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How to be an entrepreneur: 3 benchmarks

Being your own boss – the flexibility, the autonomy, taking time off when you want/need – sound amazingly enticing to most people. But what does it really entail, working for yourself? I’ve been in and around the independent business owner world for most of the past twelve years, having both owned/operated my own businesses and having interacted with others who own and operate their own businesses. I’ve done them all: I was an independent sales rep for an MLM (multi-level marketing company), I’ve produced my own products in the crafter-arena, and I’ve provided services to clients. Here’s what I’ve found, the top three things that I could not do without: First, it takes opportunity recognition. The technical term is “entrepreneurial awareness”, but it means you see a gap in the market. A product or service that fills a need. Do you (1) go with an established company either as a franchise or an independent sales rep, or do you (2) provide your own service or generate your own
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Meet Sadie L. Harper

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I’ve lived in Raleigh for over 24 years, long enough to consider myself a native (though I’ll still say I grew up outside Chicago and am a die-hard Bears fan). My experience runs the gamut – from the legal field to interior design to content writing, from marketing/market research and branding to business development. My undergrad degree is in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Meredith College, followed by nearly five years as a paralegal/legal research assistant. I then spent time raising young children and renovating my 1970s fixer-upper house from top to bottom – which led to opening my own interior design firm, so I could still be available for my children while working. I’m an independent and creative free spirit; I’ve been called a “world changer” due to my affinity for transforming the world around me. I love helping others transform their worlds as well. While expecting my third child, I took a break again to focus on kids and pursue a Master of Science in Me
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How to Answer 'What Do You Do?'

By Sadie L. Harper of Southern Ambition When you meet someone for the first time – whether in a social setting, on a date, at a bar, at your child’s activity – what are the first two questions they ask? What’s your name? What do you do for a living? How do you answer the second question? Sometimes it’s not so simple as “I’m an engineer” or “I’m in website development”. If you’re an indy biz owner, this is an opportunity to communicate y our company and brand to get more exposure and possibly more connections. This is another place, besides your networking groups or events, where having a 30 second commercial is not only beneficial but could be crucial. Do you stumble on your words, or are you prepared? The more prepared you are, the more confident you will appear. Confidence is what sells you to your clients – not your services or products, but you as a person. Everyone knows the saying “people buy from those who they know, like, and trust”, and trust is b
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Is Everyone a Potential Client?

By Sadie L. Harper of Southern Ambition A conversation I have with all my biz owner clients centers around problem clients. It’s a lesson most of us learn the hard way, but I’ve learned to look for certain things at the beginning which have helped me. So how do I tell? Read on… First, not everyone is your client. Not every consultation leads to a long-term, profitable client-biz owner relationship. And that’s okay! I gather a lot of information – both verbal and non-verbal – in my initial conversations with clients. An example: I was in discussions with a business owner for me to do some work for her. I’d sent samples, and she’d agreed to a price and scope of work. My first indication was her hedging on setting up a meeting to go over everything in detail. If someone will not devote an hour of their time, this usually is not a one-time issue. My second clue was when she said she “decided to go another way” because someone else was cheaper. I was already not charging
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The 30-second Commercial--As Easy As It Sounds?

By guest blogger Sadie L. Harper of Southern Ambition, Raleigh, NC I’ve been in the independent business owner world for most of the past 12 years, and I’ve watched networking groups form and disband. In all the networking groups I’ve attended, I’ve noticed many members have trouble with their 30 second commercial. The top issues I see are these: Not clearly identifying yourself, your business, or your role. This is crucial to your brand identity. Too much information! Most biz owners list every product or service hoping to resonate with    someone, somewhere. This just overwhelms your audience with information. Lack of segmentation. If you are a skincare rep, your client is not ‘everyone who has skin’.             It is more effective to specify who your ideal customer is, rather than shoot all your arrows into the sky, praying to hit the target in the distance. On the flip side, certain elements make for powerful, confident commercials. Clearly identifyi
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