Idea Validation & Business Sandbox Concepts

In my latest quest for business wisdom, I came across two new concepts that really got me thinking. Maybe the business terms below are not new to you, but they are to me. Let me share these with you:

New Concept #1: "Idea Validation" for business ideas
Very helpful link: http://www.sramanamitra.com/clarify-your-story-excerpt/

New Concept #2: The Business Idea or New Product "Sandbox"
No link here, unless I can link to my husband's IT industry brain!

I suppose I can't say that idea validation is a new concept to me - just a new term for an old issue that we all deal with as business people. Tammy and I always joke that we have I.D.D. - Idea Distraction Disorder! As idea people, we have a challenge; validating these new ideas to figure out if, in fact, they will land as great opportunities or if they should keep flying by.

Brainstorming and masterminding sessions are great ways to solicit feedback from others on business ideas and plans. Other ways include researching the market, surveying potential customers and prayer. As Godly women, we realize that God ideas are the ones that should move forward, not just good ideas!

Apparently "the sandbox" idea has been around for a long time in the technology industry. My husband and his co-workers use "the sandbox" concept when they are working on a new product launch or have a new system or tool. The sandbox is where they meet (usually virtually) to "play" with stuff to see what works and what doesn't. I love that image of adults coming to a sandbox, sitting down and testing things out and experimenting. Build it up, work with it, reshape it, move it around, tear it down, etc.

How can you use the sandbox concept in your business or career? What do you need to test out or play with and allow others to interact with? Actually, I can clearly see how these two concepts can work together quite nicely. Bring new ideas to a sandbox and watch how they transform.

Please comment and let us know your thoughts!

by Krista Dunk, http://www.kbwomen.com/ http://kbwa.memberlodge.com/

Goal Setting Tele-Class - March 25th

Hello Business Women of Faith,

Did you know that the KBWA Association has a monthly learning topic each month ?
See 2010 Tele-Class learning topics.

The date and time for our March "Effective Goal Setting" tele-class with guest expert Pastor Ray Frederick is scheduled for;

THURSDAY, MARCH 25TH AT 2:30PM PST.

KBWA members have free access to all tele-classes. Non-members can register for just $9 per class. Can't listen live? No problem - All who register will receive the audio file for the recorded tele-class via email on Friday the 26th. Make the time to take in his wisdom on this topic; it is going to be an excellent information.

For more information and to register, visit http://KBWA.memberlodge.com/march10.

Did you know that KBWA offers a free membership level? Intro Members can create a profile which shows their business information in the KBWA Member Directory, which will give your business more exposure on the web. http://kbwa.memberlodge.com/.

Have a wonderful rest of the week. I am praying for your souls, lives and businesses to prosper.
~Krista Dunk, KBWA Association Leader and KBWomen Co-Founder

Setting Goals - Do You Trust Yourself?

Do you love to set goals? Do you tend to avoid setting goals? Are you indifferent about it?

While researching about goal setting, I found several websites with goal setting statistics. The statistics showed that the number of adults who set goals and write them down is only between 3-7% of the population. The number that review them regularly was even lower. Without first having goals, then writing them down and working towards them...I'm sure the chances are very slim for them to become reality!

I have to admit I have not always wanted to set goals. In theory, they were a great idea, but I had a problem with writing them down. Writing them down was scary because there they were, "in my face." If they didn't happen as planned or weren't achieved, it felt like failure. Also, for a long time I had no vision for my future, and so what I did write down were things only temporarily meaningful. I didn't trust my own goals.

We all have things we would like to see happen in our lives, such as;

• Developing a talent or learning a new skill,
• To have financial goals, such as sticking to a budget, investing or increasing business sales,
• Spiritual growth and drawing closer to God on a daily basis,
• Setting health-related goals or getting better time management strategies, or
• Planning for hiring employees or other help.

We can use specific, detailed goals to reach a big, desired vision. In other words, individual goals are the chunks that are necessary to accomplish on the way to the main vision being achieved. Want to build a business up to a certain revenue amount in 18 months? That is the vision, and the goal chunks are the step-by-step pieces to get there. Sounds easy right?

My goal-setting mentor really helped change my perspective and give me practical strategies. In fact, it changed the way my husband and I set goals for our family, our finances, his career path planning, and my businesses. Would you like to have this wisdom too? My mentor, Pastor Ray Frederick, will be our KBWA Member tele-class expert this month. He has excellent, Biblically-based wisdom and ideas to share on this topic, and I encourage you to participate.

KBWA Members get all monthly tele-classes free, and non-members can join us for just $9 per class. You can find out more here. Get a new strategy and perspective so that you have the tools you need to move forward and be effective. Not only will this information be valuable to you as a woman in business, but also applicable to any goal-setting area of life.

You can move forward. You can plan well for your future. You can accomplish God's purposes for your life and use goal-setting to do just that. It is time to be empowered!

by Krista Dunk, www.KBWomen.com

Christian Business Women's Association - Opens Today!

March 1st, 2010 marks a very important milestone for the Koinonia Business Women's organization...

The Koinonia Business Women's Association (KBWA) officially launches today!

Rather than give you the whole scoop here, please stop by our new membership section now: http://kbwa.memberlodge.com/

You can read all the details, benefits and information about KBWA Membership. All the who, what, why, and how's will be answered, and you can also view our current Member Directory.

Special Bonus: Join as a Full Member in March & receive a 3-mo Membership extension!

Please share the news! We even offer a free membership level to start out with.

Thank you, and we look forward to meeting you.

Reality-based Marketing: 5 Objections You Can Overcome with Testimonials

Article reprinted here with permission from Judy Dunn, Cat's Eye Marketing http://catseyemarketing.com/

Have you ever read every testimonial on a business's website and still had your doubts about the product or service?

It might not work.

It might cost too much.

Can I trust this person? Because I've been burned before.

All legitimate objections.

You can write the best marketing copy in the world, but if you don't address your customer's burning question, and in a way that is believable, that lingering doubt can kill the sale.

A good testimonial, one that speaks to your prospect's biggest fear, can bring them over to the customer side. Because it's not you talking. It's a customer who had the same doubt your prospect has, but whose story had a happy ending.

First, you need to identify the reasons your prospect may be wavering (that's the topic of this week's e-tip) and then develop questions that get the answers from your current customers that will address those objections. (See next week's e-tip for how to collect them.)

5 Objections You Can Overcome with Testimonials

1. It's too expensive.

What they really mean: You haven't shown enough value for the price or the competition is selling a similar item or service for less.

Sample testimonial: "I had heard that XYZ Company's accounting services were exceptional, but I was afraid I couldn't afford them. They saved me $15,000 in the first three months and I am still way ahead, even deducting what I paid for their services."

2. It's hard to use or understand.

What they really mean: I'm afraid I won't get my money's worth.

Sample testimonial: "I bought a lot of audios and CDs on becoming a better copywriter but I found the process described in each one to be complex, hard to understand and difficult to apply. Kevin's "30 Days to Improved Copy" spelled out exactly what I need to do to put together marketing copy that actually motivates my prospects to buy."

3. I don't believe you.

What they really mean: I don't trust you. I've been taken advantage of before by businesses that don't deliver on their promises.

Sample testimonial: "It's easy to make promises to your customers and I've been on the receiving end of inferior products and services. But my experience with ABC Company was nothing but pleasant. I can tell you that there is a face behind the company and that Sandy answered every question I had and delivered a website that is already turning more leads into customers."

4. I don't think your product or service will work.

What they really mean: I've tried all kinds of solutions that didn't work. What if this is another one?

Sample testimonial: "At first I was skeptical because I've tried a lot of skin products that promised to make my wrinkles less prominent, but I just ended up dumping them. Finally I found something that works! New Hope facial creams and moisturizers are amazing."

5. There is nothing new here.

What they really mean: I've been around the block and I don't need your product or service. I already know everything you want to show me how to do.

Sample testimonial: "I used to think I knew everything there was to know about developing my executive team's leadership skills. I have a Master's in leadership development and have been a senior level manager for 15 years. But Elizabeth just had a way of cutting to the core issues. She improved my team's sales revenue records by 30 percent in the first four months."

Do your customers have doubts that are keeping them from buying? What might they be?

Stay tuned for next week's e-tip on how to collect testimonials that overcome your prospects' biggest objections.

Thank you Judy! Excellent advice for all of us. To find out more about Cat's Eye Marketing, visit http://catseyemarketing.com/ today!

Connection + Collaboration = Growth

So far, February has been a great month of collaboration with other business women of faith and partnering with other organizations. Over the past year, my opinion of connecting and collaborating in business with others has changed significantly. Collaboration chases the scarcity mindset and competitive spirits away. It allows God to work through relationships, setting up a framework for joint success. When we are collaborating with other people for good, we are actually collaborating with God and His purposes too.

In my estimation, without connection and collaboration, growth comes extremely slowly, if at all. Think about it;

• Without our connection to God's Spirit, we do not grow in Godly things.
• Being disconnected from people damages relationships and stunts our learning curve in life.
• In business, relying on our own understanding and not using mentors or other experts can lead to a collapse.
• Without proper support, anything in life is at risk of breaking down.

In your life and business, who are you connecting and collaborating with? Are these connections and collaborative efforts leading to the kind of growth you want for your future? Do these relationships have a foundation of faith in God?

Next week, something is coming to help all of us "Connect, Collaborate & Grow." Please seriously consider joining us in the Koinonia Business Women's Association (KBWA). Frankly, the community needs you and you need the community. No one of us alone has all the answers, but joined together, and with God's direction, we WILL see God's power working through us in amazing ways.

As one of my mentors says, "Life is a team sport." It's time to rise up and build; build ourselves, build up others and build God's Kingdom. Now that's my idea of worthwhile, effective collaboration!

~Krista Dunk, http://www.kbwomen.com

Hello All,

I received this important message from a friend in my network yesterday, asking if I would please consider posting this heart-breaking, yet important information. If you have the opportunity, you may wish to hear this information on how to help stop crimes against children.

"A mile a minute - that is how fast your child can disappear." Haunting and truthful words posted on the website for the Klaas Kids Foundation.

On Friday, February 19th, Margaret McSweeney will interview Marc Klaas, father of Polly Klaas who was kidnapped and murdered in 1993. As a legacy to his daughter, Marc founded KlaasKids Foundation to help stop crimes against children. Please tune in to Kitchen Chat with Margaret McSweeney Friday at 11:00 am CST!

Here is an excerpt from Marc's journal that is posted online: "There is nothing that can prepare one for a murder trial. My family sits as the last few hours in Polly's life are dissected, analyzed, de-constructed, reconstructed, cross-referenced and compartmentalized. The constant assault on our sensibilities by horrible revelations that defy the principles of civilization seem overwhelming much of the time. It is impossible to withstand or rise above the continual dehumanizing facts that are revealed in a constant, monotonous stream of revelation. There is no room for anything but the processing of nightmarish information. The killer laughs throughout the video tape and I want to shout, yet I must sit unflinching and stone-faced for fear of causing a mistrial. Every day my family is drawn into the world of murder, mayhem, rape and deprivation and there is no way out." Learn about effective ways to keep your children safe from harm and find out what you can do to help stop crimes against kids.

Please tune in and call in with your questions for Marc this Friday 11-12 CST on Kitchen Chat.

Thank you to Amy Lathrop of the Litfuse Publicity Group for letting us know about this interview. To connect with Amy and get more information about her services for authors, speakers and business owners, visit http://www.litfusegroup.com/ today! You can also follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/litfuse.

Business Networking Chapters

Today is the day! A dream is becoming reality...a dream for our organization, and a dream for Christian business women across the country. So what am I talking about?

KBWomen Chapters are launching in several cities later today!
Renton, WA
Mt. Vernon, WA
Olympia, WA
Omaha, NE

Would you like to join us later today? If you live near one of the cities listed above, click on your city to get full details. Be sure to pre-register to attend here: www.kbwomen.com/chapter-registration.htm. When you pre-register, the cost is just $5. Pay at-the-door is $10.

Why should you come?

• Dedicated networking time
• Monthly business skill learning topic
• Opportunity to introduce yourself & business to the group
• Encouragement & fun!

Our monthly learning topic this month is "Getting Help to Eliminate Skill Gaps," which is sure to get some great discussion going! It includes a handout.

We look forward to meeting you! Blessings,
Krista

P.S. No KBWomen Chapter in your area? Learn more about becoming a Chapter Leader HERE.