These corporations invest heavily in diversity and inclusion  because they believe a strong return will be made in their investment. They realize that the world is becoming more diverse, and the inability to attract diverse job seekers will soon become a competitive disadvantage. Also, as a practical matter, some government contracts stipulate that bidding companies meet diversity requirements. Corporations that don’t diversify their workforces disqualify themselves from billions of dollars in potential revenue.

If you are an entrepreneur, then you may not have the budget to create a Chief Diversity Officer or develop and deploy mandatory annual diversity training. However, that does not mean that you cannot improve the diversity of your organization. A methodology that has become popular in the software engineering industry can be tailored to small and mid-sized companies and used to quickly roll out diversity initiatives. It’s called Agile.

What is Agile?

Agile is a methodology that focuses on delivering rapid results that improve over time. Instead of a long design  and build process followed by testing the entire application (called the “waterfall methodology”), Agile focuses on small design-build-test cycles where chunks of the application are built and delivered.

Image Courtesy planbox

Agile is an iterative development methodology where items are taken off a large backlog of product features, put into an iteration (often called a Sprint) lasting two to four weeks, and delivered as potentially shippable software. Since an iteration is a small time-box, the features put into it have to be well defined. During the iteration, progress is checked every day during a quick meeting called a Stand Up (i.e., everyone literally stands during the meeting). Software companies from Microsoft to Google have adopted Agile practices to quickly deploy software that can be nimbly altered based on changes in the competitive landscape, needs of customers, or technology.

How can a software development methodology help entrepreneurs implement diversity initiatives? It can be done by taking the spirit of Agile and following these steps: Reflect, Roll-Out, and Review.

Reflect

Spend a few days thinking about what you can do to improve the diversity of your company, and create a Diversity Backlog listing your ideas. Try to be as specific as possible. For example, instead of writing “Have a company meeting about diversity”, write “Have a company meeting where we discuss diversity goals in recruiting, hiring, and mentoring”. You should be creative, but it’s important to be as detailed as possible. As you add items to your Diversity Backlog, assign a priority (High, Medium, Low) to each item.

Roll Out

Once you have your Diversity Backlog, choose the items to roll out to the company. This choice should be based on what can be done in a two to four week iteration and the priority of each item in the Diversity Backlog. Have a daily Stand Up with your executive team to monitor progress. Each person provides the following information during the Stand Up: Accomplishments (work done since the last Stand Up), Goals (works planned to be done today), and Blockers (things that keep work from being done). The primary outcome of each iteration is to produce a set of Potentially Deployable Diversity Initiatives. End the iteration by rolling out the initiatives to your company.

Review

Review the results of your roll out with your executive team. Try to understand what went well, what needed to improved, and what new practices need to be started. Also, survey your employees to get their point of view. Take these findings and bake them into the next Reflect period.

Conclusion

Agile is a simple yet powerful approach that is designed to deliver specific results in a short amount of time. Entrepreneurs can take the power of Agile and methodically improve the approach their companies take to diversity, and this can be done regardless of the size of the organization.

Anjuan Simmons is a technologist who specializes in delivering large enterprise software applications and has worked as an executive for global management consulting companies like Infosys, Accenture, and Deloitte. He speaks at several business and technology conferences throughout the year and is a sought after thought leader in social media, diversity in technology, and technology leadership. Anjuan has an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Texas A&M University. You can follow him on Twitter or visit his website (http://AnjuanSimmons.com).

Step two: gather up a team of supporters to venture on this journey with you.

Step three: … be able to afford it.

It’s that pesky third step that seems to be the most daunting obstacle for entrepreneurs as many don’t come equipped with enough cash to start up a business on their own. Making money is hard enough; getting enough money from investors and through loans can seem next to impossible sometimes.

Competition to get funding for a small business is fierce in today’s market! Lenders want to know they’re investing in something worth their while – they won’t just throw their money at any ol’ proposal. Your goal is to make sure these potential investors see your start-up the way you do: as the best new small business to hit the entrepreneurial streets and one that has a bright future ahead of it.

Raising capital is about proving yourself and your business. It involves a lot of trust especially in the fact that you as an entrepreneur will use the invested money wisely. That can seem like a lot of pressure, but with the right strategies you’ll have investors just as excited about your business and funding it as you are in no time.
Here are some dos and don’ts to take into consideration when raising capital for your start-up:

Don’t give away too much.

You don’t need to give away absurd amounts of stock to win the favor of a vendor. Too many people get anxious when first trying to raise capital and will make any offer just to get some numbers on the table. This will devalue your business (and your stock) so remember what you’re worth! If a potential investor isn’t making an offer you’re comfortable with, move on and talk to someone else.
Do keep up great communication with your investors.

Apply this rule with all of your investors, but especially if you are borrowing money from friends and family, do not burn any bridges. Make sure expectations from both ends are clear. This is someone else’s money, handle it as such.

Don’t cold call investors.

Not only will you have a better chance of actually getting the investment if you directly or indirectly know the potential investor, but it will be easier to keep up an ongoing relationship with them as your business grows throughout the years. Far too many business proposals don’t even get the once-over from a stranger investor.

Try instead to ask around, see who your entrepreneur friends got their investments from and see if they themselves would like to invest.

Do be prepared with a five-year business plan.

You should have a business plan anyway if you’re newly in the throes of starting your own business. Having a well thought out plan to show investors will score you major points.

Not only do they want to see your plans for the business (i.e. what their money is going to be doing) but they also want to see that you are excited about the future and passionate about this venture.

Don’t lose track of the money that is given to you.

As you get the ball rolling, it’s easy to get lost in the excitement and forget to keep track of everything. Make sure to keep track of the money that is invested in your business as you go, not six months later. Staying on top of all your finances is a golden rule of owning a business. Start off with good habits and they will stick!

Do invest your own money.

Putting in some of your own money looks great to potential investors. It shows that you are passionate about this venture and also that you have something to lose.

It says, “This business is on the top of my priority list and so is your money!”

Deborah Sweeney is the CEO of MyCorporation.com. MyCorporation is a leader in online legal filing services for entrepreneurs and businesses, providing start-up bundles that include corporation and LLC formation, registered agent, DBA, and trademark & copyright filing services. MyCorporation does all the work, making the business formation and maintenance quick and painless, so business owners can focus on what they do best. Follow her on Google+ and on Twitter @deborahsweeney and @mycorporation.

If you have been in a media black out since yesterday, let me enlighten you. Jay Z has launched his sports management company Roc Nation Sports. His first act was stealing away a major baseball star as his first high profile client. This made news, in my opinion, not because it’s a new venture for Jay Z, but because this particular ball player defected from none other than Scott Boras. I’ll admit this is huge (to me) but par for the course for the empire that is Jay Z. But the coverage has now gone from “wow, guess what Jay Z has done” to “hey it’s not a big deal, he won’t last“. What the hell?

OK I get it. Whenever someone comes up from out of seemingly nowhere and snags something major, people talk. It’s newsworthy. But had Jay Z not been an entertainer, and just some ordinary dude, 1) would it still be news and 2) would they be so quick to dismiss this guys who has an amazing business track record? I’m not feeling it. It’s OK if he stays in his lane and focuses on artist management but no, no, he’s not allowed to step into the sports arena and step on toes.

Neal Pilson, former President of CBS Sports, in his appearance on Bloomberg TV this morning, half-heartedly dismissed this as major news. He chalks this up to Jay Z as being well connected because of his entertainment connections but not really a major entity in sports, not even with his part ownership in the Nets. To me, it seemed like he was depicting him as a bored businessman who decided “what should I play with next?”. He also likened him to Spike Lee, meaning always showing up at games doesn’t make you qualified to step into the world of managing athletes. Now these were not Pilson’s exact words but you watch the segment on Bloomberg and you tell me what it sounded like. I found it offensive.

While I’m not a fan (although Empire State of Mind is my anthem) I do admire his business accumen. He went from a hustler from Marcy Projects in Brooklyn slingin’ to an independent rap artist to a business mogul and has been unapologetic (as it should be). Jay Z is a man who keeps his ears wide open. Yes, he has built up quite an impressive business portfolio and racked up some powerful friends in the process. So what’s the big deal with him taking a logical step in my opinion into sports management?

Granted he is not licensed himself and his team already have certified general or limited agent licenses, and he is partnered with CAA. So he himself isn’t a “sports agent“. Because of his part ownership in the Nets (I’m a Knicks Chick myself!) and his agreements to perform in some of the venues owned by major league teams and owners, eyebrows are raised. But I’m sure he’ll take care of that. He’s not the kind of businessman that would knowingly risk his business.

But let’s step away from all the technicalities of this deal to focus on my view of it being a savvy business diversification effort.

As I said, look at this man’s background. Look at all of the things he’s done and accomplished. He keeps his eyes and ears open and his mouth closed. He keeps his inner circle limited. He seeks out what he wants to learn. He makes moves in businesses where he has an interest. He let’s his instincts keep him in check. I’m sure there were a few flops, but you know what, that’s part of the growing process. Jay Z is a bonafide mogul and people can’t stand it. Why, I don’t know. The shade coming from the media, the sports industry and anyone who has come gunning for him (figuratively speaking) is so not necessary. I’m a student of business people. I pay attention and watch the moves they make. And watching him has been almost better than a formal education. Any time someone, man, woman, black, white, whatever, rises beyond the life they were dealt, I pay attention. Jay Z isn’t the first nor the last, but in my opinion, in building my own business, he’s been one of the best. His influence and accomplishments are enviable (in a good way). He gives hope to those project kids who don’t see a way out. He shows business people like me that anything is possible and that you can achieve anything you want if you work hard enough, surround yourself with the right people, keep your mind right and pursue it all fearlessly and unapologetically.

Jay Z if you read this, which you most likely won’t, I got your back brother. From one NYC projects graduate to another, as someone who they’ve constantly told “you can’t do that” and I’ve shut them down each time, keep doing the thing. You are a shining example of what an urban kid can become if they get their mind right, stand their ground, and build the right circle of influence. It’s all about leverage. I’m watching you, my brother. Whenever people get uncomfortable with what you’re doing, it means you’d doing it right.

Til next time,

Adrienne Graham
Paying attention & taking notes to build my empire, because that’s how I roll!

Do you like this article and want to reprint or share? You can, as long as you include this in its entirety:

Adrienne Graham is the Founder & CEO of Empower Me! Corporation (www.empowerme.org), a Growth Strategies consultancy with brand extensions in media, publishing and small business & entrepreneurial education. She provides Strategic Business Growth consulting services to companies with high growth potential to assist clients in creating processes and strategies to effectively run, grow and position their business for success. She helps clients get paid more by giving away less for free, allowing them to be more profitable and NOT be a broke brand. She is the host Views From the Top Radio Show the publisher of Empower Me! Magazine, and the creator Empower Me Institute, Empower Me! Radio, Empowered for Growth TV & Next Level Business Strategies. Her writing and shows focus on Career Management, Networking Strategies, Entrepreneurial Success and Small Business Management. Check out her new company The Red Shoe Agency.

Attempted together, these tasks can seem daunting. Yet in tough times, even these practices alone are not enough. In fact, when things get difficult the MOST IMPORTANT part of your job might be that while you are communicating with the 5 C’s, you also need to be truly OPEN to input and opinions from key stake holders in and around the organization.

With today’s unprecedented turbulence, the most successful leaders are those who can confidently set the direction for their group while actively seeking, and intently listening to, input from employees and customers for much needed innovative ideas.

In Servant Leadership, Robert Greenleaf describes the approach required of a leader who truly understands that game-changing insight can come at any time, from anyone. “One must make choices. Perhaps one chooses the same aim or hypothesis again and again. But is always with a fresh and open choice, and it is always under a shadow of doubt”. Leaders open to fresh perspectives are more likely make critical adjustments ahead of others. In today’s “stormy” business climate, this ability is critical.

Greenleaf also offers a perspective on how a leader can create true communication and engagement. He emphasizes both the exercise of authority and the inner quality of humility that characterize a true servant leader. With a commitment to serve first, a leader is more likely to truly listen. With an underlying belief in equality and respect for every individual, successful leaders appreciate the necessity to learn from anyone and everyone.

With the economic, political, social, and environmental challenges we are now facing, pressure to perform is higher than ever. You will always be looked to for future direction. Your due diligence and the quality of your strategies and plans will continue to be an important starting point of your business. You will continue to need to display confidence in your organizations. In light of today’s complexities and uncertainties, however, your long-term success may hinge far more on your ability to find the right balance of confidence and the humility that comes with a healthy dose of doubt.

I suggest you add a big “O” to the 5C’s. The O is a reminder to be OPEN. You’ll get better ideas and employee engagement will stay high, just when you need it most.

Rick Miller is a servant leader who has successfully worked as a President and/or CEO in companies ranging from a non-profit to a Fortune 10, and from a start-up with just $1M in revenue to a Global Fortune 30 firm with $21B in revenue whose stock was the most widely traded in the world. In each case, Rick was recruited to turn around poor performance in difficult times. Rick currently serves as President and CEO at Choices & Success LLC as a c-suite confidant, speaker and author. Rick earned an undergraduate degree from Bentley University and a MBA from Columbia University.

Twitter: @RicksRoadmap

Email: rick@choicesandsuccess.com

www.AllInLeadership.com

• S- Savvy shopping & saving
• M- Maximizing money
• A- Achieving goals & accumulating assets
• R- Real estate & realistic expectations about life
• T- Traditional investments

What are some of the strategies you identify with in this video? Where do you feel you could use more education an help? Leave your comments below. It’s time to get S.M.A.R.T. about your financial well being so let’s get the conversations started!

So off they go to a press release distribution service (some paid, most free) to make sure they blanket their announcement as far and wide as possible. But there’s a problem with that method. It’s the equivalent to post and pray on social media. And it’s not a good investment of your time, your money, or a good look for your brand.

Small businesses have tight budgets as it is. But it’s crucial that as the owner or decision maker, you include PR in your line items on your budget. Now some people will say “but PR is meant to be free. I never pay for PR”. But it’s not about paying of PR. It’s about investing in your company’s image, brand and messaging. You don’t have to run out and hire an expensive PR firm to get the job done. But if you’re not skilled in it, this shouldn’t be something you do on your own. The cost can turn out to be even more than hiring a firm.

Always remember you get what you pay for when you try to DIY or shortcut the method by registering with a bunch of free distribution services. Meaning your press release won’t go out to the right, targeted media outlet by using a free service. While it can be time consuming, you can do your own PR if you do it the right way. But think of the advantages you’ll have if you take the time to cultivate your own go-to list of media contacts and build relationships with them.

Research and look for the media outlets you want the press release to go to. It doesn’t make sense to send out a press release about your smoking cessation program to the Disney Channel. The key is to determine where your business, service, product and/or new fits and where that audience is. Then find out the appropriate producer/journalist/columnist/editor for each news medium. Sending out a blind release to everyone will get you banned. If you’re product is a beauty product, then it makes sense to reach out to the beauty or lifestyle editor of a publication. It has to make sense to them and their audience. Now this isn’t to say that as the owner of a beauty company that you can’t reach out to the business editor. Perhaps your business is involved in something newsworthy to the business community. But you have to be clear in your initial contact so they can make that determination.

Reach out to them directly and gauge interest in your release. Not everything is news to them. Also make sure your release has a purpose and a message that their audience would be interested in or resonates with. Simply announcing an opening or a new product or service isn’t newsworthy. In fact, that almost guarantees your release gets thrown away. Pay attention to stories they’ve been working on or worked on in the past 6 months. Ask them what kind of stories they’re looking for. And make sure you indicate that you’d like to keep in touch with them periodically. Send them interesting news about their beat (not related to YOU) when it comes your way. Offer comments on the stories from your point of view or area of expertise. That helps in establishing your credibility and knowledge with them. Before long, they’ll be turning to you when they have opportunities.

Of course there are many more ways to craft a PR strategy. But the point is to put real thought and investment into it. I caution everyone to really think about their PR strategy. Sending out mass press releases is the equivalent of drive by posting on social media. It can get you banned or even ignored by reporters. Many of them don’t pay attention to the releases that come from free sources. So think about what your budget will allow and what service best suits your immediate needs. And keep in mind it’s not an over night thing. It’s going to take a couple of cycles for you to capture attention if using one of these services (that is if your news isn/t really hot or game changing by media standards). While you can use distribution services, nothing beats good old fashioned relationships with the media. Having a healthy media database and cultivated relationships with many of the folks in that database will take you a long way. Those authentic relationships go further than blindly received news blasts.

Hi Adrienne,

I really hate my job and want to become an entrepreneur so i can run my own business the way i want to. I would love to start a catering company but don’t have the funds. I heard that if you come from a disadvantaged background you can qualify for a grant to start a business. How can i find this information and start my business?

My second question came from David in Baltimore. He wants advice on how to handle being overshadowed by a friend who works for him.

Dear Adrienne,

I have an employee that’s been my best friend since we were teenagers. He’s a smart guy and does great work, but sometimes when i take him on meetings, he tends to take over. He is trusted associate and i’m happy with his work, but it gets a little annoying because the clients end up thinking he’s running the project. How can i get him to stop but not retaliate by letting is work slack?

If you haven’t yet sent in your question, what are you waiting for? Send in your pressing business question and you just might receive a video response from me. I cannot answer emails privately as I get too many. Please do not use my advice as a substitute for getting advice from a paid professional. Send your email to me at info@empowerme.org and put “Ask Adrienne” in the subject line.

I like my audience to get involved. What would you have advised these two viewers? What similar experiences can you share with them? Please leave your comments below.

Til next time,

Adrienne Graham
Come on, ask me your questions

Do you like this article and want to reprint or share? You can, as long as you include this in its entirety:

Adrienne Graham is the Founder & CEO of Empower Me! Corporation (www.empowerme.org), a Growth Strategies consultancy with brand extensions in media, publishing and small business & entrepreneurial education. She provides Strategic Business Growth consulting services to companies with high growth potential to assist clients in creating processes and strategies to effectively run, grow and position their business for success. She helps clients get paid more by giving away less for free, allowing them to be more profitable and NOT be a broke brand. She is the host Views From the Top Radio Show the publisher of Empower Me! Magazine, and the creator Empower Me Institute, Empower Me! Radio, Empowered for Growth TV & Next Level Business Strategies. Her writing and shows focus on Career Management, Networking Strategies, Entrepreneurial Success and Small Business Management. Check out her new company The Red Shoe Agency.

Dear Adrienne, 

How do you start a business that is unique when it seems like everyone and their cousin is already doing what you do? I have been dreaming of starting my own clothing line. I know i have the talent but i’m a realist. I live in a Fashion capital and there are a lot of people who have a line. And usually if you’re not a celebrity or on a reality show it’s hard to get a meeting. I really want is but people say i should just work for a designer or get a normal job. What should i do?

My second question came from Tim in Minneapolis. He wants advice on ways to keep from laying people off while his company isn’t doing as well in the economy.

Hi Adrienne,

My business has been affected by the economy. I’m finding myself in a situation that no matter how much i crunch the numbers it looks like i might have to lay some people off and i don’t want to. I’ve heard you say that business owners shouldn’t complain and find ways to increase revenue. Well i tried and so far i’m coming up blank. So what do you have for me?

I like my audience to get involved. What would you have advised these two viewers? What similar experiences can you share with them? Please leave your comments below.

Til next time,

Adrienne Graham
Come on, ask me your questions

Do you like this article and want to reprint or share? You can, as long as you include this in its entirety:

Adrienne Graham is the Founder & CEO of Empower Me! Corporation (www.empowerme.org), a Growth Strategies consultancy with brand extensions in media, publishing and small business & entrepreneurial education. She provides Strategic Business Growth consulting services to companies with high growth potential to assist clients in creating processes and strategies to effectively run, grow and position their business for success. She helps clients get paid more by giving away less for free, allowing them to be more profitable and NOT be a broke brand. She is the host Views From the Top Radio Show the publisher of Empower Me! Magazine, and the creator Empower Me Institute, Empower Me! Radio, Empowered for Growth TV & Next Level Business Strategies. Her writing and shows focus on Career Management, Networking Strategies, Entrepreneurial Success and Small Business Management. Check out her new company The Red Shoe Agency.

My second question came from Steve in Portland. He wants advice on how to grow his business. Steve feels like he’s ready to branch out into new markets with new offerings, but doesn’t know how to scale it so he doesn’t misfire with his efforts. Check out the advice I gave Steve in the video.

If you haven’t yet sent in your question, what are you waiting for? Send in your pressing business question and you just might receive a video response from me. I cannot answer emails privately as I get too many. Please do not use my advice as a substitute for getting advice from a paid professional. Send your email to me at info@empowerme.org and put “Ask Adrienne” in the subject line.

I like my audience to get involved. What would you have advised these two viewers? What similar experiences can you share with them? Please leave your comments below.

Til next time,

Adrienne Graham
Come on, ask me your questions

Do you like this article and want to reprint or share? You can, as long as you include this in its entirety:

Adrienne Graham is the Founder & CEO of Empower Me! Corporation (www.empowerme.org), a Growth Strategies consultancy with brand extensions in media, publishing and small business & entrepreneurial education. She provides Strategic Business Growth consulting services to companies with high growth potential to assist clients in creating processes and strategies to effectively run, grow and position their business for success. She helps clients get paid more by giving away less for free, allowing them to be more profitable and NOT be a broke brand. She is the host Views From the Top Radio Show the publisher of Empower Me! Magazine, and the creator Empower Me Institute, Empower Me! Radio, Empowered for Growth TV & Next Level Business Strategies. Her writing and shows focus on Career Management, Networking Strategies, Entrepreneurial Success and Small Business Management. Check out her new company The Red Shoe Agency.

My first realization of the need for a strong team came while taking a business development course.  I took a 12-week class through WEDA, the Women’s Economic Development Agency in Atlanta, GA several years ago.  This course was designed to walk you through the many facets of developing a business, from marketing, to fundraising, to accounting, to creating a business plan.  The material in this course was excellent and it was an amazing experience; however, I remember being so overwhelmed by all of the things that needed to be done and saying to myself, “I can’t do all this by myself” and “I’m not ready for this.”  The reason I made this statement was not because I didn’t have passion or vision, but because the vision was so big I didn’t see how “I” could get it all done.  I had totally forgotten the phrase, “There’s no “I” in team” and didn’t see any way to move forward.

For many years after this experience, I put my business down.  I would dibble and dabble here and there, but it wasn’t until two years ago that I picked it back up and figured out I didn’t have to do it all myself.  After much support and encouragement from my husband, I realized the benefits of comprising a team to help achieve this great vision.

Now my team consists of a Web Developer, Publicist, Strategy and Business Developer, Grant Writer, and an “I will help you do whatever you need” person who is somebody we all need on our team.   This list doesn’t even include my Accountant, Legal Expert, or the positions I’m looking to fill in the near future, i.e. Personal Assistant and Intern.

Now I know you may be saying, “I don’t have a budget for all that,” but you don’t need a big budget.  My team includes friends who love me and see and support my vision.  I compensate them as much as I can and they help me as much as they can knowing as I expand the business, the $$$ also expands and then I can pay them what they truly deserve.  There are also persons who do Public Relations as pay-per-placement, which means you pay as you get placed in a magazine, on a radio show, television interview, etc.  Empower Me! Magazine is actually a pay-per-placement opportunity from my Publicist!  In addition, there are websites that are full of information on hiring people to do things for you for reasonable prices like http://Elance.com, a site that allows you to hire freelancers.

You may also be saying, “I don’t need all that.”  Which is what I thought for years, but the fact is, having help allows you to get to the place you are trying to get to faster.  It frees you up to do other things that are important and allows you to help other people grow in their individual areas of expertise.  For example, my Web Developer is someone who enjoys developing sites, but there were several things she didn’t  know how to do, but as I told her, “I want this” she began doing the research to learn and now that is a skill set she can use to develop other sites.  I was able to help myself while also helping another!

If you are one of those people who have a hard time letting go of control, you may have a hard time working with a team.  You may build one, but will you actually allow people to help you?  I was reminded of this twice this week.  One person has repeatedly told me she loves what I am doing and to send her things I need help on.  When I called her she said, “Yeah, I told you to keep me in the loop so I can help.  Shoot me over an email so I can start working on it.”  This person told me she would help me over 4 years ago, and she has helped me, but I haven’t really worked with her like I could have because “I” was trying to do it all myself because “I” wanted to control everything.

The second person is a friend who told me, “You’re gonna have to delegate some of this to other people.  Let some stuff go.”  I thought to myself, “really…are you talking to me,” but at the end of the day, she is totally right.  I can’t do it all myself and I do need to delegate some responsibilities to others and use the talents and time of my team.

We weren’t created to live on an island.  That’s why there are Billions of people on the earth.  That’s why we desire friendships and family and that’s why we work so hard to repair broken relationships.  We understand the value of teams in other areas of our lives, so now we just need apply this concept to our businesses.  Then we can leverage the efforts of others and let synergy work in our favor because, “One can put a thousand to flight, but two can put ten thousand to flight.”  Happy Team Building!

Share your own experiences of building your first team. What were some things you have to come to terms with to allow yourself to delegate? How has building a team made you a stronger business person? Please share your comments below in the comment box.

Lynesha McElveen is owner of Liberty Educational Group, a company that gives people the freedom to get a L.E.G. up on life through Life Coaching, Economic & Entrepreneurship Education, and Greatness Training.  To learn more visit: www.LyneshaMcElveen.com or www.LegUpOnLife.com