tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977823816641029802024-02-20T11:18:19.355-08:00A Woman At Work BlogA Woman at Work is a blog connected to the Women at Work column on WomenEntrepreneur.com. This is a test. This is only a test.Alizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716958222271897719noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-497782381664102980.post-27418528351008334772008-08-26T13:25:00.000-07:002008-08-26T13:44:16.635-07:00OutTakes: Million-Dollar Baby<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >When I'm working on a tight word count, so much "good stuff" doesn't make it into my articles and columns. Here are some quotes from the women featured in the column </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" >Million-Dollar Baby</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" > that I thought you might find interesting.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sandy Corso, 41, founder and CEO of Peaceful Company in Madison, Connecticut...</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">ME: </span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;font-family:Times;font-size:100%;" >If you had to distill advice down to three concrete actionable business tips to give another woman business owner in terms of taking her business to the next level, what would you tell her? </span><br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p><blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;"><p><span style="font-size:100%;">Sandy:</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;">1 – Follow your passion and success will follow.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;">2 - <b>Believe, Behave, Become</b></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">If you believe it, behave as if it is true, you will become it!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">3 - You must be comfortable with uncertainty.</span></p></blockquote><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >ME: </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:times new roman;" >What is the best thing about the business success you've had to date? What is the greatest challenge? </span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;" ></span><blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >Sandy: I guess validation. It is one thing to have a dream and it is certainly another when your dreams come true and you are a million dollar company. In the beginning I had a grand idea of owning a nice company, that was cool and hip but also gave back to the world and was extremely successful. We have reached that goal. I am a free spirit and being my own boss is pretty cool. </span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Yael Nina Alkalay, 39, founder and president of </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"> eco-luxury fragrance and spa product company, red flower...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">ME: </span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >When did you hit the $1 million mark in revenues? </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >What do you remember about what was happening in the life of your company at that time and what do you think made a difference to become a million dollar company? </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">YAEL: In 2000. A million dollar mark was not a clear goal I had in mind as an important benchmark. In personal care the real target is 10 m. that mark requires strong management and systems. In 2000 the company was really running on the high, raw energy of starting successfully out of the gate.</span><br /></blockquote></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">ME: Why do you think you founded such a successful company, that is, what qualities do you think you have that had an impact on the company's growth? </span><br /></span><blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:100%;">YAEL: </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I am not comfortable with the words “such a successful company”, I have started a company that is growing and profitable and holds deep meaning for the people who work and partner with us, and also for each of the customers for whom red flower adds something to their lives. The quality that has held me in best stead is respect, followed shortly thereafter by flexibility and a deep desire to contribute something positive to our team and our customers. Basically, I truly care. </span><br /></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Patty Brisben, 52, founder of Pure Romance....</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">ME: How have you changed as a CEO or president over time as your company has experienced such immense growth?</span> <p><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:100%;" ><blockquote>PATTY: I’ve let go of the things that I thought were important and focused on the things that make us money – namely, the things that I love and that I’m the best at; I also learned how to delegate various aspects of the company to other people. That allowed me to concentrate on my strengths and passion such as training our Consultants, growing our Health Education Department and developing high quality products. </blockquote></span></p><br /></span></span>Alizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716958222271897719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-497782381664102980.post-15185912671818196562008-08-26T13:15:00.000-07:002008-08-26T13:25:46.455-07:00Podcast: I Want a Million Dollar BusinessThis podcast talks about what it takes to have a million dollar business, inspired by my recent Entrepreneur column, <a href="http://www.womenentrepreneur.com/article/3456.html">Million-Dollar Baby</a>.<br /><br /><br /><object width="400" height="35"><param name="movie" value="http://www.utterz.com/fp/embed_aud.swf?1216314049"><param name="flashvars" value="utt_id=Nzk5Mjk4Nw&autoplay=0&wu=NDk1MzA3OA"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.utterz.com/fp/embed_aud.swf?1216314049" flashvars="utt_id=Nzk5Mjk4Nw&autoplay=0&wu=NDk1MzA3OA" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="35"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What do YOU think it takes to have a million dollar business?</span>Alizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716958222271897719noreply@blogger.com0