NAWBO Newsmakers -Women, Business and Politics...Do they Mix?

NAWBO Newsmakers - Live & Recorded Episodes:

 NAWBO Newsmakers Women, Business and Politics with  Dana Brown 

Episode Notes: Please join us as I interview Dana Brown, Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics from Chatham University,  is our special guest talking about an issue that women business owners need to know.
Women, Business and Politics ...Do they Mix?  Yes they do!  Why it is important. ..

Also updates on biz information WBO's need to know.
Host for today's show, JoAnn R. Forrester,  Board Member  Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Association of  Women Business Owners. JoAnn Forrester is also the host of the Empress of Biz, Listen, Learn Prosper.
For more up dates on the Pittsburgh chapter please go to www.nawbopgh.org.

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"

Thursday Biz Tip. Leader style..good? Bad? Indifferent?

 Thursday Biz Tip:  Employees can be a business owners biggest asset or biggest headache.  Your leadership style, good, bad, indifferent will dictate what they will be.  Think about it.

  What kind of leader are you?  

Want to know more?   Read below.

1. Are you the last one to now about a problem in your business?

2. Would your customers rather talk to someone else than you?

3.  Are you always saying there are "No good employees out there"?

4.  Do you have rapid turnover of employees?

5.  Would you rather fire someone  than give correct their behavior?

6.  Do you  defend family members and blame an employee for mistakes?

7.   Do you listen to employees suggestions on how to improve your business?

8.  Do your employees know more about your business than you do?

9.  Do you have clear guidelines for employees?

10. Do you make the time to thank employees for good work?

11.  Will your employees stay over voluntary if there is a crisis in the business?

12.  Is your business growing and is it profitable?

The type of leader you are makes all the difference in your business.  Good leadership is not genetic..it is learned behavior.

To learn more about developing your leadership style give us a call. 

 Remember... Good leadership is not genetic..it is learned behavior. 

Empress of Biz, 

JoAnn R. Forrester

412-440-6969

E-mail:  empressofbiz@verizon.net
              selfimagebz@aol.com  

1.      

7.