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.
Blogging has enhanced my life in numerous ways. I love sharing my ideas and experiences at the same time as I chronicle my growth as a woman and a business leader. But even more than that, this blog is a great way to meet and connect with the wonderful people (you!!) who take time from…
As I prepare to celebrate my 10th anniversary in business, I am keenly aware of the many mistakes I have made, and of what I have learned from them. I’ve made more than 99 mistakes over the past 10 years, and each one has equipped me to meet new challenges and given me the experience…
I am not into New Year’s Resolutions because they are not profitable for me. Since I set, adjust, achieve and abandon goals for a variety of reasons all year long, setting new resolutions on January 1 seems sort of anti-climactic. But I do like the idea of selecting a “ThemeWord” that encompasses the notion that…
I have been thinking about the goals I set earlier this year, both the ones I met and the ones I didn’t meet. I’m over the latter (and there are a few of them), yet I feel positive, satisfied and energized about the things I accomplished in 2009. I know that some goals were not…
This is the third in a series of posts featuring small business owners’ suggestions for things you can do to be successful in 2010. Last week, I told you about Joan Morais, an IBN member who increased her productivity and profitability this year by hiring a virtual assistant. I also told you about Marla Bosworth,…
For the past few years, I have enjoyed “elfing myself.” Each year, it’s more fun and interactive. If you’re looking for quick and fun way to generate more holiday laughs, check out Elf Yourself and have some fun! My kids and I made this video and they can’t stop laughing. I hope the same thing…
The Vault is an archive of my first podcasts so there is a record for you to enjoy. Welcome to the Vault Episode 177 featuring my interview with Nancy D Solomon, the author of “Impact: What Every Woman Needs to Know to go from Invisible to Invincible.” Nancy is an expert in the field of…
Last year, I met Leesa Barnes, author of Podcasting for Profit. Leesa graciously accepted my invitation to be a guest on my radio show, and you can stream or download the interview with here. (Jamila White hosted that show for me while I was away speaking at a conference.) While I hope to meet Leesa…
My eight year old daughter is far more organized than I was at her age. She likes to make lists. In fact, on Friday nights, she often makes a list of all the things everyone in the house needs to do on the following Saturday. Much of the time, the lists focus on toys she…
The Vault is an archive of my first podcasts so there is a record for you to enjoy. Welcome to the Vault Episode 176 featuring my interview with Judith Sherven and Jim Sniechowski, a dynamic husband-and-wife psychology team with a mission to inject heart and compassion back into the world of business. Their latest book,…
The comments at my three blogs are always helpful, professional and polite, even when they disagree with my commentary. In fact, the only comments I reject are spam or comments that simply make no sense, usually because they are riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. I am also a frequent commenter at other people’s blogs.…
I hosted IBN’s first Site Party on Cyber Monday and had a great time doing it! The best news is that our featured Indie, Charlene Sevier, sold 11 pieces of her beautiful handmade jewelry in under 60 minutes! As you may recall from this post announcing the party, Charlene makes combines a passion for beads…
The Vault is an archive of my first podcasts so there is a record for you to enjoy. Welcome to the Vault Episode 175 featuring my interview with husband and wife duo, Ron and Tasra Dawson. These two remarkable individuals are entrepreneurs, coaches, radio and talk show hosts, authors, and even run a media production…
The Vault is an archive of my first podcasts so there is a record for you to enjoy. Welcome to the Vault Episode 174 featuring my interview with Steve Wilkinghoff, the author of “Found Money: Simple Strategies to Uncover the Hidden Profit and Cashflow in Your Business.” Steve, a former accountant, decided to share his…
I am pleased to announce IBN’s first online Indie Site Party on Monday, November 30 — Cyber Monday — at Noon New York time!! Our first party will be hosted at our social networking site and will feature IBN member Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer, of Newport News, Virginia. Indie Site Parties are just like…
It’s been three years since we moved from our hometown of Washington, DC to Charlotte, North Carolina. While we love a lot of things about Charlotte, we miss home, especially our family. After traveling all day, we finally arrived here late yesterday afternoon. Being here is such a treat. This photo was taken a few…
I am often asked what I do. While I am involved in lots of business activities, my initial answer is always the same: I lead the Indie Beauty Network (IBN), a trade organization that provides business and advocacy services to small companies that make health, beauty and lifestyle products, and also to the companies that…