Every Woman Visionary at WomanTalkLive

• Every Woman Visionary: Step Out and Jump

  Thursday, May 10, 2012

  
  Barbara Goldberg

  The thrill of life is never knowing what’s coming down the block or around the corner.  That may sound a bit unnerving, but when you choose to live life with gusto, you experience the joy of discovery over and over again.  I’m talking about the things which manifest in your life that you never even imagined, things that can change your path in a heartbeat.

  We start our careers by working for an organization to give us the learning experience we need to ply our trade, right?  We acquire skills, we get good at what we do and maybe even think, “Can I do this on my own?”  Can I take a risk and start my own venture?”  Gulp, gulp. It can feel like jumping off a cliff.  All the security you had goes out the window.  Does your chest feel tight?  Keep breathing.

  If you’re lucky, you’ll have the support of other women to make the jump.  I was in a high-powered Madison Avenue job that I loved.  It was the “Mad Men” era of the 60’s.  I just had my first child, fully intending to go back to work after a few months of bonding with baby.  I was at brunch with a group of women friends about ten years older and, surprisingly, they said, “Don’t make the same mistake we made. Don’t go back.  Start your own business.”  They were very smart, successful women who weren’t afraid to admit that they could have made a better choice. It was one of the best gifts I ever got.  It was their “push” that gave me the courage to jump. Did I expect that? No.  Did their words change my life? Yes.

  Some of us are natural risk-takers.  I was fortunate to have gotten that gene.  But what if  you didn’t?  How can you make taking risks more bearable?  Just focus on the end benefits you will likely attain if you do something like start your own business.  What’s important to you?  For me, it wasn’t to earn more money, but freedom to have control over my life and how I’d spend my time.

  If you’re married with kids, you may be laughing, “How can freedom possibly manifest in my life with all my responsibilities?”  Less than ten years after starting my own business, I was divorced with two young children, and with a home office, was there when they got home from school. What would a greater sense of freedom mean to you?  What would it enable you to do that you’re not doing now?

  As my children got older, freedom morphed into the ability to travel all over the world, even if it meant occasionally turning down work. That was a risk too. Make a “dream” list, not a “bucket” list.  Use your freedom make those dreams come true. Embracing “freedom” means that you will do more things in your life that bring you happiness.

  The best thing about taking a risk, a big one, like starting your own business, is that it makes you more of a risk-taker, assuming of course, that you’ve been at least somewhat successful.  As we age, many of us are inclined to be more cautious in our decisions and so by taking risks earlier on, we’re better prepared for the future.

  Cut to: Early 2008.  I was with a group of women listening to a presentation about the dire need for safe water in West Africa.  I was powerfully moved and decided to start an organization, eventually a non-profit. Did I expect to start a non-profit?  No. I never wanted to work in the non-profit world. I never wanted to run an organization, manage people, particularly volunteers!  But here I was, doing all that. Why? It just felt right to be able to “give back,” when I had been given so much. Did it change my life? Yes.

  Just as I had the support of other women when starting my own business, I was surrounded by women, women who also wanted to make a difference.  Curiously, this time I didn’t even go through the decision-making process of should I do this or not.  Why?  I think it was because I had become even more of a risk-taker and trusted my instincts. I found a way to leave a legacy of meaning for my children and grandchildren.

  So, take a deep breath, “step out and jump.”  But before you do, strive to get the support of other women by listening, networking, asking for and giving advice, and  consider partnerships or unique work relationships. Stay close to your women friends and cultivate them in business.  Many of most treasured life-long friends were my clients.

  ***

  Barbara Goldberg is the Founder and President of Wells Bring Hope, a Los Angeles-based non-profit that drills wells in Niger, West Africa to bring safe water and good sanitation to those in one of the three poorest countries in the world. Inspired to take up this cause by former L.A. County District Attorney Gil Garcetti in 2008, Barbara and her all-volunteer organization have funded 67 wells. Their vision? Saving lives with safe water. Women and girls no longer have to walk miles every day to find water. Girls can go to school and women get micro-loans to start small businesses.

  Barbara is proud to be in the inaugural issue of The Spirited Woman Directory, which is bringing together women from around the world in a massive collaborative effort. Women from six countries and 25 states are featured in the magazine-style digital Directory celebrating the “every woman” visionary, who are inspiring and changing the world, one Spirited Woman step at a time.

   

• Every Woman Visionary: 6 Tips to Tap Into Your Personal Power and Create Results for You and Your Business

  Thursday, April 12, 2012
  

  Rebecca Matias

  How many times have you wanted to move forward in your life, in your business or both, but felt you were at a standstill? Your focus, your direction is off. You know that you want to make some changes, but you’re not sure where you need to start. Life is full of challenges but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. There is clarity. You need to simply tap into your personal power so that the results you want can actually manifest in your life. These 6 steps will get you there:

  Self Awareness:

  Knowledge is power, but self-knowledge is mega-power, which connects you to your purpose, and taps in to that passion below the purpose.

  Continuing to learn about yourself, your needs, your likes and dislikes will re-connect you with parts of yourself that you have disconnected with along the journey of life.  When stressful or tragic things happen you tend to lose parts of your soul, your very being, but it also creates space for you to re-connect as well.  In current times of disappointment and heartbreak, or feelings of failure you can allow space for those feelings and pieces of yourself will return to you.

  As you grow you change, but so many people don’t ask the questions of self-exploration, which is the doorway to getting clear about your wants and needs and get clear within yourself so you can get clear with others.

  Being honest, most importantly with yourself is your quickest path to authenticity, which is the cornerstone of every relationship, especially with clients!

  Set Boundaries

  What are the boundaries that govern your life?  Do they serve you?  Do they serve others?

  The boundaries you create in your own life are by far the most important boundaries you will ever set.  Once you are clear in your own life and honor the boundaries around what you will do and when and also whom you will invest your time with or will not, you will have set a very firm foundation for how the world treats you.  As you honor and hold firm in these healthy boundaries, you will find that client drama or employee drama falls to the wayside.

  Goals

  Set goals and map it out to get there. Mapping out your personal and professional goals with a mentor or a colleague can triple the results you are looking for in this area.  Find someone who you trust and can give you an honest perspective -  maybe even someone who will stretch you more into your authentic self, more fully aligned with your unique purpose.

  Balance:

  Finding the thin line of balance is the power.  You already have this power inside of you.  It is your duty to return to it.  Even our physical bodies are constantly working toward homeostasis.  I find this amazing considering the wide amount of abuse we expose ourselves to.  Think about it, how well do you eat, drink, do you get enough water?  Just think for a moment how we abuse ourselves by working too much.  Especially in the Western hemisphere, we are overworked and under-vacationed.

  Be a Risk Taker

  Be willing to take risks!  Yes truly, this is the key to living life large.  Did you even know you were meant to live life large like this?  Well you are, and the first thing you can do to step into this greater purpose is to take a risk.  No amount of you staying small will ever help you evolve yourself and more importantly, the greater part of humanity and the world.  You say you want more, but what aligned actions are you willing to take?  You can spend the rest of your life asking the Universe or who or whatever is the greater force in your life, for the bigger experiences in life, but nothing is going to happen until you take that leap first.  Then, just watch out and see how much shows up to keep you flowing down the river into the life of your dreams.  You are also modeling for your clients when you do this.  How can you expect great clients to show up in your business, doing incredible things if you do not embody that first?  Go on give it a shot…. I dare you!

  Power = Freedom

  Feeling powerless is a victim, non-faith mentality that will continue to further disempower you.  Be honest with yourself.  Where are you falling into the victim mindset?  Be willing to realize that on some level you are creating your experience.  Get the help you need to change it if that is the case.  Stepping into your power allows you a freedom like never before experienced.  The more you step into your authentic empowered self, the more you will align with all you have ever dreamed up.  After all, you and your dreams are already one.

  By implementing these 6 tips to tap into your personal power, you can create a path to achieving the results you want. Sometimes the path is not always easy. It takes a fresh look at things – a new mental perspective. By using these tips you can rewire your way of thinking and looking at things to achieve more than you dreamed possible. You can gain fulfillment in your business and in your life. Life is what you make of it and with these tips, you can make it as amazing as you are.

  ***

  Rebecca Matias is a leading pioneer in the field of business coaching, an author and a speaker.  She is passionate about helping women build and expand their business aligned with their unique purpose. Rebecca guides clients to form a solid foundation of authenticity, powered by what she calls, “Their Big Why”.

  As an Intuitive Business Coach™, she passionately guides women visionaries, entrepreneurs, authors and world changers on how to live their highest potential, implement evolutionary ideas in their businesses so they enlarge their impact in the world while dramatically increasing their prosperity.

  She inspires audiences with her signature presentations on “5 Keys To Creating a Thriving Abundant Business” and “4 Steps to Expand Your Success & Create Sustainability”.  You can learn more about Rebecca and her evolutionary programs and services by visiting www.RebeccaMatias.com . 

  Rebecca is proud to be in the inaugural issue of The Spirited Woman Directory, which is bringing together women from around the world in a massive collaborative effort. Women from six countries and 25 states are featured in the magazine-style digital Directory celebrating the “every woman” visionary, who are inspiring and changing the world, one Spirited Woman step at a time.

  
  

• Every Woman Visionary: Releasing the Juicy, Creative Woman Within

  Thursday, March 8, 2012
  

  Shelley Lieber

  I’m at an age where I’ve begun to view my world from a historical perspective. I rather like that vantage point because I can apply my 20:20 hindsight to current events. What I see is women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s doing exactly what I did at those ages, saying what I said (and still say, although less frequently). “I’m too busy,” “I have too much to do,” “No time for that!” “Self-care is selfish.”

  I get it because I’ve lived it. Raising a family, building a career, and being a business or life partner are all activities that can deplete your energy. All that dashing around, attending to the needs of others, and putting your dreams on the back burner for any reason dries you up. When you sit down for your “creative time,” you find there’s nothing left. All the good juice is gone, and what you really want to do is take a nap.

  This is where I get to share the benefit of my historical perspective. (If any of the above sounds like you, pay attention. If it doesn’t, keep reading anyway. My mother always said, “You learn something new every day.”)

  After a decade or more of delaying satisfaction of your needs, it becomes a habit. There’s always something else where you can place your attention instead of getting down to what you’ve declared you want to do.  If that’s been your M.O. for any length of time, it’s not going to change on its own.  You’ll never “find” time for what you want; you must “make” time for yourself.

  That’s only the first step because when you are a busy woman, you’ll come to your creative space without your mojo. You’ll stare at a blank piece of paper or canvas; you’ll walk around with a camera and never lift it to shoot; you’ll open the refrigerator door and close it a dozen times without taking anything out (or worse, you’ll take everything out and eat it even though it’s not food you’re craving).

  After 30 minutes, an hour, or a day, you’ll feel guilty for spending time without getting anything done. You’ll wonder if you’ll ever have another creative thought. You’ll doubt that what you once thought was creative, edgy and expressive was any good at all.

  You ‘ll think your muse has abandoned you. But it’s not true. You’ve spent so many years “doing” stuff, you’ve forgotten that your creativity is awakened only when you are still enough to connect with it inside you.

  This absolutely still, “down” time is where the magic of imagination comes alive. You may call this process “meditating.” I call it “marinating.” I allow myself to freely soak up the creative juice from within and then release it later on the page.

  Choreographer Twyla Tharp said, “It takes skill to bring something you’ve imagined into the world. No one is born with that skill. It is developed through exercise, through repetition, through a blend of learning and reflection that’s both painstaking and rewarding. And it takes time.”

  Every Woman Visionary, your time is now, the only time there is. Start doing nothing and watch your world change.

  ***

  Shelley Lieber is an author with a split personality. As The Wordy Woman, publishing consultant, she wrote 4Ps to Publishing Success and Publishing Made Easy & Profitable for new and aspiring authors. Her wilder side writes erotic fiction under the nom de plume Elyse Grant. The Prince Charming Hoax, her debut novel, introduces two female protagonists with strong and sometimes conflicting personalities that match her own inner selves: smart, successful and nurturing vs. sassy, ambitious and daring. Whether writing fiction or nonfiction, she is committed to championing and empowering women and authors. She’s created the writers’ community VIP Authors and is Publisher at Visual Impressions Publishing, a print-on-demand and ebook publishing company providing professional services and consultation for independent authors.

  Shelley is proud to be in the inaugural issue of The Spirited Woman Directory, which is bringing together women from around the world in a massive collaborative effort. Women from six countries and 25 states are featured in the magazine-style digital Directory celebrating the “every woman” visionary, who are inspiring and changing the world, one Spirited Woman step at a time.

   

   

• Every Woman Visionary: The GURU is U

  Thursday, February 9, 2012

  
  Dawn Z Bournand

  Have you ever had the experience of hearing something put in just such a way that you wonder how you ever missed seeing it that way before?  That was my experience the other day when listening to the wonderful Jean Houston speaking.  She said something so obvious and so true I couldn’t believe that I had not seen it before.  In her deeply wise voice she pronounced “GURU stands for Gee U (you) are  U (you)”.  Is that not fantastic?

  It is such a perfect way of saying what is so very important to know:  you already have all the answers inside of you, you are indeed your own guru. This is not to say that having coaches, mentors or leaders is a bad thing.  We all need help every once in a while to find the best way to do something from those who have been there and done that.  Yet, it is always very important to check in with your inner wisdom, your deepest source of knowledge, to get a feeling for what is really and truly BEST for you.

  Here I am as a coach and mentor myself telling you that you already have the answers.  It may seem a bit contradictory,but it is not. It is essential to understand how incredible you are before you can achieve all the amazing things you are capable of doing.

  When was the last time you complimented yourself?  If you are like most people it is somewhere in between far too long ago to almost never.  We (and this is especially true for women) are so quick to notice when someone else is doing something right.  Praise and recognition are wonderful things and should be used abundantly and that is doubly true when it comes to you.  I’m not talking about having an inflated ego –  it is simply a matter of noticing when you do something good and not continually putting yourself on a comparison scale and judging that you fall short each time.

  Gee yoU aRe yoU can now become your new motto.  Use it when you first wake up in the morning and look at your marvelously messed up hair and sleep filled eyes in the mirror.  U are fantastic, U are going to have an amazing day and U are going to make contributions that no one else will be able to make in exactly the same way.  There will be moments or days when you don’t feel so GURUish and those are the times when you reach out to like minded friends, coaches or mentors to remind you how incredible you really are.

  Let’s face it, great people accomplish great things.  You are already among those select few –  you just need to realize it.  Now this may all sound like a rah rah pep talk but I truly believe if you are here reading this right now… there is a reason.  This is your wake-up call.  Now go and do something Fabulous!  You’re a GURU, after all.

  ***

  DAWN Z BOURNAND is founder of Fabulously Successful, a personal and professional transformation company for women the world over. An expat American living in Paris, Dawn was motivated by the incredibly positive opportunities transformation has brought to her own life.  She now shares her empowering message of fulfillment through focused change across the globe.  Her writing has appeared in the award-winning book Conscious Entrepreneurs, and the anthologies The Law of Attraction in Action and The Power of 100. She has chaired panels and spoken from Dubai to Paris to New York.

  Dawn is proud to be in the inaugural issue of The Spirited Woman Directory, which is bringing together women from around the world in a massive collaborative effort. Women from six countries and 25 states are featured in the magazine-style digital Directory celebrating the “every woman” visionary, who are inspiring and changing the world, one Spirited Woman step at a time.

   

• Every Woman Visionary: I AM A SPIRITED WOMAN (And, So Are You!)

  Thursday, January 12, 2012

  
  Nancy Mills

  I think it started when I was six. I was gifted with an Annie Oakley skirt. I walked around the house (strutted, if truth be told) in my bright red velvet skirt with white fringe and all sorts of pockets filled with fake guns, shouting, “Bang, bang,” to shake things up. Wake things up. Just bring me some type of action!

  Thus began my career as a Spirited Woman. That inner-Annie has stuck with me my whole life – you might say I channeled her essence or she channeled mine – and together, we decided to ride off into the land of Spirited Womanhood.

  Well, it didn’t exactly happen quite that way. Along the journey, there were many bumps, obstacles, challenges, careers, family issues, fears, self-esteem concerns and on and on. But I always dusted myself off (no matter how long it took) and through my unstoppability (a big Spirited Woman characteristic), I persevered.

  And I have to ask you this: Don’t you feel that you are unstoppable too? I feel that each one of us is born with this inner-spirit. This inner-passion. This inner-fire. This inner-something that propels us forward no matter what. Sure, there are days when the pilot isn’t lit. The fuse feels burned out. But, I am here to tell you that is only temporary.

  We are all born with that spirit within us. It is free. It is there. And it is ours.

  Every woman on this planet is born a visionary. YOU have gifts beyond your wildest imagination. To help others. Change the world. Make a difference.

  As the founder and creator of Spirited Woman, one of the leading and longest lasting women’s empowerment communities in the world – I’ve seen the genuine universal power of women. The collective energy and support and the ability no matter what the culture to tap into your essence.

  Beyond a doubt, I feel that women are coming into a time where they are not only aware of what they can do, but they are being energized and inspired by each other’s stories. The power of women’s stories is immeasurable and limitless. That is the primary reason why we created The Spirited 2012 Directory: Resources for an Inspired Life!  It is a digital on-line Directory that is free, and filled with stories by women from six countries and over 25 states.

  I always say, “Look around you.”   You never know who is standing next to you in the grocery store check-out line. That woman, that every woman visionary, the one with her two kids in hand, could be an award-winning researcher, leading the fight to find a cure for cancer. You just never know.

  So, as I wrap up this blog post, I’d like to salute your spirit. And may YOU continue to change the world, one Spirited Woman step at a time.

  Bang. Bang.

  Nancy Mills
  Founder/Creator, TheSpiritedwoman.com 

  ***

  NANCY MILLS, the Publisher/Creator of the first-ever Spirited Woman 2012 Directory: Resources for an Inspired Life!, is a leading women’s visionary. The founder of TheSpiritedWoman.com, a global empowerment community for women, she is also the publisher of the popular Spirited Woman Blogger Team, and the host of the “Spirited Woman Visionary” conversation series, where she is known for her inspirational insight and interview style. A frequent radio and TV show guest, Nancy speaks internationally on women’s empowerment issues from letting your voice be heard to her belief in the Every Woman Visionary.