Small Business Owners: Embrace Your Legislative Advocacy Power!

For those who may be new here, I am the president of the Indie Beauty Network, a trade organization representing small manufacturers of soaps, cosmetics, candles, fragrances and aromatherapy products. IBN members also make confectionery products and jewelry, and many members provide services to the companies that make products. I am an attorney (though not…

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Pursuing Fitness, One Small Victory at a Time

Yesterday, I started using the pedometer given to me as a surprise Christmas gift by Anne-Marie Faiola of Brambleberry. I decided against a morning run so I could prepare for the hearings on the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act, which ran from 3:30pm to 8:44pm EST. According to Kimberly Linton, my guest on yesterday’s…

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Vault Episode #184: Kimberly Linton [Podcast]

The Vault is an archive of my first podcasts so there is a record for you to enjoy. Welcome to the Vault Episode 184 featuring my interview with Kimberly Linton, also known as Washington D.C.’s toughest trainer. Today, she’ll be sharing valuable insights for business owners on how to incorporate fitness into their busy schedules, promoting…

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The Other Side of Mompreneurship

A few weeks ago, I posted about enjoying lunch with my daughter at her school. For such a short post, it generated a lot of discussion, perhaps in part because it struck a nerve with other women who simultaneously perform professionally and as mothers, without compromising either “career”. I’ve posted in depth about these issues…

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Should You Join a Competitor’s FaceBook Fan Page?

Yesterday was another fun FaceBook Friday! If you missed the previous FaceBook Friday about ways to attract people to your Fan Page, you can read it here.) This week’s question was aimed at getting a sense of what small and independent business owners consider when decided whether or not to join a competitor’s FaceBook Page.…

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Colorado Cosmetics: Template Letter You Can Edit And Use

As you know, I have been blogging the past few days in my capacity as the leader of IBN about the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act. Below is the text of a draft template you can use to send a letter to the Colorado legislature voicing your opposition to the Colorado Safe Personal Care…

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Costly Confusion in Colorado: The Bubble Bill

A few days ago, I told you about the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act, which purports to seek to protect people in Colorado from substances in cosmetics that “cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.” I do not like cancer and I do not want children, born or unborn, to be subject to unnecessary hazards. But…

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Ivette Lost 100 Pounds In 23 Months

This is Ivette. She is a native Puerto Rican who recently relocated to Charlotte via New York City. Ivette is a newly minted certified Zumba instructor, and she wore me out in tonight’s class. She has lost 20 pounds over the course of the past 23 months. Go Ivette! Sent from my iPhone Posted via…

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You Have to Learn to Play Hurt

Earlier this month, I watched part of a CNN’s Black In America 2. In one segment, Soledad O’Brien interviewed Steve Perry, PhD, principal of Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford, Ct. Born on his mother’s 16th birthday, into a 3rd generation of poverty, Dr. Perry had all odds against him. Today, he is a brilliant…

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Are You Ready For The March Fitness Challenge?

Next Monday, Kimberly Linton will be my guest on Indie Business Radio. You can see from the photo below, Kimberly means business! I recently stepped up my fitness efforts in order to put a healthy body alongside a healthy business. I plan to start Kimberly’s virtual fitness training program on March 1, and you can…

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Oppose the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act

In November, I shared my views as leader of IBN on the FDA Globalization Act of 2009. This post was followed by a second trip to Washington, DC to meet with Food & Drug Administration (FDA) officials and staffers in the House Energy & Commerce Committee. I have also shared my views on President Obama’s…

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Vault Episode #183: Hank Moore [Podcast]

The Vault is an archive of my first podcasts so there is a record for you to enjoy. Welcome to the Vault Episode 183 featuring my interview with Hank Moore. Hank is the author of “The Business Tree: Growth Strategies and Tactics for Surviving and Thriving.” As a corporate strategist, he provides invaluable guidance to boards…

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Indie Business Roll Call: Week of 2/15/2010

Part of the reason I didn’t publish last week’s roll call last week is because I am in the midst of re-working my business week to accommodate a new fitness routine. I am determined to find a rhythm that allows me to be as healthy as my business is. If I had not worked out…

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