Announcing #IndieCruise MasterMind 2017: Refresh – Refine – Results

I am excited to announce the theme and exotic retreat destination for #IndieCruise Mastermind 2017. I’m even more thrilled to share our new collaboration with a non-profit organization to benefit native Caribbean people in Haiti. More about that later. First, for those who don’t know, #IndieCruise is a small, intimate, limited seat retreat for Makers…

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Successful Wholesale (and More) in a Small Town [Video]

This. Just this. This video packs a powerful punch in a small package: succinct wholesale tips, a teenpreneur daughter, family business inspiration, customer support in a small town (Rocky Mount, North Carolina), and more. Kimberly Thigpen is a wife and mother of six, and not only that, she’s a stellar example of successful entrepreneurship in…

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6 Keys to Going Big in Business Without Growing Big in Business

When it comes to entrepreneurship, the saying “Go big or go home,” can be interpreted to mean that if your business if not big in size, then it somehow doesn’t count. I disagree with that philosophy. Bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better, and it sure doesn’t mean stronger or more profitable. In fact, a business that…

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fall in love with your business again

7 Ways to Fall in Love With Your Business Again

Hearken back to the early days at the launch of your business. Remember how excited you were? How giddy you felt? Finally, you were going to have a business of your own. You were in love with it and everything else in the world, and then BAM!! You began to get into a rut. The…

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the importance of ad libbing and being flexible in your business

How to Ad Lib Your Business

Blab closed in August 2016, so we removed the video. You can still read the tips and strategies Anne-Marie and I discussed in this post. While planning is critical to success as an entrepreneur, flexibility is equally important. There are times when you just have to ad lib your business, not knowing exactly what to…

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5 Ways to Take a Semi-Sabbatical

I have written previously about the power of the pause, and how important it is to step away and press the reset button from time to time. I did so last week. I am freshly returned from my 6th Annual #IndieCruise Mastermind Retreat for Creative Entrepreneurs, and I have firmly pressed the reset button. Here…

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I’ve Been Named Handmade Business Expert for Small Business Trends!

I am pleased to announce that I have been named the Handmade Business Expert for the Small Business Trends, an award-winning online publication for small business owners, entrepreneurs and the people who interact with them. Small Business Trends content is syndicated through ACI Information Group (formerly Newstex) and other sites around the Web. This trusted…

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Get Lean In Your Business in 2016

Blab closed in August 2016, so we removed the video. You can still read the tips and strategies Melody and I discussed in this post. This Blab was recorded live on New Year’s Day on the Indie Business Blab channel. I hesitated to share it because there are times when the audio overlaps, resulting in…

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Our 2016 Member Badge is Here!

The new 2016 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. (Members: remember to log in before following the link to avoid the “Ooops” page!) The badge looks like this, except there…

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Join me on Blab: Get Lean in Your Business in 2016

It’s time to cut the fat! A few weeks ago, I reached out to fellow entrepreneur and Indie Business Network member Melody Bockelman of Private Label Insider to catch up and chat about life and business. The conversation ended up lasting nearly an hour, and as it progressed, we both concluded that we had to…

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Introducing Jennifer Smith, Your Indie Concierge

For many of you, this is no introduction. After all, most of my members have met Jennifer personally in our Secret Facebook Group. Others have benefited from her website and blog design services, especially using WordPress. What you may not know is that, for much of 2015, Jennifer was an integral part much of what…

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Top 12 Books for Makers and Handmade Entrepreneurs in 2016

It was incredibly difficult to whittle this book list down to twelve, but I did it so I could present you with a monthly reading list for the New Year. I believe anyone can benefit from these books, whether or not they are an entrepreneur of any kind, and whether or not they have a…

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