It's A Dirty Business, But Someone's Gotta Do It

Indie Beauty Network member Tammy Doering has a dirty business, and she’s proud of it. As the self proclaimed "Mud Queen," Tammy’s out to change the world’s perception of mud as a dirty, gooey mess that everyone should avoid. As the owner of Dead Sea Bulk Materials in Anniston, Alabama, Tammy shows up at women’s…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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I'm Speaking At The Mocha Moms Conference!

I recently confirmed that I will be speaking at the 2007 Conference of Mocha Moms, Inc., in Atlanta, Georgia in August.  Mocha Moms is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting mothers of color who have chosen not to work full-time outside of the home in order to devote more time to their families. I serve…

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The Democratization of Entrepreneurship

Despite some advertisements and prominent headlines, you do not have to be drowning in profits to be a success in business. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for profit. Make money, yes. But Indie Business owners achieve success in part because they don’t buy into the lie that unless you are a millionaire several times…

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My Brother Did It: So Can You

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the World Health Organization reported that mental disorders comprise 4 of the top 5 sources of premature death and disability in 15 – 44 year olds in the Western world. Schizophrenia is one of the most devastating forms of mental illness. Of those who suffer, only a…

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IBTV Episode #1: Augisa Natural & Organic Beauty

Parents Of 5 Stir Up Indie Business Success Welcome to Indie Business TV, where we empower you to enjoy your life, build your business and have your way! Today, I am pleased to introduce you to Nikki Rodriguez of Augisa Natural & Organic Beauty. Nikki is a member of the Indie Beauty Network and she…

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The Indie Business Way

Taken following my daughter’s pre-K graduation ceremony a few weeks ago (that’s her in the yellow dress), this photo captures the joy of life through the eyes and squeals of several 5-year old girls. Life can be difficult between this stage and adulthood. It can even have a way of stealing the kind of purity…

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The Entrepreneurial Imperative

The feds don’t do much to help today’s family make ends meet and find that elusive thing called work-life balance. But how much do we expect them to do? In my opinion, what we need to be working on is embracing the work-life merger anyway. This morning, a Good Morning America segment reported that the…

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WHOLE: 12 Principles For Rebuilding Life After Breast Cancer

I am celebrating today because my friend Jacci Thompson-Dodd’s new book, Whole: Women Healing Ourselves With Loving Energy: 12 Principles For Rebuilding Life After Breast Cancer, is finally available! Jacci is a wife, mother and health care professional whose career has focused on implementing programs to serve the African American community. She has been working…

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Eye Spy With My Little Eye: Anything, Anything At All!

40 is the new 20, which makes me 24. While I am The New 24, my eyes are painfully unaware of the latest sociological perspectives. So my dear friend and fellow Indie Business owner Kevin told me I needed some reading glasses. He had a pair with green frames, and they looked pretty hip so…

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Bath By Chocolate

Chocolate is not just for eating. If you don't believe me, try Rendezvous' Chocolate Soap made with real chocolate. When it arrived in the mail, I had a hard time not biting into it. Rendezvous owners Erik and Karen Burgess are a husband and wife team who are raising two kids while making all kinds…

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Everyone Loves A Story. What's Yours?

In 5 Reasons To Be Indie, I listed 5 reasons why being Indie is so great: Income, Newsworthy, Destiny, Independence, Equity. Being Newsworthy is all about creating a "buzz" about what you are selling as you simultaneously pursue your passions, help others and support yourself and your family. To create this buzz, you have to…

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Playing It Safe Can Be Fatal

Swimming with my 5-year old daughter today reminded me of the similarities between Indies and children learning how to swim. When learning to swim, kids need to rely on inner tubes, inflatable arm bands and swimwear with personal flotation devices built in. These "safety nets" empower new swimmers and encourage them to gain confidence in…

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