today's innovative woman, march/april 2013

March/April 2013 4 Today’s Innovative Woman

From The Publisher

2013 has started with a bang – an exciting year already and we are only in the first few months! We kicked off our SUCCESS Tour in Dallas in January! Not only did we spend the morning at the North Texas Food Bank in a business workshop with some amazing women, but

many of us volunteered after lunch and we packed almost 11,000 meals.

We are continuing our tour with many stops around the country and I’m excited to get out and meet YOU! I know I’m a broken record on this subject, but more then ever, this is the year to get out from behind your computer and CONNECT live and in person. Do a little research – find your “tribe”. Where are they going, what are they attending – and make a commitment to go. Whether it’s driving to a local lunch group or getting on a plane across the country for 3 days, make the decision to commit. Yes, I know it’s time out of the office that you don’t think you have – but you are not going to create the kinds of relationships, partnerships, joint ventures and collaborations possible without some “face time”.

Afraid to walk into a room of strangers? So am I! But set your intention of who you want to meet or what you want to accomplish by being at the

event, put on your big girl shoes, and walk in, like you know everyone!

And consider joining me at one of the events we’ll be attending during 2013! You can see the current schedule under “events” at www.TodaysInnovativeWoman.com and we are adding events all the time!

To your SUCCESS!

P.S. Are you an EXPERT in your industry who is looking for more visibility and credibility in 2013? Check out our Expert Program by viewing our 2013 Media Kit online!

Subscribe for FREE at www.TodaysInnovativeWoman.com 5

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IN THIS ISSUE

All About You

10 “Why Not?” Challenging a “No” That is in Your Way

12 Three Simple Tips to Help

Smart Women Get Unstuck and Take Inspired Action

28 Essentials to Go From Frazzled to Fulfilled

All About Success

16 Nancy Lieberman: Olympian, Hall of Famer, Entrepreneur

Innovative Woman

22 Cricket Lee, Fitlogic

All About Business

8 Why Every Business Needs Standard Operating Procedures

14 You Are The One Thing That

Sets Your Brand Apart

18 Embrace The 80/20 Rule to Make Your Business Thrive

24 Three Essentials for Keeping Up with Website Trends

26 Is Social Media Today’s Real Estate?

12

6 Today’s Innovative Woman March/April 2013


by Bibi Goldstein

Do you have standard operating procedures (SOPs) for your business? Like most small business

owners, you have likely established most procedures through trial and error. You figure out what works and then continue to tweak it until it is now the official method.

How do you make this method official? Well, almost always when you start a business it is only you handling all the tasks and so there’s no need for the procedures to these tasks to be anywhere but in your head. Then, as growth occurs and we hire individuals or companies to delegate tasks, we “train” them and expect that they are taking copious notes so nothing is missed and the task is handled correctly.

WRONG! By starting with a standard operating procedures manual that can continue to be a reference point for everyone you hire, you will gain efficiency and productivity by reducing frustration and providing clear communication of your expectations.

There are 5 simple components to an effective manual:

1. Mission and/or Values StatementWho you serve, why you serve, and what values and characteristics represent your company.

All About Business

2. Organizational ChartThe should include all positions within your company and an individual that holds that position’s responsibilities. The individual could appear several times within the chart when it is a small business.

3. Revision Chart/CalendarA sheet that will document the history of the procedure and track the continued efficiency of it. Determine a revision naming convention (i.e. rev. 1-A, rev 1-B, etc.). How often the task is done will determine when you review for efficiency. When a procedure is modified for whatever reason outside of those times, it is updated automatically. This sheet should include the person’s name, the date and reason for the revision.

Why Every Business NeedsStandard Operating Procedures


Bibi started Buying Time with a friend to give everyone the opportunity to have access to support and assistance with any task. With over 22 years in the transportation/logistics industry Bibi has specific experience in space and time efficiencies through Six Sigma training for warehouses from 1,000 to 30,000+ square feet. This provided her the ability to visualize the final outcome even when the client cannot. Bibi recently co-authored “Get Organized Today” with other organizing experts hoping to reach out and help more people. Bibi can be reached at www.buyingtimellc.com.

4. Procedure OverviewA summary sheet that provides the purpose for the procedure, what position is responsible for executing it, and any materials, tools or data required to properly complete the procedure.

5. Step by Step ProcedureThis should contain numbered bullet points, or a flow chart format if there are decision forks. Setting your company up for success with clear expectations and proper tools to meet those expectations is essential to your continued growth.


I had just entered his office and told him I wanted to go through the Warrant Officer Flight Training Program. I

wanted to FLY!

“Why Not?” Was my immediate response. I had done my research and BELIEVED that I could.

“You need perfect eyesight.” Was his response. I have that, was mine. “You need to be in perfect physical condition”, I am. “You need a college degree”, my response there, I had 3! “You need leadership experience”, I had that in college as well.

by Elizabeth McCormick

All About You

“Why Not?” Challenging a “NO”

That is Standing in Your Way

I pushed back: “Why NOT?” The recruiter then sputtered and stuttered through until finally admitting “I don’t know how to do the paperwork.”

Would I let someone else’s lack of training, lack of ability stand in my way of what I believed I was meant to do? NO! I learned how to do the paperwork; I sat in that recruiting station and read through the military regulations and learned. We all have choices in how we handle situations that are out of our control. These are the times that stretch our thinking, our boundaries, and our comfort zone. Innovative women do not accept the limitations of others. If I had chosen to accept the recruiter’s “You can’t do that.” I never would have flown helicopters, and my life would be completely different. One choice made all the difference.

You can’t do that! the Army recruiter told me.


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As an Army Black Hawk Helicopter Pilot, Elizabeth flew missions such as Air Assault/Rappelling, Command & Control, VIP, and Military intelli-gence. She also supported UN peacekeeping operations in Kosovo as the S-4 Logistics Officer in Charge at the Battalion level and receiving the Meritorious Service Medal for her excellence in service. She retired from the military as a Chief Warrant Officer 2, after a career-ending injury. She inspires audiences with her experiences and stories from her years as a Black Hawk Helicopter pilot and turns them into lessons that you can understand and use in business. www.yourinspirationalspeaker.com

When you’re faced with someone else’s limiting belief, question it. Be curious, ask “Why Not?” Maybe it’s a law, a policy, a rule that needs to be changed. Maybe it’s a lack of training, or knowledge standing in your way. You get to choose! Don’t absorb their belief as yours, stay true to your vision. As an Innovative Woman, you choose what you believe in!


All About You

by Joy Chudacoff

Have you ever felt “stuck” when it comes to making a decision or moving forward on a project when you’re not quite sure what might be the next step? It’s an unsettling feeling that can prevent you from realizing your big ideas, dreams and goals. I’m working on my first

book for Smart Women and recently, I’ve been feeling stuck on the title so I can relate. The good news is you have the gift of creativity and possibility thinking inside of you – we all do. These gifts have to be nurtured and coaxed a little- they don’t operate like a smart phone with an on or off switch! I have three easy, guaranteed tips and tools to help you get the creative juices flowing. I use these regularly and I encourage the women I work with to use them as well.

1. Journaling – If getting your thoughts out on paper appeals to you, this is a great way to peel back the layers of what’s possibly holding you back from moving forward on that big project. If you have never kept a journal before, here’s a quick tip: Get a journal that has a cover that makes you happy when you pick it up. Choose lined or unlined paper (I prefer unlined) and grab a pen that feels great in your hands. Set a timer for five minutes and start writing - about anything that comes to mind for the full five minutes. You will begin to feel a lot more clarity if you do this consistently.

2. Meditation – Sitting quietly each day for a short period of time can enhance your creative spirit. This one tool has become a daily staple in my life. Find a quiet time each day (mine is early morning while my family is still slumbering) set a timer for 5-10 minutes and then move away from all electronics or anything that may distract you. You will be surprised what 5-10 minutes can do for your day and your life long-term.

3 Simple Tips to Help Smart Women Get Unstuck and

Take Inspired Action

3. Coaching & Mentoring – You may find that having a “thinking partner” will help you sort through different ideas and options that work best for you. I became a coach because I truly believe with all my heart that it changes people’s lives. I have my own coach and this has made a tremendous difference in how my life and business decisions have played out. I suggest you interview several coaches and choose the one that feels like the best fit for where you are in your life now.

Feeling stuck is common among us all – no one is immune. The key is to take inspired action by using some or all of the tips above. I promise if you choose just one, you’ll find your creative channels begin to open and new ideas flowing freely.


Joy Chudacoff is Heralded as “The Coach for Women” in the millennium, Joy Chudacoff has x-ray vision when it comes to helping women discover their Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals! Joy draws on both her personal life and entrepreneurial experiences to support women in achiev-ing better ways of living. It’s her passion, her purpose and her business. She is a Professional Certified Coach, highly skilled group leader, motivational speaker and a gifted communicator. Visit Joy’s website, SmartWomenSolutions.com, where you’ll find more articles plus informa-tion about her Women’s Success Circles, Smart Women Smart Solutions Coach Certification Programs, Speaking engagements, teleclasses and upcoming events for women. Joy can be reached at 310-454-2005 or by email, [email protected].


YOU are a brand. YOU are what sets your brand apart from the crowd and YOU are your brand’s most valuable

asset. You hold the keys to ultimate success for your business — you just need to understand how to build a brand around you.

A brand builds credibility, creates influence, and increases visibility. A strong brand is remembered, respected, and referred. It can make or break your business — and ignoring your brand can be business suicide.

Branding is all about clearly communicating what makes you unique, special, and different — the genius and value that makes you the best choice for your ideal clients and customers. It creates your expert, authority figure, or thought leader platform.

All About Business

Branding is all about you — who you are, what you stand for, where your brilliance is, how you do what you do, why you do, who you do it for. Your brand is what you’re known for and how you’re perceived, and your branding is what supports that reputation and perception.

Branding is no longer a choice — it’s a necessity. Without a brand, you risk blending in, being forgotten, and skipped over for someone who does have a brand, or a business that does catch consumers’ attention.

by Jennifer Bourn

YOU Are The One Thing That Sets Your Brand Apart


Jennifer Bourn is the brand strategist, WordPress website designer, and graphic designer behind the award-winning branding and web design firm Bourn Creative, LLC near Sacramento, California. Bourn Creative helps successful entrepreneurs who are frustrated with their brand and website transform their marketing materials and their business into an extraordinary and lucrative brand through a combination of speaking, consulting, and done-for-you services. Learn more at www.bourncreative.com.

Here’s what you need to understand about branding:

• Branding isn’t scary and hard. It’s just what you DO to build your reputation.

• You don’t need to try to build a huge, global brand right away. Start with your personal brand, and build from there.

• You are the biggest different

between your business and others that do what you do. Be YOU because no one else can be!

• Infuse your values, beliefs,

point of view, experience, and expertise into every aspect of your business. Market your uniqueness.

So get started! Identify what makes you unique, different, and special. Discover your genius and build your brand around that. Build your brand around YOU — It’s the one thing your competitors will never have.


All About Success

Nancy Lieberman Olympian, Hall of Famer, Entrepreneur

Have you ever been told you can’t do something? Nancy Lieberman was – at the young age of 7 when she wasn’t “allowed” to play in the baseball league as a girl. But that didn’t stop Nancy. She moved onto basketball where she could play because she knew she was

destined for greatness.

Nancy made history as the youngest Olympic basketball player, is a hall of famer (“Lady Magic”), WNBA player, coach, general manager, broadcaster for ABC, NBC, FSSW and ESPN, motivational speaker, author and the first female coach of a men’s team under the NBA umbrella. Lieberman was also the first woman to play in a men’s professional league. Today, she serves as the assistant general manager for the Texas Legends, NBA D-League team and official minor league affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks. She is also a TV analyst for the Oklahoma Thunder. And, she is a mom to an 18 year old son!

The words of Muhammad Ali resonated with Nancy at a young age when she heard him say “I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was”. Nancy announced to her mom at age 9 that she was going to be the greatest basketball player of all time, and she truly believed it.

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.

~ Muhammad Ali

by Cathy Alessandra


How does this relate to being an entrepreneur? Nancy shares “we need to be consistently consistent”. She learned early that the same strategies that applied to the game, applied to business and life! We must have communication, self-confidence, a positive attitude and perseverance.

“It’s about responsibility, accountability, game play and strategy”, said Nancy. “And you must have the inner belief and confidence”.

In talking, she pointed out “Nobody whose ever done it has done it themselves. And you can’t make the team if you don’t show up”. Nancy is not afraid of failure and doesn’t want to look back on the woulda, coulda, shoulda.

Nancy also feels strongly about giving of yourself. “Legacy is not about what you did for you”, she said. “Legacy is giving, helping and teaching others”. Nancy embodies this with her Foundation where she is committed to positively impacting youth sports, educational opportunities and school participation. A favorite quote from Ali, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth”.

Nancy is an innovative woman who has had huge success in the male dominated world of sports, even when she was told she couldn’t. She loves to inspire people and said “You never know whose life you are affecting”.

Legacy is giving, helping and teaching others.

~ Nancy Lieberman


All About Business

The 80/20 rule is also called the Pareto Principle. It states that 80 percent of your major achievements are accomplished in just 20 percent of your time. The rule

works when you, in fact, spend 20 percent of your time doing what counts—doing activities with the highest value for your business. You have to decide what those are for you—I say they are revenue producing activities like working with clients and talking to prospective clients.

If the 80/20 rule is true, we should have all the time we need to accomplish what is most important for us. So why aren’t women in business thriving? Because most of us spend too much time on less important activities. We are often too busy with insignificant tasks, that the time allotted to the most

important activities is cut short.

Be strategic about how you spend your time. Remember, effort does not automatically produce results. In fact, hard work may have a negative effect on productivity since hard work depletes your energy and erodes your enthusiasm. In your business, focus on doing those things that only you can do. Leave the rest for your team. Don’t have a team? Time to get one—no business can grow without one. Plus when you have a team you are freed up to do those revenue-producing things that only you can do.

Embrace The 80/20 Rule to Make Your Business Thrive

by Caterina Rando


Begin to focus each day on those things that provide the most value to your business. Begin to see what you are spending time on that is not serving your business. Begin to see where you can create a system or a process that you can document so someone else can do it.

For one week track your time, what are you doing and for how long? Keep a log and at the end of the week see where you are spending your time. The log will not lie. See how much time you are spending on things that are accelerating your business and how much time you are spending on insignificant things that others can do. By concentrating on these activities, you will be spending time on the 20 percent that produces 80 percent of your results and your business will thrive even more.


Caterina Rando shows ambitious women how to be loud and proud about the value they bring. She is a master certified coach and creator of the Sought After Speaker Summit http://soughtafterspeaker.com and The Business Breakthrough Summit http://bizbreakthrough.com You can reach Caterina at (415) 668-4535 or via email at [email protected].


Innovative Woman Cricket Lee

FitLogicby Cathy Alessandra

All About Success

Many of our readers are successful, innovative women. We decided 2013 was the time to share them with you.

You’ll find an Innovative Woman of the Week column has been added to our website too! Read about their success, their challenges and be inspired!

How and why did you start your business?

When I started this business I wanted to solve all women’s common problem of not being able to find clothes that fit their bodies or their tastes.

What has been your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge was that although I have a world patented and retail tested technology that fits 95% of women, the fashion industry prefers to have

fit be specific per brand and has not to date been open to change by allowing fit standards to emerge. After 10 years of development, I created a simple black pant carrying the technology and created a marketing partnership with Mercury Media to roll out on TV. The press seems to love my story, so hopefully you will all help as well. Women feel bad about their bodies when they shop and Fitlogic makes for a happy shopping experience.


How do you define SUCCESS?

I define success as being happy and spiritually centered, being able to make others lives better, have whatever I choose show up in life, and of course loving and being loved.

If there was one thing you wish you knew before you began, what would that be?

I think it is the growth that challenge brings that makes us who we are. If I could have known that fear was defeating and useless, it might have been helpful, but then you have to overcome fear to get anything in life, now don’t you?

What makes you an innovative woman?

I am innovative because I go with my intuition and experience knowing what is the best choice, and I am not afraid to dream really big and stay focused on the end game. It only matters to me that I believe in my own convictions and never turn from them, no matter what others understand or think.


3 Essentials for Keeping up with

Website Trendsby Linda Cotter

The business experience is evolving at an increasingly rapid pace, and sometimes it’s hard to keep up! It wasn’t that long ago that all a business needed to keep current was a phone number and a few print ads. But today, your website

is an essential marketing vehicle; and with ever changing trends, you must keep current and innovative. So, how do you make the most of your website? Here are three things to keep in mind:

1. Your website must have a simple and engaging design—The trend is for a simple and easy way to get important information to your potential customers without overwhelming them. Remember to keep your design simple and clean with an “open” feeling. Make sure your homepage is concise and that your potential clients can quickly see what it is you do, how you do it, and how to contact you.

2. Include video—If you really want your visitors to engage with your site, you should include video content. You can start with a short introductory video explaining who you are and what you do. Remember to keep these videos short and to the point, only 1-2 minutes for an introduction video. You can use longer videos when including in-depth company info, tutorials, etc.

All About Business


Linda Cotter is a graphic artist and fine art photographer. Her goal is to help her clients produce better results through great design. Whether it is a logo, business card or website, she incorporates each client’s unique personality and style into the design with an eye-catching flair. This creates the opportunity for them to attract the desired clients and results they are looking for. Visit Linda’s website at www.LindaCotterDesigns.com. She can be reached at (310) 486-3108 or by email at [email protected].

3. Make the content easy to read—If your potential customers come to your site and see a giant wall of text, they won’t stay for very long. Be sure to break up the text while emphasizing the most important information. Using colored headings, blocks of text, bolded or italicized fonts, lists and bullet points can help. These suggestions can streamline the reading process, and easily guide your customer to the information they are seeking.


All About Business

Let’s consider the Traditional and the Contemporary.

Traditional Real Estate is physical property. You know, houses, apartments, condominiums, even houseboats.

In all cases it is tangible, real, and visible!

The purchase of real estate is based on the personal needs of the individual and/or the family. The Purpose OR Function determines the selection.

Let’s now consider Contemporary Real Estate not as a Physical structure but instead as a Virtual one, we must still identify the Purpose OR Function.

Business owners and professionals have one thing in common – CLIENTS.

Consider the Benefits of Contemporary, Virtual, Social Media Real Estate.

1. Potential Clients are hanging out. (Think – “Facebook – Twitter – LinkedIn – Pinterest – You Tube”)

2. Engage and expand a client base.

3. Shows the “Personality” of the business. (Think “Richard Branson”)

4. Builds Interest by sharing information.

5. Use Keywords to discover the needs of Potential Clients (Think “Twitter –Moving to Texas”)

6. You become “Real” and “Physical” to Clients.

7. With consistent activity Relationships are developed. (Think “Be the Organizer of ways to Contribute to the Community”)

8. Find and Follow Influential people in the Industry.

Is Social Media Today’s Real Estate?

by Debbie Saviano


Debbie Saviano is a solopreneur whose daily mantra is to “help professionals take action and create an online presence by developing, nurturing and maintaining relationships.” Debbie utilizes social media to connect, network and engage with others. She is an advocate for “continuing the conversations”. Thanks to the internet highway, borders are no more; people can interact and communicate around the globe. Professionals from across the country call Debbie for her unique skill set in designing LinkedIn profiles & Pinterest platforms aimed at engagement and retention toward a target market. Debbie also provides business solutions to small businesses who seek to utilize social media to enhance their brand, improve skills of their employees, expand social proof and establish an online presence.

9. Make it Easy for others to Promote You & Your Business (Think “SHARE button when You post valuable content”)

10. Loyal Clients can be recognized and rewarded. (Think “When Clients follow You they receive a freebie, treat, discount”)

Are You still on the fence about investing in Social Media Real Estate? Consider this: “People On-Line are LOOKING for Connections – Interactions – Information” and it is a low cost tool to incorporate into Your current Marketing Plan. Continue the Conversations On-Line…


Balancing work and home life is difficult for all working women, but particularly women entrepreneurs!

Owning and running our own business does give us the opportunity to more easily schedule a conference call around a field trip, but it also places more overall demands on us. Here are 5 steps to help you go from frazzled to fulfilled.

1. Discover and follow your passion and purpose. Before beginning the journey of launching my company, I had joined a mastermind group that had changed my life. This group was based on Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles” and one of the first chapters was about writing your purpose statement. What an experience – the self discovery was amazing. I highly recommend the book and chapter to help guide you in finding your purpose. I’ve also realized over the years that my passion and purpose have changed as I’ve grown— and I am willing to

continue on that journey, making twists, turns and adjustments along the way so that I am fulfilled.

2. Create Boundaries! Whether it is home, office, kids or husband, boundaries must be established. If not, you will try to be everything to everyone all at the same time – and lose your mind doing it! Have a separate place for your work space – whether your desk is in an office building or a home office, it needs to be a dedicated work space to keep away from distractions. Set “office hours”. When my kids were younger, I worked 3 days a week while they were at school. Once 3pm came, I was done. No phone calls, no emails – the office was closed….until they went to bed. That has changed as

Essentials to Go From Frazzled to FulFilledby Cathy Alessandra

All About You

they have gotten older. These “rules” must be laid out for friends and family too. You are the boss after all!

3. Speaking of a calendar, integrating all calendars into one central calendar is a must! A few years ago, my husband and I switched to Google Calendar. He and his staff have access as do I. All meetings – both personal and business – are put on the Google calendar. From the kids’ activities and night meetings for school to the networking lunch and dinner out with clients – it is all on the calendar so we can work around all the schedules. My children, now teenagers, have access to add items to the calendar – so if they need to be picked up somewhere or are planning an activity with a friend, they know to check the calendar and put it on. Now the saying in our house is if it isn’t on the calendar, it doesn’t exist!” The Google calendar will sync to Microsoft Outlook and many of the smart phones!

4. Now that you have the calendar, schedule time for YOU! Whether it is a daily walk with the dog, a lunch with a friend or a trip to the spa, self care is needed in our very busy lives! Schedule it on the calendar—make an appointment with yourself. On my master calendar, I try to take Fridays off at least once a month! This is my day to spend on me! I also take an annual trip with some girlfriends—Friday through Monday. No kids, no husbands, no work—it is a great time for me to focus on ME for 4 days. I

come back a better mom and wife—and a reinvigorated entrepreneur! Taking care of your mind, body and spirit keeps you on top of the world.

5. Lastly, be in the moment…the here and now. Whatever it is you are doing, working or parenting or being a best friend, focus in the

moment and let go of the guilt. As entrepreneurs, when we are working we are thinking about what we need to do at home—and if we are doing laundry or cooking dinner, we are thinking about that project back at work. One of my keywords is FOCUS! Focus on what is in front of me at that moment!

I know it is hard—truly, I do! I still struggle with all of these. But the more we can do to empower ourselves and choose to create the opportunities to balance our lives, the happier we will be. I don’t know that we can ever be equally balanced. It is a teeter-totter up and down, integrating work and family, but by implementing these 5 things, we can keep the balls in the air with a smile on our face!


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