Ladies Who Launch Spring Event

On Wednesday night, I ventured out of suburbia and into Boston to attend the Ladies Who Launch Spring Into Action event.  I've been meaning to get involved with this seemingly fabulous organization for some time now on the recommendations of others.  LWL is essentially a platform for meeting other women entrepreneurs while exchanging ideas and offering support through groups, events and online. 

The evening started out GREAT as I was carded upon entering the club where it was being held.  Having left the house with nothing but a cell phone, the ubiquitous 'Berry and some cash, after being quizzed on the year I was born, I was ushered inside.  One $12 beverage, one $15 chair-massage and too much guacamole later, the panelists took the stage in a pretty informal way.  They consisted of a 24-year-old CEO of a weekly calendar & city guide to Boston, the owner of a mobile spa and the owner of a mobile boutique, a former lawyer who made a business of helping kids get into college, and the owner of a PR firm specializing in celebrity product placement.  It was a really interesting group who had a lot to offer.  So here's what I got out of it:

• If someone tells you that you can't do it, work harder to find a way that you can.  Be unconventional (I LOVE that word).
• Why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary?
• Business plan shmisness plan.  As long as you know what your goals are, forget it.  (unless you are seeking investors)
• Just because we're women with an idea does NOT mean it's a "hobby."
• Before going to the next level, check in with your gut.  Listen to it.
• I really want a pair of red shoes (two of the panelists were sporting red shoes and they looked awesome).

These ladies inspired me to call a meeting of my board of directors.  So I sat down with myself and decided the following:

• I need to find a way to tweak my business model without tweaking my business per se. 
• I need to spend WAY more time branding.  It's all about branding!!
• I need to spend more money in some places and less in others.
• I need to take more risks.

In an effort to start on my branding campaign, I signed myself up for the next In Full Force event and called my favorite employee (my mom) to recruit her for June 12th.  I have loads more work to do and the next few weeks will be spent as such.

In all, an evening well spent.  The panelists were inspiring and funny at times, and relatable.  I want to be that 24-year-old running a business and delegating to her employees.  I want to be that veteran entrepreneur who had enough vision to turn her experience in media into a product placement venture.  I can relate to that mom who runs her own business all day and comes home to her family and the needs that have to be met there.  I understand that it's tough to get gigs for a shopping event just as it is for the woman who has a mobile boutique.

And did I mention the hot red shoes?

Comments

[Jennifer]

I loved this statement Just because we're women with an idea does NOT mean it's a "hobby."

Why do people assume that?

It's related to assumption that if you're working from home you aren't really working... I was told the other day "wow, with your great hobby and yard, you will be really popular with other mom's for daycare!" double whammy! I responded "oh, so they won't mind that I'll be working and ignoring their kids?"

[FashionMista]

I had been getting the Ladies Who Launch emails for years, and when I knew I needed to get to the next level with my passion (ie quit job to become my own job), I joined up. Then I quit the job and have been building my company ever since. Funny what you say about those red shoes, because I felt like Dorothy who didn't know she had the ticket home the whole time!
http://fashionmista.blogspot.com/2006/09/ladies-who-launch-first-incubator.html