I recently took Cynthia's One Page Business Planning class and was pleasantly surprised with the results! Coming from someone who has done complex business planning for years, I never thought that I could effectively put my goals onto just one page as business plans tend to be more complex. I have changed my tune! Cynthia's process is easy to follow, creative, and leads to very concise targets to which I can hold myself to throughout the coming year. I highly recommend Cynthia Riggs!

Dawn L. Thomas, Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty
www.TheDawnThomasTeam.com

Cynthia Riggs, "The Biz Diva," is a genius! In one 2 hour consultation she helped me get from totally confused and disorganized in my business systems to taking tangible steps toward my business goals. She also helped me to feel better about where I am and to have confidence to do what I set out to do in my business as a Graphic and Website Designer and Law of Attraction Marketing Consultant.

Because this session was so great, I took Cynthia's "One Page Business Plan" class. She keeps this class small so that everyone gets a chance to share their challenges and get coaching. By the end of the 7 hour class I had clarified my mission, my 5 year goals and other key aspects of building my business. I got support from Cynthia and the other participants in the class who had specific and helpful ideas to help me over some of my challenges. I highly recommend this class. It is so reasonably priced; every businesswoman should take it no matter where she is in her business development.

I am taking Cynthia up on her great after—class special—more one-on-one consulting at a great price. I look forward to a long business relationship with The Biz Diva!

Julia Stege
Graphic Girlz
www.graphicgirlz.com

This turning point is directly related to my work with Cynthia over the last 6-8 months. Additionally, I feel optimistic about the future. I notice a renewed sense of purpose in my work and more energy at the end of my day.

The one on one monthly coaching with Cynthia provides momentum and traction to really move my business forward. She has an uncanny sense of timing coupled with tremendous depth and reach related to business issues.

My business life (financials, contact management, business planning) are in sharp focus. I feel well organized for the first time in my business life. I understand these tools and the intimidation factor around “the business of running a business” is no longer present. This is a huge shift for me!

I see self care as something most of us ( including myself ) struggle with as we put on and take off the many hats of being women. I’ve come to realize that the monthly Business Diva group and personal coaching time with Cynthia is a significant way for me to practice self care while simultaneously taking care of the life of my business.

I highly recommend Cynthia; she has made an enormous impact in my life.
 
Alyssa Aubrey, CEGE
The Center for Equine Guided Education

Rather than sharing my business trials and tribulations with my husband, I now have a /group of people who will listen to me and provide useful feedback.

How did you find out about Women Building Business?
I read about the group on an email list. Then I bought a bicycle from Cynthia and she mentioned it again. I saw that as a sign to move forward.

What made you want to sign up to take a course with Cynthia? What business problems were you hoping to solve/master?
I knew that Cynthia had been in charge of a successful business and I knew that I needed to do something differently. I was working at my business but not really focusing on what would produce the most money and make me happiest.

Which courses have you taken from Cynthia?
I took Move Forward Faster in which we did the One Page Business Plan. And then I became part of the Biz Divas group.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned? The most surprising or unexpected thing?
The most important thing I learned is that being part of a supportive group is priceless. And I have learned how to say, “No” to projects that aren’t part of my plan. I used to say, “Yes” before I would think of the implications.
Most surprising or unexpected is how everyone in the group supplies an important part in helping solve problems – and we all truly care. The collective creative mind is a glorious thing to observe in action.

How have your business skills grown?
My game plan is much better now. I have a vision and better tools for carrying it out.

How has your business (and personal life) improved as a result?
Rather than sharing my business trials and tribulations with my husband, I now have a group of people who will listen to me and provide useful feedback. It has helped improve our relationship, and my income has increased by at least 25% (my husband likes that, too). But most importantly I am focusing on work that earns me more money for less energy.

Would you encourage others to take classes with Cynthia?
Definitely, especially if they are not part of a network of people who care about their work and them personally. Cynthia attracts quality people to her classes, and by taking Cynthia’s classes you can become one of them. You’ll get practical skills that you can put to good use in your business.

— Jill Nussinow, The Veggie Queen
Author of "The Veggie Queen: Vegetables Get the Royal Treatment"

First of all, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude. I learned a tremendous amount when I attended Cynthia’s One Day Business Plan class.

The class made a huge difference on many levels. It inspired me to think about my business in a different way.

I realize now that it is important for me to have an organized (but fluid) short term 1-5 year business plan. In the past, I have tried so hard to control my environment and think so far ahead—I created a 20 year plan—that I was paralyzed from taking any kind of action.

I learned from the OPBP class to start smaller, set specific intentions and goals, and to create "deadlines" to hold myself accountable, but not beat myself up or create additional stress by trying to meet them at any cost. Most importantly, I want to enjoy this process of building my business, looking at my short term goals and business plan as an opportunity to grow, learn, see what works, see what does not work, rather than looking at it from the perspective of succeed or fail.

Jesseca Logan
Thrive Nutrition Counseling
Certified Nutrition Consultant and Certified Natural Chef

Tone, a Pilates, Dance and Yoga Studio
in Santa Rosa, CA
Alyson Dobbert, Studio Manager
Monica Anderson, Studio Director

Tone is a local fitness facility providing innovative Pilates, Dance, Yoga and other movement instruction as well as a Pilates teaching certification program. This is the place for positive, safe movement to promote health and increased body awareness — no matter what level of fitness. Tone teachers are experienced, certified and dedicated to continuing education in the latest techniques of movement and body understanding. Centrally located with a variety of classes, teachers and instruction styles offered throughout the day and week, Tone is a place of laughter, compassion, dedication and respect.

We were in a tight spot and now we are able to do active debt reduction. The business is thriving and we are confident we’ll do well in the current economy.

How did you find out about Women Building Business?
Alyson: At a Connection’s meeting. I heard Cynthia speak and I liked her style.

What made you want to sign up to take a course with Cynthia?
Alyson: I liked Cynthia's straightforward approach. I'm very much a task-oriented planner person and Cynthia seemed to fit that same style.

What business problems were you hoping to solve/master?
Alyson: After I had done the six-month course, I knew that I wanted Monica more involved in the business development. I felt that Cynthia would be able to facilitate discussions and decisions between the two of us and add a third person clarity and perspective.

Which courses have you taken from Cynthia?
Alyson: I took a 4-hour “Introduction to the One Page Business Plan” class and then signed up for the six month course.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned?
Alyson: I've learned that looking at the financial statements is vital to the success of our business. Sometimes in the day to day of a business operation, you can lose sight of progress made. Updating our OPBP and reviewing financials on a regular basis has given me a sense of progress and momentum that inspires me.

The most surprising or unexpected thing?
Monica: That I enjoy the process! I like the meetings and look forward to them!
Alyson: Paying attention to the numbers, making a plan, and looking at projections actually does move us forward!

How have your business skills grown?
Alyson: I feel competent reading the financial statements. I know how to write a one page plan and how to use it as an ongoing tool. We use the one page format for our big picture business development and also know how to create a plan to explore new ideas we want to develop. This is a very empowering skill.

How has your business (and personal life) improved as a result?
Alyson: Look at our numbers! We were in a tight spot and now we are able to do active debt reduction. The business is thriving and we are confident we’ll do well in the current economy.
Monica: Working with Cynthia is having a trusted advisor that we can count on to support us and be with us through the ups and downs. I feel better being involved in the process of business development because she respects that my strengths lie in other areas.

Would you encourage others to work with Cynthia?
Absolutely!

Cynthia brought order to our business by showing us how to achieve excellence in our retail store. Who knew the numbers could be so sexy!

How did you find out about Women Building Business?
Our friend Sue Libby (Red Hot Ceramics) referred us to Cynthia.

What made you want to sign up to take a course with Cynthia?
We wanted to work with Cynthia because she seemed to really understand where we were at, what our issues were and she was confident she could help us.

What business problems were you hoping to solve/master?
We wanted to learn more about how to run our retail business, organize and set up systems, get a budget in place and learn cash flow and money management.

Which courses have you taken from Cynthia?
We didn’t take a course; we hired her to develop our One Page Business Plan. We were so impressed working on our OPBP that we hired her for on-going consultation.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned?
The most important things we learned are different for each of us. For one of us it has been all about the financial structure-accounts payable, money management, learning and implementing new financial and business tools. For another, understanding gross margins and how to price merchandise correctly. Last but not least, learning about organizational structure, the value of getting effective systems in place and understanding how to follow a budget for purchasing.

The most surprising or unexpected thing?
Two things:
1. That our store is capable of making more money!
2. That “not knowing” is really stressful. A huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders because now we know what our business is actually doing!

How have your business skills grown?
Our collective skills have grown immensely. We now have a comprehensive overview of our business and we’re no longer flying by the seat of our “goddess broom handles”! There are new tools being implemented and utilized, we have a cash flow budget, we review our financials all the time, accounts payable are current and we pay attention to how we’re spending and making our money. And most importantly, our customers continue to support us!

How has your business (and personal life) improved as a result?
We continue to build skills and understanding from meeting to meeting and this allows us to get better and better at what we need to be doing. We see ourselves having a bright future!
All three of us are “sensitive artistic types” and we don’t come from a business background. As we become more empowered, we are integrating our tangible pragmatic selves with our artistic selves and learning a new kind of balance. It is very exciting!

Would you encourage others to take classes with Cynthia?
Absolutely!

Intense work, yes, but also fun working with an enthusiastic, supportive group of other women entrepreneurs, under Cynthia's expert guidance

I consider myself a planner and doer, plus I'm organized. The Biz Diva's One Page Business Plan workshop taught me how I could be more effective and profitable by creating measurable, quantifiable and realistic objectives, with strategies that spell out how I will fulfill those objectives, all tied to my vision and mission. Therefore, I was called on to clarify and enhance my mission, plus put systems in place to better manage human and financial resources. Intense work, yes, but also fun working with an enthusiastic, supportive group of other women entrepreneurs, under Cynthia's expert guidance. I highly recommend this workshop to get clarity, focus, tools and support for developing a more successful business!

Harriet Tubman Wright, Founding Director
The Wright Resort
www.thewrightresort.com