entrepreneurs | Kaira Rouda

25 06, 2009

Here’s the Story of a Lovely Lady…

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:28:10+00:00June 25, 2009|business, entrepreneurs, Real You Incorporated, speaker, women, women in business|Comments Off on Here’s the Story of a Lovely Lady…

…who was bringing up three very lovely girls. For many years Carol Brady was a classic American female icon and many women could and still can relate to her. But while many of us cannot afford to hire our very own housekeeper named Alice, you can now visit Alice.com! For all you multi-tasking moms and busy entrepreneurs out there, there is a new site to help you save time and money. Eliminating the middleman, Alice.com allows you to shop directly from the manufacturer to help cut down costs. Other money and time saving features include free shipping (and fuel savings because you don’t have to drive to the store), price comparison charts and coupon clipping with discounts taken off automatically at the checkout. Alice.com also keeps track of what products you buy and sends you reminders when its time to restock. You are also able [...]

24 06, 2009

Help Save Ohio Libraries

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:28:15+00:00June 24, 2009|business, entrepreneurs, passions, Real You Incorporated, Rouda|Comments Off on Help Save Ohio Libraries

As a book lover and author, this news of library funding cuts breaks my heart, but we can all do our part to save Ohio libraries! What’s happening: On June 19, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland proposed a budget cut that would reduce state funding for public libraries by $227.3 million in 2010 and 2011 fiscal years. This reduction would cut Ohio’s public libraries funding 30 percent in addition to the 20 percent cut due to the decline of the state’s General Revenue Fund. A total 50 percent cut in funding. What it means: As a result, branches may close, hours of operation will be reduced, new book and material orders will be halted and other vital summer reading programs and services would end. With the economic hardships that thousands of Ohioans are facing, trips to the library have provided some relief for families, and I [...]

23 06, 2009

Personal Recommendations Beat Out Online Sources

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:28:20+00:00June 23, 2009|authors, branding, entrepreneurs, Real You Incorporated, speaker, women, women in business|Comments Off on Personal Recommendations Beat Out Online Sources

As I was reading my daily marketing news, I ran across a study that found most online purchasers bought because of a personal recommendation from a friend/relative (34%), followed by spouse/partner (25%), then a blogger (5%) and a chat room (5%). Truly, this is no surprise to me. Personal, one-on-one connections are gems. These are the people you trust and depend on. If Oprah tweeted, “Acai is amazing”, but my friend Jane said, “I tried it and it’s not worth the price,” I’d go with Jane. Sorry, Oprah. If you’re out there trying to make a splash in cyberspace, get the movers and shakers talking online and off. And talk to women! Women, your most valuable consumers, are twice as likely as men to recommend a product/service to a friend. Start with a core group of “sneezers”, as Seth Godin calls them. These are influential [...]

14 05, 2009

Attending NAR Mid-Year Conference?

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:47:14+00:00May 14, 2009|entrepreneurs, Mid-Year Conference, National Association of Realtors, women's council of realtors|Comments Off on Attending NAR Mid-Year Conference?

If so, I'll see you there! I'm presenting "Putting the Real You in Your Business" tomorrow at the Women's Council of Realtors' education session at the Capital Hilton in Washington DC. I'll be focusing on branding with personality and speaking to your No. 1 customer. I love presenting to real estate folks. They're a powerful group of passionate entrepreneurs who know how to roll with the punches and stick with it in good times and bad. If you'll be a Mid-Year, please stop by my session. I'd love to meet you!

1 05, 2009

Step into the spotlight.

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:48:22+00:00May 1, 2009|business, entrepreneurs, Fear, ideas, public speaking, snarks, taking centerstage, voice coach|Comments Off on Step into the spotlight.

Here's the thing. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a corporate employee, a SAHM or a college student, the time will come—and it probably has already—when you need to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight to claim your power. This could take the form of not letting somebody else take the credit for your paper, your proposal, your cost-cutting idea. Or, it may require the actual stepping into the spotlight, on stage or at least in a large group meeting. Does that thought terrify you? It did me, for too many years in fact. My fear of public speaking (and its accompanying fear of failure, fear of not being good enough) held me back in my business and in my life in general. It forced me to thrust others into the spotlight to say my words and present my ideas, instead of taking the [...]

7 04, 2009

Building a Professional Network

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:51:59+00:00April 7, 2009|business, entrepreneurs, leadership, mentors, networking, social media, success, women|Comments Off on Building a Professional Network

We always hear that building professional networks is vital to success, but it should also be noted that your network should reach beyond family and friends. Family and friends are great, and most of us would be lost without them. They create a great support system in a wide variety of situations—including helping you fulfill your dreams. However, if you’re talking business, you really need to expand your network. Most women rely on family members as their primary network, but these individuals don’t always have access to meaningful business information—like new leads, business experts or financial advice. Your contacts should be people who will help you develop your competitive advantage. You need diversity of opinions and backgrounds, so as you build your network, try to include individuals with varying backgrounds and expertise. Ideally, it should be people who don’t work for you. That way you [...]

2 04, 2009

Mastering Phone Interviews

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:52:19+00:00April 2, 2009|entrepreneurs, interviews, marketing, promotions, reporters, small business|Comments Off on Mastering Phone Interviews

So, you’ve scored your first interview with a reporter. Woohoo! I know that feeling. It’s exhilarating the first minute; the next is filled with panic. Don’t worry. It’s time to get serious and start preparing. Do your homework. Check out the reporter. What beat do they cover? What’s their style? What companies have they covered in your industry? Nail down the key messages you want to get across. Put together your talking points. What are your three main points and supporting facts? Consider all questions you may be asked. What’s the worst-case scenario question? Make sure to do a mock interview with a teammate to help you get comfortable. Stand up during the interview. It sounds odd, and people walking by might chuckle, but it helps you get focused. You’re less likely to go off on a tangent in this power stance. Nix distractions. Shut [...]

4 03, 2009

The time is now, start your own business today!

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:53:11+00:00March 4, 2009|dreams, entrepreneurs, passions, personal brand, starting a business, women|Comments Off on The time is now, start your own business today!

It’s never too late to start your own business! Whether you are 28 or 72, if you are passionate about business, you will succeed. As the baby boomer generation grows older, it is more common to see that those approaching retiring age are not emotionally ready to do so. Every 60 seconds, a woman starts a business, and a large percentage of those women are over the age of 50. Many of these women have a productive career behind them, years of knowledge packed away and still dream of running their own business. And there are not limitations on making your dreams come true. I tell people all the time that it’s never too early or too late to create their personal brand. Everything you’ve done up to this point has prepared you for entrepreneurship, and you are uniquely qualified to make your dreams and [...]

23 02, 2009

Sometimes, staying the same is the best survival tactic.

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:07:49+00:00February 23, 2009|Chef-O-Nette, entrepreneurs, experience, tradition|Comments Off on Sometimes, staying the same is the best survival tactic.

I noticed a trend in my tips: Most of them, and many of my examples of astounding entrepreneurs, deal with folks who have revolutionized an industry, or who have kept up with the times through change and constant improvements to their business model. But what about the success stories that abound of businesses and entrepreneurs who thrive through lack of change? Through tradition and continuity? My 8th grade son and I had lunch together at one such place yesterday. The diner is called Chef-O-Nette, and it's been in business since 1955. I'd link to it, but the diner doesn't have a Web site. Now located in a recently remodeled strip shopping center, the old fashioned font of the sign is the only outward expression of a timeless interior. But as soon as you walk through the doors, the Formica counter tops, naugahyde booths, laminated, hand-lettered [...]

16 02, 2009

Is the glass ceiling still around?

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:08:27+00:00February 16, 2009|entrepreneurs, glass ceiling, salary, women in business, workforce, workplace|Comments Off on Is the glass ceiling still around?

As the advancement of women is pushing new boundaries, many are wondering if the “glass ceiling” still exists. While it’s true that women are breaking the glass ceiling in some careers far more than others, such as real estate for example, they have a long way to go in other fields. Women make up 46.5 percent of the workforce, but they represent only 12 percent of all corporate officers. Those are figures that can’t be ignored. However, according to an article on AOL, some of the professions where women are earning more than men include sales engineers, statisticians, legislators, aerospace engineers, advertising managers and more. As you probably know, many women are also turning to entrepreneurship as an alternative. By establishing their real brands, they’re learning that they can make it to the top on their own terms.