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Greetings!
Thank you for subscribing to the SSWBN Newsletter. Our mission is to provide you with Contacts, Coaching & Collaboration.
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| Pay It Forward - A message from our President |
This Month's Challenge: Pay It Forward to Our Own SSWBN
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Janet LaBerge, Dirty Deeds |
What a pleasure it was to hear Cynthia Fisher speak at our March breakfast meeting. Her biography was impressive to say the least. She graduated from Harvard with an MBA. She founded two companies that provide cord blood stem cell banking as well as human cellular therapies. Her newest venture focuses on making better use of our precious water resources.
I was struck by her intelligence and ability to produce something that would have a positive impact on so many people worldwide. I have always thought of myself as trying to have a positive impact by being that pebble that drops in a pool and ripples out, touching those around it who in turn pass it along. In my analogy, Cynthia isn't dropping pebbles: she's creating a tsunami (a positive one).
Cord blood stem cell banking and water issues are game-changers at a global level. I was excited to hear someone of this skill level speak about their passion to change things for the better. (What? The first priority isn't to attain personal wealth or fame?)
We are surrounded by media images of people who use their fame and power to better only themselves for the adulation of the masses. Think Housewives of LA, Selling New York and similar shows. It is discouraging that these shows are so popular, as not one of them encourages anyone to strive to be a better person.
I listened to Cynthia Fisher's journey not with jealousy, but with admiration. Here is a woman who is smart, confident, at the top of her game in a man's world -- AND she's sharing how she got there with all of us. Amen sister!
Interestingly enough, the same principles that helped her to succeed are the same ones that we can all use. Here are her top three suggestions:
- Know what you don't know and hire the best people you can to do those jobs. How many of us have learned this lesson the hard way? I have been fortunate to be able to find my accountant (Elizabeth Pineault), my initial bookkeeping service (Veva Johnson) and my payroll services (Patty Dunigan) through SSWBN. I don't have an MBA, but I understand that to run my business, I need competent people I trust to do those jobs for me.
- Surround yourself with the best team of mentors and advisors that you can. In my first year of business, I couldn't afford to hire advisors, but I joined an SSWBN roundtable. I received free, fabulous advice from fellow business owners. Now that I can afford to hire advisors, I know many great coaches through the SSWBN who can help me in my journey.
- Thank the people who have helped you along the way. Cynthia talked about sending out a check to thank her mentors for their sage advice. No matter what stage you are in your business, it's always a good idea to thank people.
I have been helped enormously by this Network and would like as many other business owners as possible to have that same opportunity. April marks our first-ever membership drive for new members only. I have personally pledged to bring in three new members this month.
I ask each of you to invite one person to come to our events, to experience for themselves the positive influence that we can have on their life and their business. Let's Pay It Forward this month to our own Network.
Happy to lead with fun and humility,
Janet
Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap
Email Janet: Dirtydeedsddc04@hotmail.com
Pay It Forward Tip for April: When you brush your cat or dog's hair, clean the brush outside. The birds will use it to line their nests this spring. Good recycling!
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| Executive Director's Column |
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Katie Howard
SSWBN |
Dear Members and Colleagues:
Let us help you grow YOUR network by helping us to grow THE Network: the South Shore Women's Business Network. How? We set up April for a membership Drive! We need you all to help to spread the word. Any new member can join now and save $50! (See Details here.) Make it easy for them to join.
We are really excited about our Professional Development Day on May 10th. Join us for a great day of learning. This year's theme is: Invest in yourself: A healthy business starts with a healthy you. We have programs planned from cloud computing to stress relief. Register before April 10th and save!
As always we have sponsorship opportunities for all events. Contact me for details.
Let's do business with each other!
Thank you,
Katie
781-696-9901 * khoward@sswbn.org.
Dedicated to the success of our members through Contacts, Coaching and Collaboration - our mission. |
Business Tip of the Month By Bernie Heine of Professional Business Coaches, Inc. |
Strategic Planning - Did you take a 'Time Out' lately?
 | Bernie Heine,
Professional Business Coaches, Inc. |
I just got back from my annual 3-day PBCA coaches conference in New Orleans. This was a fantastic opportunity to help me think out of the box, compare notes with other coaches and get ideas that will help me be a better coach to my clients. Do you take advantage of such an opportunity for your business? Make time for a strategic planning 'time out', at least once a year. You'll be glad you did!
It will be the making of your enterprise from that day on. Careful planning of your strategic 'time out' will ensure you get everything your business needs from it. Good coaching and professional facilitation will enable you, as the leader, to participate and enjoy the unique opportunities such an event presents.
Here are some of the strategic planning tools that you will want to apply in your enterprise:
- Vision, Mission, Values - the Why, What, How, and When of your organization.
- SWOT analysis - Realistic view of the current competitive environment
- Long Range Goals - Where you aspire to be long term
- Near Term Goals - What to work on next quarter or this year
- Accountability and timing - Details for all process improvements and initiatives that you create to achieve those goals
For a more detailed discussion on this topic, please download my white paper on Strategic Planning.
If you have any comments or questions, or if you need any assistance implementing these ideas, please contact me.
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| About the Law - Barry Gordon, GMO |
 | Barry Gordon
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A Time for Reflection
Having practiced law for more than 40 years (yikes!), it is nice to pause and think about all the things I have learned in my practice, and about what I try to practice in my life.
No I am not retiring, but I have become more thoughtful and understanding. So let me share with you some of my reflections:
No battle -- and especially no legal battle -- is worth fighting. If you have what you think is a worthwhile cause, talk to us to get a sense of the costs and the return on your financial and emotional investment.
Whether you are having a marital disagreement, a business disagreement or a disagreement about an estate, think about the dollars involved and what your endgame looks like.
We are very good lawyers and counselors. We will guide you through the process and do our best to resolve the problems that you believe are confronting you.
Should we agree that your situation warrants fighting for, and we agree that we will be your attorney, we will represent you to the best of our ability.
We will do our best to assess the financial cost and put together timelines. As with all such engagements, things do change and we will keep you informed of those changes.
THAT BEING SAID, MY WIFE, RENEE AND I ARE OFF TO PARIS. SEE YOU ALL SOON. SHOULD YOU NEED OUR ASSISTANCE IN THE INTERIM, MY ASSOCIATES ARE HERE TO HELP.
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SSWBN Connections |
 | Kristen Ford- Hernandez
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Hello Members!
March was quite a busy business month for Premiere Pros, so I am looking forward to seeing and connecting more with you all throughout April. We did learn of a couple of Connections:
Allison Guido of Almar Building sends in thank yous to
- Jim Ross and Sara Tosca at Bay State Financial for meeting with her to talk about succession planning ideas;
- Maureen Elliot from Camelot Enterprises for calling on Almar to look at a project at her house.
- Paulette O'Connell from OCO Architects for taking the time to meet with her to talk about Almar services and how they can collaborate to better service their mutual clients; and finally, to
- Kathleen Keegan of Real Estate Rocks for posting a very nice review of Almar Building on yelp.com. "I really appreciated it and was glad to know that she was happy with our entire team," said Allison.
Rosemarie Lanchester of Everything You Wish For would like to give a big thank you to Stacy Mafera of Errands, Etc., "for helping me with my WordPress site. It's a great feeling to know I can depend on her for help with lots of administrative needs," said Rosemarie. "I would also like to thank Nicole Peterkin of New York Life Insurance. She has given me some great advice as well as diversifying my Roth IRA. I met Nicole at a Lunch 'n' Learn at Eastern Bank. We made a great connection. She was kind enough to refer me to a new client to help with his credit card service, as he plans to open a new location, as well as helping his clients with Emotional Freedom Techniques to enhance their music and voice lessons! Thank YOU Nicole!!"
Many, many thanks to Roberta Sousa of Rockland Trust for providing two years of service in producing the Movin' On Up column for the SSWBN Compass. Every month, Roberta worked to publish the accomplishments, awards, and noteworthy achievements that our members provided to her. Roberta leaves her columnist post to better meet the demands and responsibilities that she has at Rockland Trust.
Although this story did not quite make the six o'clock news, Patty Funder of LaserLight for Men and Women has learned the rudiments of using FaceBook! "Much thanks to Kristen Ford-Hernandez, who set up the LaserLight FB page, and then taught me the basics to keeping it active and of value in building my business," said Patty.
As the popularity of Facebook grows and you want to promote your business fan page, let me know. I will link your Connections that appear in this column to your fan page if either you do not have a website, or if you prefer the FB link in lieu of your website link.
Thank you to members for remembering to sending in your Connections. Wishing you all a successful and wonderful April!
Kristen Ford-Hernandez
Premiere Pros
www.premierepros.com
More business decisions occur over lunch and dinner than at any other time, yet no MBA courses are given on the subject. -- Peter Drucker
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| Movin' on up |
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Roberta Sousa, Rockland Trust |
Greetings! There are many exciting accomplishments from our members who have used their Contacts, Coaching and Collaboration...
Congratulations to new member
Joyce Auguston,
Mary Kay Consultant who earned her first FREE CAR with Mary Kay. It is a four-month process to achieve this level of success. Joyce's next goal is to become a Director with Mary Kay, and has recently finished her first month as a Director in Qualification.
Congratulations to Gwen Morgan, author of the What if ... Workbook, on her selection to be interviewed on FOX25 TV by Gene Lavanchy about her Workbook and her workshops. What a great way to get the word out!
As an editorial board for the SSWBN newsletter, we congratulate and thank "Tavern Wench" Lynn Feingold for agreeing to take over the production of this column.
Do you have an accomplishment or award you would like to have published? This is a great place to let us know. Give us the opportunity
to celebrate with you!! In the future, please email them to Lynn Feingold, at mailto:Lynn.Feingold@dunkinbrands.com by the 25th of the month.
Roberta
Roberta Sousa
Roberta.Sousa@Rocklandtrust.com
781.878.7440
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| Networking Nova | | Each month the SSWBN Membership Team recognizes a member(s) who exemplifies the qualities of a Networking Nova, a person(s) who embodies the Network's core values of coaching, contacts and collaboration; someone who is visible at many SSWBN events and who treats others with respect and dignity. In addition, this person(s) utilizes the Network to build his/her business and helps others do the same.
Congratulations to Ann Brown of Oral Surgery South
Ann Brown, Professional Relations Coordinator for Oral Surgery South
Oral Surgery South has been a member of SSWBN since April 2011.
Oral Surgery South has been proud to be part of SSWBN. We have taken advantage of several opportunities to utilize this strong networking group, including sponsoring a lunch and hosting an event at Oral Surgery South for fellow members of the network.
Being a member of SSWBN has afforded Oral Surgery South a great opportunity to gain exposure to a network of talented, successful business women. The relationships I have forged on behalf of Oral Surgery South have developed into strong friendships both on a personal and business level. Several have developed into qualified referrals.
Three pieces advice I would give to other members would be to take advantage of every opportunity that the Network has to offer, to be organized, and to be prepared. You never know when or from where your next referral will come. The best advice I could offer to a non-member is to JOIN and become a part of this productive and always fun group.
On a personal note, SSWBN has helped me to become a stronger marketing coordinator for Oral Surgery South. Being surrounded by strong, motivated business professionals has inspired me to follow suit. Oral Surgery South values the relationship with SSWBN and looks forward to continued success together.
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| Massachusetts Educational Foundation, Inc. | 
The Massachusetts Educational Foundation Inc. Scholarship Applications Due Now - May6th .
'Tis the Season of Scholarships: Join the Giving, Join the Celebration
Springtime: what a wonderful time, as the trees and gardens start to renew themselves for another year! It also means that the scholarship application season has begun for the MEF, with May 6th as the deadline for submissions.
In the spirit of paying it forward we need your help in spreading the word about these scholarship opportunities. Please let potential applicants know that the application and forms are available now, at http://www.massedfund.org/scholarship-2012.
To qualify for a scholarship, an applicant must be all of the following:
- A mature woman (aged 35 and older)
- A Massachusetts resident
- Making a career change
- Enrolled in a qualified education program
Then, plan to come to Celebration! in June to meet the 2012 recipients!
The coming weeks represent the busiest time of year for the MEF: it is when we face our greatest challenge, to once again work through the process of narrowing down the field of applicants to a select few.
With our resources limited, it pulls at my heart strings to read the stories, to meet the applicants, and to continue to follow them throughout their process to reach their goal of a higher education. This is the toughest job I have encountered in my work life, and it is a fact that members of the Selection Committee have on occasion reached into their personal pockets to create one more scholarship on the spot because a story so touched them.
The MEF does make a difference in the lives of women, and we know this year's crop will push our buttons once again. Nevertheless, we are ready for the challenge and we cannot wait to present them to all of you at Celebration!
We invite you to our next fundraising event, the SSWBN Breakfast on April 26 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Linden Ponds. An exciting event on its own, it will feature Siiri Morley, Founding Partner of Prosperity Candle. She will talk about the Global Sisterhood: Women Supporting Women to Create Change. We anticipate a very uplifting and motivating story of how women, no matter what their profession, political belief or education, can make a difference by investing in their communities and in the world-wide community. As Siiri has said, "The sense of Sisterhood has no borders."
Please come and purchase a raffle ticket to win a fabulous prize, and/or to make a donation. We depend upon contributions as we expand our sights, even while raising funds for this year's scholarships. We need you to help us to reach goal of giving fifteen $1,000 scholarships in 2013 -- which is our 15th year anniversary!
We appreciate every gift no matter what the size, as it all helps to reach the mission of the organization. You may use your credit card through our website, www.massedfund.org. Please take a little time look at the website for upcoming events.
With much appreciation, and a hope to see you April 26th,
Veva Johnson, President
The Massachusetts Educational Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of women over 35, enabling them to transition to a more rewarding career, by providing scholarships for education. Donations are tax deductible to the extent of IRS regulations.
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| Featured Business |
Name: Karen Shea Price
Business and title/role:Owner, South Paws Doggie Daycare
Address:1750 Corporate Park, Pembroke
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Karen & Elsa
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It's a Doggie-Dog Business
How did you come to be in this line of work?
After spending nearly a decade in the wholesale pet supply industry, I took some time off to raise two children. Instead of jumping back into the 'corporate world,' I decided to open up a doggie daycare as soon as my girls were in school.
What are the top three things that separate you from your competition?
I have highly trained full-time employees. We are completely cage-less. Clients can watch their dogs live on our web-cam via the Internet.
Describe your dream/perfect/best customer.
My dream customer would be George Clooney's dog. My perfect customer would be a Two-Toed Sloth. My best customer is a young, healthy, well socialized Labrador with lots of energy to expel. :)
What changes are happening, or can you predict happening soon, within your industry?
Doggie Daycare is still unregulated in the State of Massachusetts. I think it is time for us to take a closer look at the industry for the sakes of our pets. Regulations similar to the ones in place for children's daycare facilities would be a good start.
What do you regard as your greatest achievement in business to date?
After five years in business, I am finally able to pay all of the bills and make payroll without borrowing money. Despite the bad economy, we are continuing to grow the business -- and I hope to put myself on the payroll within the next year.
Where do you want you and your business to be in five years?
I want my business to be profitable and I want to be five years closer to retirement!
What benefit(s) have you received through your networking efforts?
Just meeting like-minded, small business owners who understand my crazy life is worth the membership fee! I rarely have time to attend all of the events but when I do, I can feel a great deal of energy that seems to empower everyone in the room.
What is/are your one or two toughest challenges?
Knowing when it's time to try something new or different, and knowing when it's time to go home and be a mom.
What motivates you on a day-to-day basis?
My children, my husband, my employees and my clients.
What is something that members may be surprised to learn about you?
I have an identical twin: she is the bad one. I am color blind and the bad twin has perfect color vision. ;(
What do you do in your spare time for fun?
I have developed a fondness for doing nothing in a quiet spot without anyone around. I love the beach and I play a lousy game of golf from time to time.
What is the strangest thing you have ever found in dog poop?
I've seen it all, but the best things are jewelry, money, small action figures and unmentionables.
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