By Eileen Godin
Smith, 69, of Laflin, started her business of preserving life stories of individuals in 2008, at the start of her golden years. Labeling her an Encore Entrepreneur.
These two words triggered a Google Alert pulling the story into Peterson’s assistant’s email. Peterson, a certified public accountant, author of “Better, Smarter, Wiser” and adviser with the Small Business Development Center in Portland, Oregon, works to help her local the small business community through by providing resources.
Peterson reached out to Smith. After chatting, Smith agreed to participate in Peterson’s regular broadcast.
Smith, now finding herself on the other end of discussing her life story, discussed how the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center helped her develop her business idea or preserving personal life stories.Peterson said creating a support network is important to making a successful business model.
Noting Smith is part of a rising group of senior citizens launching new business start-ups, Peterson asked her why she thinks there is a trend.
Citing a growing population that is aging helath, people are finding they have more free time, wisdom, and the ability to take risks that they could not take when they had children to raise.
Focusing on Smith’s “solo-preneurism,” Peterson asked her about how she determines when to outsource a service to a sub-contractor.
Smith said it is easy to say he could learn how to do a particular aspect that goes beyond her skill set, but it is important to be able to make the determination as to when to reach out for help.
Smith said it is easy to say he could learn how to do a particular aspect that goes beyond her skill set, but it is important to be able to make the determination as to when to reach out for help.
“It is a piece of professionalism to know when to use an expert,” Peterson said.
The podcast is available at www.bettersmarterricher.com.
Peterson, named one of the 100 most powerful women in the Northwest, won the President’s Award from the Portland Chamber of Commerce for her work with the small business community.
