I’ve summarized the research findings in this blog – if you’re interested in the details, click http://bit.ly/FamMagSocialMedia to access the complete article.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
7 Social Media Trends for Consumers
I recently came across an article on the trends in social media. Little surprise to most of us small business owners - the research shows social media is becoming more and more important to business. As a way to reach customers and potential customers where they are, social media may be the new customer service and research hotlines!
I’ve summarized the research findings in this blog – if you’re interested in the details, click http://bit.ly/FamMagSocialMedia to access the complete article.
I’ve summarized the research findings in this blog – if you’re interested in the details, click http://bit.ly/FamMagSocialMedia to access the complete article.
Monday, January 14, 2013
My Gym - Great Classes, Instructors, Facility
We have a great group of moms who review all things family for us - this month our mom reviewer and her kids tried out My Gym. Check out their fun findings on our FAMILY Magazine website!
My Gym: a Great Time with the Kids !
Winter is the busiest season at My Gym because it is a great indoor location for children to get exercise when the weather outside is often frightful. Recently, my three children and I previewed two of the many different classes My Gym offers at their Potomac, MD location.
The day we went to the class for my three year old there were several other families having a preview class as well, so there were 16 children between the ages of three and four in the class! It was noisy and busy, but an extra instructor was on the floor with the children to keep the teacher/student ration down.
I liked that the class included whole group instruction and activity, times when the kids could choose what they wanted to do in the room full of fun equipment, and small group instruction where one teacher was working with five or six students (this ratio would normally be a little smaller, but we were there on an unusually busy day.)
The one thing I would change was the amount of sitting time the children had while the teachers worked with one child at a time, although I imagine on a normal class day with a smaller class this sitting time would be shorter.
The My Gym facilities are not huge, but full of great equipment. A back room stores more equipment and hands-on items which the teachers brought out, used with the children and rotated several times with the students.
One big draw for me as a parent of multiple children whose ages cover several years was the sibling/multi-age class. This class is designed with two teachers who do whole group activities and also activities for the older kids and ones for the younger children. In the class we attended there were two crawling babies, so the instructors brought out walking and baby toys.
Some activities were perfect for everyone, a favorite being swing time. My Gym has many ropes securely attached to the ceiling where the instructors can hang equipment like a trapeze, rings, and swings. For our class they had baby swings for the little ones, flat swings and ones with seatbelts for the older kids and even a doughnut swing.
The instructors did a good job of keeping things moving, changing activities frequently and having fun with the children. One thing I loved was that there are male and female instructors. This was important to me because I want my son to have positive male role models outside of our family, and I could tell that he immediately connected with the male instructor who made my son laugh and feel comfortable in class.
I would definitely recommend My Gym to friends, and may sign my own children up for classes in the future. My Gym offers sibling discounts and does birthday parties (starting from $89 - a great deal!). I know my kids would love a party at My Gym…they keep talking about all of the fun things they did there.Go towww.mygym.com for locations and details.
Ratings:
| Updated Facility/Equipment | 5 |
| Cleanliness | 5 |
| Instructor | 5 |
| Appropriate Safety Procedures | 5 |
| Appropriate Class Size/Ratio | 4 |
| Convenient Parking | 5 |
| Affordable | 4 |
| I would take another class | yes |
| I would recommend to a friend | yes |
| Overall Rating | 5 |
All ratings on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.
Meet the Reviewer!
Janice Richardson is an elementary
school teacher turned stay-at-home
mom of three energetic little ones,
ages 4, 3 and 10 months. She enjoys
playing with her family, being outdoors,
and eating chocolate. Janice runs an etsy
shop, www.etsy.com/shop/feltyfun,
where she makes and sells preschool
activities made from felt. One of her
goals is to someday visit each of the
50 states and each continent.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Must Know Vaccine Tips for our Pets
We keep close track of our kids' vaccinations at those yearly visits to the pediatrician. Following vaccination schedules for our pets is just as important to keep our furry friends healthy. Veterinarians have schedules similar to those we're used to for the kids - with shots at certain ages, "core" vaccines for most dogs and cats, along with additional care for issues specific to individual animals.
We know vaccines help the immune system fight infection and protect against certain diseases. As with kid vaccines, many highly contagious and potentially deadly diseases can be avoided with a proper pet vaccination plan. Widespread use of vaccines within the last century has played a significant role in enabling our pets to live longer and healthier lives.
We need to be sure to set up appointments with the vet just like we do with the pediatrician. Based on a pet's lifestyle, age and health status, our veterinarian will help us make the best decisions regarding vaccine choices and timing.
Typically, a veterinarian will recommend a core group of vaccines for just about all pets. Puppies and kittens are subject to different diseases and have different protocols. Here's what to expect at the vet visit for core immunizations:
DOG Vaccines:
DAPP (Distemper/Parvo/Parainfluenza and Hepatitis): 6-8 weeks, repeated every 2-4 weeks for a total of 4 doses. Revaccinate in a year, and then every 3 years.
Leptospirosis: 10-12 weeks, booster in 2-4 weeks. Revaccinate yearly.
Bordetella: 6-8 weeks, booster in 2-4 weeks. Revaccinate yearly (every 6 months in high exposure risk dogs).
Rabies: 14-16 weeks. Revaccinate in a year, and then every 3 years.
CAT Vaccines:
Feline Distemper (Calicivirus/Panleukopenia/Rhinothracheitis): 8 weeks, repeated every 2-4 weeks for a total of 3 doses. Revaccinate in a year, then every 3 years.
Rabies: 14-16 weeks. Revaccinate in a year, then every 3 years.
Feline Leukemia (for outdoor cats): 10-12 weeks, booster in 2-4 weeks. Revaccinate yearly.
Both dogs and cats may also need some specific vaccines based on their history or environment. The veterinarian may recommend our dogs be vaccinated against Lyme Disease, Influenza, Corona, and Porphyromonas. Our cats may need vaccines for FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) and indoor cats may benefit from protection from Feline Leukemia.
As with our kids, these recommendations may not fit all pets' needs. The types of vaccines, a pet's age, and the shots already given can affect a pet's immunity. We need to follow our veterinarians' recommendations to help ensure our special pets live long, healthy lives.
Dr. Jan Castro is a veterinarian with Banfield PetHospital located in Falls Church. You can reach him at 703-237-5610 or by email at castroviana@msn.com.
Resources:
To find a Banfield Pet Hospital in the DC Region:
http://bit.ly/FamMagBanfield
For recommendations, requirements, and side effects:
http://bit.ly/FamMagASPCAVaccine
Some great resources for those healthy pet questions:
http://www.healthypet.com/
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Times are a-Changin'. FAMILY Magazine's welcome to 2013!
Each month, I write a Mom Blog for our FAMILY Magazine. You can find our magazine in print all over the DC area - and online! Just click here to enjoy this month's issue.
My Mom Blog for January I've shared below. We're proud of what we're doing with the Magazine in 2013!
Good Times, Bad Times…
The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Bob Dylan
My Mom Blog for January I've shared below. We're proud of what we're doing with the Magazine in 2013!
Good Times, Bad Times…
The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Bob Dylan
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’
When I learned the late Steve Jobs was a big fan of Bob Dylan, I wasn’t surprised. When Jobs was fired from Apple, he was devastated. He went home and played the second verse of The Times They Are A-Changin’ over and over again. We’ll never know if the song inspired his comeback, but the lyrics seem a prediction of his future. If ever a “loser”, Jobs certainly had one of the greatest business comebacks of all time - “later to win.”
It’s been almost fifty years since Dylan wrote about social change, politics, civil rights, rebellious kids, music, and new waves of thought and expression. No matter what generation we belong to, Dylan’s observations fit. As the saying goes, the more things change the more they stay the same….
For better AND worse, our world is always changing and growing. So in the tradition of New Year’s resolutions, January is the perfect time to evaluate what’s changed in 2012 and how we want to grow in 2013.
The 2013 world for FAMILY Magazine is all about embracing technology and enhancing our readers’ experience with our content. We’ll still be there for you as the trusty print magazine you find around town, but you can also find us on the web, via smart phone or tablet, on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, email news. We expect Internet television to be the next breakthrough in media – and we’ll be sure to represent there as well. Many say the advances over the coming decade will dwarf what is available now. We’re doing what we can to be ready for whatever the “next big thing” is.
FAMILY Magazine is off to a great start for 2013. Our three Camp FAIRS are almost sold out and are always GREAT resources (and a lot of fun!) for kids and their parents. See page 47 to read about the FAIRS at Tysons Corner Center, downtown Bethesda, and Montgomery Mall. Along with our Camp FAIRS, we will be holding several more family focused events throughout the year. Even with all the technology that claims to bring us closer, our favorite way to meet our readers is face to face!
Things are a-changin’ here at FAMILY Magazine. Some of the things to watch for in 2013…
Finding those resources is easier today than ever. We love being able to connect with our readers on Facebook and Twitter in addition to face-to-face events. Even with our strong digital presence, our print magazine has never been picked up faster than it is right now, and our distribution is very strong.
So keep in touch however it best works for you! We’d love to meet you at a Camp Fair. I promise not to bore you too much with stories about my four kids and their camp experiences. I would love it if you’d take a picture with me so we can put it up on Facebook so we can share with other moms.
It seems 2013 may be “a-year a-changin’” for all of us. One thing will never change for us though. We’re here for you as a trusted resource to support you in the most important job ever - parent.
To a prosperous new year!
Brenda
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’
When I learned the late Steve Jobs was a big fan of Bob Dylan, I wasn’t surprised. When Jobs was fired from Apple, he was devastated. He went home and played the second verse of The Times They Are A-Changin’ over and over again. We’ll never know if the song inspired his comeback, but the lyrics seem a prediction of his future. If ever a “loser”, Jobs certainly had one of the greatest business comebacks of all time - “later to win.”
It’s been almost fifty years since Dylan wrote about social change, politics, civil rights, rebellious kids, music, and new waves of thought and expression. No matter what generation we belong to, Dylan’s observations fit. As the saying goes, the more things change the more they stay the same….
For better AND worse, our world is always changing and growing. So in the tradition of New Year’s resolutions, January is the perfect time to evaluate what’s changed in 2012 and how we want to grow in 2013.
The 2013 world for FAMILY Magazine is all about embracing technology and enhancing our readers’ experience with our content. We’ll still be there for you as the trusty print magazine you find around town, but you can also find us on the web, via smart phone or tablet, on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, email news. We expect Internet television to be the next breakthrough in media – and we’ll be sure to represent there as well. Many say the advances over the coming decade will dwarf what is available now. We’re doing what we can to be ready for whatever the “next big thing” is.
FAMILY Magazine is off to a great start for 2013. Our three Camp FAIRS are almost sold out and are always GREAT resources (and a lot of fun!) for kids and their parents. See page 47 to read about the FAIRS at Tysons Corner Center, downtown Bethesda, and Montgomery Mall. Along with our Camp FAIRS, we will be holding several more family focused events throughout the year. Even with all the technology that claims to bring us closer, our favorite way to meet our readers is face to face!
Things are a-changin’ here at FAMILY Magazine. Some of the things to watch for in 2013…
- We’ve improved our Website to make it easier and faster to find us on the Internet.
- We have a video about FAMILY Magazine airing on WASN TV.
- We’re sponsoring network events produced by the great Redskin Doc Walker.
- We’re developing a series of seminars for small business that take advantage of our power team of advertising professionals.
- Our “Moms’ Reviews &Tips” are growing by leaps and bounds with over 90 reviews about books, products, restaurants, and more.
- We hired a fellow mom to conduct a continual delivery audit to ensure our magazine makes it into your hands every month.
Finding those resources is easier today than ever. We love being able to connect with our readers on Facebook and Twitter in addition to face-to-face events. Even with our strong digital presence, our print magazine has never been picked up faster than it is right now, and our distribution is very strong.
So keep in touch however it best works for you! We’d love to meet you at a Camp Fair. I promise not to bore you too much with stories about my four kids and their camp experiences. I would love it if you’d take a picture with me so we can put it up on Facebook so we can share with other moms.
It seems 2013 may be “a-year a-changin’” for all of us. One thing will never change for us though. We’re here for you as a trusted resource to support you in the most important job ever - parent.
To a prosperous new year!
Brenda
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Women and Money – Do they mix?
Women make 85% of the buying decision in every household. It is pretty well understood that we control the purse strings in most households. Why is that women don’t understand financial planning? Of course financial planning is very important. I hope our young daughters are more educated and involved in financial decision than women in my generation.
I have to admit, I let my husband control that part of our marriage partnership. Should I be more involved? YES. But why do I not take action to be more educated and involved? There in lies the bigger question. Over the next couple of months, FAMILY Magazine is going to explore the topic of women and financial planning.
A friend of mine, Mario Gabalda, sent me an article from Financial Planning Magazine this morning that I feel compelled to share. Mario is a Financial Advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services in Tysons, Virginia. The article is talking to Financial Planners about women and how they make decisions. One particular quote from the article prompted me to action.
“… one in three women do not have a financial advisor but they are eager to work with an advisor to gain the tools and knowledge that they need.”
Do you have some thoughts on this subject? I would love to hear from you. Here is the article from Mario.
FIRMS STRUGGLE TO CONNECT WITH WOMEN AS THEY GROW IN WEALTH
By: Savita Iyer-Ahrestani
Financial advisors who think of women as a minority market segment probably need to think again.
Studies indicate that women are becoming a majority rather than a minority and represent one of the fastest growing client segments in the U.S.—a segment that both large financial firms and independent financial advisors cannot afford to ignore going forward.
Consider that 53% of women who participated in a recent Prudential Financial survey entitled “Financial Experience & Behaviors Among Women” are now the primary breadwinners for their families.
“Whether it’s because of their partners losing their jobs, because of divorce or because they’re deciding to marry later, women are increasingly becoming the major breadwinners in their households,” says Caroline Feeney, president of agency distribution at Prudential Financial. “We expect that this trend will continue as women are also graduating from school at a higher rate than men, successfully getting into the workforce and then succeeding at their jobs and rising in the ranks.”
All these social shifts have resulted in a sharp increase in women’s earning power and wealth creation power, says Teresa Dentino, founder and CEO of The Financial 411, a financial education firm in Woodside, Calif. Women today make up just under half of the nation’s millionaires, she says, and some have forecasted that they will hold two-thirds of the nation’s wealth by 2030.
Although many firms have recognized the great business potential that women represent and have begun to make serious efforts to better understand women and cater to them in a more productive and profitable way, Dentino believes that most still have a long way to go before they get a proper handle on how to really connect with women.
“While many firms are definitely taking note of the importance of women today, they still don’t quite know how to approach women in a meaningful way and to really understand women’s requirements,” she says.
Dentino believes that women need education more than anything else. As much as they may hold the wealth, most women have not had the direct experience needed to understand finance and financial planning, she says, so the onus is on financial professionals to give them the knowledge and understanding they need so that “women can connect the dots.”
“By educating women, you include them and this helps mitigate the lack of trust and fear they hold,” she says. “Education equals engagement plus empowerment.”
However, there’s a way to educate. More than anything, women don’t want to be talked down to, Dentino says, and the majority of financial advisors still feel like they have to “dumb things down” in order for women to understand them. Finding the right balance between bombarding women with technical jargon, graphs and numbers, on one hand, and “talking with them about their grandchildren or their kid’s school bake sale,” on the other, is the biggest challenge for advisors who want to reach out to women, Dentino says.
According to the Prudential survey, one in three women do not have a financial advisor but they are eager to work with an advisor to gain the tools and knowledge that they need.
“Advisors therefore need move from a transactional-based model to more of a relationship-based model, with a greater focus on education,” Feeney says. “The only way that women can become more confident about themselves and their financial planning abilities is when they get the knowledge they need and when they feel they can trust their advisor.”
According to Feeney, trust is at the core of what a woman wants from a financial advisor and is paramount in the female-advisor relationship.
“Our study showed that women are more apt to stick with an advisor once they have that trust in place, and they are more likely to place multiple products and service with one advisor,” Feeney says. “So while it may be additional work upfront in terms of education – both educating advisors on the importance of recognizing women as a potential market opportunity and then teaching them how to approach women correctly – I do believe that at the end of the day, it will be more than worth it for advisors to help female clients.”
That’s what Dentino believes, too, and she’s working with numerous financial firms to help them develop programs and train their sales staff on the many levels of adjustments they can make to better engage and serve their female clients.
I have to admit, I let my husband control that part of our marriage partnership. Should I be more involved? YES. But why do I not take action to be more educated and involved? There in lies the bigger question. Over the next couple of months, FAMILY Magazine is going to explore the topic of women and financial planning.
A friend of mine, Mario Gabalda, sent me an article from Financial Planning Magazine this morning that I feel compelled to share. Mario is a Financial Advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services in Tysons, Virginia. The article is talking to Financial Planners about women and how they make decisions. One particular quote from the article prompted me to action.
“… one in three women do not have a financial advisor but they are eager to work with an advisor to gain the tools and knowledge that they need.”
Do you have some thoughts on this subject? I would love to hear from you. Here is the article from Mario.
FIRMS STRUGGLE TO CONNECT WITH WOMEN AS THEY GROW IN WEALTH
By: Savita Iyer-Ahrestani
Financial advisors who think of women as a minority market segment probably need to think again.
Studies indicate that women are becoming a majority rather than a minority and represent one of the fastest growing client segments in the U.S.—a segment that both large financial firms and independent financial advisors cannot afford to ignore going forward.
Consider that 53% of women who participated in a recent Prudential Financial survey entitled “Financial Experience & Behaviors Among Women” are now the primary breadwinners for their families.
“Whether it’s because of their partners losing their jobs, because of divorce or because they’re deciding to marry later, women are increasingly becoming the major breadwinners in their households,” says Caroline Feeney, president of agency distribution at Prudential Financial. “We expect that this trend will continue as women are also graduating from school at a higher rate than men, successfully getting into the workforce and then succeeding at their jobs and rising in the ranks.”
All these social shifts have resulted in a sharp increase in women’s earning power and wealth creation power, says Teresa Dentino, founder and CEO of The Financial 411, a financial education firm in Woodside, Calif. Women today make up just under half of the nation’s millionaires, she says, and some have forecasted that they will hold two-thirds of the nation’s wealth by 2030.
Although many firms have recognized the great business potential that women represent and have begun to make serious efforts to better understand women and cater to them in a more productive and profitable way, Dentino believes that most still have a long way to go before they get a proper handle on how to really connect with women.
“While many firms are definitely taking note of the importance of women today, they still don’t quite know how to approach women in a meaningful way and to really understand women’s requirements,” she says.
Dentino believes that women need education more than anything else. As much as they may hold the wealth, most women have not had the direct experience needed to understand finance and financial planning, she says, so the onus is on financial professionals to give them the knowledge and understanding they need so that “women can connect the dots.”
“By educating women, you include them and this helps mitigate the lack of trust and fear they hold,” she says. “Education equals engagement plus empowerment.”
However, there’s a way to educate. More than anything, women don’t want to be talked down to, Dentino says, and the majority of financial advisors still feel like they have to “dumb things down” in order for women to understand them. Finding the right balance between bombarding women with technical jargon, graphs and numbers, on one hand, and “talking with them about their grandchildren or their kid’s school bake sale,” on the other, is the biggest challenge for advisors who want to reach out to women, Dentino says.
According to the Prudential survey, one in three women do not have a financial advisor but they are eager to work with an advisor to gain the tools and knowledge that they need.
“Advisors therefore need move from a transactional-based model to more of a relationship-based model, with a greater focus on education,” Feeney says. “The only way that women can become more confident about themselves and their financial planning abilities is when they get the knowledge they need and when they feel they can trust their advisor.”
According to Feeney, trust is at the core of what a woman wants from a financial advisor and is paramount in the female-advisor relationship.
“Our study showed that women are more apt to stick with an advisor once they have that trust in place, and they are more likely to place multiple products and service with one advisor,” Feeney says. “So while it may be additional work upfront in terms of education – both educating advisors on the importance of recognizing women as a potential market opportunity and then teaching them how to approach women correctly – I do believe that at the end of the day, it will be more than worth it for advisors to help female clients.”
That’s what Dentino believes, too, and she’s working with numerous financial firms to help them develop programs and train their sales staff on the many levels of adjustments they can make to better engage and serve their female clients.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Inspiration for Motivation
Inspiration
for Motivation
While
the Thanksgiving holiday is a great occasion for feasting, I truly believe that we must not
forget the reason underlying the celebration.
This week, I offered to substitute for a friend, Dr. Brandon Lemuel at a regular
Wednesday morning meeting of local business people where FAMILY Magazine is a member. Dr. Brandon (as we call him) provides a
motivational quote every Wednesday to the group. I volunteered because he will
miss the meeting this week. He is going to be with
family for Thanksgiving. I thought it would be
enjoyable to search for a good quote to share with our Wednesday group.
Little
did I know what an experience this search would be. Dr. Brandon is always in a
great mood and greets everyone on Wednesday with such enthusiasm. Now I know why. Searching for a good motivating quote to give
next Wednesday has been just down right FUN.
I have read some of the greatest quotes, I am in a great mood and I
can’t wait for Thanksgiving so I can give a great toast at our family
gathering.
But there is one problem, I found
too many motivational quotes. Now I can’t choose the best
one. So I decided to put my favorites on
my blog and share.
When
you gather around with friends and family for Thanksgiving
dinner, think of all the wonderful time you have spent together. It is good to
count your blessings, share your dreams and aspirations. Let those that love
you know your inner most goals.
The tradition of Thanksgiving dinner teaches us to appreciate the finer things in life. If you want this tradition to continue, you must invest positive energy into the Thanksgiving dinner, and make it a joyous affair. Let your enthusiasm and energy revitalize everyone. Prepare a great Thanksgiving toast and inspire others with your positive words. Make this your best Thanksgiving dinner. Here are some Thanksgiving quotes to help you create a memorable Thanksgiving.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
Anne Frank
I do not think of all the misery, but of the glory that remains. Go outside into the fields, nature and the sun, go out and seek happiness in yourself and in God. Think of the beauty that again and again discharges itself within and without you and be happy.
Theodore Roosevelt
Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.
William Shakespeare
Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.
Robert Quillen
If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.
Cicero
A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.
I do not think of all the misery, but of the glory that remains. Go outside into the fields, nature and the sun, go out and seek happiness in yourself and in God. Think of the beauty that again and again discharges itself within and without you and be happy.
Theodore Roosevelt
Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.
William Shakespeare
Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.
Robert Quillen
If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.
Cicero
A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.
Johannes A. Gaertner
To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.
To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.
Frederick Keonig
We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.
We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.
You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.
Alice W. Brotherton
Heap high the board with plenteous cheer and gather to the feast, And toast the sturdy Pilgrim band whose courage never ceased.
H. W. Westermayer
The pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts... nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.
Heap high the board with plenteous cheer and gather to the feast, And toast the sturdy Pilgrim band whose courage never ceased.
H. W. Westermayer
The pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts... nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.
Albert Pine
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.
Happy Thanksgiving!
And,a big thank you to Dr. Brandon for the opportunity to share with our group on Wednesday.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Annual Women's Leadership Conference
Last night I was privileged to attend the 4th Annual Women’s Leadership Forum held by the Washington DC Police Foundation at the Women’s Memorial at Arlington Cemetery. Here is a picture of District of Columbia Chief of Police, Cathy Lanier and myself. The November issue of FAMILY Magazine features Chief Lanier on the cover and includes a wonderful article about her and how she has been so successful in a male dominated world. If you haven't read this insightful article written by our own Cynda Zurfluh, please read it today.
The event featured a panel of 3 great role models for young women: Police Chief Cathy Lanier, Beverly Perry, Special Advisor to the CEO, Pepco Holdings and Alisa Ulrey, Group Director for Target Corporation in DC, Maryland and Virginia.
The evening started off with a bang when the two wonderful moderators (young DC women) asked each of the panelists what was their most difficult challenge. Ms. Ulrey answered that balancing her life as a mother and a professional woman was definitely her biggest challenge.
I knew right then and there I was going to like this panel of influential women.
Here are some significant quotes from the panel:
Beverly Perry, “I tell my team I won’t ask you to work harder than me. Just try to keep up.”
Chief Lanier, “The decisions I made when I was young made my life much harder. Consider every decision you make carefully.”
Alisa Ulrey, “My motto is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.”
Beverly Perry, “I found my passion when I focused on helping my community.” (Interesting information – Beverly is the highest-ranking female African American in the energy community)
In case you are not aware of the Washington DC Police Foundation, the mission of the Washington DC Police Foundation is to bring together business, professional, civic and nonprofit organizations and individual citizens to promote public safety by providing financial and in-kind resources to the Chief of Police and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Their goal is to make Washington, DC a safer place to live, work and visit for everyone.
Last night Joseph Persichini, the Executive Director spoke about the Foundation’s summer mentoring program. He was very motivating and I am going to explore having FAMILY Magazine participate next year. Please look into this great organization that is definitely making a difference in the lives of youth in the District of Columbia. The young women in attendance last night were really impressive and you can expect great things from them.
Brenda
My Keynote Address
Today I was fortunate to give the keynote address for a group of about 90 local business leaders. The group I spoke to is a networking group, and about 30 visitors attended as well. You have probably heard of BNI (Business Networking International). It is a great organization for networking and building business by word of mouth. And, the chapter that I belong to is absolutely fantastic. In fact, it is the largest BNI in Northern Virginia. They are like working with family. They really care about each other.
What is the purpose of the BNI keynote? The purpose of having each member do a presentation is so we can all understand a member and their business. Because this group really wants to help each other, it’s an important part of our weekly meeting.
The mission of FAMILY Magazine is to help businesses that want to sell to our readers be successful, and grow. We all know that in today’s cluttered marketing world, you really need to reach your audience 9 different ways and FAMILY Magazine does offer several ways for companies to reach our readers. At this presentation I focused on our print magazine.
After the meeting, one of my guests, Ritzya, the Drama Coach, came up to me and offered presentation advice. I will share her top three tips –
1. Make a strong presence. Keep their attention.
2. Stay within the time you promised. Don’t go over.
3. Tell stories, some at the beginning and some during your presentation.
Her ideas are great and certainly something that we could all do to make our presentations better. Here is a link to her website if you’re looking to improve your speaking, your personal pitch or your image.
http://www.thedramacoach.com/4436.html
When BNI members conduct their keynotes, they’ll typically mention who makes a good referral for their company. Since I went over my allotted time today (true to form), I wasn’t able to share this information with my group. So, who is a good referral for FAMILY Magazine?
What is a good referral for me?
A good referral for me is a company sells a service or product to women who have children. If you are talking to someone with these attributes and they say, “We are putting together a new brand or new marketing plan” they are a great lead for me. You could say to them, “Have you looked at FAMILY Magazine? I am friends with the publisher.”
Another good referral might be a company that is just starting and wants to sell to women, AND they have an advertising budget. You might be helping them with other aspects of their business, so you will be able to see if you, or your wife might purchase their product. You could ask them if they are putting together a marketing plan. Then suggest they also look at FAMILY Magazine.
Sometimes FAMILY can work with a very small company that is just starting when they have a small marketing budget. They might not be ready to have Mary Kay with Blue Shamrock Communications step in, but we can be creative and help them get going. If they are looking to reach women, we can help them.
You might listen for these key statements:
We are reaching out into the Washington market.
We are looking for ways to promote our business.
We are looking for a good way to communicate with moms.
We want to do more social networking to reach moms.
What would be a bad referral?
We really are not a good source for an in-home day care or companies that cannot afford at least $120 a month for advertising. To really work with them and promote them through our weekly newsletter and social networking (as well as a print ad), they really need to make a commitment towards marketing of at least $120 a month.
How do you give me a referral? A personal email introduction is a great way to give me a referral. Be sure to include their name and phone in the email.
In case you missed it, here are the main points of my speech:
Women make almost all the buying decisions for almost everything we all use. Readers of FAMILY Magazine make some of those decisions when they read our magazine.
You need to be persistent and consistent with your advertising because women keep information a long time.
You can count on FAMILY Magazine to help build business. We have several different methods that reach our readers to achieve this.
A good referral is a company that is targeting women and ready to make a consistent investment into reaching women.
Because at FAMILY Magazine, WE REACH WOMEN
If you have questions, please send me an email. Brenda’s Email
I’ll leave you with my motivational quote for the morning –
“Watch the sunrise at least once a year, put a lot of marshmallows in your hot chocolate, lie on your back and look at the stars, never buy a coffee table you can't put your feet on, never pass up a chance to jump on a trampoline, don't overlook life's small joys while searching for the big ones.”
-- H. Jackson Brown, Jr., Writer
What is the purpose of the BNI keynote? The purpose of having each member do a presentation is so we can all understand a member and their business. Because this group really wants to help each other, it’s an important part of our weekly meeting.
The mission of FAMILY Magazine is to help businesses that want to sell to our readers be successful, and grow. We all know that in today’s cluttered marketing world, you really need to reach your audience 9 different ways and FAMILY Magazine does offer several ways for companies to reach our readers. At this presentation I focused on our print magazine.
After the meeting, one of my guests, Ritzya, the Drama Coach, came up to me and offered presentation advice. I will share her top three tips –
1. Make a strong presence. Keep their attention.
2. Stay within the time you promised. Don’t go over.
3. Tell stories, some at the beginning and some during your presentation.
Her ideas are great and certainly something that we could all do to make our presentations better. Here is a link to her website if you’re looking to improve your speaking, your personal pitch or your image.
http://www.thedramacoach.com/4436.html
When BNI members conduct their keynotes, they’ll typically mention who makes a good referral for their company. Since I went over my allotted time today (true to form), I wasn’t able to share this information with my group. So, who is a good referral for FAMILY Magazine?
What is a good referral for me?
A good referral for me is a company sells a service or product to women who have children. If you are talking to someone with these attributes and they say, “We are putting together a new brand or new marketing plan” they are a great lead for me. You could say to them, “Have you looked at FAMILY Magazine? I am friends with the publisher.”
Another good referral might be a company that is just starting and wants to sell to women, AND they have an advertising budget. You might be helping them with other aspects of their business, so you will be able to see if you, or your wife might purchase their product. You could ask them if they are putting together a marketing plan. Then suggest they also look at FAMILY Magazine.
Sometimes FAMILY can work with a very small company that is just starting when they have a small marketing budget. They might not be ready to have Mary Kay with Blue Shamrock Communications step in, but we can be creative and help them get going. If they are looking to reach women, we can help them.
You might listen for these key statements:
We are reaching out into the Washington market.
We are looking for ways to promote our business.
We are looking for a good way to communicate with moms.
We want to do more social networking to reach moms.
What would be a bad referral?
We really are not a good source for an in-home day care or companies that cannot afford at least $120 a month for advertising. To really work with them and promote them through our weekly newsletter and social networking (as well as a print ad), they really need to make a commitment towards marketing of at least $120 a month.
How do you give me a referral? A personal email introduction is a great way to give me a referral. Be sure to include their name and phone in the email.
In case you missed it, here are the main points of my speech:
Women make almost all the buying decisions for almost everything we all use. Readers of FAMILY Magazine make some of those decisions when they read our magazine.
You need to be persistent and consistent with your advertising because women keep information a long time.
You can count on FAMILY Magazine to help build business. We have several different methods that reach our readers to achieve this.
A good referral is a company that is targeting women and ready to make a consistent investment into reaching women.
Because at FAMILY Magazine, WE REACH WOMEN
If you have questions, please send me an email. Brenda’s Email
I’ll leave you with my motivational quote for the morning –
“Watch the sunrise at least once a year, put a lot of marshmallows in your hot chocolate, lie on your back and look at the stars, never buy a coffee table you can't put your feet on, never pass up a chance to jump on a trampoline, don't overlook life's small joys while searching for the big ones.”
-- H. Jackson Brown, Jr., Writer
Friday, October 19, 2012
WAFE Panel, Can Women Have it All?
(FYI-- This post was written before the program Morning Joe spread the word about Hillary Clinton's comments)
Wednesday I attended a luncheon presented by WAFE, Women’s Alliance for Financial Education. Along with some great networking with other women from all over the region, there was a panel of women who spoke to the question, “Can Women Have It All?”
This conversation was prompted somewhat by a recent article posted on The Atlantic website by Anne-Marie Slaughter, Why Women Still Can't Have It All.
Can we?
The feeling from the group at the end of the discussion seemed to be that we are not quite there yet. Maybe women have tempered their expectations in recent years but we are still far behind where we want to be in regards to our professional combined with “motherhood” lives.
The panelist were Meredith Fuchs, Kathy Korman Frey, Frederique Irwin and Marissa Levin. Each had their own view of were women stand and what it means to “Have It All.”
It was a great discussion. Each of these women appear to be very successful both professionally and personally. It was quite motivating to hear their thoughts.
Here are some of the gems I picked up from the conversation.
--The number one thing women want is support at home.
--Companies that have a formal program in place to promote women into leadership roles are more financially profitable (yippe).
--The number one factor in success for a young girl is a good role model.
--Family support is critical in a young girl’s success.
--Work life balance is one of the top 3 concerns of Generation Y and the Millennium generation.
--The United States has a strong culture for women entrepreneurs and this is really good.
Dawn Wilson, the moderator summed up the discussion with these points.
We have come a long way but we have further to go.
Support at home is critical.
There is no cookie cutter way to reach your own success.
Support from the government will help make changes.
Women who have managed to be both mothers and top professionals are few and far between. For those who want to achieve this, it can be done. And, for some mothers, this is not a real definition of success. First we each have to define what success means to us, then set about achieving it.
A second step might be to start promoting a work/life balance by being honest with ourselves and our employees. It is okay to want to be with your kids and family. It is okay to be late to work or leave early to make family your #1 priority. If we start telling people that family is important and we SHOW that our family is important by making these choices, maybe then our society (and government) will begin to see that family is important.
If you ask any of my employees what is important to me, they are going to tell you my family. They know because I am constantly doing things that show this is my priority. My husband and my kids come first. Does that mean I comprise on my job and my company? Yes, but I also work a great deal to make up for the time I am not focused on FAMILY Magazine. I work weekends, mornings and nights. It is not uncommon to see an email from me at 4AM. But if my husband is leaving on one of his frequent out of town trips, I drive him to the airport (a great tradition we have). I love giving him that goodbye kiss to remind him why he needs to hurry home.
Remember one of the success factors for young girls? Role models. We need to be role models to the rest of society. Show people your family is important.
Walk the walk and talk the talk. After all, it really is all about FAMILY. In the end you won't be waving money or a fancy title from your death bed. You might want to have your family around you so you know you have left the world a better place.
For me, the key to this is really defining your own definition of success. If I have the end in mind, perhaps you can map out how to get there. If I don’t know where I want to go, how can I create the plan and follow the map?
As they say in the musical South Pacific, “You have to have a dream to have a dream come true.”
Brenda
Note: While I was researching links for this post I discovered a pair of interesting articles. You really need to read both of these articles if are interested in this topic. Very interesting.....hummm
Profile of Hillary Clinton by Ayelet Waldman on the Marie Claire website posted on Thursday. http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/inspirational-women/hillary-clinton-farewell?click=pp
I discovered the profile of Ms. Clinton after clicking on a link on The Atlantic that was promoted with these words: Hillary Clinton Is Tired of Having the 'Having It All' Debate.
Wednesday I attended a luncheon presented by WAFE, Women’s Alliance for Financial Education. Along with some great networking with other women from all over the region, there was a panel of women who spoke to the question, “Can Women Have It All?”
This conversation was prompted somewhat by a recent article posted on The Atlantic website by Anne-Marie Slaughter, Why Women Still Can't Have It All.
Can we?
The feeling from the group at the end of the discussion seemed to be that we are not quite there yet. Maybe women have tempered their expectations in recent years but we are still far behind where we want to be in regards to our professional combined with “motherhood” lives.
The panelist were Meredith Fuchs, Kathy Korman Frey, Frederique Irwin and Marissa Levin. Each had their own view of were women stand and what it means to “Have It All.”
It was a great discussion. Each of these women appear to be very successful both professionally and personally. It was quite motivating to hear their thoughts.
Here are some of the gems I picked up from the conversation.
--The number one thing women want is support at home.
--Companies that have a formal program in place to promote women into leadership roles are more financially profitable (yippe).
--The number one factor in success for a young girl is a good role model.
--Family support is critical in a young girl’s success.
--Work life balance is one of the top 3 concerns of Generation Y and the Millennium generation.
--The United States has a strong culture for women entrepreneurs and this is really good.
Dawn Wilson, the moderator summed up the discussion with these points.
We have come a long way but we have further to go.
Support at home is critical.
There is no cookie cutter way to reach your own success.
Support from the government will help make changes.
Women who have managed to be both mothers and top professionals are few and far between. For those who want to achieve this, it can be done. And, for some mothers, this is not a real definition of success. First we each have to define what success means to us, then set about achieving it.
A second step might be to start promoting a work/life balance by being honest with ourselves and our employees. It is okay to want to be with your kids and family. It is okay to be late to work or leave early to make family your #1 priority. If we start telling people that family is important and we SHOW that our family is important by making these choices, maybe then our society (and government) will begin to see that family is important.
If you ask any of my employees what is important to me, they are going to tell you my family. They know because I am constantly doing things that show this is my priority. My husband and my kids come first. Does that mean I comprise on my job and my company? Yes, but I also work a great deal to make up for the time I am not focused on FAMILY Magazine. I work weekends, mornings and nights. It is not uncommon to see an email from me at 4AM. But if my husband is leaving on one of his frequent out of town trips, I drive him to the airport (a great tradition we have). I love giving him that goodbye kiss to remind him why he needs to hurry home.
Remember one of the success factors for young girls? Role models. We need to be role models to the rest of society. Show people your family is important.
Walk the walk and talk the talk. After all, it really is all about FAMILY. In the end you won't be waving money or a fancy title from your death bed. You might want to have your family around you so you know you have left the world a better place.
For me, the key to this is really defining your own definition of success. If I have the end in mind, perhaps you can map out how to get there. If I don’t know where I want to go, how can I create the plan and follow the map?
As they say in the musical South Pacific, “You have to have a dream to have a dream come true.”
Brenda
Note: While I was researching links for this post I discovered a pair of interesting articles. You really need to read both of these articles if are interested in this topic. Very interesting.....hummm
Profile of Hillary Clinton by Ayelet Waldman on the Marie Claire website posted on Thursday. http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/inspirational-women/hillary-clinton-farewell?click=pp
I discovered the profile of Ms. Clinton after clicking on a link on The Atlantic that was promoted with these words: Hillary Clinton Is Tired of Having the 'Having It All' Debate.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Interview with a Shark Feeder
Really?
A real life shark feeder?
Yes!
How many people do you know that have had the privilege to interview a shark feeder? I will bet not many. Now you know one, ME!
Here is my interview with Andrea at Stuart Cove in the Bahamas. This was recorded right after I went diving with the sharks with Andrea feeding them. See my blog below for the details. It was awesome!
Andrea was a very interesting person. His main concern was always the safety of the divers. He did a great job and really gave us the adventure we were looking for.
Cheers to Andrea!
A real life shark feeder?
Yes!
How many people do you know that have had the privilege to interview a shark feeder? I will bet not many. Now you know one, ME!
Here is my interview with Andrea at Stuart Cove in the Bahamas. This was recorded right after I went diving with the sharks with Andrea feeding them. See my blog below for the details. It was awesome!
Andrea was a very interesting person. His main concern was always the safety of the divers. He did a great job and really gave us the adventure we were looking for.
Cheers to Andrea!
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