November 2007 Archives

Wishing you a very happy, healthy and safe holiday weekend!

Last week I had the priviledge of serving as moderator for the success story panels at the "Small Business Speed Coaching Test Drive" event held at the Walt Disney World Swan here in Orlando.

Hosted by SCORE and American Express Open, the event was part of a multi-city seminar tour designed to support small business growth and trigger success through complimentary educational and mentorship programs.

SCORE is an incredible resource for anyone looking to start or grow their own business. The organization has 389 chapters nationwide so there's probably an office somewhere near you.

It was motivating to hear the small business owners on the success story panels. They truly were inspirational as they talked about the challenges they faced in launching and/or growing their businesses and shared some of the struggles they overcame to reach the level of success they have.

Although each success story was different, there were some common characteristics. In their quest for success, each showed:

- dedication;
- perseverance;
- the willingness to take risks; and
- a fundamental belief in themselves and their ability to make it happen.

It's not surprising. These are all common traits found in entrepreneurs. It's in our blood.

The “Small Business Speed Coaching Test Drive” series offers small business owners exclusive, 30-minute, one-on-one evaluation sessions with experienced business coaches from SCORE, and interactive workshops focused on areas that directly affect small business growth, including strategic business planning, effective marketing and business finances.