Small Business Today Magazine SEP 2014 ELP ENTERPRISES | Page 12

Martha’s “Women of Success” group
meets monthly. They meet to share
success stories and to support
each other’s businesses in any
way that they can.
Photo by Gwen Juarez Photography

Martha’s Best Words of Advice – Take Away Notes
1. If you are a woman owned business or minority owned business, I encourage you to get your certifications with the city
of Houston and the state of Texas. Also, if it applies, you
should become affiliated and certified with the Women Business Enterprise Alliance (WBEA) and the Houston Minority
Supplier Development Council (HMSDC).

about keeping books. If you don’t know these basic business
principles, you need to get involved with the Goldman Sachs
Program or one of the entrepreneurship classes at HCC.
You need to know how to hire and fire and surround yourself with the right people who are going to help you grow
your business.

2. You need to network, network, network! You can’t stay at
home and expect everything to fall into your lap. I’ve learned
that people do business with people they know and like so
it’s important to get out there and be recognized.

8. You need to have backup capital so when an opportunity
presents itself, you have that financial security to take on that
opportunity. Knowing and having a good rapport with your
banker is also the key.

3. I believe a key way to keep growing is through education.
The more you learn, the more you know. I received a scholarship with WBEA which allowed me to attend the Tuck
School of Business at Dartmouth and participate in the TuckWBENC Executive Program. I also applied for and received
a scholarship to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
Program. I am always on the lookout for leadership classes
to take. There’s still a lot for me to learn.

9. You have to treat others the way you would like to be treated. That includes your employees. Provide the best customer service.

4. Surround yourself with the right people to help you grow
your business. Get mentors.
5. If you are a woman and have children, sometimes you are
going to feel guilty putting your job first but your children will
appreciate it later when they are old enough to understand
how you have sacrificed.
6. Have integrity in all you do.
7. If you don’t know how to run a business, go out and learn
how. You need to know how to read balance sheets and
10 SMALL BUSINESS TODAY MAGAZINE [ SEPTEMBER 2014 ]

10. You need to let your employees be themselves. They can
bring a lot to the table. I reward my team for their efforts.
We go out and network together; we go to dinner together;
and we celebrate together. It’s not just my ideas; everybody
has ideas and we put everything in the pile and pick and
choose what works and what doesn’t work. Sometimes its
just trial and error
11. Volunteer. You need to give back to the community. Don’t
just think about yourself; think about other people who truly
need your help. If I’m sitting in front of someone and there’s
an opportunity, I want to pass that opportunity to them. I
think it’s the key. It’s not necessarily about the money. We
are here today and gone tomorrow. Live it up today but take
care of each other.
12. It helps to have a strong faith in your religion. I know I do!