Salmon Fishing In The Yemen, And Other Crazy Ideas, Spawn New Biz
As my husband and I perused the on-demand movie offerings last weekend, one of the titles caught my attention – Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. The movie, starring two Golden Globe nominated actors (Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor), looked worthy of watching; even if salmon fishing did not particularly excite me. I clicked purchase and found myself immersed in a story about a crazy Sheikh with a vision to bring his passion for fly fishing, which he likened to a spiritual experience, to the Yemen. The movie, a lesson in vision, faith and perseverance – with a little PR and marketing thrown in – is an education in entrepreneurship.
Here’s why:
Vision inspires you, and others, to act. It makes the impossible, possible. If we can put a man on the moon, surely we can find a way to bring salmon to the Middle East. Inspired by the Sheik's vision, solutions to obstacles were found by looking at unlikely answers. When the British government said no to raiding their lakes and streams to supply the Salmon, inspiration was discovered in the freezer by the PR rep hired to sell “a good news story from the Middle East". Salmon dinner never looked so good, and became the obvious answer to finding 10,000 ready-to-buy farm raised fish (live, of course).
Entrepreneurs need faith. It takes a lot of faith, and a little craziness, to see what others can’t. When asked if farm-raised salmon would swim upstream to spawn, fisheries expert Alfred Jones (Ewan McGregor), who claims to be a “numbers man” with no religion or faith, believes they will. Why? He knows it in his gut. Having faith in your crazy idea is key to spawning new business.
Persevere, even if it means starting over. At one point in the movie (I don’t want to ruin it in case you haven’t seen it yet), the key players are faced with a failure so great that they have to start over. For many entrepreneurs, failure is a “throw in the towel” moment. Do you throw in the towel and give up, or re-commit to your vision and do things differently to get a different result? When you’re able to persevere, you’ll look at your biz with a fresh perspective and be ready to start again. Of course you’re human, so give yourself a one-day pity party. Then start over.
Whether your vision is to bring salmon fishing to the Middle East, invent an electric light bulb or become a catalyst for change, embrace your crazy idea and have the faith to make it a reality.
Lynn Bardowski is an award-winning entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker, mentor and radio show host. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, read her book, listen to her radio show, follow her blog and "LIKE" her Facebook page. You may republish this article in full, as long as you list this paragraph and provide a link.
From Legally Blond to Million Dollar Party Girl, 5 Tips To Playing A Starring Role In Your Biz
Have you ever wondered who would play you in your life movie? I’ve always pictured Reese Witherspoon playing me, starring in the Million Dollar Party Girl Movie. From Elle Woods to June Carter, Reese is an Oscar winner who’s played fun, strong, smart women, AND she knows how to look classy on the red carpet. She’s my kind of girl! While we all wait for our life movie to be made, here’s five tips to playing a starring role in your biz.
Show Up On Set. Have you always been eager to show up, on time and ready to work, for your employers? When was the last time you showed up for your business? Most entrepreneurs I know have no problem building someone else’s dream, but hold back when it comes to their own. I frequently hear, “If I can’t make this business work, I’ll have to get a full time job.” Before you dedicate 40+ hours a week to someone else’s dream, do it for yourself, consistently, for a full year. I have a feeling you won’t be needing that day job.
Hire a Winning Team. Every star has a winning support team so they can focus on what they do best – Stardom! From stylists, to PR, to agents, an Oscar winner can’t get there alone. Neither can you. Your time is valuable; if you’re spending it on “task” activities, you’re losing money and customers. Focus your efforts on business building activities that will elevate you to “super stardom” and dump or delegate the rest.
Get an Entourage. Who you roll with is a key ingredient to your success. Your entourage is the people who influence you on a daily basis, and who create a perception about you and your business. Reach out to like-minded entrepreneurs and customers who play big and are dream builders like you. Social media and local networking groups are great places to start.
Be Ready for Your Close Up. Whether you’re presenting yourself in person or via your social media profiles, be ready for your “close up.” Smile, show up as your brand, and give an Oscar-winning performance. As the saying goes, you have only seconds to make a first impression. I never post, link or tweet about politics, religion or even illness. Did you know I fractured my knee last year? No. The world has enough pain, they don’t need to hear about mine. Choose to inspire, before you expire.
Practice Your Oscar Speech. “I’d like to thank the Academy, my fellow actors, and especially my husband….” Don’t wait for your Oscar moment to thank the people in your business who helped get you there. That includes your customers, family, sales team, networking friends, and even the person who cleans your house. A thank you can be a kind word, handwritten note, FB shout-out or small gift. It goes a long way in life. Timely Manner Consulting, who publishes my blog, recently sent me a thank you note that included a pack of post-it notes with a fun saying on them. Make people feel special, and your performance will always be memorable.
Lynn Bardowski is an award-winning entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker, mentor and radio show host. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, read her book, listen to her radio show, follow her blog and "LIKE" her Facebook page. You may republish this article in full, as long as you list this paragraph and provide a link.
VISION VS. GOAL: WHY DON’T WOMEN GET IT?
As Women’s History Month comes to a close, I've enjoyed seeing women leaders become the hot topic in the media. It was a refreshing break from the typical media coverage women get which goes from which star gained, or lost, weight to who's in rehab. We could really use a whole year of this. Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, got the discussion going with her new book, Lean In. From Oprah to GMA to Mommy Bloggers, we’re all talking about the role of women in business and as Sandberg calls it, the gender imbalance. We've come a long way, baby, but we still have a long way to go. As I was researching my book, Success Secrets of a Million Dollar Party Girl, I discovered one of the answers to the imbalance in a study titled, Women and the Vision Thing. According to the Harvard Business Review women make great strategic thinkers, but we lack the skill of envisioning.
I didn’t need a Harvard study to tell me most women are not visionary thinkers. I know this because I’ve coached women entrepreneurs for 23 years and interview them weekly on my radio show. When I ask the question, “What is your vision?” women tend to stumble. The answer is typically a goal. Is there really an imbalance in the workplace or is it that women just don’t get the difference between a vision and a goal?
Three Reasons Why Women Don’t Get It:
1. Many Visionary Women Were Left Out Of Our History Books. When I think of vision, great leaders like Carnegie, Rockefeller, Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. come to mind. I would have loved to learn the story of Coco Chanel, a visionary entrepreneur in the late 1800’s, when I was in school but she was never in my history books. Try Googling visionary leaders; only a few women are listed. When we change the history books and provide more examples of visionary women business leaders, we’ll start to change the imbalance.
2. Women Suffer From Vision Guilt. Women’s role in society has always been as the nurturer. We’re supposed to take care of everyone else. Creating a bigger vision in business means taking time away from our family, which makes us feel selfish and guilty. The irony is that when we create a bigger vision, we solve bigger problems and serve more people. Sounds like something a nurturer wouldn't feel too guilty about.
3. Women Are Taught Not To Toot Our Own Horn. Strong women who speak up are often seen as being that B word. We can be our own worst enemy, judging other aggressive women even more harshly. Sandberg says, "We’ve got to get women to sit at the table.” Sitting at the table is only effective if we open our mouths. It starts with teaching our daughters to speak up and not be so “ladylike.” Instead, teach your daughters to be more “leader-like.” Women fear being perceived as “pushy” and, as a result, hold back on sharing their gifts. Keeping quiet about our strengths, expertise and talents reinforces the glass ceiling. Start “Biz Bragging” about yourself and own it.
Join the discussion. Who are the women visionaries that influenced you?
Lynn Bardowski is an award-winning entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker, mentor and radio show host. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, read her book, listen to her radio show, follow her blog and "LIKE" her Facebook page. You may republish this article in full, as long as you list this paragraph and provide a link.
HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY BUSINESS
Having a plan for a healthy body can be summed up in two words: diet and exercise. A plan for a healthy business can be more challenging to define. Let’s face it, it’s not a term we hear or think about often. The signs of an unhealthy business may begin slowly, then compound into frustration and overwhelm when left untreated. Many solo-preneurs are so caught up in the day-to-day of running a business that they never step back to consider their business might be sick, or worse, chronically ill. Should we take our biz in for an annual physical? Or, should we be creating daily health habits for success, like eating vegetables and exercising more? The simple answer is: both. Here are a few action steps for preventive care to create a lean, mean, revenue-generating machine.
Focus on the vision, not the goal. Lack of vision has toppled many businesses and organizations. The message we hear is that goal setting and action plans are the key to success. The "G" word is overrated. Most of my clients don't know where to begin when it comes to creating a vision statement, or the fundamental difference between a vision and a goal. Simply put, vision inspires action, goals are the baby steps that take you there. Symptoms of a lack of vision include goal setting'itis, lack of direction and working your butt off with little to no growth.
Come up for air. If you’ve ever flown on an airplane you’ve heard the flight attendant instruct you to put your oxygen mask on first in the event of an emergency. As women, we tend to forget this basic health rule. If you’re so overwhelmed that you can’t think, you can’t help anyone else, let alone your business. Avoid a biz meltdown by taking a time-out to breathe new life into your daily plan. Whether you have 10 minutes or 30 minutes, walk away from your desk, clear your mind and take a few deep breaths. If you have the time, go for a walk. Let your thoughts wander and tune in to inspired action. You’ll feel refreshed, refocused and ready to conquer the day.
Get a quarterly checkup. We all know insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result. Can you really afford to wait a year for an annual checkup when you could have refocused your business, and your results, months earlier? Your “doctor” can include a mentor, coach or mastermind group. Evaluate what’s working, and more importantly, what’s not. Having someone else look at your business will give you new insights that you might have missed.
Ask yourself these questions every day to keep your business, and your life, in optimal shape:
Why am I here?
What is my vision?
What is my intention?
What is the most important business building activity I can do today?
Who can help?
7 Quotes for a Healthy Body and Healthy Business:
“You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” ~ Wayne Gretzky
“Just Do It.” ~ Nike
“When quitting is no longer an option, you’re halfway there.” ~ Unknown
“The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!” ~ Marvin Phillips
“When your legs are tired, run with your heart.” ~ Unknown
“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” ~ Jim Rohn
“The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work.” ~ Vince Lombardi
Lynn Bardowski is an award-winning entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker, mentor and radio show host. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, read her book, listen to her radio show, follow her blog and "LIKE" her Facebook page. You may republish this article in full, as long as you list this paragraph and provide a link.
Are You Hiding Your True Passion?
Hearing two different women business owners share the same story this week reminded me that I've heard their story before. As we discussed who they were communicating their million dollar vision to, they both started the conversation with an apology (not a good sign), and shared that the people closest to them had no idea they had started a business. Or, had a website. Or, that they were so passionate about their business they were losing sleep over it. In a good way. The conversation went something like, “I’m sorry to say that my (fill in the blank with the name of those closest to you) doesn't know I’m doing this.” I've heard this story many times over my last 23 years as a business coach and mentor. Why are are so many women hiding their true passion, afraid to open the door and share their dreams with those closest to them? The common answer is FEAR - fear of failure, fear of success, fear of putting ourselves out there to be judged by the people we know and love the most. Our inner circle knows the “real” us, right? I don’t think they do. It’s the reason I titled the first chapter of my book, “You’re Not Who Everyone Thinks You Are.”
Here are 5 Things You Can Do To Stop Hiding Your True Passion:
1. Stop worrying about what your friends, family, co-workers, cousins or the neighbor next door thinks about you. While it might be easier said than done, realize that their judgement is based on a lack of belief in themselves, not you. They are not capable of supporting you to come out of hiding because they’ve locked themselves into their own limiting beliefs. It’s their "shift", not yours.
2. Go Full Monty. Letting the real you shine through is a lot like being naked. Suddenly, there’s no place to hide and you’re out in public during bright daylight. You feel exposed and vunerable, wishing you had a pair of invisible Spanx to put on. Have you ever been on a Caribbean vacation with a “clothing optional” beach? You'd think everyone would be staring, but when everyone is naked, no one seems to really care.
3. Free Your Dreams And You’ll Free Your Fears. Letting the real you out is scary and exhilarating all at the same time, kind of like a roller coaster. Let’s face it, it can be a wild ride. After you’ve faced the “Demon Roller” you’ll be ready to conquer the world! When everyone knows you’ve acted on your passion and purpose, there’s nothing left to stop you.
4. Take Responsibility For Keeping Your Passion A Secret. Hiding is such a convenient excuse as to why we’re not getting to where we want to be. We could totally be a success “if only” we could get out. That excuse plays well until you show up at an event and discover that your cousin just started her own business and is soliciting everyone to get the word out. Ouch. It’s not her fault she's getting all the biz, she had no idea what you were up to.
5. Be Proud, Out Loud. If you’re not shouting your vision off the highest roof top, why would anyone believe in you, your business or your product? It takes courage, belief, persistence and determination to act on your passion and purpose. Proudly celebrate your achievement and set out to be the best in your field. As Steve Martin said, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” And don't keep it a secret.
Lynn Bardowski is a 23-year entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker, mentor and radio show host. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, read her book, listen to her radio show, follow her blog and "LIKE" her Facebook page. You may republish this article in full, as long as you list this paragraph and provide a link.
photo credit: flatworldsedge via photopin cc
The Road To SuperBowl XLVII – 5 Lessons About Winning
According to the New York Times, both the Ravens and the 49ers won on the strength of their defense.
de•fense
/diˈfens/
Noun
1. The action of defending from or resisting attack.
The article states that this notion defies today's expectation that the superstar quarterback wins the game. The Ravens and 49ers, fueled by passion and belief, became an unstoppable force who's passion and belief wore down the predicted winners, both on the field and in their minds.
Here are 5 lessons both teams taught me about winning:
Be willing to fight for your beliefs: Start every day as if it was your year to win the super bowl, regardless of the competition. If you don’t believe it, no one else will. Put your vision on a sign for the world to see and share it with your team (family, friends, customers). Your belief, vision and passion can triumph over talent and knowledge. Even an underdog can win.
Be a people builder: Joe Flacco, Ravens quarterback, is not the best in the league. His coach recognized his potential and guided him to where he is now. Seek out and recruit a winning team of motivated people who share your beliefs, and your vision. If you’re a solo-preneur, your team might include ambassadors that will bring you referrals and new clients. I frequently get asked how I motivate people. My answer is, “I don’t. Motivation comes from within. I recruit people who are already motivated and develop their potential.”
Master the basics: Vince Lombardi taught his team to succeed by mastering the fundamentals. Ray Rice, Ravens running back, is a great example of this. Ray mastered the skill of running the ball up the middle. He even has his own mantra that makes it so, “Hey diddle diddle, Ray Rice Up the Middle.” What skills do you need to practice over and over again, so that they become second nature?
Keep your head in the game: Both the 49ers and the Ravens turned around their teams in a relatively short period of time. Sure, it’s a challenge to stay focused on the end goal when the points (or sales) are down. The task can seem daunting. Instead of looking at the score board, keep your eyes on the daily activities that will continue to move your ball forward. One “play”, or one new team member, can change your entire game.
Be willing to take risks: 49ers coach, Harbaugh, chose to stick with his backup quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, when his star QB Alex Smith had a concussion. It was a risk that paid off. Listen to your gut and have the courage to try something new, even when the challenge is great. Innovation and change are necessary to grow.
I’ve never been more excited to watch the Super Bowl than this year, even though my local team, the Philadelphia Eagles, went down early. Everyone loves to root for the underdog!
Lynn Bardowski is a 23-year entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker, mentor and radio show host. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, read her book, listen to her radio show, follow her blog and "LIKE" her Facebook page. You may republish this article in full, as long as you list this paragraph and provide a link. Photo credit: clbphoto
STOP RUNNING AND START SUCCEEDING
During our annual New Year's family movie-thon we watched the lighthearted, family friendly and funny movie, Sister Act. It was a double feature, so the 2 1/2 star rated (and not- so-well-received) Sister Act 2 was up next. Instead of switching the channel, we hung in there, content to be settled in with comfy blankets, popcorn and hot chocolate. Family togetherness at it’s best.
Who knew a line in that movie would inspire me to write this blog post?
At one point in the movie, the high school choir was ready to flee the scene after seeing last year's winning choir compete and get a standing “O". Whoopi Goldberg’s character turns to the teenagers and says, “…If every time something scary comes up and you decide to run… y’all are going to be running for the rest of your lives.” The words brought me out of my hot chocolate coma, as I realized that’s exactly what stops so many entrepreneurs from moving forward. Something scary comes up and they just keep running further away from their dreams.
Here are 3 scary things YOU might be running from, and what you can do about it, to rock your biz in 2013:
1. A competitor who is perceived to be #1: Perception is a funny thing; it becomes reality. If you perceive your competition to be #1, you will always lag behind, because you think someone out there already has the lion’s share of the business. Even if you sell the same widgets as everyone else, there’s only ONE you. What makes you unique? What is your niche? Break free from the crowd and do something extraordinary this year! Write a book, start a blog, speak to groups, share your expertise with your ideal client, make a video. “If you’re able to be yourself, then you have no competition.” – Barbara Cook
2. Fear of Success or Failure: It’s hard to imagine that people fear being successful just as much as they fear failure, but it’s true. We’ve all heard the sayings, “It’s lonely at the top,” or, “There’s only one place to go but down”. With success comes expectations, and some are not quite ready to put themselves out there. So, every time success comes knocking, we close the door and run away, sabotaging our dreams. It’s called the talent trap. We shout out defiantly, “Take that, Success! You can’t catch me!” The solution is to leave your ego at the door. Instead of focusing on what success means to you, focus on what your success will mean to others. Who will you be taking with you to the top? What jobs will you be providing in your community? Whose lives will you touch? How does your success make a difference? Tie up your laces and run toward serving others. Soon, you’ll run away from your fear.
3. Getting stuck in the “Comfort Zone”: The comfort zone is just like the Twilight Zone; it’s all in our head. Being “comfortable” is not so great. It dilutes our self-esteem and confidence and prevents us from living an abundant life. We run from scary things by procrastinating, insuring we’ll never face the contact we should call, the client we need to meet, the networking group we should join or the seminar we should attend. The only solution, as my Mother used to say, is to, “Build a bridge and get over it.” Start with small successes: attend a networking event with a friend, hand out a product sample to a potential customer and ask for their feedback, join a social group like a book club. Do something everyday that makes your heart flutter with excitement. Embrace that we live in an imperfect world. Every experience may not end as you expected; that’s OK. Your confidence, and in turn your success, will grow exponentially. Be bold in order to be fearless!
To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your path, and don't worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest. – Martin Luther King
Lynn Bardowski is a 23 year entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker, mentor and radio show host. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, listen to her radio show, follow her blog, and "LIKE" her Facebook page. You may republish this article in full, as long as you list this paragraph and provide a link.
DOES ANYONE KEEP NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS?
Does anyone keep New Years Resolutions?
I asked this question of Lisa Bien, B!en Marketing Group founder, as we chatted on my radio show and shared success tips for women entrepreneurs. Lisa is the ultimate "make a plan and stick to it" kind of person. Here's her advice on how she get's it all done.
New Year, New YOU? …perhaps an improved version of YOU and your business! As the New Year approaches, we all begin to think about making New Year’s resolutions – Here are a few suggestions on resolutions.
Try to make daily resolutions, or as I like to call them, “New Day resolutions.” The benefit of having a daily resolution keeps me focused and it is a daily reminder of my priorities and what I am working towards.
One of my New Day resolutions is to be appreciative. Every morning when I wake up, I start my day with my “appreciation” list. Sound crazy? Maybe, but it works. Here are a few things that I appreciate: my boys, my family and my friends. Then, off to the gym. Yes, all this before 6 a.m.! The gym is my place. It’s where I collect my thoughts for the day, get focused and think about the news of the day, my clients and how I can be the best version of me. I appreciate the importance of good health, mind and body. A dear friend of mine once said to me – “you have to take care of you before you can take care of others.”
This year, make a New Day resolution to take care of YOU. Don’t make promises to yourself that put pressure on you or seem daunting. The things that make you appreciate life carries over into everything you do – it’s important not to forget these “perks” that keep us going.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Before I lost 50 pounds I thought the weight would never come off, but it did – slowly and steadily. When I started my business, it seemed overwhelming, but like my weight loss, slow and steady has become my business approach. Slow and steady is a lot easier than fast and furious so we have a better chance at success.
For Me It’s All About the Goals
I have always been goal oriented in my personal life – when I put my mind to something, I do it. I have applied my same tenacity to my business so that I can accomplish the objectives that I have set for its growth and success. I don’t care if I accomplish them at a slow and steady pace, just that I accomplish them, and that is key. Pace isn’t as important as the goal. As 2013 approaches try to think about daily goals, from losing the extra 10 pounds – to spending time ON your business, not just IN your business. Take it day by day, and then it will not seem so overwhelming.
Whatever it is you are resolving to do in 2013 – either in your personal life or in your business or marketing strategy – ask yourself if you are moving in the direction of your goals?
Focus, have clear proprieties and set goals, but most importantly, remember to enjoy what you do.
Go forth into 2013 with focus, goals……. and an appreciation of the little things that make big differences. Happy New Year to all!
Click here to listen to the playback of my full interview with Lisa
About the author
Lisa Bien is president and founder of B!EN MARKETING GROUP, a South Jersey-based company that offers personalized service in analyzing, targeting and tracking marketing strategies in all communications platforms, both traditional and digital. Lisa holds a Masters in Education and has been an adjunct professor at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, for nine years, teaching courses that include Public Speaking, Media Relations Writing and Public Relations Case Management. She is also in high demand as a guest speaker for a variety of topics for corporate events to marketing seminars. For more information, please visit www.bienmarektinggroup.com or call Lisa today at 609.314.0952.
25 Empowering Theme Songs For Women
Every Visionista needs a theme song!
Music empowers, inspires, motivates and gets our creative energy flowing. A feeling that you can conquer the world comes over you as you turn up the volume, open the car window and let your hair blow free in the wind. We put it on replay when we need it most (even if it’s just playing in our mind) – an important meeting with a client, a presentation in front of a crowd or entering a room of strangers at a networking event. Music gets our mojo going. Just watch any YouTube video of a baby intuitively moving to the beat. It’s proof that rockin’ out to our theme song is in our DNA.
Helen Reddy had never written a song before when she penned I Am Woman in 1971. She set an intention to write an anthem that would inspire women and woke up with the lyrics in her head. The song is a fond memory for my sister and I. When we got our “period”, becoming women, our mother opened the stereo, took out her Helen Reddy album and blasted the song throughout the house. As a teenager we didn’t know whether we should laugh, cry, hide or just roll our eyes. Looking back as the mother of two daughters, I can reflect on the message my mom was sending to us. She wanted us to know we were women, we were strong and we could do anything.
Not only did I Am Woman become an empowering anthem for women’s rights in the 1970’s, it stood the test of time. In 2010, when Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Director (The Hurt Locker), the orchestra played I Am Woman as she exited the stage.
Many great songs have been written since Helen Reddy set an intention, tuned in to inspiration and led the way for women’s empowerment. Katy Perry’s Firework is a song that’s on frequent replay in my mind when I need to get my Million $ Party Girl on. Here’s my list of 25 empowering songs that will leave “the doubter”, and any limiting beliefs, at the door.
25 Empowering Songs for Women
I’m every woman – Whitney Houston (& Chaka Khan)
Simply The Best – Tina Turner
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
Hold On – Wilson Phillips
Coming Out Of The Dark – Gloria Estefan
Hero – Mariah Carey
Beautiful – Christina Aguilera
A Woman’s Worth – Alicia Keys
Feeling Good – Jennifer Hudson
Firework – Katy Perry
Girl On Fire – Alicia Keys
Give Me Everything – Afrojack & Ne-Yo
Good Time – Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
A New Day Has Come – Celine Dion
Play On – Carrie Underwood
Settlin’ – Sugarland
Titanium – David Guetta & Sia
I Am Woman – Jordin Sparks
This One’s For The Girls – Martina McBride
Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
Stronger – Kelly Clarkson
Hit The Lights – Selena Gomez
Red High Heels – Kellie Pickler
Born This Way- Lady Gaga
Lynn Bardowski is a 22 year entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker and business coach. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, follow her blog, milliondollarpartygirl.com and "LIKE" her FB page,https://www.facebook.com/MillionDollarPartyGirl. You may republish this article in full, as long as you list this paragraph and provide a link.
HOW DO YOU PICK UP THE PIECES AFTER THE STORM?
The day after Hurricane Sandy blew through NJ, crushing many shore towns, I picked up the phone to check on my dad. He was born in Atlantic City, NJ and married my mom, a Margate girl. I was just a baby during the March ’62 storm (frequently compared to Sandy), and by the time I was five, we moved offshore, settling in the first town on the other side of the bridge. Being a stubborn seventy-five year old man, my dad would not leave his home and hunkered down for the hurricane. Thank God he made it through the storm unscathed. The morning after Sandy made landfill we discussed the news of the devastation and the shocking pictures we saw on the news. My dad’s first response, stated with strong concern was, “How will they rebuild?” He answered his question in the same sentence saying, “They will, they always do.”
After the rain, comes the rainbow. A glimmer of light and hope in the dark of day that everything will be ok. It’s true for nature and life. We can be paralyzed by our problems or we can be the someone who does something. Taking action and making a difference is what keeps us moving FORWARD when the storms blow in.
Here’s a few ways you can start – today.
Provide a service or product to those in need. During the storm I saw businesses posting special offers if you shopped during the storm. Really? I don’t think a natural disaster should be a theme for a sale event. You just lost me as a customer. Instead, offer a product or service to those in need. I’m proud to say our team was offering FREE candles to anyone who wanted them. Just come on by and pick them up – we’ve got ‘em.
Donate. Our team rallied together to donate a % of profits from sales after the storm. Instead of being the kind of company that profits from a disaster, you can choose to be the company that gives back. I realize you’re in business to make money, but why not generate business and give a donation to a Hurricane Relief Fund or the American Red Cross at the same time? Its good karma, and it will come back to you times ten.
Volunteer. Rebuilding takes time. As my mom used to say, “Many hands make light work.” Roll up your sleeves and offer your assistance in your community or with a volunteer organization – everyone can do something. Collect supplies, share a link, pick up a phone, get involved. Social media makes helping easy. Look for posts on friends Facebook pages and share links and resources. “LIKE” Operation Restore Our Shore to see how you can help. Use #NJSandy (or your State) to join the discussion on Twitter. Follow The American Red Cross @RedCross and United Way @United Way on Twitter.
Lynn Bardowski is a 22 year entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker and business coach. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, follow her blog, milliondollarpartygirl.
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