ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN: The Woman of One Thousand Women

Especially for Women with Ann Barczay Sloan

The Woman of One Thousand Women

Introducing Paula Constantino

Chief Visionary Officer of 1000 Women Can Change The World

”1000 Women CAN Change the World ─

by Empowering Women Globally”

How did I manage to connect with Paula?

I was immediately impressed by Paula Constantino’s executive powers when first introduced to her in early 2008 by two women high on my admiration list: Marcia Brixey and Suzanne Kincaid. (Read my interviews with these stellar ladies in our TNNW archives ─ see links at end of this article.)

Paula and I met by phone, of course: she lives in Maryland, I’m in Washington State. Even long distance I could observe her crisp and direct communication style, and I continued in awe of this powerful spirit who had envisioned and created the huge resource network:

http://www.womenssupportteam.com , with the purpose of supporting and mentoring women in a broad spectrum of ways.

Our interchanges were summarized in my article, “The Power of Women Mentoring Women”, published in The National Networker (TNNW) http://www.thenationalnetworker.com/articles/2008_03_womensnetworking.shtml

A continuum of connection

Since this event, Paula and I have stayed on each other’s e-mail lists. We are also connected on LinkedIn: a prime business network into which she has poured herself with great gusto.

And now, once again, here I am talking with Paula! She recently sent an e-mail inviting women to participate in creation of her Audio Information Modules (AIM), i.e., to generously share our individual expertise in order to assist at-risk women via a digital format easily accessible around the world. (More on AIM later.)

I eagerly responded to this opportunity, given I’ve loved my past experiences as an educator. Then in a flash I got: here was a bonus for me! I realized it would be interesting to re-interview Paula for TNNW, given how much wider her outreach must surely be at this time. I mean: now she’s “only” aiming to gather 1000 dedicated women who aim to change the world! See all this explained at http://www.1000WomenCanChangetheWorld.org .

So, here we have Paula Constantino revisited! What is this lady dynamo up to now?

We can set the stage with Paula’s bio on the “1000 Women” site:

President / CEO Paula Constantino ~ Attorney by profession, but visionary by choice, Paula is currently following her passion, focusing on creating ways for women to help other women achieve more success with less stress globally - including supplemental training tool. First, she founded and built WomensSupportTeam.com and now she is applying those resources to help inspire, enlighten and empower women worldwide with 1000 Women Can Change the World.

The “1000 Women” site: Details

The site http://www.1000WomenCanChangetheWorld.org is the portal for great new inspiration. On the opening page we see a photo of three smiling women, accompanied by the message below (condensed):

WE = Women who are Empowered!

Together, WE can inspire, enlighten and empower women worldwide with useful, lifetime skills
by building an information highway using 21st century technology.

WE harness technology to…

Inspire women and motivate women to tap into to their own inner strength
Enlighten women to learn how technology can enhance their lives
Empower women to reach their full potential both inside & out with practical skills

Empowering women benefits them AND their families
AND their communities AND ultimately the world!

WE ─ Our TEAM of Mentors – record 30-45 minute audio presentations sharing our expertise with at-risk women
via the Internet and... where there is limited or no Internet via preloaded,

handheld, battery-operated audio players.

At-risk women can access these Audio Information Modules (AIM) anytime anywhere in the world
over and over again & easily share them with others.

Moving on through the site, under the About tab we can find key topics such as Mission, Vision, information on the Board and Founder/Executive Director and Financial Status.

Two tabs of special interest are: Visionaries and Invest.

The Visionaries page defines the word: “A visionary is a prophet, creative thinker, seer and/or futurist.” It then specifies what it takes to be a Visionary in the context of “100 Women”:

As an investor/supporter of 1000 Women Can Change the World, you in deed are a visionary – one who sees how Women Empowered with practical, useful life and business skills can truly change the world.

Since our initial goal of 1000 Women Can Change the World is for 1,000 women each to invest at least $1,000 to raise one million dollars… the Visionary status starts when you invest at least $1,000.

By increasing one’s investment level, one can rise to higher visionary rank, escalating from Silver to Gold to Platinum.

The Invest page reiterates the immediate goal, i.e., booking for

1,000 women to each invest $1,000 to reach $1,000,000

to fund our providing practical, useful skills and information

to women globally

A “Donate Now” button is also provided.

Again, the “What we do” is listed:

What we do...

Build a 21st Century Highway -
Using technology to provide
women with useful,

practical information - easy

to access, understand &

pass onto others

The ways one might be of help are also specified:

We need your help...

Expertise in women's issues

Linguistics & language

Fundraising

Sponsors

Media

But enough of web site visitation! It’s time to get into the interview with Paula: the live source and living heart of this information.

Might as well start with your so-called elevator speech: How would you briefly describe what you do?

“As Chief Visionary Officer of 1000 Women Can Change the World (‘1000 “Women’), I work with organizations to deploy digital technology to inspire, enlighten and empower at-risk women with practical, ‘how to’ information to enhance their lives so that they become the best that they can be – reaching them in the most remote areas of the world – even where there is no internet or even electricity.”

That is a hugely important point – this “no electricity” aspect. Brilliant!

Now -- What makes your organization unique? In other words, what is the so-called Unique Selling Proposition (USP) of your product or service?

“It’s our use of digital technology makes the ‘1000 Women’ model unique – we create Audio Information Modules (AIM) – 30 to 45 minute audio presentations recorded by women mentors. These AIM are uploaded to a dedicated website page to be accessed by the at-risk women in the program from anywhere at anytime.”

So it’s at-risk women who are your target, your intended audience at present?

“Yes.”

What is your mission – the primary goal of this work you’re doing?

“Having started law school at age 40, I was a trial attorney in the New York metropolitan area for a dozen years and then in-house legal counsel for a technology start-up in Maryland. My passion, however, has been finding creative means to empower women to be all that they can be.”

I suppose we could call this a humanitarian / philanthropic aim?

“Yes – I might say my humanitarian/philanthropic work focuses on bringing practical, useful information to women who need it the most through my social enterprise ─ which I have named “1000 Women Can Change the World ─ at www.1000WomenCanChangeTheWorld.org “

I’d like to know where this passion of yours originated! Would you describe how you got started in this direction, and how you arrived where you are now?

“As an attorney by profession, most of my time was in a male dominated environment where I observed the ‘good ole’ boys’ network at work. Believing that women would benefit from a similar support system to help them meet the challenges of balancing their work, home and family, I came up with the idea of creating an online, one-stop resource for women – resulting in Women’s Support TEAM at www.WomensSupportTeam.com – where women can achieve more with less stress.

If I recall from our first article, the letters T.E.A.M. are an acronym?

“Yes!” Paula smiles. “’Together Everyone Achieves More’. And sometimes we at WS Team lengthen it as follows:

‘Together Everyone Achieves More success globally through Synergy’

So, continuing on, in the spring of 2008, after discussions with my advisory board, I formed the 1000 Women Can Change the World, a 501(c)(3) public charity. This for impact social enterprise is poised to empower not only at-risk women here in the USA, but also to achieve more economic and social equality for women in developing countries. Our digital audio program model enables us to bring AIM to women in remote regions of the world.”

That’s powerful ─ and highly practical. Now another question: was there a time of breakthrough – a turning point when you chose to change your course? Any specific quantum leap(s)?

“Going from the practice of law to philanthropy has indeed been a quantum leap – even though it has evolved over a period of years. In actuality, I have undergone a major shift of mind and spirit – essentially evolving from life as an intellectual transaction lawyer pushing paper to an innovative social entrepreneur who seeks to change the world – eradicating poverty from the grass roots up.”

Wow ─ I want to keep saying Wow! And my next question is: which of your projects are you currently most excited / passionate about?

“I am so excited that ‘1000 Women’ is the on the verge of launching its first dedicated website site for participants of a local abuse and domestic violence program. This website page has AIM+ – digital audio information modules plus written materials for most of the modules. Sample modules include the ABCs of Life: Attitude, Belief & Commitment; Living & Leading with Courage; How to Design Your Destiny; Dance of an Abusive Relationship; and more.”

Sounds like a phenomenal resource ─ well be a lifesaver for some! Actually, how much of your work is focused toward women?

“At this time, 100% of my work is focused on women: both with our online resource Women’s Support TEAM and 1000 Women Can Change the World.

The underlying concept of ‘1000 Women’ is based on the well established premise that when we benefit women, we benefit their families, communities and society at large. This is the basis for most microfinance, starting with the Grameen Foundation and Mohamed Yunus who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.”

What are some of the ways / places you promote your enterprise?

“As indicated earlier, I have extensive websites for both ‘1000 Women’ and Women’s Support TEAM with ancillary websites at www.FindACoachOnline.com and www.PackageYourself4SuccessOnline.com . I also keep up a blog at http://1000WomenCanChangeTheWorld.typepad.com .

Online networking has been the primary means of promoting both Women’s Support TEAM and ‘1000 Women’, but focus this past year has been primarily on ‘1000 Women.’

I have set up groups for ‘1000 Women’ on both LinkedIn and Facebook, in addition to a Women’s Support TEAM group on LinkedIn. I have also set up ‘1000 Women’ as a Cause on Facebook with a presence on Twitter @1000Women.

I have been interviewed several times on BlogTalk Radio by Dr. Sally Witt and Tonya Ramsey on her Journey to Self show, plus being interviewed live WomanTalk Live in Baltimore, MD, and by telephone on SAFM Radio in South Africa. Janet Powers interviewed me online for her Diva Toolbox, and Debba Halbert interviewed for her Girlfriendology.

I also network in person by attending meetings, conferences and social gatherings, primarily in the Washington, DC area. One of the most productive has been an informal group of women who meet monthly for breakfast at the Four Seasons in Georgetown.”

Whom / what does your network currently include? How far does your network extend?

“My email network is global with contacts in Africa, especially South Africa; Australia, Spain, India, Turkey, Canada and other countries, as well from coast to coast in the US. I network with some of the international women via Skype ─ which is really quite cool to be speaking with these women oceans away but kindred spirits at heart.”

That really sounds great!

What has been the best about building a network: Positive experiences?
Benefits, expected and unexpected?

“One of the coolest benefits of networking globally is that I can reach out to these women on Skype, set up a time for us to speak and talk as if we were neighbors chatting over the backyard fence. One time I was on Skype with a young woman in South Africa for more than two hours just getting to know each other and how we could help each other’s causes.”

What challenges (if any) have you found in your networking experiences? Any unexpected events? Any benefits that emerged from challenges in the long run?

“At times, the difference in time zones is challenging. For example, the live telephone interview from South Africa was set for 5 AM my time. I have found such challenges, however, to be quite worthwhile and rewarding.

As I work to expand my network in South Africa, it’s often challenging to follow up as effectively as I might if the woman were here in the US where I could just pick up the phone and call. I need to develop a more effective system for following up with my network contacts.

The goal is to become more proactive and not be so reactive. This is an exercise that I am working on improving.”

Bottom line – What do you feel is really working well for you?

“My expectations for ‘1000 Women’ and where I thought we would be after its first year were amazingly high… and I have come to realize not overly realistic, especially with the downturn in the economy that is impacting even well-established charities.

Overall, we have made significant progress in increasing awareness of our mission and vision to make a difference in the world by empowering women with knowledge and information to empower them to be all that they can be.”

Besides networking, how else are you promoting your company? Which do you view as the primary vehicle and what makes it more important than the other(s)?

“In addition to networking both online and in person, I believe that we need more PR to get the word about our unique value proposition.

What ‘1000 Women’ needs most at this moment is for a contact with a major organization to step forward so that we can launch a full-scale pilot project to demonstrate that by using digital AIM to reach women – especially in emerging economies – the success of their programs would increase exponentially.”

What’s the achievement, the accomplishment you’re most proud of at this time?

“I am most proud of having come up with concept of using AIM to empower at risk women with practical, ‘how to’ information… being able to use digital audio to target the content being produced to fit the specific needs of the women receiving it. For example, for women in villages in Africa, we have the women mentors record information on health (HIV/AIDS, malaria) hygiene (water, sanitation), financial literacy (banking basics, benefits of saving) and so on. We can indeed begin to impact lives for the better.

Once we have our proof of concept so that we can get funding, the potential is unlimited!”

What are your plans and goals for the future ─organizational / personal─ especially regarding networking activities?

“My goal is to network more with organizations in the DC area to meet contacts who can open doors to funding for this social enterprise. Funding is key to the implementation of our mission and vision. Networking with individuals with microfinance and microenterprise institutions fits into our global vision.

In addition, I’m looking for contacts in any women’s organization – domestic or international – that offers us the opportunity to implement our proof of concept. In the USA, I’m looking to work with women’s organizations that assist at-risk women – victims/survivors of rape, domestic violence or any other abuse. We can set them up with a dedicated website page with invaluable information for their women – modules on how to build self esteem, confidence and motivation; enhance communication skills; foster entrepreneurship; and so much more.”

Sounds great! Again, I must repeat myself: Wow!

“We offer women’s international organizations an effective and efficient supplemental tool that greatly increases their likelihood of success. Deploying handheld battery operated audio players with pre-recorded training materials is much less costly than providing live training – especially in remote regions where travel is challenging. Groups of women can listen to the ‘how to’ information together – stop the player – discuss the ideas – restart the player and repeat the process.

This is process that I sincerely believe can change the world from the grassroots up – because when we benefit women, we benefit their families, their communities, their society and beyond!”

Amen to that! Any other point you’d like to emphasize at this time?

“Think about the concept of Getting More by Giving Back; think about what you know – that you may have learned the hard way – that you can share with other women to enhance their lives. It only takes about an hour or so for someone to create an AIM”.

Sign me on, Paula… You’ve got me inspired!

Paula smiles. “Yes! Think of how much good an hour or so of time can do for so many others. You can make a difference in the lives of these women who need your know-how and guidance.”

In conclusion, anything you’d like to add for our readers? Some words of encouragement, inspiration?

“We are all works in progress – so when we share our tips, pointers, ‘how to-s’ with others, it can make us feel so good about ourselves. As the head of a nonprofit – actually I prefer to think of it as a ’for impact’ social enterprise – I am always looking for donations and funding. But knowing the times are unsettled at the moment – maybe a gift of time and expertise would fill the bill – leaving you feeling good about yourself as you enhance the lives of others.”

By way of goodbye here, Paula, I’m moved to say “1000 Thanks” for your rich inspiration ─ and for modeling such extraordinary executive as well as visionary power.

“You’re very welcome, Ann! Also, I invite you to set an appointment to create your first Audio Information Module for ‘1000 Women’!”

Contact information: Where can people reach you?

“Let me hear from you – your thoughts, ideas and any input are all much appreciated – email me at paulac612@gmail.com or check out website at http://www.1000WomenCanChangeTheWorld.org

and our blog at

http://www.1000WomenCanChangeTheWorl.typepad.com .

- - - - -

P.S. to Readers: In early August, I’m scheduled to create an AIM with Paula over the phone using Audio Acrobat. I’m excited! I wonder who might end up hearing what I have to share – and where???

Earlier TNNW Women’s Networking articles referenced:

Suzanne Kincaid:

http://www.thenationalnetworker.com/articles/2007_09_womensnetworking.shtml

Marcia Brixey:

http://www.thenationalnetworker.com/articles/2007_10_womensnetworking.shtml

---------------------------------------

Ann Barczay Sloan, M.A.

Author & Editor / Creative Writing Coach

www.GeniusUnbound.com

www.linkedin.com/in/AnnBarczaySloan

Featured Columnist,

www.TheNationalNetworker.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author of the forthcoming book:

How to Use the Pieces of a Broken Heart:

Recipes for Rebirth

http://AnnBarczaySloan.blogspot.com

For more information, please visit Ann's TNNW Bio.

---------------

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ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN: The Woman of One Thousand Women

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL GUIDE TO ENTERTAINMENT: Hawai'i Film Partners Sign Historic Deal with China and Korea

The Entrepreneurial Guide to Entertainment with Sandy McKee

Recently I caught up with Rann Watumull, executive producer and co-founder of Hawai’i Film Partners (HFP)**, a Honolulu-based TV and film production company, and talked with him about a remarkable deal HFP has with entities in China and South Korea. It’s called the Asian Animation Round (AAR) and is an agreement between HFP, the City of Changzhou, China, and the Gangwon Information and Multimedia Corporation (GIMC) of South Korea, to co-produce and distribute animated TV programming for the global entertainment marketplace.

I asked Rann what made the AAR a historic agreement, aside from the fact that it is probably the first such arrangement between a U.S. business, a South Korean company, and the Chinese government. “It is a true international partnership,” he said. “We have weekly conference calls and work on all aspects of the production together.” Each of the three entities provides funding as well as creative input.

Rann further explained that in the past, Chinese and Korean animators were employed by studios on a “work for hire” basis. They had no equity share in the productions. The leaders of the animation divisions in both China and Korea wanted to build clean, environmentally-friendly industries in which they retained ownership interests. Under the AAR, HFP holds rights to the programming worldwide except in Asia. The city of Changzhou retains all rights in China and GIMC retains rights to distribution in the remaining parts of Asia.

Guardians of the Power Masks, the first animated series under the AAR, is in production now. It is the story of Annie, a young Chinese-American girl whose parents send her off to a remote village in China to spend a summer with her grandmother. (Annie would rather have gone to music camp in America.) Determined to teach Annie the traditional ways of her Chinese culture, Grandmother gives her the mysterious ancestral Power Masks that have been handed down through the family for generations. These masks enhance the wearer’s own talents, gifts, and personalities, as well as bestow additional abilities and extraordinary powers. Together, Annie and her male cousin, Qi, become the Guardians of the Power Masks. They embark on incredible adventures, battle the forces of evil, and learn to appreciate their Chinese heritage and traditions.

Twenty-six 30-minute episodes have been written and production is well underway. The first episode is expected to air in November 2009. According to Rann, “The show has been approved by the Ministry of Culture in China [to air in] primetime.” It’s a wholesome series, aimed at children; however, adults will enjoy watching it with their kids. Rann says, “It’s humor for all ages.”

Given HFP’s track record, Guardians of the Power Masks should be a winner. Their first production, award-winning Flight 29 Down, premiered on NBC in October, 2005 and continues to air almost daily in 100 territories.

HFP’s most recent production, Ape Escape, is a series of 38 two-minute animated episodes which air on Nickelodeon’s NickToons™ Network. Ape Escape is based on Sony PlayStation's popular 1999 interactive game of the same name. Ape Escape was animated at HFP’s animation facility in Hawai’i Kai on O’ahu and is historic in that it marks the film time a television program has been animated in Hawai’i for a national television network.

Rann and I talked briefly about HFP’s first live-action feature film, You May Not Kiss the Bride, which was filmed in Hawai’i in March 2009. It is in post-production and may be released in 2010. Written and directed by Rob Hedden, it is a romantic adventure comedy film about a mobster who tries to arrange for his daughter to obtain U.S. citizenship by setting her up with an American photographer.

“The story is so funny,” said Rann. “You know when you see the cameraman laughing, you’ve got a winner. I knew every line of the script, but [when I was on set during filming,] I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. They’d scold me, like ‘Hey, you ruined the take!’”

As we near its release date, I’ll write a more detailed column about You May Not Kiss the Bride, including how I accidentally crashed the auditions (it was not my fault) and also how I found out Tia Carrere and I have the same shoe size. You’ll want to stay tuned for that.

**NOTE: Hawai’i Film Partners is co-owned by Rann Watumull, Gina Watumull, and David Jackson and Shauna Shapiro Jackson, executives and owners of Showcase Entertainment, a worldwide film distribution company. Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel, Hawaii’s largest law firm, is also a minority owner. The telephone number for the studio is (808) 447-7529.

For more information, please visit Sandy's TNNW Bio.



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THE ENTREPRENEURIAL GUIDE TO ENTERTAINMENT: Hawai'i Film Partners Sign Historic Deal with China and Korea

UNIVERSAL GUIDE TO NETWORKING - A Meditation on BEing

Universal Guide to Networking with Terry Bean

As a networker, we have to BE a lot of things: professional, credible, responsible, accountable, aware and most importantly, givers. That's a lot of roles to play considering most of us balance this with our day job.

How does one do all this and succeed in their business?

The answer is two-fold. First, the above list contains a lot of characteristics that successful business people possess. In fact, with the exception of "aware" and "givers", that list is like a minimum to do business today. Do your skills match those listed? Do you see improvement areas for you or your colleagues? Life is about continuous improvement. It's never too late to learn.

The second piece is a little deeper. Are you familiar with Landmark Forum? Graduates of their program put together the wonderful movie, "Pay It Forward" (if you haven't seen it, please do. It may change how you network and how you live". While I personally have not experienced the forum, I know a few folks who have. This is not a post about them, but about one of the ideas they share.

Most of us go through life with the belief that states "if I only could have this, I would be able to do X then I would be happy (or whatever we want to be)". The forum suggests that this is backwards thinking. That we in fact need to focus on BEing whatever we are meant (or choose) to BE. And if we are BEing what we are supposed to BE we will do the things we need to do to BE as such. These actions will lead to having what we seek out of life.

Pretty interesting stuff, no? Please share your experience below.

In the meantime I encourage you to BE a better networker and the best business person you can BE.

Be Connected-

Terry Bean

Terry Bean is the founder of www.motorcityconnect.com, Detroit's fastest growing networking group. He is also the founder of www.networkedinc.com- a business development training firm that focuses on helping people make more productive use of their online and offline networking time. Terry provides training and large scale presentations on networking, social media usage and universal laws. Hot off the press, Terry just released his first CD entitled "The Five U's of Networking" e-mail tbean@networkedinc.com to reserve your copy.

For more details, please visit Terry's TNNW Bio.

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UNIVERSAL GUIDE TO NETWORKING - A Meditation on BEing

GO WEST! The Road to No-Where – a Million Dollar Bridge and the Child’s Glacier

Go West! with Christine M. West, MS, CMHT

The way people work, live and play is fascinating. Every decision or indecision leads us down a path of experience. Within our experiences we become products of our own decisions and in-decisions. Every belief, thought, emotion, action, movement, and in-action paves our path to where we are in this very moment and to the degree of our enjoyment of the experience.

To actually consciously raise our awareness to this fact, we need to learn to focus and pay attention to ourselves and the world around us. The problem is our attention and impulses are scattered in so many directions that we end up becoming an indentured servant to a world and practices that lead us to congesting our life up with stuff that doesn’t bring us joy, happiness or advancement. We end up unorganized, unfocused, stressed, depleted, confused, limited and emotionally-reactive instead of happy, successful, motivated, inspired and moving in a directed flow in the way we work, live and play.

The indentured servant ends up dancing and moving to the beat of a self-serving master that hinders our happiness. The self-serving master might-be the relationships we maintain, our employer, activities we participate in or how we behave within those activities, our decisions or indecisions, subjecting ourselves to unnecessary chaos or even our own resistance. We all have the capability within to gracefully find a natural flowing peaceful rhythm. Yet in order to do so, we need to pay attention to the signs on our road that give us that very direction.

To give an example that I recently experienced in my own life, I recently participated in a group outing with an outdoor adventure club. Expectations are a funny thing. Most of the planning of this trip was conducted through social media where participants signed up and written communication flowed back and forth between members on the website to detail the trip. Many subjective perceptions about expectations were left up to each participant to interpret, in turn resulted in many different points of view. The curious thing about expectations is when the experience exceeds our expectation, the experience becomes delightfully pleasurable. On the other hand when the experience drops below our expectation, our experience often can be frustrating and unpleasantly painful.

This journey began by leaving port Whittier, Alaska on a luxurious fast ferry with the group paired in small carpooling groups. Extra gear and supplies were able to be taken on this trip because of having vehicles traveling on the ferry with us. This seven hour fast ferry exceeded expectation because it was spacious, new, clean, and exceptionally comfortable. Everyone maneuvered around the ferry freely and naturally with the excitement to arrive in the remote land of Cordova (which can be accessed only by boat or plane). The interesting thing about the human mind is how we anticipate our experiences. We all do this. Some in the group have previously experienced Cordova and some were new to this place. For me, Cordova was uncharted ground. I admit my personal experience was so different than my anticipation. When we have a previous experience with something or someone, the mind reverts back to the last learned memory about that experience and often believes the experience will be duplicated in the same mannerism until we learn something new.

Cordova, Alaska is a scenic small town wonderland with a natural landscape that has minimal man made interference. Within the inner depths of the true wilderness are many mysterious hidden treasures to be explored and discovered. Sometimes to get moving on the path of exploration and discovery the people we are currently experiencing act as bridges to help us find our own hidden treasures. Sometimes these people trigger us to grow and move in a different direction.

Personally how I found my hidden treasure was through paying attention to the signs that helped me find the direction I needed. Often it is through being aware of our own behavior and admitting we have become the indentured servant to our self-made obstacles, our triggers and being honest with ourselves to recognize that we are blocking our own happiness. Life is a lot more fun and gratifying when we learn to truly pay attention and operate from a heightened awareness. In order to accomplish this rewarding skill, one must learn to ultimately let go of being addicted to control, the need to be right, rigid expectations and to release thoughts, beliefs, emotions or any other baggage that is interfering with finding magnificence in the experience.

One of the most difficult things for many people is to let go of control. People who behave controlling are living from an agenda that limits the full potential of the experience. Once we accept and trust that everything we are experiencing is a “Divine Universal Orchestration” to help us move in a meaningful rhythm within our fundamental nature, our perception of the experience is different. These experiences become an intuitive communication that gives us direction to find answers to the next step. The more we pay attention to these signs; life becomes more enticingly tantalizing with reward. We end up freeing ourselves from the unnecessary.

An example of what I am speaking of on this Cordova trip is we departed off the ferry and the group drove to the intended location to set up camp. This location was close to the ferry terminal and underdeveloped. Half the group immediately scattered and drove to another camp ground located at end of the Road to No-Where about 50 miles away. For me, my planned expectations started changing rapidly. For me, my intentions were to find peace, connect with nature and the people in the group, and have fun while being on an adventurous exploration. The funny interesting phenomenon going on in my experience, was receiving my exact expectation. The problem was I didn’t recognize this at first because things just did not begin how I thought it should.

This undeveloped camp ground lacked the perfection I was seeking, which was another problem in this very moment. I was tired and I am sure so were others. It was decided to camp in open area that really wasn’t a piece of land designed for camping. The approach a local woman used to communicate her concerns about the group decision caused more apprehension and confusion. The response one of our members gave back to her added more fuel onto the fire. For me I am sure there was more to this experience than what met the eye. Tension and confusion lingered in the energy of the remaining members who stayed together in this moment. When we are confused and tense stronger personalities begin to clash in which results in more limitations and confusion instead of natural enjoyment.

I came on this trip prepared with enough food and gear to survive and operate independent if needed. Yet the desire was to keep my commitments I previously made to the group and be united with them, yet at this time separation was already in progress. In separation, new agreements between people often are made in an unspoken manner. Everyone except me set up a tent at the undeveloped camp site. I chose to sleep in my truck. I needed a sanctuary to find answers and meaning behind what I was currently experiencing. I wanted direction.

Magically the answers did come to me through a metaphor in nature. This was through my own willingness to let go of control and pay attention. I am not a morning person and to my surprise I woke up at 5:00 am. It is very rare that I am up at this hour. I found myself experiencing peace, in which I liked. I sat on the back of my truck’s tailgate watching the eagles and hawks. By listening to their squawking, I learned that they were having a territory fight over what tree branch to park themselves on. This act of nature was powerful and ironic; I was having a déjà vu moment. They were extremely loud and somewhat pathetic. Each bird was very busy spending a lot of time and energy coercing one another and was not able to see other options were available to move to. These birds have wings and they could fly elsewhere yet they decided to squawk. Then another sign came. A lone wolf appeared out of the brush. The wolf was about 100 yards from me. I realized in that moment with the vision of this wolf that was peacefully care-free without trouble was not wasting time squawking, being loud or trying to control anything. I quickly adjusted and became aware of my direction. I no longer needed to concern myself with the unnecessary. I am free to roam as the wolf.

A few hours later after the group awoke, I communicated I was heading down the Road to No-Where to see what is out there. The gal who car-pooled with me decided she would go along for the ride. All others in that moment were uncertain of their direction. In this moment I had no attachment to any expectation except to find something different.

Magic did occur. On this unpaved dirt road to No-Where, dusty light winds lightly coated a caked-on-film on my red paint and windows. We frequently passed bear scat on the road. Once we moved through and past the cool rainy overcast weather, the sun came out on approximately mile 40 of this 50 mile road. It was almost as though we found a break-through point of not knowing what we would discover. We were both so grateful for the sun and the weather shift. I stopped the truck and we both stepped out. In front of us was clarity with the sky being sunny and clear and in back of us was cloudiness. We were so excited for the next 10 miles of driving. Things became even better. We traveled to the end of the Road to No-Where and discovered the Million-Dollar Bridge.


The significance and the purpose of this Bridge upon its completion in 1910, was it acted as the heart connecting the Copper River and the Northwestern Railway to transport copper. To transport this copper along this 190 mile route many obstacles needed to be overcome such as steep canyons, rivers, hurricane-force winds, mosquitoes, and dozens of glaciers. The significance of this moment was recognizing and releasing the any of our obstacles.

The moment became even better, on the other side this Million Dollar Bridge is one of nature’s greatest miracles named the Child’s Glacier. This stunning 300 foot high active glacier calved about every 15 minutes all night long. This child had a lot to voice. This natural innocence would release huge big chunks of blue ice into the river that would create big waves. When we as humans release and carve off own junk-chucks, sometimes we create big waves too.

It appeared this Child loved the attention of its audience because this glacier is the most active in Alaska. Once we connected with this part of the group who set up camp at the Glacier, we played like children. We road our bikes, hiked, some even some played in the water. We drank and cooked an outstanding meal on an open fire in a cast iron Dutch Oven in front of the Child’s Glacier. We naturally grouped together, shared and enjoyed. The sun was HOT and the skies were clear. (this area is notorious for constant rain)

The third day and final night we all regrouped together at the undeveloped camp site due to an early ferry departure. It was great that all the different parts of the group rejoined as a peaceful unified whole enjoying one another. Our fast-ferry ride home was clear and sunny.

The moral of my story is sometimes we need to be free like the wolf and travel the entire road that appears to go to no-where. If we are willing to seek, we will often find a million dollar treasure to help us eliminate obstacles and bridge us to the active child within. Once we become acquainted with the child within and remember the sound of our own voice, working, living and playing are all orchestrated from a fresh perspective. We are free to reunite with our fragments and become whole.

I am grateful and feel very blessed in experience. I thank all the people who participated in this trip and who indirectly helped me to remember the child within me.

Genuinely,
Christine

Author: Christine M. West, TheBusinessMD, 2240 E. Tudor Rd. #976, Anchorage, Alaska, USA 99507. Phone 1-907-223-8403. Email: info@thebusinessmd.net, http://www.businessmd.net/ http://thebusinessmd.blogspot.com/ Christine West is an industrial organizational psychology practitioner and is in private practice as TheBusinessMD which helps organizations and individuals overcome fear and explore the power of change. Ms. West is also a Featured Columnist for the National Networker http://www.thenationalnetworker.com/



For more information, please visit Christine's TNNW Bio.

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GO WEST! The Road to No-Where – a Million Dollar Bridge and the Child’s Glacier

THE HANDSHAKE CLUB: Will Banter Has the Time for All This Social Media

The Handshake Club with J.D. Gershbein

Will Banter, President of Banter Media, is a study in multi-tasking. As if keeping up with his own Social Media obligations wasn’t difficult enough, Will is constantly taking on new work, helping a multitude of entrepreneurs gain a stranglehold on the search engines and broadcast their message on the various platforms. That he is able to keep all his plates spinning with all that is hurled at him is nothing short of miraculous. And the guy always exceeds expectations and delivers the goods ahead of schedule ~ which begs the question: How on earth does he have the time? “I just love to create buzz for people,” he states.

For Will, no assignment is too small; no campaign is too daunting. Take Essie, for example. She recently approached Will about helping her advance her passion of sharing information with the boomer marketplace (this sounds remarkably similar to a certain contributor to TNNW, doesn’t it?).

J.D. Gershbein is the President of Owlish Communications, an Internet Marketing firm based in the Chicago, Illinois suburb of Vernon Hills. When he’s not helping his clients shine on LinkedIn, J.D. creates business cartoons and comic strips that brand businesses and make them memorable. He is also the creator of The Handshake Club ™, a comic strip that takes jabs at Social Media. Follow Will Banter™ and the other wacky inhabitants of The Handshake Club as they network their way into your heart and psyche.

For more information, please visit J.D.'s TNNW Bio.

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THE HANDSHAKE CLUB: Will Banter Has the Time for All This Social Media

WRITE TO EXCITE: You Have A Talent!

Write to Excite with Peter Biadasz

“You have a talent” is something you may have heard many times in your life. The problem is, many times the person making the comment to you is a well meaning family member or friend just trying to make you feel better, yet leaving you with a feel good moment (maybe), and offering no information on what your talent may be or how to develop that talent for the good of either yourself or others.

This column, "Write to Excite!", will offer you information which will not only assist in discovering your talents and abilities, but guide you as to how to develop them for the benefit of yourself, and if you choose, the benefit of others. Of course the slant will be towards the written word, but you may find that some of the principles I discuss have some universal applications. Plus, one of the best ways to broadcast your talent to your network is through the written word, be it a book, article or blog.

It has been my experience that people do not do things for one of two reasons – either they don’t want to – or – they don’t know how. Studies have shown that 70% of people want to write a book, but have yet to do it. I can show you how to write a book and recently wrote a book on that topic, Write Your First Book, How To Start, Finish and Publish The Book Inside Of You.

First let me share with you the road I traveled to get to where I am now. Maybe you can relate to some, or all, of my journey.

I always knew I was a creative person. In other words, making things up was always easy. My parents helped me to channel my energies into music and certain school subjects. I play a variety of musical instruments, with trumpet being my principle noise maker, I mean - vehicle to express myself. As a result of my musical activities, which have lasted several decades, I have had the chance to meet some great people, go to some amazing places, and add joy to the lives of others. I also wrote three song for my sister’s wedding. I still play my trumpet in some of my public speaking presentations; really wakes the crowd up and keeps their attention.

But in light of what appeared to be success, I was still very frustrated. I knew I still had much unused potential. At one point someone in my “network” invited me to their networking group. I accepted the invitation and then asked, “What is a networking group?”. Even though I had been networking all of my life, I had no idea that groups existed in which the sole purpose was to assist in growing each other’s businesses.

I joined the group and started passing leads in earnest, because that is what they said I was supposed to do. Three months later I was elected President of the group because I was passing the most leads. I was now standing in front of a room of successful professionals and, as their President; I was expected to lead them.

This was my welcome to public speaking. Not only did this make me sick at the time, but I had to figure out what I was going to say to these people every week for one year. After asking myself – “Why would anyone come to a Peter Biadasz meeting?” I made a decision. The decision was to become an expert in the art of people networking.

I studied networking; spoke on it weekly, first to my networking group, then other groups, then seminars and on. It was great! When someone asked for my book as a follow-up to the great information I had just shared I told them I was not a writer and that they should take good notes. Eventually an editor had me transform my speeches into a series of articles, which led to, now 15 books on various topics, as well as a publishing company. I “met” Adam J. Kovitz about the time my first book was released and became one of, if not his first, TNNW bureau chief. (I write “met” because even though we have talked a gazillion times on the phone and I write monthly for his publication, we have never been in the same room at the same time.)

What is my talent? At this point I would say it is sharing information with people for the betterment of everybody.

You have a talent! This month I ask you, What is your talent? Write it down right now. What steps can you take to develop that talent? Write those steps down now (why wait?)

Read this column every month and you will be equipped to do what you have always wanted to do, especially with the written word. You too can "Write to Excite!"

Peter Biadasz, author of such book as More Leads and Increase Your Sales And Lower Your Golf Score, as well as the newly released Write Your First Book, is President of Total Publishing And Media. To contact Peter about getting your book published feel free to contact him at Peter@TotalPublishingAndMedia.com

For more information, please visit Peter's TNNW Bio.

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WRITE TO EXCITE: You Have A Talent!