The Stores Less Traveled

I was in a Dilworth’s Coffee House expecting to get a plain old cup of coffee, but the first thing I saw was a display of Indie beauty products made by Moondance Soaps in Raleigh, North Carolina. Forget about the coffee! I want some soap! It started me to thinking about how so many great…

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Where Is Your Office?

Until two days ago, my office was located in a corner of the master bedroom of the home we rented when we moved to North Carolina last September. Before that, I was used to a spacious home office between the family room and the powder room. I was totally spoiled. Since we moved into our…

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Moving Day!

Hi Everyone!! That’s me in my "cool shades" taking a break from the hassle of moving day. My daughter is the photographer. You can see her in my lens! Yes! I said "moving day." That’s right. We’ve moved again. Last year, we moved from our hometown of Washington, DC to a town called Waxhaw, south…

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Indie Friend In The Wall Street Journal

Congratulations to Indie Beauty Network member Renee Deal of Deal Farm Soap in Massachusetts! Renee and her business are featured in today’s Wall Street Journal’s Startup Journal. Renee is married with a 2-year old son. She makes her fabulous goat milk bath and body products in a basement factory located in her home. I gave…

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There But For The Grace of God Goes Indie

I love doing business with other Indies. That's why I was so glad to find David at the Mail & More franchise location in my new hometown in suburban North Carolina. My office and home are co-located in a rural area and the post office is quite a distance away. Mail & More is two…

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Trade Show Magic

Last week, I delivered the keynote address at the Conference of Handcrafted Soap Makers in St. Louis. While there, I met with Susan Ryhanen of Saipua in New York. Susan (pictured, left, with Sima Dadamiya of Jumana Handmade Products in the United Kingdom) is a member of the Indie Beauty Network and a savvy trade…

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5 Reasons To Be Indie

I – Income. Indie business owners define and generate wealth on their own terms. N – Newsworthy. Indie business owners create “buzz” as they simultaneously pursue their passions, help others and support themselves and their families. D – Destiny. Indie business owners don’t rely on traditional means of income to define, create and control their…

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Vault Episode #11: Jack Canfield [Podcast]

The Vault is an archive of my first podcasts so there is a record for you to enjoy. Welcome to the Vault Episode 11 featuring my interview with the one and only, Jack Canfield. He is the founder/co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul, public speaker, called by Time Magazine the publishing phenomenon of the…

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Vault Episode #10: Anastasia Brice [Podcast]

The Vault is an archive of my first podcasts so there is a record for you to enjoy. Welcome to the Vault Episode 10 featuring my interview with Anastacia Brice, founder of AssistU. This episode is all about the industry of virtual assistance, here we are talking a new profession that has spread through the development…

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Vault Episode #9 [Podcast]

The Vault is an archive of my first podcasts so there is a record for you to enjoy. Welcome to the Vault Episode 9 featuring my interview with Julie Clark, founder of Baby Einstein company. She is a stay-at-home mom and former teacher. She opened her company in 1997, her goal was to create a fun,…

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Vault Episode #8: Solo Show [Podcast]

The Vault is an archive of my first podcasts so there is a record for you to enjoy. Welcome to the Vault Episode 8 is the first solo show! Donna Maria is also an attorney has specific experience around intellectual property: the fruit of your brain. This was a listener requested episode with lots of…

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Vault Episode #7: Lisa Price [Podcast]

The Vault is an archive of my first podcasts so there is a record for you to enjoy. Welcome to the Vault Episode 7 featuring my interview with Lisa Price. She is a wife, mother, fellow entrepreneur, business owner, and author. She wrote the book “Success Never Smelled So Sweet: How I Followed My Nose and…

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Vault Episode 6: Bob and Melinda Blanchard [Podcast]

The Vault is an archive of my first podcasts so there is a record for you to enjoy. Welcome to the Vault Episode 6 featuring my interview with the Bob and Melinda Blanchard. The Blanchard’s have been successfully married for over 30 years and in business together since Melinda left her traditional job after giving…

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Vault Episode 5: Peter Montoya [Podcast]

The Vault is an archive of my first podcasts so there is a record for you to enjoy. Welcome to the Vault Episode 5 featuring my interview with Peter Montoya, the Personal Branding Expert and owner of Peter Montoya Inc and publisher of Personal Branding Magazine. In this episode, he shares information and experiences that…

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