Make Mine a Million

Money. It drives us, inspires us, blinds us, excites us and frustrates us.

After the May employment figures were released in early June, concerns were raised about the strength of the economic recovery and the stock market dropped. Again. So whereas things were looking up, many business leaders are back to feeling frustrated.

Of course, anyone who has been in business for decades has seen the markets rise and fall and rise again. Those who have been through these fluctuations know the wise thing to do is to stay calm. These are the leaders we gravitate to, the ones we want on our side. In fact, this is another example of how leadership, management, success — and money — are intrinsically linked.

That is why money is the theme of the June issue of Be Inkandescent Magazine. Each of our 20 columnists examines the topic from a different angle: how to make your dollar go farther, how to stay the course, how to enjoy what you’ve got — and how you can make yours a million-dollar business.

Meet our June Entrepreneur of the Month: Nell Merlino, who helps us focus on the million-dollar question.

Nell is the founder and president of Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, a non-profit foundation dedicated to helping women grow their micro businesses into million dollar enterprises. On June 15-16, her organization will host its annual Make Mine A Million $ Business conference and award ceremony at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ.

The day-long event includes panels, intensive workshops with business experts, networking and the “Make Mine a Million $ Business Competition,” wherein women entrepreneurs pitch their businesses for the Make Mine a Million $ Business Award. This award consists of a package of business coaching, financing, PR and support from a national network of experts.

This year’s event will include a keynote address by Deborah Owens, author of A Purse of Your Own: An Easy Guide to Financial Security, who will share her insights on entrepreneurship and financial empowerment. Other sessions include perfecting elevator pitches and learning how to get a BIG small business loan. “That’s just part of what will happen the first day,” says Nell, a powerhouse of inspiration and insight, who offers advice on how to boost your bottom line in the article below.

Sarah Stevens of Stevens Technology (pictured above, receiving her giant check from Nell Merlino) was the grand prize winner of last year’s Make Mine a Million $ Business RACE, which was a year-long online business growth competition that is also hosted by Count Me In.

In this issue you’ll also find articles on:

FINANCE: John Hasenberg asks, Why Rebalance Your Portfolio?
CAREERS: Paige Rhodes talks about balancing getting a salary and landing your dream job.
EVENTS: Roxanne Rukowicz tells us How to Get Married on the Cheap.
MUSIC: Mid-life crisis or destiny? Our managing editor, Adrianne Hamilton, interviews Steve Houk about Life as a 49-Year-Old Rock Star.
TRAVEL: Even in tough times, everyone needs a little R&R. Consider a weekend getaway to Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys.
WINE: John Peters of Culinaria Cooking School takes us Back to the Basics of Enjoying Wine.

As you enjoy these articles, do consider these sage words about money from Maya Angelou:

“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.”

Here’s to your success!
— Hope Katz Gibbs, publisher, Be Inkandescent Magazine