Through one of my companies, Red Carpet Strategies, I’m so proud to be associated with the launch of this brand new community for busy moms just like you.  We are building a very engaging community by sourcing some of the best mom bloggers and by creating a social media presence and “buzz marketing”.  Go to:  http://enoughtimemoms.com to find tips and strategies for living with less stress, being more organized, in short to live a happier life.

What’s the BIG Idea 2 Event?

The first BIG Idea event featured hand-selected experts who sat at the table of attendees to help flesh out solutions to their problems (aka the big idea).
This time, The Big Idea 2 is about you. If you want it, you get the stage…

The presentations are meant to “ignite” the audience on a subject, i.e. to generate awareness and to stimulate thought and action on the subjects presented.
Agenda:

6:30-7:00 pm: Reception and casual networking
7:00-8:30 pm Open mic presentations

8:30-9:00 pm casual networking

How will it work?

Step 1: Visitors, friends and business colleagues are welcome but you MUST be a member of Linked Orange County to be a presenter. Membership is FREE and takes 2 mintues. Do that first, click here to go: http://www.LinkedOC.com
Step 2: Go to the event page link and look at the bottom of the page for the online form. Give us a brief explanation (300 words or less) of your presentation subject.

Step 3: Register and attend the event. That’s it!
RSVP here: http://linkedoc.com/index/big-idea-2/

On the night of the event at approx. 7 pm, 16 presenters will be announced from the list of submissions and given 5 minutes each to step up to the mic. Unlike the Ignite events, there will be no slides, but you are welcome to bring visual aides and anything else you feel might help you.
The presentations should be designed to inspire or educate the audience on your subject of expertise. Example: to create awareness and to stimulate discussions, thought or action among attendees.
*The first 25 people to register using the discount code, “together” will receive a FREE ticket. Ready. Set. Go.
For those who don’t have fast fingers, the Linked Orange County member price will remain at $10 until Aug. 5th. After that it will continue to increase in price until the day of the event on Aug. 11th to help cover the costs.

Each weekly digest includes ways and avenues to assist you on your personal and professional daring journey: virtual and in-person events, programs, promotional opportunities… and much more.
FRANCINE SHARES
Welcome to all our new Daring Woman Success Circle Members and Subscribers this week.

BECOME A JOINT VENTURE MAESTRO
As a solo-professional or small business owner, you have very limited resources: time, money, access, connections or knowledge. So collaborating with other solo-preneurs or businesses is essential/crucial to the survival and growth of your business

But Joint Venture is a lot like Dating! Partnering is both a skill and a mindset that is master by only a few. The proof is that over 70% of alliances fail and over 50% of the marriages end in divorce.

So before you approach any potential partner and to increase your chances of success once you do, you must ask yourself these three very important questions (as you would hopefully if you were looking for a life partner):

1) What Are You Looking For?
2) What Do You Have To Offer?
3) Who Would Constitute The Right Partner for You?

Brief Answer to Question #1: First, find individuals, companies, products or services that complement your own offering and who target the same market/niche (don’t choose people who have a competing offering (product or service)

Suffice to say that the clearer you are about who you serve, what you provide … the easiest it will be for you to identify and recruit potential partners

Brief Answer to Question #2: This is extremely important because this step is often how you can tell the professionals from the amateurs. Remember that it has to be a win-win for all parties involved, especially if you need them more than they need you. You need to craft a value proposition that is compelling to the individual or organization you want to collaborate/partner with.

(The more you have to offer, the better positioned you’ll be in identifying joint venture opportunities (and the more choosy you can be)

Brief Answer to Question #3: First, go back to what you need to grow your business and determine who can offer these missing pieces or add to your current structure.

Look for individuals, companies, organizations, charities or groups that have similar goals, mission statements, or future outlook as you do

Know your strengths and limitations and find partner who complement them

Be crystal clear on what are looking to achieve – what your goals are

Think about the kind of partner you want in terms of their values, their marketing style, their reputation ….. you want to partner with someone who has a communication and marketing style that is compatible with yours.

There is a lot more at play with choosing the right partner for your business. When I consult with clients, companies or organizations, I help them identify and match potential partners against 10 Critical Success Factors.

Read last week’s article: Joint Ventures a Profitable Puzzle! http://www.thedaringwoman.com/2010/05/joint-ventures-an-effective-and-profitable-way-to-market-and-grow-your-business/

 
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A Daring Tip:  Dare to Be Funny

How often are we faced with uncomfortable situations or criticism and stand frozen in shock or find ourselves caught up in someone else’s negativity? Humor is a fabulous way to take the edge off those awkward moments of discomfort. Whether you’re at a dinner party or an annual meeting, turning someone’s sarcasm or mis-step into a humorous anectdote is a great way to be popular with everybody, from the CEO to the guy who cleans the office. Remember that your funny bone is also one way to stay healthy — it’s a great stress reliever and even helps to control chronic pain and overall good health!

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DARE to Accelerate Your Success by Joining The Daring Woman Success Circle : Even tough we’ve kept the membership in The Daring Woman Success Circle at the same very low investment of $57.00 annually, we’ve added many benefits + extra bonuses for the first Elite 100 Women to join or rejoin.

See for yourself, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised! http://www.TheDaringWoman.com/DWSuccessCircle.htm.

I would love to hear from you. Send me your thoughts, comments or input to francine@thedaring.com or leave them right here on this blog post.
My Fellow Daring Women and Friends … I appreciate you!!!.

Have a fantastic and daring week!!

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WHAT’S COMING UP?

Become a Published Author, 5 Secrets to Write YOUR Book in a Weekend!

When I ask our members, my friends, colleagues, coaching clients or focus group participants what their big dream is, 90% say: Writing a Book. I heard you, so here is it, your wishes are my command!:)

Being a published author and having a book – a big business card with YOUR name on the front cover – is a golden ticket to growing your business or propelling your career to an entirely new level. Don’t Miss this FREE CALL – the Call may be Free but the information is PRICELESS!!!

On Tuesday May 25th join Donna Kozik and me for a memorable Teleseminar!
Tuesday May 25th, 2010
5:30pm Pacific / 8:30pm Eastern

Topic: Find Out How to Write YOUR Book in a Weekend with Francine Allaire and Donna Kozik

Continue reading the blog post by clicking here http://www.thedaringwoman.com/2010/05/announcement-write-your-book-in-a-weekend/

Get the call in information here! http://tinyurl.com/28yh2b7

ARTICLE FROM DONNA

Do ‘Just One Thing’ To Get Your Book Done NOW! by Donna Kozik

Click on the link to read Donna’s article.
http://www.thedaringwoman.com/2010/05/do-%e2%80%98just-one-thing%e2%80%99-to-get-your-book-done-now/

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Oooh La La Selling: How To Attract Customers FAST!
With Kim Duke, Founder and CEO of Sales Diva

Thursday May 20th at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern

For more information or to register click here http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/classes/1984/Oooh-La-La-Selling-How-To-Attract-Customers-Fast

Enter Promo Code LWLACF to SAVE $10! (Expires 5/19/2010)

Here’s what you’ll learn in this webinar:

1. How to attract customers vs chasing them!

2. Understand the MAIN REASON why people buy (and why they don’t!)

3. How to use an inexpensive and powerful marketing tool to grow your revenues

4. 3 biggest sales mistakes that are draining your bank account

5. How to get credibility FAST (even if you’re new)

6. The WORST and BEST things to say to a prospect

7. And much more sassy and savvy Sales Diva advice!

About Kim Duke, CEO & Founder, The Sales Diva
Her extensive sales background was based in the media – 15 years working with two of Canada’s largest national television networks in sales and management.

She is a national award winning salesperson – and was the second youngest sales manager in Canada for CBC Television (Canada’s oldest network).

Now Kim is a successful entrepreneur – providing training for companies internationally. She recently was in Vegas and was one of the key conference speakers (which included Jack Canfield

PS. Kim is fantastic at what she does. I interviewed her last year as a Success Expert for The Daring Woman. Her topic : The 5 Biggest Sales Mistakes Women Make … and How to Avoid Them with Kim Duke. Her bonus gift: Special Bonus Report – Are You Ready to Be Diva-Dized? Sales Advice for Women That Doesn’t Chip, Flake or Wear Off!

To get a copy of the replay, the bonus gift from Kim and soooo much more, consider joining The Daring Woman Success Circle For more information click here: http://www.thedaringwoman.com/DWSuccessCircle.htm
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What: Creating Success from the Inside Out, How to Live Happy, Healthy and Whole Multi-Speakers Telesummit

When: In JULY – Details are being worked out and will be available to you soon. We have brought together an exciting and inspiring line up of speakers (phenomenal men and women). This telesummit will be fun, enlightening, inspiring and empowering.

Don’t miss your chance to learn from women and men just like you on How to Live Healthy, Happy and Whole!

Get on our priority list right now. http://www.thedaringwoman.com/events/reclaim-your-power/

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FEATURE DARING WOMAN SUCCESS CIRCLE MEMBER of the WEEK :

MEET ALICE GREENE.  This week I’m pleased to feature Alice Greene, Daring Woman Success Circle Member, Daring Success Expert and Founder, Feel Your Personal Best and Living your Personal Best

Alice is the founder and president of Feel Your Personal Best, a leader in healthy lifestyle coaching. She is also the author of a series of Healthy Living Guides, co-developer of the Living Free Diabetes CD program, and co-host of Living Your Personal Best radio show

To continue reading about Alice, please click here:
http://www.thedaringwoman.com/2010/05/alice-greene-daring-success-member-of-the-week/

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EXPOSURE OPPORTUNITIES

Become a Guest Blogger with The Daring Woman™

Our Guest Bloggers are women and men who want to share their knowledge and wisdom with you. Their desire is the same as mine: inspire, empower and nurture women like you in all aspects of business and life. Our guest bloggers are involved with The Daring Woman to assist me in delivering on my mission by providing content and wisdom on various topics that are of interest to you: Career, Entrepreneurship, Health and Fitness, Relationships, Family, Leisure: Travel, Fun & Entertainment, Wealth Management and Work and Life Balance, just to name a few.

I’d like to invite you to visit our website to find out about Becoming a Guest Blogger and other Exposure and Opportunities with The Daring Woman http://www.thedaringwoman.com/exposure/

Meet our Guest Bloggers: http://www.thedaringwoman.com/dw-partners/dw-contributors/

This week’s Guest Blogger is David Brock , CEO of Partners in Excellence

His blog Post: Selling is Helping and Solving, but is Sales Getting too Soft?

To read Dave’s blog post, click on the link
http://www.thedaringwoman.com/2010/05/selling-is-helping-and-solving-but-is-sales-getting-too-soft/

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GIVEAWAY WEDNESDAY
Do you offer a product/service Daring Women would love to have? Here is perfect opportunity to gain visibility for yourself by giving away your product (or service) to one lucky daring woman! Here’s how!
Starting in a couple of weeks, every Wednesday, on The Daring Woman Fan Page on Facebook, it will be Giveaway Wednesday! The lucky winner will be chosen among our Fans. (so make sure you sign up!)

You will also be given the opportunity to resell your product our The Daring Woman website. The Daring Woman will receive an affiliate commission.

Please send me your product/service giveaway idea to:
Francine@thedaring.com Subject Line: Giveaway Wednesday, include a Brief Description and a picture (JPEG format) of your product and a link to your business website or blog wherever your product is featured.

Ps. Open to everyone but Priority is given to our Daring Woman Success Circle Members.
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THE DARING WOMAN RECOMMENDS

Creating Powerful Sales Page with Ease, Authenticity, and Heart

This week, I’m proud to feature “Business Goddess’s Guide To Creating Powerful Sales Pages with Ease, Authenticity, and Heart” from Laura West, Daring Woman Success Circle Member, Daring Success Expert and President and Founder of Center for Joyful Business

Did you join in? Did you experience the incredible energy …
Laura West held an amazing teleclass recently and whether you joined in or not you have a chance to experience this incredible piece of the Business Goddess Movement!

It is Laura’s purpose to help women be more successful in their business! That’s why she works with women entrepreneurs to blend the smart business tactics with the more feminine and spiritual way of being in the world.

To continue reading this blog post http://www.thedaringwoman.com/2010/05/creating-powerful-sales-page-with-ease-authenticity-and-heart/

In a hurry and you want to sign up click here: http://bit.ly/SalesPageswithLaura

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Imagine 23 Entrepreneurs All In A CANDY Truck With Their SWEETEST Content & Programs!”

The Daring Woman™ brings you access to live experts, solutions, strategies and resources to assist you in soaring to new heights in life and business. That’s my mission and passion!

So I’m excited to share this with you. You know when you get this little tickle inside and think, “S-W-E-E-T.”

21 – (21-minute) interviews for 21 days covering the 7 stepping stones to exceptional online entrepreneurship!
Experts include Stephanie Frank, Baeth Davis, Alexis Martin Neely, Christine Kloser, Kim Castle, Melanie Benson Strick, Lisa Sasevich, Wendy Y Bailey, Renessa Boley, Shannon Cherry, Jeneth Blackert, Suzanne Falter-Barns, Lynne Klippel, Michelle PW, Mary Pat Kavanagh, Therese Skelly, Susan Harrow, Wendy Maynard, Donna Kozik, Vrinda Normand and Sharon Wilson.

Jeneth Blackert has joined 20 other businesswomen in an amazing collaboration called Pink Candy. They’ve come together on a mission. Their goal is to help speed up your business growth for female entrepreneurs around the globe.

To register click here: http://bit.ly/21experts4You

Or to continue reading this post http://www.thedaringwoman.com/2010/05/imagine-23-entrepreneurs-all-in-a-candy-truck-with-their-sweetest-content-programs/

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FACEBOOK® GUIDE FOR PARENTS
Facebook® is Your Child’s Online Playground…Are You Watching?
Sex, Drugs… Now Facebook?

Facebook® Guide for Parents, a step by step 100+ page guidebook and short videos focusing on using Facebook as another window into your children’s life, friends, attitudes and online actions. Parents will be able to Use the guidebook or follow the short and easy videos to learn quickly the how-to’s of setting up their profile, securing it with privacy settings, tips on how to handle cyber-bullies along with strategies for being on Facebook without being in their kids’ faces about it.

Parents will be surprised to learn:
o Easily overlooked privacy setting traps
o Tips on what to do to about cyber-bullying
o Dos and don’ts of interacting with your child on Facebook
o Find out how strangers see your child’s page
o Learn how joining groups and fanning pages can affect your child’s privacy

For more information or to purchase your own copy: Visit our website at: http://www.FBGuideforParents.com

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About The Daring Woman™ and The Daring Woman™ Global Alliance
For Women Who DARE to Dream Big, Live their Dreams, Passions and Indulgences, and Soar to New Level of Joy and Success in Life and Business.
The Daring Woman™ is an interactive, collaborative and global virtual learning center for enterprising women. Membership in The Daring Woman Success Circle, our accelerated learning model, teaches members how to create the lifestyle and businesses/careers of their dreams based on real world experience of seasoned experts. We offer business and life resources, solutions, partnerships and events including tools and exposure to increase your sales, visibility and expand your business reach.

Join The Daring Woman Global Alliance, our Global, Online Community, Where Women Connect, Collaborate, Share, Celebrate and Soar Together Globally. A place where women like us dare ourselves to live a limitless, daring life! Plus, the on-line model eliminates geographical boundaries, saves time and money with no travel!

Copyright © 2010, The Daring LLC.

Joint Venture Your Way to Growth and Profits

On Thursday May 13th at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern, I will be giving a 75 minutes webinar on Joint Ventures for Ladies Who Launch

For more information or to register, click here: http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/classes/2007/Joint-Venture-Your-Way-To-Growth-And-Profits

Enter Promo Code LWLGP to save $10 (Expires 5/12/2010 EST)

As a solo-professional or small business owner, you have very limited resources:  time, money, access, connections or knowledge. So collaborating with other solo-preneurs or businesses is essential/crucial to the survival and growth of your business. 

Joint Ventures can be a very effective way to exponentially grow your business so it would behoove you to learn “HOW TO” create successful and profitable partnerships because the benefits to your business can be enormous.

With the right collaborative partners you will think bigger, achieve more, grow your revenue, expand your influence, gain competitive advantage, increase customer and shareholder value and have more fun!

In this presentation you will learn:

• What Are Joint Ventures?
• Why are Joint Ventures so Important for Solo-Preneurs and Small Business Owners?
• Developing the JV Mindset
• Tangible and Intangible Benefits of Joint Ventures
• Why is Joint Venture a Lot Like Dating!
• 10 Critical Success Factors that Can Make or Brake Any Partnership
• Starting a JV Conversation can be Intimidating, How to Get Started?
• Few Joint Venture Ideas
• Elements of a JV Agreement
• Takeaways
• Action Steps

Plus you will receive a 24 page ebook as a bonus for attending:

BECOME A JOINT VENTURE MAESTRO
“JV Tips and Strategies for Solo-Preneurs, Internet Marketers
and Small Business Owners”

For more information or to register click here: http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/classes/2007/Joint-Venture-Your-Way-To-Growth-And-Profits

Hope to “See You” on the call.  I have so much to share with you!

Why Is Collaboration more relevant now than ever?

We live in what I call the New Normal!

• Rise in unemployment has given birth to a “free agent” nation of freelancers, contractors, part time employment, and the rise of entrepreneurship by choice or by force. A great resource: (http://freelancersunion.org);
• Many individuals between the ages of 40 to 65 have been displaced (people with not only a lot of expertise but also with a lot of wisdom);
• In the workplace, we need to do more with less – less funding, time, executive support or focus, and with less human resources;
• We live in a Global Marketplace – “It’s a Small World After All”. The world is no longer dominated by a handful of countries and the geographical boundaries are gone.

There are so many benefits to collaborating. So why, then, is successful collaboration so difficult to attain?

Human are tribal creatures, constantly drawing boundaries between friends and foes.

• Our society rewards individualistic efforts and encourages competitiveness;
• We are most comfortable with and have a tendency to trust people who are like ourselves (come from the same town, attended the same school, are fans of the same team….);
• We have a tendency to segregate based on race, ethnicity, age, religion, education, occupation or gender;
• In our quest to find similarities and commonalities we are often more divisive than inclusive, and the best partnerships don’t come from partnering with people who are like us.

We are surrounded by potential partners: colleagues, neighbors, friends, fellow volunteers. But powerful partnerships – the kind in which you and a collaborator regularly work together, reach goals together you never could have accomplished apart, and gain the deep satisfaction only such an alliance can bring are elusive. We are crowded in offices, airports, subways – frequently within arm’s reach of dozens of people – but often on a very lonely pursuit. Wired? Yes, Networked Yes, Collaborating? Not much.

“In fact, I would venture to say that we are more isolated now than ever before, we work from home, we’re more engaged with our tools: computer, email, Ipod, Iphone, Social Media – than we are with each other.”

According to a recent Gallup Research:

• Median number of work partnerships for an American employee is just 4
• Most disturbing statistic – for 16 % of the working population the number is 0
• 33% said that they have never had a great partnership at work.

For over two decades, Gallup has conducted exhaustive research on human nature and productivity in the workplace. They spent 5 years, interviewed thousands of people from all walks of life and with different titles, responsibility levels and positions, and crunched data from hundreds of surveys in an attempt to crack the code on collaboration and to discover what elements are crucial for two people to become a successful team (in business or in life) and came up with 8 elements for successful collaboration.  Curious on what those are? Very interesting.

To continue reading, click on link to visit my column on the Examiner.com

Collaboration isn’t the buzzword of the week.

• Our blood pressure rises and falls depending on who is nearby.
• The amount we eat depends a lot on the amount eaten by those with whom we dine.
• We laugh not so much because it is funny but because laughter is a kind of a social glue – a person is 30 times more likely to laugh when he’s with somebody than when he is alone.
• We are designed for dialogue rather than monologue.
• Isolation is bad for us – it poses dangers as serious as cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, or lack of exercise.  

• In the workplace, employees with collaborative relationships are 42 more likely to stay with their current employer compared to those with no partnerships.  
• Those who feel well-teamed are substantially more engaged at work  (or in their business) – generating higher customer scores and better safety, retention, creativity, productivity and profitability – and experience a greater level of happiness. 
• Effective Collaboration in intrinsic to how well an organization (big or small) will perform over time.
• Collaboration brings unbelievable competitive advantage to the business by encouraging the exchange of ideas and by promoting interaction. 

To continue reading this article, click on the link to visit my Column at Examiner.com