LadyPens » Smart Women

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 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 Create

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 23 May 2011 23:11:17 +0000

Women are the most creative beings on earth. You have inspiring ideas and daring dreams, however it can sometimes be a challenge to get the dreams out of your head and onto paper so you can design a plan to make it happen. Most likely, your “to-do” list is overflowing and your Big Idea hasn’t found a way to make it to the top of the list. Full Article

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

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 Share Their Pearls….

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:40:28 +0000

One of the birthday “traditions” in our family is when a member gets to a certain age, they share one “pearl of wisdom” for each decade they have lived. 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 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 Live A Proactive Life

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:11:40 +0000

Yesterday, as I was on my way to pick up my kids from school, it occurred to me that I was feeling exhausted—I mean really tired. As I made a mental scan of my day, I realized that I had been in a “reactive” mode most of the day rather than a “proactive” mode. We do need to react to situations that occur in our lives as best we can at that moment, however, Smart Women know that living a “proactive” life where you plan, prepare, and practice conscious living is clearly more rewarding. 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 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 Are Like Christopher Columbus

Joy Chudacoff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:47:04 +0000

â€œMom, when we get home I need to show you something really cool!â€ exclaimed my 8-year-old son Jack when I picked him up from school the other day.Â When we got home, he opened his backpack, pulled out his Social Studies book, opened it up to the last few pages and saidâ€”â€œLook, isnâ€™t this cool?â€Â Jack had discovered the â€œindexâ€ section of books.Â Very animated, he explained how you could look up any word in the index and find out exactly what page it was on in the book.Â His eyes were as big as beach balls. His excitement was off the charts as he was full of delight over this new discovery.Â His excitement and enthusiasm got me thinking about how Smart Women are life-long learners. 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

Smart Women Have A Good GPS

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:55:16 +0000

There is a beautiful, peaceful bed and breakfast in Santa Monica, The Channel Road Inn, where I am fortunate to spend time with women who are ready to explore, evaluate, and make a plan for their future. Itâ€™s the perfect place to think about a big idea or any goal that you want to set into motion. The other day I noticed that on most of the walls leading outside to the patio, there were several large maps of the local area. Then below, there were small printed maps of all kinds—maps to hike, bike, and drive. This idea of making sure we know where we are going at all times got me thinking: People do not like to get lost. Stop and think about that for a moment. When was the last time you took a wrong turn; felt like you were going the wrong way? Today we have those fancy gadgets called GPS in our cars to keep us on course. You just plug in your final destination and away you go! Full Article

Smart Women Know How to Make Music

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:54:59 +0000

While on our way to school listening to a solo piano CD this morning, (it’s a great tool that I use to calm everyone down after a hectic morning rushing to get out the door!) my 5 year old daughter Jenna asked me, “Mom, how do you make music?” It reminded me of when I was a little girl and my piano teacher once told me, “It’s the space between the notes that makes the music.” Full Article

Smart Women Rarely Hallucinate

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:54:45 +0000

Albert Einstein said, â€œVision without execution is merely hallucination.â€ The first time I read this, I thought it was so powerful and spot on. Since the beginning of the New Year Iâ€™ve been writing about taking risks, realizing your dreams and goals, and taking inspired action on your big idea. Iâ€™ve been expressing the idea that you need to create the space in your life to explore and discover whatâ€™s next in your lifeâ€™s journey. How is that going for you? Have you landed on where your energy and passions are at this time in your life? Do you have a big idea thatâ€™s calling out to you? Do you have a vision of what it looks like? Full Article

Smart Women Answer Their Call

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:54:29 +0000

No, Iâ€™m not talking about your cell phone or the phone in your home or office. All the women in my Success Circles know that I donâ€™t believe in picking up the phone every time it rings. I do believe in listening to my messages and returning calls and emails within a reasonable time period. Iâ€™m talking about answering your call—the call that is unique only to you. Full Article

Smart Women Know When to Let Go

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:53:00 +0000

Every day as I leave my house, I am drawn to a large tree across the street, with beautiful branches and leaves. For awhile now, it has been shedding its leaves. Yesterday I noticed for the first time that all of the leaves have fallen off, leaving the tree bare. Nature has a way of making room for new growth. Full Article

Smart Women Dare To Dream

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:52:11 +0000

Recently, in one of my Womenâ€™s Success Circles, we had a conversation about the difference between a dream and a goal. The majority of the women agreed that a goal is something that is attainable while a dream is unattainable. One member said, â€œItâ€™s something you think about but it would probably never happen.â€ While I understand the thought process, I donâ€™t agree with it. I realized a dream within the last week and it was really through the power of intention that it became a reality. Full Article

Smart Women Make Great Choices

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:08:34 +0000

Do you have a hard time making decisions? When given a choice of A,B,C, and D—can you choose easily? I ask this question because I have found that having to make choices can sometimes be paralyzing for many of us. Full Article

How Smart Women Tend Their Gardens

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:08:14 +0000

Recently, I walked through my family room and stumbled upon papers belonging to my son Jack. He had been working on a kindergarten project. His paper said: Plants grow from seeds. The project required him to cut out four pictures and paste them in the correct order. The pictures were of a seed, watering to make the seed sprout, the root and stem emerging, and the flower in full bloom. I smiled at the simplicity of Jackâ€™s project. Then my thoughts turned to the complexity of whatâ€™s really involved in making a garden â€“ the ones in the backyards, sure, but more importantly the ones in our lives. Full Article

Smart Women Take Risks in 2008

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:07:39 +0000

Remember Risk? I wrote about taking risks recently and it really hit a nerve with many women. Women were emailing me, stopping me in the grocery store, on the street in my community. And you know what each of them said? â€œHow did you know?â€ â€œYou were talking about me, werenâ€™t you?â€ Well, yes and no. I was referring to what all people go through when dealing with the thought of change, transition, and risk (including me!). Full Article

How Smart Women Pack for Their Journey

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:07:20 +0000

This summer, I traveled with my family for our annual vacation to Telluride, Colorado. An interesting event occurred en route that made me pause and reflect on what we really, truly need. We had arrived at the Denver airport and were transferring from a jet to a small commuter plane. It seated perhaps fifteen people. With all the changes in the rules about carry-on baggage now, one can never be too sure what is or isnâ€™t allowed. On this particular flight, we were informed that we were limited to carrying on one item. Full Article

How Smart Women Stay Connected

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:06:56 +0000

I was sitting in a park recently watching my children play with their grandparents and all at once I heard this deep, booming voice from a distance say, â€œYou must make contact if you want to stay in the game.â€ I turned to my left and saw a coach working with a girlâ€™s softball team â€“ instructing them on their swing and explaining the importance of making contact between the bat and ball at just the right moment. Full Article

How Smart Women Stay Busy

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:06:32 +0000

I have the good fortune to spend meaningful time with a lot of smart women who keep me on track about whatâ€™s going on in womenâ€™s lives. One topic that resonates with many of these women (and with me) is the idea of busyness. This issue is of great interest in my Womenâ€™s Learning Circles. Not being busy, for many of us, seems elusive â€“ almost selfish. Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, a career woman, or â€“ like most women I know â€“ wearing both hats, youâ€™ve probably been well indoctrinated with the idea that you must stay busy â€“ all day, every day, no matter what. Why? Full Article

Smart Women Have Dreams Too!

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:06:03 +0000

My son Jack came home from school today with an excited, â€œYippee Mom, thereâ€™s no school next Monday because itâ€™s Martin Luther King Day!â€ A few minutes later he comes running back into the kitchen and asks, â€œMom, who is Martin Luther King anyway?â€ Wow—what a question. How do I answer that one and still have time to get dinner on the table? Full Article

Yes, Smart Women are Unique!

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:04:31 +0000

recently read an article where a well-known CEO of a major coffee company was quoted as saying they,now have over 19,000 different versions of coffee combinations they can make. It was difficult for me to believe that statement. And then this morning, as I was standing in a very long line at a local coffee shop, I realized just how true it is. Every person was ordering their own unique coffee drink. â€œTall decaf non-fat foamy latte with 1 sugar in the raw, Short Americano in a tall cup, and a Sugar Free Latte, with a shot of Mocha, just to name a few. Full Article