Top 10 Takeaways from Spring Into Ownership 2011!

Los Angeles

From Cynthia Good, PINK CEO:

1. "In the end, it comes down to emotional selling. If your product is a service, it's about making someone's life better." Sarah Shaw

2. Beware of "shiny objects," those seemingly lucrative opportunities that will zap your focus away from your core mission.

3. "Consider angel investors." Susan Nethero

4. View the recession as an opportunity and get creative — using things like discounts to advance and streamline your business.

5. "Know your tribe." Sarah Shaw

6. If your relationship with a business partner isn't working, end it.

7. "Network and look at each other as partners, not competitors." Thelma Gutierrez

8. Quality and integrity are the keys to success.

9. "Pace yourself and stay true to your vision and who you are." Susan Nethero

10. Make sure your business plan is solid before you launch a company.

Atlanta

From Felicia Joy, moderator:

1. Always be willing to ask for what you want. If you think it's crazy, ask for it anyway.

2. Have patience; the early days require it.

3. Recessions are an opportunity to gain more market share by offering value and being aggressive while your competitors fold.

4. When you're not at the office, you're not at the office.

5. Love the hunt!

6. Trust your intuition, even when it means making tough decisions and having tough conversations.

7. Build a team!

8. Giving back to your staff and others nourishes your soul.

9. Do something in your business that you're good at.

10. Running your business with an exit strategy --- even if you're not planning to exit --- helps you run a tighter ship.

New York

From Twitter:

1. "We have to 'feed' Facebook constantly! It's a fast way to connect w/ customers." Kathleen King

2. Bonnie Marcus' stationary company grew by licensing their designs to companies like Kodak and American Greetings in response to the recession.

3. Celeste Gudas finds clients are doing more global recruiting and says technology is more important than ever.

4. "My job is what I do, not who I am." Kathleen King

5. Advice about balance: "learn to live with the dust bunnies." Bonnie Marcus

6. "Whatever you're doing, try your best to be 100 percent present." Celese Gudas

7. "You can love your business, but when you're emotionally attached, you're blind and stuck." Kathleen King

8. Celeste Gudas' secrets for retention: identify and define company culture in addition to assessing skill set when hiring.

9. Staying ahead of your customer's needs is critical.

10. "Embrace your sisters in business and push them forward!" Celeste Gudas

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