Successful Blog

Twittering at Hollywood and Vine

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Come to SOBCon and Find Out Why You’re There

SOBCon08 Logo50

Everyone knows some folks who invest time on Twitter.

Successful business folks make conversation, relationships, alliances, and connections. What they share is witty, intelligent, and useful. They’re curious, interested, and interesting. I’ve learned about surveys, trends, and what’s important to people who’s opinion I value. I’ve also found breaking news that keeps me aware of the larger web community.

Other folks go to Twitter to be seen. They spend time like girls in the 50s waiting at the drug store at Hollywood and Vine — hoping someone will discover them.

The difference between the two groups is that the successful business folks think about why they’re there and how being there fits with their business. They go in looking at the purpose of investing their time.

The same thing happens on every social networking site I’ve seen.

How do your social networks serve your business?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Hear Muhammad Saleem speak on which social networks are right for you! Register now!

Gratitude Goes Deep

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Wow! Where to Start?

heart in the sky

Thank you to everyone who’s been keeping the story of SOBCon08 alive while I’ve been not well. Also thank you to the new clients doing new business is always a pleasure.

I’m hanging my heart over Lake Michigan for you!

Here are a few of the folks who’ve been there for us.

BTW No one seems to have told Matt that we’ll be there –> sobcon08

If you have time to help with SOBCon08, please email me at lizsun2 [at] gmail [dot] com

If you’re writing about SOBCon08, let me know, I’d like to include you in a list like this. If you already have and I’ve missed you. Dead sick doesn’t mean I’m not grateful. I’d like to thank you too. 🙂

Back to the blankets.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!

Are You Invested Enough to Succeed?

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Understanding Return on Investment

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The hardest part of building a business is the signal to noise ratio. Every second someone offers something to tilt our sails in another direction. What keeps successful business folks unwavering and always on course? Serious business folks see everything as return on investment.

Invest in a Plan

They say it takes money to make money. Not so. Some folks do it with sweat and charm. But like every well-funded business start-up, the key is that they invest wisely. They’ve thought through a plan to get from point A to point B, and that plan is no pipe dream. The plan is everything.

You need to invest to build a business.

Folks who succeed are invested — in with “both feet.” They put their time and money down, and then they make sure that they get a return. Look at Wendy.

An example: Was going to SxSW a good business decision? I made it so. I put my money down and held my feet to the fire — Mission: get that value back. I pre-arranged meetings, had a plan. Sounds basic, but I talked to plenty of folks who didn’t do that.

I got the return I planned on — more really. An investment outlook changes everything.

Starting a business is a decision, not a “let’s see.” You can’t be “half in” without being “half out.” Who wants to give their important work to someone who’s not fully committed to being there tomorrow?

Are you invested? Do you know where your business will be in three years?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!! SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Invest in Expert Models, An Actionable Plan, and the Support of a Mastermind Team! Register now!

Wendy Wouldn't Wait. Will You?

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See the Difference

Wendy Piersall and I were talking this morning. Our conversation centered around this point.

A blog is a blog. A business is a business.

A blog isn’t a business any more than a building is a company. We can work our hearts out in the name of our blogs — reading feeds, writing posts, commenting, and social networking — but without a plan, those things won’t get us what we need to pay the rent.

I like having conversations about business with Wendy because she “gets” it. She knows that a blog can make money, but a business with a future requires a plan. Once Once Wendy decided that she was going to have a business, a business is what she built.

Wendy Wouldn’t Wait. Will You?

Wendy Piersall was invested in having a business. She wouldn’t wait for someone else to show her how. She made it was her job to research and do the work that needed to be done. She didn’t wait until every star was aligned. She aligned them for herself.

“I saw it as investing.” Wendy said. “I carefully choose what would move my business forward, then I went after the resources to make those things happen.” She scrimped to find time and money. “Do it that way, put your work and money down, and I assure you, you’ll make sure that your investments pay off.”

Wendy made a plan, found the best models, put together a mastermind team for support and went about building a business. Have you paid attention to how far Wendy has come?

This is Wendy’s blog last year.

eMoms February 2007

This is Wendy’s BUSINESS now. By SOBCon08 it will have expanded further.

eMoms February 2008

Wendy wasn’t flush with cash, time, or teachers. She wasn’t waiting for the future. She was ready to make a business. It took her less than a year.

I asked her what was the most important part. She said, “A blog is not a business. Business is a serious leap. You have to be ready to take it on.”

Wendy’s formula for success is familiar — Models, Mastermind Support, and a Plan.

I’m pleased to announce

I’m speaking at SOBCon08

What are you doing to build the business of your dreams now?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!! Models, Masterminds, and an Actionable Plan — SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!
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SOBCon I’m there!

Invest One Day of Experts to Be a Winner?

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SOBCon08 I’m There!

Planning a conference is a lot like planning a wedding reception. Everyone thinks, “Oh it doesn’t matter if I RSVP.” But business is about being able to make a decision. We made our decisions. Can you make yours?

Would you invest one day of experts, models, and teamwork to build your business around your strengths, your situation, and where you want to be?

Success is a decision.

Karen at bestwellnessconsultant [@] gmail [dot]com has volunteered to help coordinate a list of roommates for those who are looking.

Southwest has come great airfares. They also require a decision.

SOBCon08: Stop the Noise, Drop the Details, DECIDE YOUR BUSINESS

SOBCon08: Business Is Decisions

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The $350 Is Going Away April 1

SOBCon08 logo

Now that the details are set and the wheels are all rolling in the same direction, I’d like to bring you into some decisions as we make them. Later, I’m planning to share how the SoBCon08 came to be as it is and the future we see it unfolding.

We need to put an April 1 end date on the $350 registration fee for the folks who came to SOBCon last year.

The reasoning is simple. We care about the event and the experience deliver. We know what made it awesome last year. We were after the best wifi, a business venue, a location downtown, reasonable hotels, and a way that we might “hang out” close enough together.

We succeeded.

As in last year, our goal for this event has never been to make uber profits, but maybe you should know that every person attending, speaker, sponsor, Terry, me, and all participants cost us $300/head in fees.

Why are we doing it?

  • We know that behind every great business are three things, great people, great tools and models, and solid decisions. Models, masterminds, and mastery is what builds dreams.
  • It’s not for the money. Truth is, though, we’re getting a fabulous deal. We’re just passing the price onto you. (A business markup would put this conference cost at $900+.)
  • We made a decision to built something better than last year and deliver it to you.

You’ve watch exactly how making decisions and getting determined has put my business on concrete. Isn’t it this the year you were going to do the same thing?

Are you up to the challenge?

Drop the Details, Decide

Planning a conference is a lot like planning a wedding reception. Everyone thinks, “Oh it doesn’t matter if I RSVP.” But business is about being able to make a decision. We made our decisions. Can you make yours?

Would you invest one day of experts, models, and teamwork to build your business around your strengths, your situation, and where you want to be?

Success is a decision.

Karen at bestwellnessconsultant [@] gmail [dot]com has volunteered to help coordinate a list of roommates for those who are looking.

Southwest has some great airfares. They also require a decision.

SOBCon08: Stop the Noise, Drop the Details, DECIDE YOUR BUSINESS

Seriously
Liz
Work with Liz!! SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!