Hurry! Only 6 Days Left to Register for our Chicago Forum on 10/20

©2017 GSBB Media LLC.  All rights reserved.

If you are thinking about setting up an e-commerce business or want to grow what you have already started, you should attend this event held in Chicago on Friday, October 20, 2017.

Name:  Global E-Commerce Explosion (GEE)!

Why:  Four (4) reasons why you should attend:

1. Network with entrepreneurs, business leaders, business owners, top executives, young professionals and students.
2. Enjoy and learn from experienced business owners who run multimillion dollar e-commerce companies as they share their perspectives and stories on expanding their businesses internationally.
3. Connect with seasoned international trade experts who can help you grow your business globally.
4. Be eligible to enter an exciting raffle for a chance to win special prizes donated by the speakers' companies.

Time:  7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Central time

Location:  The John and Kathy Schreiber Center, Loyola University Chicago, 16 East Pearson Street, 9th floor, Chicago.

A big shout-out to our sponsor:  MB Financial and event host Loyola University Chicago, Center for International Business, Quinlan School of Business.  Without them, this program would not be possible.

To learn more (full lineup of speakers) and to register, visit: http://www.globalsmallbusinessforum.com.  For my Escape followers :-), use code GSBF25OFF to receive a 25% discount.  I'll be there.  See you there!

Entrepreneurship Is a Valid Choice For Women

The video, "What They Don't Teach in Business School about Entrepreneurship" is a tad long but worth listening to every word, especially from Nazila Alasti of Jooners, because she says, "entrepreneurship is a valid choice for women."

It's Fine to Source Your Products From All Over the World

©2017 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

When you try to make a quality product as cheap as possible, it's perfectly fine to source your goods worldwide.  But you must be truthful and fully transparent on where the product comes from or where a largest percentage of it is made.  That is designated on product labelling (as shown).

It is a known fact that most of Ivanka Trump's product line is made overseas.  So why the hush hush about it?  Because the White House is keen on highlighting American-made products.  They'll just have to remember not to include Ivanka's.  No problem.

Note:  Not a very good photo -- I captured it while at a second-hand shop :-).

Join Us 10/20 in Chicago for Our 3rd Annual Global Small Business Forum

Good afternoon Corporate America Escapers!  I wanted to let you know about a Forum my company is hosting on Friday, October 20, 2017 at 16 E. Pearson Street in Chicago from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central time.  It's our 3rd Annual Global Small Business Forum, sponsored by MB Financial, GlobeTrade.com and Center for International Business Loyola University Chicago. The forum helps entrepreneurs like you and small business owners take their companies global.  This year's theme is e-commerce and what a lineup of speakers we have.

Two in particular you won't want to miss:

1. Andrea Sreshta, co-founder of LuminAID.  LuminAID was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank in 2015, received offers from all 5 Sharks, and made a deal with Mark Cuban, the company’s first investor.
2. Jennifer Bayon, Vice President of International Sales for Paris Presents.  Jennifer leads the brands’ business development in over 60 countries, outside the United States.

Here's the full lineup of outstanding speakers.  And we have an amazing group of local partners on this!

I hope to see you there to meet up in person!  To learn more and to register, visit:  http://www.globalsmallbusinessforum.com.

Women Entrepreneurs Who Work Tirelessly to Help Other Women Entrepreneurs

The Greater Stockton (California) Chamber of Commerce has selected Gillian Murphy (pictured), a champion of local entrepreneurs, as its 2017 ATHENA Award recipient.  Ms. Murphy is a long-time advocate of small business and a mentor to female entrepreneurs throughout the area.

About ATHENA International:

ATHENA International is a non-profit organization that seeks to support, develop and honor women leaders through programs that we administer in partnership with ‘host organizations’ from local communities. These programs inspire women to reach their full potential and strive to create balance in leadership worldwide.

To attend the luncheon at the Stockton Golf and Country Club (11/16/17) or find out more about the ATHENA Awards, visit stocktonchamber.org/athena-awards/ or call (209) 547-2770.

Congrats to Ms. Murphy!

Go Offline, Make Friends, and Find Mentors

A new website -- aiming to give women a safe platform to help them meet like-minded women face-to-face -- was created by a husband-and-wife team from Toronto and is helping women find their own "elletourage."

What is "Elletourage?"  You must visit their website.

"What we [the husband and wife team] hope is you'll meet online and then you'll take that conversation offline and become friends wherever you are," co-founder Sam Chung told CBC Toronto.

Learn more here.

Be Honest About What You Want in Life

Before starting her own company DB+co, Debra Bednar-Clark was the global head of strategy and growth at Facebook, and spent time as Microsoft's director of US market strategy and engagement.

She told Business Insider that figuring out whether you're ready to leave a job starts with being honest about what you want.

Here's what else she said:

"I think one of the things that it can be really easy for us to do is build a career we think we should do instead of one that is really aligned with who we are in that moment."

Read more ... + explore Debra's great little blog here.

Screenshot courtesy of DB+Co

The Cupcake Junkie

Opening her own cupcakery -- the Cupcake Junkie -- was something Robyn Selders always wanted to do but never thought would happen.

For the past five years, Selders had been teaching the Read 180 program at Woodlawn Middle School. But in 2016, she didn't feel "the butterflies" that usually came with the start of a new school year.

That life became routine.

Her new life plan was simple:  sell cupcakes like she had been doing for the past three years, substitute teach and drive/deliver food for Waitr. That would be enough to pay her bills.

Learn more here on how it all worked out.

What Can Women Entrepreneurs Learn From Other Creative Women Entrepreneurs? Plenty.

Bet On the Business, Not on Your Life

There are challenges on the road to business success.

We’ve all heard stories like this. Maybe you have a friend who started a business and went into serious debt like me [Chad Boyda]. Or an uncle who let his business destroy his marriage. Or a ruined friendship after a partnership didn’t work out.

In the article below, Chad shows you what he learned about starting a business the hard way, and how you can do it without experiencing the same hardships he did. He covers four key points:

1. Proven techniques to come up with great business ideas
2. How to validate your business ideas before spending a dime
3. Four ways to scale your business with maximum return and lowest risk
4. How to NOT fail in business

Read more ...

Work Less for More Success

How many times have you said to someone, "I am working my a*^ off but I love what I am doing!"  But what if I told you that rest is as important as work?  Yes, according to the article below, rest will really propel you to new efficiency heights.

The answer isn't to forego work for sleep or vice versa. It's to make sure you have the right amount of time for both. By learning to work smarter, you can become a better leader -- and a healthier one, too. Here are four ways to work less and achieve more.

Read:  4 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Work Less For More Success

Savvy Women Entrepreneurs Don't Work Alone

Our friend and awesome reporter Geri Stengel at Forbes says:

The most successful entrepreneurs don’t do it alone. That holds true for men and for women but particularly for women. 

She goes on to say:

Only other women see, hear and feel what women do. Women face different challenges than men: their access to capital and markets is restricted. What do you get when you problem solve with a group of women entrepreneurs? 

Take a look at what members of  the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), a peer advisory group, and organization I am extensively involved since 2003 as the Chicago Chapter Chapter chair, found.

The #1 Secret to Success Women Entrepreneurs Need to Share

Meet Up With Us in Chicago at the First Urban Craft Distilleries in the U.S.

Through a nonprofit I manage, Women Entrepreneurs GROW Global, we have a really cool on-the-ground program coming up on Tuesday, September 19 from 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Central time in Chicago. For all my Chicago fans, I would LOVE an opportunity to meet you in person!

Here are the details on the program.

But let me add this:  Even though the program focuses on taking a business global (my passion), we will also have fun touring the world famous KOVAL Distillery.  Not hear of it?  Well then you've been living in a cave :-).  Read the phenomenal press about them here.

Anyway, hope you can join us.  If you are going and want to let me know in advance, email me at: ldelaney(at)womenentrepreneursGROWglobal.org.

Look forward to seeing you there.  To learn more and to register, visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wegg-icnc-export-workshop-tickets-36226102247

Google Developers' Launchpad Build (GDLB)

Google Developers’ Launchpad Build (GDLB) comes under the Launchpad Accelerator Program.  They have selected 11 startups led by women entrepreneurs in order to train them.

Through the programme, the selected women entrepreneurs will get a chance to help promising startups achieve rapid progress in a short time. This will be done through focused 1:1 mentorship from Google and Industry Experts.

Read more and learn about the shortlist of women entrepreneurs here.

$50 Million Donated by USA to Female Entrepreneurs!

The Trump administration will give $50 million to a female entrepreneurship project championed by Trump's daughter, Ivanka.

To help unlock the potential of women entrepreneurs, the new Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), led by the World Bank, will enable more than $1 billion in financing to improve access to capital, provide technical assistance, and invest in projects and programs that support women and women-led SMEs.

Read more ...

Sexual Harassment Is 'Never' Business As Usual

Oh I am not going to go into detail here with my lead to this post.  You have to read the article to believe it.  The title gives it away:

Sex for Funding? Silicon Valley Reeling After 24 Female Entrepreneurs Speak Out

Photo:  Chris Sacca (apology letter)

Be Daring and Disruptive

Small Business Trends talks about a new book to help you push through that barrier between prospective to actual entrepreneur. It's titled, "Daring & Disruptive: Unleashing the Entrepreneur," and according to SBT, it is probably your best bet. The book helps you understand how you can leverage your non-traditional path as an asset instead of an obstacle to entrepreneurship.

Go girl.

Read more ...

The Great Outdoor Entrepreneur

Becoming a member of Amazon Exclusives program was a game-changer for founder Kelly Fedio's business One Savvy Life, a lifestyle accessory company.  She was able to generate annual sales for her products in the seven figures within two years.

“We seek to fulfill women’s ambition of living a fun and active lifestyle, and bring women distinctive products and experiences and a means of self-expression through our products.”

Visit her company here.  Read more ...

Women Entrepreneurs Are Taking the World by Storm

Several local, national, and international enterprises are owned and headed by strong businesswomen. Gone are the days when women hesitated to start their own company for fear of not being able to dedicate enough time to their families or due to lack of resources.

From contributing to global wealth to supporting their own communities, female entrepreneurs are destroying all physical and mental barriers that are holding them back from ruling the world.

Read more ...

How to Pedal Through Every Stage of Entrepreneurial Growth

Founder and owner of South Carolina-based Pedal Chic (photo credit:  Pedal Chic), Robin Bylenga, opened her women’s cycling and athletic boutique in 2010.  She worked for a bike shop to get experience first and understand customers. She invested $500 for a small amount of inventory of women’s biking apparel and generated $1,500 in sales at an area bike race.

“I’ve had to push [pedal] through at every stage, and there have been setbacks, but the demand is there and growing,” says Bylenga, whose shop is profitable today.

But there is more to starting a business and becoming successful. Oftentimes it takes finding mentors and advisers who can share their experiences with you to grow a business more efficiently and faster.

Read more ...