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Calculated Risks Get You On The Right Path

Monday, January 17th, 2011

Before I started PUNCH!media – a boutique agency for public relations and Social Media strategies – I started a business called Diaper Disco. I held bi-annual dance parties for kids under the age of 12 and their parents. The Diaper Disco was my first attempt at entrepreneurship.  The events were well attended (over 350 people at each event), but by the time I rented the venue, obtained insurance and paid other hard costs, I wasn’t making a profit.

Taking the risk of starting my own business, I learned many things including the importance of completing a thorough business plan prior to jumping in with both feet.  While I had done market research prior to the launch of Diaper Disco, I hadn’t assessed the fixed and variable costs to determine if the business idea would be profitable.  I had passion, a great concept, and loads of determination but I hadn’t gone that extra mile to ensure I would make a profit.

Failure isn’t a word in my vocabulary. Instead, I consider all my experiences as feedback and an opportunity to learn. I combined my feedback from the Diaper Disco with my experience in sales and marketing and now use it to help other business use social media to build buzz for their business. To be an entrepreneur you always have to take a certain amount of risk but you’re in a much better position for success if you do your due diligence and take a *calculated* risk.

My advice: before you launch the next million dollar idea, do a thorough Business Plan including:

-market analysis
-competitive analysis including SWOT (strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, threats)
-financial goals and ojectives
-marketing and sales plan
-organization and management structure

Your business plan is a living, breathing document. Re-visit it at least annually to assess your benchmarks and make sure you’re on the right track.  Because, to paraphrase the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland: If you don’t know where you are going, any path will take you there.

Have you taken any risks that have turned into great rewards? Were they planned risks or happenstance?

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*This post was written for the CRAVE company by Leslie Hughes, the principal of an Ontario-based PR and Social Media Marketing firm called PUNCH!media.

Visit her website here: http://www.punchmedia.ca

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5 Powerful Steps to Evaluate Risk

Monday, January 17th, 2011

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”

— Robert F. Kennedy

Risk poses a powerful threat for the faint of heart, yet is ever present in the quest for great success. For many, risk so quickly attracts fear that (at an ever-present subconscious level) the two feel synonymous. The risk-adverse rarely achieve greatness.

When I think of risk, I scratch my head to identify any negative connotation. Perhaps its because for everything I’ve done well and at which, succeeded greatly, Risk was an ever-present companion. I’ve established a great relationship with Risk. When she shows up, I ask her a lot of questions. I determine whether she’s here to warn me or empower me to open fortuitous doors others have failed to observe or were too fearful to traverse. Risk is a messenger. Those who befriend her refer to her as a channel of information. Those who avoid her fear her.
Fear is a “poser.” It is the charlatan of risk. It suppresses while encouraging paralysis and retreat. A common acronym for FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. Fear leverages erred thinking that emanates from our inability to fully perceive the potential for a positive outcome and impact in the midst of unfamiliar territory. Fear is like the shadow that startles and has no power except to incapacitate. You’ll find fear is not a gut feeling, but a head game. An interview with Risk shines the light on the shadows and the value of the opportunity she’s here to share with you becomes increasingly clear.

Understanding that if you treat Risk as an agent of information, you’ll perceive her more positively and embrace her more readily. I’ve adopted a no-fail process for evaluating, mitigating and embracing Risk and the propitiousness of her presence.

1. Identify, characterize and assess the risks

  • What is the potential value impact of the opportunity should you embark upon it?
  • What is the potential loss of opportunity and value should you retreat?
  • What is the worst-case scenario? (With this clearly defined, will an effective strategy detour such a scenario?)
  • Identify unknown risks and associated opportunities
  • Is this risk required to achieve my legacy or bigger opportunity?

2. Assess the vulnerability of critical assets to specific threats

  • Time, energy, money, network and other resources
  • Would these assets potentially receive a higher impact in another investment vehicle?
  • Define peripheral costs, loss or gain if you diverted your investment to another opportunity?

3. Define the expected consequences of the types of risks on your specific assets

4. Identify ways to reduce potential risk and leverage gains for greater opportunity

  • Research risk aversion strategies
  • Identify and leverage resources to overcome obstacles
  • Transfer risk to external agencies (i.e. insurance company)
  • Prior to embarking on your opportunity, design built in risk control processes and containment measures

5. Create a strategy to prioritize risk reduction measures

This risk evaluation process takes the fear out of risk. It will help you know whether to engage or retreat, how to reduce or mitigate risk, avoid undesired consequences and maximize your potential for success in any opportunity.

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Sheri’ Taber is the CEO of The Peak Performance Group, Inc, a global management consulting. A twenty-eight year industry veteran, Sheri’ is an international award-winning, business expert with the capacity to take a business and its leaders in the right direction and solve the toughest problems.

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Risk is Really About Adventure

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

As a child, I always used to answer “an adventuress” when someone asked me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”. The thing is, I answered silently. Out loud, I would give answers like “a reporter” or “a writer” or something else I thought was more acceptable to grown ups.

It’s funny how my ‘secret word’ never changed, even now that I am a grown up. Whatever I may have done outwardly (and that was become a reporter, sell software, then launch a consulting business), I always felt that the map of my soul would lead me to adventure. This has made me more inclined to take risks and feel that that is the way it should be.

I’m not assuming that all women business owners see themselves this way. But just think of how many people want to work for themselves or from home and how many people love to travel. It’s nearly a universal desire – to gain more freedom of choice and to exercise that freedom by seeing new places and doing new things. These desires can be fulfilled when we take a vacation or launch a solo business – acts that require risk-taking, adventure, learning new skills, being afraid and being exhilarated at the same time.

If your childhood glory was to make dirt pies or climb into your tree house, you no doubt reveled in fantasy and risk. Remember leaping off porch railings and seeing how far you could go before your legs hurt when they hit the ground? That was an amazing feeling. In other words, what we want as children is still what we want even after we’ve gotten 9 – 5 jobs and been otherwise indoctrinated into the adult world. We still want to be adventuresses. There is no better way to return to the joy of being a child than through work, risk, and entrepreneurship. Find the fun and adventure in the heart of your job, and you will feel terrific. Do the thing that stretches you, and you’ll feel like a captain, a mariner, a wayfarer!

What risk can you take today that will move you on to a new stomping ground? Could it be to create a product you’ve been mulling around in the back of your mind? Order a kind of inventory you haven’t experimented with yet? Make a call to form a new partnership knowing that you might get shut down?

Some people choose this as their New Year’s Resolution: ‘Take one risk, no matter how small or large, every day’. Sounds like a good one to me.

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Jillian J Davis runs JoyBirds, a creative career strategy business based in Boston, Mass. Jilian helps people find their JEWEL and launch their life’s work. You can find more about her at jillianjdavis.com.

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5 Reasons to Take More Risks in Your Business

Monday, January 10th, 2011

Are you playing it safe in your business?  Are there things you want to do but you’re not because you think they’re too risky?

What is risk anyway?  Here’s one definition:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/risk
Risk –noun
1.   Exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance: It’s not worth the risk.

The chance that taking a risk in your business will result in a physical injury is pretty low.  But what about the chance of loss, what do you have to lose?

- Money
- Time
- Your Reputation

Keep in mind; these are the same things you stand to gain if your risk pays off.

Risk isn’t about being careless or reckless.  The risks you want to take are calculated risks.  And while there is no guarantee even for calculated risks, if you’re not willing to try something your business will stagnate. Think about it, not taking a risk is also a risk. Just like choosing not to decide is a choice.  Are you with me here?

The longer you stay in inaction, the easier it is to keep doing nothing.  The opposite is also true, when you get into action you create momentum and taking additional action becomes easier.

This quote by Seneca hits the nail on the head, “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.”

If the reason you’re not taking a particular risk is because you don’t know how to do get it done, you have two choices.  Either learn how to do it or hire someone.  Problem solved.

So what’s the worst thing that could happen if you went ahead and took the risk?  Write down a list of all of the potentially awful things that could happen.  Now, go through the list and ask yourself the following questions:

1. If all of these things actually happened, what would the consequences be?  Would the benefits outweigh the bad stuff?
2. How likely is it that these things will actually happen?
3. How would you feel if none of the bad things happened?

What you’ll probably discover is that you’ve exaggerated what could happen as well as the size of the impact it would have.

See, fear is a funny thing.  As long as it’s an abstract concept with no connection to tangible outcomes it can paralyze you.  If you can get specific about what you’re afraid of, and what might happen, it’s much easier to take action to prevent it or prepare for it.

You need to get clear about whether you’re just afraid or if what you’re thinking about doing isn’t really a good idea after all.

5 Benefits of Taking More Risks:

1. Um, you’ll make more money (yeah, that’s one of the reasons you’re in business right?)
2. You will learn as you go (perfectionism is highly overrated – “Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor.” Anne Lamott)
3. Taking risks/actions consistently creates momentum and will lead to you taking more risks/actions (trust me about this)
4. By taking small risks you’ll be willing to taking bigger risks
5. You will keep moving your business forward and not get stuck in a rut

I hope you’re starting to see how taking calculated risks pays off.  What’s one risk you can take today that will help you grow your business?

This post was written for the CRAVE company by marketing coach Stephanie Ward of Firefly Coaching.

Fireflycoaching.com

Facebook.com/fireflycoaching

Twitter: @Fireflycoaching

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Fear Management vs. Fear Leadership

Friday, January 7th, 2011

The song of an entrepreneur…
Secretly, I’m afraid we won’t raise the money. But it’s okay. I can plow through that fear. We’ll raise the money, and everything will be okay. We’ll raise the money and stand the business up. We’ll have to hit our targets, get the customers in the door, run hard with the marketing plan. Yeah, it’s scary. What if they don’t come? What if they come but don’t buy? What if they buy, but not enough? It’s okay, I can manage that fear. It’ll work. I’ll make it work and everything will be okay. We’ll do this.

What if you don’t do it? What if you, say, “fail“? Does that mean that fear wins? How much do you need to be more than “okay”?

While we’re busy managing fear, fear can be managing us. It’s still creeping in, grabbing at our pant leg, begging to be paid attention to. And fear can always find a reason to get your attention – that’s it’s job – to get you to feed it. But what about the flu? (feed me!) But what about the market? (feed me!) But what about ten years from now? (feed me!) But what will they think? (feed me!)

Beyond coping with fear there is fearlessness. Because, here’s the white hot truth: if you go bankrupt, you’ll still be okay. If you lose the gig, the lover, the house, you’ll still be okay. If you sing off key, get beat by the competition, have to hand in the keys, you will still be okay. Ask anyone who’s been through it. They’re more than okay. People survive and they learn to thrive. It’s life. It’s business.

Don’t manage your fear. Lead your fear. Take charge. When fear climbs on your shoulder and starts nattering in your ear, here’s what you do: You stand as a master.You tell Scaredy Cat where you’re going, risks and all, and you convert Scaredy into a champion to help you get there. You say, lovingly but firmly (because ultimately the Scaredy Cat in you just wants some love and you’ve got plenty of it to give,) “Yep, we may fail, it’s possible. This is risky shit. But we’ll still be okay. Because that’s who we are. We’re the kind of people that are okay, no matter what. So remember that invincibility and let’s get to work. There’s a new land to discover and the only way to find it is to keep going – cliffs, cash flow, agony, adulation and all. If you keep your mouth shut and your eyes wide open, we’ll get there sooner. We’re doing this. We’re doing this because we want to. Because this is what it means to do life.”

And then watch what Scaredy Cat does. She’ll look perplexed for a minute. She’ll nuzzle up, as if to say thank you. And then she’ll strut down the street to help you recruit some new business.

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Danielle LaPorte is the creator of WhiteHotTruth.com, which has been called “the best place on-line for kick-ass spirituality.” She is the author of The Fire Starter Sessions: A Digital Experience for Entrepreneurs, an inspirational speaker, former think tank exec, and news show commentator. You can find her on Twitter @daniellelaporte

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Why You Should Build a Business You “Know”

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

There is a famous adage that new writers should “Write what they know.” The thinking being that your writing will be believable, authentic and that, when you have passion for a subject you know really well, it is much easier for the words to flow.

Same thing with business, in my opinion.

While I’d never discourage someone from starting a business they’ve longed dreamed about, it’s best to build upon what you know – or ensure you get the proper training and education to make it succeed.  Taking calculated risks is one thing: taking risks you don’t have to take is just another way to make things harder on yourself and ensure failure. Many people fantasize about opening a restaurant or bar, but if the only prerequisite you bring to the table is that you like to eat or drink, perhaps you need to do a bit more prep work. Once you get into the brass tacks of running your business, you’ll be hit with enough risks and challenges, so why add to that?

I started Red Slice, my branding and marketing consultancy, after years of experience on both the client and agency sides. I’ve worked for ad and consulting agencies in the past and am familiar with how projects need to be managed, as well as how to gracefully juggle unreasonable client demands with good decisions. I have also been a client myself as a corporate Marketing Director and understand the world from their point of view: tight budgets, multiple approvers, being overwhelmed by a thousand demands. So it was a natural, easy fit for me to flow into my own consulting business and use what I’d learned. I had enough risk on my plate going from a regular salary to entrepreneurship and learning how to run a business: bookkeeping, taxes, legal requirements. Thank Heavens I didn’t also have to learn how to do what I do at the same time! Will I start a completely different business one day? Maybe. But now at least I’ve started down the path of entrepreneurship doing what I know best.

In branding, I teach clients to minimize risk and keep things simple by starting with their strengths. What are you good at and what can you authentically deliver? You may think you want to build a chic, progressive, high-end business because that is “hot” right now, but what if what you’re best at is casual and down-to-earth? There are markets and needs for those types of businesses, too. Brands grounded in truth are much stronger than brands that try to pretend they are something they are not.

Minimize unnecessary risk and play to your strengths. It’s not taking the easy way out: it’s just smart entrepreneurship!

This post was written for The CRAVE Company by Maria Ross. Maria is the founder and chief strategist of Red Slice, a branding and marketing consultancy based in Seattle. She has advised start-ups, solopreneurs, non-profits and even large enterprises such as Microsoft, Discovery Networks and Monster.com on how to craft their brand story to engage, inform and delight customers. Maria is the author of Branding Basics for Small Business: How to Create an Irresistible Brand on Any Budget (2010, Norlights Press).

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Risk Taking: Should You Dare?

Saturday, January 1st, 2011

We’re ringing in the new year at CRAVE with a question for all you women business owners out there… Do you dare? Is 2011 going to be a year of taking risks with your business, holding back, or a combination of both? To help you strategize, we are dedicating the month of January to the pros and cons of risk-taking across the board. Our business chat and blog entries will be brimming with juicy stories of risks gone right or wrong as well as advice from our CRAVE experts on when to know to take a leap of faith or to simply sit back and let life fall into place.

We knew this would be a hot topic when Melody wanted to know what her Facebook followers ask themselves before taking a risk and got SO many amazing responses. Check them out and prepare yourself for an exciting month of risks and rewards!

What do you ask yourself before you take a risk?
Just curious? before you take a risk? a leap to something new? start a new project? WHAT DO YOU ASK YOURSELF? do you write down the pros and cons? do you just do it and ask why later? how long do you ponder? do you end up jumping? or do nothing? tell me!!! what is your risk taking style?

Suzette Sommer
Oh… wow. What is a “risk?” That is one four-letter word that I have seemingly never known.
Sydney Chavez
I ask myself what I would lose if I didn’t take the leap.
Nicole Francois
before i take a risk i ask myself: why i am interested in taking the risk, what i hope to gain from it, what the result will be and who’s going to be with me? then, i outline my plan and jump!
Maria Ross
Before I take a risk I ask myself if I will regret it more if I don’t take it than if I do. I weigh pros and cons, seek advice from those I trust….and then go with my gut! At a certain point, if it feels right, all the data in the world doesn’t matter.
Sonja Silver
The first thing I ask is “what is the worst thing that can happen”? If I can live with the answer, I go for it. The biggest risk is to not take one!
Elise Kloter
same here, Sonia…puts the scary stuff in perspective
Melody Biringer
lovin all you risk takers….keep it coming! as i get older i seem to take risks slower and more cautious. i want to be naive again!
Lauren Bacon
These days, more and more I check in with my gut. I highly recommend a little book called “Make Light Work” by Kate Sutherland that has helped me enormously with listening to my intuition. (It’s cool and non-flaky, I promise.)
Michelle Michael
what’s the reward…? is it personal or financial? maybe a little of both. go for it, and surround yourself with those that support your dream!
Lyndi Thompson
My first thought: Risks can often be re-labeled as adventures. I tend to dismiss risks that I don’t feel I have good access to supportive people around me. However, most of the time I can find at least two people. I try imagine best and worst case scenario, while always keeping in mind I know I make pretty good decisions and in the end things always end up OK.
Mary Boisselle
I usually don’t ask any questions…I trust my intuition then I take a huge leap and bungie jump off the bridge or I don’t. There is a reason why opportunities come, so I can find the gem inside, whether it’s a pearl or a piece of glass.
Larisa Goldin
I try to check in with my guidance. i believe that risks are just opportunities in disguise, the only question is whether they are part of the intended path or are a test (a distraction). So based on what I get back from my inner guidance (does it feel right?) I take the risk or not.
Rupa Wickrama
Feelings of Anxiety = don’t take it. Feelings of Anticipation or Excitement = this warrants further exploration!
Sydney Chavez
I CRAVE Risk Taking. : )
Traci Barnum
Jump and figure everything else out later. Unless of course, you have a really smart husband who demands that you make a plan before you jump and break into your retirement fund for that risk. It’s a great balance. : )
Carrie McIlveen Middlemiss
It’s typically a gut feeling. I usually think it through and if it still feels right I go for it. Especially if it is something I’ll enjoy and it makes money.
Jennifer Saphier Whitman
I have to step away from the decision for a few days. It always pops back into my head while I am doing other things during the day. If every time the idea pops up I get a sick feeling, I know it isn’t the right choice. If I get excited every time I think about it, it is a definite go!

We hope these comments get you thinking about your own risk-tasking strategies for the year and that you’ll stay tuned to our blog over the next month and share your own daring deeds in the comments! And of course, have a Happy New Year from CRAVE!

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Branding Basics for Small Business New Book By Maria Ross

Monday, June 7th, 2010


Maria Ross, the brains behind marketing and branding firm, Red Slice, has just wrapped up yet another project. This time in the form of a comprehensive guide to effectively branding your business – any small business, on any budget. Branding Basics for Small Business: How to Create an Irresistible Brand on Any Budget will walk you step-by-step through solidifying your core promise, personality and reason for being. We caught up with Maria and asked her a little bit about what inspires her at work and in life! And before we forget, to purchase your copy of Branding Basics go to red-slice.com/branding-basics-book!

When and how did you discover your talent for and love of marketing and strategizing?
I majored in marketing in college, as I’d always had a love for advertising and using communication to evoke emotion. Marketing can be used for so much good in the world: encouraging people to donate time or money, showcasing a worthy cause, inspiring people to be the best they can be. I have always been impressed with a well-turned tagline or a delightful campaign that gives me goosebumps. In the book, I talk about the effect that Nike had on me in the mid-90’s when they launched the “If you let me play” campaign aimed at empowering young girls through athletics. I gained experience across all aspects of marketing over my career and really like the brainstorming and strategy phase the best.

What compelled you to write Branding Basics For Small Business?
I got sick and tired of people undervaluing what a brand could do for them, or thinking that it is just their logo. Brand is so much more than that and when small businesses understand what brand really means – that it is the core promise and value they deliver to customers – they can better connect with customers and drive sales. Brand is expressed not just visually through your logo or colors, but verbally through the messages you use and experientially in how customers (and employees) are treated. I also wrote it because putting together your brand strategy is not rocket science: it just requires answering some key questions and really putting intentional thought into how you present yourself to customers. So I wanted to spread the “brand gospel” to small businesses – many of whom have the nimbleness and passion to create a powerful brand connection with their customers because they are so close to them.

Without giving too much away (we all need to read the book!!), what is the most important step in creating a strong brand strategy?
I would say two of the biggest mistakes business owners make when it comes to brand strategy are not identifying their target audience in crisp detail, and not telling customers what they want to hear. For target audiences, business owners try to go too broad and end up appealing to no one because their message is so bland and generic. But your brand needs to be relevant in order to meaningfully connect. Secondly, many small businesses talk about themselves by saying “This is what we do” versus taking the customer point of view and saying, “Here’s what you get.” Many small businesses don’t see that they are talking about benefits from their own perspective, not the customer’s.


Your book discusses “how to create an irresistible brand on any budget”…will this really work on ANY budget? What is one important step in reaching out to potential clients/customers on a shoe string budget?
An effective brand is not measured by how much money you have to spend. Every company out there wishes they had more money! I’ve executed against brand strategies with $1000 and $12,000,000. The point is that, by using the process in the book, you can create a strong brand strategy that you then can execute efficiently with whatever budget you have. When you have less budget, it’s even more important to go after the right things or be more creative and a brand strategy helps you do that. Your activities align towards one clear target. Many businesses end up wasting money because they perform “random acts of marketing” that don’t get them anywhere. With a clear brand strategy, you actually save time, money and headache on only investing in the right things that get you ahead.

What is your favorite part about what you do? What keeps you going and gets your juices flowing at work?
I love when I work with a client and see the light go on in their eyes, when they “get” what brand really means and how to apply it. They seem more confident, they are able to clearly cite their elevator pitch. They say things like, “That’s exactly what I want my company to represent! It’s perfect!” Being able to help people deconstruct their brand story and then show them a perfect way to visually or verbally represent it is just amazing.

What is your favorite thing to do when you are NOT working?
 I love to write: I write wine and food articles for some online publications. I also love to eat great food with friends, drink wine, hike, read, act in community theatre, watch indie films (I’ve been to Sundance about 5 years in a row!) and go for walks with my husband and our awesome Black Lab mix, Eddie, who we adopted two years ago.

Branding Basics Book Now Available! June 2010 from Maria Ross

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Go on Girl, Light Your Fire: The Fire Starter Sessions

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Danielle LaPorte is all about keepin’ it real. She believes in telling it like it is, and is an avid believer in feminine power. Her latest project, “The Fire Starter Sessions” is an e-book for entreprenesses that comes with video and worksheets to help you get the most out of each sizzling session. The root of Danielle’s theory- which every woman can appreciate– is that our actions are driven by desired feelings. What other remarkable wisdom does she have to offer? We asked her a few questions to gain some insight on what really drives her and why her new book is so rockin’.

Once you let Danielle get you jazzed about your own inspiration, you lucky CRAVE ladies can pre-order a copy of the “Fire Starter Sessions” right now! Just click here.

You give people inspiring advice about following their passions in life, what sparked your own “ah-ha” moment?

It was more of a series of soul-sucking moments and gigs than an “a-ha” moment. But it all added up to creative sovereignty. My voice, my time, my way of being of service.

What makes the “Fire Starter Sessions” distinct from other programs for entrepreneurs?

It’s about rocking your revenue streams and doing meaningful things in the world. It’s as much about self-realization as it is about hard core strategy.
Each chapter is it’s own “Fire Starter Session” that includes: e-book components, video inspiration or interviews, and worksheets. Some of the sessions are: True Strengths & The Metrics of Ease; Branding: Clarifying the Diamond of You; Products & Services: Making Stuff That Feels Good to Make; Money: More is More, Enough is Plenty; Web Design & SEO: Your Virtual Real-Estate…Whether you’re in the early idea phase or a rut, it’s about lighting a fire under your…aspirations.

Summarize your teachings into a motto for how you/to live your life.

Your truth is worth it.

Would you give the same advice to a female business owner as you would give to a male?

Yes. But a woman is more likely to take it.

How would you describe your number one strength?

Deep listening. I also build a mean campfire and write bad poetry – which I consider an endearing strength.

Why do you believe it is that so many people do not choose their career path based on their true passions?

Profoundly wanting to belong. That will never change. On top of that deep driving psychology, we pile on social “norms” like dress codes and executive titles, salary structures, everything the goddamn Jonses are doing, and the popularity contest that is social media itself, and well, it’s the makings of an identity crisis.
If can you tune out the noise of “how-to” and “10 steps” and “proven tactics” you will be able to hear your own spidey senses: genuine, sincere, with great reflexes, and it will tell you that you are the expert on you — and you know what lights your fire.

What has been your most rewarding experience with a client?

One of my favorite results of working with any client is helping them decide what they’re going to STOP doing. It makes me giddy. It often goes like this: I’m going to STOP…being the administrator. Worrying so much. Under-selling myself. Checking Twitter obsessively. Feeling the pressure to be so successful. I’m going to stop using my cousin as my web-designer.

It’s freeing for everyone. And freedom is the best part of being an entrepreneur.

Still want more? Order your very own copy of the complete “Fire Starter Sessions” by clicking here. You can also learn more about all of Danielle’s endeavors on her website, whitehottruth.com.

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