E) a person who starts their own successful business melting down empty lipstick tubes to make items to be thrown at people who honestly use the term lipstick entrepreneur. #lipstickentrepreneur
I envision "Lipstick Entrepreneur" as another line on Orly Taitz's business card. You know, along with Dentist, Lawyer, and Real Estate Agent. #lipstickentrepreneur
I went to one of those cheesy Pure Romance sex toy parties awhile back, and the saleswoman told me that she was about to quit her "real" job and do Pure Romance full time. I'm guessing that qualifies as Lipstick Entrepreneurship, too—although Lubricant Entrepreneurship would be a more appropriate moniker…
@Kivrin: Honestly, it's a market that isn't experiencing the kind of crunch some others are, or at least that seems to be the case. The sex shop I work in is pretty consistently making significantly more money than in previous years, and many people say that in lieu of spending money on vacations or whatnot, they send the kids to their grandparents'/friends'/etc house for the weekend. That said, I would so never buy anything from one of those parties. Marked up like woah, and the people selling it (by and large) don't know fuck all about what they're doing. #lipstickentrepreneur
@femmina: Yeah, I bought some lube and a cute little hummingbird-shaped vibe (my first). Now that I'm no longer a sex toy virgin, I'll go to a shop (and support local businesses!) for future purchases. ;) #lipstickentrepreneur
I'm trying to imagine what complexion would look good with that orange lipstick in the middle of the photo. It would look ghastly on my pale self, but I can't imagine it looking good on my darker skinned friends, either. #lipstickentrepreneur
@Kivrin: I have chocolate brown skin and I have a bright tangerine lipstick that looks fantastic on me. It's a little bit sheer.
I saw Rose McGowan once with bright vermilion lipstick and it was stunning. It was actually what spurred me to check out some orange/corals, even though I thought it might be just for pale people like her. #lipstickentrepreneur
Thank you so much for this. This article is more useful than every class I had in college where the teacher espoused "networking" but always made it sound so vague. Never telling us WHERE to go and WHAT to say exactly.
My problem with networking is that in school they always made networking seem so sleazy and fake- two things I detest with a passion. I loathe lieing/liars and I always thought that was what networking was.
Thank you for highlighting that networking doesn't have to be like that.
This is a great post! I'd add two simple things that have helped little introverted me out!
1) Be aware of your body language - I really do tend to curl up or cross my arms and even though it's shyness it can come off as aloof or unwelcoming. When you notice yourself slipping into old routines you can adjust accordingly.
2) When someone introduces themselves to you, repeat their name back to them and look them in the eyes as you shake their hand. This really helps if -like me- you sometimes have trouble remembering names while meeting a whole bunch of people in a short amount of time.
There's a book I read that I like called Brag!: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It by Peggy Klaus. It really opened my eyes to how I introduce myself to people when I meet them for the first time. General lesson is, if you are excited about your own work, others will be too. I skim it before job interviews now.
LaToya, I love love love you for posting this. My best advice to young people starting out in business is to remember two really important things: 1) The worst thing anyone can do is rebuff you/say no to you.2) This will not kill you. My mentor taught me this; it sounds simplistic, but it is some of the hardest stuff to do. But... If you remember those two things, you can succeed at anything.
ETA: Listen, I know that at events it can be really hard to force oneself out of an introverted posture. I make myself do it all the time, and I often feel like it's going to make me puke. I am a hermit left to my own devices... that said, I need to meet people to make money. Make yourself do it, introduce yourself, smile, be friendly, send thank you emails after the event. Latoya's advice here is invaluable in any industry.
Ugh but the worst part of networking is making small talk. I loathe making small talk about the weather and stuff plus it's soooo awkward....And the hardest part about working the room is the opening conversation. Do you just butt into a conversation, if you go up and introduce yourself to someone...again with the small talk.
Accept Invitations. Just go. Go out. When someone says let's go somewhere, force yourself to go.
This is great advice. I've never had a problem socializing or networking, but my husband has to be dragged by his ankles to any sort of social event. Recently, he was laid off and I started bringing him around and introducing him to colleagues and friends. It took some time for him to loosen up, but now he has networked himself into a cushy consultant job.
11/03/09
[www.lipstickqueen.com] #lipstickentrepreneur
11/03/09
"Whatever, Avon. Now, who here's interested in investing in my closet organization/life coaching company?"
11/03/09
11/03/09
11/03/09
11/03/09
11/03/09
11/03/09
11/03/09
11/03/09
11/03/09
11/03/09
11/04/09
I saw Rose McGowan once with bright vermilion lipstick and it was stunning. It was actually what spurred me to check out some orange/corals, even though I thought it might be just for pale people like her. #lipstickentrepreneur
11/03/09
11/03/09
11/03/09
09/03/09
My problem with networking is that in school they always made networking seem so sleazy and fake- two things I detest with a passion. I loathe lieing/liars and I always thought that was what networking was.
Thank you for highlighting that networking doesn't have to be like that.
09/03/09
1) Be aware of your body language - I really do tend to curl up or cross my arms and even though it's shyness it can come off as aloof or unwelcoming. When you notice yourself slipping into old routines you can adjust accordingly.
2) When someone introduces themselves to you, repeat their name back to them and look them in the eyes as you shake their hand. This really helps if -like me- you sometimes have trouble remembering names while meeting a whole bunch of people in a short amount of time.
09/03/09
09/03/09
09/02/09
09/02/09
ETA: Listen, I know that at events it can be really hard to force oneself out of an introverted posture. I make myself do it all the time, and I often feel like it's going to make me puke. I am a hermit left to my own devices... that said, I need to meet people to make money. Make yourself do it, introduce yourself, smile, be friendly, send thank you emails after the event. Latoya's advice here is invaluable in any industry.
09/02/09
09/02/09
This is great advice. I've never had a problem socializing or networking, but my husband has to be dragged by his ankles to any sort of social event. Recently, he was laid off and I started bringing him around and introducing him to colleagues and friends. It took some time for him to loosen up, but now he has networked himself into a cushy consultant job.