Motivational Monday: Absence Makes the Heart Grow...

Ahhh....that was a nice break. Yes, I know. It's been a few weeks since I wrote something motivating for your Monday mornings. But just like I posted in my last post "Just Press Pause" I had to do JUST that, press pause. After getting engaged, moving, and working with my clients, my life became a world wind. I had to prioritize my life first before I could do anything for my business and then take care of everything else. And I have to admit, it felt great although I missed it.

You know how the old adage goes "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." We typically say it in regards to people that we want to miss us, but rarely do we use it in regards to our dreams, opportunities, or professional life. I love being an event planner, furthermore, I love being an entrepreneur and what it stands for, but sometimes it can become my life. By leaving the entrepreneur side of myself alone for a while, I am now able to further appreciate the goals and tasks that I have before me.

Before this year began, I constantly worried about having enough time and energy to do all the things and projects I have coming up, now that my life is back in working order and flowing effortlessly, my professional life will flow as well. So I challenge everyone who is feeling overwhelmed, lost, or flustered to step away. Allow yourself to miss what you do and what you love about what you do before you start to hate it.

Absence (from your work) makes your heart (for what you do) grow fonder."

Entrepreneurs in the News: 9 awesome entrepreneurs doing big things

I came across this article in my Google Alert yesterday. This was an amazing story of young people going forth and conquering the world. These nine young entrepreneurs, between the ages of 23 and 34 were named "The Hitachi Foundation's Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneurs" of 2010.

"The Hitachi Foundation was established as an independent nonprofit philanthropic organization by Hitachi, Ltd. in 1985. Governed by a Board of Directors composed of highly accomplished Americans, the Foundation seeks to discover and expand business practices that create tangible and enduring economic opportunities for low-wealth Americans, their families, and the communities in which they reside."

         -The Hitachi Foundation

Not only did they create businesses that will help them create a legacy, but many of them created businesses that are support the economy, local residents, and are sustainable. For instance, "ALEX VELEZ (23) AND NIKHIL ARORA (23) founded BTTR Ventures, a 100% sustainable, for-profit urban gourmet mushroom farm employing inner-city residents." Read more on the Kansas City Star online

Check out these two and all the other awesome young entrepreneurs and see why they deserved to win the $50,000 prize, technical support, and rubbing elbows with investors. Nine Young Entrepreneurs, Each Building a Viable Business that Helps Alleviate Poverty, Named The Hitachi Foundation's Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneurs - KansasCity.com

Remember, it doesn't matter at what age you decide to purpose your dream. As long as you don't let it become a distant memory.

The Unemployed Entrepreneur

5 Fabulous Resources for the Small Business Owner and Entrepreneur

As an entrepreneur, sometimes we find ourselves thinking that all the work that needs to be done, marketing, financing, education, etc, has to be done by ourselves. We have a tendency to overlook the many opportunities that are out there for us to be the best business owners that we can be. Sure networking, family, and friends are wonderful sources for advice and information, but the world is your oyster when it comes to gaining the knowledge necessary to being an informed entrepreneur.

Below are five resources for the small business owner and entrepreneur:
You might already know about these, but it doesn't hurt to have a reminder.

• Small Business Administration [www.sba.gov]
  The local SBA is a great resource because they offer you free and affordable courses to help you manage and run your business better and you don't even have to be a member to reap the benefits of it.
  

  "The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation."

• Your local Chamber of Commerce [http://www.chamberofcommerce.com/]
  The local chamber of commerce offers you everything from marketing you business to courses on how to run your business. The best thing about the Chamber of Commerce is that their vast network of members makes networking that much easier. Plus they offer discounts on things such as office supplies and email marketing sources like Constant Contact.
  

  "ChamberofCommerce.com provides information on 14MM businesses from more than 100 online and offline sources of information. In partnership with companies like Google, Yahoo, Bing, Acxiom, Yelp, CitySearch, Localeze & Superpages, ChamberofCommerce.com provides tools and solutions to help business develop and manage their business on the web."

• The Library [http://www.publiclibraries.com/]
  Okay. So I'm a nerd, but you can be one too by taking a trip to you local library. They have mountains of books that can teach you everything from proper social media marketing to creating a better business plan. All you have to do is take a drive to your local library, get a card and enjoy. Also, many library around the country have taken a 21 century spin by including free wifi, laptop rentals, and ebook checkouts.
  

  "PublicLibraries.com has a mission. Our mission is to promote public libraries and by serving people with an easy access to the use of public libraries. This goal is made possible through participation of people and local libraries. We believe that the PublicLibraries.com will be a very resourceful site for individuals, families, schools and organizations."

• Small Business Development Center [http://www.asbdc-us.org/]
  Small Business Development Center are equivalent of you being nurtured by your entrepreneurship or business management teacher in school. They help to cultivate the potential of entrepreneurs by offering them opportunities to network with successful business owners, investors, and knowledge. And at the end of the day, who could as for more than that? Another big plus is that many of them are offered through local universities and economic development centers, allowing you to be around other like-minded people who might have similar needs.
  

  "The mission of the network is to help new entrepreneurs realize their dream of business ownership, and to assist existing businesses to remain competitive in the complex marketplace of an ever-changing global economy. In short, your success is our business."

• Google [www.google.com]
  Say what you want about Google, but without it search engines would be lost and/ or confusing. Even worse, we'd still have to use the cataloging system at the library. *high pitch shriek* Anything you want to find out, research, or learn about is available with a simple key stroke in the search bar. You need to figure out how to make a template to save time? Google. You need to find out the next business networking event in your city? Google. You want to learn if your business identity is truly unique? Google.

I hope these and other resources help your business like it's been helping mine. In the world of entrepreneurship, too much knowledge can never be a bad thing.

The Unemployed [but Empowered and Informed] Entrepreneur