Keep Up with Clients

I'm anxious to start using this new software online for keeping track of clients.

Yes, I've been gone

Don't ask.

New Work

This blog is primarily about creativity and entrpreneurship, but thought I 'd share some of my new projects with you. Here are test shots for notebooks and note cards in my icon series. There are about twelve designs in this series. The art will be on my website shortly.

Survey Results

I've closed my first poll!
The question that I asked was:
What is your biggest challenge as an entrpreneur?
And here are the results:
50% finances
33% time management
17% creating issues

Please be sure to take part in my new poll.
The new question is:
How do you plan the growth of your business?

Break the Ice

About two years ago, I was an extremely active member of Toastmasters International. I had discovered TM a few years earlier through a friend who is a professional speaker. I went to a meeting and thought the organization was great- a supportive group that's aim is to help you become a better public speaker. Whether you are a veteran speaker, scared to get up in public, not a native English speaker or just want to get better, TM offers fun, logical, easy steps. I found a club near my job and started going to meetings..and guess what? I became a better speaker. And unlike most things in life which take a long time to achieve, my comfort level soared in a short period of time, months. Now, I never felt I was terrible- but just lacked the opportunities to make presentations in front of groups often. But as I worked the TM program..set some basic goals and just showed up, I became very good. I gave some really wonderful speeches and became really decent at presenting on the fly..and it was fun!

Well what happened?
Well...I became pregnant with little Malcolm and all the confidence in the world couldn't make me get up to speak. I admire women who gone business as usual during their pregnancies, but I felt like Violet Beauregard from Willy Wonka-the last thing I wanted was to get in front of people, I really just wanted to hibernate for a while. So I did. I gave a few speeches but a few months into the pregnancy I called it a wrap and didn't renew my membership. A year and post maternity leave later..I still hadn't returned.

What makes doing something that you know is good for you so hard?
Finally, I had run out of excuses to not go. Many people say the hardest part is just showing up. I find that's true and I see so many of my friends caught in paralyzing circle of self doubt. One of my favorite speakers, Les Brown says if you don't know what to do, just do something ! Anything! Sometimes it is just that first step that is so hard.

Returning to the fold.
Well, I returned to TM a few weeks ago, and today I spoke for the first time in some while. My job was to evaluate a new speaker as he gave his "Ice Breaker" speech. The Ice Breaker is the first speech in a series and is just that --meant to break the ice. How apropos, I thought, because this in a sense was an ice breaker for me as well.The one wonderful thing about TM is that you can really see the potential and others and so see it in yourself. Now I feel recommitted to the program and ready to tackle my advanced speaker goals. What goal do you have, new or old, that you need to "Break the Ice" on or recommit to?

National Stationery Show

On the other side of the booth..
I've attended the National Stationery Show in the past, but being an exhibitor was a different experience. I launched my line of paper and gift products there and had a great time! You can see the collection at my website, kianicole.com.
Here are my show highlights:

• set up was a lot harder than I thought. Forgot several things, but necessity spawns creativity ..we discovered you can work wonders with safety pins (thanks Jonetta for keeping a cool head!)


• Product exhibited in the Best New Products showcase!
  


• I had a great time meeting the exhibitors around me. We all became great friends and hope to stay in touch!


• Very great feedback from visitors. I am working on line extensions, expanding my multi-cultural offerings. I will also be translating my cards into Spanish and following up with several overseas contacts.


• Met several wonderful people from our yahoo group including Micetea from Whimsicolor, Liz from Fast Snail, Road Trip Greetings and the Ripe Cards' girls -- all super nice and wonderful to meet in person.


• Got to spend some time with my two of my favorite friends, Sune and Jonetta! Highlight of my trip.
  
• Finally, happy to return to my beautiful boys and husband.


• Thanks to all my friends, family, co-workers and peers who helped to make this dream a reality!

See y'all next year!

Vision to Venture

Besides loving the name and smart look, the Vision to Venture program sponsored by Microsoft promises to be informative. The live events have passed, but the webinar will be posted this Month.

What next

So I have been working on my plans to go to the National Stationery Show as an exhibitor for more or less the last two years. And guess what the show open Sunday. That's right.. Sunday, not in 6 months or 2 months but this week. Am I freaking out. Yes. Am I ready for it to be over and done. Oh yes.
I realized about a month ago that most of my concrete future goals culminated with this show. So I have had a little (not a lot) of time to start thinking about what the heck I am going to do after this show -besides becoming independently rich and famous- which of course, should happen sometime this week :) So here's my short list:

• keep my blog up by posting every week
• reconnect with my book project and get my podcast going
• walk the International Gift Fair in August in NYC
• walk the mart in Charlotte with my friend Jonetta of Glamour Greetings in June and
• exhibit there in September
• visit Cherie, Nzingah and everybody else that I said I would see after the show.

Obviously, in the midst of all this keep my business going, increase retailers etc.

That's my short list.

National Stationery Show

I'll be exhibiting at the National Stationery Show in May!
Booth #1248
Contact me for details!

Of Shoestrings and things...

Thinking of starting a business on a shoestring budget? Here is an interesting article on financing options for small businesses.