Check out the great articles and tips from the WomanTalk Live Experts this week:

The Spark Factory: 10 Move-You-Forward Questions About Beginnings and Endings
Susan Bishop, Unlocked Box
This week I was inspired by an article entitled…

WellPower: 5 Simple New Year’s Resolutions
The Clinical Nutrition Team at Saint Agnes Hospital
These five small changes are simple to stick with and are big strides to helping you become healthier and happier in 2014…

Women in History: Did You Know?
The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center
What Maryland woman is known as the “First Lady of Pharmacy”?

This week I was inspired by an article titled, When to Quit Your Job and Become an Entrepreneur. It took me back eight years – to the time when I made the leap from working at an ad agency to launching my own business.

Making the initial decision to leave advertising wasn’t easy and, even after I committed, I stayed stuck for almost three months.

What it took to get me going toward my dream was NOT a big dose of courage (because I was definitely scared). It was NOT making a plan (because I didn’t make one). And it was NOT the loving support of my family and friends (even though it sure was nice to have that).

It was one simple question asked by my coach:

If not now, when?

Deciding to stop doing what you’ve been doing for a long time and move on to something new is no easy task – and all the pros and cons lists in the world do little to move most of us forward.

What does seem to make a difference, though, are the simple, but powerful questions we ask ourselves, or are asked by others, that allow for quick and deep gut checks, monumental perspective shifts and swift saboteur management.

Here are 10 Move-You-Forward Questions for Endings and Beginnings (starting with my coach’s) that have helped me and my clients get inspired and in motion when it was time to close one door and open another:

If not now, when?

What do I know – FOR SURE?

Where am I selling myself short?

What do I need to stop believing in order to move forward?

What part of myself will I get to honor in this new venture?

What part of myself do I choose to back burner – even if it’s just for now?

What am I celebrating about the now-ending phase of my life?

What will I be celebrating one year from now?

What’s NOT important?

What’s the first step?

AND ONE FINAL SIMPLE YES OR NO QUESTION:

Am I willing to give up the life I have to get the life that’s waiting for me?

Susan B.

Unlocked Box – coaching for risk-takers, box-breakers and wannabe’s. Sign up for the eZine Guts at UnlockedBox.com and get the 10 Un-Rules of Creativity.

These five small changes are simple to stick with and are big strides to helping you become healthier and happier in 2014:

1. Drink more water. You should aim for 4 cups of water per day. Keep a bottle with you at all times to sip on throughout the day. Sodas and other high-sugar drinks are loaded with empty calories that won’t fill you up. Replacing these beverages with water will decreases calories consumed and help with weight loss.
2. Consume low-fat dairy products. Low-fat milk, cheese, and yogurt taste just as good as their full-fat versions, but have much less saturated fat, which clogs your arteries. Choosing low-fat yogurt and 1% or skim milk saves over 29,000 calories per year, which is equal to an 8 pound weight loss.
3. Stock up on healthy recipes. There are many delicious recipes that are good for you. Building up a collection will inspire you to have fun in the kitchen and cook your own meals. Cooking at home, as opposed to eating out, allows you to control what goes into your food and saves hundreds of calories a day.
4. Go for whole grains. Whole grains are great sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Fiber lowers cholesterol and the risk for heart disease and some cancers as well as keeps you full long after a meal. Choose whole grain cereals, breads, rice and pasta.
5. Get moving. There are lots of ways to exercise and have fun without stepping foot in a gym. If you like video games, try the Wii fit, take a walk with a friend or your dog, go sledding with your kids, or plan a hike on the weekends. You will get fitter and burn calories without even realizing it!

Here’s to a healthy and happy new year,

The Maryland Metabolic Institute at Saint Agnes Hospital

*****

At Saint Agnes Hospital, we believe that the care we provide our patients is second to none. We offer a full range of health care services and are proud that the doctors, nurses and health care professionals on our staff are the best in the industry. We believe it is our privilege to serve the people of the Baltimore/Washington area and to care for all patients who enter our doors. For more information, visit www.stagnes.org.

Bessie Olive Cole earned her doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 1913 with the highest grade average in her class.  She continued her interest in pharmacy through teaching and became the first woman in the country to hold a full professorship in pharmacy.

She enrolled in the University of Maryland School of Law in 1920, the first class to admit women, and became a specialist in pharmaceutical law.

Today the Maryland Pharmaceutical Association in Baltimore houses the Dr. B. Olive Cole Museum, acknowledging her as the first lady of pharmacy.

Another amazing woman.

***

The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center is committed to telling and preserving the stories of Maryland’s unsung heroines and honoring their many contributions. Whether nurturing our families, volunteering in the community, leading an organization, working in a school, hospital or religious institution, campaigning for a political candidate, working in our factories, or creating a work of art, these women have played an integral role in helping to build Maryland’s future.

Find out how you can submit an unsung heroine for consideration.

***

The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center...the first state center of its kind in the nation providing a place to learn and teach about the contributions of Maryland women throughout the state’s history.The initial home of the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center is open in Baltimore City at 39 West Lexington Street at Liberty Street!Hours of operation are Wednesday – Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm.  Admission is FREE!And, be sure to follow us on Twitter and visit our Facebook page for updates on the Center.

Check out the great articles and tips from the WomanTalk Live Experts this week:

The Spark Factory: The One Time When Being Clear Makes Your Marketing Bomb
Susan Bishop, Unlocked Box
Whether you’re developing your personal brand or your business brand, there is likely one marketing must-have …

WellPower: Spice Up Seasoning Staples
The Clinical Nutrition Team at Saint Agnes Hospital
If your idea of adding flavor to vegetables involves salt, pepper, and butter…

More Than Money: Are You Staying in Action Toward Your Money Goals?
Leonard Raskin, CEO, Raskin Global
Over the past few weeks, we asked you to…

Relationship Recharge: Our Holiday Wish for You
Lori & Bob Hollander, Relationships Work
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery…

Passion and Purpose: Time and Reflection
Betsy Cerulo, CEO, AdNet AccountNet, Inc.
The Christmas tree is up, the lights are blinking bright…

Women in History: Did You Know?
The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center
What one determined woman can accomplish…

Whether you’re developing your personal brand or your business brand, there is likely one marketing must-have that you’ve thought about a TON, created multiple versions of and, quite possibly, haven’t yet nailed.

It’s the Elevator Speech.

And if you have written one – or tried to – you already know it’s one of the most difficult marketing pieces to do well.

To understand why, take a look at the definition of an elevator speech in conjunction with its context (when it’s most commonly used):

Definition of an Elevator Speech: A very short statement that explains what your business is and what you do. It’s all about clarity, right?

Context of an Elevator Speech: When meeting someone for the first time. Here, it’s all about creating interest.

While it’s nice to think that simply spewing out a short statement that explains your business and what you do, works in the context of meeting a potential prospect for the first time, it doesn’t.

The definition of an elevator speech misses the whole point of the context.

To write a great elevator speech, don’t focus on what an elevator speech technically is, but on what it’s for:

Purpose of an Elevator Speech: To intrigue; to interest someone you are meeting for the first time in talking to you further.

So, if you veiw your elevator speech as a statement that’s supposed to explain everything in one fell swoop, you’ll likely write an elevator speech that does little to further the conversation.

Instead, view your elevator speech through the eyes of its purpose. Doing this will make you far more likely to write an elevator speech that sparks curiosity, creates interest and generally engages the person you are meeting.

In other words, thinking first and foremost about the real purpose of an elevator speech helps you write one that encourages further conversation.

So, how do you write an elevator speech that accomplishes its true purpose, rather than fulfills its standard definition? After all, explaining what you do in a way that fills in all the blanks is a heck of a lot easier than writing one that sparks curiosity.

One of the best ways to begin is by exploring metaphors, similes and symbols that represent what you do:

• “I wake up sleeping geniuses.” (a coach)
• “I’m like super glue for teams.” (a team builder)
• “I help CEOs see through fog.” (a consultant)
• “I help companies look into the future.” (a technology specialist)

Literally, an elevator speech can be (and really should be) as short as that.

It’s far better to have someone ask, “What does that mean?” or even, “Huh?” than to have them say, “Oh, okay.” leaving you scrambling for how to keep the conversation going – a situation that typically leads to a mundane next step, “So … do you work with a technology specialist currently?

BLAH. BORING. DEAD END.

You can see the power of metaphor-ish elevator speeches that are designed to accomplish the true purpose of an elevator speech even more clearly if you look at one in comparison to an elevator speech written per the definition:

“I wake up sleeping geniuses.” vs. “I’m a business coach who helps people reach their full potential.”

If you were the prospect, which would excite you more? (The waking up sleeping geniuses idea belongs to someone publicly known – I just can’t remember who!)

My coaching clients have been able to come up with super intriguing elevators speeches, even though they are not writers by trade, using the metaphor exercise. Here are some real examples (again, not all are metaphors per se, but you’ll be able to see how starting with the metaphor exercises helped shape the result):

• I teach people how to live upside down.
• I help people live with the lights on.
• We’re Sherpas to the mountain of success.
• I’m the mastermind behind the relationship revolution.
• We’re the missing link in the org chart.

This type of curiosity-sparking elevator speech can come quite easily once you’ve looked at your business as a metaphor (maybe generating a page of possibilities) – and also after digging deep to understand your personal or business brand inside out.

To get started, simply ask yourself:

What is my business like?

OR: My business is the WHAT for my target audiences?

If you’re creating a personal brand, ask:

What am I like?

OR: I’m the WHAT in/for the world?

It does take a bit of exploration, but it’s so worth the work to have an elevator speech that actually has a chance of making something interesting happen.

To breaking through on elevators,

Susan B.

Unlocked Box – coaching for risk-takers, box-breakers and wannabe’s. Sign up for the eZine Guts at UnlockedBox.com and get the 10 Un-Rules of Creativity.

P.S. How do you pull off a metaphor-inspired elevator speech without sounding like a goofball? The answer is really about having confidence and faith in your brand. When you develop an elevator speech that captures the essence of what you do and what your business is about, it’s going to resonate strongly with you and it’s going to feel VERY RIGHT, too. It may take saying it a few times, for sure, before you feel totally agile using it. But you might also be surprised by how easily it comes because it does resonate so deeply. The examples listed for real clients were very easily embraced by them, because they are truly based on the bigger brand story the client developed and loves – a story that has real substance for target audiences and which doesn’t end with the elevator speech. JUST REMEMBER: This type of elevator speech is designed to start a conversation. It’s not supposed to wrap things up neatly and make everyone feel comfortable. It’s supposed to spark something. Sure, straightforward feels “safer,” but when you think about all the potentially profitable conversations you’ll end short, rather than start up, you’ll begin to see that, really, being perfectly clear is a heck of a lot riskier.

If your idea of adding flavor to vegetables involves salt, pepper, and butter, try branching out. Using herbs and spices can take a vegetable dish from ordinary to extraordinary with little, if any, extra effort. And your vegetables will be healthier, too.

Herbs: (fresh or dried) – Be careful not to overdo it on dried herbs. They are more concentrated than the fresh form and can easily overpower vegetable flavor.

• Oregano
• Basil
• Parsley
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Chervil
• Tarragon
• Coriander
• Cumin
• Dill
• Ginger
• Lemongrass
• Garlic (Technically it’s not an herb; It’s a vegetable like an onion)

Spices:

• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Cloves
• Turmeric
• Curry

Here’s to spicing up your season,

The Maryland Metabolic Institute at Saint Agnes Hospital

*****

At Saint Agnes Hospital, we believe that the care we provide our patients is second to none. We offer a full range of health care services and are proud that the doctors, nurses and health care professionals on our staff are the best in the industry. We believe it is our privilege to serve the people of the Baltimore/Washington area and to care for all patients who enter our doors. For more information, visit www.stagnes.org.

Over the past few weeks, we asked you to:

1. Think about your financial goals for 2014.
2. Prioritize your goals for 2014.
3. Write down the daily, weekly and monthly actions you’ll need to adopt to reach those goals.
4. Make a list of any obstacles that might stop you from taking action toward your goals.
5. And, finally, figure out what you need to do overcome each obstacle – whether it’s a belief shift exercise or brainstorming a way to get around a logistical roadblock.

Now, that you have all of the above, you’re well on your way to making 2014 your best money year ever in terms of making progress toward achieving your goals.

Even so, life has a way of thwarting plans fast, and if we’re not rock solid in our resolve, and if we don’t have structures in place to support our effort, we can easily get off track.

So, what can we do to make sure we don’t find ourselves further away from our financial goals, rather than closer to them?

Here are a few tips to help you stay in action and on track in making your 2014 money actions a reality:

• Visualize the tangible results of achieving your goals and what life will be like when you get there. Think about making a vision board to remind you of what you’re going for and revisit it when you need inspiration or feel your motivation slipping.
• Keep your daily, weekly and monthly actions list someplace where you’ll see it every day. If possible, keep it near the spot where you’ll actually be taking action (e.g. on the wall next to the desk where you balance your checkbook or conduct online banking).
• Create a tickler system that reminds you of your critical actions (e.g. set calendar reminders on your smart phone).
• Enlist an accountability buddy to help you both stay motivated (i.e. this would be someone who has also outlined her money goals for 2014 and has an action list prepared).
• Set a meeting with your financial professional for the beginning of the year to review your goals, and set an accountability date with him or her at the half way point (May, June or July) to report on progress and make course corrections.
• Plan small rewards for meeting benchmark interim goals, and also a big celebration for when you reach your annual goal at the end of 2014.

These are just a few tips for staying on track toward your financial goals. Now, it’s your turn to brainstorm a handful more that you think will work particularly well for you.

Once your customized-for-you financial stay-on-track tip list is complete, you have just one more task before the real fun begins:

Get everything you’ll need to take your financial actions and stay in motion ready for the first of year – that way, you can hit the ground running come January 1st.

To getting wiser,

Leonard Raskin
Women Getting Wise on Wealth from Raskin Global
443-212-1122

***

Get the TOP 10 FEMALE FEARS ABOUT MONEY absolutely FREE when you enter your email address on our website (just look for the GET RICH IN KNOWLEDGE box at the top right).

We’ll also keep you up-to-date on our popular FREE seminar series – so visit www.WomenGettingWiseonWealth.com today!

Raskin Global is a team of highly experienced financial planners who believe you deserve more than financial advice. You deserve to be confident and inspired so that you can take charge of your own future and make the wisest decisions possible in all areas of your life. To talk with us about all the ways you can take charge of your finances and create the life you want, give us call at 443-212-1122.

Leonard P. Raskin, Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities, LLC (PAS), 954 Ridgebrook Road, Suite 300, Sparks, MD 21152.  Securities products/services and advisory services are offered through PAS, a registered broker-dealer and investment advisor, (410)828-5400.  Field Representative, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, New York. PAS is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Guardian.  Raskin Global is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. PAS is a member of FINRA, SIPC.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift which is why we call it the Present.”
- Bil Keane

The days go slow, but the years fly by. Christmas is almost here once again and 2013 is coming to a close. This is the time of year to spend precious time with those we love, to give and to receive, to exchange good wishes and share love with family and friends.

It is also a great time to pause and consider how you have lived your relationships this past year. Have you made enough time for the ones you love? Has the time spent together been quality time? Did you carve out sacred time for your partner, husband or wife? What do you want to change about your partnership in 2014?

You and your partner, individually and together, have the power to create the relationship you want and deserve. Small changes can make a big difference.

It’s as simple as asking your partner in what ways does he/she need to receive more love from you, and making a conscious effort to do those things.

Believe us, the payoff is tremendous. We’re here to support you in your journey.

We are going to take next week off from writing our newsletter. But we will be back the first week of January!

Bob and I wish you and your families a joyous holiday and a new year full of love.

Sign up for our monthly eNewsletter, Radical Relationships, to receive more tips and articles from us about relationships. And visit us on Facebook.

To Your Extraordinary Relationship,

Lori and Bob Hollander
Relationships Work

The Christmas tree is up, the lights are blinking bright, the gifts are wrapped under the tree and all is perfect.  Uh oh, then everything falls apart – the lights go out and life unravels as Christmas day approaches.  This is what happens when we race through the holiday season getting everything done… we lose sight of what the day and the season is all about.

For anyone who has watched A Charlie Brown Christmas, one of the precious moments was Linus coming up on stage and pointing out the craziness of the Peanuts gang by saying “Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Linus reminds us of peace on earth and goodwill toward men.  It took that simple reminder to bring the gang around Charlie Brown and praise him for the effort he put forth in finding a tree, albeit small.  Once the love was expressed, the tree became something beautiful.  It had nothing to do with bright, shiny and big things.  It was about friendship, peace and empowerment.

So, year after year, why do we play the same game during the holidays – over-spending and going through the month of December in a stressful trance to get it all done? You can stop this at anytime.  You can spend wisely, give thoughtful gifts or perhaps, give the gift of love.  Instead of buying you a gift, ask your family for help in setting up a creative space in the house for you. Ask them for a family night of playing games and having them cook you a meal.  How about a day out in nature or a day where the only music in the house is your favorite?  At this point in life, don’t most of us have everything we need?  Isn’t it peace and time we crave the most?  Go back to the real meaning of the season, stop the madness and ask for what you want.

And, if you celebrate Hanukkah? Though it has passed, you still can ask for eight days of whatever you need and spread those days throughout the year. Imagine, eight days where your kids support you to set up your new creative space, write you a poem or story, play you music on the instruments you gifted to them, cook you a meal and pamper you. Celebrating is for kids of every age!

As New Years Eve approaches every year, we write down the things in the ending year that we want to shed and toss them into the fireplace.  It is a cleansing to prepare for the New Year.  We then write our dreams and goals for the New Year.  It is a wonderful exercise that forces you to stop, be with your thoughts and look forward to the coming year.

Take time this holiday season to slow down the best you can and ask for what you need.  The meaning of this holiday is the joy of love and new life.  Hold it in your heart and let it carry you through the New Year.  Let time and peace be your gift to yourself.

Happy Holidays.

***

Betsy Cerulo is the founder and CEO of AdNet AccountNet, Inc., an integrative business solutions company offering recruiting and placement of accounting, financial, administrative, healthcare, human resources and information technology professionals and staff in the private and government sectors.  Her company and employees were recently honored as a 2013 SmartCEO Future 50 Fastest Growing Companies in the Baltimore area. Check it out on YouTube to know more about AdNet’s successful path during turbulent economic times.

Betsy can be contacted directly at 410.715.4035 or by email at [email protected] for Business Advisory Services.

Contact the AdNet team at 410.715.4040 for guidance on your next career change, interim/contractual opportunities while you are between jobs, and/or for strategic solutions to adding to your workforce team.