A Little More Conversation

Why hello there. Happy 2013!

I last published a blog post almost five weeks ago, which in the blogging world is probably equivalent to five months. Pheww. It has been awhile indeed. The quick and dirty is that I had a death in my extended family that made it awfully difficult to be creative, to write, to do the things I really wanted to do. The hiatus was necessary even though the timing was inopportune. Such is life.

About that new blog design. It is still in the works. The process is taking a little longer than I thought but I have seen a few mock-ups and I like what I see thus far. I figured I would post an update to anyone who cares and is anxiously waiting. ;-)

I will leave you with what else, another list. In no particular order, here are my top five events/successes since December. Cheers!

Top 5 Things That Made Me Happy Since Dec. 17th

1. I joined Pinterest - and I love it! Check out my boards.

2. I scored an amazing internship at an education startup in D.C.

3. I went to President Obama's public swearing-in on the mall on Martin Luther King Jr.'s holiday. I braved cold temperatures but it was worth it. I will probably post pictures and videos on Facebook.

4. My sister helped me buy some amazing heels over the holiday season. They are cute and affordable, always a win win. Pictures to follow when I wear them!

5. I've decided to organize my blog a bit more by creating an editorial calendar. I am going to let my ideas run wild and then figure out how to incorporate them into a simple, manageable schedule.

Hiatus

Hey you! Long time, no post. Sad face but only for the time being. My blog is in limbo for a couple of different reasons but the biggest one of them all is that I am moving to a different platform. Farewell Blogger. It's been fun but I have moved most of my content to Wordpress. A new layout design with all the fixins awaits 2013. Don't worry though, I'll be back and better than ever. :)

Till then, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!!

Roadblock?

I am a sitting on a semi-sofa chair at my local library. I must say that I feel at peace. Growing up, the library was like a second home for me. I am bookworm by trade and nothing screams WiFi, knowledge and the Dewey decimal system like a good ol' fashion library.

Working from home has its perks but sometimes a little change in scenery is a good thing. I find myself in a completely different zone when I'm in a library. Lately, it's been hard to write. I still have ideas but the words are not coming to me whatsoever. I've had a slight change in mood, mostly because last week started so well and then came crashing down. Sometimes, life happens in unexpected, grave ways. Deep breaths!


I like the one-day-at-a-time approach. So, though I was looking forward to going to Boston, I decided to take things slow and see how the next few days progress. I especially want to get back to writing and blogging. I did attend a small handful of events in the past few days. I do not see the point of being totally isolated. Besides, I've met some cool people and visited a new coworking space that I've had on my list for a little while.

All in all, roadblocks are bound to happen but sometimes a detour could be a good thing. Right?

So much for spectacular 50th blog post.

Peachy Interview

Oh boy! That feeling I mentioned... well, I was right and wrong but I will save that for another post. I need to get my thoughts together. And I really need to work on a few stories before I get behind.

In the meantime, check out my interview with fellow blogger, Annie of Peach Prenni - http://www.peachprenni.com/2012/11/meet-ijeoma.html 

Not sure why I did not post the link earlier but never late then ever, right? 

P.S. I am one post away from #50!

For Mariana

I am so proud of my college friend, Mariana. She is currently a Peace Corps volunteer in Madagascar but has been home for the past few weeks to visit family and friends. Though we met as college students and resident advisors, we did not hang out very much. However, when she told me she was applying to the Peace Corps program two years ago, I was very supportive. As much as I would have liked to travel to a foreign land for a two-year commitment, I did not have a passport until this year! After graduation, I served with the "domestic Peace Corps" aka AmeriCorps, for ten months.

Mariana was kind enough to set aside time for us to catch up. Though she is many moons away, we have stayed in contact via Gmail and Facebook. I also send her care packages too. She has yet to receive the last care package I sent, which I might add was jam packed with Halloween candy. I hope it is waiting for her upon her arrival.

We met on Monday in D.C. and the weather was surprisingly warm as we walked near Farragut Square. We settled on a Starbucks not far from the Farragut West metro station. Our conversation was choke-full of inspiration, admiration and positivity. I am really happy to hear that Mariana does not feel alone while serving in a country so far from her family. It appears as though she has a great network of support. I got to learn more about her passion for journalism, international development and her experience as a Peace Corps volunteer. It seems as though she understands that having the right attitude and being persistent are the best qualities to have when tackling very difficult issues like nutrition for pregnant mothers. I am truly impressed and blessed to know her.

This post is dedicated to my friend, Mariana. Safe travels back to Madagascar!

That Feeling

I scour thee (that's not a typo) Internet likes it's my job. If it were my job, I would be commanding a hefty price. For the most part, it's to be expected. I've always loved reading. The Internet is simply a faster medium to devour more information. Between blogs, online publications and Tweets, I am a sucker for a good read. I need to make another faves list pronto of what I am reading, so everyone can join in.

I think this week is going to be weird. I am not sure why, just yet, but I suppose I have a feeling. Not a Will.i.am-Black-Eyed-Peas-type-of-feeling. Just a feeling.

I will say that I am looking forward to seeing a friend who is in town visiting from Madagascar. She is serving a two-year Peace Corps term but has been home on break. I love seeing old friends. After we meet, I am heading out of town for a quick overnight trip. My sister-in-law has a Mac that I want to play with for a little bit. A little change in scenery is nice. I am hoping the scenic ride will bring out about some inspiration.

Speaking of inspiration, now that I have a few opportunities to write I have a bunch of stories to pitch. I think they are really good. So good in fact that they make me nervous. Lol! Sometimes, I take an idea and literally run with it. If everything works out, by the end of the week I might have approval of some awesome stories.

Till then...

Between You & Me

In spirit of Thanksgiving, I have to express my gratitude and share a confession.


First and foremost, I am very surprised that people are reading my blog. Somewhere on this thing called "the web" people are reading my blog. And for that I am grateful. About three months ago, I set out to start a blog but I officially launched my blog about ten weeks ago, give or take. In that time, I have had a few thousand views. I seriously do not have time to read and then re-read my blog. So, for each person who has ever skimmed, browsed or intently digested my blog, I say, THANK YOU!

Secondly, I have to confess that I am still not sure how this blog will progress. One of my closest friends suggested that I, "trust the process". I am learning to do just that and then some. Thanks for being a part of my journey.

I will soon be transferring my blog to another platform and will have a new design. I am excited about what's ahead for Color Her Lucky.

Thanks for your support!

They Meant Business

Last Thursday evening was awesome! I was very fortunate to be a volunteer at the Washington Business Journal's Women Who Mean Business event. The reception and ceremony were held at the ultra luxe Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown. I first learned about this event when I attended an MBA Seminar sponsored by WBJ this past spring. I pretty much decided that I HAD to be at this event. After many weeks and email exchanges, I got the a-ok from their events manager, Whitney. My role was to work the registration table and be on hand to help out in other capacities. Between school, work and volunteering I have a lot of experience when it comes to events - logistics, management, vendor relations, set-up, clean-up, etc etc. Let's just say Whitney was impressed with my help, which is good because I had a great time and made a few contacts.

The event was a celebration of really amazing women who are leaders in their respective fields and occupation within the Washington D.C. metropolitan. Over 150 nominations were received. From the legal world to public relations to finance, each woman is well regarded and managing a healthy, robust company, department or firm. Part of the ceremony included short video segments of each honoree discussing the trajectory of their careers, tidbits about their childhoods including adorable photos, as well as words of wisdom for other women (ahem, like me).

It was really great to see the honorees with their yellow ribbons affixed to their name badges along with a yellow flower pinned to their dress or blouse. They all seemed so elated, a few even appeared surprised by all of the attention. Many brought their family members and each of them had a several coworkers who cheered for them as their video appeared on the jumbo screens. Actually, it was as if the event was a corporate pep rally! A big hootin-and-hollerin-photo-takin'-business-card-swappin' extravaganza. I loved every minute of it.

I was too lazy to take my jacket off, lol.
I wore a black and white dress w/ a geometric pattern and red pumps.

Love my vintage jacket and H&M scarf. It was freezing!

There are a few who I want to follow up with because their stories really resonated with me. Hmm.. I smell a couple of profiles for my blog. Congratulations to the 2012 Women Who Mean Business honorees!!!  

Joan Bialek

Lynne Breaux

Lisa Brown

Cathy Delcoco

Kimberley Fritts

Deborah Gandy

Barbara Harman

Bahija Jallal

Beth Johnson

Grace Keenan

Jatrice Martel Gaiter

Barbara Martin

Lisa Martin

Diana Mayhew

Kymm McCabe

Susan Peterson

DeRionne Pollard

Robin Portman

Deborah Ratner Salzberg

Karen Riordan

Julie Rosenthal

Jayne Sandman

Lidia Soto-Harmon

Grace Speights

Carolyn Walker 

 P.S. Shout out to Julie, another volunteer, who was another amazing woman I met! 

Pitch Week

Surprise! I cannot believe I am writing a post before sunset. I have yet to hit that sweet spot of uploading my posts the same time every day. Eventually it will happen. No rush.

Hmm.. what's new. Actually, I got a quick glimpse of the office of Affinity Lab, an accelerator for businesses and entrepreneurs based in the U street area of D.C. I was on my way to an event for mentors with the DC College Success Foundation last night and stumbled upon their office a few blocks from the U Street metro. I know they offer different types of membership but I wonder if they have day/visitor passes. I would love to visit and see what their coworking space is like along with the various nonprofits and businesses. 

I also went to Capital Cause's second annual Changemakers event, which honors young philanthropists for their commitment to service. I was an honoree last year. I continue to support the organization philanthropically and with my time by working with the events committee. Our event space, Capitale, was really nice. I didn't take any pictures unfortunately. I am really looking forward to buying either a Nikon or Canon. I am almost certain that I will take more and share more photos (Tumblr anyone?).

This week I've been working on pitching, aka selling myself. I got inspired after reading a post from Susannah Breslin, a Forbes contributor. I read her blog, Pink Slipped, regularly because she has a very direct voice and offers good insight as a freelancer. I've been trying to get leads with online magazines as a contributor. One in particular, Ms. Career Girl, has some potential and I am exploring my options with that website.

Using social media has been helpful in finding opportunities. Twitter has been especially helpful but I've made some connections through LinkedIn as well. The LinkedIn Premium package is great. Being active on social media allows others to learn more about me. Big plus!

Speaking of learn more about me, I referenced someone I met at BlogHer several weeks ago. Annie, of Peach Prenni, has been so kind to not only read my blog but provide comments to my posts. Thanks Annie!

Co-working

I like co-working. I like it a lot. Thanks to Foster.ly for hosting today's "Women Focused Study Hall". I wish K-12 education and college was more like a co-working lab. Ideas exchange. Networking. Problems. Solutions. Free WiFi! When women get together, there is truly a sense of camaraderie and a real desire to offer support.

Foster.ly gear. Be jealous.

Traveling to the uber nice neighborhood of Chevy Chase was a bit of trek but as always, the time I spent mingling and brainstorming with other budding and established entrepreneurs was inspiring. Who knew coworking could be so much fun?! I have some follow up to do, obviously. I will need to take some time to think of my next move. After selling a few accessories and pieces of clothes at the Buffalo Exchange in Georgetown, I realize that I need less. The more options I have, the more distractions to be had.

It's about that time. If I pitch to the right contacts, the right companies, then I could catch a lucky break. I have a mini challenge for the week and that is to pitch. Nothing more, nothing less. Pitch to marketing and PR firms/agencies every day this week. Pitch to websites and magazines that match my interests. Rejection is expected but it certainly does not hurt to try. Yoda was right - "Do or do not. There is no try".

Happy pitching!

P.S. A special thank you to all of our veterans, past, present and future.

Voted

My single, most important goal today was to vote. I did just that and from start to finish, it was about a forty minute process. I went to the polls in the afternoon time to avoid the lines. Now the rest of the country and the world awaits the final results.

Civic duty, done and done.

Enough about this very long and expensive election, here are my goals for November.

• Further elaborate on the purpose of blog and/or personal website, which includes the "About" section and transferring content to Wordpress. I'm upgrading!
• Buy a "real" aka professional camera with a price range of $150-$250. Word on the street is that you cannot go wrong with a Nikon or Canon. I am banking on a few, good holiday deals this season. 
• Create and maintain monthly budget for work related expenses. I need to work on my non-existent accounting skills. 
• Explore another social media account, either Tumblr (hence the camera purchase) or Pinterest. 
• Utilize LinkedIn Premium account and enhance summary and experience, with specialties and computer software applications, etc.  

I have four as of right now, even though I thought I would have three. I probably will add one or two more. Once December rolls around, my motivation may well be weather dependent. It's a rather biting cold temperature today and it does not help that my niece and nephew got my sick. I saw it coming. I didn't even venture out last night but the rest of my week looks busy. I might as well rest up and stay healthy. 

Let's review the progress I made on my October goals:

• Purchased my own domain name to make enhance my credibility and casually tell people to "visit my website".   Completed but I haven't told anyone. 1 point. 
• Updated my LinkedIn profile with action verbs, a jazzy introduction and new recommendations. Semi-completed. Half point. I received a recommendation and several endorsements. I still have yet to settle on a fabulous introduction. See November goals.
• Finished at least one business school application. Half point. I actually decided to remove a school from my list because I realize it does entirely fit me. Basically, I found better schools which helps me generate a more targeted list. 
• Completed 40 blog posts (long term goal is celebrate #100 by year's end!) Completed. 1 point. I am going to stress quality over quantity. 100 entries is definitely not happening. 
• Joined a professional organization. Hmm.. I went back and forth on this one. I think I need more time to determine which organization is best but I have considered joining a Meetup group. I won't count this one, for now. 

And there you have it. Three points out of four is not too bad, especially since I was traveling for most of October. Here's to more goals and more opportunities! 

Worth It

Wow, time really does fly. I had every intention to blog on Friday right before I called it quits for the evening. Little did I know that I would be babysitter numero uno for the evening and the following morning. My older brother owes me. I love my niece and nephew, so it's okay. Those two are never a dull a moment. What has been lackluster is my ability to get work done. With family obligations this weekend, I feel behind already!

Back to Friday. I had registered as a volunteer for the 2012 Maryland Women's Conference this past summer after a few key word searches via Google. I was looking forward to a conference that was more local and a little smaller. This conference was also a one-day affair like the last one I attended. The morning was somewhat rough but I still managed to exercise, eat breakfast and get on the road by eight. Per usual, I got lost and ultimately the trip took me two hours. I was comforted by the fact that the route was unbelievably scenic. Very picturesque, actually. My point of contact was a woman named Susan and eventually we found each other. I assisted one speaker, Anita Wilson, as she discussed the ins and outs of Social Security and Medicare. I found her presentation insightful though Social Security benefits won't be a realization for me for another four decades. I was undoubtedly the youngest person in the room, then again, the conference was not teaming with young women but I spotted a few college students.

I really connected with a business owner, Nicole of Stacy Nicole, an interior design firm. She shared a bit of her personal and professional journey and struggles. She is willing to offer advice for someone like me. I got her business card and we've already started exchanging emails. She's definitely not holding back by asking the tough, direct questions. Gasp! I actually have to fine-tune this vision of mine. The more questions, the more fine-tuning. Another person I admired was Jessica Hibbard of Stories and Ideas. I was really impressed with her business card, a simple and clean design. Her professional background (she's a former Apple employee) is also impressive. She launched her own business earlier this year in Frederick, Maryland. Congrats! I wish both Nicole and Jessica the best and hope to continue to reach out to them in the future. The long drive was worth it because I left with more knowledge than earlier that morning.

2012 Sponsors of Maryland Women's Conference 

Another conference off my list. Next up? DCWEEK! I have a free badge that I picked up a few days ago. I was not able to pick up my Gold badge just yet because I was out of town. DCWEEK is a weeklong festival with the goal of bringing together designers, developers, entrepreneurs and social innovators. The festival hosts as a variety of activities like a hack-a-thon and happy hour events as well sessions featuring top speakers and guests. I scanned the schedule last week to select which programs to register for and attend. Several scheduled events are sold out. I plan on attending Punchrock's Happy Hour later this evening, provided that my niece and nephew are out the door by then. The thought of engaging in a conversation not involving a two-year old's babble sounds delightful. 

Looking Ahead

It's the last day of the month of October and it's Halloween. I should be expecting some children and maybe a few teenagers in a few hours. This particular month went by quickly. I cannot believe tomorrow begins a new month. 2013 is that much closer.

I am happy to say that I did well in achieving my goals. I will have a full report soon. I think the toughest, by far, was committing to reaching blog post number forty. I did it, barely. Today's post is number forty. I wrote a post almost every day this month. Consistency was key and thankfully, most of my posts were hearty, had good quality. There may have been a few out of desperation or fatigue - or both. I have started to brainstorm a list for November and it will definitely be shorter and more exact in that I can focus on a few, rather many. Quality versus quantity is sensible. 

I am ready to end cabin fever by volunteering at the National Capital Philanthropy Day in D.C. I was a volunteer last year and will do the same tomorrow. I have to get up early and head downtown in the morning via public transit, which I haven't done since the beginning of this month. Time flies!

Today I was really inspired by a few sites and articles that I stumbled upon including H.Bloom's SEED program, Mashable's 44 Female Founders and a story about Daily Muse's CEO All three were inspiring and encouraging. Just what I need to start a new month!

Sandy, Sandy, Sandy!

About that hurricane. Wow! Sandy was/is a big deal. So many homes and businesses are under water or completely destroyed. When the New York Stock Exchange shuts down for two days, that is very serious. Thankfully, my family and I are safe and sound. If you haven't seen the coverage, take a look at this Youtube clip.

My prayers are with those families who are grieving for loved ones. My prayers are also with the countless men and women who are serving as nurses, firefighters, police officers and other first responders. You all are heroes!

No Matter the Weather

This time last week I was in Milwaukee and the weather was rainy and cold. Now, instead of being in New York City to make my presentation in front of RachelChris, I'm home waiting for Hurricane Sandy to do what hurricanes do. Heavy rain, strong winds, etc etc.

That reminds me. As I was on the plane last week, I read a USATODAY article about Marissa Meyer, the new CEO at Yahoo! in regards to third-quarter profit earnings. I was happy to read that the company increased its profits under her leadership thus far. It is still too early to decide whether her plan to "grow and redefine" the company will pan out in the long run. Thankfully, the story did not revolve around her summer pregnancy and recent birth of her son. Why is the media fascinated when a women in a high-profile position becomes pregnant? Yahoo! was well aware of her pregnant belly before they hired her. She's already started making serious hiring moves, so hopefully she will be successful at Yahoo!. Speaking of female leaders in the tech world, check out Sheryl Sandberg's fat paycheck. Winning! If you've haven't seen her TED Talk, do yourself a favor and watch it. Thank me later.

It is very tempting to watch a marathon of Project Runway when you're essentially trapped in your home. At least last night, I spent some time searching different topics related to marketing, social media and business school on Quora. This site is pure fun for me. I like to receive feedback and on Quora there is a plethora of advice from professionals, experts, enthusiasts. Everyone has something to say and the whole concept works well, in my opinion. Quora also links to your social media accounts. By all means, invite your friends and followers for a discussion.

I finally started a page for profiles of women entrepreneurs. I will be featuring interviews very soon. I am looking forward to the insight they have to offer. If you know of someone or are interested in sharing your experiences, don't be shy! Contact me.

Brace Yourself

I figure I would write a brief post before Ms. Hurricane Sandy comes a knockin' out my power! The forecast for this pending storm is serious. Several people have already died and it is expected to hit a good portion of the East coast. It's a little nerve wracking because you never know the outcome and damages of a severe storm until it hits. I am going to pray that Sandy comes and goes.

In the mean time, I am spending the rest of the day removing the clutter in my room while unpacking some last minute items from my trip. I also have some work to do for all three of my internships and develop a short bio for my online magazine contributor debut. I decided against continuing on one particular project on Friday. Though the project, which mostly entailed research, was exciting, it is not the direction am I going in at this time. Since time is my most valuable resource and asset, I need to be mindful of how I use it. I tried not to burn a bridge but ultimately, I have to move forward for me.

October is coming to a close and I will soon review my monthly goals and my progress in executing them. I am already itching to create a list for November. I have also considered a long-term list that includes quarterly goals. I can appreciate the idea of failing fast, but I certainly what to have a vision as well. I am bracing for Hurricane Sandy at the moment, but I really need to embrace the hectic schedule, preparation and work ethic that comes with being an entrepreneur/solopreneur.

I still have a few more thank you notes to write and I want to jot down my thoughts about the business school visits I had recently. I think a top choice has emerged but I also have options on the East coast.

I really hope the power stays on this evening. I feel motivated to streamline my space and workload for the week. Here's to motivation and positivity in spite of it all.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Yesterday, I was determined to go the post office and mail a few thank you notes to friends and colleagues who helped me throughout my recent travels. I mailed four postcards and two handwritten letters, with a few more on the way. Thanks to my colleagues and friends, I was able to save over $800 in lodging! I got some home-cooked meals as well.

Aside from using my network, I learned a handful of  valuable lessons while "on the road":

1. Pack lightly. I traveled with two pieces of carry-on luggage. I rarely pay for a checked bag because my carry-on luggage is pretty sizable and has additional pockets and zippers for smaller items. It's much easier to maneuver with two pieces of luggage that I can carry myself. Besides, I saved fifty dollars round-trip.

2. Cash and credit are king and queen. I carried cash and had credits cards in case of emergencies. When you check-in at a hotel, you need a credit card to cover incidentals. Better to be safe with both cash and credit on hand.

3. Make time for exercise. I tend not to travel with exercise clothes, but I think I won't make that mistake next time. I stayed in three hotels throughout my trip and would have benefited from using their exercise equipment and swimming pool. When I was in Milwaukee, I scored a pair of Adidas sneaks for five bucks at the nearby Goodwill. They came in handy.

4. Talk is cheap. I left my personal cell phone at home and when the minutes on my Blackberry were low, I quickly found an affordable solution. Google Voice is a free web-based tool to make phone calls. The only problem I had with Google Voice was an echo in the background on the receiver's end. Other than that,  I really like Google Voice and have continued to use it post-travels.

5. Follow up. I met some interesting folks along the way and reconnected with others. I collected contact information from those new faces I met and sent emails when necessary. Most of my follow up involves handwritten notes. Though it takes more time, it is worth it in the end.

To end this post, I found a quote from an unknown author that sums up everything succinctly.

"What a wonderful thing is the mail, capable of conveying across continents a warm human hand-clasp."

Beaten Path to Walish Gooshe

I think I'm starting to feel the effects of traveling non-stop for almost three weeks. It most definitely hit me today.

This is how my morning went:

5:30 a.m. Wake up call to volunteer to serve breakfast at a men's shelter in D.C. I volunteer with GreaterDC Cares.

6:30 a.m. Leave house. Sadly, I had to be patient because the congestion during rush hour traffic irks me to no end. I decided to drive part of the way and then take public transportation.

7:45 a.m. I have arrived! Finally. I just had to jump in because I was late and the staff was about to serve breakfast. Two other volunteers were there assisting, which was quite a relief. Last time I volunteered, I was the only one that showed up.

9:15 a.m. I finished serving breakfast and also prepared peanut and jelly sandwiches for later in the day. The kitchen staff is uber efficient in their preparation, service and clean up. It was nice to just focus on one task at a time and work with the other volunteers to get the job done. I will definitely go back because I had plenty of fun. Next time though, I will come for lunch or dinner since traffic is a no-no for me.

12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. By noon, I was ready to eat. Nothing new of course. I scheduled a lunch with two of my former co-workers. Hey Raj and Cecelia! We ate at a Thai restaurant and really enjoyed catching up with each other. I hadn't seen them in over two months, so I was happy to share my recent travels.

After lunch, I was spent. I went straight to the Metro to get back to my car. Even with my listlessness, I still took time to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather and the spectrum of autumn colors. I sincerely love the fall season.

I wish I had more time to settle in this morning, especially since I got home late last night. I thoroughly enjoyed myself yesterday evening. I met an array of people with interesting backgrounds, styles and stories. For the past two weeks, I have been teleworking with Jennifer of Walish Gooshe, a woman's clothing company based in D.C. She is the PR Manager for the company and was looking for a volunteer. I dove head first and eventually my ideas and feedback parlayed into a semi-hosting gig. I suggested inviting D.C. area fashion bloggers to preview the collection, visit the WG boutique space to mix and mingle. We nixed a previous contest idea between fashion bloggers. I am happy that so many bloggers came to event.

With the combination of Jen's networking and my follow-up emails, we had nearly ten fashion bloggers in attendance. I made sure to introduce myself to each one and encourage them to network amongst their peers. The Walish Gooshe Boutique is a tight space, but it has mighty aspirations. The event itself was a charitable occasion as well as an opportunity to educate women about the resources offered for those dealing with breast cancer. More importantly, the Stand By Her Shopping Soiree, was an avenue for survivors to share their stories. I felt blessed to hear real women express their struggles, passion and persistence to live and to educate.

Collaborating with Walish Gooshe's founder and designer, Greg Gaten Taylor, and Jennifer was a great experience. I hope to work with them in the future.

"Go Forth Young Maiden"

What a day. What an evening! I cannot wait to gush about the Walish Gooshe event. Till then, please enjoy my newest motivational song. Thanks Alicia Keys!

P.S. I really need to start posting earlier in the day. Baby steps...

Annnddd We're Back

This precious cargo has finally landed. My Airtran flight to DCA airport was quick and dirty. And on time. I decided against doing any work on my laptop. Instead, I cracked open Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies by Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porras. I have my own personal copy thanks to one of my colleagues. He thought it would be a good read for me throughout my Midwest travels. I am not even at page thirty and I am already impressed. Collins and Porras were thorough in their research and purposeful in conceptualizing specific common themes amongst very long-standing, reputable companies. Pages twenty eight and twenty nine blew my mind. I had to really contemplate a few key points. Read for yourself.

"If you are a prospective entrepreneur with the desire to start and build a visionary company but have not yet taken the plunge because you don't have a "great idea, we encourage you to lift from your shuolders the burden of the great-idea myth" (Collins and Porras, 28).

I was sitting on the plane as I read this and at first I was confused, perhaps skeptical. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. You won't know if you have a "great idea" until much later. In fact, it is most likely the exception that you stumble upon an out-of-this-world idea. There are a bazillion ideas on an given day but I think Collins and Porras are right in that, "the company itself is the ultimate creation."

My favorite line in the book thus far: "Luck favors the persistent."

It doesn't get better than that in my opinion. A quick power nap to boost my energy and then it's back to being persistent!