®

Your brand
Is not just
your logo
Karen L. Dortschy

November is
the time for
empowerment
and self-mastery
Marcie Williams-Browing

Social
Remembering
The old and
creating the new
Angela Key

Media
Strategist
BARDI TOTO
From the publisher Mimi Zelman

Dear Readers,

We are now approaching the holiday season and also

the end of the year will be here before we know it.
For me, this is a time also to be thankful for all the
wonderful things in my life.

It is also the time to start planning for next year.

Start by examining what worked for your business this
year and what didn’t. To correct what didn’t ask for
help! Get a mentor to help you, I was at the WIE event
last month, which addressed how to be a mentor and
mentee, and learned how successful business women

“
made it with having this in place.

I am proud to say, I have asked someone I know and

admire to be mine, and was honored when someone
asked me to be hers! I also want to announce Leslie
Start by examining Wilson Pearce is now an account executive with
what worked Women With Know How. We are very excited to
for your business have her as part of our team!

”
this year and Lastly, thank you to all our readers! I am asking you all
what didn’t to put the word out how great a read we are and also
forward the magazine to your friends and business
associates.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Mimi

2
®
 COntents

Features

18 26 30 35
Cover Story Professional Priorities Food
Bardi Toto Spotlight Button Holiday Snackspiration
Margo Lord Mary Elizabeth Murphy

Departments
Management

6 Personal FOrecast 24

Robyn Crigger
Marcie Williams-Browing
Communication

8 Marketing 32


Janet Anderson
Karen L. Dortschy
Inspirational

12 Young entrepeneur 36
Angela Key
Kimberly Hughes
Legal issues

16
Mitzi Kincaid

3
®
 ® ®

Visit Our New Serving Charlotte

Online Store and Charleston

Publisher/President
Mimi L. Zelman
mimi@womenwithknowhow.com
Creative Director, Graphic Design

You know your stuff, SPARK Publications

Fabi@SPARKpublications.om

now show the world! Feature Writer/Copy Editor

Cristina Cassidy
Director of wwkh elite
Margo Lord
Whether you’re heading to your company’s Margo@womenwithknowhow.com
board meeting or your daughter’s soccer aCCOUNT eXECUTIVE
practice, you’ll be stylin’ when you show the Leslie Wilson Pearce
world that you are a Woman With Know-how.
Contributing Writers
Mary Cantando
We’ve handpicked a select group of items Mary Elizabeth Murphy
all in rich black, to showase the gorgeous Marcie Williams- Browning
fuchsia pink and silver metallic embroidered Robyn Crigger
message that tells everyone you are truly a Janet Anderson
woman to be reckoned with. of Anderson PC Training
Kim Hughes
of 704events.com
Charleston
Great holiday gifts for your Contact Mimi Zelman
704-491-1207
Women With Know How. mimi@womenwithknowhow.com
For more advertising information call
Mimi at 704-491-1207 or email her at:
mimi@womenwithknowhow.com
Copyright ©2010

www.womenwithknowhow.com Cover photography: by Episode XI Studios, LLC

4
®
November 3-7 • December 2-6 • December 30 - January 2 • February 3-6 • March 3-6

THE BIG SHOW IS BACK

AT METROLINA EXPO

NOV. 3-7:
CLASSIC
WED-SAT: 9 AM - 5 PM | SUN: 10 AM - 4 PM

LARGEST SHOW IN THE SOUTHEAST

OVER 1,000 DEALERS
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Furniture, home décor, imports, art, crafts, rugs, silver,
china, jewelry, pottery, and more! FUN FOR ALL AGES!
Visit the shops at Piccadilly Lane, Antique Village,
or the Open-Air Market. FREE PARKING & DOGS OK!
$1.00 OFF ADMISSION WITH AD (excludes other offers)

At Metrolina Expo: Admission Rates:

7100 Statesville Road 5-Day General Pass: $10
Charlotte, NC 28269 Senior Discount: $1
#704.714.7909 Kids Under 16: FREE
www.ICASHOWS.com TREASURES AWAIT Pete Pistone: Owner
AT METROLINA EXPO
Management Robyn Crigger, CEO Compass Career Management Solutions–OI Partners Inc.

Being Creative When It

Comes To Compensation

W
ays That Employers Can about the lower salary ranges, especially
Compensate Beyond if they have good experience and skills
Salaries to offer. So how do employers and good
Many employers are still holding a employees come to terms with this
tight rope on their salaries – either lower salary practice?
continuing the freeze on salaries or
developing a new, reduced salary Bridging the gap
scale. It is understandable since the As I told one human resources
public and businesses are still NOT manager recently, companies need
spending money. to get creative in helping to bridge
the difference in previous pay scales
However, as an employer, compared to current pay scales. Many
providing some valued small businesses that need to increase
benefits can help their customer bases can be good
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OI Partners Inc. – Compass
to retain your targets for joint benefits.
Career Management “good employees”.
Solutions
www.compasscareer.com Unfortunately, your
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rcrigger@compasscareer.com less-productive, Companies need
motivated employees to get creative in
tend to stay.
helping to bridge the
When employers are talking to job difference in previous
search candidates, they are discovering pay scales compared to
that the candidates are concerned
current pay scales.
6
®
 Employers are
encouraged to select
benefits that can
reduce the stress for
employees’ busy lives.
For instance, an employer, who was
seeking other ways to compensate
his/her employees, built a relationship
with a dry cleaner business. The
dry cleaner offered to give these
employees a small discount and even
come to the business on an agreed
schedule to pick up and drop off
their employees’ dry cleaning. This
was a nice benefit for the employees,
and helped the dry cleaner to
increase business. A win-win for both
companies AND employees.
Another company is having their
employees’ cars washed every other
week as a perk. That company asked
a car washer to come to their facility
every other week and wash the cars
for a cheaper rate. The cost to the
employer is the use of their water, and
the employees receive a less expensive
car wash while working. A nice and
unique benefit to those employees.
There are many other creative
ideas. One hair salon offered haircut
discounts to a nearby company’s
employees. Two dollar off each hair
cut! Meanwhile, it brought a great
increase in business for the hair salon.
Creating a win-win situation
If employers seek out “perks” that
most employees would use and value, it
can definitely be a “win-win” situation.
Employers are encouraged to select
benefits that can reduce the stress
for employees’ busy lives. What perks
would you value? Maybe a grocery chain
might consider a discount program
for a company of a larger number of
employees. What about a car repair
facility, who might come and pick up
cars needing work? You should begin
checking with useful companies, who
could be a big help to your employees.
The more business you could send to
a vendor/company, the better the deal
you can probably arrange.
If employers seek out “perks”
that most employees would use
and value, it can definitely be a
“win-win” situation.
Employees still need a fair salary, but
at least some of these ideas may help
to retain your better employees.
Debbie Winchester Designs
earth e le me nts j ewe lr y
www.dwinchesterdesigns.com
dwinchester@carolina.rr.com
704-607-0678
7
®
Communication Janet Anderson, Anderson PC Training

How to Create
Address Labels..For
Your Holiday Mailings
Now you can get those cards and letters out on time!

L
ast month I explained The magic of Mail Merge
the process of creating a Microsoft Office Word has a wonder-
database in Excel. Now I ful feature called Mail Merge, which
am going to use that list to create combines pieces of information from
labels. Great timing for snail- a list-such as First Name, Last Name,
mail holiday cards. This truly is Address-with a document that would
a learning article. We’re going to print labels. A main document is cre-
walk through the process together. ated that contains the placement
And the best part… once and codes representing the pieces of
it’s done you’ll have it information. A list is then ‘connected’
for all future holiday to this main document. Once these are
E INFO card mailings. created, a third document is created by
MOR
ng
Anderson PC Traini
ing .com
www.anderso np ctrain You would like to send
980.428.2066
personalized messag-
es during the holidays.
But the process of writ-
Microsoft Office
ing addresses on envelopes Word has a wonderful
may be slowing you down… maybe feature called
to the point of not being able to write
the note at all. Mail Merge.
8
®
merging the first two, making a docu-
ment you can print. In our case, we
will be printing labels.
We’re going to use Mail Merge wizard,
which is available in both Word 2003
and 2007.
First, buy your labels. Avery brand is
probably the easiest ones to use with
Word. The number on the front of the
label you buy is the number you use
to choose the Word template used for
your labels. Word simply formats your
document to space your information to
properly print out labels.
Clicking your way
through the process
Now to the process. I will use Word
2007 for this example, but the 2003
version is similar.
Open/create a new blank document
in Word. On the MAILINGS tab, in
the Start Mail Merge group, click on
the Start Mail Merge button. On that
menu, choose step-by-step Mail Merge
Wizard. To the right of the screen a
task pane will appear and step you
through. The first of six steps asks you
what type of merge you want. Click
on the radio dial button next to labels.
Click on the next link on the bottom
to continue.
The next step has two questions for
you. First, do you want to use the
document you have in front of you or a
First, buy your labels. Avery
brand is probably the easiest
ones to use with Word.
brand new one? Since we started with
a fresh document, there is no need
to change anything there. When you
choose a label type, Word will change
your layout to reflect the labels. Click
on the link that says label options that
is located in the middle of the task
pane. This will open a dialog box ask-
ing you WHICH label you want. Change
the type to Avery and then choose
the number that corresponds with the
number on the front of your labels.
Now you should see the gridlines of the
table created that match your labels.
Click next at the bottom to Select
Recipients. At the top of that pane you
can choose from Use an Existing List
(which we have), Use your Outlook Con-
tacts, or create your new list on the fly.
This last choice creates a list in a Word
table. We want the Use an Existing List
because we have created a list in Excel.
Choose the Browse link to tell Word
where the list is. Choose the folder and
name of the file you named in Excel
that contains your list. If necessary you
may need to choose the sheet name if
there are multiple sheets.
From the dialog box, you can sort, filter,
9
®
 modify the list how you need it prior toIn the middle of the task pane, choose the
merging the info. At any point you can Address Block link. This will begin a short
return to this list the edit recipients.process of evaluating if your fields (pieces
Choose Next at the bottom to Arrange of info) are talking the same language. To
Your Labels. the right you will see a sample of a label.
If you don’t see the first name, last name,
street address, city, state and zip code as
a sample it may mean that your fields are
Sounds complicated but remember not named the same as Word’s. If you see
a computer is STUPID!! You have missing info, click on Match Fields button
to tell it everything little thing. on the bottom right hand area. There you
can click on the down arrow for each field
to tell Word where the correct informa-
tion is. For example, you may have named
This is the part where you are going to tell the street address, simply address. Word
Word what information you want on the names it Address1. Next to Address1,
labels and where they are to be placed. If you would click on the down arrow and
your cursor is not already there, click in choose Address so that the info in YOUR
the first ‘label’. list under Address would be matched with

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10
®

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Address1 in Word. Click on OK button
twice to return to the labels. You should
have a code that says <<Address Block>>
in the first label.
You’re in charge
Sounds complicated but remember a
computer is STUPID!! You have to tell it
everything little thing.
We are getting there. After you choose ad-
dress block and you corrected any errors,
you need to replicate all the other labels.
This tells Word to use the same code in
each label, but take the next record in the
list. Choose Update All Labels link further
down in the pane. Click Next to preview
your labels. They are not officially merged
yet; this is just a quick peek at how they
would look.
At this point if you would like to change the
font, size or location on the label you can
use the table tools to modify your labels.
Click next to complete the merge. In that
pane, I would recommend you choose Edit
Recipient List link, NOT Print. This way, the
list will merge with your main document to
create a new document with the complet-
ed merge. This document can be saved
and printed at any time.
Next year’s list will be a snap
After you have done this, all you have
to do for next year, is update your Excel
spreadsheet with new names and ad-
dresses, open the main document that
has the codes in it, and re-merge it. The
spreadsheet is already attached. When
you have finished this process, save your
main document in a place where you will
remember where it is for next year.
Voilá! You did it. Place your label sheets in
your printer and send the merged docu-
ment to your printer. You now have labels
that represent your list of friends and
family. Now that you have the envelopes
addressed, you have TIME to send won-
derful sentiments and updates to them in
your handwriting inside.
I hope you are able to celebrate your holi-
days with family and friends.
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11
®
 INSPIRATIONAL Angela Key, Premier Resources

Remembering the
Old and Creating the New

I
n a world that is rapidly chang- The gumdrop tree
ing, there is something very Here’s an example: Growing up, we
secure and sacred in the prac- always travelled to my grandparent’s
tice of traditions. Whether they are house on Thanksgiving and Christmas,
personal traditions, religious tradi- about an hour away. It was a big deal at
tions or family traditions. Christmas because we would have to
leave all of our new toys, picking only
Think back to your childhood. What ONE thing to take. What a problem for
things stand out in your mind that a small child. As we would approach
really made an impact on you? What the driveway, we were always excited
traditions did your family share that because we knew the gumdrop tree
you have continued? Family would have bloomed. The gumdrop
traditions can create tree was a tree in the front of my
a legacy and bond grandparent’s house with some small
MORE INFO
Premier Resources between generations stickers, just perfect to hold a single,
The Foru m @ Balla ntyn e of families. As families small, sugary gumdrop. The young
Commons
704.543.9200 age, some traditions children were always in awe of the fact
Fax: 704.543.0029
Angela@premierresources.biz
have a tendency to
fall by the wayside.
People move on or Family traditions
they might rather do
can create a legacy
something else. Perhaps it’s
time to renovate some of those
and bond between
old traditions. generations of families.
12
®
that this gumdrop tree always bloomed at to embarrass, but dates were brought
the PERFECT time. nevertheless. If they returned the next
year, it was a good sign.
As one of many grandchildren, it was
important to be one of the first ones to Fun after the feasting
arrive to be able to pick the best colors. After the exchange of gifts and everyone
The Christmas Tree was cut from their was still too full to do anything, out
woods. Not a traditional Christmas Tree
shape, mind you, but one that was HUGE
and had lots of lights and always touched
the ceiling.

Mama Toney’s special rolls

My poor grandfather would retire to a
corner with his pipe and shake his head
at the mass pandemonium that continued
through the day and into the evening.
Doors slamming, commodes constantly
flushing, the door being opened and
closed about a hundred times, little
cousins fighting, men discussing football
while the women filled tables with
casseroles, vegetables, meats, congealed
salads and a special “dessert table” with
the 20 or so delightful concoctions. The
highlight was my Mama Toney’s rolls. She
had a gift when it came to baking and
would make about 200 yeast rolls which
were all eaten by the end of the evening.

As soon as the blessing was said, usually

by “Uncle Jr”, and included a lot of tears,
everyone lined up and filled their plates.
Tables set up especially for the day so
that 50 relatives could share in this family
tradition were quickly filled up and it got
a little quieter. It was a little scary to bring
a date as one would never know what
one of the uncles would come up with
13
®
 came the Rook cards. Playing Rook
was a tradition. When the kids couldn’t
stand staying in any longer, or perhaps
the adults couldn’t stand the children
underfoot any longer, we all headed
outside for the fireworks, always brought
to us by Uncle Gary. Bags and bags of
fireworks were brought out and occupied
parents and children alike for quite a
while. Once the fireworks were gone,
inside everyone went and out came the
food – again!!
I realize what those traditions have
meant to me over the years and the
wonderful place it takes me back to.
As I think back to our Thanksgiving and
Christmases where my mother, father, my
14
mother’s five siblings, their spouses and
children filled a small, humble home in
the country, I realize what those traditions
have meant to me over the years and
the wonderful place it takes me back to.
Those memories are strong and fill my
heart. It was a simpler time, rich with
tradition and the creation of true family
and legacy.
Many of the traditions that my
grandparents created have been followed
for years although no one can make yeast
rolls like Mama Toney. I realize the magic
that they brought to our family through
their love and consistency in tradition,
even in small ways.
A house for children
As I fast forward to 2010, we have lost my
grandparents and the house has since
been sold and a new home for children
 Traditions are a
wonderful way
of establishing a childhood and family traditions that warm
connection with your heart, you might take some of those
and re-create them for your own family and
your past, present loved ones. In a world where everything
and future. seems to be expensive, creating and
sharing your traditions are free and the
benefits are many. Perhaps you might
has taken it’s place. I can only hope that want to build on old traditions or create
this new home created for the care of brand new ones. Either way, I believe that
children in need will provide for them so strong family’s share so many things and
many things that it did for us and that that traditions are a wonderful way of
perhaps at Thanksgiving or Christmas, the establishing a connection with your past,
gumdrop tree will bloom again. present and future.

I hope that as you remember your Have fun with yours!!

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15
®
 Legal issues Mitzi Kincaid, Attorney at Law

Independent Contractors
or Employees?
Employers need to know the rules

W
hen starting a Three Factors for
business, forms, Classifying a New Hire
taxes and other So how do you know how to classify
paperwork can be intimidating, a new hire as an employee or
especially when it comes independent contractor? The IRS has
to employees. established twenty factors business
owners should use when classifying
Many small business owners choose new hires based on three categories:
to hire independent contractors
instead of hiring part time or full time Control: Does the employer control or
employees to avoid paying taxes and have the right to control what the worker
filing forms with state and federal does and how the worker does his or
government. This is a big trap her job?
for the unwary. Financial: Are the business aspects
MORE INFO of the worker’s job controlled by
ocia tes, LLC
Kin caid and Ass The Internal Revenue Service the employer? (these include things
301 McCullough Dr. 4th Floor
Charlotte, NC 28262 (IRS) has specific guidelines
(866)-435-5971 on hiring contractors versus
employees to keep business
owners from avoiding paying To classify a new hire
payroll taxes like Federal and State
Unemployment Insurance and Social
as an independent
Security Insurance. contractor or employee,
choose employee.
16
®
like how and when the worker is paid,
whether expenses are reimbursed and
who provides tools/supplies, etc.) Type
of Relationship/ benefits provided:
Are there written contracts or employee
type benefits (i.e. pension plan,
insurance, vacation pay, etc.)? Will
the relationship continue and is the work
performed a key aspect of the business?
Business owners must weigh all
factors when determining whether a
worker is an employee or independent
contractor. Some factors may indicate
that the worker is an employee, while
other factors indicate that the worker
is an independent contractor. There is
no “magic” or set number of factors
that “makes” the worker an employee
or an independent contractor, and no
one factor stands alone in making this
determination. Also, factors which are
relevant in one situation may not be
relevant in another. The keys are to look
at the entire relationship, consider the
degree or extent of the right to direct
and control, and finally, to document
each of the factors used in coming
up with the determination at the time
of hire.
The IRS Decides
People such as lawyers, contractors,
subcontractors and auctioneers who
follow an independent trade, business,
or profession in which they offer their
services to the public, are generally
not employees. However, whether such
people are employees or independent
Many small business owners choose to
hire independent contractors instead of
hiring part time or full time employees
to avoid paying taxes and filing forms
with state and federal government
contractors depends on the facts as
applied to the IRS factors in each case.
The general rule is that an individual
is an independent contractor if you,
the person for whom the services are
performed, have the right to control
or direct only the result of the work
and not the means and methods of
accomplishing the result.
Business owners who classify an
employee as an independent contractor
and have no reasonable basis for doing
so may be held liable for employment
taxes for that worker and could be
subject to penalties and interest.
Contact a Pro
Classifying new hires is a tricky
process and I would always suggest
contacting a business attorney who is
knowledgeable in human resources and
IRS worker classifications. I would
also suggest being conservative and
when you are in doubt about whether
to classify a new hire as an
independent contractor or employee,
choose employee.
For more information please visit
www.irs.gov
17
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 Bardi
Toto:Social
18
Media Maven
by Mimi Zelman
This Social Media
Strategist Strives to Help
You Ride High on the Internet
F
acebook, Twitter,
LinkedIn...we’re all being
inundated with constant
talk about social media and
how we need to get in the game.
Enter Bardi Toto, a woman
who is passionate about social
media. She recently came all
the way from Tucson, Arizona,
to talk to the Women With Know
How Elite networking group.
Bardi could best be described as a
self-made woman. She’s also someone
who has no problem giving her opinion
about her passion. Says Toto, “If you’re
not using social media effectively,
you’re putting your business behind the
eight ball.”
At her father’s knee
Toto was born in Dallas, Texas, but due to nursing and worked in that profession
her parents’ divorce, grew up in Hawaii.
She visited Texas frequently to spend time became a nurse, the doctor she worked
with her father who was in the garment
industry. She remembers her father
taking her to work with him where she
would watch him selling and presenting.
She believes that it was this exposure to
the world of business that made her want
to work for herself someday.
She recounts that in high school
she didn’t want to be a cheerleader
or on the drill team, or Miss
Popularity. Instead she joined DECA,
a high school organization for kids
interested in marketing, business and
entrepreneurship. She would go to
school until noon, and then go to a job
the rest of the day. Says Toto, “The
entrepreneurial spirit was in my blood
and in my soul.”
Although she loved marketing, life led
Toto down a different path. She studied
for 15 years. About a year after she
for happened to show her how to send
19
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People start identifying with you when
you start talking about yourself, and
they wanted to get to know me more.
an email to her former husband in
Germany using AOL (America Online.)
Says Toto, “I remember working that
day and all I could think about was
getting home and getting on this thing
called AOL and learning about it.” She
was intrigued that she could email
someone and they could email her
back immediately.
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20
®
A business is born
At three o’clock the very next morning
she awoke and drew up a flyer for a
marketing company. She loved helping
people as a nurse, but she also wanted
to create her own business. According
to Toto, her new enterprise was an
overnight success. She decided to stay
in nursing while running her offline
marketing business, but several years
later things changed.
In 2007, Toto discovered You Tube, and
her offline company went online. She
admits that at the time she was scared
of technology. A realtor friend of hers
told her that he was getting a great
deal of business from You Tube. He
explained that it had to do with videos
online. At first Toto was skeptical. Then
the friend challenged her. He said that
if she did a video for thirty days she
would see what would happen, but he
bet her that she couldn’t do it.
“Of course, I love a challenge,” says
Toto, so she created something called
“My Story Marketing” on You Tube
where she talked about who she was,
about being born in Dallas, that she
had lived in Hawaii, that she was a
nurse, etc. Toto says, “People start
identifying with you when you start
talking about yourself, and they wanted
to get to know me more.” According
to Toto, her first You Tube channel had
over 950,000 views. “Due to a personal
circumstance,” says Toto, “I had to take
it down, but it was very powerful.”
Show don’t tell
It was at this point that Toto decided
to leave the nursing profession and
become a full time online social media
strategist. Since that time she has
developed something she calls The
Social Media Profit System. Toto, not
one to mince words, explains directly
why she started the system. “I got so
sick of people telling people what to do
and not showing them how to do it.”
Toto says her system shows them how.
Her Social Media Profit System, explains
Toto, consists of three DVDs in which
she shows you, step-by-step, how to
utilize social media. There is also a
40-page guide included that explains
what social media is, why you need it for
your business and how your business
can benefit from social media. In the
back of the guide, there is an area
called The Roadmap to Social Media
for your business. Toto describes it as
a business plan where people can write
down information about their business
to help them see how social media can
help their company. In addition, Toto
conducts weekly webinars that provide
tips on social media.
“Hello! Wake up!’ Stop
wasting your money on
print, stop wasting your
money on billboards.”
Says Toto, “I told someone, If you’re
not on facebook you’re not in business,
which sounds very harsh, and in fact,
somebody got upset with me for saying
that. But the point I’m trying to make
is to say ‘Hello! Wake up!’ Stop wasting
your money on print, stop wasting your
money on billboards.”
Nix the “I can’t” phrase
Toto talks about how she wants to
empower women entrepreneurs. She
stresses how important it is to take the “I
can’t” out of our vocabulary. She sees a
lot of women afraid to learn about social
media. “It’s because a lot of us were
raised that this is a man’s world and that
men were supposed to be successful
and not women in their businesses.” But
things are changing, says Toto. “Women
are saying, ‘How dare you tell us that we
can’t do something!’”
“I told someone, If you’re not on
facebook you’re not in business,
which sounds very harsh”.
For Toto, the take away her clients
get in using social media is what it is
all about. One of her clients here in
Charlotte, James Weymann, owner of
Silver Fox Limos, has seen dramatic
changes in his business in just a short
time. Toto is pleased that things are
going well. “We are only two months
into this, and he’s been sold out every
21
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 weekend since we started on facebook.
His business turned around 360 degrees.”
There’s another reason Toto is excited
about visiting Charlotte. She admits
that she loves NASCAR. She has
even done the Richard Petty Driving
Experience and enjoyed every minute
of it. Describing herself as a free spirit,
she mentions that she has also gone
skydiving and believes that if you can
jump out of a plane at 13,000 feet, you
can do just about anything!
“Don’t complain, that there’s
an economy problem. Do
something about it. You know,
get out there; don’t be afraid.
Despite her love for social media,
Toto’s life clearly centers around her
two sons, 12 and 16. It hasn’t been
easy being a single mom running her
own business. She says she’s been
offered many opportunities for speaking
engagements and has had to turn
them down because of her kids. But
she doesn’t let that bother her. She
knows there will be time for that later.
“I have the two best kids in the world.
They inspire me.” And it looks like she
inspires them, too. Her older son says
that he wants to run his own business
someday, just like his mom does, and
he doesn’t want to have to work for
anyone else.
22
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It’s all up to you
If you know little or nothing about the
Internet, Toto’s videos and webinars
can be helpful in getting you started.
Toto cautions, however, that “I can
provide the tools, but people have to
make the choice what they do with
it. If you get out there and do it, it
will happen, but if you don’t do it,
nothing’s going to happen. But you just
can’t give it a day. It’s about building
relationships.” She says that some
people think they are going to get
rich quick, and though she says that’s
possible, “it’s all in the way you do it,
and how you do it.”
Toto’s goal is simple. She says she wants
to get your business out there “like a good
sore thumb.” Some people don’t think I
have a life,” she says, laughing, “but I love
what I do. I’m very very passionate about
helping other businesses.”
Her strongest
advice to those
just starting out
in social media MORE INFO
is to not be Bardi Toto
520-867-2530
afraid. States www.barditoto.com
barditoto@yahoo.com
Toto, “Don’t
complain, that
there’s an
economy problem.
Do something about it.
You know, get out there; don’t be afraid.
Because people need you, they need to
see your business and hear what you
have to say.”
 Feast of a
Different Sort
Those who know me well will agree: I am “culinarily impaired.”
Translation: I can’t cook. In fact, all I can make with
success is microwave popcorn and reservations.

But I do know where to feast. When I’m hungry, there’s

no doubt that I will find food. You can just bet I didn’t
prepare it.

“
In like manner, those of us who have an insatiable
hunger to grow in character and vision can’t do it alone.
We need help in cooking up the characteristics we desire.

“Do you want to become a better leader, face adversity

with more grace, or improve your listening skills? I
know where there’s a feast! Amazing people with a
smorgasbord of skills are within your view at this very
moment. Don’t miss the savory treasures to be discovered
in the people you pass by each day.

Kim Jackson, Chief Creative
Officer of KIMmunicator, LLC,
enjoys weaving words in to
inventive presentations for
diverse audiences. Contact her
at Kim@Kimmunicator.com
Make time this month to read an inspiring
autobiography. Flip through the pages of this magazine
with “new eyes.”There’s a bounty to be had!
The holiday season guarantees traditional meals will
abound, but to enjoy a feast of a different sort, make
yourself fully aware of the delectable offerings just within
your reach.

Bon Appetite!

www.kimmunicator.com
 Personal Forecast Marcie Williams-Browning

November is the
Time for Empowerment
and Self-Mastery
O
ver the coming year I will powered to change my world.” It is the
share with you areas of time to look to the future with positive
focus for each month. As thoughts and objective eyes. Some of
you create your plan for success and the areas to consider are listed below.
work that plan these suggestions will The best day in November to write
give you a clear focus for the month. down your desires and wishes is the
5th. This is the day of the new moon
Write down your goals, dreams and as- which is considered the magical day for
pirations and look at them often. Writing wishes to be expressed.
them down brings them into the physical
world and makes them tangible Empowerment
and real. As you consider November is the time to honor the se-
areas to focus your atten- crets of others. It is also the best time
tion this month be sure to be in complete awareness of the
MORE INFO to look at each area needs and motives of others. This is the
is Center
Chrysalis Hypnos
iritBiz.co
www.MindBodySp 32
m from your mental and time for political benefits in the work-
803.493.03
emotional state, your place and our nation. Use your power in
physical well-being, your constructive, healthy ways. Allow your
spiritual needs as well as charisma to shine.
your financial ones.
Change
The color for the month of November This month is all about transforma-
is orange and the theme is “I am em- tion. This is an ideal time to eliminate
24
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old baggage and incorporate change.
Restore and renew through your trans-
November affirmation:
formation and change. In the process
of transformation, forgiveness is on of
I powerfully create my world.
the key actions to include.

Crisis Skills also a great time to review wills or

This is the time to take risks in order to
gain power. Manage your compulsions
and obsessions this month by giving
them and exit point or the closure
needed to move beyond them. You will
feel intense interactions this month as
each of us moves through transforma-
tion and change. You may find you
want to live on the edge a little – go
with it.
Self-Mastery
You may find many examples of good
versus evil this month. Find strength
in change and use self-discipline to
master this time of change. Your depth
of character and commitment to self
will see you through the high energy
this month.
Bonding
This month is about intimate relation-
ships and soul mates. You may find
yourself drawn to deep emotional con-
nections. Absorption may also find its
way into your life at this time. Look for
validation from others and the opportu-
nity to reciprocate.
inheritances as well as contracts or
business opportunities.
Misuse of Power
Avoid the emotions of revenge, jealousy,
guilt and suspicion. Be cautious of harsh
judgments, destructive urges and power
struggles. Move quickly through old is-
sues of abandonment.
As you create and work your plan this
month take a look at yourself with
objective eyes and include those areas
where you need some work and cel-
ebrate the areas where you have done
well. Life is a journey and one we are
meant to learn and teach from. Every
single experience we have we are learn-
ing through and teaching from. Learn
well and live in joy!

Financial Partnerships
This is the time to make changes on
loans, taxes, debts or grants. This is
25
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 Professional Spotlight by Kim Hughes

Margo Lord

T
ell us about what brought
you to Charlotte?
Charlotte became home for me
in May 1993. I took a chance on a ca-
reer opportunity to relocate from the
Mid-West and after my first visit here I
was sold!

What do you like best

about living and working
in the Queen City?
Probably the endless sunshine and the
delicious barbecue!! Additionally, the
people here are so warm and engag-
ing. Charlotte is a diverse city with
great people and endless business
opportunities! The city itself has grown
immensely in the 17 years I have
resided here and I feel fortunate to be
able to participate and live in such a
progressive city.

Your business, Talk Fusion

sounds very cutting-edge. Tell
us about what kind of services
it provides.
Talk Fusion is absolutely amazing! It
26
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is the next evolution in business and
personal communication. Talk Fu-
sion offers all the latest, cutting-edge
video communication products in one
package. It is revolutionizing the way
we communicate and do business
with one another, and is truly a game
changer! Imagine receiving a video
email instead of a text email that has
your own personalized message. WOW!
No more boring black and white text
emails!! In addition to video email, Talk
Fusion offers video conferencing, video
blogging, video auto responder, E sub-
scription form, video auto conferencing
and live broadcasting to be released
within a few days. Talk Fusion is the
most affordable, result grabbing tech-
nology to take your personal branding
and marketing efforts to the next level.
Something we are all seeking to do.
The best part…Talk Fusion is very user
friendly and it is global…..anywhere on
the planet!
You are also very involved with
the Women With Know How
Elite Networking Group. What
attracted you to this group and
what led you to your present
involvement with it?
I’ve always had a passion for new busi-
ness ventures, and when Mimi Zelman
told me she wanted to start this group
I knew I wanted to be involved. Her
dream to bring professional women
together to network and provide en-
richment for each of us was something
I felt would be extremely valuable. Plus,
Organization and a keen
sense of time management
are key to conquering the
“Multi-Tasking Giant”.
Elite is sponsored by the Women with
Know How magazine each month and
a resource guide. Elite continues to
grow and I’ve had the pleasure of
meeting so many amazing women!
Each one touching my life and provid-
ing a new outlook on business and
heartfelt friendship.
You appear to be quite a
multi-tasker! Where do you
find the time and energy to
do all that you do?
Organization and a keen sense of time
management are key to conquering the
“Multi-Tasking Giant”. Setting aside a
bit of time to play and enjoy the things
that bring you happiness, help greatly
to fill the gaps and reenergize the soul.
You just have to plan/schedule an op-
portunity to leave the rat-race to regain
who you are. It’s kind of like refilling
the energy tank!
What would you say is your
greatest motivator?
Knowing that today is not a dress
rehearsal! Today is gift, yesterday is
gone, and tomorrow is not promised.
Sometimes we have to dig deep to find
motivation, and we all accomplish that
in different ways. When I visit my aging
mother with Alzheimer’s, I realize that
27
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 her days are no longer something she We are all unique
can participate in and it hits home pret-
ty hard. It brings a whole new meaning
and individual creatures
to the word motivation! for a reason. I have
been blessed with my
If you had to give advice own special gifts
to a woman entrepreneur who
was just starting out, would
would it be?
Building a successful business is about
building relationships with other people. we? Like most folks, I seek to continu-
It doesn’t happen overnight and it takes ally improve, but I am pretty happy in
perseverance, focus and determination. my own skin. We are all unique and
People do business with you because individual creatures for a reason. I have
they trust you, and being genuine in been blessed with my own special gifts
your efforts and daily reaching out with and I’m not sure I would give up this
a giving heart will open doors for great amazing journey I have experienced to
success. Be consistent, follow a strate- be someone or something else. It just
gic plan and find a mentor, or partner may not be a good fit!
to keep yourself accountable. There
When you’re not working hard at
is great value in sharing your business
strengths and weaknesses with some- your business and doing the mil-
one who has already traveled the road lion things that you do, what do
you are on! you do to unwind?
Raised by entrepreneurial and artistic
parents I have a strong creative gene.
We are all very fortunate to I’m very happy doing a new design
be on this planet and I think project, working with color and paint
sometimes we lose sight and experimenting to bring something
of what is really important. dull back to life! I am pretty much a
“Sports Junkie” especially football, Yes
I do watch football -The Buckeyes are
If you could snap your fingers my team! I bleed scarlet and grey. My
and be anything you wanted to children have all been athletes, and so
be, what would you be? naturally the sports world has been a
I am honestly not sure that I would snap great part of our lives. Also, I love to
my fingers and change me. Even though plant flowers and dig in the dirt; I refer
we all comment and dream about being to it as therapy. I enjoy the theatre,
someone or something different, would and most musical venues, and sharing
28
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time with my precious 14 month old Where do you see
grand baby! yourself and your MORE INFO
Margo Lord
business five years
704-877-7005
If you could do one thing to from now? www.talkfusion.com
talkfusionmargo@gmail.com
change the way people perceive In five years I plan on
the world, what would that be? residing beach-side
We are all very fortunate to be on this with the salt air, and
planet and I think sometimes we lose sight watching my family play in the
of what is really important. Our “Outlook” sand. I can do my business from any-
determines the “Outcome” of most things where thanks to Talk Fusion, and it will
and if we could all take a few moments provide me the opportunity to do just
each day to be grateful for what we have that. Technology drives many things
and the relationships we have formed, our in our world, especially business and I
perception of how truly fortunate we are believe that my business will continue
would come to light. Gratitude is empower- to prosper and provide many growth
ing! It makes our world a better place. opportunities in the coming years.

Meet Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere.

Overture introduces you and your colleagues to
potential clients using our acclaimed multimedia
presentation. Many businesses, especially those
in professional services, need more than a website
and print collateral.

The prospect has to meet you. Establishing personal

chemistry is the key to cultivating a relationship, then
earning a client’s business.
Business Development Opportunity With Every Email.

To find out more, call Karen Hund at 704.907.4376 or visit our website — www.cv-vision.com

29
®
 Relationships Mary Elizabeth Murphy, Managing Director of S.T.A.R. Resources

Priorities Button

D
ear Mary Elizabeth – I just
turned 50, and have not
always maintained the
healthiest of diets. As a birthday
present to myself, I decided to
stick to a healthy plan of eating
and exercise that I’ve modeled
after a dear friend’s.
My problem is that I don’t seem to
have the discipline to stick to it. A great
example: my friend drinks wheat grass
juice, which is very good and healthy.
She poured me a glass the other
day at my house, and the gri-
mace on my face must have
MORE IN FO been gruesome, because
S.T.A.R. Resources
my husband immediately
704.535.5610
info@starreso urc es. biz said, “Well? Was it worth
it?” How do I RESET my
priorities, Mary Elizabeth?
How do I convince myself that
it is worth it?
Sincerely,
Frustrated in Fitness
30
®
Dear Frustrated,
As we move through life, each of us
needs to RESET our priorities for any
one of a number of reasons. Aging,
health concerns, changes in economic
circumstance, the birth, graduation,
education and marriage of a child are
just a few examples. And you’re right:
it is difficult to justify these changes
to ourselves when we are so used to a
routine set of priorities.
“Is it worth it?” That’s probably one of
the most simplistic, misleading and
often-used phrases in the language and
it answers its own question simply by
posing it. In fact, the question may not
have even been in your head before you
were asked. But think about what your
husband asked you in the kitchen. Was it
worth it? Did the momentary displeasure
you felt at drinking wheat grass juice
outweigh its potential health benefits?
Is the extra cardiovascular endurance
worth the stitch in your side from run-
ning two miles? What he was really
asking you was, Is a healthy change in
lifestyle worth the momentary discomfort
that change causes you?
This is a great opportunity to use the
fourth step in the RESET process: Em-
phasizing your Core Values. Make a list
of the new priorities you aspire to keep.
There’s no need to list them in order
of importance; simply write down all of
the reasons you want to adapt your new
lifestyle – better overall health, longer
life, preventing heart disease, renewed
sense of well-being, higher energy, bet-
ter sleep, etc. Then, beside each
of these new priorities, make a list of
drawbacks and costs associated with
their implementation.
Look from one column to another. Which
items correspond to your core values?
Which of them seem to alien or are for-
eign to you? If you are able to make these
determinations, you will go a long way to-
wards changing your lifestyle for the bet-
ter without compromising who you are as
a person. And then, yes, every decision
you make will have been worth it.
Until next time I remain …
Let me help you find
your dream home
Maggie Redmond is your
Real Estate Professional
Call Maggie Today!
704.779.2992 cell
maggie.redmond@allentate.com
Go to www.MaggieRedmond.com
to View My Featured Properties
31
®
 Marketing Karen L. Dortschy, Sandbox Solutions
Your Brand is
Not Just Your Logo
S
o What is a Brand? What do
the following products have
in common -- Kleenex, Coca-
Cola, Band-Aid, Q-Tips, Scotch Tape
and Google? You’re right! They are
all registered brand names that
have become synonymous with the
actual product. “May I please have
a Kleenex? “Do you have a Band-
Aid for my paper cut?”
All these products also have
Brand Equity, which includes
FO customer awareness, fa-
MORE IN ons
oluti
Sandbox S 3354 miliarity, loyalty and pref-
704.201. ox.com
www.InYour
Sandb erence. What exactly is a
Brand? Wikipedia describes
a brand as “…a symbolic
embodiment of all the informa-
tion connected to a product to
create a feeling and expectation about
a company.” Say what?
Actually, a Brand is the meaning behind
the name, behind the logo and behind
32
®
the products. Nike is a Brand. So are
Apple, the Gap and the New York Yan-
kees. In the case of Apple, they are not
just a computer manufacturer. Most
consumers see Apple as a company
that promotes innovation, individualism
and creativity. That’s their Brand.
A Brand is also the consistency – or
inconsistency – of how employees
answer the phones, the signatures on
everyone’s emails, and even the way
that you and others in your company
introduce yourselves and your busi-
ness to a potential client or the person
behind you on line at the store.
Your Personal Brand is
Your Business Brand
For small business owners and entrepre-
neurs, your Personal Brand is directly tied
to your Business Brand. That means you
need to present yourself consistently and
credibly in everything you do, in every
“touch point” with a client. You should
be always at-the-ready to professionally
present your business card, even if you’re A brand is the meaning
in the garden center on the weekend and behind the name, behind the
loading your vehicle with mulch. You are
logo and behind the products.
your Business Brand and your Business
Brand is You.

Start With a Compelling Research shows that at the end of a full

Company Name year of consistent advertising and mes-
Let’s go back to the foundation of your saging, the customer is just beginning to
company’s branding – your company become aware of the link between the
name and the logo. You need to create a tagline and the company it represents.
compelling, memorable and relevant com- So choose a tagline that you can live
pany name. Consider these: with for a long time, and then use it con-
EdgeThink for a sales training company. sistently in all communications.
Consistent Results for a bookkeep-
ing and accounting firm. These are real
examples of small businesses that were
recently renamed to better reflect their
uniqueness and products.

A great company name doesn’t come eas-

ily. You need to make sure you do exten-
sive research to ensure that your company
name is indeed compelling, memorable,
and relevant to your potential clients…and
most importantly, available legally.

Develop a Relevant,
Memorable Tagline
Another key component of your Brand
is a tagline. Think about what makes a
tagline compelling and relevant – think
of ones like “The Real Thing”, “Built
Ford Tough” or “We bring good things
to life”. You want to create both a
cognitive and emotional (brains and heart)
response when the customer hears or
sees your tagline.
33
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Create a Strong Logo
Once you have the foundation of your
Brand--a great company name and
tagline-- you need to create a logo that prize or small scholarship to the winning
sets the tone, image and visual focus for student of a company name, logo and/
your business and what it stands for. or tagline.
A strong logo can create a positive image
for your business and communicate its
mission or values. A good logo is also
easily readable and efficient in how it
prints on paper, signs, shirts or seen
on a computer screen. A powerful logo
is simple and uncomplicated with few
colors. Think Nike, Gap and BMW…each
are just one color. Finally, a strong logo
needs to work in tandem with the tagline;
the synergy of the typeface and place-
ment of the tagline is crucial to the logo.
A strong logo can create
a positive image for your
business and communicate
its mission or values.
How do you, as an entrepreneur or
small business owner, successfully
create all this for your Brand, since
you probably don’t have the marketing
budget of Coca-Cola or Apple? There
are many ways; partnering with a small
marketing firm that has expertise and
experience in branding and identity,
or working with online resources that
create business logos, or contacting
the graphic arts department at a lo-
cal community college, and offering a
34
®
Consistency is the
key word when it
comes to important
communications
Build Brand Equity Through
Even More Consistency
Again, consistency is the key word when
it comes to important communications
like an info speech, the 30-second mini-
speech that you use to introduce your-
self at meetings or networking events
or to the neighbor at the community
clubhouse. Remember, you are your
business’ brand and the company brand
is you. So always be sure that everyone
in your business, including your spouse
or significant other who may tell others
about your business, speaks consistent-
ly about your company.
Other communications that need to
have consistency in look, feel, and de-
sign include digital brochures, business
cards, note cards, vehicle graphics,
shirts, signs and even the name badges
you use for networking events.
Consistency is King…
and Queen too!
Consistency is key to Brand Equity.
When you’re consistent, that means
powerful communications, which results
in efficiency across all your touch points
with customers, which means cost sav-
ings and high impact. Everyone wants
that. Now go grab a Coke…um, a soda,
and get started in building your Brand!
Holiday
Snackspiration
O
pen houses and potlucks and shindigs
– oh my! From the beginning of the
holiday season right through the New
Year, it seems there are endless reasons to
indulge in rich and decadent foods. While it all
tastes good going down, it can bring some guilt
along with the stretchy pants.
Smart snacking is one way to help combat the
typical holiday binge cycle. Keeping healthy – and
yummy – options on hand makes it easy to satisfy
your hunger during the day and help keep you
from overeating throughout the holiday season.
The Laughing Cow online community came up
with a bunch of munchable snack ideas that help
with holiday snackspiration throughout the holiday
season. Here are five of their favorites:
•Mini Babybel (any flavor) and almonds
•Apple and peanut butter
•Non-fat Greek yogurt and berries
•Mini Babybel (any flavor) and an apple
•Baby carrots and hummus
From its wax wrapper that keeps it fresh and
portion-controlled, to the smooth, mild taste,
Mini Babybel cheeses are a delightfully
satisfying snack option. With no artificial flavors
or preservatives, they are also a good source of
calcium and protein.
When you do head out to celebrate, here are some tips
for how to keep a handle on your party appetite:
•Snack before you go: Have a protein-rich snack,
such as a handful of nuts, plain yogurt with fruit, or a
few crackers with Mini Babybel. Protein helps keep you
satisfied while giving you energy to dance just a little
bit longer.
•Veg out while you’re there: Instead of heading
straight for the dessert bar or loading up on the cas-
serole, head for the veggie tray. Munching on healthy
vegetables first gives your body some much needed
nutrients and helps reduce the temptation to pig out
on pastries.
•Think small: If you’re at a buffet, take the smallest
plate available. People tend to eat whatever’s on their
plate – so if you have a big plate, you’ll eat more. Filling
a small plate (or even a napkin) with healthier selec-
tions helps control your portions while letting you feel
like you’re having a feast.
Get more snackspiration – and join the online
community – at www.thelaughingcow.com.
35
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 Young entrepreneur Kimberly Hughes

Business Networking
= Waste of Time
This Entrepreneur Has Had Enough of “Me, Me, Me!”

I
got your attention didn’t I? I much; I followed suit to be objective in
am going to admit it; I have my test. After returning to my office,
become a business networking those stack of business cards and
snob. If I wanted business cards, pamphlets stayed on my desk for 6
I would go to any locally owned days – 6 business days. I waited for
restaurant or coffee shop and pick someone to reach out to me and guess
up cards left around by people to what? No one did… No ‘nice to meet
promote their businesses. you’s’, ‘let’s grab coffee’s’, or no ’let’s
connect furthers’.
Why Networking is Blacklisted
Recently, I went to visit a new On the seventh day, I wrote each
networking organization and person a personal email saying it
the attendees were given an was nice to meet them, reminding
inconspicuous test by them of my services and what I do,
me and guess what? and asked how I can help them - who
INFO Everyone failed.
MOREevents
704
s.com
4event I left said networking
www.70 .281.4482
704 vents.com
kim@70
4e event with about 30
business cards and I waited for someone
pamphlets. They were to reach out to me
passed around like wildfire
without a care of who did or
and guess what?
didn’t get the material. I shouldn’t say No one did…
36
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they need to know, what they are
looking for in business, and what a
specific example of a great client is for
them. At the date I write this (roughly
three weeks after the event), I received
two replies: A great connection with
one and an email from another who
noted they were too busy to connect
with me.
It’s All About Helping
I shouldn’t bust on networking; I
am the president of a networking
organization (CLT - Charlotte
Leadership Team) but the one thing I
stress to my members is to connect
with each other and see how we can
help each other, regardless of how
different our businesses are from
each other. Proudly, CLT, a group of 12
core members, have passed over 200
leads in the last few months and have
closed over $35,000 in closed income.
Educate, connect, and
create a relationship with
those around you about your goals,
ideals, and business practices.
Not business… INCOME. Why are we
successful? I drive home my point of
view of looking at fellow members
as an extended sales force: Educate,
connect, and create a relationship
with those around you about your
goals, ideals, and business practices
- Through those relationships, your
coverage will be that more expansive
and clear.
A few years back, I was a member
of three networking organizations,
minus my own, and within a year, I
dropped out of all of them. Why? I
got beyond sick and tired of people

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37
®

trying to sell their products to me. Yes,
I do understand that is the point of
networking - to grow your business, but
isn’t it more conducive to create and
retain strong relationships with several
business professionals that you can
view as referral partners, rather than
to focus on selling to one person? If
we just bought and sold each other,
we would be broke and know no one
outside of ourselves.
Smart Business Networking 101
I am a complete relationship person.
I thrive on trust and helping people
and it is not rare for me to meet with
someone and before I even mention
what I do, that I am handing out name
after name for people to contact to
grow their business. Why? Because
it is not always about me and I want
to be the person that people look
to when they need ethical business
professionals to work with. It takes
me a while to gain trust in referring
someone and when one gains that
38
®
Give someone
enough leads, enough
connections, or enough
positive remarks.
trust, your contact information will be
passed like dishes on Thanksgiving.
I think as business professionals
we need to stop this ‘me, me, me’
mentaility and work together. I don’t
like to be sold – I like to buy. I want
to feel comfortable working with
someone; I want to enter willingly into
a relationship. I want to be a raving
fan and not guilted or pushed into a
decision. Do you think I am going to
refer someone who is pushy and single-
minded? Never. BUT, I am going to
refer out someone who is loyal, takes
the time to know me, shows interest
in my business, works to help me
become as successful as they see unto
themselves, and above and beyond
all, someone that showcases ethical,
strong, and true business practices.
Into Action
So, let’s start here. If you are willing to
take time out of your day to network
and get a ton of cards – DO something
with them. Connect with the people
you meet. Even if you THINK that they
will do nothing for you; you will be
shocked. How long does it take to make
a quick call to someone you met and
invite them to have coffee? Seconds.
Is a few seconds worth making a sale
or beginning a relationship that could
lead you to a multitude of sales? I would
surely hope so.
Don’t have time to meet with everyone?
Gosh, who does! What about an email?
Let the contact know you enjoyed
meeting with them; remind them of
who you and what you do, and see
what you can do for them. Yes, them.
It is like the widely known BNI term,
Giver’s Gain – Give someone enough
leads, enough connections, or enough
positive remarks and they will go out
of their way to do the same for you.
When one gains that trust,
your contact information will be
passed like dishes on Thanksgiving.
Charlotte, much less most cities, is
all about who you know. Last time I
checked, being well connected does not
constitute holding a business card that
says someone’s name, phone number,
and email address.
Let’s make a stand Women With Know
How – A little more WE and less all
about me.
39
®
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Have you ever given up on your dreams? Kroghie, with Maggie, after a successful duck
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es readers that life is truly Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney eastern North Carolina. His waterfowl
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ll. STEPHANIE R. DAWKINS is the former Association is a private non-profit two lesser scaup from a stake blind in the
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charged
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her offices in Goteborg, Sweden, and Greensboro, North meaningful guide and encouragement
is to educate itsto both women
members and men.”
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Carolina, she led an international team in 19 different interest in decoy collecting. Eva Haller a woman who rose from poverty to power as a union National Bank, now Wachovia, for

SO GOOD
Founder & President,
countries and 180 markets and oversaw more than The Campaign
association usually has meetingsInstitute of America
Communications thirty three years before retiring in 2004.
100,000 employees worldwide. Stephanie is one twice each year which include buy-sell-Philanthropist and activist Senior Vice President for one of the world’s most Though his work had no connection with
of the top African American labor negotiators around swap sessions, educational programs, decoy hunting, he continued to pursue his hobby
the world. displays, and social events. These meetings recognizable international corporations. Part during spare time away from work. While
Prior to her position with Volvo, Stephanie worked “If you truly want to be inspired, then
are aCorporate
great place forCoffee is a must-read.
new collectors to learn Stephanie living in raleigh in 1979, his wife ross,
memoir, part mentorship, Corporate Coffee reveals
in other Fortune 500 companies in both operational knows how to succeed and takes us onmorea vividaboutjourney of emotionally
decoy collecting and meetheart-wrenching,
the bought him his first decoy to decorate
and strategic positioning capacities. She is a certified dealers
true-to-life experiences and struggles toand
thefellow collectors.
top. Her lessons learned and shared the hard-won lessons that enabled Stephanie R. their new den. This started a collection
speaker on an international level. Her specialties include The association
will help women become a champion andcareer
in their its members
and in life!” that has grown into over 1,100 North

It’s Embedded global expertise in negotiations, strategies, mergers &

acquisitions, human resources, industrial relations and
organizational effectiveness.
maintain relationships with all decoy
collecting related entities,International
such as auction
Roslyn Ridgeway
Speaker and Author
Chair, Board of Trustees
Dawkins to beat the odds. Carolina decoys. An early decision to
limit his collection to Back Bay, Virginia,

in my Heritage
companies, other decoy
Business collecting
and Professional Women’s Foundation Raised in a family that was rich in love, and North Carolina decoys led to a very
Recognized in 2010 by the United States House of associations, carvers guides, waterfowl specialized collection. Kroghie always tried
Representatives and inducted into the Congressional museums and waterfowl festivals. Stephanie built a strong personal and professional to document the history and provenance of
Record for her outstanding work in global business, Buy a copy of Stephanie Dawkins’ book Information
for every about
girlthese entitieswoman
or young is (and, boy and his decoys. The lack of information on many
community service and her affiliations with foundation on the principles of survival she
young man) you know and care about.available for newtheir
It will touch collectors.
lives in a deeply significant way. North Carolina decoys led him to research
BY

international women’s organizations, Stephanie holds a The association established a decoy many previously unidentified carvers as well
by Stephanie R. Dawkins

After reading this book they’ll know if they truly want to achieve greatness, they can!” witnessed while growing up in Kansas City,
seat on board for the Euro-American Woman’s Council collectors “Code of Conduct” which sets as those that are well known. This research
Bob Burg
BILL RYAN

(EWAC), whose mission is to strengthen the status of guidelines for selling or trading decoys
National bestselling author
women around the world. She is also a Board of Trustee among its members.
Co-author of TheNew members
Go-Giver
member for the Business and Professional Woman’s be assigned an experienced member as a
Stiletto Publishing
Foundation. She is a member of the Swedish-American mentor to help them make their initial
Chamber of Commerce, National Association of purchases. Decoys may be brought to the
African-Americans in Human Resources Management, meetings by the interested public to be
Kansas. She shares those principles in Corporate
andcanGo-Givers Sell More
Coffee with humor and down-to-earth wisdom.
She also offers practical steps for people in all
and thirty years of collecting decoys have
culminated with this book.
Kroghie received a B.s. degree in Civil
Engineering from The Citadel in 1966 and
an MBA from East Carolina university
in 1971. He and his wife currently reside

BILL RYAN walks of life who are ready to re-evaluate their

and is a recent recipient of the North American appraised or sold. in Charlotte, N.C. They have two grown
BY children, Clark and Hailey.

Stephanie R. Dawkins
Leadership Award from the World Igbo Congress of
Nigeria. She has been awarded an honorary doctorate lives and take charge of their futures.
for her global initiatives. Published by Andresen Advisory, LLC
Stephanie is married and has two beautiful children.

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