June 24, 2007.
The longer I am in the business the more I am amazed at all of the resources out there for women entrepreneurs (mothers especially) these days. I happen to know that all these blogs, websites, organizations and books did not exist when I started my business. The support system these days is amazing and unlike anything I have ever seen before.
Uh, I just re-read what I wrote and I know I am starting to sound a bit like a cranky old person...."when I was your age I walked to school, up hill, with no shoes.....bread cost only a nickel and children RESPECTED their elders...." Okay, shhhh Nana don't get all upset, we understand, it's time for your medicine and Price is Right is on....
Anyway being in a charitable mood and having taken my nap today (ya right), I thought I would share some great resources for any of you that may be running a small business, or thinking of starting one:
Start Up Princess is an international network for women entrepreneurs to learn and support one another. They have members all over the USA, Canada, and even Australia. It is an online network with resources, blogs, advice and basically support for other women starting a business.
All Start Up Princesses as she calls them, or uh women entrepreneurs are invited to join the “kingdom” for FREE and you can receive email updates and announcements. Start Up Princess has Profile pages, that feature successful and experienced entrepreneurs. The Features section is by Invitation also.
Fairy Godmothers are experienced women entrepreneurs and women in business who write as guest bloggers, do teleseminars, and consulting for Start Up Princess. Fairy Godmothers participate by invitation also.
Kelly King Anderson is the founder of Start Up Princess, while she was in grad school she participated in the Center for Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competitions with her Princess Sweet; business plan. Following the competitions Kelly recognized the power of networking for entrepreneurs and created this site to help women have more opportunities to learn and connect.
Not even sure where to begin - he is a marketing genius, guru - Mr. Guerilla Marketing is he. His books are informative, his blog is addicting, entertaining and educational - especially if you do not have a Marketing Degree...like uh yours truly. He is a a best selling author and entrepreneur. He is the author of seven books, that have all been best sellers around the world.
Seth Godin was founder and CEO of Yoyodyne, a direct marketing company that was acquired in 1998 by Yahoo!
This is a magazine and a website and has been around for..well a long time. This is a great read and a great inspiration for us entrepreneurs and especially us Mom's. The recipes are kid friendly, the articles are ALWAYS relevant to what I am going through.
StartupNation is a free service founded by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. The Sloan brothers created this site to be the main place for entrepreneurial success. Since it's conception StartupNation has grown to be the leading online content and community resource for entrepreneurs.
They have the belief that everyone can —and should—own a business, whether full-time or part-time. Their mission is to help you do just that!
The Start Up Nation site, you’ll find all the easy-to-follow, practical information you could ever need to start and grow your own successful business.
I wonder if these resources were readily available when I started I would have made the decisions or mistakes I made. I do know that having a community of entrpeneurs at my keyboard would have been helpful. Alas, I just think of that saying, "If only I know then what I know now..."
All I do know is that it is nice to know there are others out there struggling, succeeding and just DOING it.
Jamie,
I would like to share two other groups that have been successfully assisting women business owners for years that you might want to consider.
The Count Me In Group http://www.countmein.org/site/ has been actively assisting women business owners succeed in many different ways. Their Make Mine a Million program has assisted a number of women business owners to achieve remarkable successes in very short time spans.
We at The Coach Connection have devoted a special web site, http://www.findyourcoach.com/0o-workingmother-coach.htm and resources to assist women business owners (especially mothers) to thrive at and enjoy being a successful owner and a mother at the same time, without guilt and without conflicts.
We hope you and your readers get as much benefit as other women business owners and mothers have.
Posted by: Bill Dueease | June 28, 2007 at 10:49 AM
Hi Bill,
Thanks those are great resources.
Posted by: Jamie Lentzner | July 02, 2007 at 03:24 PM
Wow thanks, Jamie, for spreading the word about Start Up Princess! We appreciate your generous mention and referral to your audience. Anyone who is a woman entrepreneur who is reading this post, please hop on over to Start Up Princess.com and see what we're up to and then send me an email to tell us about YOUR start up. ;)
Posted by: Kelly King Anderson | July 05, 2007 at 03:30 PM