10 Quick Tips About Tools for Entrepreneurs

10 Quick Tips About Tools for Entrepreneurs

by | Mar 28, 2016 | Uncategorized

With 2016 resolutions firmly in place and motivation at an all time high, now is the time when many entrepreneurs are raring to go! As you search out the tools for the trade, here are a few quick tips to make the most out of the tools you are gathering.

  1. Get what you need.  There are lots of great tools out there. Enough that you could spend more time exploring than using them. Be sure you look for tools that meet a need you have, anything else bookmark or pin for future reference but don’t waste time on it until you need it.
  2. Read Reviews. Always read reviews for current and past versions before opting in to a tool. Whether you pay for the tool, or it’s free, you are investing your time in learning how to use it, creating within it, and you need to ensure it’s a valid product that isn’t going to frustrate you by being buggy. 
  3. Use the tutorials.  Are you the type to jump into a new tool, program or software, ignore the tutorial and think you can figure it out? Why waste your time? Most apps, software, and programs have a tutorial that is shown the minute you login. Take 5 minutes and learn. Skip the learning curve by embracing the developers efforts to teach you what you need to know! Doing this on the front end can save you so much time later on.
  4. Always check what the free vs premium differences are.   I almost always start with the free version of a tool. It helps me get a feel for the user interface, learn how the system works and if it’s actually going to do what I need it to. A few times recently a free or demo version wasn’t available and I ended up burned by a tricky software with a steep learning curve that likely would have changed my mind about my purchase.
  5. Pay for tools that are worth it.   Some tools have a cost and are worth the payment. I pay for video editing software on my iPhone that creates awesome short movies and removes the app logo at the end. With the software I can create movies during meetings, at the drop of a hat during client visits, or just for fun, and I can have them edited and uploaded to Youtube before I even head home. 
  6. Keep a bookmark folder for easy reference. There is nothing worse than knowing you have seen the perfect tool and you can’t find it again. I have bookmark folders specific to productivity tools, editing tools, etc and I save things that catch my attention immediately. 
  7. Use the same avatar or logo on every tool.   Creating an online brand is important for any business. Be sure you are consistently creating profile information and using the same logo or avatar to ensure consistency. 
  8. Export final versions.  If a tool gives you the option to export a final copy of what you have created, take it. There have been some great tools that I loved and for whatever reason the tool went away. I lost anything that hadn’t been exported and saved offline. 
  9. Link with google drive, dropbox or Box if possible.  If the tool has an API or link connection to a cloud based storage, link up and save your information over to it. Setup folders in the beginning to create organized structure and be consistent in how you name items for easy reference later on. 
  10. Use them!   Tools are only helpful if you use them. Only downloading what you need helps with this, but make sure if you take the time to set up an account, create a profile, take a tutorial…make sure you follow through and use the tool! 
As always I welcome your input…what is your top tool tip for Entrepreneurs? Do you have a strategy for consistency, organization or structure that helps in your business? Share below and let us know.
 
Creative Entrepreneurs – What drives you?

Creative Entrepreneurs – What drives you?

by | Mar 28, 2016 | Uncategorized

creativecreativeIn days gone past we had a more graceful existence. We cooked, we sewed, we built…we created. Over time we have industrialized so many parts of our society, created a profit driven, work-a-holic culture and idealized financial success. Along the way we seem to have lost the element of creation that use to be a part of all of us. 
These days we flock to Pinterest, we ooh and aah over what crafty mums have done, and decide to fit a DIY project into our weekend. We’ve turned creating, building, and entertaining into an artistic hobby. It’s no longer the norm for an elegant dinner party, with dressed up guests to be a regular part of our lifestyle. Perhaps I am alone, but the grace we’ve lost along the way nags at me. 
We have seen small businesses on the rise and Entrepreneurship seems to be the topic on the tip of everyone’s tounge. I think this is a natural result of our need to create. We build businesses the way children used to build dog houses on a summer’s day. We have a driving need to say I DID THIS, I created something, I’ve left my mark and have something to show for it.
Entrepreneurship fills a void we haven’t consciously known was missing. We pursue that which we need and didn’t even recognize. For myself, and perhaps you, being an entreprenuer allows us to merge what we are good at and what we want to accomplish in a way that the traditional 9-5 can’t.
ab85ac_13347c4348dd4da0b7debb0ed9203ed5I love Entrepreneurship and the opportunities it presents. I love the satisfaction of creating a website, a dining room table, or a truly exceptional meal. We move at such a hectic pace these days that taking time to slow down and truly do something well is almost difficult. As I have said before Hard Work is not something to shy away from. Embrace what challenges you, what stretches your comfort zone. Do something great and proudly proclaim to the world what you alone have made. 
Creativity creates conversations and with conversations comes ideas, possibilities, and potential. Embrace the unknown and reach for the stars. I know this reads a little hokey. It’s very inspirational and not my usual practical advice, but there is nothing practical about dreaming. There is nothing practical about ditching a steady income and pursuing an avenue filled with unknown obstacles, hard work, and the potential for failure around every corner. Practical is staying put, collecting a steady paycheck, knowing what’s expected and trudging along. It takes all sorts to make the world work and for some the safety net is more necessary to their piece of mind than the passion and creativity is for their soul. For others, however, we chase the glimpses of something MORE. Something better tantalizes us over and over until we are ready to chase it down and own it. 
2016 is days away. What are your goals, your dreams?  Do you have an idea that’s been bubbling up to a boil, tickling your thoughts and tantilizing your sense of adventure? Whatever passion drives you, we’d love to share in your Journey. Comment below and tell us your story!
My #1 Time Management Strategy to be an efficient, productive EntrepreDOer

My #1 Time Management Strategy to be an efficient, productive EntrepreDOer

by | Mar 17, 2015 | Efficient Entrepreneurs, Productivity

ab85ac_d30fddb6460a4c5797a67d4fd3650ebdDo you Pomodoro? Are you trying to find a way to be more productive, but always find yourself sitting down to work only to find yourself fighting distractions? As a Mompreneur it can be hard to finish projects. We wear a lot of hats and there are always 5, 10 or 20 more things to do on the to-do list. It’s time to find our focus and knock the work out, leaving plenty of time for family fun!
Let me introduce you to my secret weapon… The Pomodoro Technique!
According to Wikipedia, “The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. These intervals are known as “pomodori”, the plural of the Italian word pomodoro for “tomato.” The method is based on the idea that frequent breaks can improve mental agility.”

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How MentoringU came to be

How MentoringU came to be

by | Mar 15, 2015 | Business, People

I realized this morning that I had spent months working out the details of how Mentoring Moms would morph into MentoringU and how I would continue to follow my passion of inspiring entrepreneurs and lending support to moms looking to create a lifestyle based business.  There are scribbles and doodles, mind maps and napkins littering my desk with my thoughts, goals and vision for this transition. It was late night work, nailing down the finances, building out the website, setting up my social media profiles and getting my baby launched…and I’m finally ready to show my baby off!  If you are stopping by for the first time, or are a regular visitor, let me say Welcome!
MentoringU is my gift back, my business that offers coaching, mentoring and skills training for small businesses, especially those run by Moms. I work with small business owners to identify their goals, develop strategies, tools or training to teach them how to do what they need and help keep them on track. I also run both an online and in person networking groups called The Village where small businesses can network and work together to support each other and your business goals.

Do you have a business or are you thinking about launching one? Tell me about it in the comments below and join us in The Village!
Goal Planning for EntrepreDOers

Goal Planning for EntrepreDOers

by | Mar 14, 2015 | Business, Efficient Entrepreneurs, Productivity, Vision and Goals

Ever wondered what all the fuss is about coaching? There are life coaches, business coaches, personal wellness coaches, the list goes on and on.  Here at Mentoring Mompreneurs we obviously thinking coaching and mentoring are important…we’ve built a whole business around it! We lead busy lives and it is so easy to have an idea, get excited and enthusiastic about it and then … life happens. Someone gets sick, you get busy, it’s the holidays, the excuses start piling up until one day when you look back and wonder why you were so excited about that idea. 
That’s natural, it’s human, but it’s not a formula for success. If you are committed to being successful, coaching or mentoring can help keep you on track. It helps with accountability, with focus, goal planning, and more. It gives you someone to use as a sounding board and offers you unconditional encouragement as you figure things out. 

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