Julianna McLean recently spoke with gusty entrepreness Sandy Hunter, President of Hunter Hawk, Inc. This motivating article/interview is a quick read worth sharing.

Women-owned businesses are expected to be a driving force that turns this otherwise dismal economy around. An article in Small Business Trends suggests that women entrepreneurs will “rule the global marketplace” due to social entrepreneurship, which women are better at.

Who knew our gift of gab would help us take over the world?

What I love about Sandy Hunter, president, Hunter Hawk, Inc., mother of two (now grown-ups), is that she dared to set up stakes in a field so dominated by males that she was once named “Man of the Year” by an industry association. Her company is a custom manufacturer and provider of industrial products and services for the oil industry. And we’re not talking mineral oils here. She also works with energy companies, biotech and water companies.

How’d you get started in the oil business?
My start came as a secretary for a water meter manufacturer. I needed to increase my salary and my time flexibility as a single parent but I was not allowed to become a sales person so I changed jobs until I had the skill and the opportunity to get into outside sales. It was motivated by the need to support my girls and our large golden retriever, Popsicle.

The business opportunity was thrust upon me after I was laid off from an industrial repair facility sales position. I was excited about going out on my own but at the same time I was anxious about being completely on my own. That night I dreamt about a mama bird encouraging her baby birds to fly from their nest, which was perched on top of a cliff.

If they failed to fly, they might fall to the rocks below. Even if they flew, they might get picked off by a hawk circling above them.

When I awoke I realized I was not the mama bird or the baby birds—I was the hawk, and it was time to take action to feed myself. Hence, our company name: Hunter Hawk.

What one quality is a ‘must have’ for a mom entrepreneur?
You have to love what you do, whatever it is. While it was difficult juggling single parenthood, working full-time, going to school and having a life with my two girls, I loved my work and that kept me motivated. I encourage mothers to leverage your ‘mothering’ skills as a business woman. Be as helpful as you can to customers, even if that means introducing them to another vendor. Everyone remembers someone who helped them out in a pinch, and people like to return those favors.

Do you think women businesses will turn this economy around?
Yes, because we’re good at collaborating and helping each other succeed. And we listen.

Jordana Bruner from Clutch 22 knows how to get things done her way. Check out these tips about negotiating your way for a cheaper pair of shoes.

Tips & Tricks:

Why it’s worth it: Along with combining the instant gratification of shopping in stores with the discount benefits of shopping online, you can also feel good about giving your business to a place you trust. As an avid online shopper, I’ve found this is a way to also support local boutiques. In fact, I bought my green Pour la Victoire sandals at The Finerie in Seattle. Endless had the same pair for a $25 promotion and The Finerie was happy to match the deal.

When you should try: If the product is over $100 and is carried by more than one retailer. You have to make sure the amount you’ll save is worth your time and in most cases, chain stores that only carry their own brand (e.g. GAP, Victoria’s Secret, etc.) will lead to a dead end.

The process: Once you know which item you’re looking for, determine which places are selling it online. Then, try to find a coupon code for one of those places – I use sites like Grechens Codes and Retail Me Not.

Getting the price-match: If you find a lower price, whether on sale or with a coupon code, the next step is to see if your local department store or boutique will match it. More often than not, they probably will. Someone is going to get your business regardless, so it might as well be them.

Sometimes to get things done, you just need to write it out loud. We love Wordle.com which creates “word clouds” from text that you provide. We use our “clouds” for inspiration and just for fun.

Holly St. Lifer recently wrote a really motivating article for Natural Health magazine featuring tips to help you get started, maximize and enjoy your urban walking fitness experience. Check out excerpts below via Find Articles.

Walk to get fit.
To turn your walk into a workout, you should be walking fast enough to raise your heart rate and break a sweat but still be able to converse, according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines.

Tweak your technique.
Proper posture will make your walk more comfortable and robust. Lift up through the crown of your head. Drop your shoulders back and down and lean forward from the waist. Keep your eyes on the horizon and your chin parallel to the ground. Keep your arms close to your ribs. Your hands should trace a compact are from your waistband on the back swing, to chest height on the front swing. Strike the ground with your heel first. Roll through the foot from heel to toe while keeping your knees slightly bent. Press off from the ball of your foot and push off your toes. Imagine revealing the bottom of your shoe on every stride.

Walk with poles.
To increase the challenge, add poles to your walk. They demand more effort from your arms, chest, abdominals, back, and shoulders, so you’re toning areas not typically relied upon during walking. “Poles force you to walk faster,” says Mark Fenton, former member and coach of the U.S. Racewalking team, and author of The Complete Guide to Walking for Health, Weight Loss, and Fitness (Lyons Press, 2008). “Combine that with the upper body workout and you can increase your calorie burn by up to 40 percent.” (Find poles like those made by Exerstrider at walkingpoles.com)

Add steps, staircases, and hills.
Studies show that as long as you can keep up a pace close to what you maintain on fiat ground, inclines can increase your calorie burn by up to 50 percent. You’ll also be strengthening your legs and butt.

Walk to reduce stress.
You don’t need to pound the pavement at warp speed to reap the tension-taming benefits of walking. Researchers at the Rippe Lifestyle Institute in Shrewsbury, Mass., found even taking a comfortable saunter can significantly reduce stress.

Engage your mind.
“People who incorporated a simple meditation technique had the greatest levels of stress reduction, says James Rippe, M.D., professor of biomedical science at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, author of High Performance Health (Thomas Nelson, 2007), and lead researcher in a study that looked at the effect meditation has on reducing stress while walking.

Choose a mantra.
“You can choose a meaningful phrase or just listen to your footsteps,” says Rippe. “I love life”–those are the words Katherine Dreyer, co-founder of ChiWalking, a mind-body walking program in Asheville, N.C., repeats on her daily walks. “If I focus my mind on a positive phrase, it keeps me from dwelling on stressful thoughts,” she says.

Be curious.
“I love discovering a beautiful historic home or garden I never would have noticed if I were in a car,” says Gay Page, president and founder of Colorado Walks, an organization in Denver that promotes and encourages walking. “These little finds dispel my daily stresses and refresh my spirit.”

Walk to explore a neighborhood.
With advance planning and research, you can turn your stroll into a tour of the local culture and hot spots.

What’s your fav ‘hood to hike around?

Memorable last-minute Memorial Day getaways near West Coast CRAVE cities.

1. Yakima Valley, Washington’s premium wine region features small family operations where unpretentious hospitality is the norm. Comprehensive winery info here. Memorable home bases for your wine touring adventures: Hillcrest Farm Guest Cottages and A Touch of Europe B&B and Fine Dining.

2. Near Nelson, British Columbia lies Blue Ridge Mountain Retreat an ‘invitation into the soul of British Columbia’s Kootenay Region.’ The captivating landscape provides a true escape from everyday life. Guests reside in fully-furnished yurts, warm, circular structures with all the comforts of home. Blueridge Retreat yoga classes are held in the studio yurt, around the serenity pond, or down at the beach.

3. Just 30 miles north of downtown Portland, enjoy family friendly fun in Scappoose & St. Helens. Explore the Historic Riverfront District in Olde Towne St. Helens, rent kayaks, and wander the eclectic shops, cafés and restaurants of the area near the Columbia River. Read an excellent weekend itinerary from traveloregon.com here.

4. San Fran residents, rent a convertable and head south for a luxe girlfriend getaway. LA’s Palomar Hotel offers a fab “summer playground package” that includes deluxe accommodations, $25 dining credit, In-room movie and popcorn delivered right to your door, summer sangria at their hosted wine hour, and afternoon ice cream pops in the hotel lobby.

Children’s Trust Foundation is bringing NYC author Emma Gilbey Keller to town to tell stories from her book, The Comeback, about women re-entering the workplace and finding the balance between motherhood and career. Come enjoy a fun night with your friends at Opal Bistro in Queen Anne, Seattle, and meet other smart women. Admission price includes appetizers and a specialty cocktail, and proceeds benefit Children’s Trust Foundation’s work to prevent child abuse and neglect.

click here to view a video about the book

Date: 05/27/2009
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Location: 2 Boston St., Seattle, WA 98109 | Map It
Ages: Mom’s night out
Cost: $30, $35 at door
Event Info: 206-898-9895

Spring is the perfect time to get your home and life organized. Thankfully easy to use, free financial applications like Mint.com exist to help people get a handle on their personal finances. We found a great Ehow article that provides step by step instructions on getting minted.

1. Sign up for a free account at Mint.com

2 Enter your bank information so Mint.com can access your financial accounts through a secure connection. Enter as many financial accounts as you have so that Mint.com can aggregate the data into a single overview of your financial situation to help you manage finances easier.

3 Add information about your savings accounts, credit cards, investment accounts, loans, real estate, vehicles and credit score.

4 Once your personal finance accounts have been authenticated, your transactions and balance information will be updated nightly.

5 Use the data Mint.com compiles for you any way you choose. You may notice a horrifying spending habit or trend (like dining out too much) after examining one of Mint.com’s helpful pie charts and graphs. Use the Mint.com budgeting tool to assure that you never again have to scrap together dollars at the end of the month to make your payments. Managing personal finances has never been more fun!

6 Mint.com uses your transaction activity to recommend credit cards, saving accounts and checking accounts that could help you save money.

Already use the service? What are your experiences with it?

Debunking #3: Brand is more than just visual – it’s the entire experience and perception people have about your company.
It’s the perception people have of your company, your products, your services – even you. Saying it is just a logo or website is like saying a person’s soul is their car. Your brand is what you are; your logo, website and all your other marketing efforts simply communicate that claim to the world.

Once you understand that brand is not some mystical, elusive thing but something that authentically represents the experience your company provides, the easier it will be to work with designers, writers – and even the press – to blast that message to the world and attract new customers.

Click here to read part 1.

Click here to read part 2.

Maria Ross of Red Slice and Heather Nelson of Champion Assistants, a full service marketing and sales agency are hosting a free teleseminar on Thursday, May 21 at noon pacific time: “The Truth About Branding: What it is, What it does and How a Clear Brand Strategy Can Save you Time, Money and Headache”. They’ll be discussing the secrets of effective branding and marketing and how following some simple rules will ensure your marketing is more targeted and effective than your competition.

Contributed by branding and marketing consultant, Maria Ross, Owner and Chief Marketing Diva of Red Slice (www.red-slice.com).

Spring is in the air, and wedding season is in full bloom! A close friend’s impending nuptials can be an emotional, invigorating and often stressful experience for her bridesmaids. We asked around about wedding stressors and found women believe ‘toasts’ to be the most daunting girlfriend duty.

Petrified of public speaking? Read our tips below!

1. Write your toast with ample time in advance to prepare — at least two weeks.

2. To get the creative juices flowing begin by writing down 10 memories you share. Anything goes at this point. You can edit later.

3. Watch wedding toasts on Youtube. Notice the formulas developing and know that it is ok to stick with them! Your toast will be personalized by content.

4. Pick up the pen again! First, write an introduction that clarifies who you are, and what your relationship is to the bride. Next think compliments and congratulations. Quickly describe the bride’s unique personality traits, and follow by drafting a humorous or touching friendship story that exemplifies her special qualities. Recount the way you were introduced to her husband to be. Address what makes them a good match. End by relaying a genuine hope you have for their future.

5. Record yourself reading the written toast on your video camera or computer. Then record yourself again speaking from memory. Playback the second version and write a transcript of your words. This will be your final draft. This version will feel less scripted and more comfortable and conversational.

6. The day of, remember to eat, breath, and keep alcohol consumption to a minimum.

7. Make steady eye contact with the bride as you deliver the toast. You are speaking to her first and foremost.

8. Let the emotions flow! Trying to hold back tears will make your toast look and feel stilted.

9. Reward yourself afterward with the large margarita you’ve been eyeing or the second piece of cake you have been coveting.

Debunking #2: Branding is not hard – it’s who you are.
Everyone thinks branding as a concept is hard. It’s really not rocket science. It just requires asking 10 key questions and then ensuring all your communications and customer experiences reflect the answers. For you DIY’ers out there, check out brand expert Maria Ross’ new eBook, “Build Your Own Brand Strategy in 10 Easy Steps” Guiding you through 10 key questions, you can easily craft your own brand strategy that will ultimately save you time and money on all of your marketing efforts. Don’t spend a dime on a designer, writer or marketing program before you do this process for yourself! If you can’t afford a consultant right now, this snappy and sassy book is a bargain – well worth over $1000 of consulting hours at only $50.

Check back tomorrow for part 3.

Click here to read part 1.

Maria Ross of Red Slice and Heather Nelson of Champion Assistants, a full service marketing and sales agency are hosting a free teleseminar on Thursday, May 21 at noon pacific time: “The Truth About Branding: What it is, What it does and How a Clear Brand Strategy Can Save you Time, Money and Headache”. They’ll be discussing the secrets of effective branding and marketing and how following some simple rules will ensure your marketing is more targeted and effective than your competition.

Contributed by branding and marketing consultant, Maria Ross, Owner and Chief Marketing Diva of Red Slice (www.red-slice.com).