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President's Corner
Networking opportunities abound at WBO. There's so
many great ways to get your company's name
noticed. One of the best ways is to attend the
monthly meetings where you can really begin to grow
relationships with the other members. Take the time
to chat with as many of the group as you can-and
determine if any business alliances can be formed.
Make additional dates outside of the meeting and
spend time getting to know each other's businesses
better.
Attend the extra-curricular networking activities such
as the Meet and Eat in April, the July
golf outing, and the October Wine
tour. Here are opportunities for you to spend
time mixing and mingling in a less formal setting. All
the movers and shakers will be there-why not count
yourself among them!
The sponsorship forums in both the newsletter and
during the meetings offer a chance for you to
highlight your business in depth-and explain what
makes your business unique. It's a great way to
introduce yourself.
But, by far the best way for you to get your business
name on the tip of everyone's tongue is for you to
become a connector, the type of person who thinks
of other's business opportunities first. What can you
do today, right now, to help other members of WBO's
businesses grow? Can you connect a WBO business
with an opportunity that you are aware of, or a
person who may need their service? Can you help a
member find the right employee, or resource they
need? Do you know of another professional group a
member would be perfect for, or a volunteer
opportunity that would a great fit for a particular
WBO business? Taking the time to make connections
will help not only help other members of the group,
but your business as well- as you become know as
the type of person everyone needs to know!
To provide Opportunities,
responses to Business Challenges, or to become our
Featured Business...
| Meeting Update |
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Soaring With Your Strengths & Achieving Your
Dreams - A Inspirational Story of One Woman's
Success, Nina Howard, Bellanina Spa & Institute
Nina Howard delivered an inspirational speech on
overcoming obstacles, setting your goals and
achieving your dreams. Her theme
was "Understanding and Identifying your Signature
Strengths" which she presented through a series of
Life Lessons. Nina shared that from the outside,
looking at her life, it appears easy and successful.
She spoke with great heart and honesty of the hard
choices and the road to success. Nina stated the
challenges of life "give you the strength and courage
to go to the next level".
Life Lessons: - Trust the process –
everyone has a divine plan
- Don't beat yourself up for the mistakes you
made when you were still young and immature.
Forgive yourself for your ignorance.
- Scraping the bottom of the barrel is
character building and defines what you don't want.
- There is a price to pay for dependency.
- Focus and determination can catapult you
to the top under the most adverse conditions.
- Nature nurtures and brings out our best.
- Toot your own horn. (and If you become
a man's mother, he will find someone else to sleep
with)
- Believe in your own knowingness – you
know what is best for you!
- Don't take men at face value.
- Write your game plan (5 year Plan). It
really works!
Nina's Road Map for
Success:
Maturation: Take total responsibility for
yourself, your actions, no more victim. If you are a
business owner, you need to decide to be a Master
and a Leader.
Create a Road Map: Make a
commitment and get focused. When you are
committed, providence takes over and doors will fly
open and the path will be made clear.
Hard work: The harder I work, the
luckier I get. Hard work overcomes many obstacles.
Anticipate setbacks, as they will occur. It doesn't
matter how many times you get knocked down as
long as you get up.
Sacrifice: Be willing to drive an old car,
live like a college student, etc,. Unless you have a
rich uncle or a bankroll.
Take classes: Business classes learn
marketing, finance, etc. Learn to do the math.
Become community minded: It always
comes back tenfold. Give, give, and give.
Stop wasting time: Value your time,
know your worth.
Be realistic: No pie in the sky
Take care of your body or your body
won't take care of you: Mind, body and spirit =
balance.
Soar with eagles, not turkeys: Make
alliances and friendships that are mutually beneficial
to lead to growth.
Work on your business, not in your
business: Be a strategic planner.
Watch your costs: You get what you
inspect, not what you expect.
Have the end in mind: What is your exit
strategy?
STAY INSPIRED AND KEEP A LIGHT
HEART
Suggested reading:
The E Myth, Revisited my Michael Gerber
Good to Great, Jim Collins
Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting, Lynn
Grabhorn
The Power of Intention and Inspiration: Your
Ultimate Calling, Dr. Wayne Dyer
Molecules of Emotion, Candace Pert, PhD
Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki
Ask and It is Given, Esther and Jerry Hicks
The audience response was very positive to this
dynamic presentation. Nina provided affirmation that
following our hearts in the world and consciously
creating a positive environment will help us to reach
our potential in life as well as in business. As a WBO
member stated, "this affirms that I can do the job
that makes me happy and healthy."
Story by Sandy Hilton, photo by
Andrea Bloome
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| Upcoming WBO Events |
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Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, April 4,
2006
Internet Marketing: Affordable
Ways to Achieve an Internet Presence, Yodit
Mesfin, Center for Empowerment & Economic
Development, Michigan Women's Marketplace
Meet & Eat, April 20th
Dinner followed by a rotating networking event where
everyone will get a chance to learn about every
business.
Cafe Marie, 1759 Plymouth Rd,
AnnArbor, MI 48105
$10 for dinner and
networking. Limited space available for this program.
Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Golf Clinic, Tuesday, May 2, 2006 at
Lake Forest, 5:00-6:30.
Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Golf Clinic, Tuesday, June 6 at Lake
Forest, 5:00-6:30
Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, July 11, 2006
1st WBO Annual Golf Outing, Tuesday,
July 11 at Lake Forest, 1:00
Fall Wine Tour, Sunday, October 8, 2006
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| Opportunities |
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Home Based Business Expo sponsored by the
Milan Area Chamber of Commerce will be held April 3,
2006
from 3-7 pm. Home based business owners will be
given an opportunity to display their products and
services at this event which will be open to the
public. You do not need to be a chamber member or
Milan resident to participate. Cost for event will be
under $50 Contact Christine Mann at 734-439-2904
for more information.
Your Wedding Team, the "power group"
made up of WBO members with wedding related
offerings, is having its last Stress Free Wedding
Express event on Wednesday, March 15th, from
4:30 - 9:00pm at Cafe Marie, 1759
Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. In one
productive evening, the "to-be-weds" can consult
with a variety of wedding services providers. If you
know of anyone who is planning a wedding in the
near future, please let them know about this
Express event.
Women Making Connections, April 6, 4:30 -
7:30 in Kerrytown. WBO is a cosponsor of this
women's event where you will have the opportunity
to meet other women business owners and
professionals.
7th Annual Ray of Hope Benefit, April 8,
2006. Opportunity-- to advertise your
business in the catalog/program for the event.
Prices range from Full Page at $125 to Business Card
size ad for $40 All ads need to be camera ready and
delivered by March 29th. Contact Ginger Winter at
734-429-2433 if you want to be represented in the
program for this event. Over 400 copies of the
program will be given to guests, and it is expected
that these guests will hold on to the programs and
make use of the advertisers. All proceeds benefit
the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation for Women's
Cancer Research and Breaking the Silence.
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| Spread the Word-- Amy Rolfes, Home General Management |
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Close your eyes and think about your home. Does it
look and feel like your dream home or is the toilet
running, a screen ripped and when was your furnace
filter last changed? Are these problems preventing
your from relaxing and enjoying your home in your
free time?
These maintenance details used to make me feel
scatter-brained, incompetent and the most dreaded
feeling of all---like a helpless woman. I was teaching
full time, raising children and keeping up a house
(well, sort of). I didn’t know how to fix a ripped
screen or who to call to fix it. In addition, I wasn’t
able to leave messages or take phone calls from
service people during work hours. My personal,
unpleasant experience with home maintenance led
me to start Home General Management and the tag
line is “We simplify your life” AND WE DO!
HGM is a service for homeowners who are
overwhelmed and frustrated with maintaining their
home. HGM has a network of trusted service
providers (plumbers, handymen) who work with our
clients to take proper care of their homes. HGM
brings the homeowner and the service provider
together easily and conveniently on our website. No
more telephone tag or voice mail jail for HGM clients.
The 24/7 availability of the website means that
whenever you think of it, you can log onto the HGM
site and request service, schedule or cancel service
and even pay on line. All communications happen on
line, which makes the entire process easy and
convenient. As for who actually does the work, HGM
has a trusted relationship with our service providers
who all run their own companies but we have
interviewed them, verified license and insurance and
their references so our clients can rest assured that
these service providers are the kind they want in
their homes. An HGM client recently said, “Kevin (our
HGM heating guy) arrived on time, with the right
parts, fixed my furnace and even did a maintenance
check. I felt at ease knowing he worked with HGM.”
If you are like me, and have felt frustrated and
overwhelmed with your home, I invite you to log onto
my website and learn how “We Simplify Your Life!”
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| Business Challenge |
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The Last Month's Challenge: One
aspect of
which was "Define your business in one sentence"
Responses:
Helped me focus more
Helped me think more pragmatically
This month's Challenge
Go to as many free networking events as your
schedule will allow, at least one Chamber
event. At each event exchange (not just pass
out) 30 business cards. Then follow up on them.
Take notes on contact information
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| New Members, Please welcome... |
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Jennifer Rice, Great Commission Air
Mary
Ghesquiene, Ann Arbor Inn
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| 2006 Member Discounts |
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TLCI, Website Design, Development,
Consulting, SEO, Marketing, 12% off, 662-0154
Healing in Motion, JB Myofascial
Release, 25% off,
913-4816
Helping Hands Computer Solutions, Computer
and Business Support, 10% off, 995-6875
Contours Express, Women's Fitness, $100
off, 327-2800
Cafe Marie of Ann Arbor, Breakfast/Lunch
Cafe, 20% off, 662-2272
Ann Arbor Diet Center, Personalized Weight
Loss Services, 10% off, 327-2800
University Bank, Banking/Insurance, 1 year
free membership, 741-5858
AFFILIATE OF
NAWBO
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WBO members meet monthly, on the first Tuesday
of the month at 6:00pm at Lake Forest Golf Course.
Please join us.
Find out more....
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