Chuckle of the Day: Why God is an Entrepreneur

Delightful post authored by Bob Marovich over at the Black Gospel Blog entitled, "Why God is an Entrepreneur."  Point of the story:

Thank GOD for thinking like an entrepreneur!

Have a good week!

Photo courtesy:  Tonynetone

Technology Is a Key Growth Driver

According to small business research from Dell and Intel, start-ups and small businesses in the United States are focused on growth, primarily domestically, and are increasingly investing in technology to help them scale.

Key findings:

• Maintaining their optimism: Over the course of the next year, more than half of entrepreneurs and small business owners expect finances to improve (56 percent), and most expect better prospects for sales (75 percent) as well as greater growth opportunities (58 percent).
• Looking to technology as a growth driver: The majority of entrepreneurs and small business owners consider access to technology to be key to successful growth (77 percent).
• Staying domestic: The majority of U.S. startups and small businesses see greater growth opportunities at home than abroad (84 percent).
• Focused on growth: Nearly half of respondents are planning to grow their companies in the near future (48 percent), while a significant percentage is focused on long-term growth (38 percent). 

Access the full report here.

Infographic courtesy of Dell.

Push Yourself Out of Your Comfort Zone

This is a very wild, run-on article!  The key points made within it are based on the recent Women in Technology Leadership and Entrepreneurship Forum RISE (Relationship & Information Series for Entrepreneurs).

Women entrepreneurs must stop hanging back, letting fear win, believing that being partners and parents precludes them from being successful business owners.  They must push themselves to create businesses with scaleable ideas that can grow into multimillion or billion dollar companies.

Read the entire article:  Women in Tech Must Push Relentlessly to Succeed

Photo courtesy:  Wolfgang Lonien

Eric Chats with Sheryl

Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead.
Author Sheryl Sandberg in Conversation with Eric Schmidt

Related article:  Leap In!

Building Beyond the Glass Ceiling

In this post, find out the top U.S. cities for women entrepreneurs (San Francisco and Seattle, for example) and catch a wonderful infographic that includes seven tips for future women entrepreneurs.

Two important steps to successfully starting up are finding a mentor and building a network of fellow female entrepreneurs that you can turn to for advice and referrals. Launching a business in a city with a thriving community of women entrepreneurs is a good place to start.

Photo courtesy:  ericskiff

Leap In!

I just love the article below by Dr. Candida Brush, professor at Babson College.  It's about Cheryl Sandberg's new expression, or book, if you will, "Lean In," which inspires women leaders to move forward in their careers, pursue opportunities and actively accept responsibilities.

Dr. Brush challenges the theory of "leaning in" for women in the workforce by saying it may not be enough for women entrepreneurs.  She goes on further to say:

In fact, they need to “leap in."  It is impossible to be an entrepreneur by leaning- you have to commit, take risks and take action.

Read the entire fabulous article:  "Leaning In is Not Enough:  Women Entrepreneurs Need to "Leap In"

Photo courtesy:  Foxtongue

Easily Bored? Try Entrepreneurship!

Successful entrepreneurs are often a lot alike. Some characteristics of an entrepreneur include being ambitious, outgoing, creative, enthusiastic, energetic and yes, easily bored.  Is that you?  Then you might be wired for entrepreneurship.

There are some characteristics that specifically describe a personality type which many entrepreneurs have (e.g., Bono, John F. Kennedy, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Steven Spielberg and Donald Trump).  It’s called the Davinci personality type.

Read the entire article (including a neat infographic):  9 Characteristics of an Entrepreneur:  Recognize Some of Them?

Photo courtesy:  Noise Photography

How to Pitch Your Ideas

Let's say you came up with a new idea for paint that is temperature resistant and environmentally safe (the ladder in the photo could use it).  How would you pitch your idea to VCs?  According to Ivo Lukas's article, "Women Entrepreneurs:  Pitch Your Idea:"

Whether you are bootstrapping or pitching to get VC/angel investors, you must keep in mind two things about your business pitch: keep your story simple and sweet. I've been asked lately about what the top "must haves" for women are when pitching their businesses and/or ideas. There have to be some formulas for success, right? As women in a male-dominated industry, we should be sharing these trade secrets with each other!

Read the entire article here.

Photo courtesy:  ©2013 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.  "Chicago lakefront 4/13/13"

Steady As She Goes

According to "The Slow and Steady Approach to Entrepreneurship," you don't need to be an overnight success to become an entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurship requires a more slow and steady approach.  Start with building a solid skill set early on.

Is that what you have found works too?  I welcome hearing from you!

Mini Cooper With Female Bunny Ears!

©2013 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.  "Mini Cooper Bunny!"

The Peninsula Chicago goes all out on Easter this year.  What I love is the pink.  Have a Happy Easter!

Photo courtesy:  ©2013 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.  "The Female Mini Cooper Bunny"

Oh Quit Your Day Job and Get Going!

Yes, it is a big risk to quit your day job and launch a business.  But, on the other hand, you could spend the rest of your life working in corporate America and forever thinking about starting a business yet never do it.

On your death bed do you want to mumble, "I hated my job in Corporate America and wish I would have quit in my twenties to start a business."

Or, would you rather say, "I lived a life that was meant for me and yes, - starting a business was a big risk in my twenties but it made me who I am today:  happy, creative, content, fulfilled and so satisfied that I risked it all to make something great happen!"

Read:  Can You Afford to Quit Your Day Job?

You tell me:  Can you afford not to quit your day job to become your creative best self in life?

Photo courtesy:  05.com

All Entrepreneurs Are Irish On St. Patty's Day!

©Laurel Delaney 2013.  All rights reserved.  "Irish Hats"

When you have a fighting spirit, as all entrepreneurs do, there is a bit of Irish in you!  Happy St. Patty's Day!  My favorite day of the year.  Enjoy!

Photo courtesy:  ©Laurel Delaney 2013.  "Irish Hats"

Are You A Female Entrepreneur With Style?

Stephanie Burns along with her business partner Jody Coughlin run Chic CEO, a free web resource for female entrepreneurs that provides all of the fundamental information women need to start a business, from how to write a business plan to how to invent a new product.

Finances, funding, and marketing -- Chic CEO has got it covered. Together with her business partner Jody Coughlin, Stephanie has created a platform for women to find the answers to help them make their dream a reality.

Chic CEO Walks Women Through the Practical Steps of Starting a Business

Visit:  Chic CEO (as illustrated)

Be Obsessed With Metrics and Data

As you grow your business, being obsessed with metrics and data can be a good thing.  Take Marissa Mayer, for example, CEO of Yahoo:

After spending months frustrated at how empty Yahoo parking lots were, Mayer consulted Yahoo's VPN (Virtual Private Network where workers can use it to securely log into Yahoo's network and do work) logs to see if remote employees were checking in enough. Mayer discovered they were not — and her decision was made. 

When is the last time you checked your VPN logs or parking lots?  Could your workers be slacking off?

Read:  How Marissa Mayer Figured Out Work-At-Home Yahoos Were Slacking Off

Illustration credit:  Marissa Mayer's Twitter page

Expect To Succeed and You Will

Rachel Leavy, 24 years old, didn't expect to start a business nor did she expect to do well running it but she has.

She teaches obedience classes at night and holds doggy daycamp three days a week.  The idea sparked to start Miss Rachel's School For Dogs when her dog Dixie was hit by a car.

Find her on Twitter and visit her site.  You never know when your next big idea will strike.  Be open to it.

Illustration credit:  Miss Rachel's School for Dogs

Women Entrepreneurs: Bring On the Optimism in 2013!

A recent national survey of women business owners conducted by Web.com Group, Inc. and the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) found a strong sense of economic optimism, including a prediction by 85 percent of women business owners that more women will become entrepreneurs in 2013 than in past years.

How is that so?  Find out here.

Get Comfortable With "The Ask"

  

The Ask!

When you're ready to seek funding for your business, get comfortable with "the ask."  You've got to be bold enough to put your business out there in the market, strut your stuff (capabilities) and "ask" for what you want.  But that's not what this article is about.

The article below is about why crowdfunding is a game-changer for women entrepreneurs. 

Women-owned firms start and grow businesses with substantially less outside financing, according to a Department of Commerce survey of women-owned companies across the U.S. That helps to explain why the average women-owned business has 25% lower revenue than the typical male-owned firm in the same industry.

Read the entire article here.

Many of you have asked me via email for donations on your projects over at Indiegogo and Kickstarter.  What's your experience been like on the funding front -- good, bad or indifferent?  Have you heard of the new kid on the block (not necessarily a crowdfunding site) called Fundwell?

Sometimes Life Is Full of Surprises

Alecia McClung, CEO, ARO

Chicago CEO Alecia McClung (pictured) has gone from serious health issues to successful woman business owner.  She runs Administrative Resource Options (ARO), a one-stop shop for outsourcing office management and services.

As Alecia says, "Sometimes life is full of surprises."  

Womenetics: When and why did you start your business? How did you recognize that there was an opportunity to outsource your services to companies in the Chicago area?

Alecia McClung: We primarily started outsourcing in mailroom and print centers. I started the infrastructure in 1990, about 22 years ago. We started out in the legal market and expanded into hospitals, schools, manufacturing, and now we’re pretty much in every market. 

Read Alecia's inspiring story and interview here.

Photo courtesy:  ARO

Women Business Owners Fight for Government Contracts

With federal spending cuts, women entrepreneurs are feeling the pinch.  U.S. government contracts to women- owned small businesses dropped for the second consecutive year, declining at a faster rate than awards to their male counterparts.

The women’s contracts slid 5.5 percent to about $16.4 billion in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 from $17.3 billion in fiscal 2011, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Awards to small firms owned by men fell 4.1 percent to $80.9 billion.  

What's causing the decline?

The gender gap may reflect stiffer competition over a shrinking pool of contract revenue as well as the bureaucratic burdens associated with a new effort to reserve awards for women-owned firms, according to former procurement officials and small business advocates. 

Read the entire article here.

Are you experiencing this challenge?  If so, we welcome hearing from you.

Illustration credit:  BloombergBusinessweek

Have a Heart for What You Do

Brenda Frazier, owner of Brenda Kay Frazier's Beauty Shop

Success comes in a variety of ways but no matter what, it always requires having a heart for what you do.  See how women business owners use their brainpower, instincts and their heart to do what they love doing here.

Illustration credit:  The Express

Managing Talent: The Dandelion Metaphor

Listen carefully to this insightful video.  I love "The Dandelion Metaphor" as it relates to finding obscure spaces in your business where people can grow.

Stake Out Your Place On the Road to Success

With the beginning of a new year, it's really time to stake out your place on the road to success.  It's in line with what we wrote about here with unleashing your yellow tree in 2013.

Deborah Sweeney (pictured), contributor to Forbes, provides her tips to ensure every day of 2013 is a great one for you and your business.

Read:  How Female Entrepreneurs Can Stand Out in 2013 - Forbes

Visit Deborah's company:  MyCorporation

Photo courtesy:  MyCorporation

Unleash Your Yellow Tree in 2013

©Laurel Delaney 2013, "Yellow Tree"

You've heard of Blue Ocean Strategy (go where profits and growth are - not where competition is) and the Black Swan concept (an event deemed improbable yet causes massive consequences).   But have you heard about the Yellow Tree?  Unleash your Yellow Tree (ability to stand out in the crowd) in 2013. 

Happy New Year!

Photo courtesy:  ©Laurel Delaney 2013, "Yellow Tree"

Wishing You Peace and Joy This Holiday Season

©Laurel Delaney 2012, "The Driehaus Museum, Chicago"

Photo courtesy:  ©Laurel Delaney 2012, "The Driehaus Museum, Chicago."

Women Entrepreneurs Are Alive, Well and Thriving

Over at Small Business Trends, Sramana Mitra (pictured) provides three examples of interesting women entrepreneurs operating in diverse industries -- from educational technology to online music.

As she points out:

These entrepreneurs prove the adage that a good idea coupled with persistence and focus on quality pays off in the end.

Gender is irrelevant.

 Read:  Women Entrepreneurs:  Alive and Well, Thank You Very Much!

Learn more about Sramana here.

When You Leap to Entrepreneurship, Here's Your Safety Net

When you start a business, it's a leap of faith.  You have no idea whether you will make a success out of your idea or not.  But you can minimize risks by talking with others, getting appropriate help and making strong connections.

It's also a good idea before you let go to get some skills, and practice -- with a safety net. That's the idea that spurred Joanne Wilson and me three years ago to start the ITP Women Entrepreneurs Festival. We wanted to celebrate the women who were flying through the air (generally not with the greatest of ease) and to inspire other women and give them the skills and safety net to make the leap themselves. We designed this gathering to be different from other conferences targeting women. We wanted it to be a place of conversation, where participants and speakers had conversations and developed relationships. We saw the conversations between the most skilled, the most daring and the women on the verge as the strongest fiber with which to build a safety net.

 Read the entire article here where the author likens entrepreneurship to a trapeze artist (that's the "letting go" part).

Women Entrepreneurs Can Be Shockingly Fast!

Photo courtesy:  Current Motor

Did you know?

•  Dell has many investment arms including Dell Ventures and the Dell Innovators Credit Fund.  They also have Women Powering Business and DWEN.

One business owner, Lauren Flanagan of Current Motor, came in through the DWEN network and is now on Dell's Entrepreneur in Residence Advisory Board. Further, she received $250,000 in technology for her business through the Dell Innovator’s Credit Fund, allowing her to get her scooters (as shown) to market six months faster.

Quote from Ingrid, The Rider on a Current Motor scooter:

Defying her own low expectations, she found our Super Scooter to be "shockingly fast, to be honest."  The ride comfortable, handling responsive, and overall decidedly NOT boring. Her suggestion:  "You HAVE to try it!"

Rumor has it that women entrepreneurs, provided they ride a Super Scooter, can be shockingly fast!

Back to Dell, are you up on all the resources they have to offer to help grow your business?  Visit to the links referenced above.

Related article:  Dell's Women's Entrepreneur Network Heads to Turkey?

Small Business Saturday

Today is Small Business Saturday.  Are you out and about supporting fellow business owners in your local community by purchasing their products or services?  I hope so!

Go here to learn more.  And tomorrow, expand accordingly:  ShopPlanet (Global Small Business Sunday)!

I wonder if those boots (as shown) are available in my -- or your -- neighborhood!

Illustration credit:  American Express homepage

Business Reboot

Steve Case, the chairman and CEO of Revolution and cofounder of AOL explains below why small, high-growth companies are the secret to economic vitality and job creation and how large companies could benefit from them.

He also dispels four myths about small businesses.  Here's the first one:

Myth #1. All small businesses want to grow.

Not all owners of small businesses want them to grow; many “mom and pop” enterprises are happy to stay small. It is really a subset of young businesses—those less than five years old—that do want to grow and that create the majority of jobs: 40 million over the last 25 years. This represents 20 percent of total gross job creation and total net new job creation in the United States over this time period.

Read:  Restarting the U.S. small-business growth engine

How to Go Beyond Running a One-Woman Show

Here's how to activate your leadership skills to move beyond running a one-woman show.

6 keys to Moving Startup Leaders From Good to Great

Illustration credit:  Good to Great by Jim Collins

Stay On Top Of Your Game Gals

How to Turn Your Business Into a Reality Show

As a startup, how do you get noticed when you are just a small fish in a big pond?  Two young women have a most unique marketing strategy for getting gobs of attention.  They have teamed up to create a reality TV show about their business.

Now the pair are trying to raise money to turn it into a series on crowd-funding broadcast site Mobcaster. The pilot, Startup: NYC, chronicles a day in the life of PA for a Day owner Charell Star and Morgan Gantt, owner of the online wig-sales site, Swigchd.

Think it will work?  Learn more here and start to track it.  Is this an idea that will work for you and your business?

Photo credit: Swigchd Facebook page.

Grassroots Marketing Works: Pinterest Proves It

Laurel Delaney on Pinterest (www.Pinterest.com/LaurelDelaney)

Pinterest, a virtual pinboard, lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web.  But did you know this?

The way Pinterest grew had little to do with Silicon Valley wisdom. It was about marketing — mostly grassroots marketing — not better algorithms.

Find out what they did here.

And remember, there are many ways to success with your business.  Leave no stone unturned.

By the way, find me on Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/laureldelaney)  Are you on Pinterest?  If so, let me know and I'll follow you!

No Entrepreneurs Are Born Successful

According to Patrick Daniel, "Finding Your Road to Success," he outlines six rationales on why some entrepreneurs undermine their own success. Are you guilty of any of these?

1. Success will lead to loneliness.  Some entrepreneurs believe that success will mean working long hours, neglecting their spouse and children, which in turn could result in divorce. Women, in particular, sometimes believe that success will make them unlovable and intimidating to men.
2. Success will lead to envy. Many people want what others have, and the more success a person achieves, the more envious are that person’s friends, neighbors, and colleagues.
3. I’m not good enough for success. This belief can result from many things, such as having negative parents and not having a college degree.
4. Success will change my lifestyle. Some entrepreneurs fear that the changes that come with success will actually make life less enjoyable.
5. Success is too expensive. There is a cost to everything, and success is not an exception.
6. I won’t be able to control everything that happens. If you fear all the things you can’t control, you should never step into the entrepreneur lifestyle.

Read the entire article here.  Related article:  Fear of Success

Oh Let's Move On: Start a Business!

How many times are we going to write about this and never get a solution?

14 percent: Why are women under represented in the C-suites of corporate America?

Four decades after the feminist revolution, why are there so few women at the top of big companies across America ...

And yet, this is why we started this blog:

More women have started their own businesses. Data this year from U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Business Owners shows that, over the past 15 years, the number of women-owned companies nationwide has grown 54 percent compared with 37 percent growth in the number of businesses overall.

Read the entire article:

14 Percent:  Why Are Women Under Represented in the C-Suites of Corporate America?

Illustration credit:  Catalyst

Stop Being a Slave to the Corporate World

Jackie Greene started selling as a hobby on eBay in 1999, selling items her children had outgrown. Her business, The Steinsburg Store, now focuses on collectibles and children’s items, and her profits have grown to cover her family’s monthly expenses.

I've heard that Jackie often mentors other sellers new to eBay and is an eBay Top Rated Seller who takes pride in her excellent customer service.

Jackie has managed to turn her eBay business into a source of income for her family.  You can too.  Anyone can start a part-time business for supplemental income that can eventually turn into a full-time occupation that allows you to live more of your life rather than being a slave to the corporate world.

Pay a visit to her store here.  You'll get plenty of ideas on how to succeed.  Plus, you might find an item or two you didn't know you wanted.

Meet the Apple App Ladies

What do Amanda Wixted (1), Cathy Edwards (2), Lisa Bettany (3), Monisha Perkash (4) and Prerna Gupta (5) all have in common?

They are women entrepreneurs who build apps for the Apple store. 

1. Meteor Grove
2. Chomp
3. Camera+
4. Lumoback
5. Khush

Read the entire article here.

Illustration credit:  No. 5

Don't Be a Wimp: Show Courage Under Fire

Four years ago I wrote and cross-posted here at Escape From Corporate America the article below for the American Express OPEN Forum.  Has much changed since then?  Not really.  Especially my last point:  Don't be a wimp.  Show courage under fire.

Read:  16 Ways to Dodge an Economic Crisis

Brush Up on Business With a World Class Online Education

Lately, have you been thinking that perhaps you don't know everything there is to know about running a business?  Join the crowd.  We all feel that way from time to time.  But many of us, including me, do something about it.

Why not take a time out to pursue knowledge that will better equip you as you grow your business?  And I've got just the place.  Two Stanford computer science professors -- Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng -- are offering higher-level online education courses for FREE at Coursera. The beauty in this new education that you don't have to leave your home or office, you learn a whole lot and you don't spend a dime.

I'm already signed up for a course in January 2013.  Check it out for yourself.  You may find one or two courses you like as well.

Coursera

At the Helm of HER Own Company

Arminda "Mindy" Figueroa

After 25 years of experience in the corporate world, beginning with a marketing position at Anheuser-Busch, Arminda "Mindy" Figueroa (pictured) made her dream come true.

In 2007, she founded Latin2Latin Marketing+Communications, LLC, targeting the growing Latino market in the United States, and initially operating her new business out of her home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Learn more about what it took to get started and where she's headed next - here.

Never Give Up For Quitting Lasts Forever

©Laurel Delaney 2012, "Comeback 2.0"

As you run your business, if ever there is a lesson to learn, it's from Lance Armstrong.  And in this case, it's to do the opposite of what he has decided to do:  quit.

Yes, Lance Armstrong has decided not to fight the doping charges.

The reason I am writing about this here is because the following quote referenced in the blog post by Michael Specter for The New Yorker really stood out for me:

(My favorite Lance quote about pain, clearly applicable to the accusations, is, “Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”)

Yes, quitting lasts forever.

Read the entire blog post by Michael Specter:  And now he is nothing (The New Yorker) 

Never, ever quit.  No ands, ifs or buts.  Just don't.

Photo credit:  ©Laurel Delaney 2012, front cover of "Comeback 2.0:  Up Close and Personal"

Giving It Your Best: What's Your Story?

My trusty Clinique collection (as shown)

Following up on our "Women Rule" theme ... Clinique has a wonderful campaign taking place on Celebrating Personal Best stories.  Have a look.

What's your best accomplishment? Have you started that business?

Visit Clinique.

Full disclosure: Sponsored ad.  Photo reflects Clinique products used by author.

Women Rule

U.S. Artistic Gymnasts -- Gold Medal Winners 2012 Summer Olympics

I am featuring this recent article published in The Wall Street Journal only because I absolutely loved the third point.

3.  Women Rule

Thanks in part to its population, and its progressive policies toward girls' and women's athletics (see: Title IX, the 1972 federal legislation that guarantees women equal support for sports at public institutions) the U.S. produces the best female sports team on the planet.  

I suspect that stat holds up on female entrepreneurs too.

Congratulations to all the women Olympians who exceeded everyone's expectations on greatness.  You are a role model for us all.

Entire article can be found here.

Related article (added 8/22/12).

Just Start Something in Your Life

Whatever it may be -- running a race, taking a photograph or starting a business -- confidence is key.

According to the article below:

... women actually develop confidence through the process of launching a business, which in turn helps their endeavors grow. "Just start something in your life … you will have a happier life, you will feel more confident, and that's what it's all about" ...

Read the entire article:

Women Starting Businesses - Oprah.com

Photo:  Jean Chatzky

Gifted Gabby Gets Gold!

Congrats to artistic gymnast Gabby Douglas (pictured - wins two golds!) and all the Olympic champs!  Gabby is an example of an American dream come true -- similar to entrepreneurship in that one goes after their calling and passion in life, deals with the unknown, works hard to achieve something great and then creates a destiny of her own.

Read more here.

And while I have you, I'm going for my own little gold with the Small Business Influencer Award.  Please take a moment to vote for me - thanks!

How to Get Sensational Media Coverage on the Cheap

Say you just started a business and you don't know anybody or who to contact to get media attention.  Where do you start?  Celestine Chua (pictured) is founder of the site Personal Excellence.  Below she provides excellent tips on how to get media coverage.  Hint:  It all begins by being pro-active!

One example she provides:

Example:  One of the story angles which I brainstormed when I started my business (2008) was the fact that I had quit a prestigious, well-paying job to pursue my passion - from nothing. This was considered unconventional in the context of the Singapore society (at that time, at least) because most locals conformed to the view that one should stay in a stable job with financial security and an iron rice bowl —the complete opposite of what I did. Hence, I used that as the angle for one of my press releases, and it was eventually picked up by several media outlets (Today, OMY, Lianhe Zaobao, AsiaOne, among a few other sites).

Read:  How to Get Media Coverage for Your Business, Blog, or Startup 

Illustration credit here.

Negotiating a Commercial Property Lease

Are you about to sign on a commercial property lease for your new business?  Or perhaps you simply need more space.

... the abundance of choice and favorable market conditions for potential tenants can prove an enticing prospect for budding entrepreneurs and small business owners. However, even in a buyer’s market, negotiating a commercial lease is a daunting and complex process that requires research and due diligence.

Below are some helpful tips for leasing a space for your small business.  If you've got more, please let us know!

6 Tips for Negotiating a Commercial Property Lease without Getting Burned

Challenges For Women Who Start Businesses

Related article here.

The Artist: Mae Chevrette

Meet 25-year old mixed media artist, photographer, writer, traveler and all around lover of adventures and the unknown, Mae Chevrette.

What influences her work?

Numerous solo cross-country road trips and travel abroad as well as an insatiable curiosity for interesting people, places and stories.

Take a tour of her creative work here.

Illustration credit:  Mae Chevrette

Happy Birthday No. 236 to the United States and No. 8 to the Official Escape From Corporate America Blog!

Photo courtesy:  ©Laurel Delaney 2012, "USA flag, Chicago"

Happy 8th Birthday to the official Escape From Corporate America blog and Happy 236th Birthday America!  Enjoy the day and thank you for your readership.

Celebrate freedom and all your successes!

For a little bit of history about this blog, including last year's post, go here.

Photo credit:  ©Laurel Delaney 2012 - Wrigley Building, Chicago proudly featuring our USA flag.

Boost Your Business: Attend Live Events

According to Stacia Pierce (pictured), a great way to boost your business and take it to the next level is by attending live events. She says:

As entrepreneurs and leaders, it’s important to break out of your comfort zone and get away to business conferences. It’s your opportunity to completely remove yourself from your business and the pressures of your everyday life to get inspired, invigorated and empowered to take your business and life up.

Read all of her advice at: Keep Your Business Thriving By Attending Live Events

Will There Ever Be a Society That Works For Women?

What the authors discovered:

What we discovered in our research is that while the empowerment part of the equation has been loudly celebrated, there has been very little honest discussion among women of our age about the real barriers and flaws that still exist in the system despite the opportunities we inherited.

Why Women Can't Have It All

Posted by:  Escape From Corporate America (Laurel Delaney)

Corporate Climber Turns Business Owner

I love getting emails like this, especially on a Sunday, because it tells me somebody is really working it:

Hi there Laurel,

I'm a former corporate climber (spent 10 years building an architecture career) who just picked up the keys to my first business location as an entrepreneur last weekend. I'm opening a private fitness studio, the culmination of a two-year journey towards total self-employment and fulfillment. It's been a terrifying, exciting, challenging, and thrilling process.

I'm in a position of finding creative solutions, like so many women do, to make this work, so I've launched a crowdfunding campaign (refer below) to support this startup and fill in the gaps between my budget and our dreams for this studio.

Would you consider sharing my story and this campaign on your blog? I'm reaching out for creative ways to spread the word and connect with women who get what I'm going through.

You can check out the campaign at indiegogo and please email me if I can share more about what we're trying to do.

Katrina Cobb, Owner, NASM CPT
reFORM Studios Personal Training
North Charleston, SC  U.S.A.

Visit: reFORM Studios Personal Training | Your premiere personal training experience

Illustration credit:  reFORM Studios Personal Training

Best wishes and much success Katrina and we do get what you are going through! 

Is It the Right Time to Start a Business?

Go For It!

The next Wendy Kopp (pictured) could be starting their business right now.

Will it be you?

A new study says almost 600-thousand new businesses are created each year by young adults right out of college.

Catch the remarks from a clothing shop owner about why she felt the need to start her own business rather than work for someone else.

Read the entire article here.