Uncategorized 3:00 pm
If I can convey just one idea to someone reading my story, it would be to believe in yourself, walk with integrity, work hard and trust in God. And maybe your life won’t turn out exactly how you were expecting or hoping it to be; but maybe, just maybe, it will be so much better than you could have ever imagined! With God, all things are possible!
Blessings!
Uncategorized 1:00 pm
While I have not posted in a long time as I have been busy serendipitously building my business and enriching my life with many new friendships, I want to share with others what I have found to be empowering words that resonate with me as I look back on 2010 and look forward to 2011. I hope this will touch your spirit as it has mine. Peace and health always…
Uncategorized 1:44 pm
CBS Radio ~ By Brad Segall ~ December 10, 2010
A Main Line mom of two young children who celebrate their birthdays around the holidays is hoping to spark a trend by ditching the usual kid’s party this year in exchange for a holiday party this afternoon in Drexel Hill that benefits a local charity for children.
Leslie Padilla says the birthday parties for her five-year old-son and three-year-old daughter cost hundreds of dollars and come with lots of presents the kids usually never play with. So this year she decided to combine their birthdays into a holiday party, which is open to the public.
She hopes guests will make a donation to the Little Smiles Foundation, “one of the most important things that I’ve learned in my life is giving back to other people and during a recession it’s even more important, so I think the true gift that I can give my children is to learn the sense of charity and so I’m instilling that value in them.”
Drexelbrook is donating the space and other companies are donating goods and services to create a winter wonderland for the children and their parents. More than 100 people are expected. Little Smiles helps children in hospitals, shelters, and hospices and their families.
Professional Tips 11:14 pm
Uncategorized 10:57 pm
A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape …but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape…
A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything …but a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear…
A strong woman won’t let anyone get the best of her …but a woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone…
A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future…a woman of strength realizes life’s mistakes can also be God’s blessings and capitalizes on them…
A strong woman walks sure footedly …but a woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls…
A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face …but a woman of strength wears grace…
A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey …but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong…
Uncategorized 2:45 pm
A woman’s sense of compassion and inner voice demonstrates the depth of her strength
So often in our world we tend to think of strength as a quality that arises from a place of firm determination and a will to succeed no matter the cost. Even though we might want to think of a strong woman as being defined in this way, what really makes a woman confident is her capacity for listening to her true self and being able to call upon her feminine wisdom to any situation that may arise. A woman does not need to step into an assertive role or act like a man in order to be effective at what she does—she simply needs to get in touch with her insight and sense of compassion to truly demonstrate the depth of her strength.
Listening to the feminine side of ourselves may not seem easy at first for this type of energy is something that is often overlooked in many aspects of our everyday lives. If we can connect with this part of who we are, however, we will find that there is an unlimited wellspring of strength available to us. Our capacity to tap into our intuition and listen to our inner guides, to take into account the needs of those around us, and to view a situation with compassion and love are ways that we can show the world the true power that is part of our feminine nature. When we learn to integrate this source of strength into our daily tasks and decision-making, we will find that we can be more flexible and open to the things that happen around us and more receptive to new ideas. Not only will we see the world in a different light, but we will truly start to realize the potential for this form of energy to both empower ourselves and those around us.
As we cultivate our feminine energy we can redefine the meaning of strength. By embracing our feminine power as something that is strong in its own right, we are able to use it with true assurance and determination and draw upon what truly belongs to us.
Uncategorized 9:28 pm
New business is an emotional rush. Especially during financial stress. So when a door opens for a new opportunity, before you dance, take note of everything.
A client is not just business, it’s a relationship to which you will likely devote more time and energy than you do to your partner, family, friends and self. See where I’m going? So read closely.
1) When reaching out to a new business prospect have 3-5 must-answer questions and acceptable responses you need to hear. Spend no more than 15 minutes on this call and assess from there if the project needs and finances meet your qualifications.
2) If stage one proves fruitful, meet in person. Allow for 30 minutes and again, be prepared with basic questions you need answered to determine your ability to exceed the potential client’s needs. Also ask if someone else before you was doing the job, what were their results, and why is the need still unmet.
3) If in stage three you feel confident that you can again, exceed expectations and fulfill a previously untapped execution plan, then set another meeting for a brainstorm and agree to a flat fee for an hour or two-hour meeting. In this arrangement offer to summarize with a brief presentation within the next week.
4) Prepare a 2-3 page plan featuring objectives, strategies, tactics, deadlines and budget/payment plan. Submit for review and feedback within a week.
5) If both parties feel good about the business plan and agree to the parameters, do your research before signing on and ask for recommendations. You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.
6) Remember, the goal is to take on a business at which you succeed and enjoy. Your work is your brand and reputation, and that is priceless. If you jump just to take on more business and overlook these important steps you may find that the earnings were more of a loss in the long run.
So where does intuition come to play? In every chess move along the way. Pay attention to values that are a priority to you. For me I look at punctuality, communication, clarity, decisiveness, honesty, passion, genuine likability, and laughter.
If at any point one of your values seems unmet, or worse yet, offended, then walk away. Simply state you do not think you are the ideal candidate for the job but that you might have another reference to share. Always pay it forward as it somehow always comes back to your benefit.
The moral of the story – follow your gut with prepared and measurable strategy and action. Your findings will lead you to clarity. And from there, another door will open.
I also share with you this personal treasure. If I had listened to my gut and followed my intuition, every mistake I made in life would have been avoided.
This game plays out in all aspects of life. Look for teammates and not for superstars, your strengths are best leveraged when all players are well placed.
Godspeed.
Professional Tips 12:55 pm
Bartering, once a practice reserved for third-graders at lunch and coiffed publicists swapping press releases for blowouts, has, thanks to our crapilicious, layoff-prolific economy, been making a business-to-business under-the-table comeback. Show me a downsized Center City attorney who’s opened a boutique firm in Conshohocken and a South Jersey laid-off-accountant-turned-one-woman-tax-preparer, and I’ll show you a lawyer who gave a CPA a watertight business plan in exchange for a QuickBooks setup.
“Bartering has worked for me in so many ways,” says Main Line branding expert Leslie Padilla, who trades marketing services for financial advice from business coach Donna Saul. “We meet in person once a month, and e-mail a couple times a week,” says Padilla. Both women bill at similar rates; each supports the other’s growing business. The barter “is valuable beyond the dollar amount and the expertise. It gives you the sense of a staff and a business environment,” she adds.
Barterers agree exchanges work best when they’re based on professional services, as opposed to more tangible goods. Most essential to any swap: Each side absolutely must want what the other side’s got. PR consultant Jeff Jubelirer turned down a prominent surgeon’s offer of free Lasik (“I like my glasses,” he explains), but is willing to trade his favorite personal trainer business consults for workout sessions. Trading may have grown up, but cafeteria rules still apply: You’ll never score a Chocolate Junior if all you packed is a Capri Sun and a carrot snack-pack.
Professional Tips 2:38 pm
Press and Professional Tips 2:44 pm
Key learnings:
