LadyPens » Business

Smart Women Give Their Business a Marketing Makeover

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:09:48 +0000

When you begin your journey as a woman entrepreneur, your most important action step is to get clients and create a “buzz” about your product or service so you can keep the business alive and get on a path to profitability. With effective marketing, your business will grow and over time, word will spread about the results people are getting when they work with you. If becoming a leader in your industry is a goal for you, now will be the time to consider an updated look in your business – a new brand image – both personally and professionally. Full Article

Smart Women And The 5 Fundamental Questions for Business Success

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:02:02 +0000

I’m finding that many women entrepreneurs are reflecting on their year and a question that seems to be on the minds of many is: “What are tools and strategies I need for my business to take a big leap in the New Year?” As I reflect on this question, I realize the answer is two-fold. If you are serious about making 2012 the year that you soar in business and make big leaps in income, you must first ask yourself a few questions (and get honest with yourself about the answers): Full Article

Smart Women Have Their Own “Hermageddon”

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 22:57:33 +0000

Did you hear about “Carmageddon?” Several weeks ago, the 405 freeway (noted to be one of the busiest freeways in the nation) that runs through Los Angeles closed for a weekend period of 53 hours for repairs. This created a frenzy here in Los Angeles called “Carmageddon” which forced residents to think creatively about their weekend travel plans. Many people (including yours truly) decided to stay home and avoid any hassles. I made a firm decision that if I couldn’t get to my destination on foot or by bicycle, I’d just stay home. This got me thinking about how Smart Women create their own “Hermageddon” to relax, recharge, renew and repair their own lives. Full Article

Smart Women Make a Difference

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:51:22 +0000

I struggled a bit this week on what I wanted to share with you. I place a high value on making sure I give you timely information that you can use right away to take your life and your business to the next level of fulfillment, happiness and success. On the one hand, I wanted to write about June being the halfway mark in your business and now is the perfect time to take a mid-year inventory of what’s working and what’s not working so you can make the shifts necessary to meet your goals by the end of the year. Full Article

Smart Women And The Tug of Transition

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 23:28:52 +0000

Recently, I attended a surprise 50th birthday party for a good friend from college. I had a fantastic time reconnecting with old friends and discovering new ones as well. One of the biggest Aha’s for me during the weekend festivities was the realization that most of my time is spent with entrepreneurs—people who have made the jump to self-employment and choosing to do it their way. Many of the people I spent time with at this weekend event were employed by someone else. The topic of conversation was quite different for me yet it was illuminating to learn and see life from their perspective. Full Article

Smart Women Never Quit

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 23:42:55 +0000

This article is about why it’s important to never quit as we are on the road to accomplishing our Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals. Although fear and doubt can creep in when we are working toward success, it’s key to stay the course and keep going. There are several things you can do to help you when fear and failure strikes.

Smart Women Step Into Their Gift

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 00:50:39 +0000

Today, I wanted to give you something special, yet practical that you could use right away to create momentum and positive energy in your life as you step into 2011. Full Article

Smart Women Plan Ahead

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 22:07:07 +0000

Recently, I made a trip to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) here in Los Angeles to renew my driver’s license. I made a smart choice by scheduling an appointment for my renewal rather than “winging it” as a “walk in.” As I approached the DMV in my car, I saw scores of people forming a line that wrapped around the outside of the building. As you can imagine, my heart began to race at the prospect of standing in a line that long. I began a mental scan of my “to do” list in my head with a bit of anxiety about how lengthy this process might be. Full Article

Smart Women Know Success Leaves Clues

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 19:51:06 +0000

Have you ever wondered what the real secret to success is? Do you ever read articles about women entrepreneurs who’ve accomplished their dreams and think, “Now how did she do that?” I know I have. I’m always in search of better, more effective ways to achieve my goals both personally and professionally and I look to women who’ve walked the path of entrepreneurship before me. The good news is success leaves clues and if you’re open to hearing what other successful women entrepreneurs share about their journey, you can save yourself a lot of time (& money). Full Article

Smart Women Get Out of the Office

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 22:16:30 +0000

With summer behind us and kids back in school, women entrepreneurs are flocking to conferences and events to connect with other entrepreneurs and discover new ways to grow their business. Whether you’re in a startup phase or you’ve been in business a few years, getting out from behind your desk and showing up at events is one of the most effective “offline” marketing tools you can use. Full Article

Outsourcing Tips: How to Outsource in Your Online Business

Nicole Dean — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:16:13 +0000

One of my favorite topics to discuss is outsourcing. You’d be amazed how much thinking about outsourcing and where to begin outsourcing flummoxes everyone from the newest newbies to the seasoned gurus and everyone in between. Full Article

Smart Women Rest, Recharge & Renew

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:24:00 +0000

Recently, I was speaking with a client who is approaching a milestone birthday. She shared with me that what she really wanted as a gift was to retreat for a few days alone without family or friends. She expressed her feelings of “guilt” because she wanted to be alone, and felt anxious about going on a retreat as she’s never really been alone for an extended period of time. This got me thinking about how Smart Women understand that it’s essential to rest, recharge and renew—alone. Full Article

Smart Women Use Speaking to Grow Their Business

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 22:03:26 +0000

A few weeks ago, I took some time to evaluate where most of my clients come from and the two areas where I consistently receive highly qualified clients are referrals from happy clients and public speaking. It’s essential that you spend your valuable time doing the things that consistently bring you the clients that you love to work with. This week, I’m going to focus on public speaking as I get many questions from Smart Women on this topic. Full Article

Smart Women Practice Quality Not Quantity

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:02:45 +0000

This article is about realizing that quality time is much better than the quantity of time we spend in all areas of our lives. Give yourself permission to schedule quality time and really “be” with your family and in your business rather than being there physically but not present. In this case, more is not always better. I find scheduling this “special” time with my family and in my business makes a big difference in the quality of my relationships.

Smart Women, American Girl® and Building Your Brand

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:00:03 +0000

A few weeks ago, I took a vacation with my family to New York City. While there, we visited the American Girl® store. My daughter Jenna loves this store, and it’s easy to understand why so many girls are attracted to this brand. When you enter the store, the “experience” begins. This got me thinking about how Smart Women could learn from American Girl® how to build a business image or brand that lasts. Full Article

Smart Women, LeBron James and the Need to Be You

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:29:04 +0000

By now, everyone knows that LeBron James, one of the world’s greatest basketball players, has left the Cleveland Cavaliers after 7 years. He’s finally made a decision to make the Miami Heat his new home where he will continue to exercise his passion, energy and talent for the game. LeBron took a lot of “heat” for his decision to leave his home state. You may be asking yourself, “Why should I care?” As I watched the reaction to his decision, it got me thinking about how Smart Women have similar situations in their life as well. Huh? Full Article

I’m Begging You…

Nicole Dean — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:49:01 +0000

I’ve been an online business owner since back in 2004. I’ve worked on my own business, plus I’ve had plenty of clients over the years (as an Affiliate Manager and as a Coach), too. So you could say that I’ve seen the inner workings of a lot of businesses over the years. Full Article

Smart Women Understand “Life is an Occasion”

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:05:50 +0000

A few nights ago, we watched “Mr. Magorium’s Magical Emporium” with Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman. It’s a fun and light family movie with a wonderful message. I won’t give away the plot or ending, however at one point in the movie, Dustin Hoffman (Mr. Magorium) smiled and said to Natalie (who at the time was going through a big life transition) “Your life is an occasion; rise to it.” This got me thinking about how Smart Women know this well. Full Article

Smart Women Keep Showing Up

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:02:37 +0000

My 7 year old daughter Jenna loves to play baseball. In fact, she loves it so much she’s willing to play in a league where over 90% of the players are boys. We are nearing the end of the season and playoffs begin in a few days. She’s struggled to keep up with the team, playing mostly in the outfield and typically last in the batting order. Last Saturday, she had her best game of the whole season. It’s clear that she has gone to another skill level. This got me thinking about how Smart Women know the value of “showing up” when they have a strong desire to accomplish something. Full Article

Smart Women Have a Winning Offense

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 21 May 2010 22:57:37 +0000

Recently my children’s little league baseball team was defeated—badly. At one point, I looked at another mom and said, “Please let the bloodshed end!” After the game, the coach brought the team into the dugout to review what worked and what didn’t work. He began with a review of the other team’s performance. One boy piped in, “They sure hit well when they were at bat.” Another boy said, “And they were good at stealing bases!” This got me thinking about how Smart Women need a good offense to win this game we call entrepreneurship. Full Article

Smart Women and the Game of Entrepreneurship

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 14 May 2010 22:23:03 +0000

A few days ago, my 7 year old daughter came home with what I thought was a challenging school project—designing and creating her own game from scratch. Jenna was stumped at first. She came up with a few ideas but then quickly gave up as she found some “glitches” in her plan. This got me thinking about Smart Women and the game of entrepreneurship. Full Article

Survey Results and Special Offer For an Opportunity to Dramatically Increase Your Profits

Ruth Hegarty — Sat, 08 May 2010 22:24:38 +0000

Last month I ran a survey that asked What is your single biggest challenge when it comes to presenting your business message (what you do/what you can do for people) to an audience (big or small) to promote and grow your business? Full Article

Smart Women Know Who to Ask

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 07 May 2010 22:11:31 +0000

Have you ever had a Big Idea that you were over the moon about only to have your hopes dashed because you shared it with someone who you trusted and they told you (typically in a very flat tone) “that will never work.” I’ve had this unfortunate experience happen to me on more than one occasion over the last two decades as an entrepreneur. It’s painful isn’t it? You get all excited about the possibility of living your passionate life and someone pops the air in your dream balloon! Full Article

Smart Women Have a Good Eye

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:37:29 +0000

This past weekend, I was sitting in the bleachers at our local park watching my children play little league baseball when I heard the weekly mantra from their coach as each child took their position at bat: Full Article

Smart Women Serve It Up The Right Way

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:22:10 +0000

Have you ever heard the phrase opposites attract? This can be true of my husband Greg and I when we go out for dinner together. I like fine dining with beautiful menus, fine wine and those heavy linen napkins. Greg prefers more casual dining where someone takes your order or you place your order at the counter and sit wherever you can find a spot. We both enjoy two different kinds of experiences. This got me thinking about how Smart Women need to offer their ideal client what they want and prefer if they have a desire to grow their business. Full Article

11 Activities for Building Confidence to Grow Your Business

Ruth Hegarty — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 22:38:40 +0000

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

As we start looking toward spring, how are you doing on all your big dreams and goals that you set for this year? If you aren’t getting the results you want or are fearful of taking the actions that you know will get you the results you want, don’t despair! Now is the time when you want to continue to focus your energy on your dreams and take consistent action. Most people fail because they give up too soon. Don’t get discouraged if you know in your heart that you are on the right path but frustrated that you aren’t moving as fast as you’d like. Now is the time to focus on your inner energy and your confidence muscle. In this article, I give you eleven activities for strengthening that confidence muscle so that you maintain your energy, focus and momentum and can manifest your dreams. Full Article

Wal-Mart, Chico’s, and Nordstrom

Dawn Goldberg — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:34:24 +0000

When I acquired AuthorSmart from Gail Richards earlier this year, I chose not to make any major changes, especially with regard to the fee structure that was in place, and just concentrated on getting the spring/summer session rolling. Full Article

Smart Women Entrepreneurs Can Learn a Lot from the Olympics

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:16:03 +0000

Over the past few weeks, I’ve enjoyed watching the Winter Olympics with my family. I find the Winter Olympic Sports exciting and I’m in awe of the skill and determination of the athletes. As I watched the closing ceremonies and listened to interviews with those athletes who were taking home the “gold,” I was reminded how Smart Women entrepreneurs could learn a lot from Olympic athletes. Full Article

Smart Women Have a Marketing Mantra

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:24:08 +0000

I recently attended a conference for women business owners and ran into a woman I had not seen for some time. She looked a little unhappy when I approached her. I asked her if everything was going well and she shared with me that she had just lost a big client. In fact, this big client was more than 50% of her business. Wow! I’d be upset too. She was in the process of figuring out what to do next to rebuild her business back to a successful place. As we talked, I started thinking about the “golden” rule in business for Smart Women: Always have a marketing “mantra.” Full Article

R.O.U.S.’s – I don’t think they exist

Dawn Goldberg — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:46:23 +0000

I’m reading William Goldman’s supposed adapted book version of The Princess Bride, and I’m really enjoying it. Every so often (but not so often as to be annoying), he breaks in with his author persona and explains why he removed S. Morgenstern’s original text. For a reader and an author, it’s an enjoyable read. Full Article

Get The Right Answers When You Ask The Right Questions

Ruth Hegarty — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:23:06 +0000

As a huge fan of self-reflection in general and having seen the evidence of it’s impact on success many times in working with clients (and myself) the only real question becomes: what questions do you ask yourself that have the power to elicit the answers that are vital for you to manifest your dreams. Today, I’m sharing 15 of my favorites with you. An important part of your coach’s job is to ask the right questions. We train for years to know which ones are the right ones as from the thousands of questions your coach can ask you, there is always one perfect one for each client conversation. Knowing that question is both an art and a science. Since this article is something of a one-sided conversation, the following questions are by necessity somewhat general, still, one will be the right question for you in the moments that you are reading it. Full Article

Smart Women Entrepreneurs, Solids, and Fluids

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:34:01 +0000

A few weeks ago, our family took a trip to the California Science Center for their “family lab day.” It was a fun and educational experience. There was one experiment that had to do with the difference between solids and fluids, and it got me thinking about Smart Women entrepreneurs and their businesses. Does your business need to be solid or fluid? Actually, both. Full Article

Smart Women Give Their Clients an Experience

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:04:08 +0000

Last week, my husband Greg and I went mobile phone shopping. I had one of those flip phones that allows you to make phone calls and that’s about it. I couldn’t email anyone or look up anything on the web. I really needed a better way to stay connected! Full Article

Marketing 101: Let People Know What You Have to Offer

Ruth Hegarty — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:05:00 +0000

Marketing is THE key ingredient to your business success. No matter how good you are at what you do, if nobody knows you are out there doing it, they can’t hire you. So marketing is the number one activity you can engage in to benefit your business regardless of what business you’re actually in. Think of it like this: you’re not a graphic designer; you’re a marketer of graphic design services. In a very real way, marketing is your business. There is no higher leverage activity in which you can engage. Why is marketing so important? It’s simple. It doesn’t matter how good you are at what you do if nobody can hire you because they don’t know you exist. That means you don’t make money, you don’t get to engage in the work you are passionate about and you don’t get to help people through that work unless you market your business. Full Article

What To Do At Your Next Networking Event

Ruth Hegarty — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:41:29 +0000

As you gear up to reach your 2010 goals, take advantage of all the wonderful networking opportunities that exist at this time of year. Fear of not knowing the “right” things to do when networking is one of the top reasons people simply don’t participate in this extremely effective business strategy. Here is a brief guide to help you make your next networking event your best networking event. Full Article

Smart Women Can Learn a Lot About Business from a 3rd Grader

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:28:23 +0000

Recently my son Jack, who’s in 3rd grade, had to do a book report and I spent some time guiding him through the process. His teacher had asked the report to consist of 6 elements: Title, Setting, Main Characters, Plot, Problem, and Solution. This got me thinking about how Smart Women could use this exercise to create a clear and focused plan for their business and entrepreneurial dreams. Full Article

Smart Women Trim the Layers of Their Lives

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:10:23 +0000

Yesterday, we had tree-trimmers here at our house to clean up the trees that were overgrown and also to make room for new growth in the future. We live in a house that is very light and bright, however I was surprised this morning when I discovered how much more light and clarity of vision we have now that we’ve peeled back the layers of debris and overgrowth. Today, I have views of nature and blue sky that were not visible to me yesterday. This got me thinking about how Smart Women know the importance of trimming back the layers of their lives so that they can keep their vision clear and focused on what’s most important. Full Article

Smart Women Love, Give……and Have Fears

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:20:35 +0000

This morning, as I sit here at my desk looking out the window at a beautiful, sunny fall day, I’m a bit at a loss on how to begin this article. This article isn’t any different from the others I share with you each week. As usual, it’s about my own life and the reflections that I believe are helpful to other Smart Women. This article is about loving deeply, giving gifts and feeling fear along the way. Sounds like something all women deal with—yes? Full Article

Smart Women, Halloween and Attracting Your Ideal Client

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:29:53 +0000

Last weekend, we took our kids trick or treating in our neighborhood and it was exciting. I enjoyed watching Jack and Jenna’s faces light up when they saw a friend from school or someone dressed as their favorite character. One observation from the evening that intrigued me was watching which houses the children gravitated to most often. The houses that were adorned with lights, decorations and an irresistible “come visit me” feeling were the ones the children ran to first. They would actually skip over homes that had little or no “invitation.” They would stand in long lines at homes that had that welcome feeling, waiting for one piece of candy rather than use that time to visit two or three homes that had less of a welcome presence. This got me thinking about how Smart Women entrepreneurs could learn a lot from Halloween when it comes to attracting their ideal client. Full Article

Smart Women and the Movie Up

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:18:09 +0000

A few days ago, our family went to see the movie “Up.” We laughed at a lot–especially at how silly we all looked in our 3D glasses! In the movie, the character Ellie was both adventurous and feisty. Ellie had a wild imagination and Carl (her young friend who later became her husband) found her enchanting and fell in love with her. After their marriage, Ellie created a very special “Adventure Book” and inside she had written, “Stuff I’m going to do.” This got me thinking about why Smart Women should have their own special adventure books and make plans and set goals around the “stuff they are going to do.” Full Article

Smart Women, Dorothy, and the Yellow Brick Road

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:12:54 +0000

A few days ago, I was watching “The Wizard of Oz” with my 7-year-old daughter Jenna, and at one point she asked a question; “Mommy do you think that Dorothy and her friends will ever get to the Wizard of Oz”? My reply? “Yes, Jenna, I think they will get there. They have a lot of challenges along the way, but I feel certain they will make it.” Smart Women know that sometimes the road (whether it’s Yellow, brick, or a path less traveled) to getting what you truly want in life is not paved in an easy to follow straight line. Full Article

Smart Women Have “Personal” Power

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:42:47 +0000

Do you have “personal” power? I’m not referring to the power that comes from material wealth or the ability to control people and situations. I’m referring to the kind of power that comes from within—the power that is authentic only to you. Women with “personal” power are secure in their own self-confidence and self-esteem. They are at peace with who they are at their core and they encourage others to be more of who they are. Women with “personal” power encourage others to show up in the world exactly as they are. Full Article

Your Book Is a Business

Dawn Goldberg — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:05:11 +0000

Whether you are writing a book on frogs, women business owners, creating financial stability or something entirely different; you have to start looking at your book as a business. Read on to learn the six areas that need serious thought before you head down the road toward publishing.

Self-Care

Ruth Hegarty — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:24:07 +0000

When you are creating effortless success, it’s important that you learn to take extremely good care of yourself – physically, mentally and spiritually – and to always put your best interests first. There is a good reason why airlines instruct passengers who travel with small children to put their own oxygen mask on in an emergency and only then put a mask on the child. It may seem counter-instinctual since we are all conditioned by evolution and culture to risk our own life to save the life of a small child. This is a good and natural instinct as it helps to ensure the continuation of our species. That is the bigger picture. In the smaller, more immediate picture, it is in both your best interest and that of the child for you to put your own oxygen mask on first. Why? Imagine that you followed your natural instinct and put the oxygen mask on your two-year old son first before attempting to fasten your own. Before you can attend to your mask, the lack of oxygen overcomes you and you pass out. Now, you have no mask and your child has no one to comfort and continue to look after him. Imagine instead, that you first put on your mask, and then put an oxygen mask on your son. If he has passed out the oxygen will revive him and now you are both conscious and your child has you to continue to comfort and protect him during the emergency. Full Article

The Zen of Ease

Ruth Hegarty — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:18:03 +0000

One day someone in one of my mastermind groups told me she thought of me as the “Queen of Ease” which I absolutely loved (and may continue to use as my alter ego) since my mission in life is to help the woman entrepreneur have more time and energy for herself AND more money and success in her business – AND do this all in a way that feels effortless! Full Article

Smart Women “Live into and Find the Flow”

Joy Chudacoff — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 02:38:13 +0000

A few days ago, I was sitting with my good friend and Smart Woman, Suzanne, in her backyard and I was complementing her on how well the yard was laid out from the play area, pool area, and lounge area. Everything flows so well in accessing the home and the backyard. Suzanne shared with me that the backyard was not designed this way when they first moved into the home. When they bought the house initially, the backyard looked a lot different. She shared that after they had lived in the house for awhile and found their flow as a family, she and her husband created a vision on how the backyard might better serve their needs. This got me thinking about how Smart Women need to “live into their Big ideas, dreams and goals finding their flow along the way”. Full Article

Smart Women Take the Right Action

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:13:48 +0000

A few days ago, in one of my Women’s Success Circles, a great question came up: “What’s the one action step that I should take to grow my business faster?” Wow! That’s a great question. The challenge is–there’s not just one simple answer. I wish there was a “magic bullet” that would take your business to the next level, however to grow your business effectively and for the long run, you need to use several different marketing methods. Full Article

Smart Women Know, Commit and Practice Their Values

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:24:30 +0000

My son Jack recently joined Cub Scouts here in our community. His “den” leader is an older man, sort of a grandfather type who is very wise and shares some interesting information with the boys (did you know that if you’re in need of the police, you should dial 311 and not 411?). When a boy becomes a Cub Scout, he receives a book about what it means to take on this role. An early part of the book is about following a “set of values.” They encourage the boys to know, commit, and practice these values. This got me thinking about how Smart Women know, commit, and practice their own values. Full Article

Smart Women and “Cravings”

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:46:03 +0000

A few days ago, my husband Greg and I had dinner with my good friend and smart woman, Diane Elander and her family.( http://www.dianeelander.com ) Diane is a “food stylist.” She is an artist who creates that appetizing, desirous emotion that you feel when you see her creations in cookbooks, magazines, and product packaging. When she pulled up her web site and we took a “tour” of her food creations, each photo made your mouth water and “crave” each dish. This got me thinking about how Smart Women create products and services that people are “craving.” Full Article

Smart Women Understand “WIIFM?”

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:57:33 +0000

Do you know what WIIFM stands for? Sure you do! You ask yourself this question every time you think about making an investment or purchase—“What’s In It For Me?” Am I right? We purchase everything based on the “benefits” that we will receive when we use the service or product. Full Article

Smart Women Know the Difference between a Job and a “Calling”

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:36:56 +0000

I am fortunate to spend time with a lot of Smart Women. A topic that comes up on a regular basis is this idea of a job vs. a “calling.” What’s the difference? How do you know what a “calling” is? Jobs are something that we do in our lives to keep ourselves and our families together. A “calling” is when our true purpose, our life’s work, is discovered. Full Article

Smart Women Have An Attitude

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:29:47 +0000

Last week, the Women’s Club in my community celebrated men and women over the age of 90 by hosting a dinner and entertainment event in their honor. I read about this event in the local paper and was struck by one interview with a woman who was born in 1912 (she’s 96!). Her photo depicted a woman who was attractive, energetic, and happy. When asked what the secret is to living a life of good health, longevity, and happiness, she replied with one simple word: Attitude. Full Article

Smart Women Get Off The Fence

Joy Chudacoff — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:34:39 +0000

While driving along Sunset Blvd. a few days ago, I thought about a conversation I had earlier that morning with a friend about how difficult it is for some people to make a decision. This process can be a challenge and create a lot of anxiety. I’m not sure if people are aware that “sitting on the fence” when it comes to making decisions takes a serious toll on their energy levels and their lives. Full Article

Smart Women Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

Joy Chudacoff — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:30:09 +0000

Recently, I took my son Jack shopping for a new baseball glove. The old glove was too small for his hand and his coach felt that a new glove might be just the thing that he needed. We both enjoyed looking through all of the gloves. He tried on quite a few (The smell of all that leather was so wonderful!). He finally found a glove that was a perfect fit and away we went. He just happened to have baseball practice next so I was excited for him to try out his new purchase. As we approached the field, I noticed that Jack was beginning to feel both anxious and excited at the same time. He wanted to use his new glove but that feeling of being “comfortable” with the old glove took over. The new glove was an unknown to Jack, so his performance with the new glove at this point was uncertain in his mind. He knew what he could do with the old glove. This got me thinking about how Smart Women feel the fear and do it anyway. Full Article

Smart Women Give it Away!

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:29:31 +0000

Recently, my 8 year old son Jack, came running into the house with the Sunday paper exclaiming, “Look, they gave us cereal!” And sure enough, there was not one but three mini boxes of cereal included with the newspaper—all sugar cereals they had never tried. My children were jumping up and down begging to try these cute little conveniently packaged products. This got me thinking about how Smart Women understand the power of sampling. Full Article

Smart Women Twitter

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:52:50 +0000

“Joy, do you Twitter?” When I first heard this question about 8 months ago, I didn’t know if they were talking about my sex life or maybe I’d missed the latest fitness trend that promises to help you lose 10 lbs. in 2 days! I was being interviewed via the phone and during one of the commercial breaks the interviewer asked me this question. I actually had no idea what she was talking about so I replied, “I’m looking into it.” Full Article

Smart Women, Barbie and Madonna

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:08:49 +0000

Recently, there’s been a lot of media attention around the fact that the Barbie doll is turning 50 this year. I couldn’t resist watching an online slideshow of the many re-inventions and changes Barbie has gone through over the last 50 years. My heart skipped a beat when the “Barbie of 1967″ popped up on my screen. She was the Barbie doll that I had (and still do!). There was another media frenzy last summer when Madonna turned 50, as well. Barbie and Madonna are maverick women who aren’t afraid of change and this fascinates people. (Barbie herself has gone through over 50,000 makeovers.) Full Article

Smart Women, Baseball and Marketing

Joy Chudacoff — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 01:18:05 +0000

Last weekend was “opening day” for Little League Baseball in our community. There was a Pancake Breakfast to kick-off the season, children singing the National Anthem and of course, a local celebrity to throw out the game ball. We really enjoyed our morning and felt grateful to share in the experience. As I sat in the stands watching my 8 year old son Jack and his teammates (The Pinto Dodgers!), I started thinking about how Smart Women, Baseball and Marketing your business have a lot in common. Full Article

Couponing 101-Organizing Your Coupons

Angela Wenke — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:30:06 +0000

Coupon Organizer Creation Full Article

Do You Provide Good Customer Service?

Angela Wenke — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:29:38 +0000

So often I have ordered from sites that offer handmade products and had to wait an extremely long time for my order, with little to no communication from the owner on where my order was. With most Primitive and Country Sites you offer handmade products such as handmade dolls, or hand poured candles or ornies or country signs, all of these take time to create and a lot of them are custom made to your customers, be sure on your site that you let your customers know an approximate order time. Full Article

When Your Spouse DOES NOT Support you working from home

Angela Wenke — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:29:00 +0000

I recently received an email from a listener that I thought would make for a wonderful topic here on Frugal WAHMs Talk Radio. What do you do when you want to provide a good income for your family by working from home but your spouse does NOT Support you? One of the biggest obstacles I have seen other Work At Home Mom’s struggle with is having little to no support from their biggest cheering squad which should be their spouses or family members. Full Article

Are You Looking for A New Start in 2009?

Ruth Hegarty — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:28:16 +0000

Now that many of the resolutions you made in the initial frenzy of the New Year may have fallen away, it’s the perfect tie to really evaluate what you want this year to mean for you. What do you want to be, do and have in 2009? Full Article

Smart Women Get an “Entrepreneurial” Checkup

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:39:13 +0000

When we get sick, have the flu or some other ailment that we can’t seem to cure on our own, we go to the doctor for a checkup. The same is true in our businesses. If you feel like your business is not growing the way you had envisioned, maybe it’s time for an “entrepreneurial” checkup. This week, I’m going to share some simple, easy solutions that you can use to give your business a “checkup” to ensure healthy success. Full Article

Smart Women Ignite Their Fire

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:32:35 +0000

As I was getting ready for a day of skiing on a recent family ski trip, I had one goal in mind: Stay warm! I knew it was going to be cold and windy that day, and I wanted to make sure that I kept my body heat inside. This got me thinking about how Smart Women who are living a life filled with passion and purpose do just the opposite: They give themselves permission to release their “fire” of desire and passion out into the world. Full Article

Smart Women Are On the Slopes!

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:11:17 +0000

Recently, while on a family vacation in Park City, Utah, I was helping my 8-year-old son, Jack, get ready for a day of skiing.Â It was sunny, 35 degrees and gorgeous outside.Â I handed my son his face mask and he looked at me puzzled and said, “Mom, there is no way I’m going to need this today–have you looked outside?” Full Article

Smart Women Face Their Fear

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:42:07 +0000

A few days ago, I was cleaning out a backpack that my daughter used last summer when we were in Park City, Utah on vacation. This backpack was one that she wore every day to her skateboarding class. At the bottom of the backpack, I found a piece of crumpled paper and pulled it out. It was an evaluation form from her skateboarding instructor, Drew, with these comments: â€œLearn to relax and face fear. Trust in Yourself.â€ This got me thinking about how Smart Women learn to face their own fears. Full Article

Smart Women Are “Lucky”

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:37:42 +0000

The other day, while standing in a very long line at a coffee shop, I struck up a conversation with the woman behind me. We began chatting about everyday topics–the weather, the holiday rush, and then we stumbled on to that dreaded topic of the moment–the economy. I asked her a question: “What do you think would be the most important thing you could have in your life right now to support where you are, given the economy?” She was a little surprised by this question, but her reply was very telling. She said, “Having an abundant source of constant cash flow.” My next question was, “And what steps have you taken to secure that?” After a long pause, the reply? “Not much.” Full Article

Smart Women Know What They Want

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:01:21 +0000

Last week, after my husband Greg read my article â€œSmart Women Are a Lot Like Rocket Ships,â€ he had an interesting question:Â He said, â€œEvery week you write about the same thingâ€”making your Big Idea happen, Reaching your Goals and Dreams, getting the right support, blah, blah, blahâ€¦ when are you going to write about something else?â€ Full Article

Smart Women Are Like Rocket Ships

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:24:48 +0000

Last week, I was having lunch with my mom and my children at an outdoor cafÃ© and all at once we were shaken by this rather large â€œKABOOM!â€ After a few minutes of shock and silence, everyone in the cafÃ© started to speculate on what caused such a sound. Later that day, we found out that it was the Space Shuttle Endeavour touching down at Edwards Air Force Base, which is about 100 miles away. This got me thinking about how Smart Women have Big Ideas, dreams, and goals that are a lot like rocket ships. Full Article

Smart Women Believe

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:53:13 +0000

Last night, our family went to The Grove here in Los Angeles. The Grove is a large retail shopping center that really goes above and beyond decorating for the holidays. They have a beautifully decorated tree larger than the one at Rockefeller Center in New York. They “create” falling snow every evening. For children who live in So. California, this is a delight! Full Article

Smart Women Take the Leap

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:17:39 +0000

The other day, I was listening to one of Madonnaâ€™s great dance tunes, â€œJump.â€ Itâ€™s a fun song that makes me want to jump up and dance around the room. It also motivates me into thoughts about the â€œjumpâ€ in my own lifeâ€“to take the leap to the next level. This got me thinking about how Smart Women take the leap into realizing their Big Ideas, Dreams, and Goals. Full Article

Smart Women Understand the BLT Factor

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:13:30 +0000

Recently, my family attended a western-themed fundraiser to benefit our childrenâ€™s elementary school. It was a fun-filled afternoon with various booths for the children and adults to participate in. Each booth had a different activity where you could try your skills. Walking around the event, I noticed that some booths had more activity than others. After awhile, I realized that the people running the booths with the highest energy and excitement levels drew the most people. This got me thinking about how Smart Women know that itâ€™s not the service or the product that will make you successful in life. Full Article

Smart Women Visit the Magic Kingdom

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:07:59 +0000

Recently, our family took a trip to the “happiest place on earth”—Disneyland! As we made our way to the Magic Kingdom, I noticed a large sign hanging over the entrance that read, “Where old friends meet for the very first time.” I began to smile. This got me thinking about how Smart Women take time to reconnect with their old friend—the authentic self. Full Article

Smart Women Create the Right Web

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:57:46 +0000

Earlier this week, I was taking an early morning walk with a good friend and smart woman and we ran into a few spider webs (literally!). Itâ€™s the time of year when spiders are spinning and carefully crafting their webs together in a way that will serve and protect them. This got me thinking about how Smart Women always create a strong and sturdy web in their lives both at work and at home. Full Article

Smart Women Practice Gratitude

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:52:23 +0000

Last week, I was at my Mastermind Meeting and my good friend and Smart Woman, Chellie Campbell, mentioned that she had read an article on how expressing gratitude may be one of the keys to being a happier, healthier person. The very next day, I picked up a magazine which actually cited compelling research on how being grateful or showing appreciation can lead to a happier, healthier, more productive life. Hmmmâ€¦ two times in two days? This got me thinking about how Smart Women practice gratitude. Full Article

Smart Women Are In Control of Their Ride

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:50:27 +0000

This summer, our family went to an amusement park in Park City, Utah, for a day of fun. When you take the chairlift up to the top of the mountain, one of the rides offered is the Alpine Slider. The Alpine Slider is a bobsled track that runs for about 3000 feet down the mountain. As we approached the starting gate, there was a very large sign that read: WARNING! YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR RIDE. I laughed out loud! My immediate thought? â€œWell, I should hope so!â€ And away I went down the mountain with my daughter sitting in my lap. This got me thinking about how Smart Women are in control of their ride—Iâ€™m referring to this ride called a life full of energy, passion, and purpose. Full Article

Smart Women Get It Off The Ground

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:45:06 +0000

During our recent vacation to Park City, Utah, one morning I was enjoying my coffee while overlooking a peaceful pond, and was surprised by several hot air balloons making their way high up into the sky. The colors of each balloon were bright, vivid, and unique. Some were like rainbows; others were bright red or yellow. They rose to varying heights in the sky, each one navigating their own unique path around the valley. This got me thinking about how Smart Womenâ€™s Big Ideas, dreams and goals are a lot like hot air balloons. Full Article

Smart Women are 40, 50, 60 and Beyond!

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:40:46 +0000

Recently, as I was leaving my bank in Los Angeles, I saw a stack of magazines near the door, entitled â€œLife After 50.â€ And if you have followed the media trail this past week, itâ€™s all about Madonna turning 50. This is a big deal in our society where youth typically rules. Hereâ€™s a woman who has been a media icon for youth, beauty, talent, and sex appeal for decades. Whatâ€™s the message? We as women have much to look forward to as we move into our 40â€™s, 50â€™s, 60â€™s and beyond. As Smart Women, we already knew this, didnâ€™t we? Full Article

Smart Women Get Uncomfortable

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:34:16 +0000

Iâ€™m 48 years old and I have never been on ice skates. That is, until yesterday. My 5Â½-year-old daughter, Jenna, has taken an interest in ice skating and I typically take her to the ice arena here in Park City where we are on vacation. I watch her skate while listening to the most incredible music they are playing on the sound system (CC Revival and the soundtrack from The Big Chill). Every time we go, Jenna always asks me, â€œMom, when are you going to ice skate with me?â€ And my answer has been, â€œOh, maybe next time.â€ Yesterday, Jenna asked her usual question and as I prepared myself to give her the typical answer, she quickly spoke up and said, â€œMom, please, please, skate today!â€ I finally admitted to Jenna that I had never been on ice skates before. Jennaâ€™s answer: â€œMom, itâ€™s easyâ€”Iâ€™ll teach you!â€ And so there was nothing left to do but rent the skates and prepare myself for what I thought would be a dreadful outcome. Full Article

Smart Women Have No Boundaries

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:30:29 +0000

Our family is vacationing in Park City, Utah this month. I enjoy sitting on the deck which overlooks a large pond that is frequented by ducks and geese. Itâ€™s a peaceful, quiet place to sit and ponder a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose. The other day, I noticed the gardener mowing the enormous piece of land around the pond. What I found most interesting was how he created a boundary between the land and the pond. He left the grass and weeds a bit high between the pond and the ground around our deck. It created a â€œboundaryâ€ for people walking by. As a matter of fact, Iâ€™ve noticed that my children will not cross that area. Greg and I have not said anything to them about the pond and yet, this â€œboundaryâ€ created the idea, â€œdo not trespass.â€ This got me thinking about the â€œboundariesâ€ that live within us as we walk through life. Full Article

Smart Women Are Like Harry Potter

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:26:44 +0000

Recently, my son Jack and I went to the local bookstore in search of the book Harry Potter 4. We have an agreement that we will read each Harry Potter book in the series together and then watch the movie. This has two wonderful benefits: One, I get to spend quality time reading a great series with my son and, two, Iâ€™m hoping it will increase his love of reading as much as Greg and I enjoy reading. Full Article

Smart Women Move Forward Faster

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:19:27 +0000

I woke up this morning with two questions on my mind: (and no, one was not, â€œDo I have time to run to the local coffee shop before my family wakes up?â€) â€œIs what Iâ€™m doing in alignment with where I want to go in my life both personally and professionally?â€ and â€œWhat are the things I can do now to move my Big ideas, dreams, and goals forward at a faster pace?â€ These are two essential questions that all smart women should be asking themselves on a regular basis. Full Article

Smart Women Create the Right Internal Environment

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:11:56 +0000

Last week, I was having a conversation with another smart woman and we found ourselves on a familiar topic to many people with children: schools and education. This woman has children in middle school and high school and she was sharing with me that the schools have two tracks in which to receive an education. As you might imagine, one is perceived as better than the other. As I reflect on this conversation, I had to smile. It seems our children are really no different than we are. We, too, must stay on the â€œrightâ€ track with the â€œrightâ€ environment and the â€œrightâ€ teachers around us if we are to realize our dreams, goals, and ideas. Full Article

Smart Women Create the Right Environment

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:07:43 +0000

Recently, I took a road trip with my family from Los Angeles to Napa Valley, California. During my visit I learned that it takes a different environment (soil, temperature, irrigation) to grow different types of grapes to make wine. For example, you cannot create a great tasting chardonnay when you are in an environment that creates great Pinot Noir. This got me thinking about how important our environment is when we are creating something new in our lives. Full Article

Smart Women Think Like 10 Year Olds!

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:01:22 +0000

Do you remember what you were like at age 10? Itâ€™s right before our hormones kick in and societal expectations begin to manipulate our thinking. I remember when I was 10. I was outgoing, outspoken, with empathy and support for those in need. This got me thinking about becoming who we are authentically at a young age. We begin the process of â€œbecomingâ€ and then something happens along the way. Why? Full Article

Smart Women Prefer the â€œLimitedâ€ Lifetime Warranty

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:13:37 +0000

I received a catalog in the mail the other day from a well-known company that provides fine cookware for the cooking enthusiast. As I flipped through the pages, I came upon an ad for these whimsical cupcake pans that just looked like they would be fun to use. I noticed at the end of the description that it read â€œLimited Lifetimeâ€ Warranty. I laughed out loud! My first thought was â€œthankfully!â€ This got me thinking about how we go through life looking for that â€œLifetimeâ€ Warranty and how it can cripple our decision-making and keep us a prisoner to predictability in our lives. Full Article

Smart Women Can Be Action Figures Too!

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:10:29 +0000

In my Success Circles, women create vision boards which represent their big ideas, dreams and plans for living a life filled with energy, passion and purpose. I invite them to bring in favorite photos or magazines they enjoy reading, as possibilities for their board. This week, Dawn, a Circle member (and smart woman) brought in â€œThe Big Book of Action Stickers.â€ It was a big colorful book filled with stickers for just about everything you can imagine from animals to people. As I flipped through the pages, it got me thinking about how simple it is to become who you want to be in the world. Full Article

Smart Women Plant Their Seeds

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:07:35 +0000

Last Friday, my children and I went to an Eco-Fest at my sonâ€™s school. It offered creative ways to think about living organically and sustaining our planet. At one point my 5 year old daughter Jenna wandered to a booth a few feet away from me, and I noticed that she became very focused on what they were doing. Minutes later, she appeared with something wrapped inside recycled paper that she was carrying very carefully. â€œLook Mom, Iâ€™ve made a pumpkin plant. All we have to do is plant it when we get home and it will grow a pumpkin.â€ Jenna carried that recycled paper containing dirt and pumpkin seeds with such care for the rest of the afternoon. She was so proud and excited about what she had created, as well as the future when the seeds grow into an actual pumpkin. This got me thinking about women in the world who are carrying their big ideas, dreams, and goals with them—-have you planted them so they will grow, or do you continue to carry them aroundâ€”possibly in recycled paper, or maybe in your mind? Full Article

Smart Women Paint Their Magic Circle

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:04:29 +0000

I took my daughter Jenna to her Karate class the other day, and after the instructor welcomed all of the children to the class he asked them to â€œpaint your magic circle around you.â€ I sat there and watched a group of children take their hands and paint an imaginary circle around their bodies and sit down. This exercise was, of course, the instructors attempt to keep 12 five year olds from running around the room doing things that werenâ€™t meaningful, so that they could stay focused. This got me to thinking about how women â€œpaint magic circlesâ€ around their lives as well. Full Article

Smart Women Are Nutritious

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:01:30 +0000

Last week, on two separate occasions, I had the topic of what I refer to as â€œnutritiousâ€ people come up. I was speaking at a womenâ€™s convention and I asked them to write down at least 3 â€œnutritiousâ€ peopleâ€ they have in their life right now. I also had a conversation with a woman in my Success Circle about the difference between â€œnutritiousâ€ people versus those that can drain you and zap your energy level. You know the relationships Iâ€™m talking about– right? Full Article

Smart Women Develop a Mindset â€“ â€œReady, Fire, Aimâ€

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:58:15 +0000

This past weekend, our family went out to Palm Desert to visit my in-laws for Mothers Day. I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with Gregâ€™s father, Lowell. I enjoy my â€œchatsâ€ with him. He loves business and marketing and always has great ideas. One of the topics we landed on was how some people move forward with their big ideas, dreams, and goals, and others never seem to be able to get out of the starting gate. Why is this? What makes it happen for some but not for others? Women will say to me, â€œI have an idea, but every time I get to a certain point, I canâ€™t seem to â€œpull the trigger!â€ Full Article

Smart Women Get Back On the Pogo Stick

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:53:15 +0000

The other day as we were driving to school, my daughter Jenna boldly stated, â€œMom, for my birthday, I want a Pogo Stick.â€ This statement made me curious so I asked her, â€œJenna, why do you want a Pogo Stick?â€ Jennaâ€™s reply was â€œMom, itâ€™s easy. You just get on, fall off, get back up, and get on again. Then you learn how to do it.â€ Very true, my adventurous 5- year old. As we continued down pacific coast highway, this answer got me thinking about achieving goals and dreams and the process we need to go through before really making the impossible possible in our lives. Full Article

Smart Women Love a Good Party!

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:46:52 +0000

Recently, we hosted our daughter Jennaâ€™s 6th birthday party at Tumbleweed Day Camp. Tumbleweed Day Camp is this secure, natural haven above West Los Angeles that makes you feel as if you are out in the wilderness instead of 10 minutes from one of the largest cities in the world. It is a rustic, peaceful camp that offers activities for children. They have well-trained counselors who support children in having outdoor fun. Many parents that attended the party were so surprised to find this little jewel in the community. They had no idea it existed and they had lots of curious questions about how their children could enjoy the benefits of Tumbleweed as well. This got me thinking about how Smart Women know the value of parties and gatherings.If you are a woman with a Big Idea, product or service, itâ€™s essential that you provide opportunities for the world to know about it. There are many creative ways to promote or introduce your business. Women are natural connectors. You shine at events where you can gather together to support a group or cause. Sometimes, though unintentional, you keep your business a â€œsecret.â€ You go to events to promote your product or service, however when the moment arrives to spotlight your business, you may feel uncomfortable sharing your Big Idea or dream. Why? Well, self-promotion or the promotion of a product can be uncomfortable for some as it feels like selling and many of us do not like the idea of selling. Full Article

Smart Women Know How to Work the Puzzle

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:33:11 +0000

This morning, my 6-year-old daughter Jenna decided to work a new puzzle that she received for her birthday. The puzzle, when put together, would represent our solar system. She dumped the pieces out all over the floor and began to realize how â€œbigâ€ this process was for her. I could feel and see that she was becoming overwhelmed. I sat down with her and asked if it might be a good idea to place the cover of the box in a place where she could refer to the â€œbig pictureâ€â€”what the puzzle would look like when sheâ€™s all done. She agreed and set to work turning over each piece, getting organized, and putting the pieces that looked similar together. This got me thinking about how Smart Women create a blueprint of what their lives and work should look like, get organized, and then put the pieces where they need to go. Full Article

Smart Women Know â€œAll About Meâ€

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:21:42 +0000

This is a big week for my son Jack who is in first grade. Itâ€™s his â€œAll About Meâ€ presentation. We spent some time this weekend gathering all of the items that he believes are a representation of who he is right now. This morning, I was walking behind him and watching him carry his box full of items, head held high, proud of what he had chosen and really sure of who he is, right now, at age 7. It got me thinking about this exercise, â€œAll about Me.â€ If I were to put my life on display today, what would be in my box? What would be proudly displayed on the table? Full Article

Smart Women are Possibility Thinkers

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:16:26 +0000

One morning not long ago, I was driving to the Inn at Playa del Rey for one of my Womenâ€™s Success Circles. It was a beautiful day in Pacific Palisades—blue skies, sun shiningâ€”glorious. What a great day this was going to be! My mind turned to possibilities for the day. As I made my way down to the beach and through Santa Monica, the weather began to change. It became quite foggy. I could barely see the car in front of me. I had to turn my headlights on. I noticed that my thinking had shifted a bit. Some of the possibility thinking had diminished. The â€œpossibilities for the dayâ€ began to fade. Why? What had changed? Full Article

Smart Women Give Themselves Permission

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:12:44 +0000

Recently, I was having a conversation with a woman when she asked me a crucial question: â€œWhat are the steps I need to take in order to live a life filled with passion and purpose?â€ Itâ€™s really a 3 part process. When a woman is ready to create her own extraordinary life, she needs to first decide what she wants. Then she needs to decide how she wants to design her life. Finally, she needs to give herself permission to have the life she has chosen. Itâ€™s essential that she believes that she deserves to have the life she chooses. If you decide what you want your life to look like but do not believe that you should really have it, then your â€œdreamsâ€ will never become a reality. Full Article

Smart Women Keep Their Inner Door Open

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:08:00 +0000

Our family went to the Santa Barbara Zoo this past weekend. I love this zoo because itâ€™s not overwhelming (you can see everything in about 2 hours) and Santa Barbara is a favorite spot of mine to relax. When we entered the exotic birds area, a sign on the door read, â€œFor the safety of our birds, please close the inner door before opening the outer door.â€ That really made me chuckle. I thought, â€œWell, I donâ€™t think the women will have too much trouble remembering this!â€ Full Article

Smart Women Are Great Gardeners

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:03:40 +0000

As I was unpacking a box in our new house the other day, I found a beautiful drawing that my son Jack had done when he was in Kindergarten last year, in the spring. Itâ€™s 4 pieces of paper layered together with drawings and these 4 words: seed, roots, stem, flower. There is a lot of sunshine and rain above to illustrate how growing something meaningful needs both. When Jack saw it, he immediately began to explain to his younger sister Jenna how this works. â€œYou plant a seed, give it water, then a root grows, then a stem and then you have a flower one day.â€ Wow, if only it were that simple! Full Article

Smart Women Make Amazing Things Happen

Joy Chudacoff — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:58:08 +0000

The month of March is a very important month if you are a basketball fan. Itâ€™s â€œMarch Madnessâ€ and there are games from every team around the country participating in playoffs and finals all month. We are big basketball fans at our house. I was watching a game this week with my children and a commercial came on for the NBA. Their slogan this season is â€œNBAâ€”Where Amazing Happens.â€ They were highlighting their best players and talking about reaching dreams and goals. It got me thinking about placing ourselves in the right environment so that â€œour amazing happens.â€ Full Article