Mom, Inc.: Get Organized!

Working moms; we think we're organized but most of us aren't. Do you have a place for everything in your house? What about the nagging tasks that float around in your head on your way to work. . .have a place for those? It doesn't stop. As a mom, you are constantly juggling and in order for you to be successful your juggling must stop. Now. Organization doesn't have to mean a $1500 charge at Hold Everything™. In fact, most of the things moms need to organize aren't necessarily tactile, which makes it even harder. It's the more complex task of sorting out errands, assignments due, work responsibilities and family obligations. You could really make big changes by doing one thing; yep, one thing. Write out "DO IT NOW" on a big piece of paper at work and place it somewhere you are always looking.

If you are a techy-gadget-loving mom like me, your iPad or iPhone pretty much rule the roost, and they also act as great distraction toys for your kid(s). I have tried many apps - such as "Intuition" which is built for moms. It got a thumbs down. I stick to the iCal and a program called Remember The Milk™. Even though I don't drink milk (we are vegan up in here) this program is really essential for working moms. Whether it's synching with your Outlook, Twitter, Gmail, Blackberry, Google or iPhone...you've got yourself beat with the best organizational tool on-the-run. Just start managing your tasks by signing up. It's totally free, efficiently wonderful and you can even sign in with your Google account.

Why is organization so important? Well, if you're this effective when you're head is clouded imagine how great your work and your family life will be once you've got a handle on everything. To be in control is to not be controlled; we all know that mommying is a full-time, doesn't-stop-for-anything role we assume with a smile on our face. However, much of our own life is uncontrollable: our kid(s) can get sick at any point, we can miss a night's sleep or a family vacation may go awry. In all of these situations it's most important to step back and really evaluate what it is you can control. Your newly found organizational skills is just one of your most effective and valued tools.

So what now? You're on the right path. Start by signing up for RTM. You will feel a weight lifted right off your chest as soon as you start typing in and managing your tasks. Next time we will talk about how you can relax without losing a moment of productivity or a moment with your child. Promise.

http://www.rememberthemilk.com

The Mom, Inc. Column on the Ladies Lotto Blog:

It's not enough to be a mom these days but now we run companies, develop ideas and rule the world! The Mom, Inc. weekly column offers Ladies Lotto's working moms a chance to learn, prosper in their careers and family life, and become more successful and productive. Meet the Blogger: Marissa Spano

Creativity as Leadership Competency

I've said it many times, and I'll say it again: "Creativity is the key to everything." Despite it being my personal mantra, it turns out that creativity can even help you land a job.

In a recent article by Yahoo Finance, a survery of over 1,500 CEO's identified "creativity" as the most important leadership competency above all others, including operational effectiveness, influence, and even dedication.

The article goes on to say that "against that backdrop of interconnection, interdependency, and complexity, business leaders around the world are declaring that success requires fresh thinking and continuous innovation at all levels of the organization." That means that creative thinking and action can be used tactically, to accomplish the following business-related objectives: disrupting the status quo, expanding existing business models and overcoming organizational paralysis.

"A world of increasing complexity will give rise to a new generation of leaders that make creativity the path forward for successful enterprises."

In addition to letting our creative juices flow in the traditional locales, such as studios, theaters, and street corners, we can bring true innovation and creative thought into conference rooms and board rooms as well. While rejecting the traditional 9-to-5 lifestyle in the name of art, expression, and personal freedom may be true for some; we can now bring these artistic and creative values and talents to the workplace to embody and redefine the complete 21st century professional.

It's time to get creative about how we think about creativity itself - to enhance not only our souls but our professional lives as well.

How To Make It In America: Entrepreneurship 101 Recap

Photo via LoveShot

How to Make It in America is a fast-paced, fun look at how two handsome guys from New York City with nothing in their pockets set plans in motion to build a clothing empire. Everything seems to fall into their laps; they know the right people, kick it in the right scene and know how to charm almost anyone. However, it's not reality.

In early March, Ladies Lotto New York kept it real with guests at Entrepreneurship 101: A How-To Guide For Starting Your Own Business. Start-up savvy experts from the worlds of law, fashion and marketing were tapped to share their experiences with guests interested in a side project or doing a complete 180 and venturing out on their own. Ladies Lotto's panel provided guests with the basics everyone should know about starting a business.

Women-owned firms contribute nearly $3 trillion dollars to the U.S. economy and they maintain 23 million jobs.

The night kicked off with lawyer and founder of the Fridman Law Group, Iliya Fridman. Fridman urged everyone to find out which type of corporate entity works best for ones business. It is important to be financially protected no matter what business venture you're involved in or else you could take a personal hit. However, don't let this be a hindrance. "In order to grow your business you are going to have to take many risks. Don't be afraid to fail," says designer, Vanessa Webster. A strong base is necessary for good and bad times.

While the business world seems to be dominated by men; senior marketing director, Fradel Barber pointed out that "[according to the National Women's Business Council] women-owned firms contribute nearly $3 trillion dollars to the U.S. economy and they maintain 23 million jobs." So, if jumping into the start-up pool seems scary; you're not alone. There are many women just like you who had an idea; wanted financial freedom or an alternate revenue stream who are running successful businesses.

Even the women responsible for moderating and setting up the event have strong entrepreneurial inclinations. Moderator, Mara Ingram left the marketing realm for a new career in real estate where she sets her hours and knows her revenue stream is solely determined by her drive -- and she has lots. Currently, events associate Jessica Usenbor works for a retail chain. However, she's building skills that will help her transition into a full fledged event manager.

All of this business talk made me wonder about the women of Ladies Lotto. I found myself asking what compelled the entrepreneurs in Ladies Lotto to start businesses and what advice they could offer other members. So, I called Julia Werman, co-founder -- with her sister Nina -- of Valley, a one stop shop for nails, waxing and skincare.

Business is hard no matter how fun.

Juila Werman, Valley

What did you do before your current venture?
Prior to starting Valley with my sister, Nina, I was a social worker in New York for 10 years. But I decided I wanted to do something different. I traveled and was in South America for six months. Nina just moved to New York City and was trying to figure out what she wanted to do too.

Why did you feel the need to start your own business?
[Nina and I] come from an entrepreneurial family. We're passionate and ambitious but we didn't like working for others. Valley was not our first idea. We had a brainstorm one night and thought about going to LA but none of us really wanted to be there. I remember getting waxed in South America and how much I liked it compared to getting it done at spas in the U.S. In South America they use the hard wax. We wanted to be a little different so we decided to add clothing and accessories.

What are a few things every LLady should know about being an entrepreneur?
Don't be naive. Business is hard no matter how fun. It's important to realize [owning a business] is not all about freedom. You don't always have time to yourself; it's 24/7. It felt lonely the first year because friends who didn't own businesses didn't understand. If you are a small business owner you are everything; CEO, payroll and even janitor. Also, it can be hard to work with relatives. [Nina and I] have agreements written up to keep the business and personal separate. There are so many things I wish I had been told.

Starting your own business can be extremely rewarding. However, you can't be in it to win it if you don't even know how to get started. If the thought of starting your own business still excites you, click here to learn more about Ladies Lotto's Entrepreneurship 101 speakers and get valuable tips.

Tune in tomorrow for the full length video of Ladies Lotto's Entrepreneurship 101 event.

Entrepreneurship 101

Entrepreneurship 101 is designed to educate New Yorkers about the logistics of starting their own business. Despite the challenges of today’s economy, many small business owners are flourishing. The women of Ladies Lotto are natural leaders and innovators within their chosen industries, many of whom are at this very turning point in their careers. Guided by a panel of start-up savvy experts, participants will learn how to turn their passions and skills into an official business.

The Entrepreneurship 101 panel will include a business attorney, a representative from a successful break-through startup powerhouse, an accountant, a thriving designer, a freelancer, a marketing guru, and more.


Entrepreneurship 101: A How-To Guide For Starting Your Own Business
Tuesday, March 9th 2010
7pm

287 Spring Street
New York, NY 10012

RSVP: RSVPNYC@LADIESLOTTO.COM

$25 NON-MEMBERS (pre-pay) http://tinyurl.com/llny3-2010
$15 MEMBERS

SPACE IS LIMITED, PLEASE RESERVE A SPOT BY PAYING IN ADVANCE.

Online Productivity Tools for Your Business

Online Productivity Tools for Your Business Via Mashable

2010 Start Ups To Watch Out For

Found this via Mashable editor Jenn Van Grove's twitter page - her picks for 2010 start ups we should be watching...

Money Matters: How to Finance your Business during a downturn

If It were only that simple

We all know that trying to start your own business is no joke. No one ever said it was going to be easy, sure it will be fun to see it come to life, then be rich and famous on top of that would be the best thing ever. But before we start to get ahead of ourselves, question. Where the hell is that money coming from? While you are still trying to pay for rent, transportation, get your food going (i.e. top ramen) and look good while doing it all. Here is something that will help you pull it all together.

Tuesday November 17th 6 - 7:30pm

Hear from various lenders about the different loans and financing alternatives they offer and how you can qualify.

-Accion USA
-BOC Capital Corporation
-NYC Financial Network Action Consortium
-Project Enterprise
-The Local Development Corporation of East New York

Register Online at www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/business or call 718-623-7000 option 4



Check it out ladies. Can't look like this guy right here. We don't need a job, when we are running the business.

Build Your Brand - 8 Essential Steps

Photo by Jennifer Tzar

Build Your Brand
By Barbara Reinhold

Who makes your favorite shoes or outfits? What beverage calls your name when you need a pick-me-up? Whose movies won't you miss? Whose help do you seek when you want a project done right, at home or at work?

All of these questions involve your reactions to a particular brand -- a collection of assumptions about quality, appeal and reliability that you've made in response to repeated experience with a variety of possible products, people or services. Here's the important thing: Whether you like to think about it or not, right now there are people thinking about your very own brand of whatever you are and do, and they're deciding if they want to make it one of their favorites.

International branding strategist Robin Fisher Roffer, author of Make a Name for Yourself, suggests eight steps to help women develop and project their own brands.


-Eight Essential Steps

1. Identify the primary "product" (service, resource, special ability, etc.) you have to offer others.

2. Identify your core values. What really matters to you?

3. Identify your passions. What things or ideas do you love?

4. Identify your talents. What have you always been recognized for (particularly as a kid)? What do you do better than most other people? What skills do people seem to notice in you?

5. From your hopefully long list of talents and qualities, choose the top five, the ones you do best and enjoy doing the most.

6. Weave the items on all your lists into a statement of your specialty. What are you particularly gifted at delivering?

7. Write a paragraph emphasizing your specialty and your five key talents, weaving in your most important values, passions and skills.

8. Now add a tag line to your brand.


-The Tag Line Tells Your Story

A coach I know who consults by phone -- primarily helping six-figure earners work their way even further up the corporate ladder -- goes by this tag line: "A coach for successful people to help them be even more successful." A senior project manager working in the crossfire between the marketing group and packaging designers at a stressful manufacturing facility has developed this tag line: "An efficient problem solver who understands and enjoys both the creativity of designers and the practicality of marketers." My tag line for my counseling and coaching practice is this: "The permissionary -- a visionary realist to help you discover and manifest your dreams.

A tag line's shorthand helps other people remember a key point about you. At the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts chapter of the NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) breakfast meetings, every member and guest stands up and introduces herself via her tag line, or verbal business card. In this organization, the women remember each other's tag lines as easily as their names, and after each month's meeting, hundreds of ripples go out about each of the women attending and what she has to offer. And it works for entrepreneurs and employees alike.

-Get the Word Out

Once you've worked over your tag line and the other items on the list for a few days or weeks, it's time to take them public with someone you trust. Keeping them secret is a sure way to never act on them.

The road to career disappointment is littered with lists, dreams and goals never shared with anyone. So get your "brand me" musings out into the light of day to solicit support and constructive criticism from someone else. And you could be a brand advisor for that person in return. And it would be even better is you could get four or five women together regularly to encourage and critique each other's branding strategies and activities.

5 in 1: A New Kind of Boutique for a Slow-Fashion Nation

photo credit www.graememitchell.com

I know you've all heard me promote 5 in 1 before, but thought I'd share a recent post in Treehugger, explaining a little more about the store's concept.

Fueled by a faltering economy, a desire to rein in the frenetic pace of senseless spending, and the spirit of reinvention, Brooklyn design collective/boutique 5 in 1 recently relaunched with a decidedly innovative twist: a weekend shopping experience with the designers themselves.

Open only Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 5 in 1 is run by eight local designers, including Helena Fredriksson of H.Fredriksson, Caroline Priebe of ULURU, Mary Meyer of Mary Meyer Clothing, and Susan Domelsmith of Dirty Librarian Chains.

In lieu of hired shop clerks, each of the designers has to man the shop one full weekend every six to eight weeks, although they get to decide what "work" actually involves, whether it's one-on-one tête-à-têtes with clients, trunk shows, sample sales, or something more experimental.

"The 5 in 1 retail space gives designers an opportunity to work together, share resources, experiment and give the customer a personal and curated shopping experience," Ariell Ilunga, the group's spokeswoman, tells TreeHugger. "A 5 in 1 customer is able to engage in conversation with the designer about their process, materials, fit, concept, and cost. These sort of exchanges are not only good for the business but nourish them as artists personally, creatively, and emotionally."

Hey Sista Sole Sista

Um really...why didn't I think of this!?? After years of event planning, hosting and being fabulous in five inchers (then limping home at the end my fabulous evening ). I'm proud to announce (as if I'd thought of it myself) "Rollasole" out of the UK - a company that fills vending machines with trendy ballet flats that can be your "sole" savior in a pinch. They're sold at clubs in the UK, and I'm all for them coming to this side of the pond to save us all from those nights when fashion sense says yes, but before long the feet say HELL no.

Find these babies on: http://www.rollasole.com/

Mind Yo (Eco) Business!

Photo by Mauricio Alejo via Kitsune Noir

Author, model and Discovery TV host Summer Rayne Oaks is in the spotlight for Ladies Lotto New York's April meeting. She'll discuss the integration of business with an eco-conscious lifestyle.

Our own eco blogger, Tara St. James hosts this night of fashion, ecology and dollar, dollar bills y'all.

Special goodies will be on tap for early birds.


Wednesday, April 22nd
7:00-9:00 pm

Hooligan Studios
177 N 10th Street Unit B
Brooklyn, NY 11211

- $10 pre-paid by April 21st
http://tinyurl.com/llny4-09

- $15 day of WITH RSVP
rsvpnyc@ladieslotto.com

- $20 day of WITHOUT RSVP
We urge you to PRE-PAY or RSVP


Catering by Rabbit Mafia
Beverages by 44 North