Excelle

I knew since I was about five-years-old — when I wanted to play “office” instead of “house” with my sister — that I loved the idea of running my own business. Like many other women, I pursued my education, started a family and found myself quickly approaching the ceiling in the organization I was working in. It was in my burnout ...

The older I get the more I realize my time is worth as much to me as any money I could possibly earn. And while I firmly believe I have unlimited earning potential in my chosen business, I also realize that no matter how hard I try, I cannot increase the number of hours in my day. Yes, I’ve managed to ...

If you are searching for funding, whether from venture capitalists, angel investors, bankers, or even friends and family, one of the first requests you'll receive is this: "Send along your business plan." Before you hang up the phone or acknowledge the e-mail, you may want to ask one question: What kind of business plan do you want me to send? Business ...

Did you know that forty percent—40 percent—of young people want to be their own boss someday? That’s a lot of aspiring entrepreneurs. Millions, in fact. Truth is, only a fraction of those people ever really start a business. Some get comfortable in a lifestyle that they can’t afford to give up. Others realize just how hard it is to be an ...

Wow. As I thought about the past eight years and what it’s been like being an entrepreneur, I was struck by how many mistakes I’ve made. I was also struck by how great those mistakes have been for my business. If it were not for all those mistakes, my business would never have grown. I would never have written a book, ...

I love reading Sara Pennypacker’s “Clementine” books to my girls because I laugh out loud at the antics and musings of this spunky third grader. But while Clementine is amusing, I wasn’t expecting her perspective in “The Talented Clementine” to resonate with me. I mean, come on, it’s been 30 years since I’ve been a third grader! But in this book, ...

I never, ever, considered having my own business. Ever. But when I finally figured out what I wanted to be doing, it just so happened that starting my own business was the answer — helping others figure out what they want to be doing with their careers and lives. As I learned what it meant to be a coach, and learned ...

This post is for those of you who are serious about overcoming obstacles and serious about taking your business to the next level. You will never go for your dreams — business or personal — as long as you have more pain associated to achieving them than you do to not achieving them. So the bad news is that it’s time ...

The other night my husband and I met a prospective financial advisor and I was stunned by the first impression he made. The old adage “you never get a second chance to make a first impression,” couldn’t have been more relevant. [widget:uop_sponsored_content] The meeting began ten minutes late because he arrived late. While I have to admit I’m chronically late in ...

Last week, we got rid of some of your brick wall obstacles to success. This week, we’re going to look a little closer as to why that brick wall was there in the first place, clearing the rubble away for you to throw your victory flag into the ground and embrace your success! We all have five basic needs that we ...

During my second year of college, I got married. Eyebrows raised, questioning began. “What are you thinking? Are you sure you want to get married?" “Do you know what it means to get married? Do you know what marriage is?" "I Feel sorry that you are getting married so young. You are missing out on life.” "How many men have you ...

There's no formula that works for everyone, so be as specific as you can when figuring out what the job you've always fantasized about really is. We know it's possible, even if we haven't read The Four- Hour Work Week yet. We know people in our neighborhoods or we've seen people on TV who have dream jobs, so we know they ...

Any business is going to require money upfront to be successful - whether you have a concept and develop it yourself as a brand and a business, or whether you buy into someone else’s brand. Believing that you can start a business without any money is a bad decision! Interestingly, this is the biggest difference between men and women who start ...

During a recession, many small businesses are forced to close their doors due to lack of sales and increasing overhead costs. However, restricted economies can actually help some small businesses succeed, as people cut back on brand-new luxuries and seek out companies focused on repair and renewal. Companies that offer cheap goods and repossession services also top the list. Here’s a ...

In celebration of our 100th newsletter, we compiled this guide of our 10 best Top 10 lists! Whether you're on the job, searching for one, starting your own business or changing careers, in this list you'll find career tips helpful to the current state of your professional life. Job Search Top 10 Common Resume Blunders 10 Cover Letter Mistakes to ...

I know hundreds of women who know what they need to do to be successful in business. If you sit them down and ask them, they could tell you the necessary steps to walk through to get where you want to go. Yes, I know hundreds of women like that – sadly, I only know a few dozen who actually do ...

I am confident that if you have heard of Twitter, you might have wondered: “What is the big deal anyway?” As many of my entrepreneurial followers know, I am a big fan of Web 2.0 and beyond for growing your business. Social networking has become a powerful way for solopreneurs to connect on a global business level. Twitter is a part ...

Conducting a job search these days can be bewildering and frustrating. The competition seems fierce, the economy is slowing, resumes submitted online seem to fall into a silent black hole, and as a woman of a certain age, even if you get the interview, you often hear that you’re over-qualified. What is a midlife woman to do? Never fear, help is ...

Prospective clients often ask this question: "I have an idea and I want to start a business, but where do I go from here?" Depending on their background, their proposed industry and what they have accomplished at the time the question is asked, my answer varies. However, one component of my answer never changes: I always advise clients to do some ...

Let me start by saying that I'm not an extrovert. Every personality assessment I've ever taken spits out results that say I'm "in my head" or a "thinker." In other words, an introvert. And I've built my career on networking. It's opened doors for me, given me critical advice and, when I became an entrepreneur, developed millions of dollars in business ...