You are currently browsing the monthly archive for June 2009.
When Meredith signed up for my Transformations through Transitions group this spring her goal was to bring her breast cancer story to the public’s attention.
She talked about creating an advisory board–more like a support posse–which stimulated Meredith’s drive to get help and share the journey. But the bigger challenge, the one she really wanted to be held accountable for, was to create a trailer for the documentary she’s having filmed throughout her experience.
Since I teach people how to set realistic goals, Meredith knew she was stretching the limits considering that she was still showing up at commercial photography shoots to do her styling work, plus continuing with her chemo treatments which are a job in themselves. Was it really realistic to also edit down the hours and hours of video footage to create this marketing tool?
Meredith walked into our session last Thursday on fire. She had the trailer completed! She showed it to our group. Watch it! It’s amazing! Not only that, Meredith has speaking engagements lined up, too, and networking events where she can meet others interested in publicizing this disease.
In addition, Meredith is putting out requests for others help and support. I offered to assist her in that endeavor. Here’s what you can do:
- Meredith will be speaking at a Relay for Life in Westport, CT on Friday, June 26.
- Watch the trailer. Click any of the highlighted trailer links in this post.
- Pass the trailer onto any and all interested parties.
- Send your healing prayers and thoughts to Meredith on June 18 when she will be undergoing her final chemo treatment. For three days after she experiences such toxicity in her body that she is only able to lie in the fetal position, closely watched by her favorite animals, and allows time to pass.
Linda Ross, my friend who walks at Compo Beach with me on Tuesday mornings, admitted recently that she’d always wanted to be a philanthropist. In a past life, she traveled in wealthy circles where millions were routinely donated at fancy fund-raisers. She never felt a part of that world.
A month ago she invited Buddy and me to her house for dinner along with several other couples. We would share an early meal before attending the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra performance that evening. Linda had devised a plan to help share her love of this organization with different couples before each concert boosting ticket sales and introducing new audience members to NSO. The cultural institution got wind of her efforts and sent a photographer over to her house to capture us at the dining room table and again in our seats at Norwalk City Hall.
In their most recent program they acknowledged Linda and her husband prominently displaying our photographs. “We at the Norwalk Symphony salute Mr. and Mrs. Ross and the great effort they are making to spread the word!”
Linda told me that that recognition meant more to her than any financial contribution she’d ever made.
The point? When you take a step toward your own vision, whether it’s philanthropy, business development or personal growth, the rewards are greater than anticipated. Do what you can where you are with what you have. Let me know what steps you’ve taken, and I’ll salute you.
Two magnificent women business owners were featured at EWN‘s Grand Networking Event on Monday night, and I was lucky enough to be among the 150+ women who got to hear them.
Carolyn, best known as Donald Trump’s right-hand woman from The Apprentice, spoke during the private cocktail hour. She’s launching her own entrepreneurial enterprise and shared her revelation as to how challenging it is to be in business for yourself, even with her background and credentials.
Of course she also shared juicy tidbits about working with The Donald, but was gracious enough to pretend (wink-wink) that it was the first time anyone had asked that question. No surprises. Just that she likes her Blackberry much more now that she’s her own boss.
Kelly Flatley is the founder and creator of Bear Naked, the granola company that was sold to Kellogg 18 months ago for $23+ million dollars. Kelly is 30. Her story is inspiring, generous and humble. I love what she stands for and what she’s created. She spoke between courses and had the roomful of women business owners enthralled with the simplicity of her message and key points.
What were my take-aways from the night?
- Carolyn saying entrepeneurship was HARD. It is, and it’s nice to hear someone with celebrity status acknowledging that.
- Kelly talked about picking the culture you want to create. She said she wanted to greet people at her company with high five’s rather than handshakes. It reminds me that my culture embraces authenticity and passion, not seven figures and stress.
- Being with the energy of all these great women carries me for days.
- I’m in good company.
I’d love to hear what other attendees thought.
While I was in Charleston over the weekend I wandered into an inviting shop called Worthwhile. There was a beautifully detailed white cotton shirtwaist in the window that caught my eye and drew me in. I suspected the price tag would be pretty detailed too. I was right. It was $429.
I told the salesgirl how charmed I was by the dress. “Oh, that piece is designed by Gary Graham. We have several more pieces by him in the back.”
Piece. As opposed to dress. Somehow it elevated it. I was no longer looking at clothing. I was viewing art. It altered the experience. I was drawn in, as to a museum show. I couldn’t get it out of my head, although the pricing and small-size-only availability cured that urge.
The takeaway from this incident was the brilliance and simplicity of a trained sales staff and quality copywriting. A writer had developed the formidable skill of turning something that goes on your back into an experience for the shopper. Part of the overhead of a designer like Graham is paying for that service. No wonder the “piece” was so expensive.
