Love, Light and Laughter

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Merry Christmas!  Wishing you love, light, and laughter for good memories this holiday season." – Laurel J. Delaney

Share

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

How the Mighty Succeed!

Some articles I've written are worth re-sharing.  This is one of them, Global Small Business:  How the Mighty Succeed (Despite Harsh Economic Times).  Perfect fit to our current times.  It goes like this.

Remember when you were a teeny, tiny business — a one-man or one-woman shop — where you wore every hat imaginable to get a job done? You would proudly announce, “There is no job I won’t do to grow my business!” Fast-forward to where you are now and where you would like to be in the future. That’s what this article is all about. As a successful SMB, you’re already “faster than a speeding bullet …,” energetic, enthusiastic, adaptable, flexible, accessible, decisive, nimble, innovative, responsive — in other words, pretty mighty already. 

But, all things considered, are you strong enough to continue driving your business results to the next level?

Entrepreneurial Obsession by Laurel J. Delaney

Enjoy a free download of my ebook, "Entrepreneurial Obsession: 13 ways to create a brighter future for your business" – one of the most important books you'll ever read. Discover how to do something different now in order to build a successful business. Learn how to weather economic storms, live loud, and sleep like a baby during tough times.

Be Interesting But Not Complicated

"My father was not a complicated man.” ~ Diane Disney Miller (daughter of Walt Disney)

Innovation is such a personal, creative endeavor, but the influence of others plays a big role in helping us succeed. 

Here I share insights from some of those who’ve inspired me when it comes to developing innovative practices in my business. Perhaps they will have the same effect on you.  At the end of each passage, there’s a lesson learned along with a big question to get a conversation going. 

If nothing else, this article will encourage you to take time out to reflect and work a little magic on the innovation front.

Learn to Love Uncertainty

What’s keeping you up at night?  That's a key question to ask a business owner or top level executive if you want to find out what's really going on with them.

Being a small business owner myself and a formally trained facilitator, I decided to take a different approach and asked 20 presidents of small businesses in marketing, interior design, insurance and a variety of other industries what’s allowing them to get a good night’s rest.

Here are the highlights of what they shared, one being "Learn to not just live with but love uncertainty."

How a Business Owner Can Sleep Like a Baby During Tough Times, by Laurel J. Delaney for American Express.

How to Get a Good Night's Rest As a Business Owner During Tough Times

One of the key questions I always ask business owners:  what keeps you up at night?

Being a small business owner and a formally trained facilitator (e.g., Women Presidents' Organization Chicago Chapter Chair since 2003), I decided to take a different approach and asked 20 presidents of small businesses in marketing, interior design, insurance and a variety of other industries what’s allowing them to get a good night’s rest.

Here are the highlights of what they shared. 

Thought Leaders Who Knew Steve Jobs

©2011 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Like millions of other people, I have been a fan of Steve Jobs for more than three decades.  Use all Apple products.  Read every book on Steve.  So when he passed in 2011, I felt this inner urge to glean any lessons I could from him. I wanted to find out what made this man so great. Why was he so cool? Is it possible to integrate his brilliance into our work ethic? How can we make the world a better and more inspiring place to live?

In attempting to find the answers to these questions, here’s what I discovered from Steve himself, and thought-leaders who knew him.

Think On Your Feet

To profit and prosper in any year, think on your feet, look for fresh conceptual insights all around you and practice a little spontaneous innovation (expression).  It can foster a climate in which we can make a difference and have an innovative impact within an organization. 

As we go forward in 2021, think carefully about your strategy for innovation in your business.  The genesis of every new product, business or service offering is a concept: an idea for something you believe people want and will buy at a price they can afford to pay you for the work needed to produce it.  Concepts can arise out of anything at any time.  I think of it as spontaneous innovation, which occurs in every aspect of our lives.  Some might refer to it as spontaneous expression, and it’s typically a moment that can’t be repeated easily.  

In this article I [Laurel Delaney] present four (4) examples.

5 Ways to Get Double-Digit Growth For Your Business

The road to recovery due to the global pandemic is no excuse to settle for status quo or to not push hard for double-digit (10 percent or more) business growth.   

In the article below, I [Laurel J. Delaney] highlight some points in Michael Treacy's book, “Double-Digit Growth: How Great Companies Achieve It – No Matter What."  His insights are still relevant for today's business owners.  The five ways to go after growth consist of:

1. Get traction with your market share.   
2. Hold on to your hats — I mean customers!
3. Leverage market position.  
4. Move into new markets.  
5. Commission new lines of business. 

Read on to learn more. 

How to Market Your Global Business Lady Gaga Style

The following is an article I [Laurel J. Delaney] wrote more than a decade ago and I still think it is relevant more than ever coming out of the global pandemic.  It was originally published by American Express.  I am surprised and delighted they had accepted it back then.  The photo that accompanies the piece is a little conservative but hey, you can't have everything!

American pop singer Lady Gaga has taken the world by storm with her robust voice, over-the-top theatrical performances and outrageous costumes. Global small business owners can learn from her without going to the same extremes. 

There are lots of little ways to reposition your business, be different, and have customers take notice of you both online and off. All it takes is a little innovation and determination.

Learn more. 

Preparing for 2020 and a New Decade

Unsplash

I thought I'd share some of my past articles on entrepreneurship, business ownership and growth.  I hope these help you prepare your business for 2020 and the new decade.  Enjoy.  Happy learning.  Prosperous new year.

5 Actions for Double-Digit Business Growth

This article provides five action items to get you out of your “hold steady” mode and into high, predictable growth gear with your business.

11 Tips to Help You Thrive After Losing Your Biggest Client

Theresa just lost her biggest client, one who generates 80 percent of her company’s total revenue.  She’s been in the branding business for six years.  In response, she can hide in her office and wait for the phone to ring or she can take swift action.  Above are 11 tips that ought to help Theresa, or you, if you ever find yourself in a similar situation.

16 Ways to Dodge an Economic Crisis

Whether it is through client work at my own business, running a nonprofit organization, or serving as a facilitator for women presidents of multimillion dollar enterprises, here's what I've heard many entrepreneurs and small business owners saying repeatedly about what they are doing to dodge an economic crisis.  This article is still applicable to today's times.

From Cupcakes To Moneycakes: 3 Ways To Increase Sales And Profitability

Recently, I had a conversation with a woman business owner who claims her business in Chicago is drying up. She bakes cupcakes from scratch in every imaginable flavor and size from her small bakery, Think Sprinkles, eleven miles south of downtown Chicago. As a one-woman shop, how can she increase sales and profitability so her business doesn’t shrivel up? It starts with going back to the basics of good old-fashioned marketing.  Read on ... above.

A Business Carol by Laurel J. Delaney

I can't believe I wrote the article below a decade ago!  In the original story “A Christmas Carol,” (first edition 1843) Charles Dickens writes about an old and miserly Ebenezer Scrooge who undergoes a life-changing experience of redemption over the course of a Christmas Eve night.

In my article, I talk about how “A Christmas Carol” parallels much of what we do every day within our businesses.  This is done by providing three different perspectives, all with a common theme:  There is still time to make a difference in our world, to learn from your past yet choose to forget certain parts of it to remain relevant and to make improvements in your life and your business in preparation for a more vibrant future.

And remember, Charles Dickens himself was a struggling entrepreneurial author fretting over how he was going to pay off his debt when he penned “A Christmas Carol”  - all 18,000 pages - in just six short weeks.  But this is nothing new on genius spurts because many bright and creative folks produce some of their best ideas under duress.

Explore to read the full story.  I hope you enjoy.

30-Seconds of Calm for Women Entrepreneurs Brought to You By Laurel J. Delaney

While I was out walking today, I captured this 'bird' moment. You, too, can create your own moment of calm -- every day.  Just remember what Albert Einstein said, "The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind."

Books to Inspire Women Entrepreneurs

If you’re experiencing some kind of entrepreneurial struggle, odds are high that you aren’t alone.  These books below offer plenty of hard-won entrepreneurial advice or simply provide inspiration if you need to take action.

The Best Books for Women Entrepreneurs

Oh, and if you are growing leaps and bounds locally but want to expand globally, check out this book, it's mine :-).  

Happy 15-Year Anniversary to the Escape From Corporate America Blog!

©2019 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

For all of you who have been following our Escape From Corporate America (EFCA) adventures, you know it's been quite some time since we have been blogging -- some 15 years!  For the newcomers, can you believe it?  We can't because time flies when you are having fun, living your dream, and helping others live their dream too with starting a business.

We launched Escape From Corporate America officially on July 2, 2004 and since then, we have had more than 806,000 readers (not quite a million but we'll get there thanks to you).  We average about 10,000-15,000 readers a month now!  Take a look at our second post in 2004 talking about why EFCA was established.  It reads as follows:

This blog has been set up for businesswomen to voice their experiences working in Corporate America. Many women have expressed concern that Corporate America is actively pushing out its most talented women. Have you encountered something similar? What have you done about it?

Has the glass ceiling issue been a major reason for leaving your position? Are you thinking of striking out on your own to start your own business -- as a result of job dissatisfaction?

These are some of the kinds of issues that need to be openly discussed. If we do not challenge the system, no improvements will ever be made. Feel free to weigh-in with your comments. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks!

So grab your tall glass filled with your favorite beverage and toast to the Escape From Corporate America blog:  "To many more blog posts about helping female entrepreneurs go from corporate America to starting their own business!"  And to you dear reader, I thank you for your readership and for starting a business.  Read on!

Happy Holidays From Escape From Corporate America!

Photo credit:  @2016 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Make 2014 Your Best Ever!

©2013 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Wishing you a new year filled with growth, adventure, hope, promise, fun, good health, happiness, love and the launch of a new business.

My best, 

Laurel

Shine Bright This Holiday Season

©2013 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

  Wishing You a Joyful Christmas

and a Star Bright New Year

Note:  These star lights were sold during the Christkindlmarket Chicago 2013.

Exporting as a Growth Avenue for Your Business

I've been writing a NEW book on exporting all year (as shown)! Please sign up below to be notified of publication date (December 18, 2013) and to pre-order book at a guaranteed price!

Here's part of what you will learn from my new book:

• Identify products and services that can be profitably exported.
• Use the Internet to facilitate all aspects of exporting, especially marketing.
• Develop a clear strategy on how to export.
• Export your product or service efficiently and profitably.
• Find customers retail and wholesale customers globally, enter new markets, get paid, and ship.
• Explore your best territory using statistics and market research.
• Develop pricing and prepare documentation.
• Leverage the Internet and social media—including using tablets and mobile phones—to boost your online exports.

Can't wait for you to read!

Sign-up here: Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably