Lizzie Velasquez, is a twenty-five year old young woman, who has a rare condition, which prevents her from gaining weight. In all of her life, she has never weighed more than sixty four pounds.

As a result of her predicament, she has been bullied, teased and labelled “the world’s ugliest woman”.Through it all, Lizzie has maintained her fighting spirit and an impeccable sense of humor. She is now a successful motivational speaker and author. Her book entitled “Be Beautiful, Be You” has inspired many to ask themselves a question: What Defines You? 

After watching Lizzie’s @littlelizziev amazing Ted Talk video: How Do You Define Yourself? (below) not only was I profoundly moved but I begun thinking of the reasons why businesses of all types not excluding innovators and entrepreneurs, are driven to start their own business to begin with.

I believe that people who share a curiosity for ideas, learning and creativity, are those who want to see a change in the world and their community. They are the kind of people who like Lizzie, have arrived at a series of personal life lessons based on individual experiences, which in turn, enable them to come up with innovative concepts (For Lizzie, its becoming a motivational speaker and author) that are drawn from a desire for self expression. What I mean is, any entrepreneurial formula, that is dictated by external influencers, e.g. money,well meaning friends, unforeseen turns of events or imposed criteria for success, other than the answer to What Defines You, is likely to fail.

When starting your own business and determining whether or not your idea is the right one for you, I propose that like Lizzie, you ask yourself the question: What Defines You?” How well does your idea express who you are and what it is you’re looking to achieve? Any successful business to me, is one that is driven by three little words: vision, values and validation.

1) Vision: Is being able to reinvent the way you see yourself and the manner in which you can contribute to those around you, be it an idea or a service. Businesses that fail to properly reflect and define their own vision and motivation for doing X, will ultimately be overtaken by someone else’s viewpoint and ideals. Think carefully about the things you want to achieve and why its important to you. Take this vision and position your story in a way that people can relate. Always be a person first, businessman/woman second.

2) Values: Before embarking on a business venture consider again, what interpersonal value systems and beliefs have prompted you to consider starting a business like yours. What interests, concerns or motivators have inspired you to provide your service, sell your product or idea? Lizzie’s values and vision for who she is, have send her down the path of professional speaker and motivator. What Defines You? If your business is about helping others, humanize your strategy, make connections and people will follow.

3) Validation: Make sure that your business concept provides you ample room for self expression and serves as an affirming element of your overall purpose. See that it is in harmony with the end result you want. It’s important to have a plan, follow your strengths and be confident that your venture serves to validate you and promote positivity.

At WizOf.Biz our team of qualified mentors will help new and existing businesses find the answers to Lizzie’s question What Defines You?  What Is the right business for you? We’ll fine tune your vision, by providing professional feedback on your content and overall approach. Our team will also analyze your submitted materials to assist you in ensuring that your writing directly reflects your values and personal motivations. We are certain that what defines us, is our desire to inspire you to succeed!

You can also find us on Twitter @wizof_biz or visit or blog at: http://blog.wizof.biz/

We invite you to tell us your story,

The WizOf.Biz Team.

It is no secret, that managing a small business well, is not a walk in the park. In fact, any business owner knows that entrepreneurial success means hard work, patience and perseverance. Thus, business outsourcing has become an integral part of our economy. A wide range of outsourcing services is now readily available to businesses  worldwide. These include assistance with employee recruitment, product or service management, consulting, manufacturing and client representation. Countless books on outsourcing such Outsourcing Agreement: A Practical Guide by George Kimball and Information Technology Outsourcing Transactions: Process, Strategies and Contracts by John K. Halvey just to name a couple.  Really, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to outsourcing your business simply research well and follow your instinct.

Even so, I’d like to discuss with you, the pros and cons of outsourcing. My goal in writing this post is to help you make an informed decision about whether or not outsourcing is for you. Once you have carefully gone over the pros and cons, your next step is  to determine if outsourcing suits your business style, goals and needs.

The Pros List:

1) Outsourcing gives you the opportunity to think more critically about your skill set. Ask yourself “what do I truly excel at?” “What tasks would others be better at than I?” Going through this type of self assessment can give you a new perspective and  focus your overall efforts. This way you won’t have to know it all, and rely on others to get the job done.  

2) Making the right cuts can be easier with outsourcing as it potentially offer greater flexibility and freedom. You might even  find it less of a challenge to keep employees on task and keeping yourself on target. You are likely to continue to do your job well and maintain a positive environment.

3) Imagine being able to save money like never before. Of course, your company size and the scope of outsourced responsibilities. For instance, an IT business will save considerable cash simply by outsourcing its services rather than paying someone locally. Other tasks like bookkeeping and administration can also be done out of office for optimal cash flow.

4) Time Management is everything when it comes to business. Professional recruitment agencies  can be the answer to your prayers when it comes to finding the best candidates to represent your company’s values and vision.

The Cons List:

1) If taken too far, outsourcing can quickly turn into a risk. Make sure you understand exactly what products and/or services you are outsourcing and why. Be ready to answer this important question: does your decision to outsource, coincide directly with your long term goals and objectives?

2) Customer Relations and finance management should probably not be outsourced. Keeping in good standing with your clients is something that cannot and should not be outsourced. This is strictly your responsibility and how well you do this, will reflect directly on your business. You should probably probably keep a close eye on your financials.

3) If you are prepared to give up control of your own company then outsourcing might be for you. Keep in mind that trusting someone else with your business means having the faith that they will respond to business growth appropriately and evolve along with you.

4) Producing favorable results isn’t always easy with outsourcing. It’s impossible to ensure a positive experience at all times. Choosing to outsource, can drastically undermine your objectives and put a cramp in your overall business culture.

Think carefully before considering outsourcing as an option. What value if any does it add to your business? Does it make practical sense to outsource? I’d advise you to use your business know-how and intuition.