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This is a tale of a female entrepreneur who used to have an American Express card but lost it in the chaos of the Internet bubble bursting and a breakup with a long term boyfriend.

Dear American Express,

I would like an American Express card, please.

Why, you ask?

Because I’m a successful entrepreneur with a fast-growing company in the emerging tech space.

Because I have regular travel expenses each month that I pay off the following month.

Because I love what I see American Express doing with the Open initiative for small businesses.

Because I love what I see American Express doing with cause-related initiatives.

Because I love the perks of having an AmEx card (Do you still do that extra protection for members when they rent cars? I used to love that.)

Because I love the prestige that having an AmEx card brings. Call me superficial, but it really is a status symbol to flash your AmEx (don’t leave home without it, and all that).

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It’s that time of year again!

Somehow, in between all the shopping and baking and wrapping and mailing and planning and driving to Christmas pageants and holiday concerts, you still have to find time to run your business—and decide how you’re going to mark the season in your professional life.

Here are a few tips to help you ring in the holidays the right way at work:

• Gifts. Who gets them? And what should they get? Etiquette maven Emily Post says giving gifts to employees is “a nice gesture and a great way to acknowledge those who work for you.” If you’re going to gift your employees, though, remember the old Valentine rule from elementary school: Bring one for everyone. Books, gift cards, tickets to arts or sporting events, and baskets of cookies or other treats are all appropriate for employees. Avoid gifts that are too expensive or intimate.


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As a writer and pro-blogger, I’m always in need of ideas for articles, columns and blog posts on a near daily basis. Unfortunately, even a writer who does this for a living can run dry. It isn’t that I don’t have any ideas. It is just that the ideas I have right now aren’t inspiring me. Call it a bad mood, call it writers block, call it what you like. But whatever you call it, I’m still sitting here with my morning blending into midday blending into afternoon and still no blog post.

So I will do what every professional writer must do at one time or another. Write about ways to overcome writers block or ways to find your next cool idea. I hope this list will inspire you and help some of you get out of that idea-free rut you find yourself in on occasion, whether you’re looking for topics to write about or ideas for any aspect of your company.
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When do you know that it is time to hire an assistant? I think so many of us are used to multi-tasking. Some of us, like me, even thrive on having a million things to do and find it difficult to get motivated when our workload is light. But even with Type A overachievers, there must be some definitive signs that it is time to hire some help.

Here are some signs that could mean you are in need of hiring somebody.

1. You are missing deadlines. Sure, your clients may be forgiving, but if you find yourself getting behind, chances are you’ve reached the tipping point between a lot of work and too much work for one human being. Missing deadlines is not acceptable. Don’t sully your reputation by lowering your standards.
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I was thinking back to the days when I owned an Internet company and encountered some women who decided they didn’t like me (we had never met). They set out to badmouth me to whoever would listen - including the press - as well as publishing false statements about me online. It was a very painful experience for me, especially since my entire business revolved around teaching and helping women and girls get online. I was floored that other women felt the need to put me down - as an author, as a businesswoman and even as a person - as a way of “competing.”

First, let’s define the difference between libel and slander.
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Donna Maria Coles Johnson of Indie Business Media, LLC is the “Lifestyle CEO” who helps women manage home and business through the resources she creates including a radio show and the book The Lifestyle CEO: Break All the Rules, Build Your Own Corporate Ladder & Create the Life You Love. In addition to all of her other accomplishments, she is also a lawyer. Here is what she has to say about trademark issues around building a brand.

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My company Moonbow Productions, Inc. is an S-Corporation. What is yours?

I turned to Areva D. Martin, Esq, a managing partner and president of Martin & Martin, LLP to better understand the different ways a company can be formed.

Q: What are the main differences between a C and an S corporation that a new business owner should consider?

A: Most of the differences between a C corporation and an S corporation have to do with the tax consequences of revenue earned by the company. Before deciding on whether to form a C versus an S corporation, entrepreneurs should consult with a CPA and/or tax attorney. The main benefit of incorporating - limited liability for the owner - applies to both C and S corporations. There are limitations with respect to S corporations and generally S corporations are reserved for small privately owned businesses.

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