Ladies Who Launch

Joanna Scaparotti, From Grinch To Guru

From Joanna Scaparotti. Joanna is a member of the Boston Ladies Who Launch where she runs a Reiki practice. Her website is Solutions for Stress, and her blog is Urban Vitality.

The holidays used to stress me out.   The angst and impending sense of doom started just after Labor Day.  When most were thinking about their late summer barbeques, I was already panicking about how I was going survive the holidays with my sanity and health intact.

The worst part for me was shopping for holiday gifts - it was like torture.  I stressed about finding those perfect presents that would delight and please the people I gifted.  I stressed about spending the right amount of money – enough so the person felt valued but not so much that I would end up broke.   I stressed about fair and equal gift giving, trying to make sure that the gifts I got each person were equivalent in value and also similar in number to open on the big day.   The more I stressed over gifts, the more I viewed gift giving as an obligation and came to resent the tradition.

Gifts weren’t the only terrible obligation demanded of me this season.  There were also the sweets, candies, cookies, and pies that everyone loves to make and give; of course I had to accept these gifts and eat them in order not to offend or disappoint.  It was brutal and wreaked havoc on my delicate system.  Then there were the holiday events where I was supposed to be light-hearted, joyful and merry.  Instead I was usually tired and grouchy; with one of those strained fake smiles that makes everyone else nervous and tense.

Not surprisingly, my health would decline this time of year after months of tension and anxiety.  I would be exhausted and achy, suffering from indigestion and some kind of upper respiratory ailment.  January would finally come, and I would collapse into my bed for as long as possible, like the Grinch in his hidey-hole secretly plotting how to stop holidays once and for all.

One year, I just couldn’t go through with it.  I wanted a break, and I refused to shop.  Lo and behold, my husband ended up taking care of all of the presents.  It turned out not to matter that he bought them all just days before Christmas, and they weren’t strategically planned to please and delight.   He enjoyed himself, and nobody could tell the difference between a gift bought spontaneously and a gift chosen deliberately with much debate.  I saw the distinct difference of enjoyment between a gift giver giving from his heart, and a gift giver giving out of obligation.  It was one of those “ah ha!” moments for me. 

Jennifer Cassetta's Incubator Moment

Jennifer Cassetta is the founder/instructor/coach of Health and the City. 

Jennifer’s Incubator Moment follows last week’s news about her article in the Wall Street Journal.

I just wanted to share this story with you because it just shows how powerful this (Incubator) network of women can be. The Wall Street Journal Blog wrote an article about my business and you can find it at: http://blogs.wsj.com/law/. In short, I am having a trademark dispute with HBO because the name of my company, Health and the City, is too close to the show's name.

I didn't have money for a lawyer but I did get the name of a person who writes for the WSJ through a member of LWL (thanks Sabina) because I donated my services to an event, etc.

The bottom line is you never know what good can come out of things.  I just got an email from a lawyer who offered his services pro bono to help me fight HBO. YAY!!

How to Unleash your Inner Sexpot

Would you like to unleash your inner Sexpot?
Pole dancing is the latest trend in workouts it is true. It is Audacious. It is bold.

And fun.

It makes me feel juicy, bodacious and empowered. It trims my waistline and causes me to think differently about who I am being in the world. All that from 2 hours in a very intense and pleasurable workout?

Yes.

So consider this.
If all matter is energy and the Law of Attraction says that like
energy attracts like energy, then imagine the kind of gorgeous
energy you can create by giving the pole a whirl?

There is much to be said for my pole dancing classes and I have
noticed a change in how I approach everything in my life.

As Sheila Kelly, the founder of SFactor has said, "Soak in the
pure, unadulterated flow of your life. Breathe it in and exhale
everything in your mind until your entire being is just bliss. Let
your body float with soft, languid moves that are simply organic to
your being. When you step outside into your day you will notice
something has shifted."

I think I am (finally!) becoming the exquisite creature I was meant to be.
When you uncover your inner sexpot you also uncover your creative
center, which helps you to think of great new ideas for your
business and gives you the lift-off to actually complete what you
start!

Imagine that?

One of my coaches, Andrea J. Lee of Vancouver, British Columbia often speaks about doing activities that open you to your most sensual and creative self. For me it comes from movement and there is nothing like gathering the courage to dance with a pole...and do it gracefully. And also not be afraid to flop on the floor and try again.

If you are looking for a way to shape up your body, mind and spirit
then the Sfactor may just be the thing for you. They have intro
classes and studios are opening all over the place.

Even Oprah loves it.
You will too.
It's Pure Audacious power.

Go on check it out. You know you want to.

http://www.sfactor.com

Nancy Mindes, Chief Audaciousness Officer
Audacious Ladies Coaching Company
http://www.NancyMindes.com

Love Those Ongoing Incubator Meetings!

by, FashionMista

Brrr!!! (picture of cold nyc night from my window is below)

As usual, the Ongoing Incubator meeting for the month poured energy and confidence into every attendee pitching her ideas to traveling groups around a room. Yes, we traveled in groups, by color and number, and practiced pitching our companies to each other, but then there was a twist. At each destination, we had to answer a special question: what was your biggest accomplishment of 2007 (projecting); where will you be in 2012 (aka the dreaded 5 year plan question); how have you helped the world.

All such open ended questions we just made up answers to on the spot, or for some, the answers have seeded and it's a pleasure to express where we truly hope to be in a year or five. This form of networking, or group therapy, or whatever, is like AA but for launching ladies, like "I'm going to LWL" and instead of reaffirming how you won't drink, you're reaffirming how you will launch, and keep launching.

And then it was so fun catching up with everyone, like little Kayla Designs with her super special jewelry, Reel Invitations, and a few others who don't have websites yet. Then there was Kathlin Argiro who've I'd never met, but had referred another designer friend to from a design group in my life, who I have also never met, and the two were like long lost soles! Then I saw Alexandra the personal stylist, but how could I have missed her in her very designy/artistic dress from some fabulous designer?

Of course the evening left me so bubbly, that I had to type about it. And believe me, I've fallen off the blogging wagon because since I quit my job to expand and take Katie James full time (Yes! third day on the job for Katie James!) I've actually been quite busy launching the much needed beauty product review site, MyBeautyBeat.com (ps: she's got a review on Fresh's rice face cream)!

So as the wind blows around and inside of my apartment, I've decidedly ignored gmail to go straight to this LWL blog, and then to my blog if I still have the energy, FashionMista, while under the covers of my velvet topped bed, dog curled up at the foot of it, with a hostess chocolate bad thing right next to me to take care of the persistent PMS craving.

Happy Launching!

Incubator: Eleanor Seaman

Eleanor Seaman is a member of the New York Incubator. You can check out her dresses at I Miss The 70s. She tell us about her Incubator Experience.

The incubator was wonderful.  Everytime I was there, I got an injection of positive energy and meet fabulous women with emerging business who I could bounce questions off.  My product is
a cotton tie-dye dress - a contemporary alternative to Lily Pulitzer. This dress has a splash of color with a touch of bohemian and lots of personality.  It's the warm weather staple for women of all ages. Refined yet groovy which makes them irresistable.  Girlie and feminine, but as comfortable as sweats!

Relief is just a thought away

Dear Audacious Ladies who Launch

Consider this.
Your thoughts and fears are like outdated computer programs that jam up the works
and cause your machine to crash.

But you can always upgrade by getting into action.
Affirmations are a great way to do it.

Try this:
Before you jump out of bed and race off to start your day
take 5 minutes to just close your eyes again and breathe.

First take a moment to say "thank you" for having this wonderful day stretched out before you.
(even if you have a crazy one coming at you, be grateful anyway the universe will notice)
then
Take long slow deep breaths and notice your thoughts;
Avoid making lists or plans just follow the breath and watch your thoughts roll by and let them go.
They will keep coming, keep allowing them to come and go like waves on the shore.

Notice what comes up for you.
What would you like to create for the day?

Now to create a new program to replace your outdated software, create an affirmation that  you can repeat
throughout the day.

Affirmations enable us to let go of negative programming and make space for that which propels you forward.
Here's one to get you started from Louise Hay, from her bestseller, You Can Heal Your Life.

For self criticizing: "I am willing to release the need to be unworthy. I  am worthy of the very best in life, and I now lovingly allow myself to accept it."
Keep it with you.
Post it somewhere and everywhere.
Say it often. SAY IT LOUD.
Step into your Audacious Intention with GUSTO.

A BIG audacious hug to you,
Nancy

Nancy Mindes, coach
Chief Audaciousness Officer
Audacious Ladies get your Success In Style.
How audacious do you want to be?
516.705.8823

Go here to join my Audacious E-Zine http://www.NancyMindes.com

"Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." `Goethe

Incubator Dose NYC Style

by FashionMista

Ah, the LWL Incubator dose! I've been dealing with SQL injections for the past couple of weeks (a yucky form of a website attack), and I warmly welcomed my Incubator Injection! Always, and now this is the 5th consecutive time, on the days of or one day after an Incubator meeting, worlds open and new opportunities or sales happen. It's so wierd.

I forgot about this phenomenon, so when I got a website order from Mississippi today for a pale pink jewelry pouch (a result from a Google search for "cute jewelry pouch," I might add, so thanks to long-worked-for SEO techniques, the pale pink Katie James jewelry pouch came up first for that term), I was just thrilled. When I got an unsolicited wholesale inquiry, I took a step back and realized that I was going to an Incubator meeting, which means that my mind opens to all possibilities and things happen.

And to top it all off, I got picked up on the subway platform tonight coming home (the second time that happened...the first time led to a job interview). This man did...now let me remember...he was a "structured finance lawyer." Now if THAT is NOT what we talk about when we talk about "the feminine" way of working and launching, I don't know what is. I might have had Godiva chocolate on the corner of my mouth from the yummy Godiva chocolate covered pretzels that I couldn't stop eating while talking to a fashion designer/stylist/future founder of libraries for working communities in Africa or South America (the groups she works with actually don't get new reading materials after their final years of school). So all in all, it was a pretty full night. Plus, I'm writing this on the subway so that I can maaaaybe sew some sleep masks for the LWL trunk show this weekend in Garrison. Yay LWL!

This Cat Has Nine Lives

by, FashionMista

This morning after dashing into work, I got this group email from an  NYC Incubator member who sent it late the night before. It was too good not to share:

"I just got home and I don't know why I'm emailing everyone but for some reason I feel like I have this great group of girlfriends at this never ending sleep over and no one says the last peep! Anyways, I went to a launch party for a pub my sister writes for/networking event of sorts, and I met THE most interesting woman. Her name was Shirley Smith, she is 77, and she is a born again writer. She came to NYC at 22 from Kansas to 'find her passion and follow her dream', which led her to be the first ever Maidenform Model (who doesn't know Maidenform Bras). Then she worked with Tennessee Williams and Robert Redford and Paul Newman on Broadway, was in a few movies, even an Alfred Hitchcock piece. Then she got married to 'an Italian from Brooklyn who was crazy but fun' and painted the best picture of those funny years. She is now an accomplished painter, in the Whitney Museum, and is working on her first novel.

What an inspiration, I wish you all were there. Mick ( my boyfriend - though he says that sounds 8th grade and prefers partner, which I think make him sound like my girlfriend, but I digress-) and I walked Shirley home and we had the best chat. We got to know Shirley even more, and she started telling us her advice for living here. She assessed our ages (28 and 32) and then replied that anyone no matter what age should know that life is all about following your passion, and if you don't, you'll never be happy. Yes, we all say duh, but look around. We all have friends who want to take a risk, follow their passion, make their 'why not me' a reality. We have all taken the step and started making that happen. Seeing Shirley, this woman who went after life full throttle, and has followed her passion, worked hard and persevered.....it was such an inspiration! And she's doing just fine, happy, and may I add, SINGLE! What a treat, it's as if someone knew I needed to meet an amazing woman to keep me ticking, and just like that....it happened."

The group couldn't have agreed more. Shirley's story was so inspiring, as I've lived here for 5 years, but every minute of it I feel that I need to take advantage of my location and any hair brained ideas I may get. When I first moved to New York City, which was supposed to happen on 9/11 minutes before it became 9/11, people asked me: "How long are you going to live there?" All I could answer was: "I don't know. I'll evaluate after 5 years." Five years sprang up on me, and I'm really itching. I guess that's why I jumped and joined the Incubator. Now I feel like I'm on a speeding (faster than moving) sidewalk toward more answers...

Nice Things for Ourselves

by, FashionMista

One of the important things to do, or to understand from the Incubator experience, is to do nice things for ourselves. It's nice to think about what you'd like to do for yourself, and then execute it. I've been thinking about quite a lot of nice things to do for myself, and some have become my Goal Nice Things. For example, right now this minute, a nice thing for myself would be an express facial with my old waxer (before she switched to her upper east side location, and before I started lasering), buy my favorite foundation from Fresh and to try Dior mascara Sefora, and buy my dog an Orvis fleece cumfy dog bed (which led me to a new idea for Katie James dog beds...I'll just make really pretty covers for when you want to jazz up the dog bed instead of re-inventing the wheel of finding fill, etc.).

A super nice thing I did do was to commit a personal day from work to attend the Ladies Who Launch Live event on Oct. 19th in NYC. I paid for it (again, not investing into a production run for some beautiful fabric I have in the corner of my sewing room), but I got a surprise...I made it my first charge on my new business Amex Open card, and since it was over $100, Amex credited me $100!! So that was like a  bonus nice thing for myself.

Other nice things from the group have been:
- pedicures, for sure (I snuck in a 10-minute chair massage mid-week)
- Judith at MakeMyReel.com cut up her visions from last week and made them into a sort of motivational mobile above her desk - cool!
- making time to floss and apply Clay Umbrian face Mask from Fresh (i'm in love with it)
- visits with friends
- tea at Alice's Tea Cup on the upper west side
- walks in central park (I sat for an extra long time with my dog Sunday morning during the windiness while doing my launchwork...she loooved sitting on a rock in the breeze, and i sketched her...she was soo cute)
- naps on Saturday afternoons

So all in all, it's been a pretty great experience so far! The nice thing I'm going to do for myself right now is to publish this post and shut down my computer and read from the last book in the Chronicles of Narnia!!

NYC Tuesday Incubator - "Last Night Was Amazing!"

by, FashionMista

"Last night sas AMAZING" was the first sentance from our Tuesday night Incubator leader, Karla, the day after our first meeting. I felt like I'd just had this secret weeknight rendezvous with some new man! Everything clicked with everyone! We keep replying to this same email, so it keeps generating the same feeling in me and makes me giggle.  :)

But the first night of the Incubator did make for a good week, as it got wheels turning as to how I can make my goals happen. Launchwork for our second meeting was to write our visions of everyone's projects, or goals. Everyone's ideas for each other were so revealing, and fun for the writer because their mind could exercise dreaming without borders for others. And because of the nature of the openness of these Incubators, and the non-linear way of feminine thinking, there could be a few goals per person at this stage in their life.

I of course did my homework...slightly off course from what it should be. As a kid who often did not do homework in high school, and when I did, it could easily be on the wrong chapter, I was reeling in old feelings of "Gaaaah!" However, Karla stressed, and I mean stressed, that this was OK. As David (my boyfriend) would say, "more than OK." (He also says I do things the way I want to no matter what.) But I couldn't help it. I had to critique everyone's website (as it's fun for me and second nature at this point), and suggest blogs and websites to others where I felt it could help their businesses grow. This leads me into the results of the night...

The theme of the evening was "synchronicity." Each girl (can we all be girls here..."woman" is too matronly to me...maybe "lady" is the appropriate word here) went around the room reading their visions for the lady in the hot seat who could do nothing but listen, laugh, register major excitement, and say "thank you." Similar concepts appeared from each reading.

We discovered, that while Iris, an acupuncturist, clearly should open her own practice or studio, she was also a secret romance writer! And Tanea, the calligrapher of MyPerfectPenminship.com, who may explore the magic of font making, was pinpointed as an outstanding stand-up comic and motivational speaker, when as a child, all she wanted to do was be an actress, but when she founded out that "actresses don't EAT!" (aka starving artist), she quickly abandoned that idea. A PR girl of the bunch was practically signing us all up as clients and forming pitches in her mind, despite her jet leggedness from a business trip to Ireland.

The synchronicity for me turned out to be that I am going to start freelancing as a website consultant for companies such as these ladies to help them "know what they don't know" and guide their websites to technical efficiency and make them as appetizing for Google as possible. This is all so that I can continue developing Katie James accessories at the pace which is comfortable for me for now (aka freelance as my day job while making my own schedule). One comment from Jillian, the future concierge service owner, affirmed some direction that I'm taking Katie James. She had downloaded the Katie James geraniums desktop wallpaper and liked it because it made her feel "happy." That is an exact adjective I'm using in my mock business plan for Katie James. I felt little angels in the glowing light singing softly, for it means that I'm on target and someone else felt it.

Jane, the goody bag queen, had a direction for me - develop one new product and market it, making it the "it" product of its kind. Done! This is the second post I've written on the subway, and I dare say, it's quite inconvenient waiting until I can sit down in a subway car, versus typing when I'm standing on the platform...and I'm not about to type all of this into a Blackberry! If only there were guitar straps for laptop computers...Are there any other rock star computer users in the house??