I am celebrating our success

My friends and family will tell you that just before the Journey 2 Success conference I can be heard muttering under my breath “never again, this is the LAST one.”  

And certainly this year was no different, in fact I had decided it really was the last one.  

Equating my decision that it was better, like a TV show, to quit while you were ahead.  Plus “10^th conference” had a good ring to it.

Fast forward two days after the conference and what have I just done?  Booked the space for next year – May 9^th ladies, mark your calendar.   

What made me change my mind?  Apart from being on a high from the day,  I just love, love seeing women connect and support one another.  I spend hours plotting out the table plans and to see it working is reward in itself.  The energy in the room was palpable and it wasn’t just at the start, it lasted all day.

Second – I have come to realize that we are offering something special and unique to women and I want more women to benefit from that experience.  Part of my growth is learning to delegate and so heads up team, get ready as I plan to rope you all in.

Lastly, where else do I get told by 200 + women that I am looking good?J

As I sat in on the Make it Happen session the day after the conference, I was struck by some common themes that came up. 

The sense of community that Company of Women has created.  Not just at the conference, but across the organization. We had women there from all nine chapters, including Manitoba, and it became really clear to me that we are attracting like-minded women, who want to support not compete with one another.

My second observation was that we can all learn from one another, no matter what stage you are at in the your business or how successful you are, there is always something new to learn.

There was much conversation at the conference about success and as one person pointed out, it is an inside job.  It starts with how you feel about yourself and your level of self-awareness.   The speakers frequently talked about trust – in yourself and your gut instincts and in others.  Being authentic was also key. 

Our keynote speaker Amy McLaren spoke with such humility and honesty about the life-changing charity she started at 26, downplaying her achievements while encouraging us all to step up and make a difference.  And we did.  Together we raised $5,085 for Amy’s charity – World Teacher Aid.

As I listened to the women in the Make it Happen session it was interesting that many of their main takeaways came from someone who ran a charity, not a for-profit-business, which speaks to the fact that it really doesn’t matter what type of business you are running, striving to do and be your best is what matters.

As for Liz Radzick.  What can I say?  She’s always amazing but when she just took over the opening session without a blink… that’s masterful.  That’s truly role modelling how to go with the flow.

That leads me to our ending - the clever, entertaining but thought-provoking documentary – One Red Lipstick – produced by Spenser Chapple, a young woman with insights beyond her years, who was looking for role models, and found them.

It was a day of laughter, tears and wisdom, in a community of women who care.

See you next year.

Hand in Hand into the World

A smile came across my face as I watched a group of preschoolers out for a walk, all hanging on to a rope that kept them safe and linked together.  

It brought back warm memories of when my girls were little, but it also struck me that at Company of Women we do the same.

Just as the children were holding on to the rope, you just know that if one of them fell, the group would stop, an adult would go over, pick up and

comfort the child and likewise if one of our members, stumbled, I’d like to think that we would rally round and her chapter leader would be there to provide support.

And worse case scenario, one of the children broke loose, there would be someone to go after the child and bring her back to the “fold.”

Sometimes as small business owners we can fall by the wayside,  tripping on some obstacle that seems overwhelming at the time.  I am sure we can all think of friends who are sometimes “missing in action” and who disappear when the challenges become too hard to face and share.

But perhaps that’s just when, like the teacher with the children, we need to be there.  We need to check in and gently remind the individual that there are people who care; that all of us have faced tough situations and perhaps we can help. 

And maybe we can’t,  but just knowing that you are not alone; that others have been there and survived, can reduce that sense of isolation. Your caring doesn’t go unnoticed.

We can become the safety net for each other.  Providing a safe place where you can be honest, authentic and vulnerable is what Company of Women is all about.  

It was that vulnerability that enabled the women in the One Red Lipstick book  to share their stories with us.  They are our role models, showing us the way to overcome obstacles with resilience and tenacity so we too can achieve success on our own terms.

I encourage you to look around.  Is there someone missing?  Someone who hasn’t shown up recently?  Why not check in?    We are all on a similar journey and hopefully heading in the same direction, let’s make sure we are there when someone gets lost.

As Robert Fulgham says in his book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten  “When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.”

Are you passionate about your business?

Does your face light up when you talk about your business? 

Having a passion for what you are doing makes such a difference, especially given the number of hours you have to dedicate to your business for it to be successful.

Recently a young friend was telling me about her business plans, and ever -ready to offer assistance and foster entrepreneurship in young people, I was in there like a ‘dirty shirt’ making suggestions and offering support to help her make this happen.

So I arranged for her to meet a friend, a business expert and coach, thinking this would help her crystalize her ideas.  She arrived ready to talk about her business plans, and left with a totally different perspective, and lots to think about and consider.

Why?  Because unlike me who took her concept at face value, my friend challenged her on why she wanted to do this and asked probing questions about her life, her relationships and her passions.  

It quickly became clear that her business idea, was just that - an idea – one of many, and not really her true passion.  It was when her face lit up that we identified that this passion and a new relationship, was what she needed to pursue.

Because as we all know, ithout the passion and right people behind you, it is harder to make it work.

It was an interesting afternoon for all of us.  While my friend left with her head likely spinning with the options available to her; I realized that I need to learn to ask more questions and not just assume that the person knows what is best for her,  because perhaps she doesn’t.