Maximize your Small Business Competitive Advantage (by Tami Cromar of Ruby Snap, edited by Angela Johnson)
Angela Johnson with Tami Cromar at the April Biz Divas
Tami was the guest speaker at the April Biz Divas. And she had more than just good cookies. Tami showed us how being creative, innovative, tenacious and driven is more than just following your passion, it’s about creating a nationally recognized brand. And all with a $10,000 amount of start-up capital!
From Tami:
Two years ago if you asked me how or what was my plan to be competitive small business in this market, a recession, I might have answered with an eager smile: “I have no idea, I’m just following my passion,” which sounds rather reckless, but therein lies
the answer.
Assuming that your product is right for the market meaning, others also like your business model, idea, product & image that you are selling – the following are the ideas I believe have worked for RubySnap.
These are companies who are part of the Ruby Snap community (Building relationships builds business!)
Participation Yields Confidence:
Ruby Snap has been featured in:
Short Bio:
• Tami was born in Arizona but spent much of her life living in the Middle East in Saudi Arabia and traveling Europe.
• Educated at Brigham Young University where she studied Architectural Design and practiced her degree for 15 years.
• Married 23 years, mother of three.
• Tami has always had a passion for good food, her motto: “If it isn’t wonderful it doesn’t belong in your mouth.”
In order to find out where you want to go, you must first find out where you are. It’s like when someone is lost and they call to get directions. In order for them to be directed on where to go, they must first find out where they are.
For example, personally I am recommitting to my vibrant health and releasing some extra weight I’ve “attracted” for the the past two years. I was gauging my results from how I was feeling and how my clothes fit. I was consciously avoiding the scale.
I don’t believe in having my scale rule my life and I admire some health mentors who have thrown out their scale because they are so in tune with their bodies that they don’t need to even look at the numbers.
Let’s be honest. I’m not there yet. So I did a brave thing and I stepped on the scale. When I saw the number I was immediately clear of where I’m at and where I get to go on this weight release and vibrant health journey. It propelled me into action because it wasn’t as easy to justify the current results I was creating. Taking ownership of where I am at empowered me to create my desired results.
The same goes for owning the numbers in your business. When you look at the bottom line in your business there is no more justifying or “waiting” for things to improve by themselves. Looking at the numbers is the only way to know where to cut back, add more resources or maintain.
Now here is the tricky part for many entrepreneurs. We are often right-brained, visionary folks who cringe at the thought of bookkeeping, filing and financial projections. Here is the good news: When we stop trying to do everything ourselves, we outsource what we don’t want. There is always a win/win. There is someone who loves to do what you hate to do.
When you educate ourselves on the numbers then you are empowered to find the perfect solutions and people to assist you in building the financial foundation of your business.
So whether it’s looking at the numbers on the scale or the numbers in your business, just bite the bullet and do it. It’s freeing and absolutely necessary for you to build your dreams. Without knowing where you are, it’s impossible to find a new direction to get you where you want to go.
Free Biz Divas Accounting 101 workshop on Tuesday, November 3 in Draper, UT.
Endyo Group and The Accredited Network: The Accredited Network was started by Garret Gunderson who is revolutionizing wealth education. If you are ready for paradigm shift and to take ownership of your wealth and financial freedom, I highly recommend Nate Guggia and Ryan O’Shea. (Endyo Group is a division of The Accredited Network.)
Nate and Ryan are incredible and because of my association with them, they are offering their introductory process complimentary (normally starts at $1,500) to people I know. Contact them at: (801) 304-7797 or at nate [@]theaccreditednetwork [.] com
If you are an busy mom, women-preneur or executive, ask yourself when you really gave yourself permission to just BE and receive some pampering. When was the last time you took a bath or spent even a few quiet minutes listening to your soul?
I have recently experienced some cool shifts in my life and business and it’s from the most simple thing ever. I’m taking time to pamper and take care of myself and I “just say no” to new projects that don’t support my vision. This is HUGE for me. When I do this, my mind opens up to new possibilities and I create the space to receive the things I’m looking for. When before my mind was so full there was literally “NO ROOM at the inn.”
Plus, I’ve noticed that when I take time for self care, it’s a sign to the universe and everyone around me that I honor who I am and I’m deserving to receive.
Here are a couple of my favorite pamper pass-times that have assisted me on creating new serenity in my life.
~~ Serenity Facial by the lovely Aleca McKenna-Yates ~~
I have received the best facial of my life from Aleca. She has an fabulous spa space in her home in South Jordan and she has an energy that totally honors and pampers you will peace and tranquility. I left her space in complete serenity.
She is offering my networks a “Serenity Facial” for $50 (regularly $65). Treat yourself to this experience before the busy holiday season starts. OR you can get a gift certificate to use later in the holidays or to gift to a fabulous woman in your life. For the first five people who use this special offer, you also receive a free pair of hand-crafted semi-precious stone pair of earrings as a gift.
Email her at alecamckenna@gmail.com to book your appointment or buy your gift certificate.
~~ Breathing ~~
When is the last time you consciously inhaled and exhaled five deep breaths? Right now, are you breathing shallow or deep breaths? Breathing oxygenates the body and brain and can energize you. Try this before going to the caffeine if you want some natural energy. And it opens up the mind to receive new insights.
~~ Bath with peppermint oil and Epsom or sea salt ~~
If you work on the computer a lot like I do, you probably experience tight shoulders, neck and back. When there is tense or stuck energy in your body, it can be hard to receive inspiration and feel motivated to take action when inspiration hits. If you want a little extra energy boost, place a piece of rose quartz (my favorite) in the water too with a few drops of peppermint oil.
~~ Images Salon~~ (Salt Lake City, UT)
This is my favorite salon in the area. Check out their Minx toes (trust me) http://www.minxnails.com/. Their full menu of services will pamper you in many ways. The owner Rhonda is incredible. When you feel and look fabulous you are ready to take on the world in a whole new way!
~~ Massage ~~
Enough said. Get one. Today. Here are my three favorite people, they all have amazing technique and energy:
Kyle Taylor at Soul Expressions Salon in Sugarhouse: (801) 467-9130
Lyndsey Holm – (Thai massage) Evolution Therapy
Michelle Bennett – (she does home visits too, request her at Sanctuary Day Spa at Gateway): (801) 456-2375
Lisa Nichols: Changing your conversations changes your results.
Lisa Nichols, one of the teachers on The Secret, addressed a crowd of about 700 business people in July 2008 and I was there on the front row. My life will never be the same. She said, “The only thing keeping you from what you want are your conversations. Change your conversations and you change your results.”
That stuck with me and does to this day. Is really the only thing keeping me from what I desire my conversations? The answer? YES! Have I learned that the easy way? Yes. Have I learned it the hard way (not getting what I want)? Yes. Because I have learned this the hard way, I am more committed than ever to integrate this into my life even more.
Now go back a step. Not only is it the words out of my mouth, but it’s my confidence, my power, my posture, my energy. This is all a part of the conversation. It makes THE difference between closing a deal or not. I’ve taken this on in deeper way in my life because I desire to create HUGE things now for my businesses and my life. I also know that in order to be the best, I have to learn from the best.
This is why I’ve put together several people who have inspired me and made huge impacts on my life for a workshop on September 19 from 9:00 – 4:00 p.m. (location is being finalized and will be in SLC, Utah.)
In this workshop you will take away:
Megan Sillito
Everyone person has unique qualities and as Megan Sillito calls it, this is “Your genius!” I was inspired by Megan several months ago when she asked me how different would my life and business be if I owned my genius and spent all of my time in my genius (verses ‘trying’ to do everything myself.) This took a big turn in my business and I’m course correcting daily to spend more and more time in my genius – the things that make me feel alive, the things I’m REALLY good at and love to do.
To own your genius even more, you have to experience Megan’s message personally. She will lead a 3-hour workshop on September 19. Following her will be some other mentors who will take that genius and show you how to put it in your brand, your conversations, presentation techniques and your business model.
You will be led through amazing exercises on how to have powerful conversations that create results. Carol Pope, an entrepreneur and genius at training people to have powerful capital conversations, will lead you through what a capital conversation sounds like. Capital conversations are not just about money. It’s about negotiating with contracts, closing deals, enrolling new clients, and enrolling people in your vision. After this part of the workshop you will have capital (money) conversations, ask for clients, ask for what you are looking for from an authentic, powerful place and will be amazed at what happens. This is how I created $7,000 in less than 24 hours, how I created an international star, Lisa Nichols, to be a keynote presenter at a first-year event, which she never does. I’ve created many things using these principles and I’m compelled to share it with fellow entrepreneurs! I’m always learning too, which is the great part.
You will also learn confidence building techniques using NLP and what is called as “anchoring” from my mentor, Cathryn Eaton. To top it all off, what does your personal brand say about you? Your brand is more than your logo, it’s you, and you deserve to show up in your genius essence. Auretha Callison, image coach and consultant, will take you on a powerful process of accessing your personal brand and showing up in your genius for the world to see.
Trust me, you deserve this boost in your life and business and for only $89 for this full-day workshop, you will be amazed at what this one day will make.
See you on September 19; there are only 30 seats are available. To take $30 off the $119 registration, enter BIZDIVAS for your coupon code. This code expires on September 5 or until tickets run out.
Register at: http://consciousbiz.eventbrite.com/
Just when I think I start to “get” Twitter, I get confused again. So I know there is more for me to learn. A few tips I’ve recently heard:
-Tweet about someone else compared to yourself in a ratio of 3 to 1. So talk about someone else three times for every one time you mention yourself or something you are offering.
-My own personal pet peeve: Why are Tweeters telling me what they are eating for breakfast, or if they are going to the bathroom? Does that add value to my life?
-Go easy on the quotes. I love quotes that inspire me, BUT when I see someone’s posts and they have more than five per day, I get lost and wonder how anyone has that much time to look up so many quotes. Am I missing something here?
-Add a picture to your profile. I have a rule for Facebook and Twitter. No picture, no follow. Yep, I know, it may be harsh, but I want to connect with you.
So some questions I have?
Is it best to put a personal photo or logo if you are Twittering on behalf of your biz?
How often should you tweet?
How do you create value-related tweets that aren’t salesy?
Tell me what you think.
NOW, here are some official Tweet Tips from http://www.twitip.com/13-twitter-tips-and-tutorials-for-beginners/
Just starting out on Twitter? Looking for some Twitter Tips to get you started?
Twitter is bound to have a load of new users today as it is being featured on Oprah – so I thought it might be a good day to share some tips for the beginner Twitter user who is just getting going with the medium.
To keep up to date with more Twitter Tips and Tutorials for both individuals and businesses wanting to get on Twitter – follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our news feed.
