Connectivity
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Each year end I look forward to setting a time to reflect on the previous 12 months. Along with reflection I also use this period to do some forecasting and set goals personally and professionally. If you can snag a bit of time by yourself during the holiday season for this practice I guarantee you will reap some powerful insights. If you are not good at writing things down or journaling, try a dream board to identify some goals you are seeking. A dream board is a great visual reminder to drive your actions throughout the year. Check WikiHow if you are not familiar with dream boards.
To help you on the year end reflections I have included some questions from a coaching professional below to get you started. Cheryl Richardson is a life coach who has helped bring coaching into the mainstream. Her guidance and best selling books resonate with wisdom, courage and gut-wrenching truths we must all embrace to truly become the people we want to be. Below are some questions from her Life Makeover book and community to help you as you reflect on the past year.
Reflect on the year by answering the following questions:
- What hidden part of you have you awakened this year?
- What positive changes have you made to your home or office?
- Are you getting your creative needs met? How?
- What changes have you made to better honor your integrity?
- Have you added any small pleasures to your life? If so, what are they?
- Have you forgiven yourself for something you did that’s been bugging you?
- How have you taken better care of your body, your mind, or your heart?
- How have you been a better partner, spouse, friend, or co-worker?
- What have you done to help others improve the quality of their lives?
- Are you letting things be easy?
Jump start 2009… Each year at this time I put pen to paper and identify new business goals. How can you embrace the many opportunities the new year brings? Ask yourself…what would the business robot do?
Three things in life… During this season of giving and receiving what three things come to mind that are most valuable to you? Here is a list to consider…
Happy Holidays… For those of you who still need to send holiday greetings we have new holidays e-cards uploaded! Choose a design and send it to everyone on your list. Download the December desktop background here.
“Dear George:
Remember, no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings”
– Love Clarence
During this season of giving it is easy to get caught up in materialism. New home decor, sparkling jewelry and gadgets galore fill the gift lists of all ages. Thanksgiving allows a time to reflect on the blessings we have and express our gratitude. Our families, our health, our jobs come to mind and we are grateful. Most of us have our basic needs met and I think some of us take them for granted. We know there are people in other countries who do not have the luxury of the basic necessities of life and people in our own country who do without some of the “extras”, the proms dresses, ipods, and fancy cars. So we give to the third world nations and maybe pick an ornament off of the local Angel Tree and feel good about giving back. There are a lot of good causes we can all support with money, resources, talents. If you are looking for one close to home, in the U.S., for people who are without the basic necessities we may take for granted, consider the families of Hale County, Alabama. View the link below to get more specifics. It is amazing to me how so many here in the United States, the richest country in the world, live without water. Buy a meter yourself or get a group together.
Did I Proofread? Your corporate brochure looks awesome! But how does it read? As a design firm we specialize in making your marketing items look good. We don’t just stop at how they look though. To maintain your professional image it is critical for your text to be clean and accurate too… Read more
We had to show you proof of our tip! The errors in the e-newsletter text that was sent out is an example of a last minute change that was not proofed by another set of eyes. It is often those multiple sets of changes that get us in trouble. Spell check each proof multiple times, then the last round comes in and you skip a step thinking because you just changed one word…. always, another set of eyes!  |
WISE… Women in Successful Enterprises. Do you know any wise women? Are you wise? Do you want to help us define our look? Join us December 15, 2008 at the Douglas J Aveda Institute for some holiday pampering and the introduction of W.I.S.E. Read more
Give Thanks!What are you waiting for? Send someone your thankful for a thanksgiving ecard! The holidays are fast approaching!
“Its been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.”
– President-Elect Barack Obama
Don’t Forget! If you haven’t filled out your quarterly desktop calendar response card yet don’t risk being removed from the list. Thanks to all of you who have responded we really appreciate your input! If you have lost the card in your “I will get to it later” pile please take a moment to answer 10 quick questions in the online form we have created just for you. We keep our mailing list lean and mean. We need to hear back from you to include you in our 2009 calendar mailings. Thanks for your time and feedback!
Love our desktop calendars?… so did MSPRA. Scroll below to see the poster version of the desktop calendars we create. Click on the image to view more details. Calendars can be displayed as posters for those who don’t want to mail multiple times throughout the year. Or the poster is trimmed to a three month desktop folded calendar that is mailed every quarter. We can mail them for you to your mailing list or you can address them and mail yourself. This copyrighted design is an original concept by Connection Group, Inc. Sign up to receive ours if you haven’t yet or contact us for a custom design of your own. Keep in touch with your clients and prospects daily! Call us today for your holiday promotions. Connection Group has unique and creative solutions to help you successfully connect to your audience – professionally and economically.
BOO!… Scare someone this halloween or just let them know you’re thinking of them. Send them an original Halloween ecard! Another scary subject is the amount of people who don’t vote. Remember to get out and vote November 4 and send a voting reminder ecard to someone today! Your vote DOES count!
” Where there is no imagination there is no horror ” ~ Arthur Conan Doyle, Sr.
Have a safe and happy halloween!
“Our dreams carry with them the energy for their achievement; our fears carry with them the energy of our defeat.”
How many client proposals do you have out there right now? Sometimes it seems eons pass before a response comes in. There is a fine line between pestiness and persistence when following up with bids. Here are five tried-and-true techniques…
8 More Weeks of Campaigning….Can we have some non-partisan fun here? Thanks Diane for sharing this clip. With all the mud slinging we have contended with this year humor is refreshing… unless you consider the point of the $ spent on these campaigns. www.peteyandpetunia.com/VoteHere/VoteHere.htm
Stay connected…For those on our print calendar mailing list the final quarter is in the mail. Please complete and return the response card with your name – this will help keep you on the mailing list next year. Your feedback helps us serve you better! Download the current desktop background here.
“The greatest good we can do for others is not just to share our riches with them, but to reveal theirs.” – Zig Ziglar
Matthew Kelly posed this question in his book The Dream Manager. It is intriguing to me. As someone who sets goals and even has a dream board on display, I realized I haven’t posed the question to some of my loved ones recently. I automatically wanted to believe I would know what all of them would say. Fact is there were some surprises. Dreams change so often and range in size and scope from talking baby dolls to world peace. What dreams do your family and friends hold? Go ahead, ask them you may be surprised and inspired by what you learn. Remember sharing your dreams and knowing the dreams others are seeking will help us all achieve them even sooner. “All men dream, but not all equally. Those who dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake to find it was all vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous, for they may act their dreams with open eyes and make things happen.” – T.E. Lawrence
How do you stay connected to your cleints and prospects when gas prices are soaring? Have some fun with direct mail promos! Before they hit the mailbox read how to increase responses…
AWEsome News…Connie has recently been selected to serve another year as Marketing Coordinator for the Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs of West Michigan (AWE). Read more about AWE…
Somebody needs to hear from you! What are you waiting for? Visit our e-card section – or stand out in your member forums with a unique avatar… Remember when you stand up, you stand out!
“Well behaved women never make history.”
– Maria Shriver
by Elaine Eldridge – www.yourwordswork.com
2008-2009 AWE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Front row from left: President Kim Schamberger of Finishing Touches by Kin, Vice President Beverly Mapes of Top of the List, Marketing Chair Connie Sweet, Connection Group, Programs Chair Floriza Genautis, Management Business Solutions, Treasurer Kathy Heintzelman, Heintzelman Accounting Services, Inc. Back row from left: Membership Chair Suzanne Knight, 1-2-1 Personal Computer Training and Secretary Deanna Fridley, Crosby and Henry Insurance
The businesses represented in this organization range from sole proprietorships with fewer than five employees to corporations with over 100 employees; from service providers to manufacturing and construction companies; and from revenues under $50,000 to sales exceeding $5 million.
AWE’s new Board of Directors has already implemented several changes in response to survey comments. Almost half the members asked for an alternative to the traditional dinner meetings, so this year will feature both dinners and AWEsome Hour Networking. Meetings are always the third Monday of the month from 5:30–7:30 p.m., but locations will vary so members can try new places while networking. The line-up includes Naya Bistro and Wine Bar, Louis Benton Steak House, and the JW Marriott. First up is Naya on Monday, August 18. After August is Thousand Oaks Golf Club (September 15) and Malarky’s on the East Beltline (October 20). The popular Women in Networking (WIN) lunch program will continue in 2008–09 with a new location. AWE members and guests will meet every fourth Monday from 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan (located at 20 Hall Street SE on the corner of Hall and Division). Each WIN meeting offers a speaker and time to network as well as eat. This month’s WIN lunch on August 25 features Chris Frederick Willis, owner and CEO of awardwinning Media 1. Willis will speak on how entrepreneurs can tap into their creative side and apply their creativity in their businesses. September 22 will be led by Renwick Brutus, owner of Achievement Resources, an executive management company. Renwick will present a motivational program to inspire business owners to triumph over adversity. In addition to the regular monthly meetings, two major annual events showcase AWE’s commitment to women entrepreneurs in West Michigan. Pathways to Success, AWE’s annual January conference, offers speakers and workshops on marketing, public relations, tax law, and business growth and leadership.
The January 2009 Pathways to Success conference will celebrate AWE’s 25th anniversary with a focus on change. New this year will be special attention to the needs of second-stage business owners as they guide their business past the start-up phase. Breakout sessions will include the effects of today’s technology on business, the benefits of becoming a certified Michigan Woman-owned Business Enterprise, and goal-directed networking. “We don’t think learning and business should be boring,” says Floriza Genautis, AWE Program Coordinator and owner of Management Business Solutions. “AWE members are serious about growing their businesses, but we like to have fun, too. ”The second annual event, AWE’s November membership drive, also puts this philosophy to work. Members are encouraged to bring guests to enjoy dinner and a program highlighting members’ achievements and how AWE promotes the success of local businesswomen. Interested, but don’t know an AWE member? “No problem,” says Connie Sweet, owner of Connection Group and AWE’s Marketing Coordinator. “The membership dinner is a great way to meet lots of established and prospective members. Come alone or, if you’d like to attend with someone, give us a call (616-719- 5382) and we’ll match you with an interested member.”
Partnerships with local organizations extend AWE’s ability to promote member businesses. A major benefit of AWE membership includes a $100 discount on standard dues from the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce.
AWE’s membership in the Regional Alliance for Diversity in Public Purchasing expands the network of women and minority-owned businesses that provide goods and services for public institutions. AWE members can also participate in the Michigan Women’s Marketplace, which provides business opportunities through an online directory that lists woman-owned businesses in all industries throughout the state.
AWE membership is open all to business owners and professionals who support AWE’s goals and promote and support women business owners and professionals in Grand Rapids. AWE President Kim Schwamberger, owner of Finishing Touches by Kim, encourages curious visitors. “Come see what AWE is like. People are welcome to attend events before they join, and members can always bring guests.”
Registration and prepayment are required for most events. Check out AWE at www.awe-westmichigan.orgPhoto by: Kelly Loucks Wilson; KriZma Photography
West Michigan Business Women – Powered by MiBiz www.mibiz.com
