Are You A Patient Business Owner?

June 26, 2008 by Michelle Waters · Leave a Comment 

Summer Chat Series

Welcome to Episode # 39!

My guest this week is Francine Glick, creator of Hands2Go, which is an alcohol-free hand sanitizer. She is the model of the patient entrepreneur and even though she has made mistakes along the way, she is now reaping the rewards of her patience and determination.

Francine tells us about her inspiration to create Hands2Go and the steps she took from experimenting in her kitchen sink to distributing her product to 5,000 major retail chains! She also shares her top three business tips for those product sellers who are just starting their business.

Mark your calendars for the Product Sellers Seminar September 17 - 19! Sign up to receive announcements about speakers and reminders for this online event.

 
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Prevent Business Failure By Practicing Patience

May 29, 2008 by Michelle Waters · Leave a Comment 

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a list of top 6 reasons why businesses fail on the Self Starters Weekly Tips forum. Owner of the forum, Lynn Terry, also published the list on her blog, Click Newz.

Some of you requested answers to these top reasons businesses fail, so I’m providing answers based on my years of experience with selling products and services online.

This time, we’ll talk about the #2 reason businesses fail.

#2 Impatience

This one isĀ  a biggy. I struggle with it — knowing where I want to go and wanting to be there RIGHT NOW. In my case though, I start looking for things to do. The problem occurs, however, when people look at their goals, look at where they are, and decide to quite.

Sometimes you read stories about how a baby sling seller built a thriving business in 18 months or less. Or how one day a cloth diaper seller’s client told a friend about her store, and the friend told a magazine editor she knew and the next thing, the cloth diaper business was booming.

My opinion, both those ways are harder than just being patience and taking one step at a time, much like the tortoise, if you know what I mean.

The solution: Take one step at a time. Evaluate everything you do to make sure it is taking you towards your goals. Even when it seems like you’re working for nothing and you might as well just quit — ask for help.

If you know people who are already successful in business and you can bend there ear, ask for advice for an hour, give them a call and pour out your heart.

Or, you can call a business coach (Like me!) and seek advice. It often helps to have someone on the outside, who understands what you’re trying to do, take a look at your business and give you advice to rejuvenate your enthusiasm.