How to Grow a Business

Starting a business can be exciting and fun and full of creative energy. Growing a business takes time, dedication and perserverance...here are some gems from Nell Merlino shared with us at the Coca-Cola Tour: ADELANTE Conference...

Here is Nell...according to Zee...

How to grow a business...

·         Tell people what you want and what you need

·         Mobilize who you know...One person can only do so much...Rely on your friends and networks

·         Grow your own networks...

·         Work with a partner...work with a buddy

·         Think about solving a problem...

·         You don’t have to do it all yourself

·         Expand your product line

·         How is your product different? What is it that you and only you can do? What else can I turn over and who can I turn it over to?

·         Think about expanding your capacity for growth

·         You are the Boss

·         Add to your resume

·         So many examples of things you can make

·         How do you expand? Is it still yours?

·         How do you broker the opportunities?

·         Give voice to the voice you have found

• Start with the end in mind...let your imagination run wild

Expect resistance...Listen for the spark of truth...Listen for the valuable message...Listen to the naysayers...what are they saying that you need to be aware of...

What would work? Use the info...Mobilize people, You have to be ready...let them know you are launching...go find customers...they need to know what you are...they need to know what you do, they need to know why you and not your competitor?

Write it down...make it happen...

Create a tornado of activity...

What are you going to do right now...today to move forward...

The sooner you do it, the sooner it can happen...

Are you being trained to be small??

Selling or creating or expanding...strategic partnerships

A little talking...a little writing

Who can you work with...

Tell people what you need

An extraordinary journey...just decide that this is where you want to be...

What is your 10x10?

10x10

What is your 10x10? at the Coca-Cola Tour ADELANTE

https://www.facebook.com/CocaColaTourAdelante?ref=pb

Sandra asked us to list 10 different ways we were different in 10 different groups. Our 10x10, so to speak and how do we stand out, stand up, and stand together to be counted. What is your 10x10? What are 10 ways you are different form the following (Feel free to change and adapt the groups to meet your needs):

1.       From your FB friends

2.       From your family

3.       From other Latinas

4.       From other educators

5.       From other women

6.       From other artists

7.       From other entrepreneurs

8.       From your colleagues

9.       From other mothers/aunts/grandmothers/cousins

10.   From other...

Pearls from Nely

Pearls from Nely Galan

Split Personality...how do we merge our 2 sides...how do I find a better me, the real me, the hidden me, the hyphenated me...the and/both me...how do I craft the identity of the me and who I want to be?

Fear and failure are your best friends

Grow everyday by any means necessary

We all need mentors...connect...

Honor your little girl. What are the unresolved issues? How can I be the best mom to that little girl?

Life is about stages...you do not have to prove yourself...over and over again...

Be kind to yourself...you are enough as you are!!!

Top 10 Gems for Dealing with Obstacles

1.       Make fear and failure your best friends...reframe failure , if you are not failing, you will never succeed
2.       It is never too late the right the wrongs of your life...honor your pain
3.       There is no Prince Charming...no one is on the earth to save you...
4.       Sometimes, when you win, you lose and sometimes when you lose you win...
5.       In your deepest pain is the answer to your purpose and who you are meant to be...take your pain and turn it into work and the work is transcendent...use your shadow material to create your life’s work
6.       Follow your bliss...but have a back-up plan to keep making money
7.       There is darkness before there is light...you will always be tested
8.       Maintenance...put yourself first...
9.       Being Latina is the Best of both worlds...Know how to give...and how to receive
10.   Happiness is...being self-actualized...having the tools to do it...take small actions...-little things will make you successful

If you have not seen Nely's book, check it out here:

http://www.amazon.com/Swan-Curriculum-Spectacular-Life-Changing-Amazing/dp/B0007MTTGM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324007449&sr=8-1

How to be a Chingona in 10 Easy Steps

by Sandra Cisneros as interpreted by

Zulmara

Here is my list from the wonderful talk that Sandra gave us at the Coca-Cola ADELANTE Tour. Sandra had the ideas, but this is my own interpretation of her inspiration, I am sure many of us took many different things from that day, depending on where we are at!!!

·         Live for your own approval

·         Time is your most valuable gift

·         Cover your own Power...

·         Find true humility

·         Keep your word

·         Address your pain

·         Be one with your actions—your only true possessions are your actions

·         Seek forgiveness

·         Live in the present moment

·         Go back to a scene of trauma—Depression has a purpose—use it to go to the light

·         Listen to your body...when you are sick, your body is telling you something

·         Get out of the way of the light

·         Research your history...create your 10x10

·         Create rituals

·         Discover the sacred

·         Wear something that empowers you

Call your ancestors...

· 

Gems from Sandra Cisneros at the Coca-Cola Tour ADELANTE!!

Mi ano de renacimiento

Honor your own way of being

!!!!YEAH!!!! (hold hands and pray)

Multiple spirits...makes you feel more connected

Poetics in space...I did not have that house, I had my house, My House on Mango Street

How do I transform my anger into light? My darkness into light?

Start wherever you are, and go to wherever it takes you

Keep writing, keep dancing, keep singing, keep painting from the seed...and let it grow and you will be reborn

If you don’t transform your inner you into light, you will wallow in darkness

Speak our truth...

Write a poem...write a sermon...write a book...write a fairy tale...

Come from your real voice...Your pajama voice...your inner voice

Flood yourself with joy...flood yourself with light

Tell your story...with joy, laughter, and tears!!!

https://www.facebook.com/CocaColaTourAdelante?ref=pb

Roots and Wings!!!

Coca-Cola Tour ADELANTE

Quips and Quotes and anything notes

We do it for our children

We do it for our families

We will become...

                A national voice...about our shared values

                Our voices will be heard...we will be the experts on Nightline, CNN, Fox News,

We are starting a movement

We would all be rich if we bought from each other

Let’s begin the conversation

The chosen ones are the ones who choose

Come to be nourished...then to give from your overflow

Your jewels

Your riches

Your causes...your values what you believe in

I tell my own truth

This is my path...and I am going to follow my own path...in the formation of my Latina identity...

Continue the Artist's Way Journey!

Continue the Artist's Way Journey!

For anyone who has been inspired by Julia Cameron’s The Artists Way, there is so much to be gained and so much to be learned by following her advice with morning pages, Artist’s dates and all the rest. However, what do you do when morning pages, Artist’s Dates, exploratory essays, inspirational readings are not doing it and your muse is silent? How do you juggle everyday responsibilities and still live the writerly life you yearn for? The life that allows you to create, be who are, explore the inner you and what makes you tick? How do you stay focused with so many distractions?

Well the answers vary for every author. I find that my muse likes down time. Time when I am not in the zone creating, no plugged in, no thinking about all that I have to do, and being physically active. I think the mind/body connection is very strong for me. I have found that taking time for exercise—be it a walk at the beach, a bike ride in the city, or a hike in the mountains is just what my muse needs to show up and be present. Of course, chocolate and wine go a long way as well.

How do you pamper or jump start your silent muse?


Con un pan y cafecito, seguimos adelante

Zulmara