| Why would a woman making a six-figure salary in | | | | 6. Give the illusion of participation. Everyone likes to |
| Silicon Valley choose to leave her high profile position | | | | feel like they are part of the decision process, so let |
| with Cisco to create a product that used no 21st | | | | them! Then do what you think you ought to do |
| Century technology? | | | | anyway. It's not necessary, and often actually a |
| Because almost thirty years of working with Silicon | | | | hindrance in a small business environment to employ |
| Valley's top technology companies can take a toll on | | | | the decision by a committee process. |
| a gal's ability to stop and see, much less smell the | | | | 7. Control timing. We often miss opportunities |
| roses! During a trip to Italy, far away from friends | | | | because we think we have to respond immediately |
| and family and immersed in a culture that lives in the | | | | to stimuli such as phone calls or emails. Just because |
| moment, I realized what I'd lost sight of. | | | | the phone is ringing or an email comes in, it doesn't |
| And that's where the idea for Adesso Albums was | | | | mean you have to react. Your day shouldn't be a |
| born. Six years later, Adesso Albums is an | | | | series of interruptions. The more you control your |
| international company with more than a million dollars | | | | distractions, the more effective you'll be. |
| in annual revenue. | | | | 8. Know what you don't know. It's inconceivable that |
| So how did I do it? | | | | you could have an in depth knowledge of every |
| 10 tips for Success in Business - Based on My | | | | aspect of your business. Acknowledge your weak |
| Personal Experience: | | | | areas and surround yourself with competent |
| 1. Embrace change. It's an inevitable part of running a | | | | resources and trusted partners and learnfrom them. |
| business. Rather than fighting it, wasting valuable time | | | | 9. Stay organized. It is critical to update, edit, add and |
| and eventually losing, you're better off anticipating, | | | | delete from your list of to-do's on a daily basis. |
| planning for, and embracing change. As a small | | | | Nothing feels better than crossing things off. And, |
| business owner you should be nimble and react | | | | with a well-maintained list for you and your team, |
| quickly in a variety of ways. If you look at change as | | | | everyone will stay on track and your chances for |
| an opportunity to grow, you will! | | | | success are enhanced. |
| 2. Use technology. Do more with less by automating | | | | 10. Plan for success. Formalize your processes as you |
| routine processes with web-based applications. These | | | | go. Plan for and build infrastructure ahead of your |
| applications increase productivity and free you, your | | | | growth. So when your growth spurt comes, you're |
| staff and your resources to focus on more important | | | | ready for it. And don't forget to celebrate your |
| tasks. And, these applications can be accessed from | | | | successes along the way. Stop and pat yourself and |
| anywhere | | | | your team on the back as milestones are achieved. |
| 3. Keep your eye on the ball. It's easy to get caught | | | | Following these ten tips not only helped me grow |
| up in the day-to-day minutia of running a business. | | | | Adesso Albums to over a million dollars in annual |
| Constantly ask yourself if your daily activities get you | | | | revenue last year, it also helped me reach tens of |
| closer to your overall goals for the company. It will | | | | thousands of people and help them live in the |
| keep you on track and stop you from spending time | | | | moment. Everyday we get cards, letters, emails, |
| on the wrong things. | | | | pictures and even videos from our customers telling |
| 4. Know your differentiators. Compare your products | | | | us how Adesso Albums have touched their lives - |
| and services to the real, as well as the perceived | | | | and in so many ways - both personally and from a |
| competition. A competing concept can be even more | | | | business perspective. From the couple who just got |
| threatening than an actual product. Unless you have | | | | married and looked at their original instant photo |
| thought about what differentiates your product or | | | | guest book every day of their honeymoon to the |
| service from everything that's out there, your | | | | military family who used an album to chronicle what |
| marketing efforts will fall short. | | | | happened while the dad was on tour for a year, to |
| 5. Lead by example. Peers and subordinates alike will | | | | our international distributors who each used the |
| learn from your example. They "listen" with their | | | | albums at their weddings and have since quit their |
| eyes more than with their ears. Your actions mean | | | | day jobs to sell Adesso Albums in their part of the |
| more than what you say to them. Make sure your | | | | world - its' all very humbling. With a good idea, a little |
| processes and actions both inside and outside the | | | | luck and my ten tips, you are well on your way to |
| office are things you want emulated. | | | | success too! |