When I am one of a billion recipients on an email message, I usually ignore it. But I’m glad I didn’t ignore this one. If you need a laugh (or another reminder of the importance of exercise), then you will enjoy this hilarious look at an enlightened way to love your abdomen. This video was…
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…
Today, I listened to the live testimony given in support of and in opposition to the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act (HB 10-1248). I am told that an audio recording of the testimony will be made publicly available by the Colorado legislature and if so, I will post it when it becomes available. Although…
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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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
This week, IBN member Lela Barker, owner of Bella Lucce in Columbia, SC, is launching an exciting new non-profit venture. From Morocco, With Love offers wonderful products imported from the beautiful nation of Morocco. I have seen this venture unfold from the time it formed as a seedling in Lela’s mind, so this week’s launch…
Other than tonsillitis and a hernia as a small child, a fractured shoulder a decade ago and the occasional cold or flu, I have been blessed with good health. As a teen, I was a cheerleader and played tennis almost daily. In college, I walked practically everywhere I went. But law school and practicing law…
Last year, at my invitation, several members of IBN gathered in our private online networking area to discuss how we could support each other on Twitter. It was decided that on Fridays, each participant would select a person, comment on one of their blog posts and then ReTweet the post on Twitter. The goal was…
The week is off to a fantastic start! It started off with the early morning publication yesterday of this week’s newsletter. I love publishing early on Mondays because my readers see the inspirational story of one of my IBN members as quickly as possible after the start of a new week. It’s amazing how much…
Today was one of the rare days where I preempted my radio show so I could capitalize on a difference kind of opportunity. I spoke on leadership at the 2010 Social Media Telesummit, hosted by Leesa Barnes. This was a virtual event featuring some of the leading names in social media. I enjoyed sharing with…
Today, I asked people at the Indie Business FaceBook Fan Page to share their Fan Page links, along with their questions and tips about how to use them. My goal was to share easy to implement tips everyone could use to enhance interaction and conversation at their Fan Pages. I got a chance to join…
One of the reasons using social media can be challenging for small business owners is because it is often difficult to quantify the return on social media investment. For example, if you invest a certain amount of time and/or money on social media outreach, how do you assess whether it was a good investment of…
I enjoy working in a family business. After spending so many years fighting rush hour traffic and toiling away in the corporate jungles of Washington, DC, I am thankful for my lifestyle. I don’t have to jump through administrative hoops to take my children to the pediatrician’s office. I have more control over how my…
UPDATE: 1/29/10: While this is an informative post, I discovered that it is against FaceBook’s Terms Of Service to have more than one FaceBook account, so I deleted the personal account. Last September, I shared my new FaceBook social networking strategy, designed to help me stay connected to business colleagues and friends, as well as…
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,…
Focused, proactive, consistent steps are the keys to small business success.
Donna Maria shares things to consider before ditching your blog in favor of a FaceBook Page.