EMPRESS OF BIZ! Reinvent in Rugged Times - TIps & Strategies for Success..MP Kilgore

EMPRESS OF BIZ! Reinvent in Rugged Times - Live & Recorded Episodes:

JoAnn Forrester

Last day of the first month of a new year...what are you doing NEW that is working. What do you have planned to make 2013 great..despite doom and gloom forecasts. I am talking with Mary Pam Kilgore of Kilgore Events & Meeting about this topic. Tune in today (Thursday) at 9am and listen to the girls as they serve you a tasty dish of tips. Remember the good thing about talkshoe.com you can always listen later.. Also we are syndicated on pplmag.com

EMPRESS OF BIZ! Reinvent in Rugged Times - Live & Recorded Episodes

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JoAnn R. Forrester is founder, president and owner of S I Business Associates, a business growth management firm established in 1975. Over 75,000 hours of experience in teaching, consulting, financing, human relations, speaking, writing and business development classes, writing and public relations,...

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EmpressofBiZ: Biz Tips...Pricing facts or Feelings?

JoAnn (Found on LinkedIn Today) Remove feelings and base your pricing strategy on the facts - Pittsburgh Business Times bizjournals.com Your sales have tripled, but your profit has not. You have made adjustments, invested in equipment, hired staff and improved efficiency, and yet the bottom line remains flat. (See more articles ») View Article | Reply to JoAnn Forrester | Reply To All

EmpressofBiz, Biz Tips 10 Tips on Love & Business

Love & Business...Do they go together...like a horse and carriage or like oil and water?

• Posted by JoAnn R. Forrester on January 26, 2013 at 4:35pm
• View Blog

Soon it will be February..cold, snowy  and windy and still the month of love.Where cupid aims his bow and zing everything is wonderful.  Once in Love, many couples start to think it would be "fun" and a great  way to be together if they start a business...Good Idea..Or Not?

It can be wonderful IF there is a great deal of planning, talking and a willingness to compromise.

No doubt about It....it is  tough being in a relationship and business.  I am writing on the subject "Love and Business...because so many of my clients recently,  have run into difficult and tough times in their business and have had  to find a way to change or lose the relationship or business or both.

Below are some tips for building a successful relationship and business.

1.   Ego's have to be put aside or the relationship will be rocky and floundered.

2.   Couples need  to bring a willingness to just let go of being right and find a way to solve a problem and not blame one another.

3.   Mutual respect is essential in the business.  

4.  Financial arrangements must be clear and in writing.

5.  Legal agreements must be in place.  None of this "if you love me you will trust me" bit.  Women need to be especially aware of this scenario.

6.  A business plan that has input from both partners needs to be written.  

7.  Insurance that protects both parties needs to be in place. 

8.  A commitment to personal time made and kept.

9. Share success and make sure you are always mentioning the other partner for their contribution.

10. Keep laughter and fun ALIVE in the relationship...and that makes it a success no matter what!EmpressofBiz,Biz Tips Love & Business

For guidance in building a successful business and a relationship give S. I. Business Associates a call at 412-440-6969.  We have been guiding small businesses to success for over 30 years.

FIVE STUPID Business Mistakes

Great conversation with Alice Williams of WEEE and Joanne Quinn Smith aka 'Techno Granny" as they shared on my show the Empress of Biz  on "The Good, The Bad and the Stupid Mistakes" small biz owners make.  Listed below are some of our "favorites" .  ...I really should not have done that!


1. CHECK YOUR INSURANCE  POLICY!   If you are a home based business PLEASE check your insurance policy..you may not be covered for your home office or if your  vheicles, equipment, tools and etc are stored on the property. One client of mine had a fire in her office and had over $35k worth of damage and the insurance would not cover it.  Yes it may cost you a few extra bucks...compared to a loss of thousands of dollars...minor costs.

2.  NO PLAN TO PAY YOURSELF!   Save money, I won't take a paycheck I will help the business...I can manage without it.  Right? WRONG!!  You MUST have a reasonable salary for you in your overhead (fixed costs) to have an accurate idea of what it costs to be in business and set the right price for your product or service.    Think..what you would have to pay someone to do your job.  Most often a great deal more than you now make.

3.  BORROWING MONEY from FAMILY.  This is "touchy".  Your Dad believes in you, your brother has some cash to throw in to your business...Mom has money to invest...what do you do? You have written agreements on the money invested or loaned to your business, how you will pay it back, interest, time period and etc.  And most of all you clarify the role they will have in your business.   Sometimes when family lends you money they automatically think they can tell you what  to do.  If you do not want your sister in your business...you have to clear that up front.

4.  Using Credit Cards to Finance your Business.  Your impatient, you want that computer now, that jigsaw, that power point, that truck and you do not want to have to wait.  So what the hay...I will just put it on my credit card and pay it off within a few months.  That kind of thinking can quickly get you into trouble.  Banks do not  like and will not re-fiance credit card debt.  The interest is often exorbitant and miss one payment and you are  quickly into a situation that can spiral out of control.

5.  Hiring Family members.   This can be good for the business IF your brother  is the person you would hire anyway...if NOT..then don't.  Taking in friends and family without them being an asset to the business is a STUPID  and a DANGEROUS MISTAKE.  

Want to avoid the above and other "stupid" mistakes...put  your ego aside..give us a call at 412-440-6969.  Don't worry we have done "alot of  stupid things"...and we are here to help you grow.
412-440-6969 ask for JoAnn  aka "Empressof Biz"

EMPRESS OF BIZ!: The Good! The Bad and The STUPID tricks of Biz Owners

EMPRESS OF BIZ! Reinvent in Rugged Times - Live & Recorded Episodes:
Empress of Biz and Alice Williams of WEEE discuss the Good, the BAD and STUPID things biz owners do in the course of their business lives.  Surviving and prospering in  business means you are willing to learn...if you are not...then you will fail soon or later. 
So folks put your ego away and take the time to see if what you are doing is GOOD, BAD or STUPID!
Listen in and learn and prosper from our combined wisdom of 50 plus years in business. 

Empress of Biz Interviews Award Winning Journalist Diane Daniels

Great interview with Diane Daniels, award winning journalist, business owner and community advocate.   Listen, Learn and Prosper with the Empress of Biz.  Recently Diane Daniels was awarded the 2012 Keystone State Press Award from the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association and the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation Robert L. Vann Award.  Congratulations Diane..well deserved awards.

01-17-2013 09:00:09

EMPRESS OF BIZ! Reinvent in Rugged Times, JoAnn Forrester

EMPRESS OF BIZ! Guest Diane Daniels Award Winning Reporter

Join me as we turn the tables and interview an award winning reporter and entrepreneur, Diane I. Daniels of DID & Associates, about her recent awards and recognition. Diane recently was awarded the 2012 Keystone State Press Award from the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association and ...

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Tuesday Biz TiP: Business Calling Tips

Tuesday Biz TiP. Who do you have to call to get done what you planned for the week? If their hard to catch...leave an early morning message..before 8am...and leave an after 5 message. Give the times you are available...and thank them ahead of time for calling back!

Also   Old tip...but still works. Be nice to the people who work around the person you want to make an impression and get an appointment.. They can get you into the DOOR or BLOCK IT!
Anyway's just being nice..works for them and you!