People often start their businesses to be happier – to get more out of work and life.

Once they get going though, that focus, that determination to get more out of work, evolves into a determination to continually grow the business. In the world of entrepreneurship, ambition and the constant pursuit of more are rewarded and praised. The irony is that not only does a needless pursuit of growth not bring the happiness and satisfaction that people were after in the first place…it actually precludes them from having what they want. READ MORE »

The NY Times profile of entrepreneur Angélica Moreno, owner of Talavera de la Reyna, is fascinating! Moreno’s company specializes in Talavera pottery, a type of majolica pottery of Puebla, Mexico, that dates back to the 16th century.   Moreno’s life path did not have the DNA of an entrepreneur — abandoned by her parents and raised by her grandparents — she started her professional life working for a financial firm.  She decided to use her earnings to take classes with Talavera artisans and then, she decided to become an entrepreneur in READ MORE »

As I launch my new consulting firm, The Sutter Company, I’ve been working with a talented designer, a friend of mine named Lauren Hammond (http://laurenhammond.weebly.com/), who is creating a graphic identity for me.

In the process, I’m getting a chance to play a new role, “The Client”.

Those of us who have only worked on the agency side of the client-agency relationship have a tendency to wonder what life is like on the other side of the equation. It’s been fun to be a client, but it has also revealed my shortcoming and has required me to learn a READ MORE »

There’s a time in every new business when you have to don at least a dozen hats. It’s perfectly normal and comes with the territory of owning your own company. “Chief cook and bottle washer,” as the saying goes.

Yet, most entrepreneurs aren’t very good at recognizing when it’s time to move out of this phase and spend their time more wisely. Most people claim it’s about budget, but digging a little deeper often reveals another culprit: a hesitancy and confusion about how and what to delegate.

For many, delegating is a thorny issue that gets READ MORE »

A couple weeks ago we moderated a panel on partnership at the Rock the World Conference in NYC. We discussed everything from formal partnership to strategic collaborations and the selection of investors. Our panelists were candid and funny about their experiences. Much of their advice rang true in our own experience. Here are five pieces of advice that are really worth sharing:

I recently embarked on a project a bit different from Down-to-Earth Finance. While it shares the mission of empowering women through financial knowledge and success, the platform has changed. I applied for and was accepted to the Pipeline Fellowship.This group trains women to become angel investors through education, mentoring, and practice. Our goal is two-fold:

1. Invest in a woman-owned business

2. Pick a business that is socially conscious

What is Angel Investing? Only 12% of angel investors are women and only 5% are minorities. This means the number of women-owned companies that are getting funded are minute! I’m setting READ MORE »

Insightful information from Engineering Degree Resources.

Created by: EngineeringDegree.net

Thanks to @awesomepeter for sharing!

-Adelaide

Most corporate employees complain about the endless meetings and work protocols that stand in the way of their productivity. But anyone who works for herself will tell you that, even when all the corporate noise is stripped away, it’s still hard to get things done. Maybe even harder.

Freelancers and entrepreneurs often spend years trying to establish organization systems to stay on track and on task. And while no one approach works for everyone, I’ve learned there are a few universal tactics and rules that you can’t READ MORE »

I’ve been talking a lot recently with aspiring entrepreneurs who are seeking to build wonderfully interesting businesses that are meaningful and engaging. I’ve also had tons of great coaching sessions with fabulous businesses that’ve got a good amount of experience under their belts but are taking an opportunity to evaluate their performance and trajectory. Interestingly, despite the differences in these two groups, my advice has been amazingly similar. I have found myself referencing something entrepreneur Jen Hill pointed out in our book, The Big Enough Company, “Don’t build a mansion when all READ MORE »

The freedom in your career to do what you want, when you want, has a lot of perks: No one to answer to, no set schedule, the ability to choose your projects, nap or take a last-minute day off… The list could go on and on.

One thing you don’t hear much about is the transition from working in an office surrounded by colleagues to working in your home surrounded by no one. While my initial months of “solopreneurship” brought a steady stream of work that kept me busy, I longed for the “water cooler” chatter and intermittent banter breaks my old READ MORE »

If you have kids, you know that education is going to cost serious money. In fact:

What’s a parent to do? Obviously you need to start saving – yesterday. There are some tax-advantaged savings vehicles out there, and I recommend taking advantage of every one you can get. Here are the basics, READ MORE »

Thought-provoking facts from this infographic from MBA@UNC, the online mba program at the University of North Carolina & Women 2.0. 

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Via MBA@UNC MBA Online & Women 2.0

Thanks to Harrison Kratz, Community Manager, MBA@UNC!

-Adelaide

There are hundreds of people who have gone through my Revenue Breakthrough Program by now. And there is one thing many of them have in common – the need to be “prepared”, “ready” or “perfect” before they really put themselves out in the world.

Perhaps you relate? You have to change a few things on your website before you go to that networking event. Or you really want to get your newsletter done before you contact that potential referral partner. You are waiting on the right company name so you can create your logo and really start to go do workshops. Or READ MORE »

If you work in the corporate world or in any large organization, you probably have access to a 401(k) plan. You can save there and even get a match from your employer. Easy-peasy.

But if you own a business, run a professional practice, or work as an independent contractor, you may be realizing that your corporate friends have way more money saved than you for retirement. Maybe you have considered a retirement plan for your business, but you haven’t had a chance to research your options. Here is a quick guide to get started:

There are real financial benefits to READ MORE »

As an entrepreneur (or aspiring one!), you constantly hear about the value of expanding your network. But the truth is, when it comes to business relationships, it’s not quantity that matters—it’s quality. Having memorable, substantial relationships with people who understand your business and can help you over time is the real key to networking success.

So, instead of forcing yourself to meet and greet as many new people as possible, spend your time focusing on a few strategic relationships. You can get all the inspiration, information, resources, and connections you need to move READ MORE »