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The Insider: Creatives Embrace 2010 with New Strategies

The new year always brings an opportunity for personal betterment, new business development and professional growth. As we begin 2010, Innovation Philadelphia has brainstormed a few strategies to offer creative entrepreneurs, creative job seekers and creative professionals looking to jump start the year and turn opportunities into realities. With 2009 behind us, this is the time to lay out a plan for achieving the business and personal goals you have for the next twelve months. We hope that you are able to use a few of these suggestions in your plan and wish you a prosperous, innovative and creative new year!

Creative Entrepreneur

The past year offered challenges to many entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the Philadelphia region and around the globe. While many businesses saw cuts in profits and layoffs, there were new opportunities for those who got creative in their strategies and who sought diligently for new clients. Currently, freelancers make up 26% of the US workforce (Business Week). Indicators are pointing to a slow economic recovery and an increase in freelancers. While many businesses and entrepreneurs are still feeling the pinch, here are a few ways you might be able to increase your market share and foster new business relationships.

1.) Cultivate contacts already in your book. Many of us have address books full of contacts - current clients, old prospects, colleagues, friends and family. Take the time to go through your contacts and identify old prospects who might now be in need of your services or current clients who you haven't checked in with recently. A short email or even a brief phone call is a great way to re-engage a prospect who might be considering adding the services you offer. It is also a great way to add on to services you offer an existing client by re-evaluating their needs and their budget. This no-cost outreach takes a little time and has the potential to generate substantial results.

Spotlight Questionnaire

Your name: Jennifer Gleeson Blue

Your brief bio: Jennifer Gleeson Blue is founder and president of Get There From Here, a Philadelphia-based coaching company. Jennifer specializes in supporting creative and entrepreneurial professionals to live and work authentically, and she helps organizations create collaborative strategies to address intergenerational diversity. Core to her methodology is the idea of story – the notion that people are living their lives, pursuing their careers and running their businesses based on deeply held and oftentimes subconscious narratives that guide them. She uses this as a touchstone to unlocking their potential. An accomplished speaker, writer and coach, Jennifer holds a bachelors in communication, is a graduate of Coach U, a past board member of the Philadelphia Area Coaches Alliance and a member of the International Coach Federation.

Passing of Peggy Amsterdam

Innovation Philadelphia mourns with Philadelphia’s arts and culture community in the passing of Peggy Amsterdam, President of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. Peggy was one of Philadelphia’s strongest and most vocal advocates for Philadelphia’s artistic community and her absence will be greatly felt throughout Philadelphia for many years to come. Innovation Philadelphia extends its condolences Peggy’s Family and to the entire staff of the Cultural Alliance. Please visit the Cultural Alliance website for a beautiful video tribute to Peggy and for a written tribute to her numerous accomplishments and achievements. A video testimony by Kelly Lee, Innovation Philadelphia’s President and CEO and Cultural Alliance board member, is available.

Upcoming Events

Social Media Connections - Making them Work at Work, January 19, 2010

The Complete Innovator, January 19, 2010

Women Entrepreneurs’ Circle Visits Sweetie’s Pie Diner, January 30, 2010

	Director, Business Development Aztech Productions Erdenheim, PA Motion Graphics & Web Specialist Parx Casino Bensalem, PA

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