Tag Archives: Small business

My attempt at crowd funding

To say I am not living up to my full potential is an understatement. I am good at being an entreperneur, but I have not had the chance to give it my all.
I have an event planning business.

We have consistently turned a profit for the past three years.
The goal is to make this my full time job 🙂
I am doing this crowd funding for my business to raise some start up capital. This will help me relaunch my website, take a business class or two, get some strong internet marketing behind me etc etc.

My goal in 2013 – I should be Bicoastal.
Savannah Events and Weddings – SEW here in GA
Desert Events and Weddings – DEW in CA – May 2013
I also wrote a book and I will need $100.00 to release that.
All together I have to raise
$ 2,800.00 for my business.
If you can help awesome if not forward on to someone else.

Click on this link below at
http://www.gofundme.com/LaunchSEW

Side not the wedding/event industry is multimillion industry.

Call me or text me for more info or partnership.

Love Amanda

My Entrepreneurial Reading List

Cover of "Girl, Make Your Money Grow!: A ...

Cover via Amazon

I have been in the entrepreneur spirit since January 2011. During that time I have read 7 books from management to emotional stability. All these books have been great in inspiring me and giving me direction. Here is a little recap of these books and what I took from them. Please note; the one major lesson that I am learning during this experience is that it is not about just growing your business, it is about growing you. Emotionally, as a small business owner you go thru just the same amount of ups and downs that your business goes through. What I am finding no ones tells you about this part of the business experience, it is organic to say the least but not for the faint of heart. So entrepreneurs beware! On your shoulders actually does sit the negative you and the positive you and it gets crazy fast. On to my reading list…

(Disclaimer: All books were purchased on sale at Books A Million and Big Lots, remember your budget people)

1. Russell Simmons – Do  You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

This was a good book where I felt like he was more open and honest about the emotional journey you go through in the hustle game and staying to true to yourself. Not a lot of business resource advice, but definitely got my mojo going.

2. Glinda Bridgforth and Gail Perry-Mason – Girl, Make Your Money Grow!

This book is special to me, I had the pleasure of having dinner with the amazing Gail Perry Mason in Savannah, GA and she signed this book. There is a simple premise in this book, financial empowerment but with a minority voice for the tone of the book. I loved it, clear debt understanding the market and the next thing you know you are on Scott Trade. Not that simple but a great 101 Intro to securing your financial freedom.

3. Rhonda Byrne – The Secret

I read this book when it first came out. What works for me most in my journey is the practice of envisioning your dreams, staying focused and meditating.

4. Jeffery Gitomer – The Sales Bible

The Bible is The Bible; I will never replace that in my life. However, The Sales Bible is a great road map to selling yourself and your business. It is easy to read. It is written in more of a resource style that you can pick up and read a chapter to help you at that moment.

5. Kevin Phillips – Bad Money

Great read! Talks about the rise and fall of the American economic system 2006 – 2008. This gave me great perspective as a business owner in a global economy and shit does roll down hill.

6. Marcus Buckingham – GO Put Your Strengths To Work

Just like the title says it puts you to work on a series steps to achieve success. I am still a work in progress on this book because you have to keep working on it and remembering to do it.

7. Tyler Cowen – Discover Your Inner Economist

There is nothing wrong with thinking like an economist, economy =money hello? This book helped me understanding my motivations and potential consumers or business partners motivations and how you can motivate people to your way.

This is just the beginning of my reading journey. I plan on journaling this process which I think will help with the moments of doubt or concern. I recommend everyone start their own reading adventure in life, you never know what you might learn or the knowledge you might gain. I do not think one person has the one right answer for you. But through research and having a good perspective, I believe we all can find the answers we are look for.

Got featured in article and the website is gone!

Savannah, Georgia - Doorbells

Image by ~libby via Flickr

Yes, I got featured in an an article and now the whole damn site is gone. Talk about bull… I usually never talk like this, but I was actually looking forward to telling you all about this. Below is proof of the article, it happened yall! It just did not live long enough for me to brag about it.

Entrepreneurs! What’s Your Story?May 29, 2011 … Two years later, my husband retired and we moved to Florida. …… My name is Amanda Hollowell and I own my own Wedding and Event Planning Company (Savannah, GA) for the past two years. The last year, I finally left my full time job and became my own boss. It is scary every day, but I love it. …
hearpreneur.com/ask/2011/05/29/entrepreneurs-story/ – Cached

If you anyone knows what happen to this blog, please please notify the police and then me. Kidding, just hit me up on twitter @mandarellla

I was robbed!

THE NATION’S FIRST WEB DESIGN STORE WINS THE BLACK ENTERPRISE ELEVATOR PITCH CONTEST $10,000 GRAND PRIZE

Wayne in Black Enterprise Magazine about TriOu...

Image by waynesutton12 via Flickr

The Website Shop was awarded a $10,000 grant from The Cash Flow
The Website Shop, the nation’s 1st physical website design store, was awarded the 2011 Black Enterprise Elevator Pitch contest grand prize $10,000 small business grant at the 2011 Black Enterprise Entrepreneur Expo in Atlanta, GA on May 23rd, 2011.

The Black Enterprise Elevator Pitch Competition awarded $10,000 for the best new business idea. The judges Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr., President CEO, Black Enterprise; Magnus Greaves, Founder, The CASHFLOW; Star Jones, Author, Attorney TV Personality; and J. Anthony Brown, Comedian Radio Personality, The Tom Joyner Morning Show.  Hosted by PepsiCo.

The Website Shop beat out over 500+ entries to Black Enterprise’s website, and beat out 9 other contest hopefuls at the final event during the 2011 Black Enterprise Entrepreneur Expo in Atlanta to win the grand prize.
The Website Shop is located conveniently inside the top level of Northlake Mall, in Atlanta, GA.  In addition to the $10,000 Grand Prize, Brandon Butler will be featured in an upcoming issue of Black Enterprise magazine.
 “We’re extremely excited to receive this honor and plan to use these funds to help us expand our services, open a new location, and complete our franchising program.” Said Brandon Butler, the owner / founder of The Website Shop. “Black Enterprise has always been a leader in identifying new business visionaries, and we’re honored to be mentioned among so many talented individuals.”
About The Website Shop
The Website Shop, the nation’s first brick and mortar web and graphic design store, provides affordable, creative solutions for small to midsize businesses and organizations. Based in Atlanta, The Website Shop employs a team of skilled developers and designers and a vast network of vendors to offer one-on-one consultations and a wide range of services. Located on the top level of Northlake Mall, The Website Shop is open seven days a week to manage projects of all sizes from start to finish. For more information, visit www.thewebsiteshop.net, follow us on Twitter @officialwebshop or become a fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thewebsiteshop.