Make Your Pitch Personal
➽ Can I share my own story when I pitch to my target market? ➽You might worry that others will think sharing candid personal details shows weakness, but I’ve found that it forges a bond. For example, when I started Women For Hire—a career expo company—more than a decade ago, I let job seekers know […]
Doubling Up: How to Run Two Businesses
Owning one business is plenty challenging for most people. How can you run two? A: Marley Majcher runs a high-end Los Angeles catering and event-planning firm, The Party Goddess!, and also travels the country coaching entrepreneurs. Kelly Lester doubles as an actress and owner of EasyLunchboxes, a food container company. Ceci Johnson owns Ceci New […]
Collaborate!
My greatest challenge is that it’s only me. I need help executing my grand ideas. How can I get extra hands onboard without paying for them? A: In a word: collaborate. By working with like-minded people and companies that serve the same audience you do, you’ll benefit from each other’s legwork. But you can also benefit by collaborating […]
Generating Referrals
When I moved to New York City 20 years ago, I needed a dentist. I asked a colleague to recommend someone. She enthusiastically referred me to her dentist, and I still go to him. So do my brother and sister-in-law. And her sister and brother-in-law. Referrals—personal recommendations—have always been one of the most effective ways […]
Be a Media Maestro
Q: I see many industry peers appearing in the media, and I realize this could—and should—be me. But I don’t know where to begin to generate coverage of my company’s area of expertise. A: I’m a weekly contributor on ABC’s Good Morning America, but I didn’t start there. I worked my way up from the […]
Can This Biz Be Saved?: Make the Price Right
Q: My coaching service is low-cost, so I need an endless supply of clients whom I can’t find time to secure. How can I get a handle on my numbers before I go bust? A: Ignoring costs is a deadly trap for entrepreneurs. To have any shot at running a sustainable business, nail your numbers […]
Inventory Purgatory
Q: I have too much inventory. It’s not moving, and it’s killing my business. What are my options? A: Every retailer faces this problem sometime. You bet the farm that a product will move, but instead, it. just. sits. there. Years ago I came up with a seemingly great idea, a line of T-shirts for […]
Plucky or Lucky, You Decide
So often people tell me that I’m lucky. Lucky to have an exciting career. Lucky to work with phenome
Be a Network Star
I spend lots of time and money going to networking events to generate business vital fo
Can This Business Be Saved?: Choosing Your Business
Q. I’ve been reading SUCCESS for about a year, and I’m ready to qu
The Art of Being Barbara
On every episode of ABC’s hit show Shark Tank, there’s a little drama that
Can This Business Be Saved?: Add Value
Q: At the start of the year, I always dream of raising prices, but after struggling thr
