The floor was opened up by an ice breaker activity about what everyone in the room is looking forward to this year or what they are grateful for. After we went around the room and the room and the air were filled with everyone’s new goals, what they are thankful for and making connections the eyes were directed to a PowerPoint Presentation. During this PowerPoint Presentation the participates found out more about the program, the importance of the program, more about LAEDA and its history and everyone learned about each other and the LAEDA staff as well.

LAEDA completes the cycle of economic development by aligning its various efforts into one comprehensive approach to be focused on one commercial district. No matter where you are in the evolution of the entrepreneur, whether it is the side hustle business, self-employed business or the business owner one can call LAEDA and get assistance. This program is designed to move you from where you are to where you want to be because standing still is not an option. Also, in this program you will learn the fundamentals of business, have valuable counseling sessions with mentors, learn from experts in their own fields, build a wallet of valuable resources, build up a networking support system, build upon or polish up your business plan, reach toward your goals and much more. LAEDA continues to meet entrepreneurs where they are and lead them to where they want to go.

With that in mind the training room has a vision board that represents as a reminder why the participants are there, it represents his or her inspiration and determines his or her motivation. LAEDA welcomes their participants to put his or her aspirations, dreams and even photos on that board. The room was filled with the conversations of how networking is important and maybe one day down the road the person next to you might be doing business with you or just be a valuable connection or support in the life of an entrepreneur and or business owner. The experiences at LAEDA helps individuals to make connections and create experiences of commodity or collaboration. Everyone becomes a family who are working toward the same goals.

LAEDA’s goals is to move its participants and keep on moving them forward. Soon the room was asked why each one is here at LAEDA and the room was filled with the following answers:

• To learn
• To continue to grow
• Further their business
• Further their knowledge in business aspects
• Marketing different visions to get around and capture clients in those visions
• Catalyst to push business to where that business is needed to grow
• To connect and make connections
• Dig deeper into the different business aspects
• Accounting and processing procedures and systems
• Finding and or determining target audience or both
• To be a better business owner and build up on new skills
• Being able to acknowledge who they are in a valuable way
• To work on their own talents
• Build a legacy for their families
• To create freedom and keep it
• To keep on learning and keeping up with all the changes in the digital and business world of today
• Being more organized and finding a direction and or working toward a direction
• Learning the art of managing business and home life
• Learning the art of self-care
• Building the business in a formal structure

Some valuable lessons that were being flown in the room:

• Never give up no matter what
• Each step no matter how significant or small is vital
• Networking and connections are two ingredients that are a must in the successful recipe of the road of a business owner or the life of an entrepreneur
• Building valuable systems and trusting those systems
• As an entrepreneur and or business owner many hats are worn throughout the day and that is why learning the art of delegation is crucial to success and longevity
• Build that trust within your team so you as the business owner can walk away when you need or want to
• In order to elevate you have to delegate
• You have to trust in you and your business in order to build trust add onto the relationships and take care of your team
• The goal is to move and keep on going

LAEDA is more than the nine week program. LAEDA offers business training, business counseling, ensures entrepreneurs are moving forward and get what they need, growing the marketplace and taking the thoughts of being an entrepreneur and helping to open up for business and much more.

LAEDA offers seminars and short-term courses in various counties of South Jersey throughout the year. A long-term course is also offered three times per year where entrepreneurs receive 72+ hours of training from industry professionals, business planning, and business counseling. The program is free, but you must qualify.

LAEDA welcomes you to join our community of successful entrepreneurs. Visit our website at www.laeda.com or call (856) 338-1177 to learn more.

Let LAEDA help you get through the alphabet each step of the way. Contact us and see you soon.