Ladies Who Launch

Resolve To Love Being Single

Congrats to New York City Incubator Member Sherri Langburt who is the founder of Single Edition, a lifestyle website for singles.  Her website is featured in today's New York Times.   A snippet of the article is below.

clipped from www.nytimes.com

For some singles at New Year’s Eve soirees tonight, the minutes leading up to midnight will be agonizing as they ponder whom they’ll be standing next to at the pucker-up moment.

Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times

Sherri Langburt, a founder of SingleEdition.com, a Web site on navigating life as a single person without the drumbeat of dating advice.

But a new Web site, SingleEdition.com, wants nothing more than to embrace them. And unlike dating sites that treat being single as a predicament, this one celebrates flying solo, and offers shopping, financial and other advice to help them do so with pride.

“If you Google the term ‘single,’ all that comes up is dating, dating, dating,” said Sherri Langburt, a founder of SingleEdition.com. “But what we’re saying is there’s a whole other realm of things that go on for a single person that are not dating.”

Tip: Participate in LinkedIn Questions and Other Social Sites

by Fashionmista aka That IT Girl, Spammy Scammers, and Katie James

Online participation gets you face-time. An easy way to do this is to drop into online forums and participate in them - as a seeker of knowledge and as a giver of your expertise. When you do this, be honest and give back.

Dropping into online forums at places like LinkedIn via their Questions can feel like a waste of time - especially if you are working for yourself. No one is paying you to read and learn, right? I often put off this sort of browsing, saving it until late at night when I really should not be staring at a brightly lit liquid crystal screen. BUT. It can pay off in several ways:

• You learn something that will help develop your business. While skipping around a forum, I learned about MailChimp, a great email newsletter company, which also exposed me to their blog, which is a gold mine of information for best practices in sending HTML based (aka pretty graphics) enewsletters.
• You make new friends who can be supportive and introduce you to new resources and opportunities. Kathy of Brooklyn Indie Market contacted me through my blog, and she is not only super supportive, but delivers gold nuggets whenever she can. I also found her friend (my friend now through her) a job with Kathlin Argiro thanks to the LWL Yahoo forum (that will now be on the new LWL website!!).
• Get press from a journalist who is seeking experts in exactly what you're so smart in. Beth, who is ever thinking of ways to publicize LWL members, showed me a blogging question in LinkedIn by a woman who was writing a piece for the New York Times. Luckily I was too busy to think too much, so I responded in my traditional detailed way, and it landed me a call from the writer for her piece. I need to get better at speaking in "quotable" snippets, so she didn't use me, but she did showcase sweetriot's blog (an LWL member, and I don't know if the LinkedIn question was the lead for this bit of publicity), but I did gain a press contact. PS: The NYT article on blogging and small business is great, by the way. Look for more from this author, as she interviewed many bloggers with different experiences and expertises.
• Link to blog posts from your own blog posts, especially when that blog displays linked blog post titles who are linking to them. Google's blog displays links to their posts, and here's a great post on their social network, OpenSocial, and how it relates to social networking.

So, a simple 10 minute investment in something online could lead to great things. You could easily do a bunch of 10 minute investments all day long, leading to hours of time, so it's up to you to pay attention to what is working and what isn't. And when you do this, be sure to fill out your profile and leave links of your website and blogs for people to check out - because they will!  But as always, be genuine, smart, and leave some work up to serendipity.

Do you have an example of a relationship or press piece that happened because you made a little drop in the online bucket? Please share!

Joanna Scaparotti, From Grinch To Guru

From Joanna Scaparotti. Joanna is a member of the Boston Ladies Who Launch where she runs a Reiki practice. Her website is Solutions for Stress, and her blog is Urban Vitality.

The holidays used to stress me out.   The angst and impending sense of doom started just after Labor Day.  When most were thinking about their late summer barbeques, I was already panicking about how I was going survive the holidays with my sanity and health intact.

The worst part for me was shopping for holiday gifts - it was like torture.  I stressed about finding those perfect presents that would delight and please the people I gifted.  I stressed about spending the right amount of money – enough so the person felt valued but not so much that I would end up broke.   I stressed about fair and equal gift giving, trying to make sure that the gifts I got each person were equivalent in value and also similar in number to open on the big day.   The more I stressed over gifts, the more I viewed gift giving as an obligation and came to resent the tradition.

Gifts weren’t the only terrible obligation demanded of me this season.  There were also the sweets, candies, cookies, and pies that everyone loves to make and give; of course I had to accept these gifts and eat them in order not to offend or disappoint.  It was brutal and wreaked havoc on my delicate system.  Then there were the holiday events where I was supposed to be light-hearted, joyful and merry.  Instead I was usually tired and grouchy; with one of those strained fake smiles that makes everyone else nervous and tense.

Not surprisingly, my health would decline this time of year after months of tension and anxiety.  I would be exhausted and achy, suffering from indigestion and some kind of upper respiratory ailment.  January would finally come, and I would collapse into my bed for as long as possible, like the Grinch in his hidey-hole secretly plotting how to stop holidays once and for all.

One year, I just couldn’t go through with it.  I wanted a break, and I refused to shop.  Lo and behold, my husband ended up taking care of all of the presents.  It turned out not to matter that he bought them all just days before Christmas, and they weren’t strategically planned to please and delight.   He enjoyed himself, and nobody could tell the difference between a gift bought spontaneously and a gift chosen deliberately with much debate.  I saw the distinct difference of enjoyment between a gift giver giving from his heart, and a gift giver giving out of obligation.  It was one of those “ah ha!” moments for me. 

Business Plan Competition From ATG

During the holidays, you make want to spend some time on creating a business plan. What's the incentive? You could win $50,000!

ATG, an ecommerce software provider, recently announced the kick-off of their 1^st e-Commerce Ingenuity Business Plan Competition. This competition is open to entrepreneurs, start-ups and early-stage companies alike, it invites tomorrow’s leaders to share their well-developed, ingenious, and ground-breaking business plans.

The deadline for entry is January 30, 2008. Three finalists will be invited to present their business plans at ATG's annual customer conference, ATG Insight Live 2008, connecting them with leaders in the industry and an unparalleled opportunity for visibility and recognition. Entries can be submitted at http://www.atg.com/ingenuity.

You can check out to how to create a business plan from reviewing AllBusiness which has tips on business plan basics including formatting.

Have your best holiday yet!:Your 5 step plan to "go for the joy" and lose the stress this holiday season.

Happy Holidays Ladies!

For many of you it is “that time of year”. You know, THAT TIME OF YEAR when…

• The lists of to do’s are a mile long.
• The mall is a mess but you need to be there.
• You have 10 parties to attend in the next 5 days.
• There is a pile of cards on your kitchen table that all need addresses (and perhaps they even need to be written.)
• There are special meals to prepare.
• There are parties to throw.
• There are large groups of people coming together that may not always do so well together.

Welcome to the holidays!

Whether this is your holiday time of year or not, we can all relate to those times when there is so much to do and seemingly not enough time to do it.

We can all relate to the idea of spending time with people, whether family or friends that perhaps get on our nerves, tire us out, or tend to create frustration or conflict. 

So many people take the frenzy and the frustration as a necessary evil of the season and today I would like to challenge this notion. 

Instead of the holidays “happening” to you, the flurry of activity and agitation being thrust upon you unawares, this year you are invited to create your holiday with intention.

You are invited to create your best holiday ever! Let’s go!

Step 1) Describe it!If you could create your holiday any way you wanted, what words would you use to describe it? 

Peaceful, fun, nostalgic, easy, effortless, flowing, meaningful?

Pick one or two words that describe your holiday the way you would like it to be.

Step 2) Be willing! Ask yourself if you are willing to be pleasantly surprised by your holiday and the people around you. 

Without a space for allowing something new you will never get it.  If you are determined to have a rough time then there is no room for your new experience.  Notice and acknowledge whether you are really ready for something new. Are you REALLY ready for uncle Phil to be an absolute delight?  If you are not, no problem… no surprises for you!

Step 3) Choose your best you! That's right, you get to choose how you are going to show up for the holidays. 

If you want the world to surprise you then you need to do your part as well.  To have your effortless, peaceful, memorable holiday, what could you bring to the table that would help this along.  Put another way, to have your best holiday yet, how would you choose to “be”. 

Would you… “be happy”, “be passionate”, “be courageous”, “be calm”, “be fun”, “be delightful”! 

Ask yourself if you could bring a “great you” to your holiday with intention, how would you “be”?

Step 4) Take action! Identify any obvious actions you could take to fulfill on your holiday to remember. 

With this new intention and new point of view there may be some obvious actions to take. 

• Perhaps you chose to be “bold’ so that you can create an “adventurous” holiday.  In that case you may already be clear that you need to call the neighbors and tell them to get ready for some carolers on Sunday night and that you like rum in your eggnog.
• Or perhaps you are choosing to create a “peaceful” holiday and you have chosen to show up or be “loving”.  As a result, you are clear that you need to get in touch with your sister, repair a misunderstanding and let her know you would love to have her over for dinner next week.

Step 5) Get Ready! Watch for your intention to be fulfilled.  (Get ready to be surprised and delighted!)

Once you are clear on what you want to create, the best way for you to “be” to create it, and you are truly willing to be surprised, then your final step is to watch for it. 

• Put on your new point of view and be willing to experience joy in the flurry of holiday shopping.
• Be willing to see the adventure in a ruined turkey or the guests showing up 4 hours early. 
• Be ready to find new things to appreciate and new empathy as you spend time with those who have traditionally rubbed you the wrong way. 

Get ready to have your best holiday yet!

By using these 5 simple steps I have seen nothing short of miracles occur. Before you make one more sugar cookie or hang one more wreath, stop and take a moment to create your holiday and reap the benefits of an intentional life.

Have a holiday to remember,

With Love,

Coach Joelle

SHARE YOUR SELF IN THE COMMENTS BELOW: I have taken this opportunity to create my own experience of the holidays below. You are invited to declare yourself. Create your week with intention. Create your best holiday yet and share what new delights showed up!

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR COACH JOELLE?:  I am looking for the opportunity to fully serve each of you on your personal adventure.  If you have a life or business challenge that you would like a coaching perspective on, please share your comments below or email me at [email protected].

Coach Joelle's best holiday yet!

Step 1) The holiday I am creating is: loving, fun, inspiring and meaningful.

Step 2)  I am totally willing to be surprised by what is possible for this holiday.

Step 3) How I will show up or the way I will “be” to create this Holiday is: Open, warm, playful, bold and intentional

Step 4) Obvious Action to take: 

• find out what day uncle Rob is available for Karaoke and find a place to go. 
• Create a holiday goals ritual for the family Saturday morning. 
• Write my intention somewhere visible so I remember what I am committed to.
• Bring my Wayne Dyer CD’s to learn more about Taoism.
• Bring my Ipod so I have my my music and audio programs to listen to. 
• Create a ritual with my husband to take our relationship to the next level.

Step 5) I’m ready baby!! Bring it on!!

Healthy Holiday Tips From Aja T. Marsh

From Austin Incubator Aja Marsh is a natural foods chef:

With the holidays in full swing, we might find ourselves struggling to keep our hands out of the cookie jar, pie plates, and cake stands. Or we might just be too busy to bother to eat well! Hey, I'm guilty of this as much as anyone! I think it's great to treat yourself to some 'naughty' foods and enjoy all kinds of tasty treats-- sweet and savory-- this time of year, but it can quickly out of hand—leading to guilt induced new year's resolutions that don't stick. When you find yourself at holiday parties, dinners, and other events, there are a few easy tips you can employ to help stay healthy during the times of temptation.

• Eat very small portions, or just take one or two bites, if you are interested in trying several different items. Take the time to savor those small bits, and you will feel just as satisfied.
• Resist the urge to eat until you're about to burst. This will only make you feel bloated, fatigued, and make your body work harder than necessary to process it all.
• Even on days where you know a big meal is imminent, plan to eat a regular breakfast, lunch, and snack, so that you don't over-do it come dinner time.
• If possible, encourage your hosts to include healthy offerings such as fresh fruits and vegetables, or, even better, bring a healthy dish to contribute to the feast!
• Keep to your normal routine as much as you can-- take time to workout several times a week, eat healthy home-cooked meals, and be sure to take time for yourself to rest.

In other news, just a couple of weeks ago, Aja did an interview with Sam Armstrong, Food Editor of the Austinist.com. Keep checking out her website and Stem+Leaf for new recipes, guest entries, and other news.

Incubator Member Charlene Blacer

Charlene Blacer is the owner of Cybermane, an online business that specializes in creating wigs and hair extensions.  She was profiled recently in the Pocono Record.

A Lad Who Launches Is Born

Congratulations to Ladies Who Launch Co-Founder Beth Schoenfeldt on the birth of her son!  Mom, Dad and baby boy are doing great.

Keeping Nickels: How To Handle Those Pesky Cash Receipts

Most of your business expenses are often paid via check or credit card, so that facilitates accounting. However, there are business expenses that are paid by cash like taxis, lunches, gratuity and some office supplies. Hopefully you have retained the receipts for them. Now is the time to organize the receipts and manually enter them into Quickbooks or the accounting application you are using. First you should organize the receipts by reviewing to see which ones are actual business expenses, and also check to see if these were paid by cash. If paid via credit or debit card, those expenses should have already been recorded in your business checking or credit card register. Once that is done, you can enter the receipts into the register of your Petty Cash account and code them by the proper account category such as postage, meals and entertainment, etc.

Plus, I strongly suggest getting a scanner, and scanning in all your cash receipts on a monthly basis which makes it easier at the end of the year.

I was recently alerted to a new web start-up Shoeboxed,that helps you organize receipts online.  They also have a new service, Project Mailboxed that will be rolled out in January 2008. With Project Mailboxed, you'll get a prepaid envelope every month from Shoeboxed. You stuff it with all your paper receipts and mail it back. They scan the receipts in for you, and you can access them through your secure Shoeboxed account with all your other receipts.

From Nichelle Stephens, New York Incubator/Blog Manager.

Salt Lake City Incubator Jen Davidson

Jen Davidson is founder of SnoDaisy Snowboarding. Recently SnoDaisywas awarded a $3000 grant from Zion’s Bank which will enable us to attend the biggest trade show in our industry.  Big thanks to Erin Olsen, the local incubator leader who made us aware of the grant!

SnoDaisy is also featured in the Competitor Magazine article, “Welcome to Snowboarding’s Feminine Side”.