Donna Maria is an entrepreneur mentor, the founder and CEO of the Indie Business Network, and the host of the Indie Business Podcast and the Indie Business Retreat. She has been recognized as one of the most trusted voices for Makers and Creative Entrepreneurs. Her coaching and consulting enterprise trains thousands of new and evolving entrepreneurs every day.

Women’s Conferences Spur Sales

Indie Beauty Network member Jamila White is a busy woman these days. In addition to working on a lucrative e-commerce consulting project for the Smithsonian Institution, she serves several clients one-on-one and also runs j.blossom, a bath and body products company aimed at young girls. I caught up with Jamila yesterday at the Mocha Moms…

Mocha Moms Rock Atlanta!

Today, I spoke at the Mocha Moms National Conference outside Atlanta, Georgia. Without Mocha Moms, my life as a young mother would have been a train wreck. After marrying in May 2000, quitting my job in November 2000 to start my business and delivering my daughter Vanessa (here enjoying her first birthday cake) in October…

Vault Episode #73: Jena Thompson [Podcast]

The Vault is an archive of my first podcasts so there is a record for you to enjoy. Welcome to the Vault Episode 73 featuring my interview with Jena Thompson, the founder and president of Daisy Blue Naturals. For any business Network member, expanding our businesses and reaching a wider audience is always a top priority.…

The Indie Business Trifecta

If you could be guaranteed Indie Business success just by remembering 3 things, and working according to them, would you be up to the challenge? If so, here is today’s tip: The Indie Business Trifecta.Read it. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Act on it. 1. Make Technology Your Slave.Big topic, I know. But let’s start…

Best Little Soaphouse In Texas

Congratulations to Indie Beauty Network member Rachel Lane of Barcelona Bath & Body, the best little soaphouse in Texas. (Well, candles, sachets and room spray too, but they messed up my catchy title). Rachel won a copy of Marie Gale’s book, Soap and Cosmetic Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain…

Where The Boys Aren't

My 5-year old daughter recently said to her 3-year old brother, “When you are 10, you get a cell phone, and when you are 16, you get a boyfriend. Right mommy?” My son responded, “I’ll never have a boyfriend.” (Is that a good thing? Can’t handle it right now …) Meanwhile, there was my darling…

Success Excess

Success. It’s different for everyone, yet everyone wants it. But sometimes beneath the surface lurks an attitude of destructive pride and selfishness which I call Success Excess. Everyone wants to enjoy as much success as possible. Yet success cannot be enjoyed when it is defined by what someone else is doing or not doing. Consider…

Vault Episode #72: Francine Silverman [Podcast]

The Vault is an archive of my first podcasts so there is a record for you to enjoy. Welcome to the Vault Episode 72 featuring my interview with Francine Silverman. As an expert in promoting businesses from the unique perspective of a book publisher, Francine is the esteemed editor and publisher of “Book Promotion Newsletter,”…

My Visual DNA

While tooling around today, I found a site that allows you to assemble your "visual DNA" by choosing pictures that best represent your personal preferences in a variety of areas of life. Here’s mine. Read my VisualDNA™     Get your own VisualDNA™ I am pretty easy going, love to escape to the ocean, believe that…

Happy Indie Business Day!

Life, liberty and the pursuit of Indie! I love living in America because of the opportunity I have been given to pursue the kind of lifestyle that works best for me, my husband and my children. It’s not the easiest lifestyle, and it comes with lots of changes and a certain amount of unpredictability. But…

Victoria Magazine Is Back!

For many years, I subscribed to Victoria Magazine. I loved it because the photography was beautiful and the editorial staff took a special interest in woman Indie Business owners. Each month, they featured the story of a woman in business and at the end of the year, invited readers to vote for their favorite. The…