Real You Incorporated | Kaira Rouda

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 [...]

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 [...]

12 06, 2009

It is time to commence.

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:28:57+00:00June 12, 2009|celebrate, Real You Incorporated, speaker|Comments Off on It is time to commence.

This year, I have two kids achieving milestones. My 8th grader's recognition ceremony was yesterday, ending his middle school years and celebrating his move to the "big house" of high school. And my high school senior will graduate next weekend and head to Chapman University in the fall. Commencement speeches are no doubt hard to write and hard to deliver with power. There are infamous examples of famous people who delivered bombs—and famous people who delivered eloquent still oft-recited commencement addresses. To me, the point of any commencement address is to inspire those in attendance to be the best they can be—as individuals and as part of the greater community. And with that, I will share Mr. Bruce Brombacher's theme with you. Mr. Brombacher has been a middle school math teacher since 1976 and is considered the patriarch and heart of Jones Middle School. He [...]

22 05, 2009

Make radio interviews work for you.

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:46:30+00:00May 22, 2009|broadcast, radio interviews, Real You Incorporated, special guest|Comments Off on Make radio interviews work for you.

I love radio interviews! They're a blast—but only if you're prepped and ready. Here are a few things I learned while on Real You Incorporated's radio tour. • Do your homework, and get to know the station and its personalities. Learn their style, tone and audience. Are they jokesters, serious, down-to-earth? Listen to a few broadcasts. Most have a listen online feature. • Know what you'll be asked ahead of time. If you're not provided with questions, send a few to the producer. Also include your background info—bio, product, Web address—to help educate the DJs and let them tell the audience about how great your product/service is. • Ask for a copy of the interview before the broadcast begins. Some stations won't record it unless you ask. Use the interview on your site for promotion or a demo reel down the road if you're trying [...]

4 05, 2009

Get some new insight. Expand your mind.

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T01:48:10+00:00May 4, 2009|business, continuing eduation, entrepreneur, expand, family, Kindle, m2w, read, Real You Incorporated|Comments Off on Get some new insight. Expand your mind.

You are pretty conversant in what you already know, let's hope. Your industry, your hobbies, your kids, your neighborhood. Great. You should be. That's easy. But what have you done lately to expand your mind, your knowledge? How have you challenged yourself? I just attended the Marketing to Women Conference in Chicago for the second year, and I love going because I always learn new things. Because I'm outside of my typical focus on entrepreneurism and real estate, my mind gets a break and a chance to focus and expand via a different channel. Sure, marketing to women is one of my passions, but it's not often I have a chance to mingle and share information with a group of people who share that passion. It's amazingly mind-expanding. And what, you ask, did I learn? Here's just a sampling for your consideration! • Today's women [...]

9 12, 2008

Kiva.org- Helping entrepreneurs in the developing world “go for it” $25 at a time.

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:12:18+00:00December 9, 2008|entrepreneur, giving, Kiva-org, poverty, Real You Incorporated|Comments Off on Kiva.org- Helping entrepreneurs in the developing world “go for it” $25 at a time.

Recently I learned about Kiva.org, an amazing micro-lending Web site for the working poor. Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. It’s an opportunity for people like you and me to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world. These are real individuals in need of funding. Despite their current circumstances, they’ve decided to “go for it,” because they know they can—and they will. Get involved, and you will be helping a real person make strides towards economic independence. Amaka Okpara, 23, married with one child, lives in Lagos State, Nigeria, where she makes bags that she designs herself. While she is happy because the demand for her bags increases during this festive time of the year, she needs money to purchase materials. Through Kiva.org, she is requesting a loan of $1,200.00 that she plans to repay [...]

25 11, 2008

Give thanks by getting involved in a charitable pursuit.

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:12:50+00:00November 25, 2008|Barbara Fergus, charity, passions, philanthropy, Real You Incorporated, Thanksgiving|Comments Off on Give thanks by getting involved in a charitable pursuit.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we are once again reminded of the many reasons to be thankful. Even in trying economic times such as these, it’s almost always the case that we can look around and see others who are indeed less fortunate. As always, there are a myriad of ways to give back to your community, but the best way to channel your time, energy and resources is to follow your heart. In other words, identify problems in your community or the world that are important to you. So, my challenge to you is to pick three areas where your gifts could shine. Then, seek out organizations in your community that serve at least one of your chosen areas. Go to the Web site, contact the organization and start giving your time and resources in a way that demonstrates how truly thankful you are. Barbara Fergus, [...]

30 10, 2008

Which Book Won a 2008 Best Book Award?

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T02:13:44+00:00October 30, 2008|best books award, entrepreneuership, Real You Incorporated, small business|Comments Off on Which Book Won a 2008 Best Book Award?

Real You Incorporated did! The 5th Annual National Best Books Awards, sponsored by USA Book News, announced the 2008 winners, and Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs won the “Business: Entrepreneurship & Small Business” category. The book was also a finalist in the business categories of "Careers", "Management & Leadership" and "Motivational” and in "Self-Help: Motivational". I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this possible. Your support of me and the book have not gone unnoticed. It is your words, actions and inspiring stories that keep me going. So, again, thank you. It is an honor to know that my book is helping to energize women’s lives.