Vote by FRIDAY to Help a Woman Business Owner

You've got to be in it to win it! And, I am -- now I need YOUR vote!

Perhaps you've heard of the Chase Mission Main Street Grants for Small Business? The program will award up to 20 grants of $150,000 to help small business owners to grow their businesses.

Now, through FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, small business owners who have been in business for at least two years and have less than 100 employees can submit an application. InStep Consulting has applied, and I'd love to have your VOTE of support!

What Would a $150K Grant Mean to InStep? 

2014 is a milestone year -- I've been in business for 10 years! It's definitely been a roller-coaster ride that I couldn't imagine doing any other way. 

 

Now, it's time to think about the next 10 years. I do know they will be different -- because the business landscape has changed dramatically just in the past few years.

 

This grant would help me to do some of the strategic planning and sustainability consulting work that I offer to clients on my own business! That would mean hiring PR/marketing and business coaches; plus, I'd like to increase the bench-strength of the coaching and consulting team.

Voting is really easy! Visit the Chase Mission Main Street website:

• Click the VOTE NOW button
• Input your Facebook login
• Click VOTE!

I need at least 250 votes to be considered for a grant. Thank you for your support! Feel free to "Share Your Vote" with your social network afterwards.

Vote to Help InStep Reach More People Dealing with Stress

Have you heard about the Chase/Living Social Mission Small Business contest? Individual grants of $250,000 each will be awarded to help up to 12 lucky small business owners to grow their businesses!

InStep Consulting has applied and we'd love to have YOUR VOTE of support!


Now through June 30, small business owners who have been in business for at least 2 years and have less than 100 employees can submit an application.


What Would a $250K Grant Mean to InStep?
Currently, we offer wellness and stress management coaching and training. I'd like to develop a web/mobile application that would provide up-to-the-minute info to help people monitor their stress "triggers" and better manage how they respond to stress (like a stress "heat map").

I have a particular interest in helping those who are living with or are at risk for high blood pressure / hypertension, as it is a personal and family concern.

This grant would help us to recruit our initial technical team to successfully complete the technology planning phase for the application including: defining initial features and functionality, creating wireframes, and building an initial MVP.

Voting is really easy! Visit the Mission Small Business website: 

• Click the Login + Support button

• Input your Facebook login

• Put "InStep Consulting" in the business name search

• Click VOTE!

Thank you for your support! 

PS -- let me know if you submit an application for your business, and I'll be happy to vote for you as well (there are no vote limits!)

Get Tips to Launch Your New Business: TOMORROW in NYC

Have you considered starting your own business, or making your 'side hustle' a legitimate venture? Then, join me TOMORROW from 5:30 PM at The Entrepreneurs' Circle: Interactive Discovery Workshop Series.

If you think that entrepreneurship might be your NEW path, sign up for The Entrepreneurs' Circle. You'll hear success stories from business owners who have made it, and gain tips to avoid the isolation many entrepreneurs often feel.

The Entrepeneurs' Circle Workshop will feature four groupings that are tailored to your' stage of business development:

1. Pre-Idea
2. Initial Development
3. Development
4. Established Business

Each group will be led by a trained and specialized executive, small business or life coach. I will be there to lead participants in the Pre-Idea phase through discussion and 'laser coaching' activities to help explore the transition, identify their unique 'competent advantage' in business, and create a buzz about their upcoming new venture.

Jump out of your comfort zone and SIGN UP TODAY! Space for this event is limited due to the individualized attention being provided by the coaches.

Bring your pad, pen, paper, or laptop -- This is a working session! See YOU TOMORROW!"

Colette is Featured Expert in MOLI Small Business Center

Hope you all had a FABULOUS Memorial Day weekend! Keeping in line with my 2008-year of-Technology, I'm excited to announce that I'm now a Featured Expert on a NEW social media and commerce community -- MOLI Small Business Center.

MOLI is a free, online social community where small business owners and individuals over the age of 18 can create and manage multiple profiles from a single account to control their privacy and separate their social, business and family relationships.

The Small Business Center is a comprehensive, multimedia, interactive destination where members can network, engage in discussions, and access expert advice, resources, tools and tips on how to take their businesses to the next level. An important component of the Center is the interactive forums, where members can engage with a seasoned group of entrepreneurs and business experts. The forum that I moderate is the Life Balance community.

What's cool is that in addition to the tools and coaching services that field experts like me can offer, MOLI also has found great partners (like E-Myth) to provide resources.

The MOLI Small Business Center – Where Entrepreneurs Work, Network and Play!

Come join me in the Life Balance community!

NY BizAcademy Students Produce Handcrafted Merchandise

Here's a quick update on the BizAcademy program. We're about to begin a fantastic second week of training and hands-on experiences!

Last Thursday, each company presented their concepts and business plans to "investors" to receive seed capital for their ventures. Above are two photos I took during last Friday's Manufacturing Day.

The two companies VENE (Virtual Expressions 'n Emotions) and Capture the Moment will be selling their handcrafted candles and picture frames THIS THURSDAY, from 4:00 - 6:00 PM, at the West Side YMCA located at 5 West 63rd Street.

We hope you can join us for the BizAcademy Sales Bazaar!