I am excited about 2011, but before I go there, I want to thank you for allowing me to be with you in 2010! So many wonderful things happened this year, and I am thrilled that you allowed me to experience it all with you. If you are new to my blog, please click here to subscribe to we can start 2011 together. If you're a regular reader, please know that it is my great joy to deliver tips, insights, and inspiration to help you and your family maximize your potential through small business ownership.
As I review the year, I see that my life and passions are clearly reflected in this blog. From my love for my husband and my children and the business we share, to the joy that comes from serving my INDIEs and my blog readers, everything is right here! And just in case you missed any of the highlights, I wanted to make a quick list of my best post of 2010, based on your blog comments, email feedback, ReTweets, INDIE FaceBook Page comments, and the one-on-one conversations I have had with so many of you over the past 12 months. Here they are, in no particular order:
Grow your cosmetics business with the world's largest selection of naturally derived and organic cosmetics bases. Visit Essential Wholesale for more information, and tell them dM sent you!
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Indie Beauty Network Opposes HR 5786: The Safe Cosmetics Act Of 2010 New Cosmetics Laws That Do Not Contain Exemptions For Small Businesses. This post summarizes the many reasons IBN came out in opposition to a bill that sounds so good. After all, who can argue with the need for safe cosmetics? Of course, not me, and surely, not any of my members. But as you'll see from this post, everything is not as it seems when it comes to this piece of legislation. While it's officially no longer under consideration as drafted, I have little doubt that we will face some or all of these issues in the new year.
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Twitter, Google, Bing, and Your Small Business. As the Internet continues to encourage the democratization of business, each of us has the power to change the future of our business simply by participating in the conversations that are significant to our customers. This was one of the shortest blog posts I wrote this year, but it packs a powerful, no holds barred punch that is even more relevant today than when it was published.
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The New Consumer-Business Owner: Are You One?. There was once a time when business was business, and the “rest of us” just consumed what they fed us. Those days are gone. The lines between businesses, business owners and consumers now forever overlap. While I think this is a good thing, society and our lawmakers have yet to catch up. This post discusses why, and also how, collectively, we can help them embrace our new reality.
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Me and My Best Girl. As a mom who works from home, I want to pave the way for moms who come behind me. I want every woman to live her passion, create wealth on her own terms, and be as available to her children as possible. This post touched a nerve, and it inspires me to continue my journey.
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Three Reasons Why I Still Publish An Email Newsletter. As more people ditched their newsletters in favor of a blog, I wrote this post in the hopes of stemming the tide. Yes, you need a newsletter, and this post shares why. If you don't yet have one, I hope you'll get one in 2011. Better late than never. (But don't wait too long.)
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The Importance Of Owning Your Core Marketing Outlets And Content If you are a small business owner, you are also in the publishing business. When I first started spreading that message in 2008, many people ignored it. That's too bad, because the ones who got on board back then are ahead of the game today. This post, with a great video, will help you embrace this important concept. (If you don't want to be left behind, The Media Is You will interest you!)
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How Much Money Did You Start Your Business With?. I really didn't say much of anything in this post. Its value is in the fabulous comments, insights and stories you and your fellow readers shared. This is one of my favorite posts because of the comments.
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It's Not Money Or The Economy: It's You. After hearing so many small business owners blame the slow growth of their businesses on lack of money, lack of sales, and lack of a good economy, I had to speak out. Brace yourself for this one. It is not for the faint of heart.
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How To Introduce Young Children To Social Media. If you are a parent, an auntie, or even the neighbor of young children, please do what you can to introduce them to social media as tools of empowerment and personal development.
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Be Everywhere Your Customers Are. I hear small business owners regularly say, “I can't be everywhere.” In this post, I say, “Oh, yeah?”
I cannot wait to be with you in 2011. See you then.
Happy New Year!