Ladies Who Launch

A Different Kind Of Ladies Who Launch

This week marks a first for women in space travel as Peggy Whitson and Pam Melroy became the first women commanders to command both shuttle and space station on the same mission.  If women can lead  in space, then the possibilities here on earth are endless. Go Peggy and Pam!

Read the full article on ABC News.

FOUND: Lots of Gems at the NYC Ladies Who Launch Live Event!

“I joyously live a happy life of imbalance. 

Whatever your business is make sure you’re passionate about it.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. But make it easy for people to help you. Work hard but have fun.

Keep it simple.

Be true to your vision and be authentic.

Find silence for yourself.”

These are just a very few of the (paraphrased) gems I took away from

The Ladies Who Launch Live Event on Thursday, October 18, 2007.

Thursday was an awesome day.  I’m still vibrating from all the energy that was generated throughout the Altman building. Every minute of the day was full of inspiration for me. Meeting new people, walking through the showrooms that were full of talented LWL members and their products and seeing the aisles packed with shoppers.  I took the opportunity to be good to myself and get a chair massage that was offered by State Farm.  I left the chair 2 feet taller.
 

And oh yeah did I mention the amazing guest speakers!! Geraldine Laybourne, Nina Zagat, Christy Turlington Burns, and Mariel Hemingway.  All were inspiring and insightful sharing with us their wisdom, life experiences and overall perspective.  Each had their own journey with their own obstacles - and all so different. That is what made it so magical for me.
 

I think what I found the most inspiring was that these successful and powerful women seemed so “normal”. They seemed so real, so down-to-earth.  Like one of us - like me. (refraining from self comment here) The simple, perhaps seemingly obvious to others realization, that if they could be like me, then I could be powerful and successful like them, was a pretty good take away from the whole day.

I was in awe when Mariel Hemmingway spoke.  I had no idea the depth of the tragedy in her life. But when she spoke of it, there wasn’t any hint of her feeling like a victim of her family history. No hint of feeling sorry for herself or passing blame.  She shared some of her ups and downs on her journey, determined not to fall into depression, to not have the “Hemmingway curse”.  Her honesty about her life and her obstacles was inspiring and humbling.  And the clarity with which she spoke about her husband and his cancer, her many food regimens she put herself through (good and bad), and how it contributed to the writing of her book Mariel-Hemingways-Healthy-Living-Inside Out: Every Woman's Guide to Real Beauty, Renewed Energy and a Radian Life , really demonstrated for me that you never know where your journey will take you.  But it’s important to just keep following it.

Now if I just wish I could hop on a plane and follow Beth & Victoria and The Ladies Who Launch Live Series….

by Judith George  www.Reelinvitations.com

Helpful Horoscope :: Dream and Write it Down

by Fashionmista aka That IT Girl aka Spammy Scammers aka Katie James

I cut out this horoscope before I left for my Paris trip, and pinned it onto my bulletin board of inspiration that sits in front of me on my desk. Sometimes it can be more of a reminder of things I've not done, but on a good day, it's a way to fit ruffly details into an otherwise bland vision. I'm a Gemini, but I thought this horoscope might be helpful to all of you as well, just as a reminder:

"Big dreams can come true in the next two weeks, with your active participation. First, you must actually dream something you want to have come true. Second, write it down."

I know we all dream. But sometimes we get busy and forget to block out quiet time in the morning to listen to iPod music, or whatever gets your juices flowing. So, note this as a reminder to dream and write it down. Could be in a journal or on an anonymous bills envelope. That's what I do sometimes. Use loose paper scraps to jot down an agenda, because it's the actual scratching of it with pen or pencil against paper that seems to lodge it into my brain.

The AMNY horoscopes have been consistently, and spookily good. They are here on AMNY's website.

NYC LIVE Event Bubbles Over with Energy and Ideas!

by Fashionmista aka That IT Girl aka Spammy Scammers aka Katie James

Last year when I attended the LWL LIVE event on W. 18th between 6th and 7th Avenues, I had just completed a LWL Incubator and scheduled a personal day for myself to attend the 2006 LIVE event. This personal day was almost compromised by work! But it wasn't, and and my desire to quit my day job to take my design company, Katie James, full time was realized and positively accelerated with the help of new LWL friends. So this year, I attended the event on my own time as my own boss!

Before the event, I had just returned from a 30th birthday trip to Paris and was a big jetlegged, so took it easy and snuck into the event at the very end to hear Christy Turlington  talk about balancing the 3 hours it takes her in the morning to get her kids ready for the day, and other pieces of advice for women seeking funding for launching businesses and such. She was very calm and inspiring, in that, she spoke of her great accomplishments with such ease, that we all felt we could do it, too. Her talk made me want to finally commit to the 10-pack of yoga classes in my neighborhood, and read her book Living Yoga to see how it has helped her gain such control, energy and vision in her mind.

Also speaking were CARE, where I learned they devoted work towards maternal health. And I heard that Mariel Hemmingway was amazing, as I knew she would be. She was talking about her new book, Mariel Hemmingway's Healthy Living from the Inside Out: Every Woman's Guide to Real Beauty, Renewed Energy, and a Radiant Life. Talk about an afternoon of clean living in the brain!

Then there was the Marketplace downstairs featuring lines from LWL members, but having just been spending in Paris, I kept my pocketbook closely guarded, until I saw a soap-fish in a bag from Children's Treasures , like from the pet store! Suddenly I remembered a baby present I needed to buy, and out came the cash. OMG it was the cutest thing, in a sea of other beautiful displays like Perfect on Paper and scrunchy watch bands from Bee Loved, as well as unique pieces of jewelry that are always sure to wow at Ladies Who Launch markets.

Speaking of beautiful jewelry, keep your eye out for Marion Cage if you like smooth yet complex shaped jewelry. If you think her display is simple and classy (the straight lambskin is what caught my eye), then you should see her business card. Her earrings were displayed on iron bars that she built herself, and I'm going to start stalking her to make some for me to sell on one of my many blogs.

Then there were the MiLLies, who were experts from the LWL community and met with women on a range of issues like PR (expert: Red Branch PR), skin care (expert: MyBeautyBeat.com), podcasting (expert: Wedding Podcast Network) and a new way to wipe away wrinkles...(expert: Galvanic Spa II). And you could end the day (or start it!) with a 10-minute chair massage from State Farm just before you went and had an SEO analysis done from Network Solutions. Whew!

Those are all of the pictures I could grab! I finally remembered that I had my iPhone this time, and could easily snap everyone. The LIVE event was one big cocktail party (without the cocktails) to catch up with friends, clients, and just get renewed and learn about new things!

URBAN LEGEND: Dial *77 if an Unmarked Police Car Directs You to Pull Over

The claim, which has a few variations, but is basically as follows:

A friend's daughter was traveling alone at night on a highway when an unmarked police car pulled up behind her and put its lights on.  The friend had told her to dial *77 if this ever happened, so she did.  The dispatcher couldn't confirm the police car was where she reported.  The dispatcher sent several marked police cars to the scene.  The driver of the unmarked car was a convicted rapist.

The truth, according to Snopes.com:

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/mayhem/fakecop.asp

The short summary of the truth is this. Women are assaulted by fake cops. Women driving alone at night should be cautious if an unmarked car attempts to pull them over. Rather than guess which code connects you to the highway patrol in a given state, dial 911—a number that is universal and valid in all 50 states (unlike *77 or #77). Tell the 911 operator what is going on and that you intend to pull over as soon as you reach a well-lighted and populated area.

Ladies Who Launch At The New York Times Business Summit

Yesterday, I attended the New York Times Small Business Summit.  It was great!  the theme of the summit was "Gather, Network, Grow".  I met a lot of wonderful entrepreneurs, and got useful information. Ladies Who Launch had a table in the Local Resource Cafe, and Beth Schoenfeldt hosted a session on marketing. Other LWL members who attended were Sharon Gill, Margaret Prusan and Karla Lightfoot.

The morning session was moderated by Jane Applegate, author and founder of The Applegate Group. The panelists were a diverse quartet on entrepreneurs who generously shared their stories. Wally Ganzi of the Palm Restaurants, Jason Ackerman of Fresh Direct, Suhwei Lin of Manthattan Portage, and Jason Goldberg of Jobster. Then I attended the speed networking session which was a frenetic exercise in making contacts. It helps to have a one-minute pitch down, since there was only five minutes to introduce yourself to three people.  I ran out of business cards, but meet loads of interesting people. Tom Scott presented the lunch keynote speech. He talked about how he started Nantucket Nectars and PlumTV.  He was great as talked about luck, fear and failure was essential for his success. [Crazy!]

Rocket Launchers: This week's Ladies Who Launch News

Baton Rouge Incubator leader CHRIS RUSSO BLACKWOOD, Publisher for InRegister magazine and General Manager of Blacktie-Louisiana, was instrumental in the printing of the first “Featured Lady” article in InRegister.  KIM BRECHEEN and her company, Slumber Parties, are highlighted for their continued phenomenal growth!  (Starting only as a party guest in the early 90’s to now running a company generating $62 million in revenues in 2006.)   It’s a very impressive article! Additionally, a full page ad was included that highlights this weekend’s “Feathering Your Entrepreneurial Nest” seminar at LSU.  The seminar is targeting women who want to start their own business.  Check it out: http://www.inregister.com:8080/rrserver/browser?title=/InRegister/InRegisterOct07&page=68  (Skip to page 68 for the article.)

New York Incubator JULIE HAMILTON, founder of Buddha Belly, was just featured in UrbanBaby.com for her clever, yoga-inspired tees and onesies for tots!    

San Francisco Incubator, NICOLE KIDD, handmade jewelry designer, was the feature of a super article in the Contra Costa Times this week.   The article "Group Helps Entrepreneurs Launch" highlights Nicole’s career transformation that followed her Incubator Intensive; she went from tech industry guru to custom jewelry extraordinaire.  In the article Nicole notes, “I never had a group of imaginative, hardworking women think on my behalf and create a vision for me … [the LWL Intensive] confirmed my most deeply held hopes and desires for my business that I wouldn't even dare to speak."     http://www.contracostatimes.com/search/ci_7135457?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com&nclick_check=1

Atlanta Incubator, BRITT MENZIES, founder of StinkyKids had the chance to share her story on CBS Better Mornings very early this morning (5 and 6am).  View the segment on www.cbs46.com under the Better Mornings tab.  Additionally, next week on Oct 17th at 11:30am, Tory Johnson from ABCNews.com is going to interview Britt LIVE in streaming video on her show Home Work on ABCNews.com … to top it off, she is also including Britt’s story in her upcoming book.

LA Incubator ALEXIS M NEELY, founder of the Family Wealth Planning Institute, was just interviewed on Fox TV’s national news show, the Mike and Juliet Show.   In this interview she shares her viewpoint on nursing and a special mother named Sophie Currier.   Family Wealth Planning Institute’s mission is to teach parents and grandparents how to prepare their children to receive wealth and use that wealth to positively impact the world. http://www.mandjshow.com/videos/the-treatment-of-nursing-mothers/

Atlanta Incubator leader TRACI LONG and On-Going member LYNNE FAIR-HOMRICH, founder of UptownScoop.com, were featured on the Georgia Public Broadcasting network. @ Work is a monthly call-in show focusing on workplace issues. Traci and Lynne, along with hosts Valarie Edwards and HR expert Emory Mulling, answered listener questions and offered strategies for dealing with the myriad problems and challenges that can arise when trying to “Find Your Dream Job”.  www.gpb.org

Sacramento Incubator BETH RITCHEY, founder of My Best Moves, was recently featured in the Sacramento Bee.    Entrepreneur Brings Pole-Dancing Parties Home tells how Beth, a mother of three, started teaching pole-dancing for private parties to help women get in shape, express themselves in a new, fun way, and do it in a private setting where participants don’t feel inhibited.   Sacramento Incubator leader WHITNEY ROBERTS is quoted in regards to Beth’s growing success with My Best Moves, “Any time a woman gets to be creative, have flexibility and make some money at the same time, then she's in the element."   

CYNTHIA SUTTON, Houston Incubator, launched her newly designed website,  Haute Home Style ,with an appearance on  Houston's KHOU-TV morning show, "Great Day Houston" (www.greatdayhouston.com -- See segment called “Green With Style”).  Sutton, in two on-air segments, showed audience members and viewers some of the latest environmentally friendly products.   Haute Home Style is a website offering information on the latest products, services and resourcing information for anyone who is building or remodeling a home.  Sutton promotes items from the sites on news & entertainment shows across the country.  The site, was designed by fellow LWL member EMILY KOTEFF.

RI, NJ and NY Ranked Worst for Small Businesses

From the New York Post:

New York's punishing taxes give it the third worst business climate of any state, a new report says...

"What I see is that New York has an overly complicated tax system," report co-author Curtis Dubay told The Post...

The only states that fared worse, according to the report, are Rhode Island, which ranked dead last, and New Jersey, which came in at 49th of the 50 states.

For the complete story, click here.

bling your ping: some blog terminology basics

Still on the fence about the value of a personal/professional blog?

I've compiled some basic terminology. No excuses, now. Even my 94-year old grandfather has a blog. You can learn, too:

http://www.beecre8tive.com/bee-design-blog/2007/10/9/bling-your-ping-how-and-why-to-rss-whats-rss.html

Katie McCaskey
Bee Cre8tive Design

Women Leaders Featured In Newsweek

Check out the great article in this week's Newsweek about women leaders. They profile a diverse group of women including Arianna Huffington, Julie Greenwald, Andrea Wong, Rachel Roy, Kyra Sedgwick, Lucy Jones, Shirley Franklin, Rachael Ray, Shonda Rimes, Lorena Ochoa and Elaine Pagels.