Mompreneur?

As Joel and I contemplate starting a family in the near future, I can't help but wonder how our new responsibilities will affect our business objectives. We'll be faced with new challenges and will have a whole new perspective on work/life balance. As we determine what our future will hold, it is great to know that Austin has recently been rated as the top city for working moms by ForbesWoman's first list of this kind. Below is the recent short article from Austin Business Journal. Enjoy and let me know what you think makes a great city/town for a future mompreneur!

Memo to working moms: Austin's your kind of town
August 5, 2009
Austin Business Journal

Working moms trying to balance family and the workplace may be better off in Austin than a lot of other cities around the country.

That according to ForbesWoman's first ever list of the "Best Cities for Working Mothers," which ranks Austin second, just behind No. 1 New York City.

“There are numerous considerations for what working moms want in their choice of a city,” said ForbesWoman writer Heidi Brown, who edited the list. “We based our rankings on the premise that different mothers have different needs. Beyond good healthcare and safety, mothers who work want a city which offers plentiful jobs, high salaries and abundant daycare options.”

To create the list, ForbesWoman ranked 50 of the largest continental U.S. metropolitan statistical areas by different categories, from earnings and unemployment to number of daycare and preschools and per-capita expenditure per pupil.

Rounding out the top 10 cities on the list, in order, are Minneapolis-St. Paul, Milwaukee, Portland, Cincinnati, San Jose, Pittsburgh, Seattle-Tacoma and Denver.

U.S. May See ‘Entrepreneurship Boom’

Source: Austin Business Journal

Aging baby boomers aren’t headed out to pasture — they’re starting new businesses, according to a Kauffman Foundation study that predicts the United States may be “on the cusp of an entrepreneurship boom.”

Over the past decade, Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 had the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity of any age group.

The 20-34 age bracket had the lowest rate, despite the attention lavished on youthful founders of companies such as Facebook and Google.

Job trends may increase entrepreneurial activity among older Americans.

“While people under age 30 have historically jumped from job to job, the most striking development today has been the deep drop in the incidence of ‘lifetime’ jobs among men over age 50,” writes Dane Stangler, senior analyst at the foundation and author of the study.

The past year’s economic upheavals also may produce more entrepreneurs among all age groups.

“The very idea of ‘too-big-to-fail’ institutions has been permanently damaged,” Stangler writes.

“Recent economic trends — away from lifetime jobs and toward more new companies — will thus gain even greater cultural traction. New and stronger regulations aiming to prevent the rise of such giant organizations also may help create a more market-oriented society.”

Debunking Freelancer Myths

This is an excellent article about what I've already learned to be true in the few months of full-time freelancing. I've been too busy lately to blog about my recent experiences (sign of booming business or maybe time mismanagement?), but wanted to get back on track now that I'm back in the Lone Star State. Enjoy this great article by Ilise Benu...

The 10 Myths Of Freelancing (And What It’s Really Like)

By Ilise Benu, co-founder of Marketing Mentor

April 8, 2009

“I know how to do X, so I’ll just make a business out of that and life will be good.”

You probably said that to yourself when you first thought about freelancing. But if you’re totally new to the concept or have been toying with the idea a little while now, know this: It isn't quite as easy as it seems.

If you’re serious about taking advantage of the “freedom” inherent in freelancing, the only way to make it work is to be realistic, because unrealistic expectations can cause extreme disappointment. So if that’s your aim, read on and take a look at the real world of freelancing; it may save you a lot of time in the long run.

Myth #1: You’ll be a creative (or techie, or other professional) running a business. Reality: Being a successful freelancer starts with the right mindset. You must see yourself as an entrepreneur providing services, not a designer, developer, writer, or any other skilled professional making money from your skill or talent. This is a subtle but important distinction. If you see yourself as a professional who provides services, or, better yet, a solver of problems, you’ll realize that what you do commercially for others is based on their need. And focusing on the needs of the market — instead of on yourself — is a direct path to a thriving business.

Myth #2: You’ll be free to do whatever you want. Reality: Freedom is a double-edged sword. In theory, it’s true that you are free to do whatever you want, however, some of those things that you don’t want to do – like bookkeeping and marketing – are essential to the survival of your business. If you ignore them, you may singlehandedly undermine your own success. You are certainly free to do that, but it’s not a very good idea.

Myth #3: No one will tell you what to do. Reality: Your clients won’t tell you what to do the way a boss would, but it may feel that way sometimes. It may seem like they’re dictating deadlines, fees, and everything in between, unless you determine and state your own terms and conditions — like how much time you need to do a project and how and when you get paid.

Myth #4: You’ll have lots of personal time to have fun and relax. Reality: There aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. Besides the work, you are responsible for writing proposals, finding new work (whether on Elance or in person), following up, billing your clients, dealing with customers, and even cleaning the office (which sometimes doubles as your home). And don’t forget that everything takes twice as long as you imagine it will.

Myth #5: If you do good work, clients will flock to your door. Reality: There’s no flocking involved. Once you build it, then you have to go out and spread the word about it in a world that is already cluttered with lots of other words intent on being spread. But if you communicate what sets you apart from the competition clearly, you are more likely to get the work that is out there.

Myth #6: “My work will speak for itself.” Reality: No way. Logistically impossible. You must toot your own horn, which doesn’t mean boasting or bragging. It means getting the attention of the right people — qualified prospects — long enough to make an impression, then educating them about how you can help them. It’s called marketing.

Myth #7: You’ll only do work you love. Reality: Maybe eventually, but only if you pursue the work you love. It doesn’t just magically appear on your doorstep (See Myth #6). First you have to identify the work you love, make a plan to get it, and then follow the plan diligently over time. Until then, you’ll probably take whatever comes along.

Myth #8: You’ll have great clients you love. Reality: You may have a few clients you love, but no clients are perfect — even ideal clients. There will always be miscommunications and misunderstandings, processes to improve and problems to resolve. If you focus on improving processes with whatever clients you have, you will attract better clients because the “bad” ones will weed themselves out.

Myth 9: The “business part” is boring and difficult. Reality: The “business part” (dealing with money, business development and managing other people, even if those people are your clients) will be challenging and, yes, sometimes boring. If you’re in business to have fun, your success is not assured. But if you rise to the occasion, whatever you find difficult will certainly make you better at business.

Myth #10: You have to be a “business person” to be successful. Reality: There is no such thing as a “business person,” and labeling yourself that way can be a huge obstacle to success. There are, however, business tasks, activities, behaviors, and skills, all of which you can learn. Then you are free to practice them to your heart’s content.

Wishing You a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

In honor of St. Patty's Day, I wanted to share a great Irish blessing that's perfect for entrepreneurs...

May you have the hindsight to know where you've been,
the foresight to know where you're going,
and the insight to know when you're going too far.

Spend Lunch Chatting with SBA this Thursday

As a proponent of free markets and someone who doesn't expect the government to use taxpayer money to bail out folks that have made poor financial or business decisions, I still am someone who wants to be able to make educated decisions regarding all possible resources that will be available to me. So, if you are like me, you are curious as to how the new federal "economic stimulus" is intended to assist small businesses.

What SBA loan programs will be affected? Will there be tax-relief for small businesses? What is the long-term tax burden that small businesses may eventually have to take on to pay back this borrowed relief? In attempt to answer these questions and more, the SBA (Small Business Administration) will be hosting an online chat this Thursday, March 19, at noon CST.

To participate, simply click on the Online Business Chat icon on the SBA website, http://www.blogger.com/www.sba.gov. Participants can then type questions into a queue to be hopefully answered during the online chat.

Team Hernandez Goes Full-Time

When my husband Joel and I met while working at Berman and Company five years ago, we discussed our dream to one-day run our own creative shop. Both wanting the freedom and flexibilty that self-employment provides, we waited for the day when we could start pursuing that dream.

Last summer I took a big leap, resigned from my marketing position with Dell University and accepted the invitation to serve as vice president of an interactive agency in southern California. Accepting this job meant that I'd be separated from my husband (and my friends) for weeks at a time, but anxious to see if this was the ideal job for me, I took the plunge.

Four months later, I tendered my resignation and told my husband that I was ready to "come home" to Texas. With no job to come home to and as someone who never looks backwards, I was eager to look forward and see what my next adventure would be. Having devoted much time early last year to concept and planning for my "someday" business, I realized that the "someday" had arrived. I founded Scribal Warriors in November of '08 and a couple months later, JOBSLAY.com. 

With Joel still working long hours in business sales at Dell he was a great moral supporter of my entrepreneurial efforts, but was unable to spend much time working on the business with me. Again, we awaited "someday" when we could both be self-employed.

Last week, Joel's "someday" arrived earlier than anticipated. Armed with optimism, aspirations, and great faith, Team Hernandez is now working full-time for Scribal Warriors.

Friend Represents Entrepreneurs at White House

A couple of years ago, Doug Imbruce (CEO of theU.net) and I collaborated on a fun marketing project to create an online video ad supporting Dell University's Slow Ass Computer Syndrome (aka SACS) campaign and a related contest. Filmed as a "caught on tape" student experience, our SACS video has had nearly 50,000 YouTube views with a 4.5 star rating.

While the project was short in duration, I really enjoyed my time working with Doug. He's a creative and motivated young entrepreneur who continues to solidify his position as a leader in marketing strategy for college-bound and college-age consumers. I've kept in touch with Doug and was excited to receive news of his inclusion in The Summit Series, "a community of the world’s most influential young entrepreneurs and innovators." Recently gathering at the White House, Doug and 34 other outstanding young entrepreneurs had the opportunity to represent the perspective and ideas of all young business owners. Below is an article with further details.

...

WASHINGTON D.C, March 8, 2009 – Thirty five of America’s top entrepreneurs and innovators under the age of 40 gathered Friday at the White House to discuss the economy with Obama administration officials.

“Our goal is to help in any way we can to pull our country out of this recession.  Uniting many young entrepreneurs in one place, with one vision was a great first step” said Doug Imbruce, founder and CEO of TheU.net, an online advertising network that reaches 8.7 million college-bound students and parents monthly.

“We are impressed that the White House is creating an ‘open source’ culture within the walls of government that invite ideas from outside. We hope this heralds a new era of collaboration between the private and public sectors.’

Young entrepreneurs at the White House included Twitter co-founder and CEO Evan Williams, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, Blackboard founder and CEO Michael Chasen, Kiva co-founder Jessica Jackley, DailyCandy COO Catherine Levene, Ecko Enterprises founder Marc Ecko, Tishman Speyer co-CEO Rob Speyer, Trump SVP Ivanka Trump, Mint.com founder and CEO Aaron Patzer, College Humor co-founder Josh Abramson, and others. The entrepreneurs met with officials of the National Economic Council and Offices of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs as well as the White House Director of New Media. They discussed their own experiences, insights, and suggestions on job creation, energy independence, and health care reform.

These White House visitors are part of The Summit Series, a community of the world’s most influential young entrepreneurs and innovators. The Summit Series strives to provide opportunities for its members to develop business, personal, and philanthropic growth through shared experience and dialogue.

Gathering throughout the year at different venues in North America, The Summit Series provides an opportunity for top young business talent to work together solving community problems. The next Summit Series summit, sponsored by GQ magazine and the United Nations Foundation, will be held April 2 though 5 in Aspen, Colorado. The 125 attendees will focus on philanthropy. Presenters for charities will include Elizabeth Gore from Nothing But Nets; Lauren Bush from Feed Projects, a company that sells bags to help feed children; Invisible Children, an organization that works to address the challenge of child soldiers in Uganda; and Ethan Zohn from Grassroots Soccer, who took his $1 million from winning Survivor:Africa to set up soccer leagues in Africa enabling children there to get tested for HIV/AIDS.

Taking Advantage of Networking Events

My husband and I attended a networking cocktail hour sponsored by Media Bistro at Uncorked last night. Open to media professionals, it was an opportunity for fellow Austinites to gather over some great wine and to discuss their latest business ventures. The event proved a good use of my time as it offered me the chance to:

• make a few friends with similar interests
• meet some other female business owners
• get a better pulse on the Austin business outlook
• give some advice to freelance writers
• make some agency connections that may yield business opportunities for Scribal Warriors

Have an upcoming networking event? Below are some suggestions for getting the most out of your attendance.

The Guest List

If available, find out who will be in attendance. Create a mental list of attendees that you want to be sure to meet. It's rare that you'll be able to meet everyone, so be sure that you use your time wisely to maximize your contacts.

Attire

Both the event venue and the personality of the hosting organization will typically provide clues as to the appropriate attire. When in doubt, business casual is always a good option. You will be meeting potential employees, employers, or business partners and you what to be sure that you make a great first impression.

Business Cards
Never attend a networking event without a business card. There are many online providers that allow you to create cards for free so there is no excuse. Don't make a new business contact have to try and remember your name or have to write down your information. Even someone who isn't employed can create a professional card for networking purposes. Include your contact information, licences and credentials, and your area(s) of expertise.

Two Drink Minimum Maximum
Many networking events are held at a venue where alchohol is served. While it's commonly acceptable to have a drink during a professional social event, it's never acceptable to over consume. Slurring, stumbling, or the liquid courage to share inappropriate anecdotes are not the lasting impressions you want to leave with new contacts.

Be Ready to Approach Others
Networking events are not for the shy at heart. Be prepared to walk up to strangers and start with a smile, handshake, and introduction. Open the conversation with a question about them. Give them an opportunity to let you know what they do, how long they've been doing it, and what they hope to be doing in the future. Knowing more about them will allow you to tailor your own story. Share information that is relevant to them - whether that's as a potential employer, potential employee, or merely as professional contact. Approaching others will let them know that you are friendly, confident, and have something of value to offer.

With these simple tips, you can be sure that your next networking event leaves you with fond memories, a pocket full of business cards, and new business opportunities.

U.S. Economy Supports Business Best Practices

EXPAND SLOWLY AND STRATEGICALLY

While most business owners prefer to start a new endeavor during a booming economy, many of today's most recognizable companies were actually started during recessions. From HP to Hyatt, these entrepreneurs took a great business plan and applied great business principles to grow their business in spite of the challenging economic environment.

A recession can actually be a great small business springboard. Today's economy may restrict an entrepreneur's choices for development leaving best practices as the only options. For example, easy access to funding might tempt a business owner to open a second location or fund an advertising campaign prematurely. With loans harder to come by, a business owner is forced to crunch numbers to strategically fund expansion only when it will be self-sustaining. You may grow slowly, but you are less likely to go into the red while doing so.

Limited start-up funding for Scribal Warriors has forced me to strategically consider every penny of investment. Anxious to start earning revenue as soon as the domain was purchased, I wanted to start online advertising right away to build brand awareness. I'm now grateful that I didn't have money to fund that option. Delaying my first campaign will make my marketing dollars go further. I'll be driving traffic to a more developed website that is ready with robust content and an impressive online portfolio - more likely to convert site visitors to paying clients.

Unpaid Gigs

While trying to find creative ways to feed myself more jobs and projects, I have often used Craigslist as a resource. CL's Gigs section ranges from event staffing needs to "models" for adult media. The gigs are publicized one-time or temporary needs. Another gig category is for writing. The posted writing gigs vary from poetry submissions to blogging to movie script collaboration. What's frustrating is that the majority of these gigs are unpaid. While some of the posters are college kids or aspiring artists or fellow entrepreneurs who understandably have little to no cash, others are merely greedy companies that are looking to get a service for free. Their compensation is typically "no compensation" or for the more generous ones, they offer "chance for publication."

Writing is an art form. It's also a skill. Why are artistic skills which often require natural born talent, not appreciated as much as other skills that are more easily duplicated with a course of study? Can you imagine hiring engineering grads and offering them the compensation of "chance to construct public building". While I know it's not a perfect comparison and while I acknowledge that the market is flooded with artists (be it singers, actors, writers, poets), I still think that we are undervalued and definitely underpaid. This is one artist who doesn't want to starve.

The Website Seven

While this advice is not an earth-shattering discovery of customer's online behavior, I thought it was a great reminder from Jerry Bader of seven basic elements one should consider when developing your business website. 

(Excerpt from: SiteProNews)

1. Communication
People are always asking us what's wrong with their websites, and the answer in the vast majority of cases can be summed-up in a quote from the movie, "Cool Hand Luke" (1967): "what we have here is a failure to communicate." Communication is the key to success, and that doesn't just apply to your website, it applies to almost everything you do both inside and outside your business-life. 

If your website isn't communicating on both a rational and emotional level, if it doesn't provide the psychological and emotional context of your marketing message, then exactly what is it doing?

2. Audience
I can't think of too many people who actually like being sold. In fact, sometimes customers get so irritated by sales tactics that they end up not buying the thing they came specifically to your website to purchase.

Solving the problem is merely a question of altering your perspective; the average buyer is predisposed to dismiss and ignore high-pressure tactics, and meaningless sales pitches. So instead of treating customers like customers, try treating them like an audience. Audiences want to be engaged, enlightened, and entertained. And that is the most effective way to make a sales impact.

3. Focus
All too often websites inundate their Web audiences with facts, figures, statistics, and an endless list of features, benefits, options, and whatever else the sales department can think of throwing in. All that stuff just confuses people.

Focus your message on the most important elements of what you have to say. If your website can embed that singular idea in an audience's mind, then it has done its job.

4. Language
The words used, and how they are put together provides meaning; they inform personality; they provide mental sound bites; and they make whatever you are saying, worth remembering.

Language is one of the critical elements of 'voice', the ability to convey personality; and writing without a 'voice' is instantly forgettable.

5. Performance
Even the most articulate prose can be lost in a befuddled delivery. Communication is more than words; it's a combination of language, style, personality, and performance.

Things are rarely what they seem. Even our memories are a stylized version of what we've actually experienced. Creating a memorable impression is about managing the viewer experience, and providing the right verbal and non-verbal cues that make what is being said memorable.

6. Personality
Every business has a personality. The first problem is, few medium-sized companies ever attempt to manage that persona, and as a consequence, the buying public forms its own opinion. And that opinion is often not the way you want to be regarded.

The second problem is companies either don't have a firm grasp of who they really are, or they know, and they are afraid to promote it. If your company's identity isn't worth promoting, it is time to think why that is, and change it. The bottom line is, a company without a personality is a company without an image, and that makes you instantly forgettable.

7. Psychology
The most important feature you can provide your audience is psychological fulfillment, not deep discounts, fast service, or more bells and whistles.

The real reason people buy stuff is that it makes them feel something. Cosmetics make women feel attractive or sexy, while cars make men feel they've achieved some level of status. Even services make people feel important, as in "I've got a guy, who does that for me." Finding the psychological hot spot in your marketing, and promoting the hell out of it consistently and continually should be your primary marketing goal. All those features and benefits are merely the excuse for a purchase, not the reason. 

The Case of Ethical Entrapment

As a new business owner in a competitive industry, how do you quickly land new clients? Like any underdog, you have to work harder, be creative, and hope to get lucky. If this doesn't work for you, try ethical entrapment.

Background: For the past couple of months, I've periodically been working through Elance to fish for some projects. Elance is a large online marketplace for freelancers and those seeking to hire providers for project-based work. Buyers post a project description and then service providers can choose to submit a brief proposal and bid. (There's much more to be said about the process and the Elance business model, but I will rant about that another day.)

About the Defendant: After being discouraged from not winning multiple bids, I determined that I had to find a new way to distinguish myself amid the myriad of providers. Bottoming out my pricing had been one successful strategy, but sometimes even that wasn't enough. I came across a project for an attorney that was merely to reformat a 15 page real estate contract which was attached to the project description. The contract had a few typos, but the greatest need was for consistent formatting. 

The Case: Taking initiative to tackle a project that I'm surprised anyone would pay someone to do, I edited the document, improved the layout, and provided consistent formatting throughout the various sections, subsections, and sub-subsections that are typically a part of a long, legal document. Taking less than an hour, I then submitted my proposal which basically consisted of "Ta da! Here it is" and gave the lowest bid allowed on Elance - $50. Knowing I had not only provided him a much more professional looking document, but that I had also corrected overlooked content errors, I smugly sat back awaiting a buyer message along the lines of "Wow, thanks!"

The Charge: I did hear from the buyer. But rather than accolades about my clever initiative, what I heard was a brief lecture on ethical entrapment. (*snicker* Yes, an attorney lecturing about ethics.) He then said that fortunately for me he didn't care (ah, reality-check) and just wanted it completed quickly. He would formally award me the project. After waiting a week, I sent him a payment reminder. He finally transferred the $50 ($45.62 after Elance fees) and left me an overall positive rating of 4.2/5.0, with reduced marks on professionalism. 

My Plea: If providing a high quality product on time for the lowest price possible without obligating the buyer is considered ethical entrapment, then I plead guilty. But I won't be calling that attorney to defend me.

Everyone Loves an Underdog

Watching the SuperBowl as our friends cheer for the Cards without any previous cause for loyalty, I'm reminded that our generation oft enjoys rooting for the underdog. When the least likely individual (or in this case, team) overcomes insurmountable obstacles to achieve greatness, we rush to relive the story in the theatre or to read the unauthorized biography. Underdog success stories give each of us hope. That we, too, can achieve great things even when the odds are stacked against us.

It's this sentiment that leads me to believe that 2009 is going to be a great year for new entrepreneurs. Challenging economic times will yield new risk takers and unlikely new business owners. Americans will be inspired to achieve in spite of credit limitations, unemployment surges, and fluctuating fuel prices. So as the clock ticks down on the fourth quarter, I find myself also screaming for Arizona. 

Tick, Tick, 0:00...Well, they did give it a darn good go. Still love the underdog. 

Nothing is Free

Just wanted to remind myself to always read the fine print. In early November when buying ScribalWarriors.com, I also secured the domain for JOBSLAY.com because I wanted to take it off the market, hoard my site from other ambitious webpreneurs (yes, just coined that term). I successfully paid GoDaddy via PayPal and thought buying the domain even when I wasn't ready to develop the page was a brilliant early move on my part.

What I didn't realize was that if I didn't direct the domain anywhere, GoDaddy was going to "park" my page for free. Sounds good enough, right? Well, that free parking came at a price. They littered my landing page with advertisements relative to the key words in my domain (JOB). Unknowingly, my domain had been advertising for competitors for over two months.

Since I hadn't started promoting JOBSLAY, I doubt I had that much traffic. But it was the principle that got me. I hadn't heeded my own advice and created at least a simple landing page right away. I now know another good reason to do so.

JOBSLAY.com: A Subsidiary is Born

When I established Scribal Warriors, a company providing various writing and marketing services, I had envisioned using generated revenue to later establish a sister company that would specifically focus on resume services and personal marketing. With the sharp economic downturn and unemployment rates rising, the immediate need for career services has encouraged me to speed up my timeline. 

I already had a company name and a basic branding idea from personal journaling in the spring of last year and I had already purchased the domain name a few months ago, so I formally moved forward with JOBSLAY.com this week. Starting a JOBSLAY blog a few days ago, a blog dedicated to career and job hunting advice and resources, I finally launched the company's "phase 1" website today! With a similar style of Scribal Warriors' website, but with a different color scheme, I wanted to be able to link the two sites and have it be an easy visual transition for online visitors. 

Who knows? Maybe I'll continue to break up Scribal Warriors into other more focused writing and marketing services in the future. A sister company like JOBSLAY allows me to market a subset of my services to a more targeted market.

New Business' Landing Page - A Starting Point

When starting any new business, it's critical to have an online presence. Even if you have large dreams about a highly interactive, high design website it's important that you create an online destination while it's in development. Customers expect credible businesses to have a website and lack of one will shake client confidence. Even if you aren't a web expert or if you don't have initial funds for the site of your dreams, you can at least secure a simple, attractive landing page in the short-term.

Landing Page Minimum Requirements:

• Business name
• Thorough description of your services or goods
• Contact information

Other Landing Page Elements to Consider: 

• Pricing 
  Pricing may be eliminated for service-based businesses that require more customer informaton, but should be included for retail/goods that are competitively priced. Not showcasing pricing will suggest that "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" which may be the premium, exclusive branding you are seeking.
• Competitive Advantage
  You've successfully directed a potential customer or client to your landing page via search engine, advertisement, or luck so take advantage of the opportunity to have a virtual conversation with them. Consider adding copy to your website that distinguishes you from your competition. Choose compelling, truthful information that will encourage your visitors to take the next step - whether it's visiting your brick and mortar location or contacting you online.

What's in a Name?

I love puns, word play, and double entendres so it's not surprising that I wanted a clever name for my company. I also wanted the name to convey something about the services we provide even if it's not immediately obvious. While I didn't want to narrow my focus, I knew that writing would definitely be at the core of any service we provided. There were many existing companies that played around with "write" and "right"so I knew I didn't want to join that crowd. Contemplating words that were synonymous with writer, I landed on "scribe" ... "scribal" ... hmm sounds like tribal ... tribal warriors ... Eureka! "Scribal Warriors."

Wanting to convey that my writing services are powerful and persuasive - whether it's ad copy or a resume - I like the fact that the name conveys aggression. Like an attorney who "drops the hammer," I want potential clients to know my professional writing and marketing services will empower them to achieve their business or personal goals.

 

Scribal Warriors... The Beginning

I founded Scribal Warriors LLC so I could fulfill both personal and professional goals. Owning my own business challenges me to be disciplined, organized, analytical, and decisive. The nature of my business - writing and marketing - challenges me to be creative, intelligent, inspired, and current. I enjoy flexibility, mobility, and independence, however, I also risk stability, income, and security. It's too early in the game to determine whether the benefits will outweigh the risks, but any entrepreneur must be willing to wait and see.

My first steps were to create a name, choose a focus (or not), establish myself legally, and build an online identity. I will delve into each area more specifically in future blogs. These first steps all started last November in Cafe Java on Gattis School Lane. They have a great chef's salad and don't frown upon you for getting unlimited coffee refills for hours. Their wi-fi is reliable and their staff is friendly. Cafe Java has become one of my favorite "offices."

To see the company website in Stage 1 (built by me using template), visit www.ScribalWarriors.com.