ASK CHERI S HILL

For one week, millions of young people around the world have joined a growing movement of entrepreneurial adventurers, to generate new ideas and to seek better ways of doing things.  More than 75 countries are coming together for the first time to host Global Entrepreneurship Week, an initiative to inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity, inviting them to think big and to turn their ideas into reality.

I was invited to participate as a panel member for the Sierra Nevada College’s Entrepreneurship Summit in Incline Village NV on November 22, 2008.  Our topic: The Entrepreneur Within

We focused on the mindset of an entepreneur (passion, faith, team, why you are the viable investment everyone is looking for, and why it’s important to keep it simple).  I’m pretty sure I told a story that started with your guts and ended with, “Just put your big girl panties on and deal with it!”  I’m always one for being direct when it comes to offering my advice.   

Being an entrepreneur is a fascinating journey.  Sage International, Inc. is here to help you put the foundation (corporation or LLC) under your dream.  It’s so much easier when you have help and support from a team of experts because being an entrepreneur does not mean you have to go it alone.  In fact, it becomes even more important to have positive people all around you. 

The goal of Global Entrepreneurship Week is to help the next generation of entrepreneurs to find their inspiration and create the businesses and ideas that will appear in the future.  By participating, they will have access to the knowledge, skills, networks and values needed to grow innovative, sustainable enterprises that will have positive impacts on their lives and the lives of those around them.

Yahoo!  Sage is all about creating successful entrepreneurs.  A special thanks to Gary Jesch - CHOPS & Associates Live Animation and Rick Normington, Chair of the Entrepreneurship Department at Sierra Nevada College - a four year liberal arts college which sits on a beautiful campus.

I mentioned in an earlier blog that I was going to introduce Michael Gerber (author of the E-Myth) at the Sparks Chamber Business Forum.  Well, I did.  I was facilitating a round of Super Networking (which I introduced to the Chamber 2 or 3 years ago) and here comes Mr. Gerber.  White suit, bright pink tie and a white fedora.  When I wear heels I stand about 5′ 11″ and when facing Mr. Gerber he came all the way up to my boobs.  He was very nice as he shook my hand and even asked me what Sage International did.   I explained that we work with business owners from all over the country to get them properly structured and how for many years, I have been a huge proponent of his work.  He appreciated that.  He started his speech, which if you’ve never heard Michael Gerber speak, may at times shock or even offend because he is very direct, swears a lot and pretty much tells it like it is.  I guess that why I like him! No BS. 

He was about 30 minutes into his presentation and had the audience hanging on every word, when the fire alarms went off completely dousing his momentum.  People were leaving the room, but not me.  I waited it out (having been through many fire drills at the casinos which never pan out) as did many others.  When the all clear was given, he picked up right where he left off and continued to dazzle us with his brilliance.  For those of you unfamiliar with Michael Gerber, I highly recommend you check into his information/books.   Imagination was the main concept I took away.  To reinvent your business you have to have unstoppable imagination! So I challenge you to “Dream” each and every day.

I recently spoke at an event here in Reno titled: “Teaching the Teachers” which is hosted by one of my friends and favorite people, Meggin McIntosh, PhD.  She brings me in for two reasons.  The first is to demonstrate the skills necessary if you want to become a professional speaker and second, to help her attendees understand the importance of asset protection and tax reduction as they begin to build their new career (most are recently or soon to become retired school teachers, principals and administrators). 

I have a lot of fun with this group because the information I share falls into the category, “I didn’t know I needed to know that!”  I entertain, scare and educate all at the same time.  The feedback is always very positive.  The fact that I have an appointment with every one of them tells me I left them thinking about their own life and how this information if not acted upon will directly impact their ability to build a successful businesss in the future.  So that’s a good thing. 

Now allow me to toot my own horn….

“Cheri Hill is an amazing resource in an area that is typically dry in content. But today her talk was both fascinating and entertaining. I am looking forward to seeing her again.  Thank you for a terrific talk in financial education.”

“Cheri is definitely an expert in her field! She spoke directly and concisely about what we needed to know in order to set up our own business with knowledge and foresight. I was somewhat overwhelmed with what I DIDN’T know, but I think that Cheri’s business acumen would soon set that straight!

WOW! Lot’s of information - well organized, carefully explained, great examples - I already have an appointment!

Cheri is amazing. She presented complex information in an easy to understand format…and she scared the crap out of me! So, I booked an appointment with her company and bought her book. It always amazes me how much I don’t know! Cheri is an excellent addition to this class. Her information and services are invaluable.

Cheri was energizing and terrifying all at the same time. Wow! There is so much to think about and I appreciate knowing that, when I’m ready, she will be there as a resource for me. Thank you for letting us learn from your mistakes!

 

 

 

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“Thank you so much for speaking at our Mommies Mean Business meeting.  Your talk was a real eye opener full of information we all needed to hear. It’s comforting to know you’re there and can help us navigate through all of our business stages!  We will be seeing you, thanks again!” - Tracy & Meggin

I was recently invited to participate as a special guest speaker on a teleseminar for the National Association of Women Real Estate Investors (NAWREI).  Since this was not the first time I have presented, I wanted to do something different from my usual - Be Prepared. Don’t Let the World Kick You in the Assets!  I asked C.L. if I could blow the dust of one of my older presentations which is titled: The Twelve Commandments of Wildly Successful Women!  Based on the wonderful feedback I received from women all over the country, I decided  I better develop this into a full-fledged coaching program.  I have to share that it is very powerful and full of excellent information as well as the actual steps you can take to master the concepts contained in each commandment.  I’m very excited about offering something fun, wonderful and extremely beneficial for working women.   We deserve it! Look for the launch this Fall 2008.Â

Good Morning Cheri!

I hope you are having a lovely day thus far!  I wanted to write you and thank you for speaking last night.  I really enjoyed all the information you shared with us – you are a wonderful speaker and teacher.  You are one of the vital elements of what makes this town so great for entrepreneurial women.  I look forward to being so successful that I need your help in forming my own entities!! 

All my best to you,

Jackie Lynch

Waddell & Reed Financial Advisors

I was invited to speak at a new networking group here in Reno, NV for Mommies Mean Business.  It was very cozy, a great group of women, and we got to drink wine because it was held in the back of Vino 100.  As I told them, I am a much better speaker when ya’ll are drinking.  Anyway, I talked about the importance of protecting their assets while they are building their businesses and since all of them are parents, I focused a little more on the benefits of living trusts as well. 

Many of them had already formed their corporation or LLC yet they really had no understanding of why they were in either a corp or an LLC, what is required to properly maintain them, and how they are being taxed.  Of course, this was nothing new for me as I see and hear these same statements every day.  What I reminded all of them is that your CPA and more specifically your attorney is not in the business to educate.  Therefore, once set up you’re pretty much flying blind.  So where do you go for help?  Sage International, Inc. of course!  And that’s exactly the reason why I created our new SageFacilitator Program (I call it Dept. 409) to help business owners first understand what it is they have and second, which is most often the case, clean up or finish the rest of their tax reduction and asset protection strategy.  You don’t know what you don’t know.

These women work hard in every aspect of their life and helping women has become such an important part of my life.  I am passionate that they get the right information when they need it the most (and most don’t have any idea what questions they should be asking) which is in the start-up phase of growing their business.  Without help you become a statistic. 

I strongly encourage anyone not involved in a networking group to join one.  Most are dedicated to continuing education as well as building relationships.  Surrounding yourself with people experiencing what you are experiencing is invaluable because you learn from each other what to do and what to avoid which literally can mean the difference between success and failure!    

 

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