The March 2005 Issue of the Gots To Have It, Newsletter contains:

In honor of women’s month, I’d like to take a few moments to acknowledge the power of women business owners. Their go-getter attitudes, dedication, and intelligence can inspire us all. They also serve as an example that anything you want is attainable! Many of these women have paved the way for the revolution that’s about to take place! (Okay, okay, so I’m a bit biased.) LOL!

I am very proud to be one of the eight million women business owners in America. The SBA noted that women-owned firms with employees grew 51.7% from 1997 to 2004! Women-owned firms employ 19.1 million people and generate $2.5 trillion in sales.
Not bad, ladies! Let’s keep it coming!

I’d like to encourage the Gots To Have It family to give a pat on the back to a woman entrepreneur they know. Take the time this week to give a woman business owner some encouragement, a referral... hey, even purchase a thing or two from her to show support.

Many of us bump into obstacles along the way that try to hold us back, some even being family members and spouses who are not supportive of our dreams. Oh yeah, it happens. The key is to surround yourself with others who are doing what you want to do and can offer you the support you need!

I meet many women each month, because of my events, and they inspire me to keep doing what I’m doing. They might not even know me from Eve, but they send me words of encouragement via e-mail, or just give me a warm hug on their way out of an event. I want to thank you all for your support and let you know that it keeps me going and helps me recharge my batteries.

For those of you out there working on your businesses, hold your head high, stand tall and go after your dreams -- no matter what. You know what I always say, If you want it, you GOTS TO HAVE IT! ~tossing my hat into the air Mary Tyler Moore style.~

I’ll see you at the top! I hope you enjoy this issue that offers some vital information for women in business as well as some information for everyone!
Simone

She’s been a dedicated member of The Give ‘N Take Network since its start, an influential lawyer with her practice in NYC on Wall Street, but most of all she has a wonderful and caring spirit. GTHI had the pleasure of interviewing, Teresa Martin, so see what words of wisdom you can apply to your life and/ or business! 1. Tell me a little about yourself and your business? I am a 34 year old mother of two and principal of the solo law firm of The Law Offices of Teresa R. Martin, P.C. located on Wall Street, NYC. I concentrate in the areas of Bankruptcy, Real Estate, Entertainment, Business and Collection Law. Before opening my law practice, I worked at the law firm of Debevoise and Plimption and Owens Corning, Inc. in the area of asbestos litigation. I also worked as a Special Assistant Corporation Counsel at the NYC Law Dept practicing in the area of employment discrimination until the 9/11 attacks. I was profiled in the December 2001 edition of Money Magazine entitled "Get Back on Track" which focused on young professionals after the 9/11 attacks that devastated the nation.

2. What motivated you to start your business?
The conviction that the vocation of law is a calling from God. I believe that law is a vital arena affecting all areas of life; and therefore, with God's calling comes the responsibility and stewardship of integrating faith and law. I believe that as a Christian lawyer I cannot stand alone, but must join together as a national voice to affirm my Christian convictions.

3. How did you discover your passion?
I found at an early age that my passion was advocacy. I wanted to be the voice of the "unheard" and I needed to challenge the status quo. I am not the typical attorney. I have a passion to break the mold armed with my love of the law, my Christian values and a belief that I can change the practice of law -- one case at a time.

4. What's your best business advice for someone starting out?
To be a successful entrepreneur, you have to:
o Delegate. No matter how smart and energetic you are, it is a mistake to try to attend to every detail yourself. Unless you’re a solo act, you’re going to have to trust employees to do their jobs so that you can run the business.
o Be a teacher. In order to delegate successfully, you will need people with appropriate skills -- and they may have to learn some of those skills from you.
o Be self-motivated. As a small business owner, you won’t have a boss to tell you when to get to work. If that’s a problem, keep your day job.
o Work with numbers. You will spend a fair amount of time keeping track of money -- expenses, revenues, taxes and the like. A math phobia won’t help.
o Don’t mind making mistakes. You will make them; the trick is to learn from them and move on. Not everyone finds that easy to do.
o Like to work. Contrary to myth, you don’t need to be a workaholic to start a successful business. Many entrepreneurs find that it makes more sense to establish a reasonable working pace -- one that lets them strike a balance between work and their personal lives. That said; don’t start a business unless you enjoy work. There’s going to be plenty of it.
o Don’t mind selling. You’ll have to sell products or services to customers or clients, of course. You may also need to sell lenders or other financial backers on the prospects of your company. And you’ll need to convince potential employees to accept jobs with your firm rather than go to work for the competition.
Also, inadequate planning can cause you to fail before you actually begin. Start with a realistic but precise goal for your company, including deadlines. For example, don't just say that you want to increase sales; instead, decide that you want sales to reach $100,000 by next holiday season. Then write down the steps you can take to meet those goals on time, and set deadlines for completing those steps. Consult your goal list every day, and make sure you are doing what you need to do to meet your objectives.

5. What do you find most rewarding about your career?
The ability to make a difference in individual lives is what I find most rewarding. My legal advice and business decisions can hold the key to homeownership, debt discharge, higher royalties, 1.5 million dollar business loan approval, etc. What can be more rewarding than that? My clients are my own unique family. It’s all about competence, trust and respect.

6. What is your favorite marketing tactic?
My favorite marketing tactic would have to be leverage network marketing. I hold seminars on leverage network marketing to business professionals in NY, NJ, PA and D.C. because I believe that there is enough business for everyone. I belong to a number of professional networking and community groups. And I network wherever I go. Everyone I meet is a potential lead or contact and I treat everyone that way.

The truth of the matter is that my clients are already selected. No one can take what is already mine. My firm is a platform in the marketplace and all decisions stem from my Chairman of the Board … My Lord and Savior.

7. What have been your major obstacles and how did you overcome them?
My biggest obstacle was financial – avoiding cash flow problems. You need to know how to track the money coming into and out of your business -- even a profitable venture will flounder if it runs short on cash. In addition, you must learn to make cash flow projections that will help you decide how much money you can afford to spend and warn you of impending trouble.

I learned the hard way that "business is business." I learned that everyone that comes through my door cannot afford my legal services and that is reality. I found that my "bleeding heart" was bleeding me dry and my bills had to be paid and my children had to eat. Therefore, I derived creative payment plans and barter arrangements to assist those loyal clients that truly needed my services.

We Have A Pool of Resources… It’s Time To Dive In!

I’m always blown away by how many resources are out there for minority and women owned businesses. Many people are struggling without support, without a network, and without expert advice from an advisory board.
You don’t have to do it all alone. There is help out there! Some assistance is right under your nose. The hard part that I’m even a victim of is finding the time to sift through all the resources and find what’s right. It can be a daunting task, but that’s why referrals are so important. Developing your own network of colleagues, or joining an organization is a great way of weeding out the resources that might be a waste of time.

With that said, I thought I’d let you cheat a bit and get a head start. What can I say? I’m in a good mood. I pulled together some of my favorite resources and a few that came recommended from some list members.

Take a look…and find a local chapter near you as well. Dive in!

Minority Organizations

MOBE
http://www.mobe.com

National African American Chamber of Commerce
http://www.nationalbcc.org

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
http://www.ushcc.com/

Asian American Business Development Center
http://www.aabdc.com

National Minority Business Council
http://www.nmbc.org/

Numerous Caribbean and General Chamber of Commerce Links
http://www.c-caa.org/conn.html

Women Organizations

The Give ‘N Take Network
http://www.giventakenetwork.org

National Association for Female Executives
http://www.nafe.com

National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment
http://www.nabfeme.org

Women’s Venture Fund
http://www.womensventurefund.org/

National Association of Women Business Owners
http://nawbo.org/

Dig a little deeper and understand what drives you by adding Jack of All Trades, Master of None? to your personal library. Also SIGN UP for the special one-on-one 8 week course based on the book. Get affordable personalized coaching from Simone Kelly-Brown to help you streamline your business and get focused! Go here for more: www.gotstohaveit.com/8weekcourse.html BECOME A GTHI AFFILIATE AND EARN CASH! Get paid by spreading the word about Simone Kelly-Brown's New Book, Jack of All Trades, Master of None? Become an Affiliate: http://www.gotstohaveit.com/affiliate.html

RSVP TODAY!

Give ‘N Take Network for WOMEN

Go here for DETAILS and to RSVP online: www.giventakenetwork.org/events.html

This is a new feature where we put GOTS TO HAVE IT clients in the spotlight to showcase their business and/or achievements!

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!


So...whatta ya think? Please feel free to send us your feedback on this newsletter.

If you just signed up, see what you've been missin':

(View all of our past letters by clicking here): Gots To Have It, Archives!

Where can twenty-somethings go to get real advice on issues that concern them such as: how do I find an apartment? What is life insurance, and why do I need it now? How do I meet people now that I am out of college? Twentity.com is the free bi-weekly e-zine just for twenty-somethings providing real guidance and solutions on how to make the transition from teenager to adult, and also features free and cheap events in CT, NY and NJ. Visit www.twentity.com to see what you've been missing!