The February 2003 Issue of the Gots To Have It, Newsletter contains:

Last month's newsletter covered the topic of facing your fears in business. Many small businesses have overcome their obstacles just because they had the right guidance. They had a mentor or a group of professionals to steer them in the right direction.

This issue touches on building a support team to help get your business and/or career off the ground. Our contributing writer, Lena West, will give you pointers on finding a technical consultant to add to your team of experts.

Once you start putting your "dream team" together, you'll be on your way.

Fiona Bloom, Founder of The Bloom Effect
	Before launching The Bloom Effect, Fiona Bloom had built two successful independent Hip-Hop labels from the ground up as well as doing freelance national publicity for artists. However, she felt a growing need for U.S companies to expand into other territories worldwide.
Fiona says, "It’s not all about the U.S., you know? With wireless technology, the Internet, and mobile phones, you can do business anywhere in the world without necessarily having to leave your home. I’ve been doing business overseas for several years now. The market for underground Hip-Hop is much bigger in certain continents like Europe and Asia, more so than here. In the U.S., it’s a matter of how much money you’re willing to load out in to the marketplace. Overseas, it’s more about the ART. The creativity. The sales will follow. With that said, I decided to go full speed ahead with a niche that not many had tapped into. Thus, with my company, The Bloom Effect -- my main goal is helping independent U.S companies to spread their wings and delve into international territories. I am responsible for setting up licensing and distribution deals worldwide. Once these deals are in place, I oversee the day-to-day affairs making sure deadlines are met. I am the liaison with the label in the States and the different companies, be it labels or distributors that work with us in those appropriate territories. With part of my job comes the travel. I need to make sure I’m in Europe at least twice a year and Asia once a year. So, international relations and marketing is the Tour De Force behind The Bloom Effect. However, if you’re in search of gaining exposure for your artists or album projects, I do that also. I primarily work with magazines, newspapers, and some local television. My specialty is Urban Press, Skate/Snow/Surf, Alternative, Lifestyle and Hip-Hop Magazines." Breaking into the rest of the WORLD. Tips on how to become Internationally SAVVY! By Fiona Bloom RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH • Know about current events. • Read up on International politics and business climates. • Know where one place is stronger than the other and understand currency. BE GENUINE • Be yourself, but know how to adapt in any given situation. • Your personality and the way you conduct yourself must be reflective in your dealings with individual countries. (With the French you are one way, the Japanese another, the German another and so on and so forth.) TRAVEL • Whenever you have the opportunity, take it. By throwing yourself out there, you can network just as easily as you do here. • Language barriers can be a problem, but if you’re expressive and patient, you can meet anyone. STAY IN CONTACT • Send an e-mail newsletter out to your colleagues, counterparts, and friends overseas and keep people up to date with your activities. • Share information and allow yourself to be an aid for anyone overseas looking to break into the U.S. market. • They will take care of you when you’re in their country. They’ll go above and beyond the call of duty. Trust me…I’m witness to that. Study human interaction and the power of networking in other environments and I promise youthe world will be yours! Interested in finding out more? Contact Fiona Bloom at fiona@thebloomeffect.com WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FEATURED HERE and on http://www.socialstep.com/business? SEND ME AN EMAIL TO FIND OUT HOW.

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Who's On Your Side?

Whether it's a group of colleagues, a mentor, or a business consultant that you are paying; I feel it's an excellent idea to round up some seasoned professionals that can offer you advice for your business' needs. Whether you do it informally or set up actual board meetings with a team of advisors; there are various ways to go about getting guidance.

What's an "advisory team": "An advisory team is considered a group of industry executives and professionals that is appointed by a company for the purpose of offering advice and support on a wide range of issues that are relevant to the organization."
Source: www.boardseat.com.

The benefits of building this team are to:
- provide connections;
- share their expertise in a specific area (finance, marketing, accounting, etc.);
- raise your status and prestige (by being affiliated with them); and
- offer valuable business advice.

Consider the following professionals to have on your side:
- Lawyer
- Accountant
- Financial Consultant
- Marketing Consultant
- Sales Associate
- Technical Consultant
- Designer
- Publicist

Start researching by asking around and networking. Getting referrals from friends, family, and colleagues helps you know if these consultants can really deliver what they promise. You'll know for sure, since they've already been tested out.
Tilt your Columbo hat to the side and start playing detective. :) Here are some other things you should try to find out:
1. Are they from a large company or a small boutique shop? You can usually get better thinking from a small organization then at a large shop with a departmentalized chain of command.
2. Do they understand entrepreneurial business?
3. Do they have a genuine enthusiasm for solving your issues?
4. What's their track record? Asking for a list of clients isn't enough, find out what they helped clients accomplish.
5. Do they have a unique way of thinking? It's always good to have someone who can stretch the limits of your organization with some out of box thinking.
6. Will they offer a competitive price?
7. Okay Columbo, so you might not have time to sit in front of their office with a video camera watching their every move. LOL. In this case, just go to www.google.com, type in their name or company name and see what comes up. You'd be surprised what rave reviews or um…what dirt that you can dig up. But you didn't hear it from me!
8. Do you feel comfortable with them? Your personalities should be compatible, since you'll be dealing with this person on a regular basis.
9. Test Them Out: You've done all your research and still not sure? Give them a small project to see how they do. This way it won't burn a hole in your wallet and you'll see just how much gusto they truly have. If it's a success you've found a keeper!

Start Building the Relationship:
- Explain your expectations up front.
- Share your vision with them. Let them know what you are trying to build.
- Involve them and keep them in the loop of any changes.
- Don't be afraid to sound dumb. Some folks get intimidated and don't want to ask "the experts" questions that should be asked. You'll be missing out if you wait for a slip up to happen, a slip up that could have been avoided if you would have asked your 'dumb' question!
- Set up your own roundtable: When possible, set up regular meetings (maybe monthly or quarterly.) One advisor might have a suggestion that others have overlooked. It's also great networking for them to get to know each other.
- Refer your colleagues to them. I'm sure they'll return the favor.

You can't do it ALL alone, so don't be afraid to seek help. Just remember to be cautious, inquisitive and persistent. Success will follow. Good luck!

Here are some related links to check out:
How To Find a Business Mentor
Small Business Administration
Find a Lawyer
Creating an Advisory Board

One Bad Apple

by Lena L. West

As a technology expert, I find it very interesting that the very same business people, who will take the time to research and grill a new attorney or accountant, will trust their business’ technology to their cousin’s ex-boyfriend’s niece.
If this is you, listen up. Here are six hard and fast rules to get out of the nepotism trap and hire a serious qualified technology professional who won’t rip you off.
1. Whaddayaneed? It’s preferable to give the technician a bulleted list of what needs to be done as opposed to being bullied into solutions that don’t suit your needs. This also helps your consultant to make heads or tails of your situation.
2. Ask for a referral. Be sure to ask a colleague whose work ethic you respect. Your idea of prompt service and someone else’s idea of prompt service may be drastically different.
3. Become a spy. Consultants are going to provide you with a list of references that will give them glowing recommendations. Snoop around in your personal network to see if anyone whom you know has done business with the person and if so, what their experience was.
4. CYA. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times. SIGN A CONTRACT. Even something as trivial as a software install can go haywire. Do yourself a favor, give yourself an out.
5. Size matters. If you can, start the consultant off with small projects. See how they handle the little issues and gradually increase their responsibility and your dependence on their services.
6. Act like an adult. If the relationship is not working out, say so immediately and move on. You are paying the consultant by the hour, no? Why should you pay to be frustrated? TIP: Change their access before you terminate the contract.
Don’t get me wrong, there are loads of reputable techs out there. But there are also bad ones. My goal in writing this column is not to tell you about the great techs but, rather, to help you avoid the bad ones in your pursuit to find a good one.

Lena L. West is the Founder & CEO of xynoMedia Development, a technology consulting firm that specializes in helping companies make strategic decisions about the use and implementation of technology. This good apple can be reached at LWest@xynoMedia.com

ABOUT US:

Simone Kelly-Brown is the President and CEO of Gots To Have It Marketing, Inc.. For over 10 years, she has been working with small business owners who are just starting out and want to get their businesses off the ground with innovative marketing.

GTHI is a firm that specializes in marketing and empowering entrepreneurs with a series of workshops and networking events.

For further information view:www.gotstohaveit.com
For Women's Networking view: www.giventakenetwork.org

Until Next Month!

Own your power and have continued success,
Simone Kelly-Brown
CEO/PRESIDENT, Gots To Have It Marketing, Inc.www.gotstohaveit.com
If you want it, you Gots To Have It!


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