The BOSS Network Blog

Technology expert, speaker, media personality, and entrepreneur, Angela Benton, is the founder and CEO of NewME , a social enterprise that accelerates entrepreneurs with non-traditional backgrounds. Since launching in 2011, NewME has accelerated hundreds of entrepreneurs in changing their lives through entrepreneurship including helping them raise over $17 million in venture capital funding. The company focuses on helping entrepreneurs identify strengths from their non-traditional backgrounds and leverage them in business.  Born in Chicago, IL, Benton spent most of her childhood just outside Washington DC in Northern Virginia. Having her first child at 16 and determined not to become a statistic, Benton graduated high school in just three years and went on to attend several colleges, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2004 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communications with a specialization in Digital Design. As a young, single mother, Benton armed with resilience and det...

We keep track of what matters to us the most.  Real talk…..do you consistently find the time to make sure your business finances are in the “black” while you’re “too busy” to keep your mental, physical and spiritual well being out of the “red”?  The irony is that most BOSS ladies juggle a non-negotiable “to-do” list larger than most and yet when it comes to doing the things to maintain a high level of energy, mental clarity, and long term health we make those choices optional.  What is it that makes us think it’s ok to be financially prosperous and physically bankrupt?   The great news is that you know how to get on your grind and push through tough times. You know how to dig in and climb some really steep hills.  Being an entrepreneur isn’t for the soft, the easily discouraged, or the complainers.   Now how can you use all of those amazing skills when it comes to taking care of your mental, physical and spiritual well being? I’m glad you asked! ...

Have you ever struggled with a sense of worthlessness? If so, you are not alone. The one thing that I have learned in life is that many people struggle with feeling unworthy of great things. This struggle of worth may be personal, in the marketplace, as an entrepreneur and even in knowing our place in the world. The reality is that I have struggled with a feeling unworthy too –personally, in ministry, and professionally. These thoughts of worthlessness will keep us from moving forward. For this reason, it is important to know that others do not determine our self-worth. We must be the one to determine that we are worth seeing the world! In 2001, I took my first trip abroad to study law in Beijing China. At that time I had a two year old daughter, I was on the brink of breaking my engagement and I had very little money. However, I was determined to step outside of my comfort zone even though I felt like a fish out of water. Eventually, I earned a Certification in Chinese Law and inte...

As an Entrepreneur you are a leader. Whether you want to be or not, people are looking at you to lead because you have started something. Some leaders are good and some are great. I don’t know about you but I’d rather be great. If we look at history until today we can all think of some great leaders: Martin Luther King, Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Oprah, Bill Gates, Sara Blakely, and more. There is no such thing as an island and no one becomes great by their own efforts. If your goal is to become a better leader, you have to begin to do the things that leaders do in order to become wildly successful. Implement these strategies and become great in your own right as an entrepreneur. Delegate: Google is a huge international brand. I can’t tell you how many times I go to Google in a day. I would estimate between 8-10 times. Most would agree that Google is a great company. However, there is no way that Google could have become what it is today without the help o...

2015 is the year of the BOSS CHICK and it’s so beautiful to watch so many women launch new brands and embark upon the journey of Entrepreneurship! As you embark on your Entrepreneurial journey, here are 7 essentials that your start-up will need: 1. A domain Whenever I think of a new business idea, I check to see if the domain name is available. If it is, I purchase it- whether I have a business plan, strategy or even a full concept in mind. If the concept is on your mind, surely it’s on someone else’s too!  2.Blog Successful entrepreneurs have established trustworthy brands. In order to gain the trust of your clients, you have to establish yourself as an expert. The easiest way to do that is by blogging about the topics that fit your expertise, industry or interests. Blogging is free and allows you to have a voice!  3.Business Email Do NOT. I repeat DO NOT use @yahoo @hotmail @me @aol or any other personal email extension. If you absolutely refuse to go through th...

 Rachel Green , The CEO of A Brand Called U, Rachel manages public relations strategies; Media Outreach Material Development, on-site Event Management, Client Management, and the overall daily activities of her firm. As an advocate for continued education she enjoys teaching small business owners the power of do- it-yourself public relations, and Marketing The BOSS Network : What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process  of s tarting your business or career? Rachel Green: In the beginning, the biggest obstacle that I faced in my career was client dependency. As a publicists, you will find that most potential clients truly do not understand the full benefits of having a full-time publicist and often only seek out assistance when conducting events. Therefore, your clientele became project based which result in inconsistent income BN : What inspired you to break into your particular industry? RG : I was actually introduced to the profession on accident...

Dr. Mimi Johnson, is Divinely and Purposefully Empowered to teach others Life-Empowerment skills. She is an ordained minister with a Doctor of Ministry Degree, a life-empowerment  coach, and motivational /inspirational speaker. She also has a M.A. in Educational Administration with a  background in Elementary and Special Education. She is married to an awesome husband David, with two fantastic children Quiana Joy and David Aiden II. The BOSS Network : What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career? Dr. Mimi Johnson : An obstacle that I faced in the beginning process of starting my business was that I tried to do everything so perfectly.  I wanted a perfect website, perfect business cards, perfect videos, and so on.  Perfection was causing me to not move forward in a timely fashion.  I had to learn that I needed to start somewhere.  You have to crawl before you walk.  I have learned to ba...