Brenda Rivas

Congratulations Brenda Rivas, Featured Successful Established Woman Entrepreneur

Sylvia:  Hi Brenda.  Wow, you are one busy lady!  Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to interview with me.  I am definitely a fan of the work you do to help women.  Please tell us about yourself and your business?

Brenda: Sylvia, thank you for interviewing me.  I am honored!  My name is Brenda Rivas and I am a trained Success Coach, Founder and CEO of  The Alliance of Online Entrepreneurs and the author of the soon to be released book, “Women, Passion and Online Success” ™.  I am also the creator of Let’s Do Online Launch!, an eight step program that teaches women exactly how to successfully launch lifestyle based Online Businesses. I conduct lectures and write on the topics of online entrepreneurship, money matters and spirituality. My mission is to empower women of all ages and races to embrace their natural brilliance and create the life of their dreams via profitable online businesses.

The Alliance of Online Entrepreneurs is a membership based coaching company that teaches women how to design an online business that incorporates planning, systems and structures so they can leverage their knowledge and passion into a profitable lifestyle based online business.  Along with my leadership, the AOE boasts an amazing team of experts that help guide members to reach their desired level of success within their online businesses.

Sylvia:  Wow, that’s great, Brenda!  You are, as I am, an advocate for women!  Thank you for all that you do to help women. What does success mean to you?

Brenda: Success is having the ability to live my life on my terms.  It means having a platform to express my creativity and my passions.  Success means the ability to inspire others to evolve their potential and have the courage to make their mark in the world.  Success is having the resources to help others in need, both financially and emotionally.  Success is having the courage to play big, really big!

Sylvia:  How do you create work-life balance?

Brenda: I balance my work and personal life by planning for balance!  I am a planner and believe that as Entrepreneurs we must choose to be deliberate creators and plan for our success in all areas of our lives. I plan for weekly family dinners, I plan spa treatments for myself, I plan for community outreach work and because my online business is based on lifestyle first, I only work four days a week.  Friday’s are what I refer to as Lifestyle Friday’s.  While I create balance in my life and business as often as I can, Fridays are my designated days where balance is deliberately created.  Balance comes in the way of spa visits, quiet lunches by myself, naps or curling up with a good book.  Regardless of what I do on Lifestyle Friday’s, it’s the one day of the week where I restore my mind, body and soul.

Sylvia:  Lifestyle Friday’s… I love that!  You are so right in that we all should find ways to have a balanced life both personally and professionally.  I also can’t wait to get my hands on your upcoming book.  Congratulations! What steps are necessary for a woman entrepreneur who wants to move her business to the next level?

Brenda: The first step is clarity.  You must know where you want to go so you can get there!  Many times entrepreneurs are challenged in creating forward movement.  A big culprit is that they have not taken the time to get clear and identify their bold goals.  The next step is being accountable to someone.  Whether it’s an accountability partner, or a community you must be accountable to someone else other than yourself.  Hiring a mentor coach is vital to reaching your next level of success.  It’s too easy to get sidetracked when you are not being mentored and coached by someone.   Finding someone that has already reached your desired level of success is going to help you to up level yourself and maintain your momentum.  The last step in reaching your next level of success is to step firmly into your power and adopt an unwavering determination to savor your success NO MATTER WHAT!

Sylvia:   It is important to give back.  In what way do you give back to your community?

Brenda: Giving back to my community is a vital part of my essence.  I love mentoring young women and inspiring them to evolve their passions and become Entrepreneurs.  It has been my experience that many times all we need is just one person that demonstrates belief in our dreams.  Just one person that believes in us… until we are strong in believing that we can achieve our dreams!  I thrive on being that person to many young women.  Various times throughout the year, I have the wonderful opportunity of conducting workshops for several organizations in my Community that focus on young women and Entrepreneurship.  I also lead complimentary “Casting Your Vision” workshops to several organizations who focus on helping women in distress get back on their feet.

Sylvia:  What challenges and opportunities do you see in the present economic environment?

Brenda: The only challenges that I see in the present economic environment are mindset challenges.  Yes, our economic environment has shifted. However it is a great time to define how we as entrepreneurs do business.  How can you increase value in your services and products?  Consumers will continue to hire you and buy from you as long as you are taking the pulse of your target market.  How can you diversify your marketing dollars?  Because of the Internet and Social Media, we now have the opportunity to expand our reach on a global scale.  I choose to see the opportunities in this new way of doing business. Tap into your creativity and your natural brilliance and evolve your business into new and exciting scopes of reach.  Your mindset can be your biggest asset as well as your biggest obstacle.  When most are choosing to take part of the doom and gloom, you can have the ability to choose abundance and opportunity.

Sylvia:  Share with us two industry or general business related tips that could help other women business owners.

Brenda: The first tip is to create automated structures that allow your business to work for you even when you are not working. Some examples of automated structures are:

• Email marketing
• Auto responders
• Payment Acceptance
• Lead Generation
• Blog Posts
• Posts to Social Networks
• Toll Free Telephone Number
• Legal Structures(corporation, business accounts)

The second tip is to create systems within your business that helps you to create flow and ease, as well as consistency so that you can focus on income producing activities.  Some examples of systems are:

• Marketing
• Follow Up
• Leveraged Follow Up (newsletter)
• Client Enrollment
• Sales System
• Networking system
• “Just one thing” system (Do one thing a day to bring in new business).

Sylvia:  What advice do you have for women just starting out?

Brenda: For women that are embarking on their entrepreneurial journey, I recommend adopting an empowered posture.  Get clear on what you want to create.  Paint the picture in your mind of the lifestyle and the business that you desire to create.  Who are you helping?  What does a typical day for you look like?  How much money are you earning from your business?  Really hone in on those feelings and connect with them frequently.  Next choose a mentor.  Who has reached your level of success?  How can you model this person while tapping into your essence?  Remember many entrepreneurs can offer the same type of product or service, but only YOU can deliver it in your style and voice.  Lastly, remember that Entrepreneurship is not difficult.  It can be if you want it to be.  Chose early on to create success easily and effortlessly.  You have the power to do so.

Sylvia:  You are amazing!  Thank you for sharing your time and expertise with our members and subscribers.  Please share your contact information.

Brenda: Thank you as well.

Contact Brenda:
Website:  www.aoeconnect.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/brendarivas
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/brenda.rivas
Linkedin:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/brendarivas
Toll Free – Phone:  888-696-1114