New Crop of Power Accelerators: Women Entrepreneurs

Take a good look at some new accelerator and incubator programs that focus specifically on women entrepreneurs.  Yes - that's YOU (and me too)!

Read:  Programs Increasing Number of Entrepreneurs - Forbes

Shortcut to some of the resources mentioned in the article:

Y Combinator (awful lot of guys in the photos!)

Founder Institute

Female Founder Fellowship (as shown).

Women 2.0

They are calling us to action!

When You Start A Business, Don't Forget the "Good Heart" Theory

My friend and colleague, Steve Strauss, writes a terrific article for USA Today, "Winning businesses think about more than profit."  He covers the recent 3rd Annual SCORE Awards.  And what a wonderful story he tells.

All the winners seem to share one trait -- a secret I will share in a moment -- but all were a dynamic, visionary, difference-making group who are changing their lives and those in the communities they serve.

Get your day's dose of inspiration here.  You'll discover what I mean by the "good heart" theory. 

Shhhhhhhh ... School House, run by Rachel Weeks (pictured), is the SCORE "Outstanding Woman-Owned Small Business" winner!

Never Surrender

I finished reading Lauren Manning's book, "Unmeasured Strength," and instead of being sad or depressed, considering what had happened to her, I was empowered to become a better human being and to accomplish more in life.  My biggest takeaway, which came from a direct quote from Lauren in the book on Page 4:  "I would never surrender."

Whether facing a divorce, death of a loved one, bankruptcy, health issue, the risk of starting a business or - as in Lauren's case, a catastrophic moment of burning alive - each requires the commitment to never surrender.  You must keep going.

Thank goodness Lauren discovered that early on after she was engulfed by the fires that brought down the twin towers of the World Trade Center.  Her long, painful (she suffered second and third-degree burns across about 85 percent of her body) yet inspiring journey imparts on each of us a new look at life, one that most certainly is worth fighting for.

This book should be read not once but several times (and passed along to others) to fully appreciate steely determination under literal fire and how even at one's darkest hours - as in the case with Lauren facing death day after day for more than three months during her recovery - she shows us the surprising strength and courage in us all.

Buy the book here.

Pay a visit to:  LaurenManning.com

How to Turn a Negative Challenge Into a Positive Outcome

Kathrine Switzer, first woman in 1967 to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entrant, has a thing or two to tell us about persistence.  Most of what she (now 65 years young) has to say will be helpful if you are considering starting a business. After all, when you begin, you need a whole heck of a lot of persistence to become a success.

A snippet of what took place at Switzer's first marathon:

But while many men running the event welcomed her into the pack, the race director had another idea. He chased after her, grabbed at the bib number pinned to her shirt and yelled for her to get out of the way and give him her numbers, Switzer recalled in her 2007 memoir, “Marathon Woman.”

Switzer was unbreakable (as shown).  She proved that women could endure a 26.2 mile race.  Fortunately, we have already proven we can run successful businesses.

Read more here.

Capturing Fellow Woman Business Owner Sarah McLachlan LIVE in Vancouver

 

Want more of Sarah McLachlan?  Go here.

The Tale of the Unromantic Business Plan

Once upon a time, there was an unromantic business plan that included 12 pages of cash flow analysis.  Twelve months later, Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Forty Winks, a lingerie boutique (as shown above) was born.

Forty Winks carries a range of sizes and styles, starting at 30A specialty bras and ending at an H cup size. “Sizes can go as high as M, but that’s not our customer,’’ said co-owner Rachel Wentworth.

Find out how Rachel and her business partner (co-owner) Meredith Donaldson create stories to sell their intimate wear and also offer a wide range of sizes and shapes - not to mention the heavy duty therapy that is required to satisfy the demands of their selective customers.

A serious plan to make a go of lingerie sales

How to Extend a Brand to Become the Coolest Small Company in America

Today we turn you on to Zingerman's.  What brought me here in the first place?  Zzang Handmade Candy Bars (pictured above and the real deal on ingredients:  dark chocolate, milk chocolate, corn syrup, organic muscovado brown sugar, milk, heavy cream, real butter, malted milk powder, real vanilla, salt, baking soda) -- as featured in Oprah Magazine September 2011.

But to Zingerman's Community of Businesses (ZCoB), it is a family of small food-related companies and entrepreneurial ventures.  Each is located in the Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A. area. They are operated by one or more partners who share ownership and manage the business.  Here is a list of the community ventures.

• Mail Order
• Delicatessen
• Bakehouse
• BAKE! With Zing
• Roadhouse
• Creamery
• Catering
• Coffee Company
• ZingTrain
• Candy Manufactory
• Press
• Food Tours
• Dancing Sandwich Enterprises

And yes, a few of the above are run by women.  Explore.  I am sure there is something of interest (indulgence) for everyone.  Enjoy!

Actively Seek the Accidental Discovery

Actively seek the accidental discovery.  That's what creativity, start-ups and new business ideas are about.

Read:  Think Like a Genius

My favorite part:

GENIUSES PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR CHANCE.

Too many fail to answer opportunity's knock at the door because they have to finish some preconceived plan. Creative geniuses do not wait for the gifts of chance; instead, they actively seek the accidental discovery.

I like to think that business owners prepare themselves for chance too!  Agree?

Photo credit:  Marie Curie

How Certification Helps Grow Your Business

WBENC:  http://www.wbenc.com/

Tutus Turn Profits for Little Dreamer

Jessica Beamgard (center) has BIG dreams for her six-month old Northville, Michigan-based Little Dreams. She makes custom-ordered women's and children's clothing and accessories.

Little Dreams was named by the older daughter of Jessica and husband Douglas, who grew up in Northville. Jessica sews tutus, ruffled pettiskirts, ruffled leg warmers, bloomers, onesies and hair accessories.

Learn more here.

Find Little Dreams on Facebook (Little-DreamsMichigan)

The Ice House Entrepreneurship Program

Ice House Entrepreneurship is a powerful new online learning program that enables participants to learn from today’s most successful entrepreneurs.  It is designed to inspire and engage the next generation in the unlimited opportunities that an entrepreneurial mindset can provide.

To learn more, visit:

The Ice House Entrepreneurship Program
powered by Kauffman, the Foundation of Entrepreneurship

Are you ready to take your own destiny into your hands?

Older Women Becoming Entrepreneurs

If you are thinking about starting a business, is your age a consideration?  I hope not.  For more women -- young and old(er) -- are starting businesses at record rates.  According to Barclays (UK), older entrepreneurs are responsible for 50 percent more start-ups than they were ten years ago and account for 15 percent of all new businesses (in England and Wales).  I am sure the United States has an even higher rate of women starting businesses at a later age.

The article below highlights Professor Diana Anderson (pictured) who set up her first business, OncaScan, with the notion of marketing her new invention, a blood test that predicts an individual's genetic predisposition to cancer.  No small time goal.  She says:

"I'm not proud to have started my first business so late in life for the simple reason that my age never occurs to me," she says. "Until I am no longer able to contribute, I only think of staying at the coalface of my profession. My future plans are to make my business a success, win more grants for my university and guide more of my students towards their PhDs."

Learn more:  Not the retiring kind

Does this article speak to you?

Establish and Sustain Your Startup

Wisconsin Women Entrepreneurs (WWE), a nonprofit business association, helps improve and enhance the economic climate for female entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their business and foster new relationships.

Learn more about how they might assist you as you establish and sustain your startup.

Photo credit:  WWE.

Best News I've Heard This Month: CNN Dumps Spitzer

I just want everyone inside and outside of Corporate America to know how happy I am about this.  CNN dumps Eliot Spitzer from its lineup.  Ever since Spitzer's involvement as a client in a high-priced prostitution ring (2008) and CNN's subsequent hiring of him, I stopped watching CNN.  What were they thinking?

Applause to the folks at CNN for finally getting their act together.  Now I can continue to watch one of my favorites -- Anderson Cooper -- without guilt.

There's my two cents for the week!  What's yours?

Photo credit:  New York Times, "Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring."

Posted by:  The official Escape From Corporate America blog

Women Entrepreneurs Drive U.S. Economy

Hush, hush ... new news is that women entrepreneurs are a significant force in driving the U.S. economy.  Did you know?  Of course you did!

Read all about it here.  You may have missed the roundtables they speak of but you can still learn about the five mistakes female business owners tend to make so that you don't make them yourself!

Happy Birthday No. 235 to the United States and No. 7 to the Official Escape From Corporate America Blog!

Happy Independence Day United States.  Whatever you are doing at this moment, stop and count your blessings for the privilege to live in a country where opportunity abounds.  Freedom is something one should never take for granted - only used to do what you wish.

And while you are celebrating, raise a glass in our honor to toast Birthday No. 7 for Escape For Corporate America!  Yes, it's been that long since we started this blog (click here to see how an article I authored planted the seed for this blog) and since then, you have been following us religiously.  So thanks for that  -- we appreciate your readership very much -- and we hope you continue to stay with us year after year as we feature stories relating to women who embark on the challenging journey of breaking away from Corporate America to start a business.

The picture (shown above)?  I took it over the weekend while running along the Chicago lakefront.  It symbolizes much of what I think this blog is about:  power, equality and starting a business!

Note:  Last year we gave you a free gift in honor of our double celebration.  If you haven't already opened it, do so now to get the inspiration you need to start a business:  Entrepreneurial Obsession:  13 Ways to Create a Brighter Future For Your Business.

Best wishes for continued success!  Back with you soon.

Net-A-This, Net-A-That

First there was Net-A-Porter.com, now there's the sister site:  The Outnet.com.

And there's the female Director behind The Outnet.com:  Stephanie Phair (pictured).

Each month, The Outnet receives over one million unique visitors, less than ten percent of which overlap with the existing Net-a-Porter customer base. The United States, where The Outnet has experienced year on year growth of over 90 percent, now constitutes its biggest market. And, 70 percent of the product on The Outnet does not come from Net-a-Porter, so The Outnet has its own buying teams and relationships with brand partners. All of this seems to be working wonders, leading to an estimated annual turnover of more than $50 million, something that took more than 5 years for Net-a-Porter to achieve.

Visit The Outnet.com

This Is Why You Should Start a Business

Love To Sell, Or Else

If you are contemplating starting a business, you better love to sell, or else.  Or else ... for those who hate to sell, you will have a much more challenging path ahead to achieve business success.

Over at the Entrepreneur blog, creative writer Carol Tice offers eight tips (five from author Julie Steelman and three of her own) on how to overcome a reluctance to sell.

How Entrepreneurs Can Conquer Fear of Selling

Illustration credit here.

Does Your New Business Idea Have Momentum?

Whether you are launching a new career, product or business, one has to look at whether the idea is sustainable, or has momentum.

Jeff DeGraff (pictured), clinical professor of management and organizations at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, has created a series for PBS that launches at 8 p.m. Thursday on WTVS-TV (Channel 56). In case you've never heard of DeGraff, he is known as an innovation guru.

Individuals who want to re-create their lives or careers, DeGraff said, need to realize that you sometimes need to think of several ways to innovate.

Once you test something out, he said, you are better able to figure out what has more momentum.

Learn more about DeGraff and his new program here.  It might be just the jolt you need to get your business off the ground.