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.
No doubt, the way we work is changing. I shared some thoughts on this many years ago here at the blog. As I review that 2009 article today, I am struck by the fact that my life and work are more integrated today than I ever thought they would be. To me, it’s a natural…
One of the best ways to make yourself and your business the best they can be is to learn from the success of others. That’s why we love to spotlight our members here at the blog. Today, you’ll meet Teri Patterson, founder of Body Systems in Rapid City, South Dakota. Teri, who is a certified…
One of the best ways to be inspired to make yourself and your business the best they can be is to learn from the success of others. That’s why we love to spotlight our members here at the blog. Today, you’ll meet Karrie Welch, founder of Fortunate Face Minerals in Westfield, Massachusetts. Karrie has been…
IndieCruise Mastermind 2014 was a resounding success! I’m thrilled to share that my annual signature event was — in a word — fabulous. You may recall that our theme was “No More Beauty Business As Usual.” In addition to myself, the speakers were the amazing Lela Barker of Lucky Break Consulting, Dawn Fitch of Pooka…
One of the best ways to be inspired to make yourself and your business the best they can be is to learn from the success of others. That’s why we love to spotlight our members here at the blog. Today, you’ll meet Anne Marie Esposito, founder of Sparklefly Candle Company in Selden, New York. Anne…
One of the questions I am most often asked by new members is, “What should I do first now that I am a member of the Indie Business Network?” There are so many benefits to joining the Indie Business Network (you can see them here), and it can be a big daunting to decide where…
The new 2014 Indie Business Network member badge is here! Indie Business Network members in good standing can log in and grab the code for the badge for the current year at this link. The badge looks like this, except the year is 2014 and there is no “sample” watermark. The badge is available in…
One of the best ways to be inspired to make yourself and your business the best they can be is to learn from the success of others. That’s why we love to spotlight our members here at the blog. Today, you’ll meet the lovely Roberta Perry, founder of Scrubz Body Scrub, Inc. in Bethpage, New…
Before you start taking your products to retail stores to sell them, you might want to get into the head of the people you are trying to influence. Retailers are a special type of customer, and they do not respond to the methods you use to sell your products directly to consumers. Yes, there is…
It’s hard to believe 2014 is really here, and I am so excited about it. Last year was awesome and this year is already shaping up to be even better as I embrace new opportunities to help you build and strengthen the business of your dreams. I have noticed that many of you are asking…
Earlier this evening, our very own La Shonda Tyree hosted the first #IndieMeetup of the year in her brand new NYAH Studio in Paterson, New Jersey. The ladies in attendance enjoyed a great time of fellowship and encouragement as they used colorful graphics and affirming words to visualize a great 2014. Here’s a photo of…
During these last few days of 2013, I am reflecting on the fabulous year it has been. I have the privilege to wake up every morning to live the life of my dreams doing what I love. There is nothing like this way of living. Through IBN, I help others discover and use their unique…
Dozens of our members had fun exchanging gifts during our first annual Indie Business Network Secret Santa Gift Exchange. All of the gifts were personally handmade (of course) by the Secret Santa member and had a retail value of somewhere around $20.00. Pictured here are aromatherapy soaps in Cashmere, Holiday Magic and Cinnamint, gifted to…
I‘m excited to introduce a new topic we’ll be covering here at the blog. The idea is to showcase the ingredients and product components our members use to make the fantastic handmade products they sell. Our members make everything from perfume, to james and jellies, to soaps, to bath bombs, to candles … and hundreds…
One of the best ways to be inspired to make yourself and your business the best they can be is to learn from the success of others. That’s why we love to spotlight our members here at the blog. Today, you’ll meet Emily Caswell, founder and president of GCDSpa in Topsham, Maine. I asked Emily…
I am very excited to share an amazingly new thing that we have never done before here at the Indie Business Network. Announcing Connection Day 2014! Connection Day will be hosted in multiple cities in 2014, starting with Atlanta. Other cities will be added soon including: Los Angeles, Dallas Ft. Worth, Chicago, New York City,…
One of the best ways to be inspired to make yourself and your business the best they can be is to learn from the success of others. That’s why we love to spotlight our members here at the blog. Today, you’ll meet Keith Emmons and Robert Ungemach, co-founders and partners at Kiez, an online boutique…
One of the best ways to be inspired to make yourself and your business the best they can be is to learn from the success of others. That’s why we love to spotlight our members here at the blog. Today, you’ll meet Adora Winquist, founder of ADORATherapy and Opus Gaia in Madison, New Jersey. Meet…
I am pleased to announce our December 2013 Indie Business Book Club pick: Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Withint Us All, by Tom and David Kelley. For the past few years, I have hosted Indie Business Book Club, a fun and convenient way for Indie Business Network members to learn and grow together. If…
Ilove it when the hard work of our Indie Business Network members is rewarded by a great media feature. Recently, Ashley O’Neil and Lindsay Crawford of Herbal Grace Creations in Yarmouth, Maine were featured in the Forecaster and Bangor Deaily News, and I just had to share. I love this picture, taken by Brendan Twist…
One of the best ways to be inspired to make yourself and your business the best they can be is to learn from the success of others. That’s why we love to spotlight our members here at the blog. Today, you’ll meet Katherine Corkill, founder of Sterling Minerals in Nampa, Idaho. Meet Katherine, her lovely…