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Greetings!
Thank you for subscribing to the SSWBN Newsletter. Our mission is to help you develop the relationships you need for success.
If you know a woman in business who could benefit from this information, please share it with her!
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From the Executive Director
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 | | Stacey Shipman |
Are you Asking for What you Want? At the November breakfast featured speaker and SSWBN co-founder Vicki Donlan shared her experiences as a female entrepreneur. She inspired and motivated many attendees (I know this because they told me!). Some of the lessons Vicki shared included creating a business plan, sustaining a support network (i.e., SSWBN!), showing up and keeping an eye out for opportunity. One lesson that I walked away with was, Ask for what you want. For example, when Vicki decided to start her newspaper she needed a loan. She asked for a $100,000 loan and got it. For years, she wanted to set her son up with a girlfriend. An opportunity presented itself when she went into the hospital for surgery. Liking her nurse she asked her if she was single. She introduced her to her son, and they eventually married. Earlier this year they gave birth to their first child. Vicki asked for what she wanted ... and she got it. Later on the day of the breakfast, I received an email from Nancy Boyle (also a co-founder of SSWBN) the three-minute presenter that morning. She sent me the following note: Thanks for the intro and the great reinforcement on the benefits of practicing yoga. It helped. Three minutes just gets me started. I look forward to an opportunity to share more with the group. If you hear of any speaking opportunities I would be grateful for a heads up. Not surprisingly, I already received a number of leads for places where I might be able to teach. The network works. I look forward to seeing you at future meetings. At the end of Nancy's speech she issued a clear call to action. She asked for connections to local yoga studios and wellness centers where she might be able to teach yoga classes and workshops. She asked for what she wanted and she got it. Are you asking for what you want? Strong relationships are a must to feel confident in asking for what you want. The Network offers an opportunity to develop those relationships. It is up to you to nurture them (i.e., stay in touch, offer help). Once you've nurtured the relationship, ask for what you want. You might hear "no" ... after all, we can't always get what we want. I sense that in this Network "no" might sound more like, "I can't help you, but I know someone who can." You never know until you ask. Stacey Stacey Shipman Executive Director 617-548-5877 sshipman@sswbn.org P.S. Looking for an opportunity to ask for what you want? Contact me to learn more about how SSWBN can become part of your marketing and promotional plan in 2014. We have a variety of sponsorship and partnership opportunities starting at $50. Don't miss out on an opportunity to share your skills and to ask for what you want! |
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Message from the President
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 | | Stacy Doherty |
Hello friends!
Recently I have been working with a woman whom I met through the Network, and it seems that every time we see one another she brings up ghosts of my past: from my first crush, to a girl with whom I used to go to Youth Group. This woman is meeting these people in the most random places, and it is only when she says she is part of the Network that these individuals make the connection and ask if she knows me. The last time she told me of yet another near degree of separation, she told me how impressed she was at how well known I am.
Now to me hearing this, of course it made me blush and think, "No, not that many people know me." However, lately I have been experiencing this weird phenomenon where I introduce myself and the person on the other end of my handshake, says "Oh, wow! It is great to meet you. I have been following you on Twitter/Facebook/Linkedin and I love what you do!"
This is a very surreal combination of embarrassing and incredibly gratifying for an entrepreneur who literally built a brand from an idea. It further leads to the question of, "Well, how did you stumble upon me?" More often than not, it's through a mutual connection.
Being connected is not necessarily about knowing a lot of people though. I was a bartender for more than 13 years, and believe me when I tell you, I know a lot of people. Being connected is more than just having a shoe box full of business cards, or walking into a room and having everyone know your name and what you do for your work. It's about how well those people in that shoe box full of business cards know the real, authentic you. Could you call them and chat about more than just the weather? Do they know that you have a soft spot for animal rescue, and that you're allergic to peppermint?
You see, being connected is just that: it is having an actual CONNECTION with someone. Maybe over a cup of Marylou's delicious coffee, you discover that your aunts both play BINGO together, or while picking up some supplies at Yarn's End you learn that you're both knitting a blanket for the same baby, or perhaps it's as simple as waiting in Holly Tree Dental's lounge that you find you and another member share the same hygienist. Regardless of how you come about unfolding these similarities, the end result is the same: you make a connection.
The Network is here to facilitate and offer a place for these connections to be made. We have our monthly events (lunch, breakfast, Coffee with the President, etc.); but we strongly encourage taking those budding relationships outside of networking events and get to know our members on a deeper, more personal level. People do business with other people, specifically people they know, like, and trust. (This should not be the first time you are hearing this.) What better way to get to know someone than by asking THEM questions. What do THEY enjoy, what do THEY value, who do THEY know and do business with? Their answers might surprise you, and will almost always lead to a stronger connection and maybe even a new friend!
"The universal truth of connecting; It's not who you know, it's who knows you."- Jeffery Gitomer
Stacy
Stacy Doherty
703-304-4067
Errands Etcetera
www.ErrandsEtcetera.biz
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Law You Can Use
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 | | George Boerger, |
Why Protecting Your Assets with a Will is a Smart Resolution for 2014
With Thanksgiving behind us and the end-of-the-year holidays fast approaching, we are fortunate to be able to spend more time than usual with our family. You might want to look at it as a good opportunity to begin a particularly honest conversation. No one likes to think about what would happen in the event of their untimely death; therefore many people delay their estate planning unnecessarily.
I stress to my estate-planning clients -- and ensure that they understand it -- that they draft an estate plan not only for themselves, but more importantly for the family members they leave behind.
For those who die without a will, which we term intestate, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will control what happens to their probate property. A probate asset is any asset that does not pass by operation of law. What does that mean? The easiest way to explain this concept is to provide a couple of examples:
If you own your home with your spouse and it is titled in both your names as "tenants in common," when one of you dies the ownership of the house transfers automatically to the other spouse. There is no need to do anything else to transfer the ownership of the house because the title to the house passes by operation of law. (It is extremely important to understand how real property is titled to know what will happen when you die.)
Another example is a joint savings account with the right of survivorship that you have with someone else. When one person dies, the survivor automatically becomes the owner of the savings account.
But here's the problem for someone who does not have a will: if an asset does not pass by operation of law, then it must be probated so that the new person gets the legal ownership of the property. If you do not have a will that you executed, the Commonwealth decides who gets your property. This may or may not be what you would have wanted - but if you failed to execute a will this is what will happen.
Another significant benefit that a will provides for people with children under 18 is to clearly define who will serve as the legal guardian of your minor children when you are no longer alive. If you do not have a will, then the Probate Court will decide who should be the guardian of your children.
As a bottom line, one of the most important things you can do for those you care about is to meet with an experienced estate planning attorney and discuss your situation and the best way to take care of those you love so much.
I have been practicing law for more than 25 years and estate planning is one of my major areas of concentration.
If you would like to set up an appointment for an initial meeting to discuss your estate planning, please call me at 781-585-2900 or e-mail me at George@BoergerLaw.com.
In addition to the no-cost initial consultation, I will also provide a complimentary review of their existing will for the first 10 people who respond to this e-mail, to determine if their wills need updating.
I hope you have a happy end to 2013 and a healthy and prosperous 2014.
George
George H. Boerger
161 Summer Street, Suite 4
Kingston, MA 02364
George@BoergerLaw.com
www.BoergerLaw.com
781-585-2900
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SSWBN Connections
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 | | Lynn Feingold |
Hello everyone!
Now that the season of holidays is upon us, many of us will automatically rush to the retail stores because, well, that's what we do at this time of year. We need presents, stocking stuffers, hostess gifts and little office gifties. It's far too easy in the hectic environment of the retail world to lose track of how much you are spending, or why you are spending. I encourage you to Think First, Shop Local, and Review the SSWBN Member Discounts List s on the SSWBN website to see if you can make a connection to someone in our Network who might offer exactly what you are looking for - a small gift, a special gift, a meaningful gift.
Kristen Ford-Hernandez of Premiere Pros sends out a big thank you to Lee Dixon of Lee's Fabric Creations. "Lee was not only one of the first customers to purchase something from my son's new business, but her generous offer to allow us to use her banner stand went above and beyond and we so appreciated it," said Kristen. "Her kindness and generosity reminded me the value in networking: Because I have been so consumed with my son's new business, I haven't put as much focus on the networking as I should. Thank you, Lee, for standing as such a shining example of what SSWBN is about, and for giving me a much-needed reminder!"
Kristen also wants to send a HUGE thank-you to Patty Funder of LaserLight for Men and Women. "Having recently received a skin resurfacing treatment, I was amazed at the results. I can honestly say my skin has NEVER looked better, and it feels much smoother after only one treatment. The icing on the cake came when having lunch with a colleague, he asked, "have you done something? You look five years younger." Thanks Patty for making it easier to get older!!
Gwen Morgan, author of the What if ... Workbook, thanks Pauline Alighieri of the Friends of Mel Foundation for making the What if ... Workbook available for sale at the Friends of Mel Art of Healing: Life After Cancer Conference in early November. Gwen also had a lot of fun helping out with several other SSWBN volunteers that day! She also thanks Attorney George Boerger for his newsletter this summer, which included his blog about "being prepared," (Boerger Law Blog June 2013) and which introduced the What if ... Workbook and all that it stands for. Gwen said, "The article was full of very helpful information, and I was thrilled that George mentioned the Workbook. I am grateful to George for his quantity purchase of What if ... Workbooks for his clients. I appreciate his support."
I want to thank Ron Morganelli and Courtney Newcomb of CareWell Adult Day Wellness Center for hiring me to sing for their clients this coming January. They approached me at a SSWBN breakfast, shortly after I delivered my Three Minute presentation. I'm looking forward to it!
"There just is no end to Dr. Lisa Lewis of Cohasset Family Chiropractic!" said Patty Funder of LaserLight for Men and Women. "She not only provided me with a speaking opportunity at her business, she also provided me with a most expert computer services professional who is helping me to protect and decrypt my files following a nasty ransomware virus. According to other computer guys who looked at it, I was facing the arduous task of recreating hundreds of documents, and losing hundreds of others altogether," Patty said.
Stacy Doherty of Errands Etcetera thanks Stephanie Neil of Coastal Social Media Group for the introduction to Eric Braun of 30 Hands. "He's been a great resource," said Stacy. She also thanks Paula Rowe of Granite Print, who Stacy said "has been working hard at getting some business cards printed for both myself and a VIP client! We both appreciate her exceptional efforts!" As President of the Network, Stacy acknowledges Megan Stewart of Acupuncture & Homeopathy for hosting November's Coffee with the President, " ... in her warm and comforting office!"
I hope that your Holiday Season is stress-free, joyful and full of personal meaning for you, your family, and your friends. Arrange your schedule to give yourself the gift of time. Share of your self with those whom you love, and see how rich it makes you feel!
Lynn
Lynn Feingold
Songs of the Colonial Days
colonialsongs@aol.com |
| Above and Beyond |
 | | Kim DeGust, Real Estate Professional |
Hello, All!
As we count down the shopping days 'til Christmas, remember to shop local businesses. When you shop locally more of your money stays in your community and that means more local jobs. So support local businesses especially fellow SSWBN members. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
Gwen Morgan, author of the What if ... Workbook, was 'over the top' excited when the May 24, 2013 issue of The New York Times published an article entitled, "The Talk You Didn't Have With Your Parents Could Cost You", and the What if ... Workbook was cited as a valuable resource. Sales soared off the charts for the next few months due to this one article! Goes to show how far-reaching such a popular publication can be. Orders came in from all over the world: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, Switzerland, and of course from all over the good ol' US of A. Kudos to Gwen for having created The What if ... E-book, enabling her to send out an electronic file of the Workbook as opposed to the costly option of shipping it. What an accomplishment, Gwen!
Congratulations to Brilene Faherty of The Bullfinch Group for her appointment to the Board of Directors for Vital Impact (formerly the SSWBN Educational Foundation). Vital Impact, founded in 1998, is one of the only organizations focused on providing support to women over 35 who are transitioning careers and have enrolled in an educational program to achieve this goal. Brilene plans to channel her passion for empowering women by helping with all aspects of Vital Impact's quest to raise funds for scholarships for women throughout Massachusetts.
Kathleen Keegan of Real Estate Rocks is pleased to welcome Michelle Cox to the company. Michelle brings to the real estate firm several years of diverse experience. Her background and corporate training will provide clients valuable insight in searching for that special property. Michelle lives in Hingham with her partner, Kerrie, and several furry friends. Her territory includes Hingham and the surrounding towns.
And as always I love to hear about your announcements, successes and awards -- both personal and professional. Please direct all submissions to my new e-mail: kdegust@molisserealty.net
Kim
Kim DeGust
Coughlin & Company Real Estate
(781) 335-2357
(781) 363-0485 cell
kim@coughlinhomes.com
www.degustrealestate.com
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| Networking Nova |
Each month the SSWBN Membership Team recognizes a member who exemplifies the qualities of a Networking Nova, a person 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 utilizes the Network to build his/her business and helps others do the same.
Jack Burke, Eastern Bank
I have been attending SSWBN events since joining Eastern Bank in March 2012.
By attending most events and activities, the Network has not only provided me with an opportunity to build business connections, it has given me the opportunity to develop friendships with a number of members. I have been serving on the SSWBN Finance Committee, and was recently elected to the Board of Directors.
What I value about the Network is that it provides opportunities within a number of different areas. It is a network that truly lives up to its mission of Contacts, Coaching and Collaboration. So whether you are looking for a forum to network, develop skills or education, SSWBN provides something for everyone.
My advice? Be active, attend functions/events and leverage the resources the Network provides.
Jack Burke
Eastern Bank
www.easternbank.com
(781) 348-4941
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OUR PARTNERS
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GOLD PARTNER
SILVER PARTNERS
BRONZE PARTNERS |
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serves as your Managing Editor of the SSWBN Compass.
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E-newsletter designed by
Kristen Ford-Hernandez,
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Letter from the Editor
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 What do you do when Holiday Season arrives and you have nothing to give? The economy and the fallout from obstructionist policies in Washington have left many people either bereft of their usual income, or afraid that they could lose their jobs unexpectedly. You really do have little or nothing to give ... if you think that giving is predicated on money.
I always wanted to be rich enough to give to charity. It seemed the pinnacle of success: to make so much money that I could give it away.
My adult dreams for success got derailed several times, including during the years of a costly divorce when my children were young and needed what little income I had every month. Then a distant family member got leukemia, and to get through what we knew would be his last Christmas, he needed a blood transfusion.
I called the American Red Cross, and learned that the Braintree Blood Donation Center would take my blood to give to my sister's father-in-law! They told me that at this time of year especially, the blood supply gets low and they desperately need donations. They told me that unlike traditional charitable gifts like blankets and toys, food or clothing, the only known source of life-giving blood turns out to be another human being.
I got qualified to donate "double red cells," which means that they could separate my red cells and end up with two servings of them for needy patients. I am pretty proud that I had that abundance of something to give.
A few months later, they asked me to consider donating platelets. For me no answer other than "yes" occurred -- even though I knew that platelets donations require about two and a half hours of time, and you can get uncomfortably cold from the process. I continue to donate platelets as often as I can, and every New Year's Day I resolve to donate every month.
Could you spare a few hours of one of your days in the coming weeks to donate blood?
One of my favorite wall hangings at the Red Cross center was (yes, past tense) a poster of a beautiful little girl, half smiling out of the photograph, with the words beside her: "Was it you who saved my life?"
Was it you who saved my life?
I eventually scrounged that poster from the facility, and it now hangs in my consultation room at LaserLight.
Will you join me this Holiday Season, and spend an invaluable hour or three giving something that only you can give? You relax in a comfortable reclining chair and they serve you snacks. The phlebotomists who work there have gotten expert at inserting the needle in a way that does not hurt. They even wrap you in warm blankets. I use the time to either think and make business plans, or to just de-stress from all the running around I do at Holiday time.
You can use it for a mini-vacation from your own life, thinking about how wonderfully your donation will impact the life of someone completely dependent on such gifts. Whatever you do with that quiet time, it's all good.
Happy, Healthy and Blessed Holidays,
Patty
Patricia Funder, MS, CLT
LaserLight for Men and Women
www.laserlightskin.com
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