You know the pros of starting a small business: being your own boss and seeing a small idea grow into a successful company. The cons? You don’t even know how to get started!

According to a recent Kauffman Firm Survey, Latina-owned businesses are the fastest-growing segment of all women-owned businesses. Maribel Lieberman, founder of MarieBelle Fine Chocolates in New York City, has turned her amor for food into a profitable business. Here, she shares her tips for entrepreneurs.

Be Passionate
Lieberman says she became an entrepreneur at 8 years old, selling caramelos in school. She really became drawn to food and cooking while working at a catering company, which eventually led her to create her empresa de chocolate.

“I did research on chocolate, traveling to Belgium and France, until I discovered chocolate really came from Latin America,” says Lieberman. “When I learned about the culture of the cacao, I was fascinated and knew I needed to do this.” Lieberman’s love for comida combined with chocolate’s cultural history only increased her desire to open a chocolate business.

Set Goals
Instead of setting large, long-term goals, Lieberman recommends a more practical approach. “I make short goals for myself, and I achieve them,” she says. “Then, I set new goals.”

Also, stay realistic with your goals: You can’t expect to make money right away. “Be patient,” says Lieberman. “A business is like having a bebé: You need to feed and nurture it. It doesn’t become successful overnight. But once you earn it, you won’t lose it as easily, because you know how much work it took to get here.”

Know Cuánto Cuesta
It’s crucial to account for all of the costs involved with starting your own business. “Costs aren’t just the items you buy; there are unseen costs too,” says Lieberman. “There are taxes, insurance and overhead: rent, electricity and more.”

If you’re more of a creative type, work with someone from the start to help you manage these costs, suggests Lieberman. This will help make your company more profitable quickly.

Finally, be ready to work hard. “The main thing is to be brave and just do it,” says Lieberman. “There will always be roadblocks, but if this is what’s in your heart, go for it.”

From what we eat to how we bathe to walking outdoors on a sunny day, our cabello is affected by even the most basic lifestyle choices. Keep your hair looking and feeling its healthiest with these expert tips, including foods to eat, habits to start and new styling practices to try.

Comida
A balanced diet is the basis for keeping your hair strong and healthy, from the follicle to the scalp and strand. Your hair is composed mostly of proteins, which means it’s vital to include protein-rich foods in your diet to encourage hair growth, say the experts at the Philip Kingsley trichology clinics[i1] . Fish and nuts are both great sources of hair-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, so think of salmon and walnuts. Also aim to eat plenty of spinach, eggs and lentils, all of which are loaded with iron to boost your hair health[i2] . The Philip Kingsley team also recommends keeping your scalp hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Estilo de vida
Malas costumbres (such as smoking, excessive dieting, and lack of sleep) and hormonal changes from pregnancy, illness or menstrual cycles can impact el esplendor del cabello. Hair is very sensitive to changes in your body and emotions. For instance, stress can cause your hair to thin and shed .

Though damage like this is often reversible by reducing el estrés, the National Institutes of Health points out that modifying negative habits is sometimes difficult. Their suggestions? Become aware of bad habits, and then replace them with positive ones . Consider, for example, practicing yoga, daily meditation or exercise to relax your mind and body.

Styling
Regular cabello care includes frequent washing, regular brushing and avoiding direct heat from the sun or a blow dryer. If heat is your go-to styling method, then deep-conditioning once per week is a must.

Also consider ways to implement ‘natural’ hair-care practices. Allow, for instance, your hair to air-dry. Or add a teaspoon of baking soda to your shampoo routine to remove buildup from styling products that clog up your scalp. Lastly, the trichologists at Philip Kingsley recommend getting a trim every 10 weeks and waiting that same amount of time between visits to touch up your hair color or highlights.

In 1984, Guy Kawasaki, world-renowned venture capitalist and special advisor at Google, got a life-changing opportunity: His former roommate at Stanford University, Mike Boich, offered him a marketing job at Apple. Kawasaki’s work at Steve Jobs's empire brought him fortune, fame and, perhaps most importantly, the confidence to strike out on his own. 

Since that roaring start, Kawasaki has founded or co-established four successful companies, including Alltop, a news aggregation site, and Garage.com, which raises funds for promising technology businesses. He’s also the author of Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything, a blueprint for business success.

Here, the charismatic Stanford grad (who boasts 1.3 million Twitter followers!) shares four steps every budding entrepreneur must take to actualize her business plan:

Step 1: Just Do It
“The most important step is to create a real manifestation of your idea,” says Kawasaki. “For example, before you start a restaurant, try your menu on friends or at catering parties. [If you’re launching a physical product,] create and ship a prototype. Until you do this, everything else is just a made-up fairytale."

Step 2: Secure Seed Money

Every business needs some funds to get started. Write a business plan to figure out how much money you’ll need and when you can hope to see a profit. “For the vast majority of ideas, crowd funding on Indiegogo.com or Kickstarter.com is the way to go,” says Kawasaki.

Step 3: Get the Word Out
Now that your business is off the ground, how will you get the word out? “The most powerful and accessible way to market your business is to use social media such as Google+, Twitter and Facebook,” says Kawasaki. “Entrepreneurs must build their social media platform as soon as they decide to start a company."

Step 4: Have Faith
“Nobody ever said that entrepreneurship is easy,” says Kawasaki. Your business will face hurdles and challenges, and you need to stay strong and keep at it. “Truly, some things need to be believed to be seen. You must believe in what you're doing."

For as long as she can remember, Alma Guajardo-Crossley’s sueño has been to help the Latino community, particularly in the area of education. We caught up with Alma for tips on how focusing, getting through school and working hard can yield a rewarding life.

You're a big advocate for education, why do you think it’s so important for Latinos? What would you say to someone who is thinking about skipping college and heading straight to the workforce?

Alma Guajardo-Crossley: Given the current demographics of the country, the future of the nation depends on the success of our Latino youth (with one out of every four teens under the age of 18 being Latino). That is why they must prepare themselves for the opportunities that will be available to them. The price of entry for a good job is a college degree; especially at the rate technology is expanding. At times, circumstances do not allow for immediate access in to the college world, but I would challenge our youth to pursue the dream. There are many people willing to help and organizations that offer scholarships. Ultimately, it is up to the student to research and connect with those people. Almost nothing worth having comes easy.

What are the secrets to your success?    

 

A.G.C: Perseverance, hard work, passion and confidence.

Why is giving back to the Latino community so important to you?  

A.G.C: I understand how difficult it can be for a Hispanic with a humble background to achieve a certain level of success. The help I received from people, no matter how big or small, meant so much to me. We need Latinos to succeed and I am happy to play a role in whatever way I can.  

You've worked for GM for over 25 years, what do you think about this young generation who wants everything (success/fame) so fast?

 

A.G.C: Knowledge is gained through people and experiences, and the road to success provides you with many encounters and opportunities. You must appreciate every station given to you in life no matter how big or small; never think you are bigger than the job. The foundation you build and the tools you carry with you in life will be much stronger and broader the more time you take to cultivate them.  

What are the three words that describe you?

 

A.G.C: Dreamer, believer and achiever.

What was the most important piece of advice you've ever received?  

A.G.C: Eliminate negative energy in your life. You will come across many people and often times there will be some who bring you down, discourage or distract you from your dream. You must be strong enough to let them go. In order for one to be successful and happy, you must surround yourself with people that believe in you and support your dreams. Do not let someone change who you are or the dreams you have.  

There's no doubt that chisme is frowned upon. But new findings may have you thinking twice the next time your girlfriends spill the beans.  Research suggests that gossiping can actually have physical and mental health benefits -- when done without bad intentions.

"Gossiping is a way of passing along social norms," says Dr. Ana Nogales, a clinical psychologist and founder of Nogales Psychological Counseling, Inc. in Los Angeles. "It’s a way of connecting and relieving anxiety."

Dr. Nogales is not alone in her thinking. According to a 2009 University of Michigan study, “gossiping” can make you feel emotionally close to a friend. It turns out that sharing a secret increases your levels of the hormone progesterone, which boosts your wellbeing and reduces stress and anxiety.

Some gossip can even act as a cautionary tale by repressing bad behaviors. “We control our behavior because we're afraid of what people will say," says Dr. Nogales. For instance, if you hear a story of someone who cheated on their spouse or was arrested for drinking while intoxicated, and the feedback from the group is negative, it can help you resist those same temptations.

Gossiping may also increase your imagination and perspective. Say there’s something that you want, like a new baby, gossiping can help you realize your dreams and inspire you to action.

There is a difference between negative and positive gossiping, or gossiping sin maldad, explains Dr. Nogales. When you "gossip" about someone getting a raise, or getting engaged, it actually makes you feel good, because you're passing on happy information. Just make sure your gossip has a positive spin, like telling a co-worker you heard bonuses would be back in effect this year. “Positivity is infectious,” she says. And that’s news worth sharing.