm at 11 now and still working on the last four. In the meantime, I've been feverishly studying for the GMAT so I can get accepted to grad school and get my MBA. I've also been trying to keep up with jewelry orders and increase traffic to my website, EsculonSays. After doing tons of research and reading a great post from Alisa, I ... 564 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2009-02-18T03:26:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/some-good-news I don't like to be braggy, but some exciting things are happening here that I need to share with someone besides my husband (I think his head may explode if he has to hear anymore) I was named Woman Business Owner of the Week in a local Philadelphia weekly. I sold seven eBooks last week (my redesigned site went live last Monday and I still haven't even "Officially" announced it! Oh yeah - I finally relaunched my site with a new design and a stronger focus on my speaking engagem... 562 2009-02-17T22:26:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/how-connected-are-you Over the past couple of weeks, I've been thinking about how connected I am.  It's annoying to me that I can't seem to go more than 20 minutes without checking my email. Whether it's by my web-enabled cellphone or on my computer, I just can't seem to let time go by without checking if someone needs me. Now, I have a semi-credible excuse.  My law firm is run almost exclusively online.  I need to be available to my clients.  My clients appreciate that I am able to respond... 555 2009-02-16T16:15:19Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/i-almost-gave-up-and-then-i-took-a-vacation Just before my vacation two weeks ago, I sent my agent a whiney email. It was filled with "I can'ts" and "this is too hards." I complained of feeling overwhelmed. I didn't think I had the mental energy needed to keep up a blogging career at the same time I was maintaining a freelance writing career. I said that my blog would never gain a big following, and that I would never ever become a "somebody." I was tired. My head hurt. I couldn't think straight. I thought I would soon run out of blog ... 554 2009-02-16T16:04:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/planning-committee/planning-committee-announcement Hello, hello! We are the Planning Committee for the "Women Entrepreneurs Rock the World" Event on May 6 in NYC.You can get a behind-the-scenes peek at what it's like to plan such a huge event for so many women!  We'll record upates here and answer any questions you may have, too.Okay, for starters, we'd like to introduce ourselves.  Payson Cooper of Transformational Jewelry  (She's the practical and sensible one)Danielle Bobish of Curtain Up Events  (She's the know-everyt... 547 2009-02-12T21:03:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/my-challenge-update-and-it-s-not-pretty So...for some reason I felt heavily inspired by Jenna Fischer's SELF Magazine challenge and decided to take action by creating my own 10-day challenge. I started Jan 27th and the last day was yesterday...blurg. Here are the results of my challenge and...well....I embrace them! Hey - it says a lot when you promise to do something in a public online forum and then vow to be honest about the results. So...here it goes. For One Day - Don't BlackberryOK...this almost happened. Last Sat... 541 2009-02-06T18:40:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/in-praise-of-organization I am absolutely NOT the most organized person. [Friday sidebar: When I was a teenager, my room was usually so messy with castoff clothes that my dad would sometimes stage a "great clothes escape" - with my shirts and sweaters trying to climb out the windows.] However now that I have a family, marriage, and business to manage, I've finally discovered how focusing on developing organization strategies for my business and life helps, allowing me to better work ON the business. I just ... 534 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2009-02-06T15:35:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/happy-day Not too much time today, though if you keep your customer database online, I highly recommend that you go read my legal blog on what to do if it's stolen... But that's not why I'm writing.  I'm writing because when I find something to make everyone's life easier, I like to share. I know, you don't expect product and/or service reviews from your friendly, neighborhood lawyer, but hey, we order products too.  And I just want to tell you how much I LOVE Queensboro (http://www.queensb... 538 2009-02-05T19:36:38Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/group-dynamic-why-some-groups-flourish-and-others-fall I've been a member of many networking groups over the years. Some shaped how I do business and fostered amazing connnections and others were, to put it bluntly, a waste of time. Last night I was called in to help an association create ways to increase membership and get current members more involved. My first thought was 'what do members want from this group that they aren't getting?' After dissecting the dynamics of the group and the benefits to members, I started to think about what I look... 537 2009-02-05T12:53:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/have-these-bloggers-gone-too-far In the past week, I've received numerous emails from you about bloggers asking if they've started to cross the line.  I thought I'd highlight a couple of my favorites that either you sent my way or that we received directly from bloggers themselves.You be the judge.  Have they crossed the line? (I've changed the little details to protect their identity.)Email #1:Dear ___________, I'm a huge fan of your company.   I am getting married in the summer and would love to include... 530 2009-02-04T12:04:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/pitching-off-topic I've participated in numerous events over the years to learn how to pitch the media. After every teleconference or panel discussion one item always prevails - Don't Pitch Off-Topic I'm sure we've all read the 'Five Rules of HARO.' Some of you may have read the bad pitch blog. Some of you may have participated in #journchat on Twitter and read the weekly gripes from reporters about this very topic. My question - why do people pitch off topic? Granted, everyone makes mistakes. I'll bet some ... 531 2009-02-03T23:46:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/data-retention-policy-what-data-retention-policy How many of you have a data retention policy?  Raise your hand if you have one. That's what I thought... If your first question when reading the headline is, "What's a data retention policy?", you really need to pay attention.  No, really. A data retention policy is an internal written policy that sets forth how long you keep each type of personally identifiable client information.  How long you really want to keep the information is going to depend on your type of bu... 528 2009-02-03T15:39:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/who-the-heck-are-we The answer to this question was of course one of the main points of my quest to complete our business plan. I wrote an earlier post about the personality of the brand we wanted to convey, but perhaps more importantly, we needed to examine and decide WHAT we wanted our company to be. I knew this was an issue because people have flat out asked me what it is we do/offer. This after discussions and blog posts and newsletters. Sometimes even after we complete projects for them. No, as a mar... 520 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2009-01-30T21:29:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/how-to-build-blog-traffic-with-a-contest-part-2 A few weeks ago, I described how I planned to drive traffic to my blog through a Wii Promotion.  The Win a  Wii promotion is now up, and will be running for the next two weeks. Here, I'll briefly explain what I've learned the past few weeks in setting up the contest. Then once the contest wraps up, I'll add another post with some final learning points.Fewer, cooler prizes are better than numerous, not so interesting ones. There are a few reasons for this. First, if the total prize v... 519 2009-01-30T14:25:35Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/the-shoemaker-s-children I'm going to say that since the concept of the shoemaker's children having no shoes has been around for, well, forever, I'm not the first person to have the problem.  But I think it's time for me to "fess up".  As many of you know, I just finished my second ebook for my "Why the Heck Should I Do That?" ebook series.  I actually started blaming my husband/web designer (yes, they're the same person) for me not being able to put them online for sale yet.  Still loving S... 518 2009-01-29T13:03:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/top-three-pitch-ideas I find a common misconception among those starting out in PR (or even sometimes those that have been at it for awhile) is that you should always pitch your product/service to reporters. Unfortunately, this often comes off as a glorified advertisement to the media. Back in the days when I worked freelance for a newspaper and local magazine, I would trash press kits and pitches on a daily basis because they often looked like marketing brochures. Where was the story? Mailing me a brochure f... 517 2009-01-29T00:30:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/my-unofficial-guide-to-online-marketing I'd like you to imagine, for a moment, that you are in the market for a used car. You decide to shop for this car at two different dealerships. Both places offer makes and models of cool cars that are also in your price range.Dealership #1: You walk in. A sales person approaches. You start to open your mouth but never quite get out a, "Hello." He hastily shakes your hand, not noticing the brace you are wearing (because you were typing too aggressively). He tells you about the types of cars he... 514 2009-01-27T22:13:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/an-attitude-of-gratitude It's not often enough that I take a step back from my life and acknowledge the happy things that are going on in my world.  I'm really grateful for all of the people that I have in my life, including all of you.  My life is actually pretty darn good and I forget that sometimes when I'm in the middle of it. I realize I don't spend enough time thinking about the good things in my life.  I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about some of the good things...  Please humor... 510 2009-01-27T12:56:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/reflection-and-progress-towards-clarity Now that the flu bug that invaded my household has subsided, I am happy to be back on STS and ready to start reporting some significant progress on my goal.   Back when I started this blog, I set this month as my goal date to complete a long overdue business plan. My husband and I started this business in 2002, I came on full-time at the end of 2004, and never in that time did we formally write a business plan. A series of personal changes - moves, pregnancy, second baby - resulted in ... 509 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2009-01-27T03:03:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/the-melissa-challenge I'm a huge Office fan - and much to my delight Jenna Fischer (Pam Beesly) was on the cover of my favorite magazine SELF this month. Even more exciting, she put herself on a 10-day SELF challenge. As I curled up in bed reading the feature I thought - 'I wonder if I could handle a 10-day challenge?' Hmmm.... In the spirit of reaching my goal, I decided to pick eight challenges that would put me closer to my goal, and that I would have ten days to complete. Some of these are work relate... 508 2009-01-26T22:13:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/melissa-cassera/welcome-and-who-is-melissa-of-cassera-communications Hello STS! I'm so excited to become an official blogger here. I've already connected with so many wonderful women here and I look forward to letting you all take a peak into my life as a publicist, entrepreneur, speaker, author, model/actress and future QVC spokesperson (more on that later) This is me: Who is Melissa and why is she here? I started acting and modeling at the age of 5. I'm a very extroverted person and loved nothing more than being on stage or in front of a camera. I also... 504 2009-01-24T19:32:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/power-to-the-people Very often, I think that we're not very good advocates for ourselves.  I mean, how often have you had someone treat you poorly and you decided it either wasn't worth the trouble or wasn't going to be worthwhile to do anything about it? You'd expect that, as an attorney, I complain all the time when a company treats me badly, right?  Nope.  I'm guilty of it too.  I don't like to make waves on my own behalf.  In fact, despite my mom's urging to the contrary, I'm... 500 2009-01-22T18:45:40Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/hiring-friends-should-you-or-shouldn-t-you It seemed like a natural thing to hire my friend when I needed extra help.  I was touring like crazy, zigzagging across the U.S. and even spending a few weeks in Europe performing.  I had my company, which at that time was more like an expensive hobby, and I needed someone to help me out when I was gone.  My friend needed a little extra income and I needed help.  It seemed so perfect!The problem was that suddenly, we found ourselves in the awkward boss/employee relationshi... 496 2009-01-22T16:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/how-mom-fixed-the-economy My husband's business isn't doing so well. His checking account is about as low as I've ever seen it. We've managed to keep his store in the black by cutting costs, primarily by not paying my husband a salary.  That means I'm not only the main breadwinner, I'm now the only one. I have paying work lined up until April 1, which, in the freelance world, is actually quite stable. Still, the constant bad news about the economy coupled with the very real news about my husband's store has me on... 499 2009-01-22T14:30:09Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/if-you-only-had-2-hours-to-work Here's a great question to help you determine what should be on your to-do list. If a doctor told you that in order to live, you could only work 2 hours a day, what would you work on? Isn't that a great question?? Most of us work all day, take a break for meals and then work all night. So what would you cut out if you could only work for 2 hours. I guarantee you would cut out a ton of clutter and check your emails only once a day. If I only had 2 hours to work, here's what would be on my to-... 498 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2009-01-21T23:50:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/i-ve-been-steamrolled-by-my-life Does it ever seem to you that everything hits you all at once.  I've been dancing so fast to keep up that I knew that I'd hit a wall eventually... It happened two weeks ago.  I finally convinced myself that I had to go to the doctor and found out that I've apparently been nursing a sinus infection and a nasty case of bronchitis for 4 weeks or so.  And when does this happen?  Just days before I have an audition for The Music Man, of course!  Thankfully, th... 497 2009-01-21T22:15:36Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/what-i-ve-learned-from-my-addiction-to-google-analytics My name is Alisa Bowman and I am addicted to Google Analytics. I've been addicted for about six months, since the very first time I opened it. This addiction has, of course, caused some undesirable problems, most of which are related to an incredible drop in my overall productivity. Still, I like to see the glass half full, and the positive thinker that I am has this to say: I've learned a lot from this addiction. I've learned: Most people read blogs while they are at work. This is why yo... 489 2009-01-19T20:56:38Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/my-i-dropped-the-ball-confession I can't believe I'm using a public website as a confessional for an embarrassing story, but here it goes. (And somehow this is easier than confessing to my husband/partner!) Anyway, let this serve as a cautionary tale for you. This story ties into 2 common topics discussed on STS: Balance/Time Management and Sales. I was invited to respond to an RFP to redesign a website for a large organization in November. Of course there was a deadline. I was excited to receive the RFP and looking forwar... 485 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2009-01-16T17:53:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/my-debacle-with-a-big-name-corporate-client Ladies,I'm hoping that you can learn from this experience with a corporate client and not make the same mistake as I did!In November, while we were at a big tradeshow in Las Vegas, I got a call from one of my sales reps. She was very excited about a custom order that one of our Big Name clients was requesting.  I told her we couldn't do it because we were in the middle of craziness—we just couldn’t do a custom order now.  She expressed that the buyer really wanted 450 un... 480 2009-01-15T14:13:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/need-more-pr-opps-here-you-go For all of you who are attempting to handle your own PR, I thought I'd let you know that I found a new source for PR opportunities. Schnell Press works just like HARO and being that it's new, there aren't as many opps on there yet. But if you sign up and spread the word about it I'm sure it'll reach HARO levels in no time!  I signed up for it and get updates every two weeks or so. I'm assuming it will increase in frequency when they have more to queries to report. In this tough market, ... 482 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2009-01-15T13:04:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/everything-i-learned-about-blog-traffic-i-learned-by-accident When I started blogging in August, I had big goals. I planned to go from zero site visitors to 20,000 in just 6 months. Although I'm not quite at that 20,000 visitor goal, I am moving in the right direction. What follows are the pearls of wisdom that I've picked up during the past six months, most of which I learned quite by accident.1.    Your friends are not your most loyal readers. When I started my site, I sent out a blast email to about 50 close friends and family, asking ... 481 2009-01-15T11:47:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/the-ups-and-downs-of-site-traffic So when I started blogging here in August, I told you all that I was going to have 20,000 monthly visitors by January. Now it's January. I might as well come clean. I'm not even close. But I'm moving in the right direction. Here's a screen shot of of Google Analytics, from Nov.--when I started the new blog on Wordpress--to now. As you can see, things have been up and down but, overall, the trend is up. Back in early November, I was getting about 100 people a day. In Decmeber, I start... 476 2009-01-13T01:50:48Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/do-you-have-that-sense-of-impending-doom-maybe-you-should I don't have much time today, so this is going to be brief.  Important, but brief. I just finished writing a legal blog on the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (“CPSIA”) and I wanted to swoop in and make sure that all of the wonderful women here at STS were aware of the impending doom...  I hate to say, I'm only half kidding about the impending doom thing.  As of February 10, 2009, anyone who manufactures any products aimed at kids 12 years old ... 471 2009-01-12T20:37:50Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/the-web-we-weave-part-1 Tangent Alert: This morning I was sidetracked by a little investigation into site/blog rankings and ended up on Technorati. (OK so maybe I'm a little behind on my policing of the blogosphere.) I used Technorati probably 6 or 7 years ago at my previous employer, but haven't really been back. Anyway, I found my Beyondus blog was already indexed there. What is Technorati? "Technorati was founded to help bloggers to succeed by collecting, highlighting, and distributing the online global con... 464 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2009-01-09T18:15:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/the-platinum-is-within-you At the start of a New Year, it's typical to consider getting rid of the old way of doing things. The logic is that, from a new piece of technology to a new shoe, if something is new, it's also probably better. Hence, we say: "Happy New Year," or "2009 is going to be my year," implying that the new year brings with it better times. One of the results of this thinking is a plethora of new programs: Join my Platinum Club! Join my Inner Gold Circle! The promise of some new system that will make ... 463 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2009-01-09T13:07:34Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/working-with-your-dh I'm not sure how many of the rest of you women entrepreneurs out there have taken the plunge not just in marriage, but also in business with your husbands. I did. We married in 2001 and started the business in 2002. Some days I think I am utterly out of my mind, and some days I wouldn't have it any other way.  Me and Alessandro - June 2006 But in the end I have come to terms with the fact that it is VERY easy to spend TOO MUCH time with your spouse. It started out great - n... 460 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2009-01-08T20:44:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/thought-i-had-more-but-10-it-is So I know you've all been asking how many PR mentions Esculon has gotten so far. I looked back at all my blog posts here on STS and counted 10. Thought I had more but I guess not. Well, I do have one more that I just recently discovered. You might remember Count Me In from my first few posts. They partnered up with small businesses and SheFinds to raise money for women entrepreneurs. From my deal, I ended up with a mention from SheFinds and most recently another from Count Me In at MakeMeA... 456 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2009-01-08T03:06:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/why-i-give-legal-advice-for-free I can't tell you the number of times I've been talking about my legal practice with my mom (who is also a lawyer) and she berates me for giving legal advice for free.  She simply can't understand why I would want to post on discussion forums, write a blog and even have phone calls with clients and potential clients for free.  A couple of years ago, I might have agreed with her.  You have to understand how most lawyers work...  Unlike me, most attorneys bill by the hour... 452 2009-01-07T16:28:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/why-i-write-for-free-part-2 Many months ago, I noticed a bunch of HARO (Help a Reporter Out) queries that said, "Looking for guest bloggers...." I thought: "I can't believe these people! They are actually advertising that they want us to write for them for free! The nerve!!"* Apparently Peter Shankman, the guy who runs HARO, thought the same thing. He eventually banned people from posting "looking for guest bloggers" queries. I applauded his ruling at the time, but now I really wish he hadn't done it.Why?I now want to g... 449 2009-01-07T00:09:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/why-i-write-for-free-part-1 Among freelance writers, blogging and guest posting are quite controversial topics. The debate has two sides, or camps.The Write-Only-for-Money Camp: "It's bad enough that some writers are willing to work for pennies. Now you bloggers are putting your stuff out there for free. Do you realize that if you keep doing that, no one will want to pay any of us anything?! We will all starve. Is that what you want? Is it?"The Write-What-We-Want-Even-if-We-Don't-Get-Paid Camp: "But blogging is really f... 439 2009-01-05T01:10:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/big-bold-announcement Ladies, We just got back a fun and much-needed vacation, and now I am energized for a phenomenal 2009 for all of us! Do you see the "Laugh Often" tee that I'm wearing from Premium Member Andreea Ayer's Tees for Change? That's my New Year's resolution-- to have fun and laugh as much as I can in 2009! And what about you? What are your 2009 resolutions? What would make you excited if you could accomplish anything in 2009? List them below and declare your intentions to the universe! BIG + ... 426 2009-01-02T17:34:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/it-can-t-get-better-than-this-can-it I've just gotten the best testimonial and PR mention in one...a great way to end a year. Or maybe a great way to start the new one. Judith is a fellow blogger and Astorian who became a customer totally by accident. She actually mentioned me on her list of "Best of 2008." Needless to say, I'm very flattered and excited at the same time. And being that it's so good, I thought I'd share it with you: "Esculon Jewelry - I've been hooked on Alexandra Mihaescu's funky jewelry designs. She makes co... 425 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2009-01-02T03:27:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/resolution-3-make-time-for-me [First, a quick side note... my resolutions here are more personal resolutions for making me a happier, more successful business owner (and person in general). I also submitted a more business-focused resolution in response to a HARO query and it was published on the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur blog. See #21! Now I'm really on the hook this year!]   Anyway, my final resolution here is probably the most important one because it so directly relates to my sanity. I need to learn how to make... 422 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-12-31T18:59:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/in-2009-i-resolve-not-to-lose-my-mind Thanks to Karen Renzi, fellow STS blogger, for encouraging me to think about resolutions. I've been procrastinating this task. Today is New Year's Eve.What will I resolve to do in the next year?That question leads me to ask another question, "Is a resolution different from a goal?" For instance, I already have about 378 goals for next year: Write two guest blogs a month (more on this in another blog) Break down my memoir into a book proposal, get over my fear of rejection, and sen... 421 2008-12-31T17:59:05Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/tired-of-beating-my-head-against-a-wall-aka-my-new-year-s-resolution I seem to be saying this a lot, but I'm sorry that I've been shirking this week.  I had all of these fabulous intentions of getting things done by the end of the year.  Then we went away over Christmas to a friend's house and the sniffles that had already taken hold of my family turned into an absolutely lovely stomach virus that seems to be affecting most of the Northeast.  I'm pretty sure the Christmas song doesn't go "two vomiting kiddos and a sick mommy before New ... 419 2008-12-30T16:11:47Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/resolution-2-focus Both of my parents are school psychologists. You can guess where this is going - yes I was a guinea pig for new testing kits more than once, used as an example in my dad's parenting classes, and most relevant to this post, they always thought I was "borderline" ADD. I agree that attention is not my strong suit. I am easily distracted and often try to do a million things at once. Combine this with my tendency towards perfectionism (which is more a hindrance than a help as others who suffer fr... 418 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-12-30T14:58:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/stop-spending-start-writing That's my advice to myself, but I can't seem to be able to follow it. I'm stuck in a spending frenzy. Everything's on sale and I just can't help myself.  Did I really need new drinkware from Crate & Barrel? No, but they were $.50 per glass...how could I not?? And did I really need more work clothes? Martin & Osa got me with their $15 button-down shirts! I can't seem to stop.  And now I've had an unforseen expense come up that I just won't be able to avoid. My gorgous new j... 417 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-12-30T13:55:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/resolution-1-think-positive I've been doing a lot of introspection over the last few months - much of it thanks to and with the support of the ladies here at STS. What started as a pretty straightforward goal (formalize a business plan) has become some kind of quest to reassess myself, put it in relation to the business, and yank it all into alignment. Let me tell ya, this introspection stuff is hard work. Changing the way I think about things is hard work. Making time to think about the fundamentals, and allowing myse... 414 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-12-29T19:08:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/how-to-build-blog-traffic-with-a-contest I've wanted to hold a contest at Project Happily Ever After for a while. After all, all of the blogging experts keep telling me that contests are one of the fastest ways to build exposure for a blog. Yet, I've been stymied for many months. What should I give away? How do I figure out who wins? How do I make sure people ever find out about the contest in the first place? Now, after months of reading about contests and studying other people's contests, I've created a strategy. I will write abou... 411 2008-12-28T14:05:37Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/swiss-mac-cheese-recipe In honor of all the friendships that we've made through Savor the Success, wqe'd like to share with you the best Swiss Mac & Cheese recipe ever! Marc has been making it for years, a special recipe that he adapted from his Swiss grandma. It's been a family secret for years... and now we are sharing it as our gift to you. On Christmas Day, we always put out a lot of comfort food on the table so everyone can just eat whenever they want. This Mac & Cheese is always the first t... 406 2008-12-25T23:54:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/re-branding-beyondus Even though I own a marketing business, I am my own worst client. Probably the single most important piece of my "long overdue" business plan is to get down on paper my OWN marketing plan. Somehow it's much harder to get it done for myself than it is to do it for clients. Anyway, I decided to look at things from the most basic perspective: what is our own Brand? While I am still working out our USP and deciding on positioning, we have done some work looking at the characteristics that defin... 397 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-12-22T16:27:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/stumbleupon-101 I've probably learned everything I know about StumbleUpon in much the same way I've learned about Twitter--by falling on my face. To prevent you from scraping your knees up, too, I thought I'd offer up all of my hard earned tips here. StumbleUpon is one of many social bookmarking sites. To get started, you need to use either Firefox or Internet Explorer. Don't even think about trying to use SU with Safari. It just won't work. To get started, you go to this page http://www.stumbleupon.com/ ... 385 2008-12-19T18:20:04Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/a-magazine-junkie-gone-crazy I am obsessed with magazines. Yup, I am a compulsive magazine buyer. I love them...all of them: fashion, business, cooking, crafts. I could go on and on. Do you know what I mean?? I know I can't be alone! I buy different ones each time, with the hopes of learning something new. If I end up loving it, I subscribe! Maybe that's why my mailbox is 85% filled with magazine and catalogs and the rest is junk mail. So what's a girl with obsessive compulsive magazine disorder and entrep... 381 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-12-18T17:20:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/bad-blogger-bad-bad-blogger Sorry folks, I've fallen off of the radar for the last week.  To say I've been under the weather would be a gross understatement.  We've been having a lovely bout of a most disgusting germ that my son picked up at preschool (gotta love preschool).  I even got the uncommon pleasure of having mucus coming out of my 3 year old's eyes for the last 4 days and sealing them shut every night.... EWWWWW!  I'm pretty sure that wasn't on the mommy list of duties when I signe... 379 2008-12-18T13:36:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/get-rich-inside   Ladies, How are your holiday sales for products or services going? If you are like the rest of the world— from major companies to start-ups— I’m hearing all around that you wish it could be better. I’ve been thinking lately what tremendous gifts there are to struggles—especially money struggles. This is where you find out just how rich your creativity and imagination are. It’s a time to develop and strengthen what’s going on inside. I was ... 374 2008-12-17T21:19:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/the-end The Office Christmas Party (I'm in the blue dress). Don't ask.   As you can see in the picture above, these last days before Christmas have been a bit hectic. But I've finally found a chunk of time to celebrate with all of you. I DID IT! I REACHED MY GOAL! I RE-LAUNCHED SARAHCENTRIC!! I made an error two STS blogs ago when I said this goal had taken me 9 months. Hello?! I started blogging here in August! That means I re-designed my blog and tripled my readership in only 5 month... 370 2008-12-16T16:38:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/death-by-to-do-list I wanted to get A LOT more done today. I wanted to get so much done that I nearly started my work day last night. Thankfully, I listened to the part of my body that said, "You want to do what?! Nuh-uh sister. Your pillow is calling." So, at 7 a.m. this morning, I had 9 things on my to-do list. Granted, I always write 3 items on my to-do list that I have no intention of accomplishing. I just put them there in the event of a space time miracle. If I find that the rest of the items are crossed... 366 2008-12-15T20:21:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/esculon-s-making-moves Lately, most of my PR and blog mentions have been coming from within STS...how cool is that? This week, it was Lisa Robbins of City Living Baby who included Esculon into her jewelry showcase post! Thanks Lisa! Also, I need some help...I've been pretty busy trying to update the blog, which is now my official website. A few weeks ago I added a complete shopping cart function and now I've customized the home page. I'd love it if you guys could give me some feedback on the new home page and i... 365 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-12-15T18:46:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/diy-pr-successes Much has been said on STS about using DIY PR tactics. I just wanted to chime in on a couple of my recent experiences. A little "savoring success" for a Monday afternoon.   --- I respond to any HARO query that I feel I can give an on-topic pitch for. I don't expect to hear back from many, if any, of the reporters - though typically if they are interested they email for more. However, this weekend I discovered a BIG quote from one of my HARO responses posted here on Careerbuilder.com. T... 364 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-12-15T17:56:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/everything-i-know-about-internet-lingo-i-learned-from-thinking-too-hard Experts say that mental challenges keep our brains young. If that's really true, I figure I've subtracted at least 7 years off my brain's biological age during the past 4 months that I've been blogging.How could I not have? Not a day goes by that I don't confront some word, expression, or abbreviation that completely stumps me. For instance, a few months ago, I was surfing around a mom's networking site. I'm a mom. The other women on the site are moms. I figured we'd all speak one another's l... 357 2008-12-12T16:55:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/move-over-qvc-indie-shopping-tv-is-here Click. Chat. Buy. Have you ever tried to get on a nationally televised home shopping show only to discover that you have to pony up thousands of dollars of inventory in order to be considered? As a small business, it's great to have millions of eyes on your products, but who can afford to produce that much inventory for a show with no guarantee that all of it will be sold? And then, if it's not sold, you have to cover the cost? Indie Shopping TV to the rescue! Indie Shopping.TV is a live o... 353 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2008-12-11T17:58:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/nyc-holiday-cocktail-party-recap-photos Someone described it well in an email to me: It was blustery, windy and cold outside. But inside, there was such warmth of spirit and good cheer. You could see people truly savoring the success. Thank you to everyone who attended, thank you to our rock star vendors, and thank you to the press who wrote about us. Business Week said of the event, "... it was good to see entrepreneurs coming together to give each other a needed boost. That's a smart strategy for tough times - and a fitting wa... 352 2008-12-11T15:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/what-do-you-do-when-you-finish-one-book-start-another-one I finished my first book.  YAY!  It's a great first step, but I'm not where I need to be yet.  My goal is to do 10 or more ebooks so that I can eventually compile them into a "real" book.  I love this little guy so much that I've decided to use him on all my books.  I'm thinking of calling him Squishy (it's a law school joke), but I'm open to other suggestions for names.  I'd love to hear your thoughts.   Before we list them online fo... 351 2008-12-11T12:50:52Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/life-s-roadblocks-magnified-for-the-entrepreneur You may have noticed I've been MIA for several days. There is an explanation for this: my grandmother passed away last week. She was 97 and essentially uncommunicative for about 2 years, so it was somewhat expected and in a way a blessing for her. However, her passing, in addition to being emotional of course, dealt a blow to my work and business. As entrepreneurs, we often wear many many hats and carry much of the business ourselves - so sometimes even a small glitch in our life can have a ... 349 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-12-10T15:25:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/i-m-losing-track If I'm losing track of PR mentions, that's a good thing right? =) I'm pretty sure I haven't reached my goal of 15 mentions yet, but I just got a new one. Once again from a PR Opp right here on STS, from an STS member!  Kristina Quinones, editor of MamaDivas.com, included me in her Gift Guide! I am now part of the "beautiful, thoughtful gifts your wife or girlfriend will adore." Thanks Kristina! By the way, for anyone who missed this Monday's party, you should definitely try to make i... 348 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-12-10T14:57:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/now-is-the-time   My dear Savor the Success friends, the new Sarahcentric is officially here!  The grand opening was a bit delayed, but today I am determined to make the most of this new site.  Ladies, I need your help.  I wouldn't ask you if I thought I could do it on my own. But then again, I suppose I wouldn't be a member of this very excellent group at all if I thought that, huh?  Your support has meant so much over the past 9 months and this one last push for me would make al... 347 2008-12-10T13:15:04Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/how-to-escape-from-chinese-fingercuffs Ever had your index fingers stuck in one of these bamboo cylinders? It's an anxiety producing experience. You pull and pull and pull and the dang thing gets tighter and tighter and tighter. You give up and sob your eyeballs out because you think your only escape entails chopping off your index fingers.Yet as you mourn the eventual loss of your fingers, a strange thing happens: you escape. Just.Like.That.Indeed, the secret to getting out of Chinese Fingercuffs is the Art of Not Struggling. The... 342 2008-12-09T19:13:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/it-s-up-it-s-up Lots of hooting and hollering these days, both cranky and happy. But today it's definitely a happy hoot:-) If you go to Sarahcentric, more likely than not you will see the brand new blog! YAY!!! (Ok, I'll stop yelling now). I finally straighted on out the whole DNS server/Domain Transfer mess I made. But still, it can take a few hours, days for everyone to see the new site. It has somethig to do with ISP stuff. All I know is that ALL of my friends and family could see the site yesterd... 339 2008-12-09T12:16:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/it-s-a-book It’s been a really LONG weekend.  And not in the “I have 4 days off of work and I’m having a blast” definition of long either.   Let me just give you a sampling of my weekend.…   Friday, I was supposed to have Verizon FIOS installed at my apartment and they were supposed to show between 8am and noon.  Did they come to your house?  Mine either.   Long story short, I spent 7 hours fighting with them on the phone,... 332 2008-12-08T20:15:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/these-women-are-hot-hot-hot Last year at this time, I was somewhere in CA, waking up wondering where the heck I was.  I was on tour, everyday in a different city or town getting more and more miserable.  200 days on the road last year!  Can you imagine that much time away from your family?  Yes, it was getting old.     This morning, I woke up next to my husband and Ella, our yellow pup, in my own apartment here in Manhattan.  I felt so excited for our Holiday Cocktail Party tonight. ... 331 2008-12-08T13:18:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/ughhhhhhhhhhhhh Soooooooo, I pretty much have no idea when my new site will be up. The story is boring and irritating I can hardly bear to tell it.  But since this blog is all about learning from one another, I need to share my sad and sorry tale.   Basically, my developer guy and I planned on transferring the domain on Friday evening.  We assume this would all happen within 24-48 hours so that we could test everything out for the weekend and have a bright and shiny new site for everyone to ... 328 2008-12-08T00:32:34Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/the-final-countdown End of the hike, Appalachian trail last summer   Holy s--t. I am freaking out. Seriously. This is last day of the old Sarahcentric wordpress template, and the last quiet days before next week's big Sarahcentric re-launch. I feel crazy! I am second-guessing the entire design. I am petrified that no one will show up on Monday to enter the giveaway or even say hi. And honestly, I have no idea why I am even doing this! How did I get here?! I've done all the work trying to figure... 325 2008-12-05T12:40:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/everything-i-know-about-twitter-part-2 This is just a short addendum to my last post, "Everything I learned about Twitter I learned from being a screw up." First, I thought of one additional piece of Twitter knowledge that I learned from screwing up. It's this. RT = Re tweet. If You see an RT at the front of someone's post, that means they are passing some other person's post forward. I learned this when I--stupidly--responded to someone's tweet with the information her  RT had asked for, and then she DMed me, telling me th... 322 2008-12-04T17:08:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/i-m-writing-what As you probably know, I’ve been doing the Phenomenal Year workshop.  I’m enjoying it.  It’s really helped to give me some ideas of how to increase business and I’m pretty sure it’s got me on the right road. (At least I hope so...)   Along those lines, I’m taking Angela’s suggestions about making my blog posts here more...well... helpful.    As I said in an earlier post, I’ve decided to write a series of SHORT e-book... 320 2008-12-04T13:42:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/are-you-my-number-1-fan Old pic from the Cape that might go in my new "About" section   I'm sorry.  My new site looks so rad I cannot even take it. I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT!!! The creative on the site is totally locked and done.  (awesome.)  All plugins and widgets have been added. (super) And all of the blog margins are where they are supposed to be. (thank you, GOD!)  My tech guy Andrew has been so patient with all of my boring and detailed questions about domain mappi... 319 2008-12-04T12:49:15Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/yes-commenting-on-other-blogs-works When I read all those blogging blogs out there, one of the first things I learned was to find blogs I loved and start commenting on them. You obviously have to comment within the subject…don’t do something like the guy who left me the latest comment on my Spa Day Giveaway post: “Great website, I love the look of your blog.  Any ideas you have to improve my site?” Thanks Tim…I’d love to check out your hemorrhoid treatment blog! Anyway, even though ... 318 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-12-04T12:25:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/i-can-make-friends-online-and-you-can-too First things first. I promised someone important that I would do this. Check out Storked! on Glamour.com. That will make sense soon.But first, a story.About 6 months ago, I attended a wine and greet for the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA). I had a lot in common with everyone in the room. We were all writers of one type or another, and we were all attending the ASJA conference.You'd think, among networking functions, this one would have been cake.So not. Within 5 seconds of ... 316 2008-12-03T12:28:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/everything-i-know-about-twitter-i-learned-from-being-a-screw-up Really, it's true. I'm the type of person who does not read instruction manuals. I'm the type of person who says, "New swimming pool? I'll test the waters by jumping off the high dive." Well, maybe not that type of person, exactly, because I have an intense fear of heights, but you get the idea.So, when I first read that Twitter was the new Facebook, I thought, "Well, I better see what this is all about." I typed Twitter into Google. I created a profile, and I sent my first tweet. (That's Twi... 315 2008-12-02T20:39:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/hi-ho-hi-ho-it-s-back-to-work-i-go Sorry that I've been gone so long without a post, but I've been out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday for a week with the hubby and kids at my parents' house in Miami.  You know, I hate taking a "vacation" and coming back more tired than when I left.  I love seeing my parents, but the whole thing is very stressful.  My parents' house is NOT child safe in the slightest and everything has sharp corners and is fragile.  My dad is a great guy, but not the most observant p... 310 2008-12-01T13:03:41Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/december-8-2008 My favorite socks for laying around over Thanksgiving weekend.   Sorry it's taken me so long to get back over here.  I was swept away in the Thanksgiving madness! But I'm back in the city detoxing with oatmeal and water, ready to deliver to some kick-ass news. It's official. Sarahcentric will re-launch on December 8th, 2008!!!  Not only is December 8th, the date of the Savor the Success holiday party, it is also my Mom's birthday.  This has to be good luck, yes? Yes? ... 309 2008-12-01T12:28:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/i-am-thankful-for-karen-s-version I've been formulating this thanks list in my head over the last day or two (great minds think alike, Alisa!)... In my Professional Life, I am thankful for... My patient supporters and mentors, who even signed their names to my strengths & weakness assessment. The wonderful STS community. This is the first time I've committed myself to a social network and I think I picked the best one out there. I can't express how great it is to have the extended support of the women here - who even... 303 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-11-28T20:26:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/i-m-thankful-for It's that time of year when we all take note of the goodness in our lives. This year I think it's particularly important to do so, as so many negative forces are attempting to drag us all down. When I look back at my life just one year ago and compare it to my life now, I'm thankful for: Taking control of my career destiny Finishing my memoir Establishing my blog Getting quoted on cnn.com, Pregnancy magazine, iparenting.com, and a few other outlets. Meeting... 301 2008-11-26T18:58:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/why-penelope-trunk-is-my-new-blog-model Way back in August, when I first started blogging, a friend told me about Penelope Trunk. "She mostly blogs about career stuff, but she also writes about her personal life. She's my favorite blogger. You should check her out."I did. At first, I wasn't impressed, but that was mostly because the initial blogs I read were 100 percent Penelope's bread and butter: career advice. I feel like I should make one of those top 10 lists that says, "You know you've made it when..." Because one of my answe... 297 2008-11-25T14:20:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/a-manic-and-meandering-monday I'm beginning to recognize that my work life tends to move in a sort of pattern. I'm hoping that writing it down here will help me kickstart out of it...so my work "states of being": 1) A Flurry of Activity. Like a bunch of meetings all at once, or as with last week, speaking engagements. This is generally a great time - I love presenting and feel like I am getting somewhere in these busy weeks. 2) "Disaster" Assessment and Paralysis. Ok, maybe a little dramatic since no disasters... 296 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-11-24T20:41:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/pr-orders-new-website-features It's been a crazy week and I almost forgot to tell everyone here about it. All I can say is thank goodness Angela sends out her weekly emails otherwise I would forget to check the PR Opps that are right in front of m face! One of the last emails she sent out had some "holiday gift guide" opportunities that I jumped on right away and as a result I'm already listed on one of them. Check out Jo-Lynne's Holiday Gift Guide on Musings of a Housewife. I've also decided to merge my blog and website ... 292 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-11-22T17:47:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/want-to-be-a-vendor-at-the-holiday-event-of-the-year Calling all female entrepreneurs who want a chance to showcase their products at the Savor the Success Holiday Cocktail Event!  Want to be a vendor and create your own beautiful “boutique” in one of Delluva Spa's treatment rooms? Holiday shoppers and members of the press will be perusing all of the "boutiques" to get their gifts this season!  There are only SEVEN spots available.  You can pair up with a friend and apply together.  Please email us by Tuesday, No... 288 2008-11-21T16:01:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/i-am-going-to-have-a-phenomenal-year-darn-it Ok, OK.  I get it.  No logo for me.  Sheesh!  All I wanted was a couple of jackets for my husband, dad and brothers.  Though I'm not really sure that anyone makes their decision on which lawyer to hire based on their logo.  And if they did, is that really the kind of client that I'd want?  Probably not. But, all joking aside, thank you for all your suggestions.  I appreciate you taking the time to comment.  But I've wasted enough brain space on t... 289 2008-11-21T14:34:24Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/another-way-to-use-haro It's so weird how much I'm enjoying this stuff. My most recent brilliant idea was to write a super comprehensive article on the best marketing & PR ideas. So you know what I did? I put a request for ideas through HARO! Yes, everyone who uses HARO for PR leads can also use it for story ideas. If you have an article you'd like to put together but need more sources, put a request through HARO! It will definitely flood your inbox but it's worth it.  Not only did I get some great informa... 284 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-11-20T13:48:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/now-for-the-mushy-advice Remember my last STS entry with the tips and tricks of the blogging trade?  Well, Patti Digh paid attention to none of that, and still produced a beautiful and ultimately successful blog. Patti is the author of Life is a Verb; 37 Days to Wake-up, Be Mindful and Live Intentionally.  Patti was inspired to write this "soul-help" book when her stepfather was diagnosed with cancer and sadly died 37 Days later. Patti has one of those awesome blogs to riches stories; a publisher foun... 283 2008-11-20T12:48:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/happy-about-what-is-vs-what-will-be I was reading Penelope Trunk's Brazen Careerist today. One quote popped off the page and resonated with my entire being: "As I publish this today, I remind myself to be happy about what feels good, right now, instead of focusing on what I want to change right now. Wherever we are in life, we have two, separate lists, and we can choose which to focus on at any given time. Here's three cheers to choosing the happy list for the day." Thanks for the great reminder Penelope. I soooo needed it. ... 282 2008-11-20T12:19:18Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/gotta-write-a-blog-gotta-write-a-blog Do you ever have those weeks where you feel like time is playing tricks on you? You know, reducing a minute to 50 seconds instead of 60 or something... before you know it the day's over... Well that's my last week. I signed on a new client 3 weeks ago to the day. They REALLY needed to launch the company fast and make their "debut" at a conference that's TODAY. So, I think in record time, just 3 weeks, we designed a logo, designed business cards, wrote an event marketing plan for the con... 277 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-11-19T20:05:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/in-love-with-my-business-cards My business cards for my blog have FINALLY arrived: all 2500 of them. These have been a long time in coming. One, it took me forever to decide what I wanted them to say and look like. Then I needed to wait for my brother to design them. Then I kept screwing up the online ordering process. The poor people at the company that made the cards had to cancel THREE of my orders before I finally ordered and paid for what I wanted. Then, you know, the pony express had to deliver them. But they arriv... 271 2008-11-18T15:05:28Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/logo-confusion So, I don't have a lot of time today but I have a quick question for everyone.  I want to order some embroidered jackets and stuff for my family (heck, if you can't have them advertise for you, who can you count on?).  I needed to come up with a logo.  So, we came up with 2 that I like and now I can't decide what I like better.  It needs to say, "I'm an attorney, but I'm cool."  LOL!  My hubby says I should just use that as a tag line, but I think it's too ... 267 2008-11-17T15:19:57Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/the-time-of-day Timing, Timing, Timing. It's all about the timing. You know what, totally true...especially when it comes to blogging and social media. Now that I've been blogging regularly, I've developed some strategies about when to publish new entries, and what type of entries they should be. There is nothing scientific about my findings, but I do know that my stats have improved dramatically since I have developed my own little system. Here are some quick tips Find out which days your site is dead... 266 2008-11-17T06:27:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/how-to-be-internet-popular The American Society for Journalists and Authors (ASJA) has asked me to serve on the Social Media panel for the spring conference. It will be me, Peter Shankman, and one other person.I'm so flattered that I don't know what to do with myself. I also have this incredible "I've made it" sensation because: I'm on a panel with Peter Shankman! Peter is the epitome of social media grace. In fact, I learned most of what I do from studying him. Note: if you don't know Peter, he's the guy who estab... 264 2008-11-16T23:52:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/my-own-little-public-service-announcement Ordinarily, I write these blogs about what's going on with me, what's going on with my business and how I'm getting closer to my goals.  And I am.  But I'm not having a good couple of days.  I'm sick (again!). I walked 4 miles in the rain today to pick up my son during which I found out that my raincoat has lost all of its water repellant properties.  And I'm either going to have to find a home for my adorable and very sweet older dog that has a backyard and someone who's... 259 2008-11-13T22:29:21Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/egggggs-cellent ...My diabolical plan to re-launch Sarahcentric is coming together puuuuh-fectly!   We are so close to the new and improved Sarahcentric I can taste it.  And ya' know it tastes like graham cracker coffee;-)  Chris Ammons and I are locked as far as the creative and it's just dreamy.  Now our vision, (and when I say "our" I really mean Artsy Chris' vision) is in the hands of Computer Guy Andy.  I'm sure there's an actual name for his job, but I've never been much for s... 258 2008-11-13T19:24:51Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/learning-to-pace-myself So when I took on this personal project, my main goal was to garner 20,000 monthly blog visitors by January. When I first told Angela--the Savor the Success goddess--about that goal, she asked, "Are you sure that's realistic?" I wasn't sure of anything. Honestly, I'd picked that number randomly. It sounded good. I figured that if Dooce could get 850,000, then I could get 20,000. Yeah, that's about as much thought as I'd put into it. As my traffic increased throughout August and September, i... 257 2008-11-13T15:49:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/2-months-later-pr-success Back in September I wrote a post about the DOs and DONTs of pitching and if you read it back then you know it was inspired by my pitch to a lead I found on HARO. Well it turns out that 2 months later, Dina Fierro decided to write her "Designer's Choice" post on yours truly! Not only is she the editor of her own blog, Eye4Style, but she's also a contributing writer for JuliB and AM New York among others. Yes, she's quite an achiever herself! That said, please check out the feature she wrote... 250 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-11-10T20:51:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/valuing-yourself-our-own-pricing-evolution STS blogger Deena Burgess wrote a blog today that might as well have been under my name "Am I shortchanging myself?" She asks (excerpts from her blog), "How do you know if you're charging enough?...I wonder sometimes if I should be charging more...The whole philosophy behind my practice is that I feel that all small businesses should be able to protect themselves the best way possible...It's why I do flat rate packages and why I try to keep my rates low.  And that's great....But is it po... 249 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-11-10T16:44:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/am-i-shortchanging-myself So, I have a bit of an odd question.  How do you know if you're charging enough?  I understand how you do it when you have a product to sell.  But when you sell a service like mine, it's hard to know what the right amount to charge for your service is.  And who do you ask, exactly?   I can't really ask other lawyers because (a) my situation is different than theirs and (b) most lawyers don't really want to talk about money, particularly with a competitor.  ... 248 2008-11-10T15:09:18Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/the-women-of-sts Most of you know all about the Gift Fest and some of you have even helped promote it. Today I'd like to throw a little spotlight on the STS women who are currently participating in the hopes that you'll all support them and check out their giveaways. Enter to Win: a WELLalarm gold vermeil heart charm from Stephanie! Enter to Win: A Lucky For Baby organic mommy and baby gift set from Nichole! Enter to Win: Liz's OriginOne Signature Thermal Shirt Enter to Win: A subscription to ... 247 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-11-10T11:45:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/well-then-am-i-going-to-work-at-mcdonalds I met with my business coach yesterday. One of the main things I've been thinking about is how to make a decision about whether it makes sense to hire an assistant for us. I spent the time between our meetings working on a cost/benefit analysis, listing tasks I would reassign to an assistant and adding things that just aren't getting done now because of the lack of hours in a day.   Generally speaking, between my husband and I, most of the "clerical" work falls to me - both for the bus... 243 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-11-08T02:34:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/exactly-like-you-planned-nope-better Things don't always happen how or when we expect them to.  As John Lennon famously said, "Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans."  Before anyone jumps to conclusions, I'm not pregnant or anything (thank goodness).  I was just thinking about how the last week has gone.  I feel completely discombobulated... On a really happy note, I got my birthday present last night.  YAY! You might ask, "Oh? Really? When was your birthday?"  It was in... 242 2008-11-06T18:19:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/embrace-failure-aka-check-out-my-new-site Someone at STS once encouraged me to Accept Greatness. Today, I was reading about blogging, and one of the tips recommended "embracing failure." It REALLY resonated. After all, the past few weeks haven't been my most successful. I won't recount ALL of the failures, but .... * My hosting company deleted my entire website. * I worked my rear off (well, I really worked it ON considering how much desk chair sitting was involved... but who's looking at my butt anyway?) to write an essay for NYT... 240 2008-11-05T19:23:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/the-big-day I ain't gonna lie...I wasn't planning on posting here today.  I had to find a way to burn off this nervous Election Day energy!  I can't focus for more than three minutes on one thing before I run to MSNBC or politico.com. My most recent Sarahcentric post is just a stream of election eve freakout consciousness.  We're at the end here, folks.  I'm sure we are all going to be happy and relieved when it's over.  But let's relish it today.  Get out and vote for your ... 237 2008-11-04T12:55:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/the-gift-fest-is-up-and-running After a long day of dealing with my hosting company, everything is running smoothly. So early this morning I posted the very first edition of The Gift Fest blog carnival.Before I go on and on, let me explain the concept a little more. A blog carnival is where bloggers discussing a similar topic get together in an effort to increase traffic and readership for their blogs. Normally, there are four roles to be played in a blog carnival: 1. the organizer 2. the bloggers3. the hosts4. the... 236 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-11-04T12:51:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/pen-to-paper-on-the-plan For those of you who may not know or remember, my goal for this blog is to complete a long overdue business plan. Tonight I finally started an official document to corral all the stats, descriptions, and other information currently housed in various documents, accounting programs, presentations, and last but not least - my head.   I had some sample plans from the SBDC but I wanted to start with a full out Word doc template. So of course I started with a Google search and ended up ... 235 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-11-04T04:04:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/making-a-list-and-checking-it-well-more-than-twice Ok, so I'm a listaholic.  Anyone who knows me knows that.  Even anyone who's read my blog posts here on STS knows that.  So, this post shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.  Least of all, me.   Generally, I enjoy my lists.  I enjoy crossing things off.  It gives me a sense of accomplishment in a world that doesn't provide a lot of markers for me of how I'm doing.   But this time of year, my lists start to have lists.  I even start m... 234 2008-11-03T18:42:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/me-the-recovering-bobblehead It's been two weeks since I met with Bill McGowan at Clarity Media Group for media training. I promised to tell you all about it, like, well, two weeks ago. Then I almost got on national TV only to not get on national TV. Then I got mired in depression. Then my website crashed. So here I am two weeks later to tell you about media training! I scheduled four hours with Bill for three reasons. First, my publicist suggested it. Second, I did a radio interview not too long ago and when I listened... 233 2008-11-03T18:26:12Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/sarahcentric-redux The new Sarahcentric 2nd pass, so close!   Check out Chris Ammons' latest version of my new blog design.  I am so in love I can't stand it!  If you check out the first pass, you'll see that the basic creative execution is still the same.  The biggest change is the website Navigation section.   It was originally designed on another one of those tea-stained pieces of paper.  But I felt that this section really needed to pop since a site's navigation is so impo... 224 2008-10-31T14:25:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/holiday-catalogue-participant-list-announced Ladies, The Gift Committee has met and released the participant list!  We received over a hundred amazing packages, and unfortunately, due to space, we could not include all submissions this year.The committee was asked to divide the gifts into categories (jewelry, fashion, bath & body, etc.) and based their decisions on the following criteria:1.  Is it an appropriate gift for the holidays?2.  Would I give this as a gift to friends or family?3.  Is the website user-fr... 217 2008-10-31T13:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/i-want-to-be-on-allure-com Am I a stylish woman?? Well even if I wasn't, I would pretend to be to get on Allure.com! So as you can tell, I'm excited about this one. I'm going to spend the weekend playing dress up and taking pictures of my outfits. Not only am I dressing up for Allure.com but I'm also dressing up for Halloween! I'm going to be a Geisha and Londy's going to be a ninja. Anyone else dressing up? By the way, in case you have no idea what I'm talking about - it's the latest and greatest PR opp from STS for ... 220 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-10-31T00:22:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/identifying-personal-strengths-and-weaknesses As part of working towards solidifying our business plan, I've come to recognize that since I personally am such a huge part of what the business "is" (along with my husband), it makes sense to spend some time examining my own strengths and weaknesses.   I am using this in many ways - for example:  To zero in on a focus for our main messaging because what I do best can directly relate to what we do best, To determine if I can offload some of the tasks in my weak areas (current... 215 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-10-30T16:44:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/blogs-just-grow-up-so-fast Pumpkin Pie Bars, excellent treat from Joy the Baker.  Research for my fall blog! At first glance, this link may be the most boring thing you have ever clicked on. But if you take the extra second to head down to number 81 of Wordpress's Top 100 fastest growing blogs, you will see why I am so excited. I MADE THE LIST YESTERDAY!  HOLY COW! YAAAAAAAYYYYYY!  Another Best Day Ever! I could go through my usual list of why I think things are working now.  We all know how I ... 213 2008-10-29T19:19:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/savor-the-success-love-fest You'll have to excuse me, but I'm going to have a little gratitude-fest here, so watch out! Since everyone reading this blog is probably a member (except my husband), you all know that Savor is a wonderful place filled with women who really want to support each other's business ventures and to help each other grow.  For me, it's been a fabulous experience.  My website gets quite a bit of traffic from my guest blogging here.  I have a number of faithful Savor readers on my leg... 211 2008-10-29T15:40:20Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/remember-that-winning-pitch-i-told-you-about I haven't said a word about pitching in a while now, but remember that winning pitch I told you about a month ago? Well, the feature is finally up! For anyone not familiar with my goal, I'm trying to get 15 blog/press mentions before 2/1/09. This means it's 4 down, 11 more to go! So this feature is actually pretty cool. It's posted on Shop Like Anna, a shopping community-website for teens and tweens, and is meant to inspire future jewelry designers! Who would've thought I'd ... 210 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-10-28T17:10:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/what-i-learned-on-the-day-my-site-crashed I lost my website Thursday night. One moment it was there. The next, it wasn't. All that was left? A blue parking page that said, "This URL has just been purchased." I stared at that parking page for a while. I hit my refresh button a few times. And then panic set in. "It's gone? Gone?" I eventually learned that a misunderstanding between me and a sales person at my hosting company had caused them to delete my entire site. The next morning, my mother called. The stock market was dropping ... 205 2008-10-27T19:29:50Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/acknowledgement-is-important I'm Simply Brilliant!  I always knew I was wicked smart (just kidding), but being named Simply Brilliant by the SitePoint newsletter made my week.  We all work really hard.  I've been working since I'm 14 years old (unless you count babysitting and then I've been working quite a bit longer).  I've worked hard my whole life.  I have to say though, it wasn't until I started working for myself that I ever got any outside acknowledgement of my accomplishments.  (I ... 204 2008-10-27T15:27:15Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/25-bloggers-joining-the-holiday-gift-fest Just a quick announcement today. So far I posted the giveaway blog carnival idea on STS, LWL and Alisa posted it on Twittermoms.com. I've received emails from at least 25 bloggers who would love to join. I'm very excited about putting this together! When it's all over, I'll make sure to post instructions, tips and stats for anyone who wants to start their own carnival. It can be done with any topic, not just giveaways. If you're a humor blogger, send emails to your favorite bloggers in the s... 201 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-10-26T18:43:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/savor-the-success-holiday-catalogue It's been an amazing week receiving all of your submissions and samples for the 2008 Savor the Success Holiday Catalogue.  All I can say is that your talents and creativity amaze me.  Think about it... you are creating beautiful, gorgeous and creative products that comes from only YOU.  We are going to be distributing this catalog to thousands of people, including our STS database and to numerous editors.  We are asking all of you to send a PDF to your friends in order to ... 200 2008-10-26T16:23:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/sarah-s-favorite-things Seriously.  I'm obsessed with this hat.   I cannot tell you how psyched I am about the fall.  I am a fall professional!  In fact, next Monday an autumn celebration begins at Sarahcentric.  I'll be listing all of my essentials for this fall's Maximum Comfort needs.  That includes my recommendaton for the best cupcakes in NYC, the most adorable Coffee Cozies you have ever seen, my friend's excellent new book Crafternoon, and of course...my hat. I cannot wait to... 199 2008-10-24T19:10:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/when-did-being-sick-start-feeling-like-a-vacation Yesterday I spent most of the day in bed. Yep, I've been running so fast I thought I could outrun the germs my lovely daughters like to bring home. Not so fast after all. Anyway, I'm beginning to think it was a not so subtle hint from my body that I needed to slow down a bit. Shhh...don't tell anyone, but after my oldest was on the bus and my mother-in-law brought the baby to daycare (dh was sick too), I went back to bed and slept until 1:30. I don't think I've done that since college, or at... 198 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-10-24T16:09:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/did-i-walk-under-a-ladder-or-something Did a black cat cross my path? Did I break a mirror? What? What? What did I do? Ugh! Grrr!! Okay, so I'm not even going to go into the past four days. I've written about them in past blogs here. All I'm gonna say is this: not the best days of my business life. I mean, I KNOW: things could be much worse. I could be earning my living by dressing up as an elf for a holiday display. I know. I know. But still! This past week has not been my best. Well, tonight, the stress intensified when I a... 197 2008-10-24T01:29:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/treading-water-just-as-fast-as-i-can In the last episode of this program we found our intrepid lawyer trying to dig out from under the pile of rubbish that had piled up on her desk... So, did she succeed?  Did she dig out from under the pile?  I boldly stated that I WOULD complete my list of things that needed to get done.  So, I guess the first thing I have to do is to fess up that I didn't get it all done.  Not two days ago, not yesterday, not today (yet).  Some of the failure is my fault.  Some... 196 2008-10-23T14:33:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/i-m-so-almost-famous A quick recap for those of you who have not been reading along: I'm a ghostwriter who has been trying to break into real writing--memoir, first person, essay, blogging. I've been trying to promote my blog and build a platform for the book, which, thankfully, involve doing the same thing--PR. And earlier this week, I saw that Fox's national morning show was looking for moms who do not believe in spanking. (They also wanted spankers, but I don't fit into that group!) I fired off an email. An h... 194 2008-10-22T22:17:41Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/schleprock-day-part-2 I know you are all waiting to hear whether or not I'll be on national TV this Thursday. (You are all waiting to hear this, right? You follow my every movement, right?) Well, all I can say is this: I have no idea. None. My husband spoke with Blue. We are waiting to hear. Last I spoke to Blue, we were one of the top families under consideration. He also told me that Thursday -- the day they will supposedly do the segment -- is an eternity away. I guess in TV production time, one day = one year... 193 2008-10-22T02:15:33Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/the-best-worst-day-ever Alright.  I guess it was kinda my fault.  I was bound to crash from the high of serious Sarahcentric love I've been receving the past few weeks. Hits, subscriptions, and Twitter followers were up.  The re-design looked fantastic.  I even started writing a book.  Nothing could stop me now! But everything changed when I wrote about bagels.  Bagels.  F-ing BAGELS!  I wrote, what I thought, was a completely harmless and funny post about a run-in at my lo... 192 2008-10-21T19:25:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/emerging-from-the-swamp I've been so swamped over the last two weeks, I just haven't had time to catch up with my Savor blog, my own blog or to do the other projects that I just keep meaning to get to.  I'm serious. It's gotten out of control.  I've got to get it done and I mean TODAY! I had a bunch of legal work to do last week.  Yay!  But Noah got his very first pre-school related cold and was home for three days last week.  Boo!  And then, since he confuses me for a Kleenex, I got s... 190 2008-10-21T14:43:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/join-the-holiday-blog-carnival What better time to give stuff away than the holidays? And what better way to attract customers and readers than fun contests and free stuff? I'd like to take a page or two from Lynn's book and organize some sort of blog tour. A little different than a tour, but close enough! I'd like to start a carnival...a giant, holiday giveaway carnival! I've never done a blog carnival before, and for those of you who are in the same boat: a blog carnival is basically a community of blogs, discussing t... 189 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-10-21T03:40:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/this-has-been-one-shelprock-day So this morning I was going to write a blog. It was going to be something about how I'm all done with The Dark Place, thank that Dark Place very much. I even walked my dog before starting work. It was sooo beautiful outside, and I decided to treat myself to some sunshine, crisp air, and movement. It was during that walk, however, that I encountered the first omen of things to come. The Jehovas were out--in force. I saw the women walking, two by two, up and down the driveways. It wasn't that... 188 2008-10-21T01:29:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/met-my-coach-and-got-homework For those of you who might not know, I am participating in a formal business coaching program sponsored through the Women's Business Center at Canisius College in Buffalo. I finally got a chance to meet one-on-one with my coach last week. So get used to hearing a lot about Valerie. She is a perfect fit for my personality - very down-to-earth, easy to talk to, and with a good sense of humor. I'm so glad she's not a slavedriver. It's Valerie's first time as a "coach" so she's learning too&nbs... 186 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-10-20T16:33:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/fractions-and-decimals-and-angles-oh-my There are five of me now...no, really! First there was Alex the girlfriend and Alex the emplyee. Then came Alex the entrepreneur, Alex the blogger and most recently, Alex the soon-to-be graduate student. Remember junior high, when you were learning algebra and geometry and you turned to your best friend and said "I hate math, it's not like we're ever gonna need this stuff when we're bigger!?" Turns out we do! At least I do. I need to re-learn all that math again to take my GMAT. It's not fun... 184 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-10-18T01:37:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/networking-is-fun I don't have a lot of time today, but I just wanted to check in to say that I generally hate, (no, really HATE) networking events.  You wouldn't know this unless you know me pretty well, but I'm actually shy.  I don't like walking into a room of people and having to find people to meet and talk to.  Gives me the shudders... We had lots of them when I was (as my mom likes to put it) a "real" lawyer.  (She means is when I worked for other people rather than myself.)  I... 183 2008-10-16T15:29:02Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/the-dark-place-part-2 First, I want to thank all of you who wrote me--either here in the comments area or privately--about your dark places. It does make me feel better to know that I'm not the only person who goes through this. Second, I started crying this morning--really for no reason. It's just going to be one of those dew-eyed days where the slightest thing sets me off. It made me realize that my dark period might be a little more chronic than I'd thought. I'd been blaming it on hormones until now. This is a... 182 2008-10-16T15:01:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/quick-check-in-before-a-slew-of-meetings I don't know what's in the air this past week. People must finally be starting to focus on marketing again now that back-to-school is over. Anyway, we've been getting a bunch of inquiries through our site and phone calls too - which is great. At any rate, I have a sales meeting booked this afternoon, 2 tomorrow, 1 Friday, and 1 next Tuesday. Add in an ABWA dinner meeting tonight (my first after being appointed vice president to fill the position for someone who stepped down, as if... 181 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-10-15T15:58:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/the-dark-place I've been in the dark place the past few days. If you've ever been prone to depression, then you know exactly what I'm talking about. If not, I'll explain briefly. It's that place where everything feels wrong and nothing feels right. In my dark place: * My marriage was in the toilet * I was an idiot for thinking I could accomplish this dream * I was even more of an idiot for thinking that my husband would support it * And even more of an idiot for taking time away from my established payi... 180 2008-10-15T03:29:52Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/that-s-what-blogs-are-for I received an email from a new reader last night that was so freaking cute I had to share it with all of you. This reader is responding to an entry about my best friend Andrew.  I wrote about a ridiculously obscure inside joke he and I share that I thought no one could possibly understand.  It's a random quote from the movie "Peggy Sue Got Married".  Here is my reader's response. Hey SarahU dont know me, but...I have a pal named Doyle who, like u and Andrew, seem 2 be two halv... 179 2008-10-14T15:19:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/it-s-a-technology-conspiracy I'm all excited.  I got a brand new laptop on Friday!!!  It is SO cool!  Yes, I know I have dinosaurs on my desk.  Part of being a working mom, I'm afraid... I know this is going to sound strange coming from an internet attorney, but I haven't had a computer that was this close to the cutting edge of technology in probably ten years.  Not to say that I haven't changed laptops in the last ten years.  I have.  I just have either had refurbished computers o... 176 2008-10-13T14:37:58Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/10-days-seriously I am so, so sorry I disappeared on all of you STS'ers! If I were to be featured in an episode of "The Twilight Zone", it would surely revolve around directing a shoot!  Let's just get right to it, shall we? The last time you heard from me I was hooting and hollering about my very Best Day Ever; a goal I can check off my Savor the Success list.  Traffic is steadily increasing. Subscribers via RSS and email are up. Other bloggers (not just friends) have added me to their blogrol... 175 2008-10-13T02:31:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/i-am-indie-business Sharing The True Meaning Of Indie Everywhere I go, people want to know what "Indie" means. Sometimes they think I must be somehow associated with the professional racing circuit. Other times, they know that "indie" means "independent," but they want to know more. I created this segment to share the 5 concepts upon which Indie is based.           If this helped you further define your own "Indie-ness," please leave a comment behind to let us know h... 173 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2008-10-10T23:44:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/donna-maria-coles-johnson/survival-of-the-fittest Darwin Was Right, In Nature and in Business In his book, The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, Charles Darwin penned these words. [A]s more individuals are produced than can possibly survive, there must in every case be a struggle for existence, either one individual with another of the same species, or with the individuals of distinct species, or with the physical conditions of life. ... Although some species may be now increasing, more or less rapidly, in numbers, all... 172 info@indiebusinessmedia.com (Donna Maria Coles Johnson) 2008-10-10T23:39:44Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/surviving-the-recession It's too late to say we're heading towards a recession. We're already there! So I did a little research on what small businesses should be doing in times like these: Focus on your key customers rather than trying to attract new ones. Give them special discounts, send a personal note, invite them to lunch or anything else that might tell them you're always there if they need anything. Keep your brand in front of your target audience at all times by engaging in guerrilla marketing and... 170 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-10-10T19:03:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/talking-to-competitors I don't know if it's just me, but even though I know rationally that people in my same business would probably be able to give the best advice, AND that people are fundamentally good - I still always hesitate to talk to "competitors." Something just seems weird about talking to people who might be pursuing the same types of relationships with the same types of clients. What if they "steal" your prospect? Or use the information you share against you in the marketplace? And I've gotten some w... 168 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-10-10T13:04:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/my-experience-with-tim-gunn Hello, Ladies!As promised, here is the juicy behind-the-scenes look at what it was like to be stylized by Tim Gunn!     Hello! It's been a whirlwind year, and I can't think of a better person to lead the way for me than Tim Gunn. I thought it would be fun to share with you the juicy behind-the-scenes details of filming the show and my experience with it!How I got on Guide to Style I saw a call for the show, and having never seen an episode, I didn't actually know tha... 169 2008-10-10T12:18:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/i-ve-been-a-bad-girl It's been way too long since my last blog post. I didn't even realize how long until I sat down to write today. I started to think about why. So here I digress with a little self-psychoanalysis. (With 2 psychologists as parents, this tends to happen a lot.) So why? At first - the "go to" excuse: I've been too busy. But that doesn't ever REALLY fly, and that fact will never change. Show me a person who's not busy and I show you a person who's awfully boring. It's always a matter of prioriti... 166 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-10-09T15:28:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/the-shoehorn-saga-part-3 Well, Dad did manage to find a few shoehorns in his closet. We can trace them back to circa 1970. Not exactly an antique in my opinion. So EBay I went. As it turns out, antique shoehorns are quite easy to find. They are also quite affordable, considering David Sedaris and yours truly are probably the only two people in the world who actually are looking for this sort of thing. They range in price from 99 cents to a few hundred dollars. The higher priced ones were 14 K gold or silver. I ... 163 2008-10-08T20:49:07Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/tis-a-puzzlement Liam just loves that Rubik's Cube.  Yes, I'm geeky enough that I know how to solve it... I don't know why, but the traffic on my site has dropped off in the last week.  Ok, well I know I haven't been posting that much on the discussion boards that I usually post on, but it doesn't seem to be different on the days that I post than on the days that I don't.  (Strangely though, my blog traffic keeps growing even when my site traffic is slowed...Hmmm.) Don't... 162 2008-10-08T13:16:26Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/shoehorn-sadness Well I told hundreds (if not thousands) of people about the shoehorn. I told so many people that I had this little fantasy about David himself hearing this nice little story, getting a warm and fuzzy feeling inside, and picking up the phone and calling me to thank me in advance. This is how I imagined the conversation going: Me: Hello Him: Hi Alisa? This is David Sedaris. I understand you are my biggest fan. Me: Who is this really? Is this some sort of cruel joke? Him: Um, no, this is rea... 161 2008-10-07T16:26:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/he-likes-it-he-really-likes-it So I opened email this morning and found a message from Mike (aka agent) that said,"Congratulations. It's great! Let's talk." Then I did laps through the house. Then I read the email again. Then I did a few more laps. I know, perhaps it shouldn't be a big surprise. I suppose I'm more surprised than you all are. But it's a huge relief. Just huge.  Now, that said, there are a few things he wants me to tinker with before sending the book out, but they are minor. Overall, it's there. I'm ... 159 2008-10-06T16:15:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/a-jewelry-blog-tour-help I've been inspired by the one and only Lynn Colwell. But, before I go into more details, let me remind you of my goal, which is to get 15 blog/press mentions in the next 4 months. So here I am, pitching like crazy to get to that seemingly unattainable 15, when low and behold, Lynn Colwell decides to do a blog tour introducing her book to the world. In just one month, Lynn got 40 bloggers to commit to posting a feature of her new book, Celebrate Green. Let's look at those numbers again: I'm tr... 158 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-10-06T15:13:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/he-s-reading-the-book So my agent has had my memoir for a month. He hasn't read a page. I know this because he happens to know all about my neurotic personality and occasionally takes pity on me by emailing me and letting me know, "Haven't gotten to it yet, but I will very soon." I'm not the kind of client who asks for much. I'm really not. Some people are squeaky wheels. Others are WD40. I'm the WD40 variety. But this week I got squeaky. One, I just couldn't stand it anymore. Two, I'm waiting on him to tell me t... 155 2008-10-04T17:55:02Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/could-i-be-any-more-exhausted Have you ever woken tired? That's how I've felt nearly everyday this week. At first I blamed it on the weather. Then I blamed it on hormones. Today, I woke with that acidic burn in the back of my throat, you know the kind one gets from post nasal drip. "Oh great, I'm getting sick," I thought. All I want to do right now is go back to sleep. I'm craving it. My body aches. My throat hurts. My eye balls ache. But I have a training session with Capessa in 20 minutes and if I take a nap right now... 153 2008-10-03T15:42:30Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/best-day-ever The door to my soul.   YESTERDAY WAS SARAHCENTRIC'S BEST DAY EVER!! Remember way back in August when I told you all about my previous Best Day Ever?  Susan Piver, (meditation teacher and writer), enjoyed a post I wrote about my practice. When she recommended it on Twitter, i enjoyed my first big day of hits.   A post about my refrigerator door was StumbledUpon by the Good Women of Savor the Success.  That little stumble pushed my stats into the stratosphere!  Sa... 152 2008-10-03T00:28:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/why-being-too-good-is-not-good-at-all I try to take every PR opportunity that presents itself, even if it doesn't look like it'll get much traffic.  You know why?  Because you never know what could happen. Great PR comes from some of the oddest places.  I know that most everyone reading this is a HARO member, but do you really read the three emails?  Seriously?  From top to bottom?  Or do you just skim the headlines to see if something interests you?  No, really.... Just a suggestion, but read... 149 2008-10-01T16:39:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/micro-biz-is-huge-biz Some of you might recall that I am flirting with the idea of writing up a second business plan for an idea I have that caters to the microbusiness market. Well, my new best friends, my SBDC counselor and the free SBDC research librarians, came through with some micro biz statistics for me so I can start to size up that market. Ready? Some numbers based on gross reported revenue - number of businesses in the U.S.: less than $500K in sales - 5,335,122 businesses between $500K and $1 million... 147 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-09-30T16:50:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/the-168-hour-work-week So, as I said recently, I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. My site traffic is very close to 2000 monthly uniques. Self magazine just indicated that they are interested in having me write "sex" articles for them. I'm doing relationship articles for American Baby. I am the relationship queen for Capessa. I'm so totally not a ghost writer any more. But with the success comes confusion. For one, one of the reasons my web traffic has grown so quickly is that I'm advertising on Google... 146 2008-09-30T03:51:44Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/accept-greatness These two little words are gems that I took away from something one of our clients, Didi (a life coach/therapist) once told me. At first blush, it might seem a very egotistic philosophy but in actuality it's very self-affirmational (is that a word?). You see, for those of us who struggle with perfectionism or being a control freak (quite common among STS members by the look of it), it's actually quite liberating to be able to simply ACCEPT GREATNESS - instead of striving for perfection, whic... 144 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-09-29T17:51:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/my-embolism-board Humble beginnings I am going to write a book. You heard it here first.  Unless you follow me on Twitter, which means you heard it there first. This is not really the big news.  Whatever, I'm a writer.  Writers write books.  Duh. Here's the big news ... I finally realized that I really am a writer. That sounds a little subtle, but believe me, without that belief it makes it very difficult to write a big ass book!  There is no question that the results of my past ... 142 2008-09-29T12:18:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/where-do-you-get-your-media-lists   As I learn, I make more lists...so here's another good one. The beginning of a PR Toolkit in the making. I like to keep these things around for my future reference, or anyone else's reference. First on the list are...Media Lists: To get attention from the media, your pitches and press releases must be targeted to the right people. If you're going to do it yourself you'll need at least one of these great resources.1. HelpAReporter.com a.k.a. HARO - not only valuable, but FREE. Peter Sh... 139 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-09-29T03:20:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/let-s-spam-the-spammer You know, I check my web email obsessively, almost as obsessively as I check my site stats. And when I log into the webmail for my site, I get REALLY excited if there are 5 messages waiting for me. That means 5 people commented on my site, right? I'm so popular! People love me!  So not. What's usually waiting for me are 5 messages that read like this: (This is a real message, by the way) Name: Lera  City: New York State: New York Email: milop@hotbox.com Comment... 136 2008-09-26T23:11:11Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/cleanliness-is-next-to-well-i-don-t-know-but-it-s-not-next-to-my-apartment My apartment is never as clean as I'd like it to be.  Never.  (Well, not unless you count the five minutes before my parents show up twice a year.)    The state of my living room at the kids' bedtime (and these don't do it justice...) I'm coming to realize that I can't help it.  I can't stress about it.  I've got too much in my life to stress about to add the neatness (or lack thereof) of my apartment to the mix.  There's just no time and that's a big s... 135 2008-09-26T14:41:19Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/feeling-like-an-almost-somebody My agent emailed me this week, not long after I'd sent him a list of my PR activities (who'd quoted me, who I thought was going to quote me, and who I was trying to talk into quoting me). He asked, "Is your crisis of confidence over yet?" I don't remember exactly what was going on when the crisis started and I told him about it. Maybe I was having a bad site traffic day. Maybe a PR op had fallen through. It doesn't take much. Yet, he seems to be clairvoyant sometimes. He was so right that t... 133 2008-09-25T19:32:35Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/savor-the-success-members-on-fox-business-news Fox Business News just recently did a profile on Savor the Success!It shows why I started this network for all of you amazing women... check it out here.  (If video doesn't work, go here.)   Click the play icon to start! 131 2008-09-25T14:56:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/hey-that-s-my-template Final Sarahcentric stationery, jumping-off point for my new blog! Wordpress is cheating on me. I was doing some blog surfing a few weeks ago and clicked on a Hawt Post in the wordpress entertainment section, a Hollywood gossip blog. I was scandalized and not because of the latest Lindsay Lohan scoop.  They were using my blog template, "rounded"!!! How dare they!! Any reservations I had about spending a little time and money on a custom wordpress template went out the door. I'm not j... 130 2008-09-25T12:34:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/thank-you-ladies I have not fallen off the earth. It's been too long since my last post, but it's been one heck of a week. There are a zillion things I could blog about but the main thing I want to start with is THANK YOU. Thank you to the women in this STS community and thank you to the other strong business women who support me. I learn so much from everyone's blogs and posts and comments. And I appreciate getting to know you all here and your willingness to answer frantic questions offline (thanks Deena).... 111 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-09-24T18:04:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/rip-apart-my-winning-pitch I  recently scored a feature on another website and I'll share it with you as soon as it goes live. But, until then, I thought it might be a good idea to show you what my pitch looked like and get your opinion. This was a lead from HARO and my pitch went a little something like this... "Hi ______, I've been a HARO subscriber for a while now and I have yet to find a lead that matches my profile so perfectly! Thanks for making my day...   Well, a little about me: I founded Esculon... 128 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-09-24T15:29:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/stumbling-along This is going to be a short post, because time is getting away from me today...  But I wanted to check in and let you know how it's going... A bunch of members started a café on Savor the Success a couple of weeks ago where we do social bookmarking for each other's blog posts.  I figured, "Hey, it can't hurt."  Forget that it can't hurt.  I had over 300 hits this week from Stumble Upon alone.  That's crazy.  Strangely enough, I'm not getting any traffic... 126 2008-09-22T22:03:36Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/talk-to-the-relationship-queen Well it's official. I just accepted a freelance position as The Relationship Queen for Capessa.com.  I have to say, I would have done it just for the title, but they are actually going to pay me, too. The site is currently under redesign, but my mug, bio and creative posts should be up in the relationship area of the site in early October. I'll be doing a regular Q and A column, editing and managing the other blogs, adding content, and who knows what else.  The site currently has ... 124 2008-09-22T19:13:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/creating-abundance-for-one-another There are so many amazing women right here at Savor the Success.  And many of them have some gorgeous products and services that you can give as gifts this upcoming holiday season!  Start thinking about supporting your Savor the Success friends while giving unique gifts that you can't find on every street corner.We are cooking up ways for Savor members to be able to showcase their products and services (let us know your ideas), but in the meantime, I am going to highlight some fanta... 123 2008-09-22T13:15:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/comments-anyone This may be the fastest blog ever. It was a pretty busy weekend which is about to launch into the a pretty busy week. If Guiness is reading, please let me know if this is a world record. Quick updates... -The Power of Twitter! Not only does Sarahcentric receive tons of comments and referrals from Twitter followers, it can also make for some great connections in the real world. This weekend, a Twitter friend in the know offered her personal help in selling an article I'm writing to a real-... 122 2008-09-22T11:37:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/site-uniques-hit-1000 Did I tell you just two days ago that my site traffic was dropping? Was I complaining that I couldn't do this, that I would never reach my goal? Was I sulking in a corner? All I can say is this: sad no more! No, I have something else to say: I LOVE THE LADIES AT STS. Thanks to those of you who stumbled my How To Teach Your Man to Romance You, my site stats are through the blogosphere. In just the past hour--that's right--HOUR--268 people have come to my site to check this story out, and t... 118 2008-09-19T19:47:59Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/i-m-a-lousy-juggler Ok, so you juggle and juggle and eventually you've got to drop one.  It's just the law of averages. I'm trying to launch my law firm.  I need to market myself hours and hours every day.  I need to actually do legal work, because that's, you know, what I do.  I need to pick up my son every day from preschool (which is about a 4 mile walk round trip) and pick up groceries.  I need to take care of my kids (I'm the primary caretaker, I don't have a nanny and don't want o... 116 2008-09-19T14:19:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/run-on-the-bank They definitely had something to do with all of this! This will be a quick entry since most of my morning was spent hunting for the "run on the bank" scene from Mary Poppins.  I'm cooking up a Sarahcentric entry about the Wall Street crisis involving this scene.   Being a writer is weird. (Or maybe just being THIS writer is weird...) I haven't nailed it yet, but soon! Some quick thoughts/updates... *I'm feeling comfy and settled in my new writing schedule.  It dawned on me... 114 2008-09-19T12:24:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/organizing-and-prioritizing-for-pr-success-can-i-manage It's no use trying to do a million things at once. As much as I want to focus on PR, there are many other priorities to think about, such as updating the website, customizing the blog, and as Londy always says "don't forget about designing new jewelry!" As we've all figured out, to do PR the right way requires a lot of time and so far I think I've been doing it all wrong. I've been sending pitches here and there, emailing people haphazardly, tweeting inconsistently and blogging randomly. I... 112 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-09-18T20:39:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/when-in-doubt-do-something-about So yesterday I was a sad, dreary person. Today is a new day. Nothing new has happened. My site traffic did not double overnight. The Today Show has not called. A publisher did not discover me. My hair didn't lighten in my sleep. I just woke up and said, "I can do this." I used to have a shirt that said "Can Do" in big block letters. I have no idea what happened to it, but I'm wearing an invisible version of it today.  My morning pep talk was a short one. I asked myself, "What am I dow... 107 2008-09-18T15:21:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/oh-the-roller-coaster-ride So last time I wrote, I was floating above the Earth. I was feeling like a SOMEBODY. Today I'm feeling like a NOBODY, a nobody who will never reach her goals. I know this isn't completely rational. It's a mixture of hormonal issues (yes it is that time), lack of light (time to break out the light box), and overreacting in general. I know I'm obsessing over little things that don't matter, but I can't see to stop myself. The small things that I am obsessing over? Let's see. First, there's th... 104 2008-09-17T21:11:01Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/social-networking Many of you were interested in my success using Twitter to find new readers for Sarahcentric. It seems that most people advise to just jump in and start "Tweeting".  That's how I did it and it has definitely paid off.  I've made some great relationships with my followers and those whom I follow.  It has paid off with lots of comments on my blog, additions to their blogrolls and more Sarahcentric RSS subscriptions.  One of my twitter pals, Susan Piver, had this to say in he... 102 2008-09-17T12:19:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/do-you-google-yourself-are-you-famous-yet If you don't Google your name and your business name regularly, you should.  Make sure you Google them with quotes around them or you'll have all kinds of nonsense attached to the result though...    I've actually set up these Google Alerts for my website name (www.ebusinesslawgroup.com), my name, my screen name (I use the same one at all of the sites that I frequent for business, DeenaEsq) and my blog name (Blog of Burgess).  I get an alert on each one every day and it ... 101 2008-09-16T22:38:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/chopping-trees-and-vote-on-my-new-pics Yes, we literally chopped down 2 trees yesterday at my house. Big ones too. We've known for months they needed to come down because they were dead and too close to the house for comfort. But somehow neither of us ever got around to calling the tree guy or organizing family to help. So a big windstorm took down a couple branches this week and we decided to just go out - my husband, a chainsaw, and me (primarily for moral support, chainsaws are a little outside my comfort zone) - and do it. ... 99 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-09-16T18:08:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/diagnosis-todolistosis Doctor, I'm baring my heart to you. Here are my symptoms (which probably apply to 90% of the women here from time to time): Sleep deprivation due to insomnia, light sleeping, early alarm. Brain paralysis, inability to organize thoughts. General malaise, fatigue. See "sleep deprivation" above. Tunnel vision - can only see the million things that need to get done. Inability to sit still, especially when there is still laundry to do (and there's always laundry to do.) Short temper, espec... 97 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-09-15T19:11:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/major-christmas-sales-coming-our-way This is off my topic of PR and goal, but it’s such a major event that I thought I should address it and see what the overall opinion is. Lehman Brothers, the fourth largest U.S. investment bank has just filed for bankruptcy. With debt listed at $613 billion, it’s the largest bankruptcy in history! And when you think about the fact that Lehman Brothers has been around for 158 years and even survived the Great Depression, it’s pretty mind boggling! We’ve also lost ... 96 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-09-15T13:04:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/zen-ning-out The last day of my first 5 day meditation retreat...all Buddha'd out. I got tons done this week/weekend and I somehow managed to not have a thrombosis about it. It is possible that sometimes I can be a bit melodramatic about all of the work I need to get accomplished.  The fact of the matter is it always gets done. Maybe it's not today, tomorrow instead...but still, the world will not cease to spin. When I focused on just finishing the task that was in front of me, it not only happene... 94 2008-09-15T03:48:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/chocolates-organic-baby-clothes-and-the-amazing-women-here It's Angela writing here...I want to share with you my favorite new finds here at Savor the Success.  I have discovered the best chocolates in the world.  I was perusing the members here and happened upon this profile, Alejandro from Romanicos Chocolate.  I contacted her, and two days later, a package arrived at my door.  Just opening the box was an experience.  The beautiful package had these amazing truffles with delicious names: Champagne Truffles, Sinful Amaretto,... 91 2008-09-13T12:37:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/on-a-roll-and-i-m-not-even-a-hoagie This week, I've been doing an unintentional experiment.  It's not one I ever intended to try, but my level of swamped this week has kept me from doing any of my usual marketing.    The first thing that you have to understand about my marketing plan is that most of my marketing efforts are centered on the dozen or so small business forums that I post at on a daily basis.  I've done this pretty much every day for two months or so.    I answer general legal ques... 90 2008-09-12T21:19:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/i-go-i-go-i-go-girl Can you see me doing a little dance? Can you see me waving my arms? Jumping up and down? Today has been a good, good, good day (despite the rain).    Before I get to the good, I have to say: this risk taking and goal setting is like riding a roller coaster. Some days it all feels like a big uphill battle. Nothing seems to be going right. Daily site traffic might be down. Perhaps someone makes a passing comment that just isn't empowering (like the guy who told me the photos of me o... 89 2008-09-12T17:21:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/savor-the-success-founders/from-the-founders-of-savor-the-success This is our first joint blog entry as Co-Founders of Savor the Success.  A little about us.  We are a husband and wife team.  Angela is the CIO (Chief Inspiration Officer) and Marc is the CTO (Chief Technical Officer).  Angela is the Founder and CEO of Om Aroma & Co., the luxury organic spa and skincare line.  She started this boutique social network because of her own needs as a business owner to learn how to strategically build her company and to create meaningf... 87 2008-09-12T12:18:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/blog-mention-2-for-esculon-jewelry Michelle Madhok, the founder of SheFinds.com, is also a contributing blogger on Real Simple Magazine's Simply Stated blog. In order to spread the word about the Count Me In organization, she also posted to Simply Stated and once again mentioned Esculon as one of the 51 designers participating in the fundraising. That said. I hope you all get a chance to check out Count Me In, because it's an organization soley devoted to women's independence, with the intent to help all of us gro... 85 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-09-11T15:14:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/vacation-all-i-ever-wanted                                              I heart pools. I cannot tell you how necessary my best friend, a hotel pool and roller coasters became by the time I left for Florida.  I knew I needed some sort of break from my new Sarahcentric writing., but I didn't KNOW until I was crying into a a quesadilla  and black beans at Burrito Box in mid-town Manhattan. &... 84 2008-09-11T12:07:39Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/dos-and-don-ts-of-pitching-to-the-media I've been sending out pitches left and right; some leads I found on HARO, some on STS, and others were straglers I found here and there. Although I haven't had much success yet, at least I'm meeting people! With one of my most recent pitches, I decided to ask the blogger what she didn't like about it. Dina Fierro, who writes two blogs (Eye4Style and AreYouABeauty) was very happy to help me out! It turns out she didn't think my pitch was "bad at all," but I asked her some questions anyway to ... 83 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-09-11T02:22:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/help-i-ve-been-eaten-alive-by-my-to-do-list Yes, my "desk" always has toy cars or dinosaurs on it. Really, I'm only half kidding.    I've been been remiss in posting at Savor the Success because I've been getting my oldest baby off to his first days of preschool (which has a "transition schedule", which means that we go for the first hour for three days, then two and a half hours for two days before we actually go to the "real" schedule).     Noah's first day... The funniest thing is my kid is... 81 2008-09-10T22:05:30Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/the-experiment-part-2 Thanks to everyone who helped with the Digg experiment! Here are the results. ** I got 9 Diggs, and I believe nearly all of them were from people I know personally or who I asked to Digg. Lesson Learned: If there is a tipping point where a few friends digging your site evolves into a digging frenzy, it either A) happens after 9 diggs B) requires a different type of blog or web material that what I've posted ** According to the stats, 14 people have clicked through from Digg. Um, not such a... 77 2008-09-09T18:43:40Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/a-meeting-of-the-minds-white-board-and-all So I scheduled and stuck to an internal meeting yesterday. In attendance: me, my husband/partner, our account manager Amy, and our intern Erin. In my mind, a huge part of this business planning process will revolve around better defining and focusing both what we offer and WHO we offer it to. Of course we would never turn away an interested client. But as we've learned over the last few years, the harsh truth is that if we want to maintain high standards of excellence in what we deliver, we ... 76 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-09-09T15:20:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/blog-mention-1 Hello ladies, I have great news! I found a wonderful opportunity a little while ago, which not only helps promote Esculon and my jewelry but also serves as a way to raise money for women entrepreneurs. Worthy cause, wouldn't you say? In exchange for a blog feature of the Melody Earrings, I have agreed to donate 15% of the proceeds from their sales to Count Me In, an organization that provides women with loans, educational resources and consultations.   This isn't the typical Press/... 74 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-09-09T02:38:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/please-help-me-conduct-an-experiment Ladies, I'm hoping you'll help me test the benefits of social bookmarking. I've been sending my blogs to social bookmarking sites like Digg, StumbleUpon and so on for a while, but I have hesitated to continually ask friends, family and random people on the street to vote for my blogs on these sites. I guess I'm a little shy. Perhaps I'm not so good at selling myself. Something about the whole idea of "vote for me" feels awkward. Thankfully, I have no aspirations to run for public office. Yet... 71 2008-09-08T17:49:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/i-just-pressed-send I just sent my 102,000 word, 367 double-spaced page baby a.k.a. The Marriage Memoir a.k.a. Project: Happily Ever After to my agent. I'm feeling a mixture of exhilaration (I finished it!), fear (will he think it sucks?), and relief (I finished it!). A recap for those who have not followed my story from the beginning: I'm trying to start a new writing career, using what I learned during the year I spent saving my marriage to 1) write and sell a memoir about that experience 2) write and promote... 68 2008-09-05T21:44:33Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/venting-steam I know I posted yesterday, but I've got a bee in my bonnet and I need to vent...   I hate the rules that govern attorney conduct. Well, that’s not entirely true. I don’t hate all of them, just a few.   My particular aggravation today is the darn fee splitting rules. They state, in essence, that attorneys can’t split their fees with any non-lawyer for any reason.   I know why they made the rule, but it still stinks. The rule was enacted in order to stop &... 67 2008-09-05T15:14:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/pricing-the-competition-there-must-be-an-easier-way There must be an easier way to get competitive intelligence on pricing than making "spy calls." I was a little disappointed earlier this week when the SBDC's research department got back to me on my question about competitive rates. My inquiry to them was as follows: "I'd be interested to see where we would fall in our pricing vs. other firms. We would align most closely with small/"boutique" marketing/design agencies I think, though I'd be interested to see large ad agency pricing, sma... 64 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-09-04T21:43:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/step-1-setting-the-pr-foundation It's back to the drawing board for me! Let me explain why...so you all know what my goal is - to launch a PR campaign. Of course, before I start something this massive I want to make sure I'm ready for it. I decided to speak to a professional in order to get a feel for where to start. So I called Inna Shamis, from AvantGarde Communications and the first thing I ask is "how many blog mentions do you think I can get??". That's just like me to be totally over zealous about everything! She gently... 63 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-09-04T19:15:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/blogging-101 Sometimes I really do things backward. For instance, I created a website blog without consulting a single how-to manual on the topic. Now that I've been blogging for a month, I decided to read my first two "how to blog" books over the weekend (I'm a speed reader when it comes to self help). Thankfully, according to the books, I'm already doing a lot right. I learned a few tricks, though, too. I thought I'd pass them on to you all, in case you find them just as useful. 1) If you want comments... 61 2008-09-04T17:52:51Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/the-biggest-geek-on-the-planet I'm having the best time this morning.  I've revealed in prior posts what a stats geek I am, so I'm in hog heaven today.  Anyone who saw the HARO email this morning saw my apartment listed at the top for sale (sorry, can't help myself... www.nycaptforsale.com).  In the past 3 hours, I've had over 350 unique hits to the apartment's website.  I'm in geek heaven!  Now if someone would just buy the darn thing....   In related news, I'll have been in business for tw... 60 2008-09-04T14:40:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/warrior-mode Getting pumped before my 5th half-marathon. It's been tough this past week.  Remember the brilliant Sarahcentric production plan in my last blog?  Well I got news for ya, it's absolutely exhausting.  I still think it's the way to go; more frequent posting, hitting certain "release" times for the blog, etc.  But the deeper I go into this re-launch, the higher the mountain to great writing success seems to be! The more I write, the more I write, the more I write!  W... 59 2008-09-03T21:31:43Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/using-twi-what-that-thing-called-twitter When I first met with my publicist, she handed me a news article and said, "I have to be honest here. I don't know what this thing is but, I really think we both need to learn more about it." She was talking about Twitter. So, what does a gal with a new blog do? She races home, fires up her computer, types in Twitter, and says, "Exactly what is this thing anyway?" I need to say something right now before I go on much farther. I manage to get myself to learn and understand the latest and gre... 58 2008-09-03T18:43:47Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/found-out-who-my-official-business-coach-will-be I may win the award for the most impatient "coachee" in the Women's Business Center coaching program. I am happy that I have been able to keep Laurie, the director of biz dev there, highly entertained with my frequent "any news?" requests. Today Laurie called and let me know I am the first to find out which coach has been assigned to me for the yearlong program. Apparently only 2 of the 20 have been asking to know in advance! I guess the rest are content to wait until the program kickoff eve... 57 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-09-03T16:09:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/what-do-you-do-when-you-have-no-marketing-budget-and-pr-just-doesn-t-work-for-you-or-why-being-a-lawyer-is-just-no-fun It's so much fun to read about how everyone's using PR to promote their projects.  I'd love to be able to do all that fun, creative, getting your name out there stuff.  But I can't.  I'm in a PR Catch-22. I want more clients, just like everyone else, but I can't promote myself as a person.  Because of what I do, I have to be EXTREMELY careful about what I say in a public forum and what I reveal about my personal life both on and offline.   If I were a freelance... 56 2008-09-02T16:44:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alexandra-mihaescu/introducing-alexandra-founder-of-esculon Project: Get 15 blog/press mentions by launching a PR campaignGoal Date: February 1, 2009 Hi everybody! I'm Alexandra Mihaescu and I want to introduce myself as I join the rest of the official bloggers of STS. I am the Founder and Designer of Esculon, a NYC based jewelry design company. Esculon jewelry is designed for the fun professional woman and fits under the bridge category, which is means it's made with semiprecious gemstones and metals such as sterling silver, gold-plate and gold-fil... 54 mihaescua@gmail.com (Alexandra Mihaescu) 2008-09-01T22:11:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/2-hours-a-few-irritated-exchanges-but-1-budget-for-2009 I'm happy to report that last week my husband and I successfully collaborated on a tentative budget plan for 2009. This did not come easy. And it may be a little misleading to say in the title that we have "1 budget." In reality, we've completed 4 budgets. I'm sure a lot of you entrepreneurs out there can relate; this is the order in which we completed our budgets: The ideal business budget - ahhh, what we would do if the stars align and we bring in all the revenue we want. Paying ourselve... 52 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-08-30T21:09:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/how-are-the-ratings A few entries back, I mentioned how my experience in television production is spilling over to my new life as blogger. Angela asked that I elaborate, and that's what I am aim to do here. I do have to say that although I'll be discussing my work at Comedy Central, Comedy Central is NOT involved with either this blog or my work at Sarahcentric. Sorry my huge legal department asked that I make that clear;-)   Breaking down a shot with my DP and AD. Hand on chin, dramatic Here's the... 51 2008-08-30T15:25:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/pr-utopia This week I got confirmation that I will be quoted in articles that will appear in: * Iparenting.com * Cnn.com * Better Homes & Gardens (November) * Redbook (December)--this one is complete with photos! Who-hoo! I've only been actively doing PR for about a month. I'm, of course, doing cartwheels. All of these came about because of HARO (helpareporter.com). If you want exposure and you are not on HARO, I highly recommend it. It's free. You can't beat that. I learned about HARO f... 49 2008-08-29T20:48:24Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/just-one-more-day-until-intern-heaven Has it really been 6 days since I last wrote? These days are just flying by. My husband's grandmother is now back in Italy :(. Now we have her homemade ravioli in the freezer as the only tangible reminder of her visit! One of these days we'll have to up and move to Italy for a couple months - thank God for the internet that makes business portable! Anyway, I am in eager anticipation of my new intern's First Day - tomorrow. I am so looking forward to delegating all those little tasks that clu... 47 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-08-28T17:21:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/gotta-love-naptime I'm sitting here, posting to my discussion forums and thinking, "Hmmm, I'm missing something.... What else was it that I'm supposed to do today?"  And that's when it occurred to me that I haven't blogged at STS in a couple of days.  As you all know, my parents are in town this week, but it's naptime and here I am... Dad and Liam Mom and Noah (note: statcounter is open on the computer on the table) The interesting thing that I've found out about myself so far during this proce... 45 2008-08-27T22:12:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/let-s-party             My l'il bro Luke's 3rd bday. That's me on the right! My best friend Andrew gave me the most excellent encouragement as I started this whole blogging, writing business; in that special way that only a friend of 12 years can calm you down when you're freaking out and doubting yourself.... "You're an idiot." "Wonderful...thank you, Andrew" "Whatever! Sarah you are excellent and pretty much anything you really wanted to do, you did. Sarahcentri... 44 2008-08-27T18:31:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/how-to-pitch-and-how-to-write Oh, how to blog when I can't even decide if I want to write about pitching the media or about blogging in general. This blog is kind of about both. It all started as I was listening to Susan Harrow on the STS call tonight. She mentioned that Oprah bookers are looking for guests who can make an audience: 1)  Cry 2) Laugh 3) Say, "Wow." (Harrow actually said surprise, but the writer in me wants this to have parallel construction).  I found that point not only refreshing, but also ... 42 2008-08-27T01:56:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/cheeeeese                          Up against the wall Y'all wanna look at some pictures?! In case you missed my previous entry about this, I asked my friend and co-worker Donna Tine to bring her big, fancy camera in and take some quick shots.  We took an hour to grab some coffee last Thursday and she took pictures all the way there and back...my only direction being, " Take a million photos...I just don't want to look like ... 41 2008-08-26T03:25:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/my-e-newsletter-bloopers What good is reading a blog about success if you don't also get a taste of the setbacks along the way, right? Well, here's a set back for you. Or, perhaps more accurately, an embarrassing moment. One of my goals last week was to send out an e-newsletter. I Use Constant Contact, which advertises that the most illiterate, technologically challenged dummies can send e-newsletters with their software. (They advertise this in a somewhat more professional, less vernacular way). Well, apparently th... 40 2008-08-26T01:12:53Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/vacation-what-s-a-vacation I haven't got a clue how to take a vacation.  I haven't had one in years.  Not that I haven't been away from home, but I mean I haven't "taken a vacation".  Actually, thinking about it, the last "vacation" I had was my first honeymoon and we've been married over 8 years...    You think Elmo wants Mommy to file his trademark?  Hang on one second... It always seems to me that I don't have the time.  And now that I have the boys, I REALLY don't have the time... 37 2008-08-25T04:33:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/everybody-hustlin Gettin' my Sarahcentric hustle on...   Ok so this weekend was all about me, but it was not all "About Me". I had every good intention of really cracking on my About Me statement for my site and all online social networking profiles everywhere for the rest of human time. But then I got the family call that my awesome Uncle and his cousins were visiting and I pretty much had to head upstate. I know, I know, I'm sorry!!! But I really was going to try and write it! I brought my Mac... 36 2008-08-25T04:02:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/my-first-report-card-200-unique-visitors So my brother -- the all knowing web guru--was on vacation last week. He got back from Boston yesterday. I gave him fewer than 24 hours to unpack and grocery shop. I drove to his place today(Sunday) and pounced with a week's worth of stored up questions. One of my biggest questions centered on how to check my website stats. "Oh that's easy sis," he said. (He ALWAYS says this... It's always easy for him and never easy for me, but I'm digressing). Anyway, he logged onto Google Analytics and, v... 35 2008-08-25T01:25:28Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/when-in-doubt-eat-chocolate I'm officially in a Friday slump. It's nearly 4:00 and I can't say I've effectively accomplished much of anything work-wise today. And I don't know where to start - thus eating some chocolate from my secret stash in the desk drawer. I can't believe I'm showing the world my desk drawer...aforementioned chocolate ("intense dark") front and center... Like some of my fellow STS bloggers, sometimes work can't come first. Today ended up being family day most of the day - preparing tuna roll-up ... 33 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-08-22T19:50:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/photos-from-our-second-honeymoon Top photo = top of Mt. Liamuiga, a huge volcano. The hike did me in. Took three days before I could walk normally, but the view was fantastic. Middle photo: What an island beach looks like during the off (hurricane) season Bottom: Me by a giant leaf in the rain forest      32 2008-08-22T14:23:13Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/getting-ready-for-prime-time First, thanks for all of your support. It’s nice to know that I can come to my keyboard, type away about how overwhelmed I feel, post it, and then get lots of advice. I love that we’re all working hard to accomplish our dreams. We’re in this together. Hear us roar! Second, I want to report that I’m feeling much more balanced. I crossed every single emergency off my to-do list. I hit my blogging goals this week. Today, 95 percent of what’s on my to-do list rela... 31 2008-08-22T14:05:29Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/it-s-all-about-me So delicious I cannot stand it!   Final Sarahcentric stationery is fun and exciting. "Blogging for Dummies" is informative and a thrilling read.  Things are definitely moving along here.  But as I look at my blog critically and see its strengths, its weaknesses are making me more and more nauseous.  Why is the font on this wordpress template so weird and tiny, making every word I enter look like consonants?!  Why have I not written anything about my running or "Op... 29 2008-08-22T04:10:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/work-life-balance-making-it-work Being a full time mom and starting a business is exhausting.  I know that most of you know that, but I just have to say it.  I'm up at 5 am and don't go to sleep most nights until 1 or 2am.  I've been really wrapped up in getting my law firm off of the ground in the past month or so.  And I've been doing pretty well.  I've got 8 clients, which is something I thought I could never do.  Unfortunately, I feel like my kids are getting shortchanged.  Noah (my 3... 26 2008-08-21T12:36:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/the-24-hour-workday-a-k-a-why-i-have-black-circles-under-my-eyes Various people on the forums have described me as lucky, and, in many ways, I am. My brother is a web designer who specializes in branding, e-commerce, and SEO. I have to say, he’s quite a good little bro to have. Also, about a year ago, my wonderful agent doubled my writing fee for collaborations. Thanks to him, I made enough money in Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 that I could stop working for a few months –possibly longer—and still be able to pay my bills. Even better, I ma... 24 2008-08-20T19:49:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/still-trying-to-carve-out-time-to-plan-but-with-good-distractions Is it just me or is this summer absolutely flying by? I am mixed in my anticipation of the arrival of September, another month of time gone, and on September 5th I face that emotional moment of sending my little girl off to kindergarten on the big bus! I have been so excited to share with my friends and colleagues my goal for this end of year and this blogging opportunity. Getting a lot of support from them. And TODAY is the day the Women's Business Center coaching committee meets to match u... 22 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-08-20T15:04:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/leap-and-500-postcards-will-appear A sea of Sarahcentric   Yesterday was my first full day back in Queens.  When I walked into my apartment, I was thrilled to see that my worst leaving-last-minute vacation fears never came to fruition.  ("Wow! I didn't leave every window open, stove burning, every appliance on and the front door wide open with a note stating, "Dear Burglars, ENJOY! Love, Sarah") But most exciting was the cardboard box that I picked up from my graphic designer Chris Ammons the night before I ... 21 2008-08-19T02:44:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/why-support-matters-aka-how-i-browbeat-my-husband-into-supporting-me If you read my initial blog, then you know I’m putting my neck out there in a big way. I’ve got big dreams, and cojonas the size of hot air balloons for telling you all about them. Will I fall on my face? Perhaps. Will it be really embarrassing if I do? Definitely. What I know is this: if I’m going to succeed in Going from Nobody to Somebody in 5 short months, I need support. You all are great, but I’m talking about family support. I’m particularly talking abo... 20 2008-08-18T20:49:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/hooray-for-me I was all excited on Friday and thought I’d share it with everyone. It started with an odd email from my voicemail service (I have a service that transcribes my voicemails to email because I never remember to check my voicemail). It was from a man in Texas who said that he got my information in an interesting way. This, of course, piqued my curiosity. So, I called him back to find out (ok, well I really called him back because he expressed interest in hiring me but finding out was a n... 18 2008-08-18T12:05:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/where-i-m-coming-from-and-where-i-m-going-long-story-short We’ve skated by on referral business and slow but steady growth since we started things – just making it through all the various things life threw at us, and managing the constant juggling act of work, life, and community involvement.   Now it’s time to make this baby really hum (my business baby not the real one!). I want us to double our revenue and bask in the security and flexibility that will bring us to prioritize our life exactly the way we want it. Professiona... 4 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-08-17T04:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/law-ndry-quandry Today, I just need to get something off of my chest. Some days it feels nearly impossible to get anything done. And I don’t need to get just anything done. I need to get everything done. My kids are used to seeing me sitting at the table and working while they’re playing or watching TV (*GASP*) while I’m working, but sometimes that still isn't enough time. Yes, I let my kids watch TV. In NYC, I feel like I’m in the minority there (though I’m probably not in any... 11 2008-08-15T11:43:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/the-shoemaker-s-children-and-planning-time-to-plan I promised to answer the question of why we don't have a written business plan after doing business for 6 years. Here's a start: Like a lot of entrepreneurs (especially being the creative idea types we are), my husband and I have a tendency to just jump right in when we see a need that must be filled - and there is always work that needs to be done. Add to that that we have tried to make this company’s philosophy very client-centric and you begin to see how we’ve gotten to wher... 6 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-08-15T04:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/blogging-takes-the-cape The comfi-est hoodie ever comes home!   Re-launching a blog is going to be work, no doubt.  But I got news for ya', so is a family vacation.  Anyone who has tried cramming their adult siblings, young nieces, girlfriends and a husband into one summer rental home on the Cape knows what I'm talking about!  How do you find the time to write when everyone wants to know what you want for breakfast 3 days from now?  Where do you get a wi-fi signal besides the local libra... 9 2008-08-14T17:46:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/deena-burgess/introducing-deena-lawyer Project: Getting my law firm off the groundGoal Date: February 1, 2009   Hi.  I'm Deena Burgess and I'm a lawyer in NYC who recently started her own firm.  A bit on me -- I worked for 5 years at a boutique (read, "small") firm in NYC as a litigation and transactional attorney focusing on internet, new media, and intellectual property law.  In 2004, I got pregnant with my first son.  Big career mistake, apparently.  I "decided" during my maternity leave that I was going to stay home wi... 2 2008-08-13T04:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/karen-renzi/introducing-karen-owner-of-beyondus Project: Complete long overdue business planGoal date: January, 2009 I started my company with my husband back in 2002, when we lived in Salem, MA and worked in Boston for start-ups. We both have entrepreneurial spirits and always dreamed of running our own business. When my husband resigned from his job at that time, we took it as a sign that this was our chance – and we jumped right in, choosing a business focused on the Web and great client service (his territory) and Marketing (my ... 3 krenzi@beyondus.com (Karen Renzi) 2008-08-12T04:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/alisa-bowman/introducing-alisa-owner-of-bauman-ink-ltd Project: From Nobody to Somebody in 5 Short MonthsGoal date: January 2009 This blog details my journey from nobody to somebody. It chronicles Project: Platform.“Project” should probably be my middle name. When I was depressed, shy, and self-conscious during my early 20s, I started Project: Get a Personality. I used self-help books to launch Project: Stop the Dog from Eating the Garbage. I did Project: Get Pregnant Already, Project: Healthy Pregnancy, and Project: Get the Baby to ... 5 2008-08-12T04:00:00Z http://www.savorthesuccess.com/blog/sarah-jackson/introducing-sarah-blogger Goal: Re-launch my blog sarahcentric.comDate: January 25th, 2009... my birthday!If you can dream it, there's a blog about it.  But not just one... more like  a hundred thousand million infinity blogs about it, (how my 7 year old niece would count it out.)  And within each of these blogs is a regular group of readers who love to comment away on your work and then invite you to do the same on their own.  This kind of creative output, instant feedback and community can become... 7 2008-08-12T04:00:00Z