Updates

OK, so I haven’t been neglecting GutsyGirl–just the blog part of it. I’ve actually been working hard lately on getting my ideas together for my business plan (which I’m going over with the Women’s Small Biz Assocation) next month. Yikes!

I’ve finally started to iron out some of the details about how I want the company to run, which was a much needed step in the process, of course. I know that I want my organization to work collaboratively with the schools that these girls attend because, in my opinion, there’s hardly a more valuable thing to learn in school than self confidence. I would also like some kind of tie in with the high schools so that students there can help mentor younger kids which would increase their own self confidence and inspire a younger generation. Any ideas? I’m open to em!

My designer friend is working on a logo for me, so I’m eagerly awaiting that. I’ve also almost got my application for the Graduate Community Mental Health Program at SNHU wrapped up, so that will be exciting to get in the mail!

More updates soon!

GutsyGirl taken?

I’m a little discouraged today (but not too much!) because I did a Google search and found out that there’s another GutsyGirl floating around (my previous searches never dregged this up, but alas.) The company doesn’t have the same mission as my prospective one, but still a little disheartening.

So I’m kind of back to square one now. It’s very hard to come up with a name that sums up your whole company but also hasn’t been thought of and patented by anyone else! Please feel free to send suggestions and ideas–I’ll consider everything!

Feelin good

Today I feel like the world is at my fingertips. I know that’s a cliche thing to say, but I actually feel like it’s really true. I’ve spread the word about ProjectBare to my closest female friends and I’ve already gotten some positive feedback from people I love. I’m so excited about the possibilities this project could hold and I really hope that it catches on and helps other women like me.

Though this week is a short one because of the holidays, I’m hoping to make some good headway on my business plan since I’ll have a lot of downtime the next two days and at home in RI. Aimee is going to get some comps together for my logo, which I’m super excited about. I feel like a logo will make this whole thing much more official and real.

Next step is coming up with a sound business plan. The section I especially need help with is the Needs Analysis part. I need to analyze my target audience and do some kind of poll, survey, focus group, etc. to find out what their needs are and if my current business structure will meet those. I think it might be super helpful to do a focus group and my friend Emily has directed me to a school in Mass. that would probably be open to my ideas.

If anyone–especially people that interact with kids on a regular basis ie; moms, nannies, health professionals, teachers, etc.–has suggestions to contribute on what you think kids’ needs are today, please feel free to email me at gutsygirl.melissa@gmail.com or send a message/comment my way!

The Daring Book for Girls

Here’s what I’m picking up on my next stop at the bookstore. I’ve heard great things about this book and this post only affirmed the rumors. I’ll be stopping by B&N today and will provide my own review after I’ve read some this weekend.

Exciting updates!

I’m feeling reinvigorated today after talking with several of my old co-workers yesterday who are out there making their dreams happen, too. It’s inspiring to see people who aren’t letting “the economy” put the kibosh on their plans and are, instead, going for it, full steam ahead. I’m very excited for Em’s new fitness company and think both Colin and Noelle’s new projects could be great opportunities for partnerships. All three of them are doers–people who get out there and make things happen instead of sitting back and waiting for an opportunity to come to them. I’m definitely feeling revved up after talking with all of them yesterday and I’m ready to start turning my imaginings for this company into something that’s tangible and real.

First, I really need to come up with a finalized name. I’m really liking GutsyGirl because I think it has a little more pop than GUTS and I’m afraid that the acronym (Girls Unwilling to Settle) will make the organization come off as a super feminist outfit–which is definitely not my intention for it. I want the name to be at least a little bit feminine, since I’m celebrating women and girls, but nothing too cutesy that will be misconstrued as just another way for the pretty and popular girls to be championed. If anyone has any insight into this whole naming thing, please feel free to make suggestions–up til this point, I’ve had very little collaboration/brainstorming with external sources, so I’d love to hear some constructive feedback.

Next on the docket is a logo. Luckily for me, I work for an interactive agency as their Client Services Manager, so hopefully I can get some logo comps on the cheap. I want to save up my money (what little I have) for a really great website that my company can design and build for me in the future–a killer website will be worth every dime I spend on it because it really is the best form of marketing. I’m pretty undecided about a logo at this point, but think I might want to do a non-girly color scheme–maybe the colors of this blog (lime green, blue, brown or maybe orange, green brown..not sure.) Pink is very easily associated with breast cancer and purple is my least favorite color on earth, so I’m looking to go in a different direction. Plus, I don’t want this organization to be geared towards only younger girls–I want it to also be appealing for an older, more sophisticated subset of girls and young women. Either way, I have no idea at this point about colors/logo designs, so feel free to send some suggestions my way for those as well!

That’s all for the time being

What’s the one thing you’re most insecure about?

Hello girl world!

After years of dealing with my own insecurities and perceived shortcomings, I finally woke up to the realization that being me is pretty awesome.