LadyPens » coach

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 Get Off the Sidelines

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:00:28 +0000

Soccer season has arrived and my kids are avid players. In the fall, we live the AYSO mantra, “All Your Saturdays Occupied.” Fortunately, I enjoy watching my kids play sports so it’s a lot of fun. One of the AYSO rules is staying off the field if you’re not officially involved in the game. If you’re not a player, coach or referee, you do not cross the line onto the playing field. This got me thinking about how Smart Women need to get off the sidelines and become a player in their Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals if they really have a desire to make them happen. Full Article

Smart Women Make It Happen

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:25:59 +0000

A few days ago, I happened to get caught in the typical bumper to bumper LA traffic near the location of my last “job” before I began my journey as a woman entrepreneur. I had some time to reflect on where I was back then and where I am today. As the images of my life passed through my mind much like the scenes in a movie, I asked myself, “How did I go from where I was back then to where I am today?” The answer popped into my mind almost immediately: I took action. Smart Women make their Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals happen. Full Article

Smart Women Take Their Business Offline

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:12:56 +0000

The other day, I was speaking with a smart woman entrepreneur and at one point she said, “Joy, I think I need to take my business offline.” My response? “Bravo!” In today’s world, with all of its moving parts and the opportunities to build an online business, I sometimes see entrepreneurs leaving a valuable tool out of their marketing plan—building “offline” relationships to create another stream of referrals. 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

Smart Women and the Race Against Time

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:11:48 +0000

Over the last few days, I’ve spent some time with women entrepreneurs who are all having the same challenge—the race against time or “time management.” Whether you are an attorney, a fitness professional or a business coach, time is the like the elusive lover—you can never get enough! Here are a few comments I heard over the last few days: 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 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, 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 Find Their Flow

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:08:45 +0000

Yesterday, when I picked my daughter Jenna up from tennis camp, she rushed over and handed me her uneaten snack and her nearly full water bottle, with a big smile on her face. I was surprised she hadn’t eaten her snack (after all, Goldfish is her favorite) and I couldn’t imagine her not drinking a gallon of water on this hot summer day! When I asked her about it, she exclaimed, “Mommy, I was having so much fun playing tennis I forgot to eat or drink!” Jenna was doing something that energized her. She found an activity that caused her to forget about everything. She was in her “flow.” This got me thinking about how Smart Women find their “flow” and live energetic, passionate lives. 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

Smart Women, Subways and Asking

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:05:38 +0000

Recently, our family took a trip to the “Big Apple” where we met up with my parents for a special vacation. It was lots of fun and we created a memorable experience. When traveling to a new city, it’s exciting to think about all of the sights and adventures that you will experience. Knowing what you want to do is never a problem. The challenge is getting to where you want to go without getting lost. On our trip, we found ourselves making sure that we left the hotel with not one but two maps–one for the subway and one for the city. I laughed one afternoon as I looked around our hotel room. We had several maps lying around. It’s clear that we were afraid of getting lost! One of the great benefits of the trip was the people of NY. The locals were happy to help us when we lost our way. This got me thinking about how Smart Women know the value of getting good direction in their lives. 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 Get a â€œPersonalâ€ Check-Up

Joy Chudacoff — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 03:02:32 +0000

Recently, my husband Greg was in the hospital for a health issue. He started in the emergency room and was eventually admitted to the hospital. This experience created a lot of thought and reflection for me on many levels. One that I think might be helpful to you is how Smart Women occasionally need a personal or business check-up if they are to truly realize their Big Idea, Dreams, and Goals. Iâ€™m going to offer you some solutions for your own â€œpersonalâ€ checkup. Full Article