GIRL AT PLAY PRODUCTIONS - by Alex Beauchamp

If you were thinking of going to SXSW 2007 but needed some convincing, here's a great reason: a group of friends and I have put together a discussion panel that's been selected for the Interactive portion! They all own they're own businesses and they're all unique with different backgrounds and ways of working. You can find their profiles (with the exception of Vickie) on Another Girl at Play.

"Boss Lady" Panel Description Successful, creative and self-taught entrepreneurs (from graphic designers, to producers, to crafters) will discuss and offer advice on what it's really like to be the gal running the show. With experience running their own successful businesses on-line and off, each of these women has a wealth of information, advice and success stories to share.

The panel will explore what makes business different from a female perspective, the particular challenges the panellists have faced, how to create/maintain a business with/without employees and how to achieve financial success – all without boas or pink markers.

SPEAKERS:

1. Emira Mears and Lauren Bacon; Graphic Designers and authors of Boss Lady (scheduled for a Fall 2007 release) & BossLady.ca. Founding partners of successful Vancouver design firm Raised Eyebrow Web Studio and creators of the popular feminist webzine Soapboxgirls.com (a 2003 Bloggy Finalist for "Best Topical Weblog").

2. Alex Beauchamp; New Media Entrepreneur and Travel Writer of the popular GirlatPlay.com (one of the first blogs dedicated to writing about starting your own business), GirlsGuidetoCityLife.com (a 2006 SXSW Finalist for "Best Blog") and AnotherGirlatPlay.com (a 2004 SXSW Finalist for "Best Female Website").

3. Jenny Hart; Stitching Goddess, author of two books and the popular site SublimeStiching.com. Her work has appeared in celebrity homes, magazines and on TV.

4. Vickie Howell; author of three knitting books, host of the television show, Knitty Gritty, and founder of the Austin Craft-Mafia.

- Great little entry from Emira on thanking those who refer clients to your business.

- See Jane Work is how I make my office work and inspire. And I love that it's run by women who do a really fantastic job {it's one of the prettiest packages I receive!}.

I wrote earlier about how I create money and how I save money but I forgot about one very important thing: how to give money.

Years ago I read the book, The 10 Percent Solution in which Marc Allen (a self-made millionaire) explains how one should give 10% of their income away. At the time, I didn't have a huge income and couldn't imagine giving anything away let alone 10 percent! But I like a challenge and so began the life of giving away 10%. I've never looked back and I've never missed the money I gave.

I make sure that I continuously give; I sponsor a woman at Women for Women because I want to help someone else achieve their dreams. I recently just purchased my first home and gave 1% of the purchase price to Habitat for Humanity to help someone else achieve that feeling of home ownership that I worked so hard for. My eBay sales always have 10% going to a different charity, I buy from eco-friendly and organic shops and commonly give money to bonafide charities.

Now, seeing red can be a scary thing for a business owner but the new Red program created by Bono and Bobby Shriver is an amazing way to get money to those who need it whilst satisfying your own buying needs. For those who might have a hard time with 10%, this is a great way to start.

But, try 10%. Try it. It is so easy to sit back and be pitiful and think of all you don't have and how hard it is for you and the struggles you face. But the easiest way to get out of the mind frame is to honestly get over yourself. Stop reading self-help books that make you constantly think about yourself and your state and instead, start thinking of others and what simple ways you can give back.

Running a successful business isn't just about fame and money - it's about what you do with it. It's about how you help others climb the ladder. It's about grace. It's about generosity. So even if you think you have no money, you have some. Do something with it. Embrace the power of money by being first financially responsible and then by being generous and then watch your whole financial and business world change.