Keryl Pesce

The author and entrepreneur found time to chat with MyCity4Her about starting her brand, how she defines success and more in her Q&A 4Her interview.

Did you ever imagine yourself achieving what you have?

Yes and no. If you told me even just two years ago that within the same year, I would publish a book, start a radio show and launch a wine, I likely wouldn’t have believed it. With that said, once I decide to do something, once my mind is made up and I have the vision and know what it is I want to accomplish, it’s a done deal. I see the final outcome I want and it simply becomes a matter of execution. I’m “all in” to figure out how to make it happen. I designed the cover of my book, printed it out and wrapped it around another book I owned. I looked at it every day as I wrote my book, knowing it would become real. So yes with each project on its own, but I never thought I could make so much happen in such a short amount of time. I have to give kudos here to my partner in the wine, Debbie Gioquindo. She’s a dynamo. It would not have been possible without her.

What in hindsight would you say you underestimated about your industry or business and why?

When it comes to the book, I underestimated how much time I would spend editing, but it makes all the difference in the world. I can’t describe it, but I knew when I nailed a chapter and would stay with it until I felt it. It took patience, which is sometimes challenging for me. When it comes to the wine, probably the amount of time involved getting it off the ground and the many details I never imagined I would have to tend to. From design, to packaging, to compliance, to marketing and selling, there is so much to know and do.

What is the best business-related advice you have ever been given?

Follow your passion and dream big. If you settle for doing anything less than what you love, you greatly reduce your chances of success. You will face many challenges and roadblocks. You have to go over them, under them, around them or right through them sometimes. It takes a tremendous amount of persistence and diligence to keep pushing forward. The love of what you do is what keeps you going.

What do you love most about what you do and why?

Impacting other people in a positive way. Hands down. When I know, either through the radio show, something someone read in my book, or by living my life as an example, another person will choose to carry less baggage and live happier or better, it’s an incredible feeling. I had a women email me and tell me that the introduction of my book alone got her through her first night alone after her husband left her. She shared that my words helped her see she was going to “. . . do this thing right and her children would be proud of how she handled it.” I’ll never forget those moments.

What if you knew then what you knew now – what would you do differently and why?

I’d probably bite off less. I have a habit of biting off more than I can chew. I get a big idea in my head and I’m off to the races. I absolutely love the creation process – taking something from a thought or an idea and turning into something real. But there is a tremendous amount of time and word involved. So I just keep on chewing.

When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your time?

Spending relaxing time at home with my husband who I love so much, and our dog Ginger (a ridiculously cute bulldog/beagle mix). My idea of a perfect evening would be cooking a great meal with my husband, listening to music and sharing a bottle of wine. My down times are so rare. I treasure them.

How do you define success?

Loaded question. I read somewhere once that if you can lie down at night and know you did the best you could that day, you are a success. I believe that, but I admittedly put a tremendous amount of pressure on myself to accomplish more. On one hand, I realize not many people have done in a lifetime what I’ve done in a year. On the other hand, I can tell you a day doesn’t go by that I don’t wish I could accomplish more. The real answer, and one I must remind myself of every day, is if you follow your dreams, have guts and persistence and use your knowledge, passion and talents to impact people around you in a positive way, you are successful. So thanks, you just helped me remind myself that as much as there is yet to do and accomplish, I am successful.

If you had to share one final thought with our audience of women in business, what would it be?

Don’t focus on what you don’t want, focus on what you do want. Every challenge or perceived limitation is an opportunity. It really is. Don’t spend your precious time, thought and energy on what stands in your way. That’s a cop out. It’s not what happens to us that matters. It’s what we do with what happens to us that matters. I’m building a brand on the worst time in my life. If you want something badly enough and for the right reasons, there is always a way. You control your destiny.

After six intense weeks of “She’s Got Her Own Business Boot Camp” the students finally had an opportunity to present their ideas to a panel of judges. Each student was rated on 10 categories, Opening Presentation, Service/Product Description, Competitive Advantage, Marketing Strategy, Financial Analysis, Investment Potential, Goals and Vision, Presentation Style, Question and Answer session and the Feasibility of their business.

Students raised their own money for this event with the support of the organization. In total the students raised $1103 that was split amongst the top three winners. The total score obtainable from the judge was 52 plus the amount of money each student raised was how the winner was determined.

First Place Winners: Destiny Murray 8th grade Student at Sudbrook Middle Magnet School and Mariah Johnson 8th grader at Deer Park Middle Magnet School.

Second Place Winners: DeJoire’ Frazier 8th grade Student at Montebello Middle School and Mya Croxton 11th grade student at Western Technology School.

Third Place and Second Time Winners: Bre’Asia Gillis 8th grader at Deer Park and Jazmyn Mason 10th grader at Newtown High School.

Judges:

• Councilman Kenneth Oliver, 4th District

• Karen Barbour, President of The Barbour Group

• Nya Frazier, 12 grader at Garrison Forest School for Girls

• Kathleen Dorsey, President of Global Results & Upcoming President of National Association of Women Business Owners/ NAWBO

• Cheryl Pullins, Author, Speaker and President of The Woman’s Academy for Personal and Business Growth

• Adrienne Carver, President of Studio A & Mrs. Maryland US 2006, Mrs. Maryland America 07, Mrs. Maryland International 09, Mrs. Maryland Galaxy 11

About She Counts Inc.: Since 2009, She Counts Inc. has helped aspiring adolescent girls start and grow small businesses. She Counts Inc. provides business and career development, mentoring and workshops for girls.

For more information, business descriptions and/or interviews with students and/or Executive Director of She Counts please contact 410-449-4475 or visit www.shecountsmd.org.

Linda Seidel of Natural Cover

Linda Seidel is a Baltimore native, who has been a successful, inspired  business woman and beauty professional for over 35 years. In those 35 years she’s seen a lot of things and learned a lot about business and life in the process.

Linda candidly admits she has lived through some great times and not so great times. Surprisingly for someone who has achieved so much international acclaim and success she is incredibly gracious and humble and doesn’t skip a bit to tell you “life is a work in progress and I’m still working on it!”

Linda suffered from terrible acne as a child, and her personal experience not being one of the ‘beautiful people” led this academically trained fine artist to use the art of make-up to help others learn to love themselves, and the beauty they could be. Along the way, frustrated that there existed no products to truly address the particular needs of people dealing with severe scaring, port wine stains and other challenging imperfections to mask, she developed an innovative and proprietary way to give people seemingly flawless complexions. Soon plastic surgeons and dermatologists were flooding her phone lines with requests for appointments for their patients. Lind and her product’s reputation grew. Drawing national attention and bringing business growth rapidly.

After being featured in national publications like Family Circle, and a repeat guest on the Sally Raphael Show, as well as other television shows and the darling of the cosmetics world, Linda’s rising accomplishments were gilded with the publishing of a book in 1984. It goes without saying she and her business, were on a roll and things were snow balling. The world was her oyster.  She trade marked her flag ship product called Natural Cover and everything seemed to be on the up and up. Then, in 1987 things suddenly to change and all of a sudden life wasn’t quite so glamorous. At that time, Linda suffered terrible personal and professional losses, despite all this – she kept on keeping on. “I was working hard on learning” she says “and I wasn’t always getting the lesson the first time.”

Linda says despite multiple fantastic opportunities, she admits at various stages in her life, in different ways she was running her(self) and her business into the ground for a variety of reasons. She shares she didn’t understand the mechanics of running a business… “no one ever explained it to me, and I didn’t know better to ask”,  not to mention making sure she took take care of herself. Somehow though – she got through those dark times and her passion for her profession and her product, prevailed!

Fast forward to 2007 where Linda entered the Towson Global Incubator, suddenly things started looking up. Linda knew things had to change and with the help of an incredible business advisor,  and the incubator’s support she finally got her wings and she and her company began to fly high again, and straight.  She admits it hasn’t been an easy 5 years, but is pleased to reflect that indeed – things are better than ever.

There’s a happy second book to this story because the ebullient, infectiously enthusiastic artist eventually bought her company back, and launched a whole new product line that is poised to take the beauty world by storm. Her company is tracking GREAT projections for 2012 and the future looks very bright for this determined and inspired female entrepreneur.

MyCity4Her caught up with the ageless beauty recently to hear incredible story of true renewal, the power of daring to innovate, learning along the way and what success really means.

Did you ever imagine yourself achieving what you have?

Since the inception of my company in 1973, I have been imagining and consciously creating its success.

What in hindsight would you say you underestimated about your industry or business and why?

I underestimated the amount of jealously and blatant attempts by my peers to undermine my success.

What is the best business related advice you have ever been given?

The best business advice is something I had to learn on my own, and it is only from years of experience; and that is to trust my instincts and not give it up to someone else.

What do you love most about what you do and why?

I love using my God given talent to help women, men and children through the “Art of Makeup” because it changes lives. My work is my absolute passion.

What – if you knew then what you know now – would you do differently and why?

Every choice that I have made has led me to this moment. It hasn’t been an easy road, but it’s my road and now I’m in the driver’s seat.

When you’re not working how do you like to spend your time?

I love spending time with my two amazingly talented daughters and five grandchildren. Other than that, I am a dancing fool!

How do you define success?

Success to me is finding true happiness and fulfillment.

If you had to share one final thought with our audience of thousands of women in business – what would it be?

My final thought and piece of advice is to focus on the “big picture” when the chips are down, which will put everything in perspective.

About Linda Seidel: With a talent for portraiture and drawing, Linda Seidel thought at one time she’d pursue a career in art. She did just that, but her medium was makeup, not paint or pastels. Very early on, Linda realized that there was no correlation between the shades of makeup sold and the color of human skin. Then, when she was asked to conceal a tiny scar on a client’s face, the challenge set off a chain of events that would be life-changing for Linda. With a great deal of determination and passion, she set about creating her own makeup line, Natural Cover, and a career was launched. Through innovative application techniques, specialized cosmetic products and a humanitarian approach to business, Linda has personally transformed the daily lives of thousands of women, children, and men over the last 35 years. To learn more about Linda, her business and products click here.

Although she’s busy promoting her company’s new products which include Fluffy Bunny Shea Butter Body Cream, Honey Magnolia Sparkling Soak, Front Porch Punch Shea Butter Soap and her sister company, Summer Soles, line of peel-and-stick shoe liners of the same name, Shannon found time to chat with MyCity4Her. She shared invaluable insight about starting your own business and more in her Q&A 4Her interview.

Did you ever imagine yourself achieving what you have?

I’ve been entrepreneurial for as long as I can remember, even crocheting towels and selling them around my neighborhood when I was in grade school. When I was in middle school I began writing stories and drawing pictures about creating perfumes and body creams and designing a retail space. So, yes, the foundation I envisioned has certainly come to life. But there is so much more. Every year we imagine greater evolutions for our company, and begin to apply ourselves to bringing them to fruition.

What in hindsight would you say you underestimated about your industry or business and why?

So many people have a romanticized notion of “starting a business.” The big-picture details are there — like having a great idea, making a product, and making money from the product. But the work behind that big picture is truly daunting, and definitely not for the faint of heart. My day begins at 5am and doesn’t end until the evening news is on. I am lucky to squeeze in a shower and a quick walk with my dog most days. We don’t use real dishes in my house to save 20 minutes a day, and quadruple tasking is a regular event. Eating while standing up, reviewing emails and texting while slipping on shoes and racing out to a meeting. So from a personal standpoint I underestimated what it meant to run your own business. I do love it. But I have given up vacations, weekends and friendships, in lieu of successfully squeezing every moment out of a 7 day workweek. Most of my friends have 2 and 3 kids, get together with friends and family regularly and schedule vacations. I chose not to have children, and my best friends are inventory spreadsheets. A mini vacation for me is getting my hair cut.

What is the best business related advice you have ever been given?

You will juggle 1000 balls every day, and if 700 of them stay in the air, it’s been a good day.

What do you love most about what you do and why?

We launch an incredible number of new products each year, and the process of dreaming up a product, crafting it, designing it, and making it a reality is so rewarding for me. It’s quintessential creationism. Just an absolute joy to be a part of on a daily basis.

What if you knew then what you know now – would you do differently and why?

I would have taken more specialized classes – even taken community college and design courses to help bring a more robust artistic approach to my designing. Like fashion design, architecture, advertising copywriting, ad product layout, textile design. Once you get out there in building your business there is very little time to go back or fold in anything else.

When you’re not working how do you like to spend your time?

I’m confused. What does that mean “when you’re not working?” Kidding aside, having a 30 minute conversation at a restaurant with my husband is great. Sleep – getting to sleep in is fabulous. I’ve been told by my friends that my schedule is very similar to families with newborns, only my newborn never grows up.

How do you define success?

Having created a company that is profitable and in high demand, that employs fabulous people, and creates products that touch people’s lives in a positive way.

If you had to share one final thought.

Do every single thing well, and let the chips fall where they may. I spent years getting headaches, grinding my teeth, and more… all worrying about outcomes. But I’ve learned that what you can control is what matters. Just do everything well, and the outcome tends to match your efforts.

About Shannon McLinden: Shannon McLinden spent 10 years working in the advertising agency field in Dallas, Texas before realizing there was something she hated about her job – it had nothing to do with the job itself – but the tacky, sticky feeling in her sandals as she braved the Texas heat. In 2004, she began working with manufacturers to develop the perfect perspiration-fix for sandals and open shoes. Summer Soles were born – the first-ever peel and stick liner for stay-dry comfort in sandals. The company expanded their line to include natural bath and body product s under the brand FarmHouse Fresh. The FarmHouse Fresh brand includes a trio of salt scrubs selected by Oprah for her O-List and a Redbook “Most Valuable Product” award winner called Whoopie! Cream. The brand is sold in four and five-star hotels and resorts throughout the US, including Saks Fifth Avenue Spas, Ritz-Carltons, Hyatt Regencys, among others, and finer retail boutiques.

In addition to running Summer Soles, Shannon is also a motivational speaker for teens and is the author of motivational self-help book for teen girls titled, The Me Nobody Knew, published in 1998, which details the struggles and triumphs of overcoming her teen years. Today, it is sold in two languages: English and Taiwanese, and is used as curriculum in middle school, high school and college classes throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Shannon graduated with her MBA from Texas Christian University.

Most privately held businesses think very little of antitrust and pre-merger notification rules governing mergers or acquisitions. However, as it may be economical to grow your business by acquiring or merging with other similar businesses, it is important to know that even small to mid-market businesses may find such transactions subject to various antitrust rules. Whether your a female business owner of an increasingly growing enterprise, or a woman entrepreneur considering the future of her start up, it pays to be aware of legal implications and their role on the overall business – whatever the size of your company.

Many larger companies are more familiar with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act (“HSR Act”) which requires any transaction with a value in excess of $50 million as adjusted each year (currently $68.2 million) to complete a form and submit it to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) or the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) (collectively, the “Agencies”) for their approval of the transaction at least thirty (30) days prior to consummating the transaction. The HSR Act is intended to review such transactions to make certain that the acquisition or merger of the target company and the buyer does not create an anti-competitive effect in the marketplace. The failure to report can result in significant fines and penalties to the parties, and the government can require the transaction be unwound or that assets be divested.

In addition to the HSR Act, in December 2010, the Agencies adopted revised and expanded horizontal merger guidelines pursuant to which smaller transactions (below the $50 million threshold), which are not reportable under the HSR Act, may become subject to Agency scrutiny and action. Under the merger guidelines, the government examines the potential anti-competitive effect a transaction may have within its industry and within identified geographic markets, irrespective of the transaction’s size.

As part of this horizontal merger review, the Agencies examine and balance the likelihood of market concentration and potential negative competitive impact against the pro-competitive efficiencies of a proposed transaction. In doing so, the government examines the market concentration and whether the acquisition will provide or otherwise enhance the ability of the combined entity to raise or maintain prices above a competitive level, restrict output, or limit entry into the market. In evaluating the potential impact, the Agencies examine relative market shares and concentration levels in the affected markets both before and after any proposed transaction. Those which significantly increase market concentration or result in a concentrated market are more likely to invite regulatory challenge. Both the HSR Act and compliance with the horizontal merger guidelines can increase the costs and expenses involved in doing a transaction, but the failure to be certain your transaction does not trigger reporting could result in significant fines, penalties and headaches if the agencies feel otherwise.

DISCLAIMER: Opinions and conclusions in this post are solely those of the author unless otherwise indicated. This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice on any particular matter. It is not intended to and does not create any attorney-client relationship. Since legal advice must vary with individual circumstances, do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of this article without consulting professional legal counsel. If you would like additional information on the subject matter of this article, please feel free to contact the author. IRS CIRCULAR 230 NOTICE: Any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (or in any attachment) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding federal tax penalties or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein

Think Energy, the retail electricity business established by GDF SUEZ Energy Resources to serve small businesses, has announced that it is kicking off a search for Baltimore’s smartest small business – with the winner getting a year of free electricity.

The competition is open to companies in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area that employ 100 people or fewer. Anyone can submit nominations – customers, friends, family members, and even the small business itself – by going to a website developed specifically for the contest. Think Energy will begin accepting nominations on April 30, and the winner will be announced at the end of July.

For a limited time, every business that’s nominated will be eligible for an exclusive low rate for its electricity, and anyone who submits a nomination is eligible to be entered into a sweepstakes for an iPad2.

“There are a lot of small businesses doing really good things for their customers and the community,” said Deena Morgan, Vice President and General Manager of Think Energy. “This is an opportunity to recognize those contributions, and to provide these companies with an opportunity to better manage and control their energy costs.”

After the nomination period closes at midnight on June 15, a panel made up of small businesses will select five finalists based on the following criteria: customer service, products and services, marketing, and company culture.

Each finalist will receive a professional-quality video, produced at their place of business, to be used to promote their company on the contest website. The public will be invited to visit the site, review all the videos, and cast their votes for Baltimore’s smartest small business. The ultimate winner will be selected by the majority of votes received during the voting period, which will run from July 2 to July 15.

In addition to providing the video, Think Energy will also offer the finalists materials they can use to promote their businesses during the voting period.

About Think Energy: Think Energy provides retail electric services to small commercial customers in Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania. For additional information, visit www.mythinkenergy.com or follow Think Energy on Twitter and Facebook.

Think Energy is a subsidiary of GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA, one of the largest non-residential retail energy suppliers in the U.S.

This is the second installment of a three part series detailing the mistakes companies can make when entering into the government contracting market. Even successful contractors will tell you that they have made many mistakes learning the ropes in this market. After all, it is a tough, complicated and rigorous market that demands expertise, dedication and perseverance before success is achieved.

While all contractors have made mistakes when trying to enter or become more successful in the government market, successful business owners have learned from their mistakes, make the necessary changes and move forward to greater business opportunities and larger contracts.

As you read through the top three killer mistakes listed here, note those that you recognize and make the changes now. You will start to see benefits and the doors that were slammed tight will start to open for your business.

Killer Mistake #2

You Do Not Understand the Language: Whether you are starting at the local city level, the state level or even the federal government level, every segment has its own language, processes and procedures. If you do not understand the conversations, the acronyms or procedures, you make it much more difficult on yourself.

• Learn the Lingo: You will hear new terms and acronyms at every meeting, outreach session and conference. If you are unsure of what they mean, it is appropriate to ask. People involved in government contracting get very used to speaking in acronyms, technical terms and buzz-words and often do not remember that even they had to learn the terms at one point. If you prefer to research first and therefore feel more comfortable conversing with contracting officers, you can use resources such as www.sba.gov for study materials or contact TargetGov for a complimentary Government Contracting Glossary and Acronym List.

• Example of Lingo: Purchase Vehicle – Government entities most often do not buy products and services the same way consumers or other businesses may buy. In the private sector, when we sell something to a consumer, we often write up a receipt after they give us the money. If we sell in the business-to-business market, when we propose a complicated or high-cost service or product to another business we often use a contract that both parties will sign which includes all of the required information and payment process.

Government entities have a more complicated purchase process (with one exception). Most often, they will use something called a purchase vehicle. This vehicle is not something one would drive, but rather it is a tool or method used to buy something.
Three Killer Mistakes © 2012 Gloria Berthold Larkin Page 2 of 2 1-866-579-1346

The good news is a vehicle may be as simple as a credit card. The bad news is that a vehicle may be as complicated as writing a two hundred page response to a formal proposal.

If you have heard of a GSA Schedule, that is a common purchase vehicle used by the federal government. Essentially it is a pre-approved contract where your pricing structure, your legal business entity and your services and products are all analyzed and final prices negotiated until you and the government agree. A GSA Schedule is a five-year contract, and it is renewable for three more five year periods making it a total of a twenty year-long contract.

Once you have an approved GSA Schedule, you have not made a sale, but you do have a “license to hunt”; and an easy tool or vehicle for the government to use when they want to buy something from you. There are other types of purchase vehicles called Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs), Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) or Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts. These are also good examples of why acronyms are used so much in government contracting.

Accept Credit Cards:One of the best and simplest method or contract vehicle used is a government credit card. The government will make billions of dollars in purchases every year for all types of products and services simply by using a VISA or MasterCard credit card. If you accept these cards in your business, you can make many more sales. Check with your local bank for the steps needed to accept credit cards in your business.

Eliminating this #2 Killer-Mistake will help you turn the corner to success in the government contracting market. Use this tip to build a healthy, stable and secure government contracting business.

About the author: Gloria Berthold Larkin is president of TargetGov and an expert in business development in the government and corporate business markets. She is a dynamic speaker and book author and very adept at negotiating the government contracting maze on behalf of clients. Visit www.targetgov.com or call toll-free 1-866-579-1346 for more information.

While mastering the art of surfing, Jerstrom was faced with swimwear issues most woman deal with: tops and bottoms that won’t stay put, made worst by the demands of surfing. Because of this, Anna set out to make a better bikini and Calavera was born.

Anna took time out of her busy day to talk to MyCity4Her and shared stories about her incredible journey including the best advice she’s received, the mistakes she’s made along the way and more in her Q&A 4Her interview.

Did you ever imagine yourself achieving what you have?

At the risk of sounding arrogant – Yes. You have to believe that it is all going to work out in order to “survive” entrepreneurship. It is such a tough and uncertain road and faith is a big part of what carries you forward. That being said, it is still an awesome and mind-boggling feeling to see something you care so deeply about resonate with other people.

What in hindsight would you say you underestimated about your industry or business and why?

I come from the financial service industry and had never actually made anything and must admit I had grossly underestimated the complexity and challenges involved in getting a product developed and manufactured. Every little detail matters and there are so many things that can go wrong in the process. While I was use to giving people I worked with guidelines and they’d go figure it out themselves, I found myself in a situation where I had to be completely explicit in my instructions. Since I had no experience and therefore “did not know what I did not know” it was a long and painful process, but I learned. For example, now I know that I have to specify the thickness of the thread and the number of stitches per inch or the thread will pop when the fabric stretches… I know that you have to make sure the fabric is cut in the correct direction and that it is the same weight as was used for the samples you made or you end up with a completely different sized garment..and I know that it is a terrible feeling when you are sitting there with 300 bikini tops that have different sized left and right cups…Like I said, I learned the hard way.

What is the best business related advice you have ever been given?

When I started out as a first time entrepreneur I reached out to as many people as I could that had walked down that path already. I collected a lot of good advice but here is the catch; no-one knows your business as well as you do and I found that while it is really important to listen to people with experience, it is much more important to listen to yourself. There are a thousand ways of getting to the same place, and you can easily get lost if you start paying too much attention to what other people think and not enough to what you think yourself. It is important that you gather the relevant information in order to make your decision, but never let someone else make it for you. However, I have a few “pet phrases” told to me by wise people that I consulted on this journey. The best one is also the simplest one – Just do it! (it had an x-rated word squeezed in there as well but I figured better keep it clean…). Nike was really on to something when they coined that phrase.

What do you love most about what you do and why?

I love that I get to work with something that I am so passionate about. For me surfing isn’t something I do, it is who I am, and to be able to occasionally sit on my surfboard and call it
work is amazing.

What – if you knew then what you know now – would you do differently and why?

A million things. Being an entrepreneur and a start-up is all about making mistakes and taking risks. In the beginning, I use to get upset when the world did not spin my way or I made the wrong decision but I quickly learned that what is important is how you solve the problem, not whether you have it in the first place. I use to feel sick to my stomach when I had messed up and now all I do is figure out how to fix it in the most efficient way possible. It is easy to think that successful people are successful because they do everything right, but my belief is that they are successful because they can react and adjust in a dynamic manner.

When you’re not working how do you like to spend your time?

Surfing of course!

How do you define success?

My financial advisors always shirk when I say this, but I really don’t care about making loads of money. For me, success is walking down a beach seeing someone I don’t know wearing something I made. It has happened a couple of times and it is a weird and wonderful feeling. However, in the end my investors and I will benefit just the same because if I am to see a bunch of people in a Calavera suit every time I go to a beach I need to sell a whole lot of bikinis!!

If you had to share one final thought with our audience of thousands of women in
business – what would it be?

For me, it has been difficult to stop and take joy in the good things rather than just dealing with the things that needs fixing. Building a company takes hard work and dedication so if you are going to do it, make sure you take time to enjoy the journey.

The Martha Stewart Show airs on The Hallmark Channel at 10am EST. Please check your local listings for exact channel information.

Before you take a look at Donna and her French gourmet treats on The Martha Stewart Show tomorrow, read a little more about her, her business and why Martha Stewart considers her cookies a “good thing” in MyCity4Her‘s interview:

“Admission to The Daily Record’s Circle of Excellence is a testament to the exceptional contributions each honoree has made through the course of years,” Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, Daily Record Publisher, said in a statement. “We are proud to recognize Traci Barnett for her continued outstanding work and dedicated service.”

“Induction into this esteemed Circle is particularly special this year—2012—as Girl Scouts, an organization dedicated to developing girls’ leadership potential—celebrates its 100th anniversary,” Barnett said of the achievement. “This award endorses the work of Girl Scouting and my efforts to make Girl Scouts available to every girl in central Maryland who is interested in the program.”

The Daily Record’s annual list of Maryland’s Top 100 Women was created to recognize outstanding achievement by women as demonstrated through professional accomplishments, community leadership and mentoring. Circle of Excellence inductees are recognized for sustained achievements in those areas. In order to qualify for The Daily Record’s Circle of Excellence, women must have been named to the Top 100 Women two previous times.

Traci Barnett has been CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Maryland since August 2002. Under Barnett’s leadership, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland has developed a premier STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program for girls in the region through partnerships with the NASA Goddard Space Center, Johns Hopkins University, Northrop Grumman, UMBC, Lockheed Martin and TechBridge. In October 2010 Girl Scouts of Central Maryland celebrated the grand opening of their Urban Program and STEM Center in Baltimore city with facilities that feature technology labs, a multimedia center, dance studio, and learning kitchen.

In addition to a myriad of programs for Girl Scout troops, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland provides programs for at-risk girls in Baltimore city through programs such as P.A.V.E. the Way Baltimore, an anti-violence initiative that reaches several thousand youth each year; in-school programs in some of Baltimore’s and Annapolis’ toughest city schools; and, Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, a nationally acclaimed program that was piloted in Baltimore and now replicated in Councils across the U.S. Girl Scouts of Central Maryland received the prestigious Standards for Excellence Accreditation from the Maryland Association of Non Profit Organizations (MANO) in 2007, a designation received by less than 1% of nonprofits in the state of Maryland. In 2009 Girl Scouts of Central Maryland received the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Community Partner Award and the Network 2000 Business 2000 Award.

As with Top 100 Women, nominations are solicited from economic development agencies, women’s organizations, chambers of commerce and the business community at large. A panel of judges comprised of business professionals and past Top 100 Women winners from throughout Maryland review all of the applications submitted. Judges are asked to be extremely selective when it comes to selecting those women named to the Circle of Excellence. They look for continued involvement in all key areas — professional accomplishment, community leadership and mentoring — and demonstration that each nominee remains actively involved and proactive.