Boy, I wish I had a writing talent

I so wish I can write! I mean properly write, in a way that people would love to read me, in a way that would generate action, in a way that would inspire and make people think, or laugh. This is a crucial talent, especially in the age of the Internet, where all is so text driven. Business on the Internet is all conducted through the written word these days. Videos are slowly taking their share of the communication space, but it is still the written word that makes or breaks on the Internet: articles, white papers, blogs (yeah), ads, or simply a well written page content. This is why I decided to improve my skills in that department. My aim is to write compelling ads for my service. To this end, I have purchased a interesting book – Hypnotic Writing of Joe Vitale - that I want to learn from cover to cover. I also purchased Mike Dillard’s series of webinars on great copy creation: copy that sells.  Will I become an expert copy writer after that? I doubt it, but possibly my confidence level will increase…?

Attending to higher priorities

I had some plans to work over the weekend… Just a bit, just so that I feel I am doing something. Like reading training videos, books that I have bought, trying new things. All good intentions that had to be shifted to higher priorities – my son has a cold. One that forces him to be cranky, sleepy and wanting to be with mommy all the time. Three characteristics not at all like him. It is obvious he is not feeling well. Just looking in his eyes it is apparent that they are too glossy, too sleepy.  Poor little bugger. Thank God Tylnol exists.  I love when he needs mommy’s cuddles.

Reading an intersting book that will help to promote my business – it is called “Marketing to the Social Web” from Larry Weber. Useful for me as it brings a certain structure to the ideas I had for the marketing of the service. These ideas need a structure to yield results. It is so easy to be all over the place in social web marketing. First definition of a goal, then choice of best platforms, then generation of interactions and then the measurement. These are the essentials. The book has in fact 7 steps.

The little one is waking up… Must attend to higher priorities.

Looking forward for results…

Well, I having been posting for some time as I had few deadlines to meet – all from Compagnie-F. There were quite big – a Business Plan for last Thursday and a presentation for today. All is now done. I had quite a bit of help for the business plan, especially for the numbers. It has 27 pages (inc. Appendices) so it is of decent size. And it is true that is gives directions.  Few items had been added to it: like plans to expend the business to Quebec City and to the rest of the province within the latter 6 months of the business, the fact to hire a one full staff in Year 2, and the idea of introducing 3 tiered cost structure. I  now have a much better road map for the developmentof the business. And it is a beautiful flower ready to bloom. Very proud of myself and very grateful for the immense help that I have received.

Then it was time for the presentation. In 10 minutes I had to present by business to a 8 persons jury that have never heard about it, have not read the plan and will be the ones deciding if I am qualified for the price or not. I dazzled them as much as I could. In the 8th minute of the presentation I was just starting my mid section. That was encouraging…! So it was time for a sprint, thinking on your feet type of thing. I managed to cover my competition and my financial plan in 2 minutes!!!!  …I do not know how much they remembered. Anyways, they will be reading the Business Plan next, so it will be OK. The aim today is to be remembered. I think I achieved that. Thank you Lucas, thank you Gabriel.

The results are being published and announced June the 9th. So very soon.

Exciting… !!!!!

Very exciting indeed! Following an advice of a wise man with an incredible business and human mind, my own provate business mentor, I have established a site with a mini offer of my upcoming business. A site to test the waters that just does that – shows me how good of an idea my business is. Since I am llaunching the full service only in July/August, this site is only testing the Internet of the subject and the participation levels. What a great idea! Thank you LK!!!!!!!!!!

Well, the results are very, very positive. In a space of 48 hours, and with a help of a free ad, I was able to generate 4 registered interest for the service. Imagine then how the response will be if I was to advertise it properly. I might of have struck a gold mind of need. I just need to monetize it well.

The feeling of some actual registrations coming is tremendous. Imagine when with these registrations money will be coming in too! What a buzz!

one down, so many to go…..

My Business Proposal for SAJE is done. Yuppie! 20 pages counting appendices. Of course I forgot one thing for the program – 3 letters of intent from potential consumers. Anyone? LOL  Just joking… I know who to speak to. This is necessary for the government to see that there is an actual interest in the business. Makes sense. I am not too concern. Who ever I speak to thinks it is a great idea!

The Proposal is a good start for THE Business Plan. Due the 21st – in a week! This one will be for Compagnie-F, for their annual grant. It is not much ($2000) but it is great networking. Submission of the plan then presentation to judges, the the winners announcement. And then the cocktail for all attending including business leaders. This is the part I want to be in. Compagnie-F, as the name suggests it, is a all about women. Founded by women, directed by women and supporting women. My business has a definitely a female skew, so great for promotion. Actually very much looking forward to it. The experience of being an entrepreneur and being surrounded by entrepreneurs is very uplifting. The energy flow, the creativity, the passion is all there. In its purest form. No politics, no selling, no hidden agendas (almost…) . I like it.

I am discovering myself. Things that I thought I would dislike I actually like very much.

The power of the written word

Yes, the moment you put something in writing it becomes official, true, almost set in stone. It also gives a clearer direction of though. This is exactly what is happening now – I am creating a blue print of my company – a written direction, path for success – in other words a business plan. Something that every entrepreneurial book is preaching – you must write a business plan! True that MUST applies to it when the business plan is a selling document for capital acquisitions. For banks, venture capitalists, organisations… But what about if you have that capital, you do not need to go to the bank, venture capitalist,  or organization?  Well, it is still a very important document as it is the only one that actually puts in order all the thoughts each entrepreneur has in his/her mind and builds in into an entity. I think it is crucial to do it. I am already seeing aspects of my plan that I have to think through more thoroughly. Bits and pieces are missing that the business plan “will catch” in no time.

So the skeleton is there. It is called Business Proposal and I had to do it for SAJE. Thanks Cyril Chaib from Wiseleap for the tip – great program!

Out of isolation

What a great time I just had – hanging around with people again! I loved every moment of it. What a difference from my daily solitude. So much noise, so much interesting conversations, and one thing that I really enjoyed doing is listening to people. Really listenteing. Ask questions, try to find out what they think. It is incredible what people can tell you when they feel listened to.

So needless to say, apart from the social pleasures, I also had a chance to do a mini market research on my service. Yes, the service that I am about to launch. All have the same comment – they definitely see the need for it. Thank God!!!!!

And that isolation I am talking about – apparently quite a common problem that grows over time…

mental check – hmmm…  I still want to do it!

Ok! I am in!

I have decided to join the blogosphere! It was a decision that finally had matured and I am ready now to share my thoughts, experiences and emotions with others. Maybe because I feel like sharing what I am currently doing - which is interesting and might interest few. Or maybe it is because I want to leave a record of these days. Something I will read with pleasure afterwords.

My intention at the moment is to have this blog as a mash up – a bit of  personal and professional stuff. In my life these are integrated. I cannot write only professional or only personal stuff. It will be like writing either an intimate journal or professional articles. One too personal for an open blog, the other too boring. There is already so many blogs of professional nature in my field – believe me – I am a Internet marketer!!!!

So this blog will be of typical feminine nature – with emotions and facts intertwined.

And the blog will be about my journey as an entrepreneur. A female entrepreneur. My first in this domain, never been an entrepreneur, and it is an exciting road so far!

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