BizBooks: Good afternoon BizBox readers......

Welcome to the second segment in the BizBooks Ask the Expert Series. Today with he have with us author and entrepreneur Christine Comaford-Lynch.

Christine has lived the kind of life most of us can only dream about. From model to monk to multi-millionaire, she has always gone after what she wanted—and gotten things done.

Christine shows you just how exhilarating, creative, and kick-butt business can be by revealing the triumphs and train wrecks of her incredible life.

Welcome Christine, let's get started.

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Thanks, it's great to be here!

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Fairfax, Calif.: I've got a one person business as a computer consultant and I'm afraid to raise my rates because I can't afford to lose work. In fact, I need more income, like my clients, not less. What would you do?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: If your goal is to increase your income, raising your rates is only one possible solution. I’d rather you expand your services and “productize” them. This will give your clients the option to spend more in order to get more. For instance, if you simply bill hourly, stop doing that! Sell “support packs” which last for a specific time duration or # of support instances and a pre-determined response rate. Example: for the Silver level support pack you’ll respond within 24 hours and the pack will last for 6 months or 10 support cases. For the Gold pack you’ll respond within the same business day, for Platinum you’ll respond within 2 hours. The biggest problem with selling hours, as you do now, is that you can only bill for so many.

Create a variety of “products” with specific deliverables attached to each. Then see how much work you can repeat and streamline. Create best practices and standard procedures and repeatable info and client checklists and you’ll be providing a higher end service level which your clients will be happy to pay for.

The net-net is your clients want peace of mind from a reliable service provider. They will pay for that!

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Newburgh, N.Y.: As a woman who has lived in an environment with a man who has consistently and intentionally attempted to control and demean my existence, what steps can I take to regain confidence in my ability to accomplish my life's dreams. It may sound strange, but I am a naturally optimistic individual, and pretty strong willed, so with that having been said, is this a condition that I've brought upon myself as a means of blaming someone else for my lack of accomplishment?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Every situation we find ourselves in we have helped to create. Never doubt this. There are no victims. We all make choices, as you have, to stay or leave people who demean us. Find out why you’ve made this choice, heal that wound that has caused you to make this choice, or else you’ll repeatedly be demeaned in the future.

Sounds like it is time for some personal work. It will require incredible courage. You have it. If you don’t, you can borrow some of mine as you build yours. Read Rules #1 (Everything’s An Illusion, So Pick One That’s Empowering), #5 (Build Power Instead of Borrowing It), and #7 (Only You Can Lead Your Life) in my book Rules for Renegades. Go forth and conquer your demons, my friend!

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Phoenix, Ariz.: Hi there Christine. How old do you feel is too old to start over?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: It’s never too old. I prefer to say “start anew” as “starting over” implies one failed or one’s past experiences aren’t valuable. Not so! We are the composite of those past experiences… they all had a purpose. I have a friend who is 83 and is starting anew. My father started anew on his death bed. I’m 45 and I’m starting anew. It’s scary and exhilarating and energizing and exhausting.

It’s always, always better to start anew when you want to shift your life rather than to compromise compromise compromise your happiness and existence… THAT is what makes people dead inside. Don’t let that happen to you! Read Rule #1 (Everything’s An Illusion, So Pick One That’s Empowering) in Rules for Renegades, go to www.rulesforrenegades.com and download the New Illusion Worksheet in the Resources section. Design a new you now!

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West Richland, Wash.: If you had to do it all over again, is there anything you would do differently?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: I would let people in sooner. I didn’t first ask for help until I was 34—I was Super Christine! Here to save the say! 34 years was a really, really long time to be a lone ranger. Since I hadn’t learned how to let people in to my life I made a lot of mistakes when I started experimenting with it, picked ineffective business partners, hired unsupportive staff.

I’ve been working on learning how to let people in to my life and heart for 11 years now and the results have been terrific. Now I am designing my life (it is always a work in process!) to support me 100%. This means I choose the right people to let into my life carefully, after a trial period, and I express what I need and don’t try to rescue people any longer either. Ok—not sure if you wanted THAT much psychology, but heck…

Life = the people you meet + what you create together

Lesson: get mentors. Ask them for advice. Listen. Consider following it. Life isn’t meant to be lived alone.

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Rockville Centre, N.Y.: When selling any business product that requires the buyer to produce prior sales statements for review to be compared with a new lower rate there by saving them money, they just see a saleperson and not a friend that knows can save them money. They basically ignore you. How can you change their reluctance and change companies?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Selling is about building rapport. That¡¦s your #1 job. I find differentiating on cost is a lose-lose situation. What else can you differentiate on? People want to feel heard, appreciated, served by their vendors. How can you tap into this? How do you do these 3 things better than your competition?

First, make sure you have a TQL, a Truly Qualified Lead. Maybe they don¡¦t even want what you¡¦re selling. Next, remember when being sold to, people are tuned into one radio station ONLY: WII FM¡XWhat¡¦s In It For Me. You need to find out what your prospective customer wants and needs, and help them get it. It may have nothing to do with your product initially, but if you help them get it, they¡¦ll never forget you. Here are 4 steps:

1. Tune your Radio to WIFM

WIFM What’s In it For Me?

This is the favorite and only station your client listens to

Know why they are buying

Remind them why they are buying

Only talk to them about how this deal will help them!

2. Ask for the Deal

You have identified your client’s needs

You have presented a consultative solution to their needs

You have earned the right to ask them to buy your recommended solution KSo Ask!

3. Stop Selling

Your clients know what they want

They asked you to provide it and you did!

The more you talk the more they think you are not done providing the solution

Stop talking and let them decide to decide

4. Close the Deal

Closing is about confidence

If your client feels you have confidence in your solution, they will have confidence in your solution

Confidence comes from preparation + a quality product you believe in

Role play your final presentation and prepare answers to objections

Read Rule #6 (Learn to Love Networking) in Rules for Renegades, as this will help you learn to build rapport.

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Kennebunk, Maine: How can you tell a business will be profitable over the long-term?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: You can’t know for sure. You need to assess the business’s potential by looking at comparable businesses and business models, and you need to assess the executive team’s ability to run the business. The former takes due diligence, the latter takes history. I always look at what executives have achieved in the past, and project that forward.

I like to see a decent revenue ramp + a controlled cost structure. Sloppy cost control will botch profitability pronto. Also there are key inflection points that are expected in the growth of a business if it is to be considered compelling. Here’s a revenue ramp example:

Year 1: $500k-$1mil (show us you can go from zero to somewhere significant!)
Year 2: $1-2.5mil (double)
Year 3: $3-7.5mil (triple to quadruple—year 3 is when the staff, systems, products are solidly in place and a customer base with repeat sales is firmly established… this is when we’re ready to blow the doors off!)
Year 4: $15-30mil (triple+)
Year 5: $45-90mil (triple +)

With the assumptions above, assuming this is a product company, with approx 70% revenue from products and 30% revenue from services, I’d expect cash flow break even at the end of year 2, and profitability at the end of year 3. By then your initial development costs should be covered by sales, you should know the estimated lifetime value of a customer, you should have repeat purchases, you should have solid expense data too—as into year 2 you’ll have your internal systems and processes in place and the company will run more efficiently.

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London, England: I am interested on hearing the steps you took to achieve what you have. Are you holding a conference in the England some time soon?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: I won’t be in London for a while, but I invite you and everyone on this chat to go to www.rulesforrenegadessummit.com and sign up for our Rules For Renegades Summit conference held June 6-7, 2008 in Irvine, California. Irvine is in Southern California for those unfamiliar with the state. At this free 2 day event you’ll learn:

• Specific techniques to tap and apply your total talent, passion, potential and creativity
• 5 ways to increase your personal power
• 12 ways to increase the connections in your life
• 10 ways to apply your GSD (Get Stuff Done) to your life and career
• The Pyramid of Personal Relationships and how to network like the best of them
• The New Laws of Leadership and how they'll catapult your career
• The 3 sure fire ways to turn rejection on its ear- and get something great out of it
• 6 innovation acceleration techniques
• Aside from me you’ll hear from some of my super smart friends: Jack Canfield, Ned Hallowell, Dave Lakhani, Alex Mandossian, Seymour Segnit, Brendon Burchard

Regardless you can read Rules for Renegades and learn the 10 rules to make more money, rock your career and revel in your individuality! Be sure to go to the companion web site (www.rulesforrenegades.com ) and download the tools in the Resources section.

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Asheville, N.C.: In my business as an animal communicator, I have few expenses and another way to satisfy a calling to help others (I also work with state-designated at-risk children). I have low overhead, no need for a shopping cart on my site, and clients who are committed. My mentor has said that I have about 100% accuracy, compared with the usual 80% for "experts," and I've practiced for over 3 years before launching. I'm a professional writer, also, and provide narratives and so forth on my blog, as well as transcripts of communications, which is unusual. So far, this is what distinguishes me and my work.

My question is: professional communicators are out there presenting themselves as the authorities, with credentialing programs and standards encompassing all kinds of alternative treatments; is there a way my intuitive abilities (which go hand-in-hand with ADD!)can meet this challenge, beyond word-of-mouth connections?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: You DO need a shopping cart on your site!

And you need to create digital products like ebooks, podcasts, short videos (“7 Steps to Communicating with Your Pet”?). Go to www.zipidee.com and start your online store. They have over 300,000 unique visitors monthly (and growing rapidly). They’re the #1 digital goods marketplace.

To establish yourself as an expert requires several steps. Here are 2:

1) Increase your exposure: go to www.technorati.com and search for the top blogs in your area of expertise. Now start posting value-added comments on them.

2) Write a series of 300-500 word articles that are tactical (7 mistakes to avoid, 4 success techniques, etc) in your area of expertise and post them on the article distribution sites like www.submitmyarticles.com, www.ezinearticles.com, and many others (simple Google for article submission sites). You won’t get paid, but your articles will get picked up by web sites, newsletters, etc. In the short bio at the end of the article have a lead generator. You must drive people to your web site where they will get a free treat after they join your mailing list. Copy our example. Here’s how I sign off on articles I post:

My new book, “Rules for Renegades: How To Make More Money, Rock Your Career, and Revel in Your Individuality” is now a New York Times bestseller (as well as a USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Business Week bestseller). To thank my readers I’m offering four free business-boosting podcasts based on some key Rules for Renegades concepts. Go here [http://www.mightyventures.com/freeresources.php] to get yours.

The net-net is you need to become an authority, and constantly reinforce this.

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Anchorage, Alaska: How can I be a successful renegade?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: First, read Rules for Renegades. Next, at the end of each chapter, go to www.rulesforrenegades.com and use the Resources! The best way to learn a new habit is not to read about it, but to practice it. The book + the site will guide you through the process effectively. Honest.

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Alexandria, Va.: When do you know its time to leave your job (and safety net of a consistent salary) to start your own business?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: When you have already started your business and have worked on it nights and weekends for several months, and are making enough money to leave your day job! It doesn’t make sense to ditch your job if you startup business can’t support you yet.

So invest the time and energy, and make the change when your startup has enough traction. We have many programs that we are offer to people who are building businesses. You can learn about my 2 favorite ones (business acceleration group mentoring and pitch critique clinics) at www.mightyventures.com/fhoffer.

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Bayshore, N.Y.: How do you think the recent credit crunch affect those people trying to raise capital or get loans for their start-up businesses?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: I think it is a bit harder, AND I think if your business is presented in a way that it concise, compelling and complete, you’ll get the financing you need. Read Rule #3 (Problems + Pain = Profit) in Rules for Renegades, and use the Resources on rulesforrenegades.com—especially the Sample Business Plan outline and Pitch Critique Template. And read Rule #8 (Work Your Money Mojo). Often companies don’t get $ because they don’t tell their story well! You may want to look into our Pitch Critique Clinics too, on www.mightyventures.com/fhoffer.

If companies are willing to get creative and bring in more frequent and smaller rounds of financing (that are tied to business milestones) they’ll do well. Look into these 2 sites for unsecured loans: www.prosper.com and www.thesnaploan.com and of course for angel investors you’ll want to check out www.angelcapitalassociation.org and www.angelcapitaleducation.org.

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Alexandria, Va.: How do I get in on the conversation with Christine? How do I join in? I'm at the biz box website and nothing is happening.

Please advise, Suzy

Christine Comaford-Lynch: You're here with us, Suzy! What is your question?

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Arlington, Va.: What has been your favorite business venture?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: I have to say my current one is! Mighty Ventures, my 6th business, is a business accelerator. We help our companies rock their businesses in very tangible ways: triple revenue in a year, quadruple value in a year (key if they are raising financing!), do dozens of strategic deals. Secure influential advisors, etc. It is sooooo satisfying to help people build their businesses. I love it!

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New York, N.Y.: You have written the "Rules for Renegades" - to help others achieve their dreams - where did you get your ideas and drive? How did you find your way?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: I flailed around a lot (and still do sometimes). I started out wanting to succeed to prove I was worthy, and then I shifted, and wanted to succeed to be of service. The service path is a far happier one. ƒº When you read Rules for Renegades you see all the unlikely places where I stumble upon business ideas. Sometimes they are dropped into my lap (which is why you MUST have goals¡Xlike to start a business¡Xbecause this raises your awareness so when an opportunity shows up you see it) and sometimes I looked high and low for pain in the world, and resolved to find a way to remove it.

The current pain I am helping to remove is business failure. 50% of startup businesses fail in the first year, 95% fail in years 2-5. In America. The Land of Opportunity. That¡¦s ridiculous! That¡¦s unacceptable! I have to have 2 things to create a business: 1) passion about the problem I want to solve (think you witnessed that above) and 2) a deeper purpose. The deeper purpose, in my case, wanting others to be financially free, keeps me going on the hard days. I also dedicate my work to people or causes on days when I feel exhausted, discouraged, etc. I dedicate my work in December to the memory of my dad, I recently dedicated my work to a cool non profit www.volunteermatch.org . It¡¦s simply a decision you make on a given day. It helps you remember that work isn¡¦t all about you.

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Warwick, N.Y.: You talk about "Painful Problems" - what if the problem that you want to solve is not painful yet - but is on its way to being painful? Is this still a good idea?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: This depends on whether people “get” that pain is coming. Can you quantify the future pain? I’ve done deals like this before, and I think the green movement was like this too. When I first got involved in the non-profit www.e2.org Environmental Entrepreneurs, people thought we were tree-huggers or extremists. So we did so-so on fundraising. But as the movement built, so did our reach and infrastructure and awareness, and now we rock. So, remember it takes a couple of years usually to gain momentum.

If you see pain on the horizon, pain that others can understand, you could start now. Follow my 90/40 rule:
Over the course of 90 days (or less) run your idea by 40 people of diverse backgrounds. This can be with some friends (not too many—they may be too easy on you!), your attorney, your mentors, your advisors, a stranger in line at the grocery store/Starbucks/etc and see if the majority feel the pain. You can do this free market research by simply asking a question. No need to reveal the inner workings of your biz idea.

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Wilmington, Del.: What do you think makes a good investment?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Something that serves a purpose, will return a profit, creates a place for people to contribute and grow.

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Washington, D.C.: How would you define a renegade? How is one different from being a regular businessman/businesswoman/entrepreneur?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: A renegade is a person with a degree of passion and commitment that exceeds the norm. A renegade wants to achieve great things, and won’t sacrifice their personal life on the altar of success. A renegade is not a rebel. A rebel trashes the system, is a loner, is all about not fitting in. A renegade acknowledges that there are systems and bureaucracies, and finds a way to optimally navigate them. Business people, entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs (entrepreneurs within large corporations) can all be renegades.

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Boston, Mass.: Could a company operate effectively if everyone was a renegade? Can a renegade operate in a company or do they have to run their own show?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: We’ve helped over 700 of the Fortune 1000 and over 300 small businesses operate more effectively by helping their teams tap their inner renegade—so yes, you’ll find renegades at all levels of large, medium, small businesses.

Most businesses have done all they can to boost the bottom line. Now we need to boost the top line, which means we need to help our people operate at their peak. This is exactly what a renegade wants to do! So you need renegades in management in order to encourage the renegades who work for them. Renegades are exceptional team members, whether in their own companies or others’.

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New York, N.Y.: What stops us from being as daring as we need to be? What would you say was your most daring career move?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Fear is what stops us from being daring. Fear of rejection, fear of failure. This is why we must intentionally desensitize ourselves to rejection. Throw a rejection party, like I explain in Rule #5: Rock Rejection and Finesse Failure. When people read all the ways I’ve been rejected and failed, and how I’ve turned these potential disasters around they see that nothing is ever the “end of the world.”

Once you understand course-correction and failing forward your degree of fear is massively reduced. It’s fascinating! I’ve received countless emails, letters, text messages from people who are overcoming HUGE fears as a result of following my advice in Rules for Renegades!

My most daring career move? Wow, I’ve had so many… waiting tables I asked some Microsoft programmers to give me work at night for free so I could learn Windows coding. Changing my name to Chris on my resume so I wouldn’t be ruled out in the world of 1980’s engineering. Calling up Microsoft and saying Windows was a great idea but a lousy design was bold. When they said “if you’re so smart, why don’t you come and fix it?” I said, “great, I’ll be there in an hour.”

Standing up in a huge crowd and saying I had a company (I didn’t yet) and would employ all of Microsoft’s contractors was a huge risk. I had to max out my credit cards and since I was out of cash, had to eat only iceberg lettuce, popcorn and whatever else was on sale for 2 weeks until more cash came in. That company made me my first million, which I then parlayed into my next business. So all that iceberg lettuce was worth it.

I’ve made similar daring moves: meeting a man in line in Starbucks and starting a company with him, asking billionaires to mentor me, coming out of a very comfortable retirement to learn how to write, get an agent and publisher, create a NY Times bestseller, and get on the road again—all this was nuts.

Merging my venture capital firm after 9/11 happened and it was clear we wouldn’t be able to raise the amount we needed to. People don’t merge VC funds. There was no model. I gutted it out and it’s gone well.

Taking a modeling class at age 16 and deciding to become a model even though I was told that I was too short and ugly.

Emailing Bill Gates and saying “if you donate money to AIDS you’ll win a date with a fabulous blonde. The result was Bill’s first donation to AIDS, dinner, and a 16 year on again, off again communication.

Calling up Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp asking them to buy my shares in a private company, because I’d hear they would be interested in internet-based promotions.

The list goes on and on…

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Raleigh, N.C.: What is your favorite “money” advice for entrepreneurs?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: You need to follow Rule 8: Work Your Money Mojo. Read it carefully, download the cool resources on www.RulesForRenegades.com that relate to money, realize that you are a steward for money.

Money is energy. It needs to be moving around, creating things, growing. Set SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, results-oriented, timebound).when figuring out both your future and how to achieve work-life balance. You need to set goals in 7 areas: Career, Financial, Free Time/Fun, Relationships, Health/Appearance, Personal Development/Learning, Volunteering/Non-Profit.

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Arlington, Va.: What “renegade” advice would you give to young workers just starting out?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Two things. First, make your “brand” equal results. You want everyone to know you as the person who gets stuff done, who has a GSD, who makes commitments and follows through. A GSD is the most important credential a person can have. People with GSDs get the best promotions, the best opportunities, the best mentors, the best fill-in-the-blank. 90% of success is about following through!

Second, network “palm up”. When you meet someone, don’t talk too much about yourself. Find out about them, what they care about, what they want, how you can be of service to them. Then help them get what they want. You’ll end up getting what you want in time too. Life = the people you meet + what you create together.

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Miami, Fl.: What do you like most/least about your job?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: I dislike details and paperwork and drudgery. I delegate that to someone who is fabulous at it. Excessive traveling is tough too—I go through phases of this and it’s really hard on one’s health, family, balance. I love building companies and creating products, connecting people, helping people see what fabulous unlimited renegades they are. LOVE it!

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Dallas, Texas: What experiences or forces in your life shaped that success?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: People. It’s all about people. We can only do so much alone. Talk to them, ask how you can help them, then follow through. Don’t keep track of who you help and whether they reciprocate--the Universe has a perfect accounting system. It’ll all come back to you in time. Just help others. As often as you can.

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San Diego, Calif.: If you had the chance, is there anything you would have done/handled differently?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: I learned from Bill Gates to declare victory as you step onto the battlefield. You must decide to have self-confidence, even before you have evidence. Only then will the opportunities arise that will validate the confidence you chose to have without much evidence! Ignore most conventional wisdom—it’s not very wise. I would've followed this advice from the get-go!

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Washington, D.C.: What is one thing that most people would be surprised to learn about you?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Hmmm... People often are surprised upon meeting me. Perhaps they have a pre-conceived image of me when they learn I’ve been a model, monk, geisha trainee, and self-made multi-millionaire. But what they resonate with is that I am extremely down-to-earth. I’m approachable, and a little goofy, and I want everyone to succeed. I know there’s plenty for us all… scarcity isn’t an illusion I chose to embrace. I’m human. I have tons of flaws. I make mistakes. This sometimes puzzles people too—until they read Rules for Renegades—then they see that it’s ok to be up front about your mistakes!

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Atlanta, Ga.: How would you describe your leadership style?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Bursty, meaning I lead in bursts, and in between I want my team to rise up and lead themselves. I am all about elevating others and growing people. I prefer to grow than to manage, to lead and then step back and give others a chance to take on the mantle in their area of responsibility. So my leadership is high level and strategic, and I dive into tactics to help my team lead their own areas.

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Boston, Mass.: Starting out as a young female entrepreneur in a male dominated business world must have been rather challenging at times. What periods of your career have proved the most challenging and the most rewarding?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Getting into Microsoft was super challenging. Some of the men there had zero interest in having female engineers around. I had to constantly prove myself. Getting into the Fortune 1000 was equally difficult, because my competition were men in the 50’s who looked super conservative. Once I made myself over to look more conservative I landed our first client. Then I had to constantly prove myself about 40 more times. After that, heck, we had built massive credibility by doing terrific work and it was a lot easier. The reward comes from persevering through the times of adversity. Then, eventually, one gets to celebrate their success!

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New York, N.Y.: What are the personality traits and characteristics of a successful entrepreneur?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Perseverance, humility (you’ll need to ask a lot of questions, ask for help and advice, admit to not knowing things, apologize, etc), passion, commitment. Entrepreneurs live in a reality distortion field. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be able to take such outrageous, and often terrifying, risks.

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Portland, Ore.: Drawing on your experience, what are the most common mistakes that entrepreneurs make when trying to secure finance deals? How can such mistakes be avoided?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: They don’t:
• Study & model successful businesses
• Communicate their business via a powerful plan
• Get sufficient funding: the right type of financing on the right terms
• Hire the right blend of staff
• Know how to handle competition
• Enlist powerful & connected mentors
• Build emotional equity to achieve escape velocity

If they do all the above, they’ll flourish. They should visit www.MightyVentures.com and sign up for the Mighty Minute, and check out our additional business-boosting resources there. They're all free, and they'll help you TONS.

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San Diego, Calif.: What key piece of advice would you give to an entrepreneur wishing to start up a new business?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Do everything I said above, plus declare supreme self-confidence. Society tells us that we’ll have massive confidence one we have massive achievements. Society is wrong. Declare victory as you step onto the battlefield. Decide that supreme self-confidence is a choice. Make it. That energy will propel you forward and will attract others who will help you.

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Richmond, Va.: Do you have any plans to write another book in the future?

Christine Comaford-Lynch:
Yes! About a dozen! And now that the writers' strike is over, the film option on my first (unpublished) book is coming together. Think I'll start my next book soon as the movie is locked in.

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Austin, Texas: What’s the secret of your success?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Finding painful problems and fixing them! One of the best ways to make your mark in business is to become known for delivering results. AND when you find people who are in business pain, they’ll be more likely to take a chance on an underdog: small business, a new business, or someone with a less-than-standard educational pedigree.

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Washington, D.C.: What are the characteristics of a good business opportunity?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Great people. Great people can make a mediocre product/service/business a smashing success. But mediocre people can destroy a great product/service/business.

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Atlanta, Ga.: What is your best piece of advice for a budding entrepreneur?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Learn to love networking—you need people to help you achieve your goals!!! Also, earn your GSD (Gets Stuff Done). It’s essential that your name become synonymous with RESULTS. People with their GSD “credential” get the best promotions, the best advisors/mentors, the best financing, the best opportunities. Deliver the goods. You’ll stand out.

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Cliffside Park, N.J.: I'm considering going for my MBA so that I can have that edge, especially as a woman. Is this a worthwhile business move? How did you overcome the challenges of being a woman in corporate America?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: This depends on your desired career path. If you want to be an entrepreneur, and MBA is not as essential as if you want a career in someone else’s organization. Let’s take each option.

1) Entrepreneur: you’ll learn about business in the MBA program, but you won’t learn about what it takes to start one. Ideally you’ll want to get this experience on the side, and as soon as you can. Optional.

2) Corporate Career: go for it. To climb the corporate ladder you must have excellent networking skills and constantly be boosting your credibility. An MBA from a high profile school helps on the credibility front.

Either way you will develop a terrific rolodex and lasting relationships from business school. But after school ends you must attend at least 2 networking events per month. Join a local group on www.meetup.com or check out www.bni.com.

Next, you’ll want to answer questions in your area of expertise on LinkedIn. Sign up (it’s free) and regularly answer questions. Over time your profile and ratings will soar and you’ll get terrific job offers (keep your employers on their toes!).

I have repeatedly overcome the challenges of being a woman by networking and boosting my credibility!!

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Boston, Mass.: Did you ever feel like you were going in the wrong direction? What did you do?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Many times, my friend. I stopped, took stock of my life, and did the Semi-Annual Assessment in Rule 9: Resign As The General Manager of the Universe in Rules for Renegades. This will give you clarity on what is/isn’t feeding your soul. You must change your life if your soul isn’t being fed, because it’s being starved and that’s no good.

Go to a shopping mall and really, really look at people. You’ll see a wide range of happiness levels. The scariest are the “living dead.” These are the unfortunate souls who no longer have the energy to change their lives because they’ve passed up so many chances to do so. Each time you do this, you compromise yourself and your energy. Please don’t make this mistake.

Get quiet, assess your life with the Assessment in my book, and then make the changes you need to.

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Atlanta, Ga.: Do you have any advice trying to start their business in a downturned economy?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Yes—avoid the mistakes sooooooo many startup companies make. No one has the luxury to suffer these now.

1. Hasty Hiring: Result? Bad hires that are costly and time consuming. Better to hire contractors on a “try and buy” basis. You can find good contractor employees in a zillion places, I like www.workaholicsforhire.com, www.elance.com, www.craigslist.com

2. Expenses Before Revenue: Result? Financial pressure and personally funding the business. Better to live below your means and grow more slowly. In the venture capital world we liked businesses that “lived on roots and berries.” You get the idea. Be scrappy.

3. Skipping the Six Month Plan: Result? “Strategy of the Second”—and very little accomplished. Better to map out the next 6 months, and if a new project comes up, swap it out with one of equal complexity that is already on your plan. Poor planning is a luxury no business can afford.

4. Pointless Partnerships: Result? Time-consuming meetings and planning that doesn’t result in revenue. Better to only add partners for a specific purpose that can be monetized within the next 90 days.

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New York, N.Y.: You are obviously incredibly talented, smart and confident. How do you prevent the doubt from creeping in?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: What a kind thing to say... You don’t know me too well! Kidding :) I’ve been plagued with doubt my whole life. My biggest problem has been my inner critic. Until I personified her I used to believe those doubts. Now when I hear self-doubt I “see” my inner critic. She looks like a poorly aged Cloris Leachman/Phyllis Diller combo, she’s skinny, too tan, hunched over, smoking a cigarette (she’s a chain smoker) and drinking a martini. I feel sorry for her—AND see her as outside of me. That’s the key!

If this technique doesn’t work for you, talk to your friends. We all need supportive cool friends who remind us how unlimited and fabulous we are. Because we forget. Often.

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Washington, D.C.: What advice do you have a for a college graduate leaving the comforts of college?

Christine Comaford-Lynch:
Read and follow the Rules for Renegades. Really. They will give you the edge in the workplace, help you make your brand equal results, differentiate you from the crowd, and help you bounce back on the hard days. And come to the Rules For Renegades Summit June 6-7 in Irvine, California. You’ll meet terrific people who’ll become friends, mentors, and possibly employers. Go to www.rulesforrenegadessummit.com and sign up—it’s free.

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Atlanta, Ga.: Is there anything that you have done in your life that you now wish you could do again?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Hmmmm… if I have, I’ve already done it, I think. I’m not big on going back and doing things again, unless I do them in a new way. Gosh. I guess it would be cool to be born again—and that’ll happen in my next life (I am a Buddhist and believe in reincarnation). Though I am NOT looking forward to adolescence again…

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Washington, D.C.: Do you ever wish you just had a normal 9 to 5 existence?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Yes. And sometimes I do! Right now I am recovering from the 115 speeches I gave last year while promoting my book, so I am giving myself the gift of slowing down. I've taught my dog some new tricks, starred in a local theatre production, knitted numerous scarves, there's a lot to do (or not) after hours.

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New York, NY: How can you be a renegade in an office that looks negatively on bucking the norm?

Christine Comaford-Lynch: Remember, a renegade is not a rebel. If you strive to see the great in everyone, don't let people annoy you, learn to love networking, follow the Rules for Renegades--all this will help you forge your path in a bureaucracy.

Renegades acknowledge systems and resolve to navigate (not trash) them. When I am frustrated with systems I pretend I am a secret agent cracking a code. This makes it a game--not an annoyance.

I highly recommend you check out OfficePolitics.com--it's a great place to submit anonymous questions about dealing with bureaucracy. I answer them regularly, as I am an advisor there. May help you stay sane!

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BizBooks: Looks like that's all the time we have for today. Thank you Christine for taking the time to answer our questions. And thanks to everyone for joining us.

Christine Comaford-Lynch: What terrific questions! Thank you for joining me, everyone.

To pick up my book, Rules for Renegades, you can click on one of the links below:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Rock on, my renegade friends!

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