Women at work and their tips, challenges, advice, complaints, and experiences

* What’s the worst advice you’ve been given with regard to building or operating your business? How about the best advice?

I don't recall receiving any bad advice in regards to building or operating my business. The best advice I received was to start a blog to market my business. Blogs are really starting to catch on as a very good way to build traffic to your online website.

* What challenges have you overcome during your endeavor? Please describe something that impacted you financially or intellectually and how you got past it.

One of the challenges I faced was Yahoo! shutting down one of my websites because I attempted to sell a knockoff purse. My attitude at the time was, "Well, everyone else is doing it - why can't I?" It certainly impacted me financially because a good portion of my income came from the online business. I definitely have learned my lesson! I'm older and wiser now...

* What accomplishments are you most proud of during your career? Has your business or product won any awards, mentions in the press, garnered praise in reviews or by users, or helped someone overcome a challenge of their own? Tell us about it!

I feel that my biggest accomplishment was overcoming the fear of venturing off on my own and not listening to loved ones who urged me to keep working for someone else. There was also the fear of not being able to bring in a steady income, but I now realize that the Universe takes care of those who follow their true passions.

* Without spilling the beans, what is in the works for your business or product line for 2006? Where are you headed, and where do you hope to be by the end of the year? What about the coming years? Share your goals with us and tell us how you plan to achieve them.

One of my goals for my business is to be able to put all of my products on my website and produce sales solely through the website. Right now I do craft and art fairs as well as sell at the local swap meet, but by the end of the year I would like to strictly sell through my website.

* Have you worked with a mentor who has led you far? Take a moment to recognize their contribution(s) and we’ll all applaud with you!

One of my first mentors, Marilyn Jenett, helped me overcome many of the self-defeating thoughts I had about myself. Now I have a prosperity mindset and know that I'm able to make all my dreams come true. Being able to write full-time and make jewelry part-time was one of my dreams...and now I'm living it! I look to the future with a smile and enjoy every second of life!