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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Critical Success Factors for Women Leaders
Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013
9:00am - 5:00pm
Greensboro-High Point Marriott Airport
$295 WithIt Members
$325 Guests - open to all professional women
Register today
HIGH POINT MARKET
President's Reception
Friday, April 19
6:00-7:00 pm
Drexel Heritage and Thomasville Furniture Showroom
IHFC M810-830
Join us for networking and drinks to kick off market.
Education Breakfast
Sunday, April 21
7:30 am
IHFC Bldg. Green Wing, 11th Floor
Int'l Ballroom
MUST RSVP: lchastain@imcenters.com
NY Design Tour
May 18-20, 2013
Sign up now for the favorite WithIt event.
The tour is limited to 35 people - giving preference to members first.
$225 members
$350 non-members
Register today
WithIt Professional Conference August 12-14, 2013 Raleigh, NC "Vision of the Modern Renaissance Woman" at Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel + Learn more |
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
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Erika Bebow Director of Marketing Services E.J. Victor, Inc. Morganton, NC Robyn Brill Copeland Furniture Bradford, VT Ben Copeland Sales and Marketing Copeland Furniture Bradford, VT Megan Fallon Merchandising Assistant Legacy Classic Furniture High Point, NC Ashley Giles Sales Representative Palliser, Pelican Reef, Palmetto Home Raleigh, NC Sarah Kammlah Furniture Designer Berber Kammlah Collection for EJ Victor Fredericksburg, TX Andrea McFee Student Appalachian State University Newland, NC Dana McGrath Buyer/Merchandising Manager Merkel Furniture Manchester, MI Cathy McLaughlin CEO Screen Gems Furniture Accessories Manhattan Beach, CA Jane Nichols Department Chair High Point University High Point, NC Angela Scarbrough Marketing Supervisor Twin Star International Delray Beach, FL Margie Van Oirschot Sales Representative R Moore Sales Chatham, Ontario Canada |
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Join Our List
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ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE
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Time to mark your calendar
WithIt's annual professional conference is slated for August 12 - 14 (Monday-Wednesday) in Raleigh, NC at the North Hills Renaissance Hotel. The 2013 theme of the conference is "vision of the modern renaissance woman" of which WithIt President Betty Lyn Eller, noted, "The successful woman of today has to make choices. She has to make sure she keeps learning, stays focused on what matters and challenge herself." She also commented, "The annual WithIt Conference is something women can really look forward to. We bring top notch speakers and roundtable sessions with topics that will help women who are seasoned professionals as well as providing content for those just entering the home industry fields. The networking and contacts made at this conference are invaluable and can be extremely helpful to attendees, both professionally and personally." Mark your calendars now and make this one of your 2013 professional priorities. If you would like to volunteer to be on the committee, please contact Carol Gregg, this year's conference lead. |
MOTIVATION
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 | Gail Blanke
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The Other Side of Fear
Our fear of failing is huge. So is our fear of looking foolish. Or being '"wrong." Or disappointing ourselves - or worse, somebody else. Or just plain blowing it. The late George Addair, founder of the Omega Vector Seminars, wrote, "Everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear."
It's true. All the big stuff in life: the business conceived and built, the promotion sought and won, the book dreamed of and published, the "right person" met and married, the "red carpet" rolled out and walked on...is over there. Beyond the crowd of self-doubts, beyond the memories of past failures, beyond the relentless barrage of negative "what if's" - and even beyond the well-intentioned cautions of all those people who say, "Dude, are you getting ideas a bit above your station?" (I hate that old saying.) Or, "What's wrong with what you're doing now? You gotta bloom where you're planted! (I don't like that one, either.) Or, "Don't you think you ought to wait til the children are older?" (Even 'tho your youngest is 27..)
I was absolutely terrified when I left a major corporation and started my own business, Lifedesigns. Our children were still young (no, they really were) I had responsibilities and there were no guarantees of success. At all. Not one. Almost every day I asked myself if I were crazy. (I was, but as it turned out, that actually helped.) I referred to it as "leaping off the diving board and inventing the water on the way down." ("I know that water's gonna be there when I hit," I'd whisper at 3 AM..) What I had were two - as it turned out, vital, things that kept me from losing faith: purpose and passion. My purpose (which turned out to be my calling) was to enable people to know without a shadow of a doubt that they were so much better, so much more talented, powerful and necessary to the world...than they imagined - and that they and only they - got to determine and decide their futures. And passion? Well, I believe passion drives positive change...and profits. So buoyed up by those two stalwart companions, I beat down the fears (a daily ritual) stopped looking back and...decided to keep going.
So here's what I've learned about fear: If you don't have any, you're not pushing yourself hard enough. If you hang back and don't make your way out to the end of that diving board, you're playing small. If you don't ultimately decide to take that leap, whatever that means in your particular life, you're making a mockery out of how good you already are... Fear is part of the deal. It's taking that leap of faith that counts. And guess what? That's where the thrill is...and the fun. Ask anyone you admire in sports, entertainment, the arts, business, politics...or ask a dog who decided to take it. Her name's "Faith".
Gail Blanke was the keynote speaker at WithIt's 2012 Educational Conference. Gail Blanke is founder, president, and chief executive officer of Lifedesigns, LLC, a company whose vision is to empower men and women worldwide to live truly exceptional lives. Click here to sign up to receive her free Monday Morning Motivator emails.
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MEMBERSHIP
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 | Apartment Therapy
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Discounted deal includes WithIt membership
Apartment Therapy, the world's largest independent digital home design community and WithIt, are teaming up to create a unique co-marketing opportunity for furniture manufacturers and retailers. Both Apartment Therapy and WithIt understand that digital and social media create special opportunities to reach furniture shoppers. Maxwell Ryan, CEO and Founder of Apartment Therapy, is a WithIt member. AT is offering this one time opportunity from February 14 - June 1, 2013.
WHAT APARTMENT THERAPY IS OFFERING?
* Apartment Therapy is offering an exclusive 20% discount off their normal rate card rate on their sponsored giveaway feature, which reaches over 250,000 readers.
* Sponsored Giveaways are written in Apartment Therapy's trusted voice and featured on their home page. Their creative team works with each company to fulfill their marketing goals and appeal to AT readers.
EXTRA VALUE FOR WITHIT:
* For each sponsored giveaway purchased between February 14 and June 1, Apartment Therapy will buy one individual WithIt membership (a $190 value) per advertiser.
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USE YOUR WITHIT MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
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It's in the Mail!
Membership in WithIt has its benefits - intangible and tangible. For all our members that have renewed, your package with your 2013 membership card, discounts and special offers is on its way. The offers include:
- Furniture Today discounted subscription rate
- A special subscription offer for $5 to House Beautiful, Elle Décor or Food Network magazines
- Working Advantage program
- Half hour financial consultation from Smith Leonard PLLC
- Half hour legal consultation with Jerry Cohen, Cohen Tauber Spievack & Wagner P.C.
- Half hour public relations consultation with Mary Leigh Howell, Howell Communications
- Half hour consultation to tune up your bio with Stephanie Lowder, Rare Bird Creative
Of course the biggest benefit of your WithIt membership is networking with other members. Be sure to use your Member Resource Guide to connect.
And if you've forgotten to renew for 2013, log in and renew today!
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 WOW AWARDS PHOTOS
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2013 WOW Awards
Here's just a sample of the WOW Awards photos available to view. To see more, visit withit.org.
 | | Leadership Award Recipient Kim Knopf, president of Innovative Mattress Solutions with her daughter Karrie Knopf, Innovative Mattress Solutions. |
 | Mary Best Ellington, BedTimes and Sleep Savvy; Education Award recipient Cheminne Taylor-Smith, High Point Market Authority; Pat Conley; Lisa Hanly, Furniture Brands International; Tom Conley, High Point Market Authority; Renee Loper, Bassett/HGTV Home; Neil Marritt and David Blair, both of Emisare.
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 | | WOW Awards co-chair Julie Smith Vincenti, Nine Muses Media |
 | | Dana Helms, SocialNorth, Sara Wedding, FurnitureDealer.net, Amy Schmidt, FurnitureDealer.net, Donna Barlett, ViewIt Technologies, and Margi Kyle, The Designing Doctor and President's Award Recipient. |
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Have a story idea for an upcoming e-newsletter? Submit your idea to Lisa Hanly Vice President-Media.
WithIt, Inc. PO Box 16264, High Point, NC 27261 Office: 2125 Eastchester Drive Suite 103, High Point, NC 27265 www.withit.org |
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