Thursday, September 14, 2006

Thanks for all the help!

There are so many helpful websites out there for business owners; whether you are just starting out, or looking to grow, or are a woman owned business (like mine!), or seeking networking opportunities...the list goes on and on. I have visited countless websites over the last eighteen months; from the day that I decided to give this business ownership thing a try, and just about every day since then. Many websites have been a godsend and some entertaining; some a waste of time and space (cyberspace!). I just want to give you a short list of the websites that have been of the most help and inspiration to me.

  1. First and foremost is the website "Start Up Nation" at www.startupnation.com. They have the most uncanny ability to cover the subjects that are bothering me at any given time. And, when I was trying to set up my network, they gave me personal one-on-one advice....which they probably won't appreciate me telling you. Their articles are concise, short, and interesting. And, the whole attitude of the website is so encouraging and upbeat...I love that! I feel like I am talking to a person, instead of just reading some dry, old words that were tossed into cyberspace. So, thanks to all of you at S/U Nation for sometimes being the only bright spot in a crappy day!
  2. You may be surprised at my second choice, but I am impressed with their level of customer service and the overall intelligence of the website and the staff. I enjoy the Microsoft website for small business (www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness) and have had the pleasure of attending some of their webinars, which were extremely helpful and informative. So, thanks to you, Microsoft, you big monster company, for making this little, teeny-weeny company feel important and confirming my existence!
  3. And, last but not least, I am super impressed with my software vendor, AlaMode. (www.alamode.com) Their website is aimed at those involved in real estate, but anyone would appreciate the quality of their presentations, their webinars, and especially, their superior customer service and troubleshooting staff! Only at IBM have I seen the kind of dedication, intelligence, and patience that these people present to me every day! I cannot tell you how much it has helped me in this endeavor to know that someone was on the support kiosk 24/7 to help me if all of this crashed down around me!

That's enough gushing for one day....I just wanted all of those faceless friends out there to know how much I have learned from them and how much I appreciate their efforts!

'Til next time, then...it's all good! Deb Seivers www.appraisalpros.biz

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Now we are clickin'!

Okay, now this is more like it! We are moving right along here the last couple of days.....for a while, I felt like we had fallen off the face of the earth! Maybe consumer confidence is gaining...or those who have not yet jumped on the real estate band wagon are getting their cash out now before the interest rates go any higher...I have two points to make this morning; two points that I am quite embarrassed to admit. First, I have no idea why anyone, anywhere, at any time, would read this blog. I have to confess that I believe blogging is the single most arrogant action of these modern times, especially for regular folk like me. Believing that anyone out there gives a darn about what I have to say is so ludicrous...but all of the experts say blogging can generate more traffic to your web site, which I am definitely all about right now! I am a novice business owner, I do not have my appraiser's license (I run an appraiser support company, which means we do all of the grunt work for the appraisers), I have never considered myself to be a "career" woman, I do not have my Master's degree, or a PHD, or a Doctorate, or even any special certifications....in short, I am not an expert on any subject....except maybe everyday, regular, "down in the trenches" life! So, if you are looking for a expert in "s*it that happens", you have your man (or woman, in this case!). So, point number one - I think blogging is very vain and I think my offerings to this blogging world are very minimal, but I will give it a try! Second, I have to say that I don't generally take to heart all of the advice that is available in this huge global community of bloggers. I refuse to get caught up in all of this doom and gloom, and ups and downs, and good and bad numbers (I can manipulate numbers to say whatever I would like them to say, by the way....that's creative accounting!)....if I let myself listen to every Chicken Little who insists that the sky is falling, then I lose sight of the important things that I need to do every day in order to survive in the business world. That is, make some phone calls, send out some emails, talk to my friends and neighbors....you know, make real contact with people and not just push some words into cyberspace! No anonymous, unidentified, and, for all I know, no more qualified than me person or person(s) is going to shake my faith in my own abilities, my own experiences, and my own committment. So, point number two is - I don't believe everything that I read, no matter who the author! So, all of you disheartened small business owners (and double that for starter-uppers!), take heed - keep your chin up and remember all of the reasons why you got yourself into this mess in the first place! Believe in yourself and your goals....and only listen to the bad news with half an ear. Until next time - it's all good! Deborah Seivers http://www.appraisalpros.biz