Tag Archives: networking
Today I’m going to share with you a little bit about the background of the establishment of the nonprofit I established, and a little bit about what it’s like to take risks. By way of illustration, I’ll share with you two different quotes from two different people about the same type of thing. The first quote: If you are anyone who has ever tried something new, or you are an entrepreneur, you’re probably familiar with the quote “The Arena.” When…..
Earlier today, in honor of Giving Tuesday, I sent out a tweet promoting the Jane Addams Resources Corporation (JARC), a nonprofit that teaches welding to people in order to help them not only get well-paying jobs but also to develop capacity-building skills. This was the first organization that gave me a chance when I first moved to Chicago in order to scale the nonprofit I established. A brief timeline: Within two weeks of moving to Chicago in 2103, the job…..
If you’re an entrepreneur, or have an entrepreneurial spirit, you are probably driven by your vision. Even if it’s not fully formed, this vision is your focus, inspiration and fuel. But how do you transition from the imagination to the real? “First you jump off the cliff and you build wings on the way down.” —Ray Bradbury This sounds crazy, right? Conventional wisdom says that you should look before you leap, but if you have an iota of entrepreneurial essence…..
Take a look at the people you’ve chosen to surround yourself with—are there people from your childhood who no longer align with your goals or beliefs? Do you spend time with work colleagues who stifle your spirit? Is your circle of friends supportive and encouraging? There’s an extremely effective sorting statement you can apply to your relationships that will begin to shift the energy of the individuals in your orbit: “If someone is not nourishing you, they are draining you.”…..
Today, while walking around my neighborhood, I overheard a child’s voice call out, “Excuse me!” My mom instinct kicking in, I paused and looked over my shoulder, looking for the source of the voice. It was a little girl, about seven years old. She wasn’t trying to get my attention. Instead, I saw her untangle herself from her bicycle and step toward a young woman who was standing next to her dog — a full-grown Golden Labrador Retriever. “Excuse me!”…..
Hi everyone, I wanted to share this with you as a general backgrounder, since you may have only “met” me through social media. This member spotlight of me in the Ellevate Network gives a bit of history of who I am, what I think and how it relates to this blog, and why I am so committed to helping others. For the greatest accuracy, I cut and pasted the profile, including the actual link below: 1. Introduce yourself to our…..
There are times when it seems easier to strike off on a journey all by yourself. Without others to consider, it can be easier to take risks. Without having to get buy in from a board or investors, it can be faster to invest. But there can be dangers to this singular approach. “Entrepreneurs have a natural inclination to go it alone. While this do-it-yourself spirit can help you move forward, adding an element of collaboration into the mix can…..
I have been contemplating the shape and tenor of this blog. There are so many perspectives to who I am and what I can offer. If you’re familiar with the poet Walt Whitman, you’ll understand what I mean when I say, ‘I contain multitudes’ (as do we all). It has been challenging for me to determine how best to assemble my various multitudes in a way that is meaningful and helpful to others. I spent some time this week writing,…..
Each of us is a reflection of the people we choose to allow in our orbit. It’s a premise that certainly isn’t new, as you are probably familiar with the phrase, “birds of a feather flock together,” or the quote from motivational speaker Jim Rohn: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” One thing that’s consistently true: our self-esteem and feelings of worthiness are directly related to those who we spend time with…..