Monday Motivation: “You Got This!”
Monday Morning, Monday Motivation for Women Entrepreneurs, Female Athletes, Women in Business
For once on the top of the typically windy hill, the air stood still. The temperature sat at 49 degrees; a bit below normal for my running lungs. My friend Kristen waved to me as I approached. Her petite and fit running body was in better shape than mine, although I was getting in shape running again.
A 10K race is 6.1 miles. I raced 7 miles in the Women Can Marathon in Devon, England with a team of international women who decided to join this American girl on her team. I had women from Switzerland, England, and Capri on my team. I took the first leg of 7 miles followed by two of them running 6 miles, and the last person running 7 miles. We crossed the finish line holding hands in triumph and then had Prosecco for a reward.
The terrain in England was different than the Great New York State Marathon race I was partaking in. In England, the trail was not on paved paths but rather along streams, past cow pastures, in grass up to our knees, uphill, downhill, and everywhere. It was beautiful but more like a cross-country race than a typical road race in America. It was breathtaking and memorable.
So, with my legs remembering the race relay of 7 miles, I took off Saturday in the 10k race with my friend only to face something unpredicted – asthma attacks in the cooler weather which forced us to stop many times for me to catch my breath. I had lipstick, gum, my phone, and iPods in my running pouch but not my inhaler. It had just turned cool so I hadn’t needed it yet.
I tried to persuade my friend to not run with me since I was stopping so often but she stuck with me through thick and thin, pauses and restarts, saying every time, “You got this!” Finally, with two miles left in the race, she took my suggestion and ran off strong finishing about six minutes before me. My mind made a mental check to take my inhaler with me to Boston in a month for the half marathon.
As we hugged at the finish line, I thanked her for being such a trooper – a true friend – through the race. We hugged goodbye and then I noticed my time. My mile split time was actually a minute faster than I typically run, even with all the stops. I know running with a faster runner like my friend, I did better timewise. I rejoiced knowing I could finish the Boston Half Marathon under their 3-hour limit, so not everything was lost in this 10k race. It gave me confidence and “notes” for doubling my running distance in a month for Boston.
The lesson in running any new race is to remember it is your race, thus your pace (a popular mantra for runners), you can stop when you need to and still finish better than you anticipate, and realize you are still accomplishing something most people on a Saturday morning would never do – get out of a comfy bed to test themselves mentally and physically.
In the end, you win every time you attempt something new and challenging in sports, entrepreneurship, or life. YOLO!
Friday Vibes: Extraordinary Autumn Fun
I love making confetti – especially in autumn when the crushing and scattering of rust, orange, golden, and crimson-colored leaves get sprayed on the still deep-green lawn. The colorful array, with its aromatic, earthy smell, gets projected from the tractor. I direct the tractor to spray the confetti into lines, pretending to create rooms in an imaginary outside house like my sister and I loved doing when we were young racking them to make the chore more enjoyable.
Sun streaks through half-barren tree limbs lighting my way. Shade still dots the lawn on a warm autumn afternoon since my new confetti’s relatives still hang out above not wanting to join them quite yet. I don’t blame them. I’d rather hang out closer to the sky watching squirrels as they weave and duck into tree holes with mouths full of winter food.
Not only do I create confetti from my John Deere tractor, but I also use its weight to crush black and lime green butternuts scattered at the edge of our lawn. Once in a while, the nuts don’t crush under the weight of the machine but rather forcefully get projected like a baseball coming out of a pitching machine. “You are welcome, squirrels and chipmunks,” I say. “I’m happy to lighten your work by cracking these suckers open so you can save your tiny teeth.”
I keep driving the tractor to mow the lawn still growing from the mix of rain and sunshine so late in the year. Since our house is kitty-corner to a horse farm, where I hear neighs every once in a while, I pretend the tractor transforms itself into a bucking bronco as it edges me near the farm view. My left hand holding onto the steering wheel with a steely grip, and my right hand pretending it has a lasso spinning in the air. A car drives by with its driver staring. Hee Haw!
Today’s blog post is to encourage you to find fun in the ordinary chores in your life.
What can you do to design or dream up something fun while doing regular old tasks? I say look at the chores as children do. If you do, you’ll find adventure within the boring and dull. If you live in the Northeast, make sure to enjoy this colorful time of year when you can create your own confetti, ride a bucking bronco, and help chipmunks with their grocery list.
Wednesday Wisdom: You Fight for the Right To…
Wednesday Wisdom, Inspiration, Motivation for Women Entrepreneurs, Female Business Owners, Females in Sports, Activists
The Beastie Boy’s 2009 song “You Gotta Fight for the Right to Party” somehow landed as a repeat lyric in my early morning brain. It was only Tuesday so the thought had nothing to do with TGIF. It was just one of those strange things that happened that inspired today’s Wednesday Wisdom editorial. It wasn’t so much the ‘party’ part but the ‘gotta fight’ part.
All of a sudden, I heard myself saying, “I fight for the right to….”
* bring the pay inequality issue to consumer minds
* allow women to choose what they want with their bodies
* include women no matter their age, sexual orientation, background, ethnicity, or business type, in my organization
* have Afghanistan women run without fear
* vote
* encourage women to buy from women first and foremost
* have women in the “Me Too” movement speak
* to exercise every day within my work day and share it
I am interested in knowing what you fight for.
Does your list include both personal and corporate ideologies? What does your list say about you – and maybe your brand image? If you do the exercise I suggest making your own list starting with the phrase “I fight for the right to” and see what it tells you about yourself right now. Is it eye-opening? Does it call you to more action individually or in a group?
Today’s Wednesday Wisdom is supposed to be a thought-filled one because there is so much happening in our world and economy that we have to pay attention to. We have the power, time, and passion to speak out and do what we can. Perhaps a bold new action will lead you to change some corporate policies or mission statements as you plan for 2024. The world changes as we change, and we change as the world changes. As women entrepreneurs, that also means our businesses change.
If by chance you don’t read today’s wisdom until Friday, I hope you say after a long work week filled with positive situations, activism, or advocacy, “I have the right to party!” Let me know.
My Love for My Jewish Friends and Family
Monday Motivation, Inspiration, and Love for Jewish Friends and Family
My first interaction with a Jewish girl was in elementary school. Her name was Autumn and her father was a member of Griffis Air Force Base in my hometown of Rome, NY. Since Rome was mostly made up of Italians, it was so interesting to meet other kids from different parts of the country and world when their families got transferred in for a short period of time. I celebrated Hanukkah for the first time with her family.
Fast forward to my senior year in college when one of my suitemates Sue was a Jewish girl from Long Island. We became instant friends and are still connected today. I didn’t know when I invited her to my wedding that she couldn’t come because it was on a Jewish holy day. I wasn’t aware enough but totally appreciated her dedication to her religion.
When I opened my company in 2005, one of the first women to join and support it was a Jewish woman named Chen living in Israel looking to sell her jewelry in New York City. Not knowing I wasn’t based in the city, she stayed involved 18 years later. I ordered some of her jewelry to support her. I connect with her often, especially the past few days making sure she is safe.
On August 10th of this year, I was blessed with a Jewish daughter Rachel who married my youngest son. A female rabbi performed a full Jewish wedding which was absolutely beautiful and meaningful. I called Rabbi Rachel Saphire after the wedding to thank her for making the ceremony so special.
When I see the images of women and men killed and taken hostages in Israel due to hatred, I can’t fathom it. I don’t claim to understand the politics of the region but all I know is what wonderful Jewish people, especially women, I have had in my life. My heart aches for them and their people.
Sitting next to Rachel’s aunt at her Bridal Shower, I told her Aunt Beverly I needed to learn more about being Jewish. As a Catholic, I only have studied my religion. Auntie Bev said, “Catholics and Jewish families are very similar in our love for each other and love of our religion.” I hugged her and thought what a gift to get to be part of a Jewish family through marriage now.
I hope anyone reading this will have empathy for what is happening in Israel and hug their Jewish friends and family a bit tighter today. Ask how you can help or support them. Love them for all that they are and never let go. We are all humans first and foremost born with compassionate and unbiased hearts.
Wednesday Wisdom: Generating Your Own Swifties
Wednesday Wisdom, Inspiration, Motivation for Women Entrepreneurs, Female Business Owners
Once in a while, a superstar shines so much that they appear everywhere in the media and on social media. You can’t escape their image due to campaigns, paparazzi, and their rabid fans. Sometimes even cross-genres talk or show them off to increase their own fandom.
If I said “Taylor Swift” you get where I’m coming from. I love watching football and everywhere in sporting news lately has been about this talented, young woman appearing in the special family viewing box of a Kansas City Chief football player in the same arena she performed to thousands of fans – called Swifties – earlier in the year.
If you don’t know Swifties, they are one of the largest most devoted fanbases in the world. They are known for a high level of participation, fanaticism, and engagement spreading Taylor’s music, energy, and news to others as well as in the media. My 12-year-old niece declared herself as a Swiftie when she visited this summer making me want to follow Taylor more now.
The main reason Swift has such a large following is that she frequently engages, helps, credits, and prioritizes her fans. They know it and appreciate it. Because of her interest in them, they are even more interested in her and become walking billboards of her and her talent.
Today’s Wednesday Wisdom is not encouraging you to listen to Taylor Swift music but to rather take a look at your clients and customers and make them fans of yours. Think about ways any average person your business comes in contact with can become a rabid consumer and marketer of yours. Also, believe you are a star in your industry and should be in the light more by creating press kits, and introduction letters, researching favorite media outlets, and then pitching yourself and your business. Taylor isn’t shy. Why should you be?
Lastly, invite your loyalists (aka your own Swifties) to introduce you to their contacts or media connections and then do something nice for their information. Remember it is all about sharing and spreading the love when you ‘swiftly’ become more popular.
Monday Motivation: Pain Leads to Gain
Monday Motivation, Monday Vibes, Training for a Marathon, Running
Most agree pain is something we don’t want to feel. We avoid it and why wouldn’t we? But I have found since training for the Boston Half Marathon at the age of 58, that pain is something I am embracing and it feels good to accept it.
When I look back at the birth of my sons, I remember having labor pain but I don’t feel the sensation of that pain. Pain is something you only feel in the moment you experience it. You can’t feel the sense once it is gone. It is fleeting – although memorable. And most likely the reason women put themselves through having multiple births, run many short and long races, and try to avoid being stung by a bee. Pain hurts.
Today when I was running a new length in my training regimen on a rather hot October morning and my left knee started grinding, almost forcing me to run much shorter than my goal, I realized as I ran through the pain, allowing it to slip out of my mind like a random thought, it emboldened me somehow. I was conquering my thoughts of pain by just running on.
As I look back on it now, I actually like the memory of being able to run through the discomfort to a plateau of ignoring the feelings and focusing on what I was accomplishing. I stopped if I had to stretch or work out a muscle, but I wanted to keep running no matter the feeling because I had a goal and knew I had a lot of stretching and icing on my muscles once I was done.
The statement “no pain, no gain” isn’t quite adequate for what I have been experiencing every week of training for this half-marathon goal. Instead, it is more like, “Pain leads to gain and that’s okay!” I’m not talking about the kind of pain that is stopping me from running, but the kind of pain a woman approaching 60 might feel training at this age. It’s a new pain and takes time to adjust to.
Honestly, if I could, I’d go right back out there now and run another 7 miles on this beautiful October day, but instead, I’ll relish in the accomplishments of mentally and physically working through the tension and aches, and remember it led me to a new win for the day, a soak in my cold pool to ice my legs and stare at the beautiful blue sky with orange leaves, and relish in the fact there is no pain now, only feelings of success.
Wednesday Wisdom: Step into the Limelight
Wednesday Wisdom, Inspiration, Media Advice for Women Entrepreneurs, Female Business Owners
At ten o’clock today, a young man with alopecia named Evan Dourdas and I appear on the popular television show called Bridge Street to talk about how sports and baldness are who we are. The appearance isn’t happening because the producers saw me biking bald or him coaching a basketball team without hair; it happened because I reached out to the media about September being Alopecia Awareness Month.
If you follow the blog I started in 2008 and read yesterday’s post, you will have discovered golden nuggets of information on how to ‘leverage the media’ for yourself or your business. One of my favorite Central New York writers, Deborah J. Sergeant, asked me if she could be a guest blogger for the next four weeks to share her knowledge on media relations.
One of her tips is to be comfortable and confident to reach out to the media with a story, similar to what I have done most of my entrepreneurial career and did to appear on Bridge Street today. I wanted to share the limelight with this fantastic 26-year-old guy who inspires me with his tenacity to live boldly with alopecia and shine a light on our autoimmune disease.
Being on television to bare my round head has more to do with inspiring others than bringing in sales, but sometimes my past appearances have helped, not only promote but brought in some event ticket or book sales. The media will look for sincere, non-used-car saleswomen, for their guests because they have a purpose of sharing information not selling your products. They will tell you that is what paid advertising is for.
Today’s Wednesday Wisdom is to encourage you to read Deb’s blog post today for media tips, and to mark your calendar for the next three weeks of guest blog posts intended to make you more comfortable reaching out to her and the media when you have a story to share. Most media are very approachable and always looking for stories.
I also hope if you are reading this between 10-11 a.m. you turn on your local television or internet connection to Bridge Street and see how easy a 5-minute interview can be and how simple it is to share afterward on social media. I hope the glare of my bald head doesn’t shine too brightly!
Leverage the Power of the Media
Tuesday Thoughts, Media, PR for Women Entrepreneurs, Female Business Owners, Small Businesses
I am happy to have this guest post by one of my favorite Central New York Media Contacts Deborah Jeanne Sergeant. I hope you enjoy today and upcoming posts on being more comfortable being in the media. Reach out to Deb because she loves having media sources.
A surprising number of small business owners and solo entrepreneurs overlook the very best, absolutely free marketing tool that few people ever talk about: media interviews. Reporters and journalists for the news media need interviews to provide professional insights and authenticity to their news stories. And guess what? When you provide that information in quotes, the audience perceives you as an expert—someone they should do business with. It costs you nothing and the exponential return on the investment of your time is incalculable.
So how do experts become quoted in magazines, newspapers, vlogs/blogs, podcasts, radio spots, and TV segments?
Get online
You need an online presence so media members can find you. At least maintain a website as your online billboard and link it to a social media account that you regularly update. The website should include the name and nature of your business, the name of your contact person, and the contact information (including your business location). Some people try to hide their physical location so that they attract customers from other areas; however, local media outlets need to talk with local people. And there’s no guarantee that concealing your location will attract nationwide customers. Many people want to work with a local firm.
Post on the social media platform at least monthly. Weekly or every other day would be better. A stale social media platform may cause people to think that you’re out of business. Keeping it up to date can help the news media know what you’re doing, which can spark ideas for news stories.
Get their attention
In addition to the passive approaches outlined above, send press releases to the news media each month. Find the email address of the news editor or news manager (not the advertising department) on local media outlets’ websites. Compile a list of these addresses to which you can send your release bcc. Unless your news is extremely time-sensitive, don’t call a newsroom. Send releases a month and a half in advance of anything that is date-related to allow sufficient time to develop the news story.
Be available
It sounds silly to have to mention it but be available to the media, but oftentimes, company representatives are difficult to reach. Include an option in your phone tree for media, so these phone calls go to the right person. Or at least train whoever answers your phone in how to respond to media calls so it’s not:
Me: “Hello. This is Deborah Sergeant writing for ___________. I would like to interview a representative of your organization about ________ to quote in an article I am writing.”
Receptionist: “We don’t want to buy any ads!” *SLAM*
That happens far more than one would think.
The person answering the phone should try to connect the reporter to the person designated to handle media calls or at the very least, ask for the deadline and take a message.
Reply before the deadline. Responding days or weeks later is not helpful. (I’ve had people do this and become angry that I can’t include them in a story that has already printed!) Crosstrain employees so more people can respond to rudimentary media questions.
About the writer: Deborah Jeanne Sergeant has been writing for newspapers and magazines since 2000. She also writes press releases, web pages, and social media posts. Visit her online at www.skilledquill.net.
Go “Bananas – Maybe Savannah Bananas” with Your Marketing
Friday Feeling, Marketing Inspiration, Creativity for Women Entrepreneurs, Female Business Owners
Fridays are most working women’s favorite day of the week, especially after a long and sometimes arduous five-day schedule. What I love to do most on Fridays, as a long-time woman entrepreneur, is think up marketing ideas – even fun, crazy ones.
It makes perfect sense that last week’s Savannah Banana Baseball craze hit Upstate New York. What? You haven’t ever heard of the Savannah Bananas? Well, neither had I until late July when a friend told me her daughter dated #7 on the team and to check them out. Another woman at the table with us screamed, “Oh, I love the Savannah Bananas – they are wild!” I knew I had to learn more.
If you liked the concept of the Harlem Globe Trotters, then you’ll like the Savannah Bananas as described by an L.A. Times article, “Eccentric rules are only part of the circus atmosphere. The first-base coach dances and the team celebrates home runs by racing into the stands for high-fives. When the Bananas are in the field, they might launch into a brief, choreographed routine between pitches, spinning and slide-stepping like the Four Tops in cleats, only to resume play as if nothing happened.”
They sell out stadiums. They have banana merchandise. They turned themselves into a national brand. They have 2.5 million TikTok followers.
and all because the owner of the team wanted to switch up America’s favorite pastime. You can find him at every game in a bright yellow tuxedo! He lives his brand. He is the culture of his company that is taking the country by storm. So what can you do with this inspiration? Maybe eat a banana, daydream a bit, and let your creative juices flow. Take a look at their website to learn more and perhaps incorporate some “crazy” into your traditionally mild-mannered company.
As the Savannah Bananas say, “We are not your typical baseball team. We are different. We take chances. We toe the line. We test the rules. We challenge the way things are supposed to be!” Isn’t that a great way to run a business? I say, “Go Bananas!”
Wednesday Wisdom: Becoming an Advocate
Wednesday Wisdom, Inspiration, Wisdom, Business Advice for Women Entrepreneurs, Small Businesses
When I wrote the very first Wednesday Wisdom I was 31 years old. Today I’m 58 years old. Looking back over the history of wisdom I’ve shared, I see how some topics are ageless and universal while others developed as I aged as a woman and entrepreneur. It makes sense.
It is also understandable as my company matured, so did my customers’ age. No longer followed by thirty-somethings, the average age of my readers, followers, and viewers ranges from 45-75, and a few into their 80s with the median age being 60-65.
As women in business age in general and after their young kids are older and married and their life work raising them opens up, many females turn to volunteer and advocacy work in areas of interest. They fill this new void with heart-warming activism in areas of passion that expand their network and horizons, sometimes benefiting their aging companies.
As I sat with a 26-year-old man whose loss of eyebrows, eyelashes, and hair mirrored mine, we spoke about a mutual interest in educating our community about alopecia. Three decades between us did not matter, we were similar and willing to see what we could do together to bring more awareness and possibly funding to our condition.
Today’s Wednesday Wisdom is to have you reach out to organizations or people in your community that experience the same life issues you face to open up a new network of people you can connect with. It may or may not lead to new business relationships, but it will warm your soul and provide new opportunities to advocate for yourself and others.
The same could be true for your business and entrepreneurial roles. Perhaps today is the day to join a new entrepreneurial organization to increase your chances of doing good in the world, support your enterprise, and introduce you to new people.
The world is a stage – make sure you are acting your part in it.
Women TIES 