Tammy Kniffin

When did you start your business and how has it evolved since then?

I have dreamed of somehow serving other parents of special needs children for some time. I have the unique perspective of not only being the parent of two children with special needs, but also a special education teacher and a school counselor. I know that I can use these collective experiences to support and connect with other parents. It just took a while to find the way to accomplish this. So, although ideas and plans have been festering for a while, the culmination of all this officially launched June 29th 2010, as the Global Alliance of Special Needs Support.

What do you love about being a female entrepreneur?

I love putting my energy and passion into something that has so much potential to help others and at the same time is such a blessing to my life. It feels good…and scary to know that I have the potential to do big things, if I choose to step out in faith and if I choose to put myself out there for the benefit of others. I am a “behind the scenes” person and I love that being an entrepreneur pushes me out of that comfort zone and into areas that challenge me. It means so much to me that my daughter sees me stepping out on faith, trusting God and working hard to make my dream come true.

How does your faith play out in your business?

That’s an interesting question. On the one hand I know that God has a hand in whether my business succeeds or not and yet I know that I am the determining factor based on how much I put into it, how much drive I have and how hard I work. God will allow me to succeed or fail, I have to decide which it will be. It has taken me time to get to a point in my faith where I believe God is ok with success. Success does not equal “worldly”. God wants to bless us and see us succeed, but sometimes we get in our own way by giving in to fear, being too comfortable with the status quo and not dreaming BIG.

What is your BIG DREAM for your business?

I have several… the BIG dream is to reach so many families who need this type of help and support. I keep thinking what if there is someone who needs these things, but they don’t hear about us, how can I let people know about our community of support? This drives me to push myself when I don’t want to. It is a challenge for me to set specific BIG goals, having faith in what I cannot see. So I am going to make myself set a big goal and share it with all of you. I am working and praying for a membership of 500 by the end of 2010.

What 3 tips would you share with a friend who is launching her own entrepreneurial adventure?

• Believe in yourself and your ideas. Give credence to them and pursue them.
• Invest in yourself!  You need coaching and support, and you have to make it happen.
• Somebody needs what you have to offer but they can’t find it if you don’t put it out there!

Tammy Kniffin
Global Alliance of Special Needs Support
www.ga-sns.com

Linda Neal

When did you start your business and how has it evolved since then?

I began the basics of starting a business in 2006. I actually opened an office just off of the square in historic downtown McKinney in 2007. Business was better than I expected and all trends looked promising. Then the economy and family illness arrived on the doorstep during 2008 and 2009. Clients went out of business, and many could not pay their bills for my services.  It was not a pleasant time. The experience of others was a real life wake up call to ‘Small Business America’. Many of you are runners, I experience hitting the wall. Just wasn’t sure what the next step should be. But I could not imagine doing anything else. As the business evolved so did I.

A very important factor to be aware of is this is not only about business growth, it is about personal growth.  The business and personal identity can morph. That is why it is so necessary to know your mission and be true to it and yourself. 2010 is going to be a remarkable year. My vision for the company has solidified.  As I reflect on the down times, I see what a force those situations played in developing my stamina, determination, and belief that I can have the best company because of the values, ethics, and care I provide to my clients and others in my sphere of influence. I shored up the basics in managing a business and the dreams and goals are materializing.

What do you love about being a female entrepreneur?

This is the best time in history to be a female entrepreneur. People are reading about us. Recognizing our skills and abilities. They know that we ‘do business’ differently that men ‘do business’.  These are all positives. We still have to prove ourselves but, we have always had to do that in any arena that was not stereotypical female. We need to take the ball and run with it now. Now is the time to instill our values and ethics into the business world.  Did you know that August 26^th, 2010 is the 90^th Anniversary of the ratification of the Women’s Right to Vote?  That is not that long ago if you think about it in the years of a lifetime. Think about your Grandmother and what her life may have been. I’m sure she received some backlash and heckles. Today, it is such an accepted part of our life we don’t give it a second thought. I am most grateful for  the amazing women that have blazed the trail for me.

How does your faith play out in your business?

After the period of down time with the business and family, I find it easier to push back on the fear and anxiety that comes with trying new ideas. It can be real scary when your only source of income is yourself.  Because of that period in my life I developed a much closer relationship to God.  I always felt secure in my beliefs and the depth of my love of Christ but… was I ever fooled. It’s a real awaking when you experience true grace at a much greater intensity. This business is going to be ok. That I know. It may look differently in time, but it (and I) will be ok. The one thing I do want to mention is that each day I get up and ask myself, ‘What is God going to show me today’? This makes my day a challenge or game to see what adventure is there for me to grasp.

What is your BIG DREAM for your business?    This is the Dynamite Part of the business.

I expect that Numbers Count will grow in clients and broaden its base of services. I am teaching classes and providing start-up business coaching. Today, we are part of a global community even something seemingly locally based as accounting can be performed anywhere due to the secure network setups available.  Part of my goal is to provide job opportunities for women. This is a very difficult time in the economy. There are so many gaps in the system that many fall through and do not have a safety net. I want to provide income relief for women that are lost. A new start-up for me is the Chameleon Group. It is a networking organization that will refer, mentor, and support the members and others in the community. There will be ongoing classes, book study groups on women in business and business strategies, monthly partnering for support and exchange of business ideas, and a Business Directory for members and a small business office co-op for owners that only require limited services in a shared environment. The focus is that women business owners have the ability and the will to change the economies of life. We can drive our businesses to success through our Creativeness, Collaboration, and Connecting. (Sound familiar Diane? I mentioned that when I saw those words on your website I knew it was a sign for me to participate).The members will be grounded in Christian beliefs and will respect each other in the manner she chooses to worship. I believe strongly in Leading by Example. This faith based organization will be a subtle yet a powerful source of accountability and empowerment.

What 3 tips would you share with a friend who is launching her own entrepreneurial adventure?

• Find your passion, it will pay you well.
• Develop your faith, business expertise, and support systems
• Have fearless fun
• I’ve got a 4^th– Join National Organization of Christian Women Entrepreneurs.

Linda D. Neal, MBA
Numbers Count
[email protected]
http://numberscount.wordpress.com
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