Chuck and Brenda Horton at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort April 2010

About eighteen months ago, Hware’s business model was redesigned and I became a business partner with my spouse, Chuck.  While our business relationship is young, we have nevertheless been together as a couple for nineteen years. Being familiar with each other’s idiosyncrasies has prepared me for a journey of perseverance and patience. Let’s face it, there is no denying it. It is HARD, especially if you have two people like me and Chuck, who are long-time entrepreneurs; and whom neither one of us ever seem to be lacking with opinions about how we should go about building the business.  Yet, partnering with someone you like, trust and know on an intimate level can also be very empowering. I believe the overall integrity of the business partnership comes down to what I think are the five most important elements to the success of the business and a healthy relationship.  I share them with you with the hope that we can have a conversation about spousal business partnerships.  Surely we are not the only ones who have chosen to go down this path. We have  much to learn from one another don’t we?

1. Be clear on your roles. Who is responsible for what, when, where, how and why. For example, in our software business, Chuck is primarily the the creator of our products. He is our software developer, programmer, Geek Guy. (Obviously, I have a thing for Geeky Guys. I married one.) He architects the software, designs it, and supports it.  My primary role is to market and sell the software.  There is no confusion about our roles in this capacity. That’s not to say that I don’t offer feedback and opinions about how the software looks and feels from an end-user’s perspective or that he doesn’t comment on how to brand it.  In addition, some of our roles overlap from wearing many different hats. However, we are very clear on our primary roles.  Here is how we have broken down our responsibilities:
   Chuck: Finance, Business Development, Long-Term Strategy, Software Development, Company Culture, and Technical Support.
   Brenda: Marketing, Branding, Online – Offline Sales, Social Media, Strategic Relationships, Business Development, Company Culture.  As our company continues to grow we will add operations and admin support, but for now, we share in those roles as well.  As we evolve, other roles will later be absorbed by outsourcing services, vendors, and employees. We also recently set up Hware as an Limited Liability Corporation where I assumed the role of president of the company. The reason we did this? The software industry is dominated by White males. We like to do things different here at Hware.
2. Know your strengths and use them well. We all have strengths and weaknesses. We decided early on to build a strengths-based organization.  I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at how many people try to build a business going against their strengths. This just does not make sense at all. Imagine me trying to build our own website or Chuck calling on prospective customers. It’s just plain common sense to have people play to their strengths versus their weaknesses. We took a strength-based test before we became partners and it gave us a unique perspective going into the business relationship. One of Chuck’s major strengths is his ability to quickly process complex information and regurgitate it in a simple format. He is also a systematizer. He has used that strength to take complex processes and technologies and simplify it and systematize it for our business so that it runs smoothly and efficiently. Before we changed Hware’s business model, this is how he earned a living — offering business and technology consulting services. However, getting him to write a blog post would be like prompting him to eat his cereal with milk. He hates dairy milk and eats his cereal dry.  I, on the other hand love to write. I have always loved writing. I was a student journalist for my college newspaper at the University of Texas in Austin. I have also kept a personal journal since I was a teenager.  So, it makes strength-based sense that I am the one who blogs for our company. Fundamental to the success of growing an online presence for a small business is blogging. It plays to my strength. I recently looked at our google analytics on our website and the number one traffic driver to our site was an organic search on google! That means the blog is working! Now that’s an example of my strengths performing with optimal results!  Now, if I can just get folks to leave their comments, that would be even better. Hint, hint.
3. Have clear boundaries and strong communication. This one has to do with knowing yourself and your partner. Because we both live and work together, it is easy for us to talk about our business 24/7.  This is not healthy for the relationship.  It’s important to turn it off and take a break. So, if we have a business related topic that we want to discuss during non-working hours, we usually try to ask permission to discuss.  Chuck often jokes by saying that I am the person in his life that taught him to say no and helped him establish strong boundaries. Our conversation usually goes something like this —  Brenda: “I need to run something by you regarding technical stuff. Are you at a place where we can have a conversation?”  Chuck: “Not right now.  I am giving my brain a break.” Brenda: “I really need to flush it out. When can we talk?  It is time sensitive.”  Chuck: “Will tomorrow work for you?”  Brenda: “Yes, how about first thing tomorrow morning during our hike?”  Chuck: “Fine.”  Chuck is much better than I am about turning off the business brain. Have you ever met an entrepreneur or business owner and all they talk about is business? Can you say BORING?  Please, get a life. Give it a break.  Don’t be that Guy or Gal.
4. Have each other’s back. It starts with RESPECT! Put the egos aside.  There is no room for pride or self-absorption in a partnership. I don’t try to tell Chuck how to develop software just as he does not try to tell me how to network, negotiate, build business relationships, sell or market our software. We respect each other’s business acumen.  We don’t try to micro-manage each other or control each other’s daily activities. We set our goals and however we choose to achieve those goals is up to each individual. In addition, we know when to back off and give each other space when dealing with difficult issues, and believe me, there are many.  We have each other’s best interest at heart. Also, I think it is important to set each other up for success. For example, Chuck can work long hours of programming and he will occasionally forget to feed himself. This behavior has negative consequences. I call it Coder Behavior. Anyone who is married to a software developer knows what I am talking about. Anyway, one of my passions is cooking.  So, whenever I take a meal break, I always check in with Chuck and offer to bring him some of whatever I have cooked up. I know he appreciates it and it saves him from CRASHING at the end of the day.  Which leads me to my last insight.
5. Don’t take things personally. Being a small business owner certainly has its frustrations and hardships.  Here’s the thing…Don’t EVER make it about YOU! The world does not revolve around you. Building a business is challenging enough without adding drama to the equation. If you are committed to your business and your relationship, you will do what is in the best interest of your relationship and the success of your business. Check yourself. Ask yourself if your ego or pride is getting in the way of making solid sound business decisions. I know we are emotional human beings, and there is a time and a place to express our feelings, but business is really about common sense and bringing solutions to our trials and tribulations.  So, be a SOLUTIONARY!

These are just a few insights from my own personal experience of having a spouse as a business partner. How bout you? I would love to hear from you in the comments section. Don’t be shy!  Please share a tidbit of advice or experience that has helped you navigate the spousal business partnership. Or, if you are just entering a business relationship with your spouse and you have some questions, ask away. Perhaps we can be a sounding board for one another. Let’s start a conversation. We can all learn from each other!

Sunrise Hike On My Trails

Do We Need Daily Rituals and Routines?

Do you have a place where you go to quiet your mind on a daily basis?  It’s no big news that everyone, especially small business owners need some quiet-time to renew, recover, and re-energize. Running a small business can be overwhelming at times and we all need a place where we can silence our mind, be still, and listen to our inner voice or intuition.  We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with distractions, diversions, and detours. It is so easy to get off track and become unfocused. That is why we need our daily rituals and routines. The consistency of daily good habits eventually become a lifestyle. There’s plenty of data that show the benefits of meditation and calming activities. Here are a few daily routines that I do that help me quiet my mind, get grounded, and stay focused.

Do You Have A Place You Call Your Sacred Space?

A few years ago, I converted a home office space into my very own “sacred space.” I use it to do yoga, meditate, read books of inspiration, and write in my journal. I have been keeping a journal since I was a teenage girl. This one ritual alone is incredibly powerful. It is where I write my intentions, my dreams, and voice my insecurities and fears. The exercise of putting my thoughts to the written word has always served me well. For example, I wrote in my journal about ten years ago that I wanted to organize a fundraiser for kids in the foster care system in my local community.  I wanted to help them find permanent loving families who would adopt them. At the time I had no idea how I was going to do it because I had no real experience in spearheading such an event. I was also working full-time in a very fast-paced industry with brutally long hours. Nevertheless, it was something that I felt compelled to do. Fast forward a few years later —- I, along with the help of many volunteers, organized a fundraiser for Sierra Forever Families. Together, we raised over $350,000.00 and were able to help many children. I stumbled upon that journal entry a few months ago and was amazed that I not only fulfilled that intention, but I exceeded my goals.

What’s Does Your Retreat Look Like?

The other routine I have is connecting with nature. I live in a forest in Northern California. I hike about 2.5 miles on my trails just about everyday. Whenever I am feeling out of sorts or stuck, I spend more time with nature by heading to the hiking trails. By doing so, it allows me to flush out my thoughts. Being able to connect with the Earth and her ecosystem is a gift I am very grateful for. I always feel rooted and centered when I am with nature. Next summer 2011, I will attempt to hike around the entire Tahoe Rim Trail, a 165 mile hike with 30 pounds on my back and 16 days of sleeping underneath the stars. The last time I completed such a physically enduring hike was when I summit Mt. Whitney ten years ago.

My Daily Computer Habit

One final tip I want to share with you is a time-out reminder software tool I use called Dejal Time-Out. I sit in front of my computer most of the day and this tool reminds me to stand up and look away from my computer for about 30 seconds. During this time I also do a quick stretch. The reminder shows up on my computer screen about every 30 minutes.

So how about you? Do you have a daily ritual that helps you move with ease throughout the day? Where do you retreat when you have to make some hard business decisions or spend some time giving deep thought to a situation?  If you work in an urban area or home office in the suburbs, what things do you do to help you stay on track? I would love to hear about it.  We have much to learn from one another.  Please share your feedback in the comments section below.

Are You Forgetting to Take a BREAK?

When We Are Healthy We Can Take on the World.

So How Do you Fit it in and Make it Work While Running a Business?

A few quick tips:

Seriously! Here’s How.

Gena, demonstrating lunges.

Approximately “60 percent of your immune system’s receptors cells are in your colon and another 15 percent are in the lower part of the small intestine.  That means that 75 percent of your body’s immune system is at the mercy of the goings-on of your gut.” – Ann Louise Gittleman, from her book, The Gut Flush Plan.  What that tells me is that if we don’t take proper care of our colon by eliminating all the corruptors; mainly bad bacteria, yeast, and bugs, then our over-all health will be compromised…and when our health is compromised, that certainly may have a negative impact our business. As a small business owner, we wear a lot of different “hats.” Oftentimes, the entrepreneur is the marketer, the administrator, the book keeper, the product developer, the overseer of operations, the negotiator, the errand runner, etc. If you are the only one wearing all those “hats” and your health goes down, that’s STRESS on STEROIDS! Did you know that the number one reason homeowners get foreclosed on is medical bills?

Running a Small Business is Like Running a Marathon.

Think of your small business as a marathon. It is a long race and you need to have a long-term perspective. Short-sighted thinking says that we can eat junk food and survive on coffee and little sleep. That’s a recipe for Burn-Out! We may be able to get away with that for a little while, but eventually it will catch up to us and bite us in the end, literally!  Years ago, I experienced burn-out. I was overweight, tired all the time, making poor food choices and not getting much sleep. My doctor told me that I had “fried my adrenal glands.” I had bought into the myth of “Super Woman.”  With the help of  my friend Gena Livings, online wellness coach , along with my health care professionals, it took 18 months to restore my health.  I now move my body everyday and eat consciously. Exercise is my drug of choice and healthy food is my medicine. I pay attention to what foods make me feel good and eliminate the ones that make me feel bad. Yes, I miss daily cup of coffee and evening wine. I miss all my favorite gourmet cheeses with gluten breads, but you know what? I LOVE how I feel! I love the energy I have. I love that I don’t wake up tired anymore.

Good Health like a Good Business Plan Starts with the End in Mind.

What foods and activities sustain you? What habits, attitudes, and behaviors do you have that help sustain you so that you are running your business versus your business running you?  I often write about how our VISION for our business starts with the END in mind. This time, I really mean it!  Reflecting on what I am THANKFUL for this Thanksgiving, I am grateful for people like Gena Livings and all who have reminded me to love, honor and respect my body. I would love to hear any tips or insights you have for making healthy lifestyle choices or what you are grateful for this Thanksgiving. Please post your comments.

Brenda Tello-Horton is the co-owner of Hware, an Online Business Training and Software Company.

How to Exercise Your Eyes

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

We all know how important it is to keep our bodies fit by doing things like going to the gym, jogging, and swimming. But, did you know that you can exercise your eyes as well? Eye exercising will keep your eyes healthy and help minimize eyestrain.

Steps

1. Sit comfortably on a chair. Rub your hands together until they feel warm. Close your eyes and cover them lightly with your cupped palms. Avoid applying pressure on your eyeballs. Place your palms so that the nose remains uncovered, and the eyes remain behind the slight hollow of the palms. Make sure that no light rays enter the eyes, and leave no gaps between fingers or between the edge of the palms and the nose. You may still see other lingering traces of colors. Imagine deep blackness and focus on the blackness. Take deep breaths slowly and evenly, while thinking of some happy incident; or visualize a distant scene. After your eyes see nothing but blackness, remove your palms from your eyes. Repeat the palming for 3 minutes or more.
2. Close your eyes tightly for 3-5 seconds, then open them for 3-5 seconds. Repeat this 7 or 8 times.
3. Close your eyes and massage them with circular movements of your fingers for 1-2 minutes. Make sure you press very lightly; otherwise, you could hurt your eyes.
4. Press three fingers of each hand against your upper eyelids, and hold them there for 1-2 seconds, then release. Repeat 5 times.
5. Sit and relax. Roll your eyes clockwise, then counter-clockwise. Repeat 5 times, and blink in between each time.
6. Sit about 6 inches (150 mm) from the window. Make a mark on the glass at your eye level (a small sticker, black or red, would be perfect). Look through this mark and focus on something far away for 10-15 seconds; then focus on the mark again.
7. Hold a pencil in front of you at arm’s length. Move your arm slowly to your nose, and follow the pencil with your eyes until you can keep it in focus. Repeat 10 times.
8. Look in front of you at the opposite wall and pretend that you are writing with your eyes, without turning your head. It may seem difficult at first, but with a bit of practice it is really fun. The bigger the letters, the better the effect.
9. Imagine that you are standing in front of a really big clock. Look at the middle of the clock. Then look at any hour mark, without turning your head. Look back at the center. Then look at another hour mark. Do this at least 12 times. You can also do this exercise with your eyes closed.
10. Focus on a distant object (over 150 feet or 50 m away) for several seconds and slowly refocus your eyes on a nearby object (less than 30 feet or 10 m away) that’s in the same direction. Focus for several seconds and go back to the distant object. Do this 5 times.
11. Focus on an object in the distance (as far as possible) with a low contrasting background. Do this for a few minutes every half hour or so. This does not improve your vision, nor does any other technique. It can, however, maintain your best eyesight level during the day and prevent significant further vision deterioration.

Tips

• It’s more important to do the exercises regularly than to do them for a long time. Even 30-60 seconds of eye movement every hour is very helpful. For example, when your computer takes its sweet time to do something, most people just stare at the poor thing and waste the time, but you can make a few circles with your eyes. Even the first day you do this, you should notice that, when you finish working, your eyes aren’t as tired as usual.
• Taking short breaks from near work (e.g. staring at a computer monitor) to stare out to the distance also relieves some strain.
• Palming is a good method to help your eyes feel better. You close your eyes and put your palms over them, this will rest your eyes.
• Blink the eyes many times.
• Splash your eyes with cold water repeatedly when feasible, and especially when your eyes are strained.

Warnings

• Consult your optometrist (eye doctor) before doing any of these exercises. The last thing you want to do is add further strain to your eyes, or damage them permanently.
• When doing these exercises, make sure that you’re not facing anybody, or that they know you’re doing eye exercises. Otherwise they might think you’ve gone nuts.
• Doing these exercises when you wear contacts may cause them to suction to your eyeball. They might also move around and possibly become folded and/or dislodged, which can be extremely uncomfortable as well.
• Do not apply pressure on your eyes.
• Wash your hands before doing these exercises to avoid getting irritants in your eye.

Things You’ll Need

• Pencil
• Eyes
• Eye drops (Eyes may become dry)

Related wikiHows

• How to Take Care of Your Eyes
• How to See in the Dark
• How to Get a Job When You Are Blind or Visually Impaired
• How to Get Rid of Black Circles Under Your Eyes
• How to View Stereograms
• How to Exercise While Sitting at Your Computer
• How to Avoid Getting Dry Eyes from the Computer
• How to Cure Puffy Eyes

External Links

• Eye Exercises… Eye Therapy For Better Eyes, Eyesight And Vision Correction.
• [1]
• Eyezercise.com – Eye Exercises for Natural Vision Improvement
• Eyesight improvement the natural, affordable and easy way
• Eye Exercises for Eye Relaxation and Natural Vision Correction
• http://www.totemdog.com/eyesite
• http://www.rebuildyourvision.com
• http://www.CureYourEyes.com/blog
• http://www.HealMyEyes.com

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Exercise Your Eyes. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Not having a Social Media Plan is like going for a long Hike in the Mountains without any Food and Water.

The point is that you may survive, but it will be a very challenging and frustrating experience that could have otherwise been avoided. In my last post, I wrote about how planning starts with a VISION. In this post, I want to emphasize the importance of PLANNING. When most people think of planning, they yawn, BORING! Who wants to get boggled down with details?! “Let’s just go for it, make it happen and we will adjust along the way. Besides, it’s more fun and adventurous to have some spontaneity in our lives!” I swear, I used to say that and believe that with all my heart, and I still do in some areas of my life, but NOT when it comes to business. Unfortunately, I have had to learn through too many failures to understand why PLANNING is key to a successful business. So let’s dive into some key factors that are fundamental to having a solid social media plan. For the purpose of this blog post, I will be referring to small businesses:

• Know your target audience – Who are you selling to? Who’s attention do you want? Let’s narrow it down further. What  is your buyer persona?  That means, what are your buyers’ preferences, tastes, likes and dislikes. For example, my company, Hware sells software tools that help small businesses. Therefore, I look for entrepreneurs, and Work-at-Home folks to connect with online and try to make myself useful to them. I am laser-focused on the kind of person I want to interact with online. It’s  not that I don’t or won’t engage with anyone other than my ideal client, it’s just that I am very specific and clear about who I need to be talking to online for my business. More importantly, if your target audience is not online, then you are wasting your time being online. You need to be where they are. That’s where market research comes in.
• Spend some time doing some Market Research – It is crucial to find out where your customers hang out. Are they on Twitter or LinkedIn? Are most of them not using social networking sites and still prefer e-mail? The point is that you need to have a clear understanding of where they are so that you can communicate with them.  Occasionally, I enroll my online audience in surveys, which gives me insight into what they need. I then provide them with the results of the polls. By engaging my audience and asking for feedback, I gain tremendous knowledge on who they are, what their challenges are, and how I may better serve them. Here are a few online survey tools: Poll Daddy,  Survey Monkey and Twtpoll (for Twitter). The surveys need to be short, simple and convenient for the participant, otherwise, they will be reluctant fill it out.

• Know your online STAG: I call these your Strengths, Talents, Attributes, and Gifts. You must find and own your STAG and become like the beautiful statuesque male deer I live with here in the foothills of Northern California. They know their own power and beauty.  They grace the land with great ease and confidence. When you know your STAG, you will attract, engage, and be like a magnet to your online Fans, Friends, and Followers. When you are clear about your STAG, it will show in your energy, your presence. We all feed off of each other’s energy and your customers are no different. They will know if you are moving with ease and confidence and when you are putting their best interests first and foremost. (I will write more about STAG in future blog posts.) An example of using your STAG is let’s say that you are better at talking than writing; then perhaps you may want do more vlogging (video blogs) than blogging. The point is that you are playing to your strengths and when you work from a place of strengths, it always much easier.
• Remember that your Social Media Plan - should come under the umbrella of your marketing plan and your marketing plan falls under your business plan and your business plan should be part of your long-term strategic plan, (which I will write about in more detail another time.) So many people get overwhelmed with social media, but it is important to keep things in perspective. Social media is just one aspect of your overall business and as an entrepreneur/self-employed, you wear many different hats – social media is your marketing hat.

On my next blog post, I will delve into more detail about social media planning. I will be writing about some specific automation tools to help systematize and simplify your online presence.

Brenda Horton is Co-owner of Hware, a software company that designs business planning tools for small businesses. She will be hosting a FREE and LIVE Webinar on Social Media STRATEGIES for beginners on September 2nd.

If you would like to be a subscriber to Hware’s blog click on Email or RSS.

Your PLAN must start with a VISION.

I stopped by my Realtor friend’s office yesterday and she shared with me how she felt overwhelmed with all the social media stuff. She said that she did not understand what the Acid Rain website was all about. I said, “You mean, Active Rain.” A social networking site for the real estate community. If I were a grain of sand for everytime someone has said that to me, I’d be a beach. There is so much confusion and curiosity about social media. It is a HUGE topic that makes people feel like it is one more thing — like a necessary evil that they have to learn. I feel their pain. That is why I am writing a series of blog posts specifically for the social media newbie.

Begin with the END in mind.

Let’s put things in perspective. As with all big undertakings in life, you need to have a PLAN. Why do you think the planning industry is so BIG; event planners, wedding planners, financial planners; retirement planners, meal planners, life coaches, fitness trainers…you get the picture. Having a social media plan for your small business, start-up, or your non-profit is no different. Your PLAN needs to start with a VISION: Ask yourself, “What do I want to accomplish with social media? Some people want to use it to grow their business. Some people want to just connect with friends. Non-profits may want to reach their donors with it. The point is that you need to start with the end in mind. What is your intention? It’s important to understand that social media is about networking, as in building relationships and making friends. After people like you and trust you, after they have become your friends, then it is much easier to ask them to buy from you or donate to your cause.

Are you social media conscious?

On my next blog post, I will write in more detail about creating a VISION for your social media plan. I’ll give you a hint. It starts with your target audience, your buyer persona, your ideal client profile.  In the meantime, I’d love to hear about your social media plan if you already have one. Even if you say, “I don’t have a plan, I just like observing and reading what people are saying on the different social networking sites.” That’s is okay too. The fact that you are conscious about what your intentions are with regards to social media is important to identify and understand. I realize this stuff sounds so obvious to those who are power users of social media, but I’m trying to help newcomers to social media connect the dots and make some sense of it. Please make comments on the blog post and let me know if you found this post to be useful.

Brenda Horton owns Hware, a software company that designs easy-to-use web-based, business planning tools for entrepreneurs.

She will be giving a webinar on social media for newbies next month. Be sure to sign up for her blog for notification of the upcoming webinar at www.hware.com/blog

Join Hware’s FAN page at www.Facebook.com/HwareFB

What Happened to AlphaWomen.com?

Alphawomen.com

Usually, I am a very optimistic person, but please allow me to vent. I HATE seeing female-owned businesses fold, especially ones that empowered other women. I was saddened to hear that the AlphaWomen.com website, http://alphawomen.com/which was founded by Freda Mooncotch, is shutting down by the end of July 2009.  In Ms. Mooncotch’s blog post from July 1st, she stated, “I do not have the resources to continue to carry the site any longer…!” Ms. Mooncotch continues in the next paragraph, “Many of you are wondering what will come of me…Really the opportunities are endless and I don’t have a plan. I am going to let it unfold and jump into the unknown trusting that everything is going to work out for me! In fact, I know it is.”

Does Your Small Business Have a Business Plan?

I don’t have a plan? I wonder if Ms.Mooncotch had a business plan with AlpahWomen.com.  I wonder if she made revenue and financial projections. Sadly, but true, more small businesses fail than succeed within the first five years. The main reason is lack of capital also known as lack of money. Let’s give Ms. Mooncotch the benefit of the doubt and assume she had a business plan. It is safe to assume that her revenue projections did not make plan, which is why she can no longer carry the site. Ms.Mooncotch then writes, “If you feel compelled to take AlphaWomen.com over…by all means make me an offer…you won’t insult me by what you may think is a low ball offer. Just be ready to back it up with cash in the event we come to an agreement! You just never know what mood you might catch me in!”

Do You Make Business Decisions Based on Your Mood?

What mood you might catch me in? Is she selling a business based on her mood? What about the value of the business? What about the assets, database, and good-will? Don’t get me wrong. I am all for doing business with people that give me a “good vibe” and feelings are important.  However, one could be in the worst of moods, but a mood should NEVER dictate the price and transaction of a business deal. All too often, women entrepreneurs make decisions based on their feelings, mood, and heart and that is good, but we women entrepreneurs need to learn to incorporate  logic, the analytical side of our brain into business for creating balance. It is imperative that women entrepreneurs make a paradigm shift in how we see ourselves as business owners.  When you, as an entrepreneur are responsible for generating revenue for your very own small business, you have an obligation to see yourself as a business person. Do you think CEOs of successful companies tell their board of directors or investors that they don’t have a plan? Or, they say things like, ” Hey Tom, that’s okay that you ruined the relationship with Company ABC and lost a potential 2 million dollar business transaction. I know you weren’t in the best of moods. Hang in there buddy.” I think not.

I liked the AlpahWomen.com website. I had high hopes for Ms. Mooncotch’s company mainly because I liked how her site was a platform for bringing women together. It was a brilliant idea, but unfortunately, like most small businesses, it was short lived. So here is my question to all the female entrepreneurs: Do you have a business plan in place for your small business? Feel free to post a comment.

Brenda Horton is the owner of Hware, a software company that designs online business planning tools for small businesses. She will be hosting a webinar series on social media strategies for beginners starting July 28th 2009.

Focus, Clarity, and Priorities start with a PLAN.

Has there ever been a time in your business when you lacked focus? Not clear on what actions to take to move your business forward? Not sure what to prioritize first, second, and third? At some point, many entrepreneurs and small business owners have struggled with lack of clarity. They are not sure what specific actions are needed that will result in generating revenue or taking their business to the next level. As an entrepreneur, I have oftentimes struggled with time management, focus, clarity and priorities.  As a former outside sales person, I’d spend my time cleaning my office as opposed to prospecting for customers. Or, I’d spend my time hanging out with customers who had no intention of buying from me versus cultivating customer relationships with those who could buy from me. Eventually, I realized that my office was not going to generate any revenue, but spending time with my qualified customers would.

Business and Strategic Planning minimizes failure and improves your success rate.

I speak from past personal experience when I say that oftentimes entrepreneurs “shoot from the hip” or they “wing it.” This mentality leads to a lot of wasted time and chasing our tails in a circle.  You would never go on a 6 week hiking trip up in the back country wilderness without a plan would you? Okay, maybe you would if you wanted to test your survival skills.  The same goes for your small business.

My 77 year old father in-law hiking in Yosemite.

It would be business suicide to jump into ACTION without a PLAN. The sad truth is that many entrepreneurs do just that! Business planning and strategic planning have everything to do with preparing for the journey that will inevitably unfold in your business endeavors.  Moreover, knowing what to do first, second, and third is just as crucial. It’s about taking the right action at the right time. Business plannning  forces you to think things through on many different levels and scenarios. Let’s go back to the hiking analogy. What if bad weather hit? What if you got injured? What should you pack in your emergency kit? What if you encounter bears? Having a plan helps you think through all the variables, scenarios, and situations that you may encounter on your hiking trip. So it is with your small business. The purpose of a plan is to minimize failure. Unfortunately, small businesses have an extremely high failure rate. Business planning and strategic planning minimizes failure and improves your success rate. Prioritizing, focus, clarity, and managing your time all start with a plan. A plan helps you to focus on what is needed, why it is needed, when it is needed, who will take action, and how it will get done. It helps you get clear, laser focus, and prioritize the most important things in your business that will generate revenue and make your business profitable.

Are you ready to work on your Social Media PLAN?

Right now, more than ever,  small business owners are trying to figure out how to use social media to grow their business. I hear comments like, “What social networking site should I go to? Who should I connect with?  How much time should I spend on social media?”  I rarely hear, “What kind of return on my investment in social media will I get?”  Or, “How will I measure my efforts in social media?” Having a social media plan in place for your business is imperative. Otherwise, it could cost your business a lot of wasted time and money. It is not a one-size-fits-all.  A social media plan for a hospital may be different than for a restaurant. One industry may be slow to adopt social media while another is heavily using it. Where does your business fit into social media? Is your business ready to jump into the world of social media? Is now the right time? Do you have your systems and talent in place to manage your social media efforts? Taking the right action on social media at the right time starts with your business plan…ENVISION PLAN ACT.

Brenda Horton will be hosting a live webinar series on Social Media Summer Boot Camp for Beginners starting in July 2009. Sign up for her blog to receive more upcoming information.

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These are good free tools for small business as well as learning professionals. Take a look and let me know what you think by commenting below.