ASK CHERI S HILL

I read this great article by Jay Goltz the other day and right at the beginning was this profound statement about the three stages every business goes through: Start up, throw up and grow up.  I agree with Jay that with the current economy it’s as bad as I’ve ever seen it and because I talk to so many business owners around the country every day, it appears that many of us right now are experiencing stage two: THROW UP! 

Stress levels are high, cash flow is low and the anticipation of what may collapse (besides ourselves) each day has certainly played a key role in the direction of this country.  I don’t know about you but I am working harder than I have worked in a very long time. 

The one saving grace about Sage International, Inc.  is that we happen to offer products and services that tie beautifully into the current economic crunch because as more people lose their jobs, the more they start to think about starting their own business.  And the fact, that we form corporations and LLCs in all 50 states allows us to reach out and help so many people from all over the nation who get to enjoy the start up stage!

The other day I wrote in giant black letters across my entire whiteboard the word BREATHE.   Breathe in deep and slow from your belly, not your chest and hold it, then slowly let it out.  It works beautifully to calm the nerves, regain focus and control and to just stop for a moment and allow yourself the pleasure of sitting still for one moment.

If that doesn’t work…just grab the pepto bismol!

Here in the State of Nevada we have a long history of some pretty amazing women - pioneers who were forced to settle in parts of Nevada that honestly, I find it shocking that rocks survive.  I mean in the middle of nowhere with absolutely nothing but vast space, heavy winds and lots of snow in the winter.  Yet, they survived it all and many managed to get an education and raise children.  You have to admire their tenacity, shear will and strength to endure such conditions.  (If you ever have the opportunity to visit the ghost town of Bodie, CA - go and you will see exactly what I’m talking about.)

Has much changed today?  Maybe the walls in our house are thicker and we don’t have to bring our groceries home on a donkey, but I still feel like one of those pioneering women.  Any woman who owns her own business knows exactly what I’m talking about.  The ups, the downs, the joys, the tears, the fun, the struggles.  I consider myself one of today’s pioneering women, blazing a unique trail of financial education designed to enlighten so many.  I hope one day in the future, successive generations of women will look back at what so many of us (fabulous women from all around the world) have accomplished both personally and professionally, and in turn admire us for our courage, strength and tenacity to move this planet forward into better conditions.  We all leave an imprint and I strongly believe it has to be even that much better for those who will follow in our tracks.  Celebrate Women’s History Month by celebrating all of the wonderful women in your life!