MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT |
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Dimensions of Business Growth
There’s no getting around it: Last year was tough. But if there’s a silver lining as we continue through 2021, it’s that the hardest challenges often yield inspirational stories.
While COVID-19 has created many challenges for all businesses across the board, I believe the underlying mission for business owners remains the same and that is that we all want to grow our companies and make them run easier. In 2020, my company Paxon Energy & Infrastructure was named No.9 Fastest growing companies of America on the Inc.5000 list with a three-year growth of 15,072%. I often get asked how I did it, and the answer is rather simple:
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Focus your energy and expertise to create a business that generates predictable profits and cashflow.
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Analyze your business’ strength and weaknesses. The strong gears drive your growth while the weak ones create bottlenecks to growth.
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Identify your growth drivers for generating profits and cashflow as follows Sr. Management’s leadership and vision, Human Resources ability to find, develop and retain quality individuals, Recurring Revenue, above industry norms Margin, actuals and forward looking Financial Statements, repeatable Sales plan, process driven Operations, and last but not least, Client Satisfaction for meeting and exceeding expectations.
Now with your Growth and Equity value plan in place, you hope for the best and prepare for the hard challenges.
I’d also like to take this opportunity as we are discussing growth, to introduce NAWBO-SFBA’s president elect, Charlotta Carter, whom I believe is a tremendous asset to our chapter. Charlotta and I will be co-presidenting our chapter to ensure a smooth transition. Please take a moment to read more about Charlotta in our member spotlight.
Yours truly,
Nooshin Behroyan
Founder/CEO of Paxon Energy & Infrastructure Services
NAWBO-SFBA Chapter President 2020-2021
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Charlotta Carter is the CEO and President of GRI Technology Solutions, woman-owned, HUB zone-based IT Consulting and staffing firm headquartered in San Mateo, California. Her team provides diverse industry experience in supporting, deploying, launching and integrating solutions for both small-scale to large-scale global programs. She also serves as Managing Partner for PWC Technology Services, an IT Consulting and global staffing firm based in Toronto and focused on growing business in the Canada sector.
Why did you become a member of NAWBO?
Be a part of helping to make women businesses start, grow and sustain - Be a champion for our cause.
Tell us about your business? Why did you choose this as a business?
GRI Technology Solutions - Software Development and IT Consulting - located in San Mateo, Ca. In addition to IT Consulting, we are also launching a new AI Diabetes Solution called LLENA(AI) for T2 Diabetes suffers. I've been in business since 2011, and we're expanding into Canada (Toronto). I have always been in software, as I worked for IBM, Microsoft, SGI, Sun Microsystem over my career in software development.
Who had the biggest influence on you when starting your business? Did you have a mentor?
The ability to be the decision maker and drive strategy for solutions from the ground up. I have several mentors and provide mentorship to others.
What is the best business or personal advice you ever received?
Don’t give up. Stop looking behind you (but ensure you have great research).
What is your biggest business challenge right now?
Being a diversity supplier is tough to get business with some of the top companies as a lot of IT and software is outsourced – very competitive.
How can NAWBO members help you with your business? What is your ASK? Networking for additional opportunities and growth. Mastermind groups to bounce ideas and keep us motivated.
Fun Facts:
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What do you do when you’re not working? I’m from the south (Louisiana) and I love to cook creole food and listen to Jazz.
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What do you do for self-care? – SPAs. LOL
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If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Look into the future with accuracy. Make every woman owned business a success.
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GUEST BLOG: TMC FINANCING |
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Lease vs. Own in Today’s Market: Small Businesses and Big Decisions
A common dilemma among small business owners is whether to buy or lease commercial property in today’s market. This decision can be especially difficult in competitive real estate markets, such as those of California.
Two California markets, San Francisco & Los Angeles, ranked among the top four fastest growing cities globally. San Francisco led the rankings by a wide margin with commercial property prices up 14.6% year-over-year in Q2 2019. With increasing lease rates, business owners are at the mercy of their landlord and run the risk of being priced out of their area. It is no wonder they are unsure about whether to lease or own their building.
The purchase of commercial real estate may sound daunting to a small business owner however, there are many benefits to owning property that should be carefully weighed. First and foremost, occupancy costs will be stable, helping to accurately budget and plan for the future. Peace of mind is gained from the stability and knowledge that the operating location is owned and displacement will never be an issue.
By purchasing commercial real estate, small business owners will no longer pay someone else each month – they will pay themselves. There is no reason why business owners should continue to make their landlord rich when they could be writing their rent check to themselves each month.
In addition, owning commercial property can help business owners establish steady income post–retirement. Equity that comes from buying real estate can be used to fund further expansion of a business or can be used towards a retirement strategy. Upon retirement, owners could rent their building or sell it, to preserve a considerable nest egg for the future.
Despite how encouraging the benefits to owning can be, the fact of the matter is that most small business owners do not think they can afford to buy real estate. But if they do it right, purchasing IS attainable.
How? The answer is simple – buy your building through the SBA 504 Loan Program.
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UPCOMING NAWBO VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING
To Connect and Support You Nationally
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Tuesday, January 26, 2021
9:00 a.m. PST
How to Gain Insta-Clients with Speaking or Hosting Events or via Zoom
presented by Caterina Rando of NAWBO-San Francisco Bay Area
In this presentation you will learn:
*The influence equation and how to make it easy work for you.
*The guiding principle that will fill your virtual or live and in-person room every time.
*The big mistake businesswomen make when wanting to add new clients and what to do instead that will work.
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Tuesday, February 2, 2021
9:00 a.m. PST
3L - Learning, Leading, and Laughter
presented by Vernita Stevens of NAWBO-Charlotte
How many times have you laughed today? Using humor in the workplace can produce a shared laughter in your organization or on your team that shifts to a positive environment and increases productivity. This presentation offers an opportunity for each of you to “Clean your Lens" and learn a different side of humor and how it relates to leadership. Get ready to learn how laughter will strengthen work relationships, build teamwork, increase work performance, and add value to your style of leadership.
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UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE BAY AREA |
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NAWBO-Sacramento Valley
February 3, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. PST
Being an Authentic Leader: The Heart Matters
NAWBO-Silicon Valley
February 16, 2021 | 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. PST
5 Keys to Reclaim Your Energy to Transcend Beyond Limits
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS |
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