Are you going to achieve your most important targets for the coming year?

Your answer to that question can reveal a lot about where you are on what I call “the Ladder of Commitment “, and is generally highly predictive of how far you’ll go in your pursuit of success.

Here’s a quick look at that ladder from the bottom up, along with what may be a surprising conclusion about what it really takes to reach your targets, in business and in life…

1. Helplessness

Years ago, scientists did an experiment on lab rats that involved dividing a metal cage into four sections and placing electrical current underneath each section.  When a section of the cage was filled with live current, the rat would receive a small shock if stepping into that part of the cage.  Quickly, the rat would learn to avoid that section.

Over time, each section of the cage was electrified in turn, leaving only one quadrant of the cage as a ‘safe haven’ for our experimental rat.

What happened?

Even after the electricity was shut off completely, the rat would stay in their tiny corner of the world, unwilling to even attempt to venture out into a world that it had already learned from experience would only sting you if you dared to approach it.

If you’re avoiding even setting targets (or setting them and then hiding them away so you won’t see them again until you’ve failed to achieve them by the next quarterly review), chances are you may be caught up in a bit of ‘learned helplessness’.

Fortunately, the next rung on the ladder is also the easiest way to climb…

2. Curiosity

They say that curiosity killed the cat, but it might well have saved the rat from the scientist’s experiments.

When you get curious about what it’s actually going to take to reach a target, you naturally engage a higher level of consciousness.  You begin to question everybody’s assumptions about what’s really possible, including your own.

And while curiosity doesn’t always lead to success, it inevitably leads to further exploration and the next rung on our ladder…

3. Engagement

When you engage with a target, project or goal, you call forth resources from yourself that otherwise may never have been brought to bear.  You actually become more capable and able.  Something which may have genuinely been impossible when approached from the level of helplessness is made possible by the shift in your level of focus and involvement.

To experiment with this, engage fully with a mundane task today.  Do the dishes with energy, enthusiasm, and as if they’re the most important thing in the world.  Read your child a bed time story as if it really, really mattered whether Horton saved Whoville or the Cat in the Hat came back.

You may be amazed at what a big difference such a small difference in attention and intention can make.  And at some point, you may even decide to jump up another rung on the ladder of commitment…

4. Investment

Engagement is a choice that can be made and unmade in any moment.  But once you’re invested in anything, from a mutual fund to a political campaign to a project or goal for yourself or the planet, the stakes are automatically raised.

You have something tangible to gain if your investment pays off, and in most cases something tangible to lose.  Your level of involvement is higher and it becomes increasingly unlikely that even the most difficult obstacle will turn into an excuse for giving up, walking away and going home.

However, there is still one more rung on the ladder…

5. Commitment

Commitment is that place inside ourselves that recognizes the inevitability of creating any result we are willing to put 100% of our mental and physical energy into achieving. Commitment  says “I will get there or I will die trying” – and as such it is one of the most powerful forces in the universe and one which any one of us can tap into at any moment, simply by making the decision to do so.

Somewhat surprisingly, however, I don’t generally recommend it as an effective strategy for creating sustainable personal and professional success.  To explain why, let me share a conversation which I have been assured actually took place between a top defense contractor and a 4-star general.

Despite the contractor’s assurance that a particular project would be completed on time, the general felt the contractor’s team were not 100% committed to getting the job done.

He argued that that they should remain at work and do ‘whatever it took’ to succeed, even if it meant working much longer hours, taking extra time away from home and family and putting themselves under additional personal pressure and stress.

He told the contractor that understanding personnel management was like eating bacon and eggs for breakfast.  The chicken was ‘invested’; the pig was ‘committed’.

The contractor smiled and said “well, that’s true, General – but the pig is dead and the chicken is still producing eggs.  I want my people to stay ‘invested’.

The general backed down, and the project was completed on time.

When you look to achieving your targets for the quarter or your goals for  this year, it’s useful to know that if you committed 100% to their achievement,  almost nothing could stand in your way.

But it’s even more encouraging to know that a simple investment of curiosity, engagement, and intention will draw forth everything you need to not only reach your targets now, but to approach your next target with a renewed sense of hope, possibility and well-being.

#          #            #

About the Author:

Michael Neill is an internationally renowned transformative coach and the author of the new book, Supercoach: 10 Secrets to Transform Anyone’s Life. For the past 20 years, he has been a coach, adviser, mentor, and creative spark plug to celebrities, CEOs, royalty and people who want to get more out of their lives.  He hosts a weekly talk show on HayHouseRadio.com, and his daily and weekly coaching columns can be read on his website www.genuiscatalyst.com

Related posts:

1. Rich Dad’s Success Stories: Real Life Success Stories from Real Life People Who Followed the Rich Dad Lessons (Part 2)

America has always been a beacon of entrepreneurialism because it is so deeply rooted in our history. Our country was founded and then settled by innovators willing to sacrifice old certainties for new opportunities. The people who came to America a few hundred years ago looking for a better life were risk takers in every sense.

Do not mistake being a risk taker with being reckless. Risk takers must also become risk analyzers — evaluating the pros and cons, then trusting their instincts and recognizing and seizing an opportunity to create their own businesses. We, as a nation, must regain our appetite for risk in order to embolden the hearts of our entrepreneurs.

You may have recognized common traits that bind these entrepreneurs. We don’t believe these shared traits are merely a coincidence; we think they are the keys to their success. We hope you’ll apply these traits to your own strategy for success for your future or existing business. We’ve highlighted them in every chapter throughout the book and now present them together, along with examples of their application by our entrepreneurs.

1. Trust Your Gut

Successful, independent-minded entrepreneurs know when to trust their gut. An expanding body of research from a number of fields — including economics, neurology, and cognitive psychology — confirms that intuition is a real form of knowledge. It’s a skill you can develop and strengthen — one that’s particularly valuable in the most chaotic, fluid business environments, when you must make critical, high- pressure decisions at a moment’s notice. At such times, intuition usually beats rational analysis.

Trusting your instincts also emboldens you to carry out new, untested ideas and ventures, even when nobody else believes in them. It’s about seeing the need for a product or new service and just knowing you can make it happen. You may not have the cash on hand to commission a market study or conduct a focus group, but you’re still willing to stake your reputation and money on that idea. Why? Because that’s what your gut tells you to do.

2. Buck the Conventional Wisdom

Ignore those who say, “It won’t work” or “It’s never been done that way.” Our profiled entrepreneurs succeeded in large part because they veered away from established formulas and ways of thinking. Don’t just blindly accept the so-called best practices of your industry. Look at them with a hypercritical eye. Dissect them, slice and dice them, contemplate different what-if scenarios. Challenging convention can open the door to competitive advantage.

3. Never Let Adversity or Failure Defeat You

Don’t accept the limits that others or circumstances place upon you. The ranks of successful entrepreneurs are filled with men and women who refused to stop believing in themselves, despite the derision of others or heartbreaking failures in their past. As an entrepreneur you’ll undoubtedly experience stressful moments that will test your faith, especially in the beginning when you’re still trying to establish your brand and separate from the pack. Just remember, the antidotes are persistence and resiliency.

4. Go on a Treasure Hunt and Find an Undeserved Niche

In the business world, there’s nothing more exciting than finding an underserved niche representing a lucrative market that everyone else has failed to spot and target. That’s like finding gold bullion at a crowded beach — it was there for everyone else to see, but you were the one who took notice of the golden glint in the sand. Even a huge multi-billion-dollar company can’t offer something for everyone. Look for ways to fill a niche — a road even small start-ups can take. Many niches are too small for giant corporations to consider.

5. Spot a new Trend and Pounce

Often, a shift in cultural or economic trends will create new entrepreneurial opportunities. Sometimes that shift arises from advances in technology. Many of our profiled entrepreneurs recognized emerging consumer needs and desires that signaled new market opportunities.

6. Hit ‘Em Where They Ain’t

Casey Stengel, legendary manager of the New York Yankees, loved to tell the story of baseball great “Wee Willie” Keeler, who stood at just 5′ 4”, weighed 140 pounds, and began a streak of eight seasons with two hundred or more hits. The Hall of Famer’s bat was only thirty inches. Once a sports reporter asked him how such a small guy could get so many big hits. Willie replied, “Keep your eye clear, and hit ‘em where they ain’t — that’s all.” The same holds true in the business world. Whenever possible, set your sights on areas that your competitors have neglected or ignored.

7. Just Start

If you have an idea for a business, truly believe it will succeed, and are willing to push yourself harder than you ever have before, then take the risk and just get started. If your gut is telling you this business idea is a winner, take action now. The “perfect” time for a business launch will never present itself. More often than not, waiting just gives would-be competitors the opportunity to beat you to the punch. None of the entrepreneurs we interviewed waited for a sign from heaven or until a long-forgotten aunt died and left them $300,000 in seed money. Many faced tremendous financial hurdles. Nonetheless, they saw a market opportunity and grabbed it.

8. Save Your Bucks and Get Noticed Without Expensive Advertising

If your start-up business is on a tight budget, there are plenty of ways to get customers’ attention without spending money on advertising. Get your creative juices percolating and try something different. And when an opportunity arises to expose your brand to the masses, don’t think twice — jump right in. Use your own creativity to make your company stand out in a crowd.

9. Exploit Your Competitor’s Weakness and Make It Your Strength

The sharpest entrepreneurs have a knack for viewing the world from the perspective of their customers. That quality can help identify your competitors’ vulnerabilities and shortcomings. If your number one competitor has a reputation for slow deliveries, for example, make certain your deliveries arrive in less time. Engage and listen to customers to identify such weaknesses.

10. Never Stop Reinventing Your Company

You know the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? The problem with that piece of advice is that it invites complacency — and complacency in business is like a slow leak in a tire. You may not notice the damage it’s causing until the thing is completely flat and you can’t move forward. Top-performing entrepreneurs aren’t afraid to take chances and keep expanding their product line. They’re not afraid to give their business a major overhaul now and then to keep pace with changes in the marketplace. And sometimes a complete face-lift is in order.

We hope that you will find these traits beneficial for your own entrepreneurial journey and adapt them to your own strategy for success. We hope you can apply them toward a new venture or use them in your existing business.

Believe that growth and opportunity for this nation’s economy are inevitable. Look at the world through the eyes of an entrepreneur. Use your imagination to identify market opportunities that others have overlooked. Believe in the power of your ideas and just start the pursuit of your own entrepreneurial dream. It’s up to you to reclaim the American Dream.

The above is an adapted excerpt from the book The Risk Takers: 16 Women and Men Who Built Great Businesses Share Their Entrepreneurial Strategies For Success by Renee & Don Martin. Copyright © 2010 Renee & Don Martin, authors of The Risk Takers: 16 Women and Men Who Built Great Businesses Share Their Entrepreneurial Strategies For Success

Author Bios

Don Martin, co-author of The Risk Takers: 16 Women and Men Who Built Great Businesses Share Their Entrepreneurial Strategies For Success, epitomizes the rags-to-riches entrepreneur success story. Raised in poverty in a small town in the Ohio Valley, over the next four decades he founded and built the largest privately held insurance brokerage in California: Cal-Surance. Ranked in the top fifty of insurance brokerages in the U.S., Cal-Surance generated over $200 million in annual revenue.

Renee Martin, co-author of The Risk Takers: 16 Women and Men Who Built Great Businesses Share Their Entrepreneurial Strategies For Success, was a dynamic real estate broker when she switched careers entirely, to work in community service. She became a rape counselor, a court-appointed special advocate for The Children’s Court (CASA), a director of community relations of a child abuse crisis center, and a public relations spokesperson for many community organizations. After publication of the book, she and Don coauthored, The Survival Guide for Women, she became a frequent and popular speaker at women’s seminars across the country.

The Martins also collaborated on TeamThink: Using the Sports Connection to Develop, Motivate, and Manage a Winning Business Team. They live in Palos Verdes, California.

For more information, please visit www.RiskTakersBook.com

Related posts:

1. 6 Strategies to Overcome Adversity
2. The Entrepreneurial Mindset: 8 Rules for Getting it Right
3. 11 Simple Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurship

At a time when living in America resembles a roller-coaster ride on the way down, untold numbers are living Thoreau’s “lives of quiet desperation,” without the drive or know-how to shift gears. Even though there is talk that things are turning around, 2010 is going to be tough for many. Learning how others have created bright triumphs from dark hours can be helpful and inspiring to those currently in the trenches.

Here’s an interesting article that takes a look at the lives of 10 extraordinary people who overcame great adversity in their personal or professional lives by applying winning strategies that guided them out of the darkness of near-defeat and into the light of success. David Heenan, author of the book Bright Triumphs from Dark Hours: Turning Adversity into Success (A Latitude 20 Book), pulled out six lessons demonstrated by each of these individuals and shows how others can apply them in their own professional lives.

Read the article “Strategies to Overcome Adversity”

Related posts:

1. 10 Entrepreneurial Strategies for Success
2. 10 Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Starting a Business
3. Crissy Heron: Marketing Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs

What are the first steps you need to take when starting a business?

I have outlined some crucial steps that will help guide you in the right direction.

Brainstorm ideas – What kind of business do you want to start?

This is a fun step that will help you decide what you are good at, and what you are passionate about. What gets your juices flowing? Can you picture yourself doing that for a long time? Is it something that you don’t mind working on from sun up to sun down because you enjoy doing it, this is vital to your success. Make a list of 4 things that you see yourself doing, now write down what your strengths and weaknesses are for each one. Let’s say you have an eye for fashion but you can’t design an outfit if your life depended on it, you might want to consider being a stylist instead of a designer. Write down all the areas you think you could add value for each item on your list.

Do some research- Are there businesses like yours out there? If so how well are they doing?

This is another really important step, we are very lucky to live in a time where information is at our fingertips so use the resources available to you. Look for companies who are doing what you want to do (competition is a healthy thing, so don’t be discouraged if you see a lot of people doing what you want to do. It is also an indication that there is a lot of demand for that type of product or service).

Find about 4 businesses that do what it is you are trying to do, and write down their information. Study their website, brochures, and their product or service. Write down what you think their strengths and weaknesses are, and what you would do differently. If you can, find out how they are performing financially and if they are successful.

Put a business plan together -Do you have a plan worked out?

Okay! This is one of the most boring things you will have to do, but it is essential. Jot down a quick business plan, it does not have to be elaborate (not yet anyway). This will be your road map to guide you where you need to go. Write down your business idea, and how you plan to make it a viable business. What kind of startup capital do you want to invest? What do you plan to accomplish in 6 months, 1 year, and finally 5 years. What forms do you need to make your business legal?

Test the market – Do you know if your idea will be well received?

Do NOT jump into any business without testing the market. This is important for two reasons; it let’s you know if there is a demand for your product or service, and it also helps you to see if this is a business you can actually do. If you are starting a service business, I suggest calling a couple of non profit organizations to see if you can offer your service for free. If you cannot offer your service to a non profit, put together a focus group (I would advise against using friends or family for this as their opinions tend to be biased). If you have a product, you can try to sell at a market fair or online on websites like eBay, CafePress or Etsy.

Count your dollars – How much money do you need?

Making a lot of money is an amazing side effect of doing what you love. In order to start a successful business, you don’t need a ton of money to start it. In fact, the less money you spend the [better it is for you in the long run (trust me I learned this the hard way). Some of the most successful multi million dollar companies out there were started with less than $1,000. Write down how much money you think you will need, without sending yourself to the poor house. Do NOT quit your job until you are financially able to do so, and try not to borrow money if you can help it.

Just have fun – Are you still in the game?

Okay you’ve done all the serious stuff, now it’s time to have fun (that’s assuming you still want to pursue your business idea). Get excited and look for other individuals who share the same vision as you, and network, network, network. I don’t know about you, but I do love a good party every now and then.

About the Author:

Enitan Ladipo is a serial entrepreneur who provides consulting services to women who want to launch a business. Her company the City Girl Business Club provides women with information and resources on how to start a business on a budget. Visit her site at
City Business Club

Related posts:

1. Before You Quit Your Day Job to Start a Business
2. What Inspired You to Start a Business?
3. Jenny Lefcourt: Success on the Web and Advice to Other Entrepreneurs

What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur? This is a question that every business owner wants to know, with many trying to understand if there’s some magic formula to achieving success.

This video discusses the qualities that successful entrepreneurs typically have, and these are:

• Have a clear vision of what you want to achieve.
• Be passionate with what you do.
• Identify and focus on your strengths.
• Have a strong faith in your idea, your capabilities and yourself; though your confidence should be balanced with calculated risks.
• Plan how you will achieve your vision.
• Constantly look for ways to network
• Be willing to learn.
• Have the courage to persist and persevere.
• Discipline yourself.

Related posts:

1. 10 Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurs
2. Earvin "Magic" Johnson: 32 Ways to Become a Successful Entrepreneur
3. Jenny Lefcourt: One of the Most Successful Woman Online Entrepreneur

Choosing the right home-based business is the foundation of your success. It is not an easy step, and for many, will require a lot of introspection and thinking. I’ve even met an entrepreneur who said it took him six months to identify the right business for him, after narrowing down his likes and dislikes and finding the business that will fit into what he wants.

Select the wrong business, and you’d be in a tough position. Your resources on hand may not be enough to sustain the business, and you’ll find yourself neck-deep in debt. Or you may choose a business that you did not foresee the inventory requirements, and your family room has now turned into a storage room after your garage has been filled to the brim with your products. You may also find yourself way into your head with what the business needs.

Here are 10 tips on choosing the right home-based business for you:

1. Instead of choosing the first business that comes to mind, take time to explore various options.
2. Find out what type of business appeals to you most.
3. Choose a business that will be profitable.
4. Think whether you can, and want to handle every aspect of the business.
5. Draw a layout of your intended work area to see how it will fit into its allotted space into your home.
6. Make sure the business meets high safety standards, esp. if you have children at home.
7. Check with an insurance agent to determine the kind of insurance coverage the business is going to need.
8. Ensure compliance with zoning laws and ordinances in your area.
9. Select a business whose requirements are compatible with yourself and your family.
10. Get your family members involved in the business, and have fun together working for its success.

Read the full article 10 Tips on Choosing a Home Business

Related posts:

1. 4 Tips on Choosing Your Home Business
2. Success Tips from Women Small Business Owners, Home-Based Entrepreneurs and Work at Home Moms
3. Work-Life Balance: Tips From Successful Small Business Women Entrepreneurs

December 27, 2009 – WomenHomeBusiness.com, a top-ranked small and home business success stories site, has compiled some of the best business lessons, tips and advice from the small and home-based women entrepreneurs featured on the site this year. View the PowerPoint presentation at http://www.womenhomebusiness.com/success/learning-from-small-business-women-entrepreneurs.htm

“We featured a number of wonderful and dynamic women who shared their stories of success, startup challenges and strategies from their own small businesses in WomenHomeBusiness.com,” said Isabel M. Isidro, Managing Editor. “These women may not be headliners and may be running businesses you’ve never heard of, but they have succeeded in achieving their business goals. We typically ask these women business owners the question ‘What advice can you give other women entrepreneurs’ and this PowerPoint presentation is a collection of the lessons and wisdom of these women.”

Some examples of the lessons these women entrepreneurs shared are:

Chanell Scott, founder of Guffly.com : “Start simple and get good at one thing. Once you’ve truly mastered it, don’t be afraid to try new things.”

Johnita Glover and Tracy Jackson, founders of Virtual Business Consultants, Inc. : “Our number one lesson for other women entrepreneurs is to establish and prioritize your goals. Establishing and prioritizing your goals creates destination points along your road to business success and helps you to keep focused along the way.”

Erin McKennna, Founder, BabyCakes NYC : “My advise is to stay strong and don’t lose sight of what inspired you in the first place. Don’t go to others for ideas–let it be from you. It has to be authentic.”

You can read other business success tips by checking out the PowerPoint presentation Learning From Small Business Women Entrepreneurs

About WomenHomeBusiness.com

WomenHomeBusiness.com http://www.womenhomebusiness.com presents real stories of women (and men too!) who have succeeded in their entrepreneurial ventures. The site provides resources to inspire, empower and educate small business owners, home business entrepreneurs and work at home moms. Aside from the small business success stories, the site includes summaries of books on entrepreneurship and business success as well as success tips

Contact Information:

Isabel M. Isidro
Managing Editor
WomenHomeBusiness.com http://www.womenhomebusiness.com/contact

Related posts:

1. Work-Life Balance: Tips From Successful Small Business Women Entrepreneurs
2. Balancing Work and Family: 25 Tips for Home Business Moms
3. Tips for Women Entrepreneurs on How to Use Twitter

As the year comes to a close, we’ve compiled into a PowerPoint presentation some of the very insightful business lessons, tips and advice from the small and home-based women entrepreneurs we’ve featured on WomenHomeBusiness.com. Learn from these wonderful women who shared their stories of success, startup challenges and strategies from their own small businesses.

Related posts:

1. Success Tips from Women Small Business Owners, Home-Based Entrepreneurs and Work at Home Moms
2. Small and Home Business Entrepreneurs Who Made It Big
3. Tips for Women Entrepreneurs on How to Use Twitter

On a recent visit to our library’s book sale, I bought this fascinating book “The 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People: What Scientists Have Learned and How You Can Use It” by Dr. David Niven. This gem of a book presents conclusions of scientists who have studied success in all walks of life. The author combed through various studies of success and successful people, and distilled in this book the factors that contribute to the success of an individual.

According to the book, here are some secrets of successful people:

Take small victories. Life satisfaction is 22 percent more likely for those with a steady stream of minor accomplishments than those who express interest only in major accomplishments. (Orlick 1998)

Write down the directions. People who regularly keep a journal, or some kind of written record pertaining to their aspirations, are 32 percent more likely to feel they are making progress in their lives. (Howatt 1999)

Winners are made, not born. Case study research on business executives reveals that 98 percent see their position as a result of plans and strategy amd that more than half credit their use of a successful person as an example to help define that plan. (Gordon 1998)

Use your own self-interest. Researchers find that perceived self-interest, the rewards one believes are at stake, is the most significant factor in predicting dedication and satisfaction toward work. It accounts for about 75 percent of personal motivation towards accomplishment. (Dickinson 1999)

Volunteer to feel better. Volunteers are 25 percent more satisfied with their jobs, have a better work ethic, and are more persistent in working toward long-term goals and rewards.

Tomorrow will be a better day (but how exactly). People who construct their goals in concrete terms are 50 percent more likely to feel confident they will attain their goals and 32 percent more likely to feel in control of their lives.

Win your own respect first. Researchers find that an optimistic personal outlook is more than just seeing the bright side of things. Believing in yourself actually produces increases in good health, motivation, and achievement for six in ten people.

Related posts:

1. 11 Simple Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurship
2. 11 Simple Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurship
3. 10 Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurs

Elle Decor Magazine in their November 2009 issue run a series of articles on the secrets of success of leading women in the design industry. They interviewed a number of famous business women in the field of interior design and fashion, such as Josie Natori (President and CEO of Natori Co.), interior designers Kelly Wearstler and Michelle Nussbaumer, Holly Hunt (CEO of the business that bears her name), as well as interior designer/author Charlotte Moss. All of these women have demonstrated their talents and business acumen to succeed in their respective fields.

The Q&A articles delve into their design philosophies to the most important lessons they’ve learned and what lessons can they share to other people thinking of starting in the design business. Their responses are highly instructive and can give you nuggets of wisdom to live by.

One of the questions is: What does value mean for you? All of their responses focus on the same theme — that value means delivering more than the client expected:

• Kelly Wearstler: “It means the client got more than expected.”
• Josie Natori: “It’s not about doing something just to be inexpensive. It’s about craftsmanship. Our fragrance is not only a fragrance, the bottle is a collector’s item.”
• Charlotte Moss: “If clients are prepared to spend X amount, it’s my job to use the funds so they get the most value for the money. “

With regards to the most important lesson they’ve learned from their businesses and careers, here are their responses:

• Michelle Nussbaumer: “Listen to your clients. Don’t compromise on quality … and don’t get off track.”
• Holly Hunt: “Intuition counts, don’t sell it short. You have to take risks, but some of them have to be right.”
• Josie Natori: “I have always been very clear about our vision for Natori: the East-West sensibility and the comfort, craftsmanship, and luxury of the apparel.”
• Kelly Wearstler: “Be incredibly organized and have the proper skill set. Having an eye is one thing, but you have to be able to execute.”
• Charlotte Moss: “Listening and absorbing. My job is to interpret what a client wants, and sometimes they aren’t entirely clear of the details, so you have to listen and listen carefully.”

The advice they would give to someone just starting out are:

• Josie Natori: “Your business needs a raison d’être. Be prepared  to work 24 hours a day, and be willing to take risks. And you have to love it or you won’t succeed.”
• Charlotte Moss: “Do your homework. Inform yourself on a daily basis. Study magazines. Go to museums. Attend lectures. Ignorance isn’t bliss.”
• Michelle Nussbaumer: Work for – and learn from – someone who is successful … Read.” 
• Kelly Wearstler: “Train your eye. Whether you are going to a museum or a flea market or flipping through a book, always be on the lookout for something special.”

My most favorite line is the response of Josie Natori to the question “If you could pass wisdom on to the next generation of women entrepreneurs, what would it be?”

“My biggest assets are being a woman and being Asian-American. Both of those facts make Natori what it is today. What’s really important is doing something you can relate to, something that’s personal.”

Related posts:

1. Debbie Weiner: Interior Design for Budget Conscious Families
2. Design Toscano: Successful Niche Business with its Unique Product Line
3. Qualities of a Successful Entrepreneur