No waiting in security lines at the airport, no waiting for your flight in horrible first class lounges in airports around the world, and forget flying coach with the chickens. Back at work, forget the long cafeteria lines where lunch ladies slop mystery meat and mashed potatoes onto your tray. You’re special, you have your own elegant dining room and you’ll only share it with a select few at the top, like yourself. When the going gets tough and stocks drop, retreat to your state-of-the-art Board Room, sheltered from the peasants, where you can decide (over steak and whiskey) who needs to lose their jobs this time around. Ahhh…the life of a car manufacturer CEO!

Yesterday, I gained a newfound respect for Mitt Romney (aka “that Mormon guy who, like, tried to run for President or something”) after reading his New York Times editorial “LET DETROIT GO BANKRUPT.” His dad, apparently, used to be one of the head honchos over at American Motors and did a darn good job at what he did…and never would have demanded even a fraction of what CEOs get today.

What does Mr. Mormon Mitt recommend the government do (in a nutshell)?

1.    Don’t bailout the car industry, change will never happen if we do.
2.    Get rid of management and replace them with better and fresh brains from other industries.
3.    US government should instead invest heavily on research for fuel efficiency, alternative fuels, etc.
4.    Leaving the car industry to sit in their own mess would build better and more sustainable competition.

Get it? Got it? Good.

Now…thoughts?

Dear Government,
A few weeks ago, the banks got like a gazillion dollars in bailout money for knowingly packaging unsustainable loans to (un)suspecting people who bought houses they couldn’t afford. Why haven’t you bailed out my neighbors? Or rewarded those of us who made intelligent decisions and can make our payments? So far, you’ve only helped the banks that should have been smart enough not to make the poor loans in the first place.

To celebrate the bailout moola, directors are still moving ahead with their miserable tropical beachfront retreats complete with piña coladas and cabana boys waitresses, CEOs are lining their golden pockets with taxpayer money, and Citigroup is laying off  50,000 employees. Now I’ve read that car companies are asking for their share of bailout bucks as well. * Cue the marching band *

In other words, dear government, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Sure, those companies should have been responsible from the beginning. Hats off to our new homeboy, Senator Christopher Dodd (from some state far away), when he called their company boardrooms, “devoid of vision.”

I get the trickle affect it’ll have on small business owners like yours truly (moi) and Joe the Plumber (you know, the white guy with the ripped jeans and booty crack). But, why not just start from the bottom (with the financially responsible) and work your way up? My closest fellow Diva Mogul friends an I hereby declare ourselves the Group of Four Diva Moguls. We would like a session with Congress to discuss how we can boost the economy with a fraction of the amount those greedy- piña colada- drinking devoid- of- vision- money- suckers auto makers and banks are demanding.

Sincerely,

Diva Mogul
CIO (Chief Intelligence Officer), Group of Four Diva Moguls

Thanksgiving is practically here already. It’s next week! I’ve been busy with projects, clients, and emails galore.  Just when I was stepping up my work pace, a not-so-divine intervention took place that has tied me to my bed. So here I am… a one-woman show and sick, sick, sick (but slowly improving) with work piled up high on my desk. On top of everything, I’m leaving town on a business trip this weekend and may or may not have a mini van full of (still yet to be 100% confirmed) guests pulling into my driveway just hours after my own arrival. What’s a Diva Mogul to do?

In an effort to improve my own quality of life and sanity this Thanksgiving, I have opted OUT of cooking this year. I refuse to run around from store to store the day before Thanksgiving in a mad dash to find enough mushrooms to complete my gravy recipe, again. I also have to mention that I’m a vegetarian, who has never cooked meat before, hosting hard-core carnivores. Instead of dealing with the disgusting nightmare of the store selling out of pre-cooked bird carcasses, I took a strong dose of cough syrup and drove my Diva Mogul Mobile to the nearest organic food store to pre-order a fully cooked and prepared dinner. I ordered a small vegetarian feast and a small carnivore feast which should be enough to feed everyone. Problem solved. Now I can concentrate on work…

Over the past few weeks, I have heard more and more people talking about having a recession proof business. It has become quite the ‘in’ buzz phrase, so what can you do keep the cash dollars flowing?

Although some businesses might be very effected by the ups and down of the economy, there do tend to be sectors less bothered. Grocery stores and telecommunication companies are just two examples. Sales might go down a little bit because families are sharing phones to save or not buying as much exotic produce, but everyone still needs to communicate and eat.

Here are some tips for your business:

• Keep a careful watch on your cash flow. Cut back on frivolous spending you know you can’t afford.

• Keep in the good graces of the customers you already have. Bring them back time and time again to do business with you. It’s easier and cheaper than finding new clients.

• Think creatively to attract new customers or to find a new niche market you’ve overlooked.

• Be seen. Get out in the community and be active and helpful. Consider your networking dollars advertising costs.

• Keep providing a valued service!

Dragon Lady is on a mission and she’s unstoppable. She knows how to flex her muscles and brainpower to get what she wants and needs. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if she knows Kung Fu. There is no man holding Dragon Lady back (not even her sweet Latino hubby).  I’ll also mention that Dragon Lady is rich. Very rich.

Who is Dragon Lady? Moi…! No, sorry, I wish. Dragon Lady is Yan Cheung, chairman of Nine Dragons Paper and is the fifth (5th!) richest person in China (according to Forbes, other sources rank her higher). Sister power! Nine Dragons has huge investment plans that will make it the top paper company in Asia in the upcoming year (and Dragon Lady a lot richer).

What has made her paper company so successful? While it’s secretly credited to her Jackie Chan-like business abilities, she publicly mentions that the company’s success is largely due to not overdiversifying. Cheung runs the company more like a multinational corporation instead of a family business, unlike many Chinese companies.

In the upcoming years, Nine Dragons Paper hopes to spread its paper wings and take over the world kick the you-know-what of their Japanese competitor for the #1 Asia spot…and then beyond.

Whether you’re in the market for a new desk or looking to buy a desk for your first-ever home office, here are some great ideas to fit all needs and budget! Remember to think outside the stereotypical desk space when creating your home office… (don’t be boooring!)

THE SECRETARY DESK:

Classy and elegant. This desk is ideal for the entrepreneur who deals with light bookkeeping at home and carries her laptop to and from the office. $329.

A modern-day secretary desk, Ikea sticks to tradition with clean, modern lines. Ideal for entrepreneurs on a budget without the need for large amounts of storage space. $199

THE MURPHY DESK:

If you have a slightly bigger budget and like to kill two birds with one stone, a murphy bed/desk for your guest bedroom is the solution for you! Companies will custom tailor the wall units to fit your needs and price range.

THE COMPUTER CABINET:

If you don’t have a special room designated as your office, a computer cabinet does the trick. Place it in your living room or studio apartment and when guests come, simply close the doors and nobody has to know! $699 at Rooms to Go.

THE TABLE:

Currently the option I’m using. A hand-me-down antique table makes up my headquarters. There’s always room for the printer, phone, computer, and an area to organize documents. Separate storage is a must with this option. Ikea $130.

Being self-employed, many believe, is G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S (to steal a line from Fergie for a quick sec). There are certainly glam aspects (see my workation in Holland), but here are a few things some of my fellow self-employed peeps might not want to make public:

Confession #1: Work comes in waves. Especially when starting out, it’s very hard to be busy and get paid every moment of every single day. Sometimes we’re surfing wave after wave and other times we’re waiting for the work to roll into the office (picture head on desk, snoring, and drool). If we’re not doing projects or with clients, we’re working on our marketing. Business can be a never- ending headache if we allow.

Confession #2: We work hard, very hard…and take secret breaks (but shhhh…). I go walk on the beach or read a few pages from a novel. I have a friend who surfs. And…sometimes waking up early to begin my work day can exhaust me so much that I take a mid-afternoon nap. The worst part is when I don’t allow myself a break… my poor family and health.

Confession #3: We’re constantly concerned about finances, especially when we first start working for ourselves. This is never ending. When you’re Richard Branson, you become concerned about either a.) someone stealing your money or b.) making your next billion. In the beginning, for most of us, making the first thousand can be a true challenge. Most entrepreneurs quit when the money doesn’t immediately start flowing through the doors. Which leads me to the next confession…

Confession #4: We occasionally find ourselves navigating our surf boards to job search sites. I’ve forced more than one entrepreneur to fess up to this…and they did. So I know it happens to nearly all of us!

Today, get over your fear of asking for referrals!

I’m feeling very generous with you, so I’m going to give you another piece of FREE MARKETING ADVICE! As I mentioned in my last post, it’s important to step up marketing when the economy take a dive. Not all marketing has to be expensive or cost something, so take advantage of the small opportunities that present themselves!

How much of your business is based on referrals? The great thing about this type of marketing is that it’s FREE and doesn’t require an advertising budget!

TIP: You appreciate customer referrals, so TELL THEM.

Don’t forget to add this to your email signature as well! It’s unfortunate, but it won’t dawn on most of your customers that you rely on referrals until you TELL THEM!

Here’s an interesting story:

My friend is a real estate agent and was always too embarrassed to ask clients for referrals. A couple months ago, she decided to bite the bullet and simply come out and say it. Her speech goes something like this: I don’t do any outside advertising and my business is based exclusively on referrals from clients like you. I just want you to know that if you ever know of a family member, friend, or acquaintance that could benefit from my services, I would sincerely appreciate your referrals.

Guess what? She got exactly what she asked! All of a sudden, referrals started rolling in because of this.

JUST ASK!

Photo Credit

When the economy starts to tank, it’s time to step up your business marketing. Big time. Consider it an investment, not an expense. Lucky for us, there are many low cost and free marketing opportunities out there that can and should be utilized by all businesses, rich or poor.
TIP: Utilize the automated signature at the bottom of your email.

It only takes you a few seconds and you’ll quickly save lots of time because you’ll never have to think about how you should sign the email or what information to provide. This area is often overlooked which is unfortunate because it’s FREE MARKETING SPACE! A real no-brainer so use it! In addition to signing your name, you should include your website, phone number, business name, and tag line.

Depending on your business, you can place monthly specials or discounts in this area.

For example:
10% off your next purchase.
OR
December Only: free coffee with purchase of a pastry when you mention you mention where you this signature promotion.
OR
Free tax consultations now through December 1.

Another idea is to keep it fresh with weekly or monthly tips for your customers and contacts. If you’re a website designer, give them one-liner SEO pointers or tips for a more attractive website. Personal organizers can give clues on how to keep clutter at bay. Use your imagination.

Large bookstores are so overwhelming. After walking up and down the aisles searching for your favorite section, you finally locate it…but the search isn’t over! It’s now time to pick out a book! Today I found myself standing in the Business & Management area absolutely overwhelmed. My eyes didn’t know where to go. Up? Down? Right? Left? Turn around and check out the other shelf?

I love the bookstore. In fact, I could spend the entire day there reading books from the Business & Management section. If I were accidentally locked overnight in a bookstore, come find me here. What impressed me most was the fact that there are SO MANY GREAT BOOKS ON BUSINESS available in the bookstore. There is a book for nearly every subject, career, problem, or business theme you can imagine. From Marketing to Networking to Sales to Taxes…the list goes on. Someday, when you have a few hours, I highly recommend taking the time to dig through a couple of the thousands of books available on business matters. Invest in a couple of useful books while taking bits and pieces of knowledge from books you would never actually care to own.

What books do you recommend?