Posted by Marie on March 13, 2011
This past Saturday, I attended my first Creative Chicago Expo. This is a free day-long event at the Cultural Center downtown.
There are exhibitor tables and workshops on a variety of topics.
All for free!
The City of Chicago representatives talk about licenses. Web people talk about SEO. Fellow artists talk about inspiration and how to be more professional.
For those in the Arts, from writers and dancers to musicians and visual artists, this can be a wonderful opportunity to learn and network.
Posted by Marie on December 7, 2010
Hey, Mac-Users. These are some of my favorite keyboard shortcuts for the Apple machines.
- All the Function keys. That row above your number keys do some pretty nifty things. I don’t know anyone who has them all memorized, but just go through and hit them randomly every so often. I bet you’ll be surprised.
- [Command][Tab] cycles through all the applications you have open at the time.
- [Command][~] cycles through all the windows that are open within any single application.
- for example, if you have two or more Word documents open
- the [~] is right above [Tab]
- [Command][Shift][4] turns the mouse arrow into a quick screen grab tool. When you hit the key combination, you’ll notice that the mouse arrow turns into a target-like circle. Just drag a rectangle around anything, and a picture of that appears as a .png file on your Desktop. This is a great way to put something into a PowerPoint presentation or to email someone a visual.
That last one may be my favorite hidden gem. It’s saved me a lot of time over the years.
Posted by Marie on February 27, 2010
Some of the larger companies understand this and work to create a corporate culture within which all employees are able to represent the company effectively. For small businesses and self-employed individuals though, the willingness to understand the need for consistent sales is so much more important.
When you represent your business, almost every interaction is a sales opportunity. This does not mean giving your pitch to everyone on the street, but it does mean that with everyone you meet, you are making an impression.
Perhaps the new person at the dinner party works with someone who works with someone who needs your product or service?
Or perhaps the mail carrier is aware that someone on his/her route is in need of some help, which just happens to be the kind of assistance your company offers?
But also keep in mind, all this may not come about until months or even years down the road. While no one can be vigilant all the time, an entrepreneur has to be aware of the potentials that are all around.
It will serve you well to develop and project a confidence in yourself and confidence in your ability to do what you do. Learn to communicate your business concisely and with impact.
Leave these positive impressions with those who meet you.
Posted by Marie on February 17, 2009
Sure it’s only February, but there are so many reason to get your taxes done early.
- Searching and Fumbling. You know you’re going to be searching for at least a couple of receipts. Those credit card statements also need to be reviewed to make sure every last deduction is included. It’s better to start early and find those gaps ahead of time.
- Avoid penalties. Who can afford to give away extra money these days?
- Additional adjustments. After you calculate your taxes, is there something you can do to save even more? Perhaps making an extra retirement account deposit will bring down your tax liability?
- Unexpected delays. Do you really want to worry about your computer, printer, or even your car breaking down on April 15?
- Incorrect information. The earlier you catch discrepancies in the various forms you receive (W-2s, 1099s), the easier it will be to get a correction from the other party.
- Refund! The earlier you file, the earlier you’ll receive any money that is coming back.
Posted by Marie on December 7, 2008
Conferences. Meetings. Networking events. Holiday parties.
If you run a small business, you give out and receive business cards all the time. They go in your pocket. They go in your folder. They end up in a messy pile on your desk.
Here’s a quick and effective way to keep track of them all. When someone hands you a business card, write down the event on it. Do it while this contact is speaking to you. You can even tell him or her what you are doing. This action demonstrates that you are taking their information seriously and that you are interested in working with them in the future. Most likely, they will be impressed.
As you put them in your filing system, whether it be in a rolodex, a card file, or something else entirely, you’ll have a much better chance of remembering this meeting. When you need help in the future, a quick flip through your cards will help you brainstorm. (Note: This is one of the reasons I’m still an advocate for keeping certain types of information in hardcopy format.)
Every so often, as your files get larger, give these business cards to your personal assistant. Ask him or her to go through and take out the cards that are no longer current. Usually, a quick internet search is all that’s needed. New information may be written over the old. No-longer-useful cards can be removed entirely.
This is one of the ways that I deal with all my cards. Do you have any tips for me?
