Complimentary Workshop  being offered in Smyrna, GA

Bonnie Ross-Parker will facilitate a free business workshop at Brawner Hall, Smyrna, GA. Her content rich presentations and interactive workshops provide strategies that are practical and easy to implement.

A complimentary business workshop titled “Are YOU a Savvy Networker” will be offered to business owners on Thursday, May 9. The workshop will be hosted by the City of Smyrna and Bonnie Ross-Parker of The Joy of Connecting. The business workshop will be held at Brawner Hall (3180 Atlanta Rd). The program is for the startup entrepreneur and experienced professional alike. Bonnie Ross-Parker, the founder and CEO of The Joy of Connecting, will facilitate the session.

Check-in and networking begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by an interactive workshop from 10:30-11:45 a.m.. You may register here or call 678-631-5419 by May 7. 

Networking is widely regarded as important for establishing relationships and generating leads. Despite its advantages, networking is still a challenge for many people. In this event, participants will be exposed to a variety of techniques that can bring intentionality and effectiveness to your networking efforts. Whether you are promoting your business, yourself, or a great cause, this workshop can help.

Many of us have a love/hate relationship with change.  We would like  things to get better, however, we do not embrace change easily.  I realized after the 10th anniversary of The Joy of Connecting,  it was time for a change.  Call it a face lift.  Call it a renaissance.  Identify it as ‘keeping up with the times.’ 

Change is coming to JOC Spring 2013

However I decided to describe it, I was willing to face major changes.  Would those familiar with my brand accept an updated version?  Would I fall in love with the new model having raised the previous one?  Would the input, focus groups and feedback I had requested guide me toward the direction I needed to go?  For me, this represented a huge decision.  As I did my research, collaborated with others and ultimately approved major changes, I became empowered.  The shift in my energy was dramatic.  My enthusiasm expanded.  I found myself in the throws of creativity and anticipation.  I wonder if you can identify with this process.  Perhaps you also recognize you have to make changes in business or, perhaps, in your personal life.  You are standing on the edge of a decision and wonder if leaving the security of the known is worth the insecurity of the unknown. I get it.  We all endure change.  Some changes are of our own choosing.  Some changes are out of our control.  Just know that everything is changing every day. 

Subtle though it may be, we are all facing change.  Having been through this experience, it is my belief that creating change and embracing the growth and opportunities that follow are  filled with possibilities.  How will you know what possibilities lay ahead  if you are unwilling to risk being open minded to change because you are  stuck?  Curious about the changes to our program?  Visit www.TheJOYofConnecting.com on April 15th.  I’m confident you’ll share my enthusiasm.

Women entrepreneurs are to be admired. They will forge ahead even under circumstances that would discourage the faint of heart.  There are lots of success tips and pieces of advice available for the female entrepreneur, provided by women who have been there and who know. Here are just seven tips for entrepreneurial success:

Bonnie Ross-Parker shares 7 tips for success.

 1. Be Passionate. Your entrepreneurial endeavor is going to take up a lot of your time and energy. If it is not something you are passionate about, a cause or a talent that sets you on fire with excitement, you will soon find yourself exhausted and unwilling to continue.

 2. Don’t Just Plan Ahead, Plan It All. This means get your systems in order. Your life is about to be busy and you better be prepared. Get your organizational system, your time management system, your financial system, and for gosh sakes, your childcare system if you need it, in place before you start. Plan for the next half hour, the next hour, the next month, and the next year.

 3. Get Sited. This means get on the internet. Even if you don’t have a selling function over the internet, you at least better have an up-to-date informational website. This is the number one way that today’s customer finds businesses. Be there when they look.

 4. Keep Track Of Expenditures . Financial management is key. What goes in, what goes out, who gets what, how much for what, and what are you going to tell the bank when you want a loan. Have it categorized, tracked, and ready for someone to review when that funding opportunity arises.

 5. Get Support. As in mentors, advisors, friends, all those who help with expert advice or emotional props. Any woman entrepreneur will tell you, with a sigh, of the hard work and hard knocks that they’ve encountered throughout their entrepreneurial career. In the next breath, they will tell you what they’ve learned to do right. Women love to share success tips. You will need guidance as you begin this new endeavor. Find the people that you can rely on. And by the way, mentors, advisors, and friends don’t necessarily need to be only women.

 6. Finance Thyself. You can look for the angel investor or the venture financing, but to be brutally honest, it isn’t out there for the woman entrepreneur. Only 10% of angel investing goes to women-owned start-ups. Most women starting their own business look to themselves, their spouses, or their families for initial start-up financing. This type of financing is called “bootstrapping” your business and is often a source of pride for many entrepreneurs. Self-investing keeps the financial controls in your hands. You put in all the money, you get all the proceeds.

 7. Trust Yourself & The Process. You are fighting the good fight. You have a cause or product you believe in, are passionate about. You have a supportive group of individuals that want to see you succeed. You’ve built a reliable business network, organizational structure, and business plan. But you will have setbacks. Don’t despair. Have faith in yourself and your business.

And, while not on the list, consider positioning yourself in your community as a leader, facilitator for the growth of other entrepreneurs and for your own success.  Become part of an established brand of marketing.  Go to: www.TheJOYofConnecting.com to learn more.  Click on “Become A JOC Leader” to get details. 

Introductions; have you ever stopped to consider the power you have when you make introductions?  I often remind others to introduce people they know to people they need to meet.

Bonnie Ross-Parker facilitating relationships at the Pro-Networker Event. You simply never know where an introduction will lead!

Have you ever stopped to consider the power you have when you make introductions?  The reverse is also valuable.   Introduce people you meet to people they need to know.  You simply never know where an introduction will lead!  You have no way of knowing who YOU’LL meet and the difference that individual will make in YOUR life.  You never know who will meet YOU and the difference you can make in that person’s life. 

 A valuable part of one’s personal and professional growth is to recognize the power you have that can significantly affect individuals you meet along the way.  Learn to share your resources, your knowledge and your connections.  Not only will these efforts produce results for others – you’ll benefit from the reward that comes from being a person who cares about others. 

Want to grow your network?  Be a connector.  Click here to see how to facilitate relationships and make introductions.

JOC Participant | Supporter | #JOC Blog

Recently, I was a participant at a JOC get together. Bonnie Ross-Parker, the CEO and Founder of JOC has a sales and marketing skill, I can only envy. She is so
full of energy and enthusiasm that it spills over into the hearts and minds of everyone she touches. The women who were in attendance took the energy that
Bonnie shares, the knowledge she imparts, and the forum she provides and use it to successfully promote their business endeavors. Bonnie is serious in her
support of small business and any woman who is serious about owning her own business, needs to join JOC and enjoy the mentorship that only Bonnie
Ross-Parker and members of JOC can provide.

Diane Bogino, President,
Performance Strategies, Inc. and Editor and Senior Interviewer GBDN.tv – April, 2012 Atlanta GA

To write a testimonial, please click testimonial.

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Speak of What You Want

There are two ways to address expectations. The first is what we expect from others. The second are the expectations we place on ourselves. Throughout my life’s journey I have discovered when ever I place my expectations on others, I am frequently disappointed. I wonder why I didn’t receive a thank you note, why someone didn’t reciprocate for something I did, or I question someone’s lack of appreciation after giving of myself on their behalf. When I operate from a place of expectation, I set myself up for disappointment. Every time I repeat the pattern I get the same result. Perhaps, there is a lesson I’m overlooking.

If, on the other hand, I hold myself accountable for the expectations I place on myself, I take full responsibility for my actions. It doesn’t matter if others are noticing. Setting high standards makes every day worth the continuous effort. By committing to constant and never ending improvement, I increase my self-worth, my self-esteem, and my self-confidence. I become my own best example of what is possible!

Our limitations and success are based for the most part, on the expectations we place upon ourselves. What we focus on manifests in our lives. In other words, what we confidently expect becomes our own selffulfilling prophecy. The only way you can accomplish anything is to believe in yourself and your abilities. In order to win, you must expect to win; your actions in life produce abundance in life. When you look for results from any where outside of yourself, you are setting yourself up to be let down. You are the primary cause for your results. The choices you make, in effect, produce the outcome.

Martial Artist, Bruce Lee, said of expectations, “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.” What a relief to live life knowing that the only person for whom we are responsible is our self! I have to constantly remind myself that I do what I do, not because of what I expect from others, but rather, because I set my own standard of expectation. I expect to give and play all out. I expect positive results to happen because of my effort. We advance in our journey to the degree that we accomplish the goals we set for ourselves. Our reward comes from within ~ a job done well, or an obstacle you’ve overcome. Be a master of your own expectations and you’ll be too busy to wonder whether anyone is noticing. Surprises generally happen when you least expect them. Someone will recognize and acknowledge your accomplishment.

Being an entrepreneur in today’s economy is a wonderful opportunity to share your talents IF you have what it takes to be successful! What is it about the successful entrepreneur that is integral to that success? Do women entrepreneurs have common traits that help with success? Is it luck? Is it their product/service? Or, is it something characteristic about her that means she would likely be successful at anything she attempted?

The woman entrepreneur will likely need some luck, but it is her drive, faith, energy and vision that will propel her to reach her goal(s). Here are a few common traits of the successful female entrepreneur. And while there are likely others, possessing these are certainly indicators that your chance of success is significantly increased.

1. Drive. Failure is not an option for the committed entrepreneur. Bumps in the road will not set her back, but will steel her resolve. She is on a mission and knows she will get to her goal.

2. Vision. The female entrepreneur is a big-picture person. She can see her successful business, what it looks like with all of its components. She can see her product on the shelves, her services in action. She is not only not afraid to dream big, but views her daydreams as achievable.

3. Autonomy. This woman likes to be in control and isn’t afraid to make decisions by herself. She is comfortable with being alone and has confidence in her intelligence. She is a take-charge person. This woman doesn’t wait for someone else to act and doesn’t second guess her choices.

4. Intuitive. The woman entrepreneur trusts her instincts about her product or service, the market and her business management skills. She uses her instinct as well as her research and her knowledge to guide her business decisions. She knows that her instincts will be what sets her apart from her competitors and will ultimately lead to her success.

5. Distinctive. People remember this woman. She is distinctive. Her product or service is distinctive and her company is a stand alone. There is nothing ordinary here.

6. Planner. This woman not only devises and puts down on paper her business plan, she follows it. She doesn’t lose sight of her goals or methods for reaching her goals. When she reaches a fork in the road, she might explore the alternate route and add it to her business plan. However, she never forgets her vision. Her business plan is the written version of the vision she sees in her mind.

7. Risk-taker. Starting a business isn’t the first time this woman has thrown the dice. She isn’t afraid to bet everything on herself. She has been known to jump before.

Grounded entrepreneurs are a rare breed. Those men and women who can truly create and lead their own original business are a combination of visionary and realist. For the true female entrepreneur, the stakes may be high and the odds may be long, but there is no other option for her.

Do these statements sound familiar?

“I meant to call you.”
“I intended to finish the project before the weekend.”
“I’m sorry I forgot your birthday.”
“I had every intention of being on time.”
“I’ve been wanting to take a class, write a book, or volunteer.”

The truth is we are all well- meaning. The reality is even the most sincere intention has no value without action. The world is full of dreamers. It lacks doers. Intentions are a barometer of what is possible. Actions are putting your intentions in motion. Action, not intention, creates results. The expression, “Action speaks louder than words” is familiar to all of us because it’s true. Telling me you’re going to do something and not carrying it out is intention; it is not action. We measure someone’s character not by what they say, but rather by what they do.

This is part of the series “Personally Speaking: Volume 1” to purchase the entire series click here.

You are the best! It”s time to believe that of yourself.

When was the last time you told yourself how terrific you are? When did you last honor your competence, beauty, intelligence and strengths? If you”re like most of us, you”re quick to point out something you did that was “stupid” but when it comes to acknowledging yourself for all your incredible qualities you hesitate. Why? Continue Reading »