News from Women Business Owners of Southeastern Michigan



Success Through Networking		OnLine Newsletter March 2007

President's Message

Ahh, March, you hold the promise of spring. Your 21st day boosts, “the first day of Spring,” though rarely in your thirty one days does it look or feel much like the new season we long to begin.

Sometimes that same is true in business. Maybe you have promising new ideas for your business - a new market you are eager to break into, or a brand new image and philosophy you are excited to unveil. You may be certain that these inspirations will be the breath of fresh, new life your business needs to gain greater success. However, in business, just as in our personal lives, there are many details that contribute to this elusive concept we call change and the transitions that it leads us into. The conditions may not always be just right, just yet. Sometimes you have to continue to believe in the promise of spring even though it has not yet fully arrived. Spring will come- March promises us that.

Jeanne Loveland, Cafe Marie

“The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we would become.” - Charles Du Bos

in this issue

	Meeting Update- "Surviving 9/11 and Beyond" Upcoming WBO Events Opportunities Spread the Word – Lori Shepard, Simply Scrumptious Catering Business Challenge New Members- Please welcome 2007 Member Discounts

Meeting Update- "Surviving 9/11 and Beyond"

Mother

Dental Hygenist

Instructor at University of Michigan Dental Hygenist School

Seamstress

Event Planner

Upholstry and Carpet Cleaning

These are some of the professional opportunities presented during Mrs. Juana Gissendanner's enthusiastic presentation about the possibility of growth in difficult times. She outlined her 15 year journey through "rocky financial times, challenges and many changes". Juana believes in diversification as a means for balancing the ups and downs of business ownership.

Juana has been in business since she was 12 years old. She stated that it was "not me starting a business, it was me following what I was passionate about". This passion has led her to continue with personal and professional growth in the fields she loves. Juana also pointed out that following your dream is not the end of the road, you must also continue to improve yourself and your service.

Important tips for consideration:

Continue to improve your customer service. Treat all customers like gold and realize you are lucky to have them.

Provide the best service and the best product in your field. Customers will want to spread your name about town. If you provide excellent service, you will always have customers, even in difficult economic times.

Consider stepping out of your comfort zone and expanding your services. You can't grow personally or professionally in your comfort zone.

Do your homework with business contacts, never stop networking and always call with follow-ups to your service. The extra enthusiasm will linger in the memory of those you contact.

Practice your passion! Embrace and enjoy the gifts you have and develop a profession around these gifts.

Be resourceful! Network everywhere – contacts will benefit you for years to come.

Juana's final thought for the evening is encouraging to all of us: "Don't give up when you are at a low point. Just always fall on your back so there is nowhere to go but up."

For more information

Upcoming WBO Events

Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Developing Wealth in a Hostile Environment
Speaker: Mr. Turner S. Thompson, Financial Architechs
Sponsor: Margaret Crandall, Indigo Advantage

Turner Thompson will discuss the 10 things every business owner must do in order to help their business excel, even in hostile economic times. While many are suffering from poor conditions in our state, there are many others who continue to grow and at phenominal rates. How do they do it? Learn how, and also about the three types of money your business can earn, how to spot the largest profit centers, books you should be reading, and how to increase your personal wealth with little out of pocket expense.

Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, May 1, 2007
How to Live to be a Healthy 100
Speaker: Pamela W. Smith, MD
Sponsor: Linda Pickl, Autoform, Inc.

Dr. Pamela W. Smith is board certified in anti-aging medicine, which is the newest medical subspecialty. A Grosse Pointe resident, Dr. Smith is an internationally known speaker and an author on the subject of wellness and anti-aging. She is a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Physicians. She is also the author of HRT: The Answers and Vitamins: Hype of Hope?

Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Speaker: TBD
Sponsor, Alicia Botti, AmeriPrise Financial

For more Meeting information

Opportunities

March 21, CEED 23rd Annual Award Meeting & Celebration
5-9:00 at the Ritz Carlton in Dearborn. This will be a Celebration of the accomplishments and successes of the CEED members, and the recognition of the outstanding sponsors and volunteers. Cost: $75.

April 24. Women Making Connection event at Kerrytown, 4:30 - 7:30. Booths will be available. Call Tammy Burgess for more information. 734-239-2572.

Michigan Women's Marketplace offers all women owned businesses the opportunity to have a free listing. Join today at www.miwomen.com to have your business represented and please use the MWM whenever the opportunity arises.

BECOME A WBO MEETING SPONSOR
For $25 you can sponsor one of our Monthly Meetings. You will have 5 minutes to describe your business and "train your salesforce". You will also get a link to your site in the WBO Newsletter and a listing in the WBO website. We are looking for Meeting Sponsors for September. Contact TRose at contoursexpress@thesistersgroup.com to sign up.

THE WBO NEWSLETTER CAN FEATURE YOUR BUSINESS
For $25 you can feature your business in this Newsletter. Not only do you get in print, but your article and links to your site remain in the WBO Newsletter Archives. Contact Hillary Handwerger at hhandwerger@ix.netcom.com. We are looking for sponsors for July on.

For more Women's events...

Spread the Word – Lori Shepard, Simply Scrumptious Catering

Simply Scrumptious Catering is a full service caterer creating artistically catered events, complete with exquisite high quality foods, unique serving pieces, and professional service staff.

Freshness you can count on.
Everything is made fresh to order using the finest, freshest ingredients available. All cakes and pastries are made from scratch, baked in-house.

Your wish is our command.
Flexible, diverse menus create a personalized event, We offer many different ethnic foods. Theme parties and special requests spark our creative side. Catering in the venue of your choice.

Service is number one.
Our professional service staff will take care of all your needs. We can assist you in coordinating all the services you need for your celebration – flowers, specialty cake, photography, linens, china and barware rentals, even a venue for your party.