Getting real

 At the recent launch of the One Red Lipstick book which shares the stories of 24 entrepreneurial women from across North America, we asked some of the authors to share their message from the book.

Up first was fashion icon Linda Lundstrom, who started off by saying her message was that “shit happens.”  And she should know as after 26 years of a successful fashion design business, the bank called in her loan and she had to declare bankruptcy.  But she bounced back and has started over.

As did Nadja Piatka who in debt and recently divorced, decided since no one would hire her, that she’d hire herself.  She started off by baking and selling her muffins to the local coffee shops. 

Fast forward to today and she has a multi-million business and her muffins are sold in McDonalds, Subway and other food chains.   

Her message was that it’s not so much that you fall down, it’s how you get up after the fall that matters.

For Che Marville the key was to recognize our vulnerabilities and to share with one another because there was strength when we walked the journey together hand in hand.   She also spoke of the power of listening to your intuition, just as her mother did when Che, as a child was deathly sick, and her mother insisted that she be transported back to Canada, even though the authorities and doctors were reluctant to do so. 

And for Anastasia Valentine who became a teen mother at 15, it was important not to let other people define you.  To set the bar and hold your head high helped her navigate her early parenthood and she went on to become the CEO of a successful marketing business, when she could have so easily allowed the stigma of being a teen parent hold her back.

While the stories of these four women were dramatically different, as are the others  in the book, the one common thread is one of resilience. 

All of the women in the book faced some obstacle in their lives that they had to overcome, accept and move on from – and they did so with tenacity and fortitude, forging on to carve a life of success on their own terms.

It wasn’t a competition as to who had it worse, it was more that the women were willing to share, to be open about the trials as well as the triumphs in their lives and it gave those listening hope and inspiration, something we all need.

The documentary One Red Lipstick will be coming out in May, and it bound to bring even more glimpses into the lives of real women.  Real lives, real challenges and real victories.

Testing. Testing. Testing.

How do you know if your new business idea has the wings to take off and soar?

In many ways, you don’t but according to Anastasia Valentine, you can give it a go, but only after you have done your due diligence.

Now for some entrepreneurs who prefer to live on the edge and take a risk without too much thought and effort, this may seem like the kiss of death to creativity.  But she has a point and as she explained, all ideas are valuable, but not all are profitable. 

So before you sink too much money, time and resources into the next brainwave, better to check it out and think it through first.

She compares this “testing” period to a relationship and gave the following advice:

• First you have to socialize/date your idea. 
• Ask yourself will customers buy it and at what price?  
• Test your idea. Pull together ten people you trust who will give you an honest answer, not just humour you.  There’s too much at stake to just have folks give you a complacent nod, without much real thought to what you are suggesting.
• Explain what you want to do.
•  Listen. 
• If after this feedback, you are still in love with the idea, then you are more ready to make a commitment.

Most entrepreneurs, observed Anastasia, have an idea inventory, and when you are looking at growth options, flush out your top three big money-making ideas, and maybe two low cost ideas that have a high return.   Pick one and go for it.