Wednesday Wisdom – Vital Community Gatherings
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-b38w6-e9edbc
An inspirational Wednesday Wisdom podcast for women entrepreneurs and female business owners to inspire them to stay involved with their communities.
Wednesday Wisdom: Vital Community Gatherings
Providing 15 Years of Entrepreneurial Wisdom, Economic Ties, Events, and Business Success Strategies for
for Women Entrepreneurs and Women in Business
The text from one of my closest friends, a Harvard educated epidemiologist, who has been stretched to the limits answering emergency calls from her global clients related to the pandemic said, “I can’t wait to hug you next week when we have lunch together because I haven’t seen anyone in forever so I might just cry.” Understanding in some ways how hard she has worked since February her statement made me realize I should have been in contact with her more often even though she was extremely busy.
The lack of community gatherings, friendly hugs, private face-to-face communication, and limited access to people outside our immediate bubble, has more than just my friend craving community. I think it was one reason last Friday’s Women TIES photo shoot, with ten Rochester women and members for a virtual parade to honor the centennial of women’s suffrage, felt so uplifting, memorable, and heartwarming. It was only a 30-minute shoot in the Susan B. Anthony Square followed by lunch but that memory might last forever when it comes to feeling good in 2020.
Fifteen years ago I planned the very first Women TIES luncheon and no one registered. This community of New York State women I wanted to create so badly for their wider economic ties and revenue gains seemed impossible, but I stuck with it because I envisioned a larger network of feminist business women joined by the hip and bank account supporting each other. It worked but it took time to get others on board. As I venture out at noon today online to host our first ever “members only meeting” to create at least an online gathering place and community for my members to meet monthly, pitch their businesses, and inspire them to keep going, it doesn’t matter if one, ten or fifty women join the call. It’s all for the ones who want a community to be with.
Online experiences are not the same as standing side-by-side with other community members, but right now it continues to be the way most women entrepreneurs want to conduct business until early or mid 2021. Embracing the evolution of online community opportunities is a new way of life and business we better accept and relish in, until times change again. I believe if you enter a virtual event with the best intentions to get the most out of the experience, you will. Throw in there the ability to at least connect with women across the state much easier than driving a couple hours and there’s the added bonus. We have to make do with what we have to work with, not with what we desire most.
Today’s Wednesday Wisdom is to remind you as you head into Labor Day Weekend with or without the people you typically share it with, that you have the choice to accept and enjoy the opportunities and occasions at your doorstep, not lingering in what or who is missing. Wishful thinking is never a harmful thing unless it stops you from participating. If you desire more personal interactions and community gatherings, there are plenty of ways to do it safely and pleasurably.
A year from now we could look back and wish gathering with our community was as easy as turning on a computer instead of driving down a highway so embrace what you have and join us anytime you need women to relate with because that’s what the Women TIES community is here for. Join us today as a member to get more involved. We’d love to have you.
The Power of a Business Invitation
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-zeshr-e99b0a
This Monday Motivation 6-minute podcast will inspire you to accept more business invitations for community projects, passions, and missions that touch your heart and business.
Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham
Women TIES
Monday Motivation: The Power of Accepting Business Invitations
Monday Motivation, Inspiration, Pro-Female Focus for Women Entrepreneurs, Women in Business, Women in History
For me some of my greatest connections, economic ties, and business kinships started by saying “yes” to something quite new and beyond the scope of experience. It could be the excitement of the unknown risk and reward or the inability to forecast how a new relationship might develop or the raw nudge to step into something fresh that keeps me giving myself approval to introduce myself to a new opportunity.
Asked by a member and sister feminist to join a group of women called “Modern-Day Suffragists, Continuing the Work” to search for suffragists who died in New York State for a new website for the 2020 Suffrage Centennial, I said “sure.” It was the beginning of the pandemic on a raining spring day and business was at a standstill. With an interest in the project, I zoomed in one morning with a crew of documentary filmmakers in Rochester and given an assignment of women to research that day. Everyone has heard of well known suffragists like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton but there were other women and men who were “left out of the history books because of their race, ethnicity, or orientation, as well as those who continued to push for equality after the passage of the 19th Amendment we want to identify,” per the website.
In the short time I had to research that day, I found interesting women including a Central New York woman who was one of the original founders of the lesbian movement who ended up residing in the East Village, a place my son lives now with his girlfriend. It was interesting to follow her history of activism in this particular societal issue that still reverberates today in the same location of the Big Apple. I also found some dead ends tracing women on the list because most women change their names when they are married thus being lost in history records. When my younger sister Bre Chamberlain traced our ancestors she discovered the same thing motivating her and I to both keep our last names as part of our full names for history sake.
Friday I had a chance to met face-to-face with three of the women on this project now officially online at https://www.womenandthevotenys.com, at Susan B. Anthony Square in Rochester when they joined me, my friend Jill Bates who introduced us in the first place, and some of my Women TIES members for a 20-second video message for the 2020 City Suffragist Parade in Rochester sponsored by the Susan B. Anthony Foundation. They said “yes” to join me because I said “yes” to join them one spring day via Zoom. They shared with me, my name displayed on one of the website pages as a Suffragist Search Party Participant, which I will proudly add to my bio.
Today’s Monday Motivation should demonstrate the power of accepting invitations to unknown, but interesting projects and people you might not have dreamed of before. The world opens up giving you new insight into our place in it. Not only do I hope you keep your maiden name officially in your married name, if you are married, but also proudly use it everywhere you work and go so you can be traced throughout generations for the powerful work, mission, and purposes you have in your lifetime. Women owe it to themselves and future generations of women “looking” for them to be found and recorded for their fascinating works.
Make sure you visit this fascinating new website to find out more about New York State suffragists…..and VOTE this year!
Wednesday Wisdom – What’s Next for You and Women?
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-z9s4q-e8e038
An inspirational six-minute podcast on the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage in the United States aimed at motivating you to think about “what’s next” for you and other women.
In entrepreneurial and feminist spirit,
Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham, Women TIES
Wednesday Wisdom: What’s Next for Women Like You
Wednesday Wisdom, Hump Day, Business Wisdom and Feminist Thoughts for Women Entrepreneurs, Female Business Owners, Feminists
Etched in black and grey print in any media the past few months have been the words, “What’s Next?” The question ignites a multitude of mental images as my brain connects the query with different sections in my mind related to health, life, entrepreneurship, elections, society, community, and family. Sometimes we know what’s next in some of these areas, and totally clueless in others. Certain aspects of what is next depends on whether we have control of the area or not.
Every time I have finished an anniversary of my business, big athletic feat, successful educational programs for members, marched for women’s rights, or made a decision to shut down a service we offered, the question appears – “What’s next?” It is as if resting for a moment on an accomplishment makes us feel unmotivated even if we just got done with a major feat. Are only the highly internally driven women the ones who back up success with even more success because that’s who they are? Does having one vital mission in life help us move from here to there or is it happenstance that budges us forward?
This week, I was introduced online to an 86-year-old Rochester woman, named Nancy Dubner, who immediately felt like a kindred spirit after reading her extensive 70-year history of the pursuit for equality in women’s lives. The article quotes her saying, “We waste so much energy and the power of our population by making women second class. Young women today aren’t going to take that. I’m very proud I’m a woman and outraged the women are still considered second class in this country.” Amen, Sister Nancy! Kindred spirits aside, reading her biography answers today’s Wednesday Wisdom theme, “What’s next?” because when Nancy saw something else that needed to be done by someone to help women’s causes, she got involved.
I think Nancy’s example is perfect for today’s modern woman and female entrepreneur. We must continue to get involved when our passion syncs up with a need in our community or marketplace. Whether that’s producing new products like face masks or hand sanitizer in a pandemic, joining a march because Black Lives Matter, creating a new sub-set in an organization of liked interests, participating in new industry global organizations, or creating an inspirational blog to connect people with shared passions, involvement becomes our next step. I never saw myself lobbying senators to support a bill to have Medicare cover wig expenses for bald women with alopecia or cancer treatments, until I lost all my hair and took the “next step.”
Tracy Higginbotham at Emmeline Pankhurst Momument in London, England
Today’s Wednesday Wisdom should motivate you to think about what’s happening in your business, life or community right now that begs the question “What’s next?” Can a current situation, marketplace or community need place you on a path to something innovative, necessary, enjoyable, or life-changing? Maybe the next step is routine, tedious or uneventful but essential? Take 5 minutes right now to ask the question, “What should I do next?” in 3 areas of your life or business. Write them down and keep them close.
If you think about it, “What’s next?” can conjure up exciting, new possibilities meant to enhance your life or business experiences. Let’s promise to take that next step together because having a sister by our side makes everything possible.
Monday Motivation: 500K Lessons for Life & Business
Monday Motivation, Inspiration and Business Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs, Female Business Owners, Small Businesses
Running up and down hills on the hot paved road on a late August summer day, a slight humid breeze evaporated the sweat droplets on my brow bringing relief, to my bold summer goal. With just one more mile to go, I was determined to finish strong. It was early May when I committed to run a 500K with the OneNYChallenge giving myself health, mental wellness, and a brave new dream in midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. If I was going to be isolated at home to work, then I was sure as heck going to keep moving to stay mentally and physically healthy.
Committing to such a large athletic goal led to thoughts related to both the exciting and apprehensive mindsets faced by women entrepreneurs when they begin and maintain their business journeys including asking themselves if they were mentally ready to begin, finding tenacity in the midst when they are tired, or deciding to go big or go home when bad times arise. Many women often find their stride in the final stretches of entrepreneurial life as they get ready to sell or retire just like runners relish their finish line accomplishment.
What I learned running 310.686 miles in this challenge were common life and business thoughts:
* Do I have what it takes to finish this goal no matter what?
* How will I achieve this big goal of mine?
* What is required to start?
* Where can I receive counsel if I want to quit?
* Do I believe I have the grit to overcome obstacles?
* What is my reward when the goal is achieved?
As the sweat ran down my face as my mile counter turned to 3.1 miles ending my 500K challenge, I realized having daily commitments of smaller goals can help anyone achieve their most audacious goals. The brave goals sound great when they are achieved but they aren’t realized unless there are smaller plans and an overall program to accomplish them. “How did you run over 300 miles this summer, Tracy?” someone asked me recently. My response, “I ran 3 miles a day happily every day,” I replied.
Today’s Monday Motivation is to inspire you to set a couple audacious goals in life and business for yourself then create a timeframe and plan to break down the daring ambition into practical, logical, doable daily or weekly tasks. When you make this type of plan accompanied with a strong mindset, truly any goal is possible. Humans can do more than they think they can and eventually achieving a new, bold goal, makes you feel invincible and ready for the next one.
For the Love of Clients
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-7vxq4-e7cfd3
A five minute inspirational and entrepreneurial podcast to have you asking the question, “Do I love my clients?” See why this emotional trait can be a super-power.
Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham
Women TIES, LLC
Wednesday Wisdom: It is Possible to Love Your Clients
Wednesday Wisdom, Inspiration, Motivation for Women Entrepreneurs, Female Business Owners, Small Businesses
Most business days aren’t filled with a deep sense of love because commerce by nature is about making hard cold cash, competing in a packed marketplace, and making deals. No one goes into business primarily to experience or give love unless they own a match making service. With 365 days on the calendar, most affectionate experiences are felt on non-business days with loved ones or close friends leaving our brains in control Monday through Friday as entrepreneurs.
Yesterday was one of those rare occasions when profound affection overtook my typical entrepreneurial day as I learned about the passing of a 37-year-old customer who lost her life to cancer. In fact, I wrote about her and an online service called Caring Bridge her family used to keep her friends updated on her condition and experiences. Every time I received a message I was hopeful for her progress. When yesterday’s news arrived on my computer, my heart sank for her, her family and those of us who cheered her on. The only emotion my business heart emoted yesterday was love for this brave woman.
I’m lucky than most company executives because my personal focus is on supporting and lifting up women who choose entrepreneurship as their career while sharing my wealth of knowledge and experiences to help them succeed in marketing and branding their companies. Connecting women in business across New York State is also part of my job – I suppose a female business owner matchmaker of sorts. When I meet any woman who comes through my corporate or event doors, social media or websites, I feel an instant commitment to them. It could be the way I was raised or my super-power strength.
As the second night of the Democratic National Convention played out after my office hours were done, the message of love rang again watching Dr. Jill Biden explain her love and belief in her husband as someone warm, committed and willing to put his arms around others in times of need. Love is what we’ve been missing in the past four years and love is always what people desire and need in their lives. Love, love, love.
Today as the clouds build after weeks of sunshine my heart feels the weight of Alicia’s passing again today. As I walked gingerly through wet grass to my poolside, a beautiful black butterfly with a periwinkle spot on his back landed at my feet and a monarch butterfly flew near my head. In an instant I recognized the symbolism to keep their beauty close to my heart as I remembered our friend today.
This Wednesday Wisdom is to remind you it is okay to “love” what you do and “love” who you do it for. Without a deep appreciation for the people that make us entrepreneurs, we retreat into the wood work of ordinary business owners. What truly makes us unique is the amount of love we show for our work and our customers, while they are here and even when they leave.
My Special Reason for Celebrating a Century of Suffrage
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-i2d8x-e7a72c
This six-minute podcast will motivate you to think about the importance of women’s suffrage as our nation celebrates a Century of Suffrage today. I share three experiences that shaped my feminist spirit.
Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham
Women TIES, LLC
Women TIES 