entrepreneurs | Kaira Rouda

30 01, 2011

Real You: The social media allure

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:15:22+00:00January 30, 2011|entrepreneurs, passions|Comments Off on Real You: The social media allure

I'll admit it. I'm hooked on Twitter and Facebook. And I'm there, almost too often. But in my defense, I love it out there. Yesterday, I discovered the Women Entrepreneur Festival taking place in New York and on the hashtag #wefestival. Following the tweets, I was almost in the room. It was so inspiring. Meanwhile, on Facebook, I watch my high school and college friends' children grow, share in their accomplishments and meet new friends with shared interests - from all over the world. I've also started my first ever fan page and it's almost silly how joyful I become when another person "Like"s my Kaira Rouda Books page. (Sally Fields, anyone?) I've found folks to be either all in or completely disdainful when it comes to social media. And what I will say, to those who remain in disdain, try LinkedIn. It's like sticking [...]

11 08, 2009

Just survived a snark attack!

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:21:41+00:00August 11, 2009|entrepreneurs, Real You Incorporated, snarks, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Just survived a snark attack!

If you've read my book, you know I'm fond of labeling snarks as the folks who try to inflict harm on the Real You as you strike out to step into your power and grab your entrepreneurial dreams. And unfortunately, it's almost always the case that the more successful you become, the more yourself you become, the more you stir up the snarks. That's why I've created a microsite called Snark Infested Waters for you to rate snarks and tell your story of survival. Because it's also true that with each set-back, with each snark attack you do become stronger. (I know, it still hurst while it's happening, and you may need time to heal.) So which snark attacked me today? Was it a Con-Artist Snark, Bubble-Bursting Snark, Sexist Snark? I'm not telling, suffice it to say it was enough of an attack for me [...]

7 08, 2009

Real You: The Movie!

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:24:48+00:00August 7, 2009|business, entrepreneurs, passions, Uncategorized, women in business|Comments Off on Real You: The Movie!

It’s been a summer of inspiration—speaking with women all over the country about how to put—and keep—the Real You in your business and your life. It made me realize certain themes pop up, no matter the audience, and those themes are the ones I want to share with you in The Real You Movie. Grab your power, and shine! If you like the movie, please pass it on!

20 07, 2009

Real You: Take a Hiring Hint from Apple

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:26:14+00:00July 20, 2009|business, entrepreneurs, hiring|Comments Off on Real You: Take a Hiring Hint from Apple

Have you ever met someone that had a spark? A stranger or acquaintance you instantly connected with and thought, that person is going places. Or maybe she was a great salesperson who went above and beyond to make your visit complete. You know, the kind of person that makes you want to visit again and again and tell your friends about the outstanding experience. Recruit those people! They’re special. They’re driven. They’re unique, and they might just make the perfect addition to your team. You could begin the conversation by asking how they enjoy doing x. Or maybe you say, “You are a fantastic salesperson. Have you ever thought about the X industry?” One of my favorite brands, Apple, approaches these rising stars with “enticement” cards that display their logo with these words: “You’re amazing. We should talk.” The back goes on to tell the [...]

17 07, 2009

Real You: Take the Leap

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:26:19+00:00July 17, 2009|business, entrepreneurs, passions, women, women in business|Comments Off on Real You: Take the Leap

"If you're never scared or embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take any chances."-Julia Sorel (Rosalyn Drexler), See How She Runs, 1978 You know the feeling. For me, it's sweaty palms. For you it may be a racing heart, or butterflies in the stomach—all those tell-tale signs that you're uncomfortable. Your body is triggering the flight sensors, and you're going to go along with it. But then you take a deep breath, maybe have a little cry or call a friend, and realize this leap out of your comfort zone is what will propel you forward, get you to the next big thing. You realize that without the uneasy feeling of the unknown, it's easy to be stuck in the familiar and known. To grow a business, and for that matter, to grow a life, you need to keep pushing. To keep growing and [...]

13 07, 2009

Real You: The passion problem

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:26:34+00:00July 13, 2009|entrepreneurs|Comments Off on Real You: The passion problem

Yep, it's true. It's tough out there. The economy is forcing layoffs, businesses aren't hiring. More people than ever are out of work. But what about the people who are still employed. Are they grateful? Happy even? It turns out, more than half aren't. According to an Adecco North America survey, 54 percent of employed Americans say they will look for a new job once the recession ends. Among 18 to 29 year olds, the number jumps to 71 percent. Almost 3/4ths of the under 30 crowd will leap at the chance to leave you once the recovery begins. This is a problem. It's a passion problem. If you're the leader of a team with these folks working for you, how are you going to rev up the passion? How will you build a culture that makes your team want to be there when times get [...]

10 07, 2009

Entrepreneurship: The Road to Independence

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:26:40+00:00July 10, 2009|business, entrepreneurs, passions|Comments Off on Entrepreneurship: The Road to Independence

What is independence? To me, it's entrepreneurship. It's the ability to do what I love, when I want, with whom I want. It's the new American dream. Women everywhere are making it happen, and you can, too! Here are my top five reasons you should take the leap. 1. Independence. I love this quote from an anonymous high school student: "Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won't, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can't." I couldn't have said it better. 2. Creative Reign. This is your chance to express your brand. To connect. To reach out. To give your customers just what they need, wrapped in a package that's uniquely you. 3. Passion. Create your own fireworks by doing what you love. Pursing your passions makes your heart happy. I promise! 4. [...]

6 07, 2009

How Women-Owned Businesses are Surviving the Recession

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:26:54+00:00July 6, 2009|business, entrepreneurs, Real You Incorporated, women, women in business|Comments Off on How Women-Owned Businesses are Surviving the Recession

Women are starting businesses at rapid rates and thriving, despite the economic downturn. According to a recent study conducted by Florida International University’s Center for Leadership and The Commonwealth Institute of South Florida, women-owned businesses are doing better in the recession than most. Key Factors: Women traditionally take on less debt and thus have more flexibility during tough times. Women also try to strategize and reach out instead of jumping to cost-cutting measures. This is exactly the route Rachel Sapoznik, CEO of Sapoznik Insurance, took to grow her business without eliminating staff. See the full story on how Sapoznik’s and other women business owners’ determination and networking led to success in hard times. Looking for recession proofing tips? Sign up for my tip of the week or follow me on Twitter!

1 07, 2009

Kindle Lovers… This is for you!

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:27:31+00:00July 1, 2009|business, entrepreneurs, Kindle, Real You Incorporated, Uncategorized, women in business|Comments Off on Kindle Lovers… This is for you!

Amazon’s Kindle allows you to download and read thousands of books, newspapers, magazines and now blogs. This is great news for people like me, who read multiple blogs daily. There are tons of blogs listed in categories ranging from arts and entertainment to business and investing to travel, lifestyle, culture and more. And as of today, the Real You Incorporated blog is also available on Kindle blogs! Other blogs available for download include: The New York Times- Latest News, Huffington Post, The Onion, Seth’s Blog (Seth Godin) and Vanity Fair’s VF Daily Blog, among others. Blogs downloaded via Kindle blogs provide you with full text content and images and are updated wirelessly throughout the day. To learn more, visit Amazon.com and download your Real You Incorporated Kindle blog!

26 06, 2009

Questions to Ask when Beginning a New Job

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:27:52+00:00June 26, 2009|business, entrepreneurs, job descriptions, jobs, learn, mentors, motivation, moving on, new job, positive thinking, Real You Incorporated, smile, speaker, women in business|Comments Off on Questions to Ask when Beginning a New Job

If you’ve earned a new position, congrats! When beginning a new job, it’s important to feel comfortable with the company and your new boss and team. During your first couple of days on the job, ask some of the following questions to help focus your work and set goals. • What are the top priorities for the company and our team? This question is vital to your success. If you think their priorities are XZY but they are really ABC, all of your work may be in vain. Also, ask which projects take top priority. You need to learn to budget your time. • How do you prefer to communicate and approve projects? Establishing a strong communication pattern with your boss will save you endless headaches and wasted time. If your supervisor is not one for interruptions, they may get upset if you keep dropping [...]